What does it take to scale a smart building platform from 200,000 instances to 1.4 million?

In this episode of The Down Low with Joe, we sit down with Stephen Holake, Chief Product Officer at Tridium, to unpack the long game behind one of climate tech’s most important (but quietly dominant) platforms: the Niagara Framework.

Stephen shares how Tridium’s open architecture and channel-first approach allowed it to win over OEMs, system integrators, and contractors – all while giving building owners flexibility in a traditionally closed ecosystem. We dive into the Honeywell acquisition, the evolution of building controls, and why the product does “nothing out of the box” - by design.

From security-first development to the AI-enabled future of Niagara 5, this episode is packed with insights on product management, scale, and how to drive real-world climate outcomes in the built environment.

🎯 Topics include:

• The story behind Tridium’s growth to 1.4M building instances
• OEM partnerships and how to go from “one to all”
• Grid flexibility, AI control loops, and autonomous BAS
• Why empathy matters in climate tech product strategy
• What Niagara 5 will unlock for integrators and owners

🎬 Watch the full video on YouTube: The Climate Gap Podcast

↳ Follow us on LinkedIn: Lewis Martin | Joe Aamidor

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Buildings are under pressure – not just to decarbonize, but to collaborate with the grid in ways they never have before.

In this special solo-hosted episode, Joe Aamidor welcomes Jake Elder, research lead at Energy Impact Partners (EIP), for a deep dive into the “Electric Utility Gauntlet.” As grid operators face mounting stress from AI-driven data centers, manufacturing growth, and electrification, the need for demand-side innovation is now urgent.

Jake unpacks how smart buildings must evolve: not by ripping out legacy BAS systems, but by building smarter layers on top. He shares findings from EIP’s research into building automation startups and highlights overlooked asset classes where real value can be unlocked – including cold storage, multifamily, and data centers.

From AI in autonomous control to utilities sending pricing signals to buildings, this episode maps the next 5 years of disruption in climate tech and commercial real estate.

🎬 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/a0Mhv1-XczA

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Access control used to be simple: keep the wrong people out.

Now it’s at the center of digital transformation in smart buildings.

In this episode of The Down Low with Joe, we sit down with Lee Odess – CEO of the Access Control Collective and a leading voice in security innovation – to unpack how access control is evolving and why it’s critical to the future of real estate.

Hosted by Joe Aamidor and Lewis Martin, this conversation dives into:

• Why access control is shifting from pure security to occupant experience
• How major tech players like Apple, Google, and Amazon are reshaping the industry
• The real impact of mobile credentials, cloud, and biometrics
• Why “platform thinking” is the future of smart building tech
• How legacy systems and incentive structures are holding the industry back

If you care about smart buildings, digital experience, and the future of property technology, this is an episode you can’t miss.

🎬 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u5p0O6-h_uU

↳ Follow us on LinkedIn: Lewis Martin | Joe Aamidor

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#SmartBuildings #BuildingAutomation #MSI #ClimateTech #TheClimateGap

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Most smart buildings still aren’t that smart - and the real reason goes deeper than technology.

In this episode of The Down Low with Joe, we sit down with Brian Turner, CEO of OTI and longtime smart building expert, to unpack what Master Systems Integrators (MSIs) actually do - and why every building project needs one.

Hosted by Joe Aamidor and Lewis Martin, this conversation dives into:

• Why the MSI role is critical for long-term building performance
• The real-world challenges of clean, reliable building data
• How procurement and construction processes are falling short
• Why 2025 could be a turning point for building technology companies
• How MSIs are reshaping the future of facilities management

If you care about smart buildings, operational excellence, and the future of real estate, this is an episode you can’t miss.

🎬 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zYgczE6pndM

↳ Follow us on LinkedIn: Lewis Martin | Joe Aamidor

↳ Join Tech Climate Spotlight: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/y/5D3982252AFCF0EE

#SmartBuildings #BuildingAutomation #MSI #ClimateTech #TheClimateGap

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Welcome to The Down Low with Joe | Episode 25 | 11/04/2025

Smart buildings aren’t about dashboards and sensors – they’re about people. In this episode, we go deep with Emmanuel Daniel, former Microsoft leader and now founder of Alosener, to discuss the future of buildings, cities, and data.

