It's a Controls Problem
It's a Controls Problem
Podcast Description
Dive into the world of building automation with "It's a Controls Problem"! Hosted by industry expert Charles Johnson and industry newb Matthew Vanberg, this podcast explores the latest advancements in controls systems, energy efficiency, and smart building technology.
Tune in for insightful discussions, practical advice, and interviews with leading professionals. Expect laughs, learning, and maybe a few epic fails along the way as we get real and dive into all things building controls related.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around themes such as advancements in building automation technology, energy efficiency, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the industry. Notable episodes include discussions on AI's role in HVAC optimization with facil.ai, educational initiatives with Stack+Joules, and insights on the future of smart buildings and ongoing professional development.
It’s a Controls Problem is a specialized building automation (BAS) exploring high-level industry strategy and real-world technical execution. Hosted by industry veteran Charles Johnson and produced by industry marketing pro Matthew Vanberg, the show appeals to both grizzled veterans and those newer to the field. Each episode dives deep into the technical complexities of controls systems, such as Niagara 4 frameworks and specialized HVAC for indoor agriculture, while maintaining a conversational tone that includes laughs and a look at the epic fails that happen in the trenches.
The building automation industry is facing a massive talent crisis, but the bottleneck isn’t a lack of bodies, it’s an outdated approach to finding, training and hiring them.
On this episode of It’s a Controls Problem, we dive deep into the human architecture of smart buildings with Diana Vargas of Stacks+Joules. A non-profit powerhouse, Stacks+Joules is completely disrupting traditional workforce development by taking tech-marginalized youth and adults and fast-tracking them into advanced building automation and energy management careers.
We break down how they utilize virtual sandboxes and digital twin environments to give students the freedom to fail, experiment, and build deep technical confidence before they ever step into a live mechanical room. Diana shares how their project-based curriculum prepares graduates to look past flashy software dashboards and tackle the critical, boots-on-the-ground hardware issues that actually keep facilities running efficiently.
Finally, we look at how businesses can stop admiring the problem and start solving their talent shortages. Diana lays out a vision for where the built environment needs to go over the next decade, how systemic industry culture must evolve, and exactly how contractors, engineering firms, and end-users can partner with Stacks+Joules to build a more resilient, climate-critical workforce.
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