Our May issue is dedicated to Convergence in Action the theme for the BuilConn event at the Santa Clara Convention Center May 19 to 22. This event is poised to better identify and demonstrate the next major steps in convergence in our industry. Jane and I are attending and participating with our full support for this milestone event. What makes a milestone event? An event that brings together the newest concepts in our industry in a manner that has not been done before. As you look at the event badge to the right you will see that the number and scope of convergence pieces has been increased from other events. Parallel industry convergence paths will be explored such as Home, Industry, M2M as well as Building Automation drivers like DR, GridWise, and Wireless. Round Tables and workshop will allow the required radical changes needed to embrace convergence to be explored. We have worked hard to capture the thoughts of the industry movers and shakers that are the presenters at this event to provide you insight and a heads up to an event that will help define our industry's future.

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The information for this event has dominated our May issue and we have organized it so that all articles, interviews and previews of the event are located on a green background. With 150+ speakers over four days and a focus on connectivity in the context of green and sustainable energy, ConnectivityWeek 2008 in Santa Clara is shaping up to be a key event for building professionals looking to secure a formidable business advantage.

We are pleased that in addition to all the Santa Clara information, we have our usual number of global articles, interviews and reviews.

Far too many Articles, Interviews, Reviews, Invitations to list so please check them out.

Talking about our global reach, I am pleased that our most read article last month was written by me for a South America Magazine; The Future of Automated Buildings in North America written for  Climatização & Refrigeração Magazine Brazil

Plus this month's articles and columns are in these international Magazines
The New Face of Building Automation  written for Control Engineering Asia
The Rise of Virtual Services Published Energy Management Canada
Brilliant Buildings Published Engineered Systems Magazine North America

Be sure to check our event calendar to see the number events we have in our future.

The New Face of Building Automation

Our industry has developed a new face, not just the one projected on this building by digital signage software but a new face that includes new functionality and form. Buildings are now expected to be an interactive part of their virtual community and of course the electrical grid. This new face is creating untold opportunities that we all must investigate, understand and support.

This month's interviews give you some insight into our evolving new face. Buildings as Virtual Peaking Plants Peter Kelly-Detwiler followed with Energy Asset Management With EnterpriseDX Keith Gipson and Honeywell's Demand Response Thermostats Steve Smith.

With energy written all over our green face (CABA) has contracted Frost & Sullivan to conduct research that addresses the operation, energy savings and long term benefits of commercial facilities that implement intelligent and green building technologies above and beyond LEED certification. The research study will try to provide clarity to our new green face. Convergence of Green & Intelligent Buildings Study

Anto tells us that the new face is strangely a combination of the past, the changing, the new, and a heavy dose of socially-driven subjects that together are turning the world of energy and buildings upside down. Read his article about how  ASHRAE, CSI & OPC are meeting at BuilConn

Getting a Handle on Web 2.0 and the New Services Development Paradigm is a great lead in to BuilConn in Santa Clara Buildings 2.0 Roundtable to discuss the status of Internet-based building automation, and more importantly, the new type of products and solutions that are being enabled by the use of this ubiquitous technology.

We need a better way to upgrade, enhance, and control what we have. Facility managers need a plan, a partner, and an incentive. Ron Bernstein, Executive Director, LonMark International stated in his article Total Facility Control

The new face of video security is discussed in Mega Video Solutions Systems are not just cheaper and more flexible they have opened up new opportunities. Barry Keepence, CTO, IndigoVision

Toby tells us how Rent Seeking is Crippling Building System Markets in his column this month.

We have added a new Blog tab to our navigation menu which links to related industry blogs of interest.  We created an Industry online Forum many years before blogging was conceived and have combined these.

Of course the news just keeps flowing thru our web site and RSS feeds daily, and of course the only way to truly find what you are looking for in the vast quantity of information on our site is with our site search engine http://www.automatedbuildings.com/search/sitesearch.htm

We have been working on improving our web site by reorganizing how we handle the great number of news release we receive daily.  We now provide a News Feed ( Which Needs a RSS Feed Reader ) and have provided a New Our RSS news feed rendered into HTML

Tell our sponsors you saw their ad on the AutomatedBuildings.com web site and thank them for supporting your free access to evolving Automated Building Industry information. Click on their ads and view their valuable products and services. Please review all Our Sponsors. 

As I always say, it is a great time to be in the news business for our industry. 

Send comments and suggestions to news@automatedbuildings.com

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