🎯 Key takeaways:

↳ Why energy efficiency was only step one

↳ The new focus on comfort, productivity, and human-centric design

↳ Why data ownership matters – and how vendors are locking it up

↳ How Gen Z is forcing a new wave of design priorities

↳ The true potential of digital twins – beyond 3D

↳ What 2025 will really look like for AI, smart buildings, and asset management

📌 Emmanuel is building toward a future of self-sustaining, intelligent buildings. This episode will shift your thinking.

↳ Follow us on LinkedIn: Lewis Martin | Joe Aamidor

↳ Join Tech Climate Spotlight: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/y/5D3982252AFCF0EE

#TheDownLowWithJoe #ClimateTech #PropTech #DigitalTwin #SmartBuildings #BuildingData #AIinBuildings

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The Down Low with Joe | Episode 24 | 26/03/25

Demand flexibility is no longer optional - and most buildings still aren’t ready.

This week, we’re joined by Rachel Permut, Chief Business Development Officer at Enersponse, to break down how commercial buildings can evolve into smart grid participants.

🔍 Inside the episode:

↳ Why CRE remains a white space for virtual power

↳ How automation is solving the labor gap in demand response

↳ What makes demand signals like carbon intensity and price volatility actionable

↳ Why grid programs vary more by ZIP code than by building type

↳ How to unlock revenue streams without lifting a finger onsite

Rachel shares how Enersponse is translating complex grid signals into clear action, helping building operators not just react - but get paid for it.

🎧 Listen the full conversation on YouTube.

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#TheDownLowWithJoe #DemandFlexibility #VirtualPowerPlants #CarbonOptimization #EnergyMarkets #ClimateGap #CleanResponse

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Welcome to The Down Low with Joe | Episode 23 | 18/03/25

The HVAC industry is at a crossroads - labor shortages, inefficiencies, and a slow adoption of new technology. Can AI and a smarter acquisition strategy change the game?

In this episode, we sit down with Marty Ogram & Maya Aharon, co-founders of Easton Edge, to discuss:

↳ Why HVAC services are still stuck in the past - and how AI can double technician capacity

↳ The challenge of integrating AI into an old-school industry

↳ Why they’re acquiring HVAC companies instead of just selling software

↳ How AI can fix inefficiencies in buildings before they become expensive problems

↳ The real reason VC-backed PropTech startups struggle in this space

The climate gap is real, and commercial buildings must evolve. The future of HVAC, AI, and acquisitions is here - don’t miss this one.

📌 Watch now to learn how AI is shaping the future of HVAC and smart buildings.

↳ Subscribe on our YouTube Channel for more insights

↳ Visit our LMC website to learn more about what we do

↳ Stay connected with us on LinkedIn: Lewis Martin | Joseph Aamindor

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#TheDownLowWithJoe #HVAC #AI #SmartBuildings #PropTech #ClimateTech #EnergyEfficiency

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Welcome to The Down Low with Joe | Episode 22 | 11/03/25

Scaling a PropTech Giant: Inside the $320M Exit of Building Engines

What does it take to build a market-dominating PropTech platform? In this episode, Scott Sidman shares the inside story of how Building Engines grew from a bootstrapped startup into a global commercial real estate powerhouse - eventually selling to JLL for $320M.

🎯 Key Topics:

↳How to scale a SaaS business in fragmented industries like PropTech

↳The biggest mistakes companies make in sales & go-to-market strategy

↳Why AI is the future of building automation and sustainability tech

↳The realities of selling a company - and what founders should know

↳Scott brings real-world insights from nearly two decades in PropTech, five strategic acquisitions, and navigating one of the biggest industry exits in recent years.

Don’t miss this one. 🎧 Watch the full episode now.

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Visit our LMC website to learn more about what we do

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn: Lewis Martin | Joseph Aamindor

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#TheDownLowWithJoe #ClimateGap #PropTech #CRE #AI #SmartBuildings #Sustainability #MergersAndAcquisitions

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