IBM’s ‘building whisperer’ bullish on energy retrofits

Dave Bartlett, who leads IBM’s smarter building initiative, is known as the 'building whisperer' because he views buildings as living organisms, an approach that can help identify problems and suggest cost-effective ways of making buildings healthier and more energy-efficient. With the success of the high-profile Empire State Building deep energy retrofit that is reportedly saving more on energy than projected, Bartlett sees a hot market for building retrofits over the next several years.
May 23, 2012

Dave Bartlett, who leads IBM’s smarter building initiative, is known as the "building whisperer" because he views buildings as living organisms, an approach that can help identify problems and suggest cost-effective ways of making buildings healthier and more energy-efficient. With the success of the high-profile Empire State Building deep energy retrofit that is reportedly saving more on energy than projected, Bartlett sees a hot market for building retrofits over the next several years.

The cost of leased assets like buildings is increasingly the concern of finance chiefs, especially under accounting rules that make such assets more visible on the balance sheet—providing additional retrofit momentum. Those CFOs will push for smarter use of space, while more tenants demand greener work spaces, Bartlett says.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/08/us-ibm-buildings-idUSBRE8470US20120508

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
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