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- Now Published: BACnet Carbon Mitigation Study
- 2026 Leadership Award Winners
- AHR Expo Education Sessions now on TBI
- BACCARI Certificate Authority Software Tool Beta 3: Now Available for Public Download
- BACnet International Welcomes Kaishi Zhang, Johnson Controls, to the Board of Directors
- Call for Articles: Journal of Building Automation, Issue 29
- New Implementer Guide Now Available: Guide to the Device Object
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Welcome to the newest edition of the Cornerstones newsletter from BACnet International. The BACnet International community benefits from information and education shared through Cornerstones, the organization's monthly electronic publication. This publication is distributed to members of the BACnet International community, connecting corporate, integrator, site, student, and individual users to BACnet news and updates. Cornerstones is a unique publication because it speaks not only to the engineer and contractor communities, but also to facility professionals, building managers and owners, and other personnel.
This is where you come in. We need you to connect! If you have company news, product news, BACnet Case Study, or a best practice you want to share, please send them to us using the form below. And don't leave out the photos!
Read past Cornerstones and Case Studies.
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New University Study Reveals
BACnet-Based Building Automation Has Mitigated 1.4 Billion Tonnes of CO2 Globally
| | Groundbreaking research quantifies the 30-year climate impact of the BACnet standard. | | |
DURHAM, N.H. — A new comprehensive study released by researchers at the University of New Hampshire has, for the first time, quantified the massive environmental impact of Building Automation Systems (BAS) powered by the BACnet standard. The study reveals that since BACnet’s release in 1995, the adoption of smart building technologies in BACnet systems has avoided approximately 1,401 million tonnes (1.4 Gt) of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) globally.
This research provides a sophisticated multi-region, cohort-based assessment of long-term carbon mitigation from BACnet-based commercial building automation. By integrating BACnet adoption dynamics, building automation adoption dynamics, regional energy use patterns and grid carbon-intensity trajectories, the analysis provides a rigorous quantification of both historical and near-future mitigation impacts at a global scale.
To put this figure in perspective, the 1.4 billion tonnes of carbon mitigation achieved by BACnet-enabled systems is equivalent to:
- Neutralizing the entire annual carbon footprint of Japan and Spain for a year (Japan alone is the world’s fifth-largest emitter.)
- Removing 300 million US passenger vehicles from the road for an entire year, essentially idling every car and light truck in the United States.
- The annual carbon sequestration of 56 billion mature trees, a forest that would cover two-thirds of the landmass of the U.S.
“These findings demonstrate that building automation enabled by BACnet interoperability is not just a tool for facility management—it is a global heavyweight in climate mitigation,” said the study’s lead researchers. “By enabling disparate systems to work together to optimize energy, BACnet has quietly become a very effective carbon-reduction technology over the last three decades.”
Andy McMillan, President of BACnet International, added, “While attention has been focused on increasing the supply side of energy with renewable energy sources, this study reveals that BACnet-based building automation has been a 'silent workhorse' of the climate transition, achieving substantial mitigation by driving down energy demand and serving as an essential foundation for a high-efficiency future.”
Key Findings from the Study:
- Cumulative Impact: Global mitigation reached 1.4 billion tonnes by 2025 and is projected to surge to 2.06 billion tonnes by 2030.
- The Power of Interoperability: The study highlights that the open systems nature of BACnet accelerated adoption rates across four major regions (U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Rest of World), creating a "cohort effect" where overlapping systems compound energy savings over time.
- Regional Drivers: In the United States, approximately 70% of the mitigation came from electricity savings. In contrast, in Europe and Canada, natural gas savings played a dominant role due to colder climates and gas-intensive heating loads.
- Economic Value: Based on current social cost of carbon estimates, the 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 avoided by BACnet systems has saved the global economy an estimated $266 billion in climate-related costs.
A Critical Path to 2030
The report underscores that while grid decarbonization (the shift to wind and solar) is important, the efficiency provided by BAS remains a "near-term mitigation powerhouse." As the world continues making progress toward climate targets, the study calls for sustained maintenance of existing BAS systems and broader deployment in under-automated building segments to maximize the "carbon value" of every kilowatt saved.
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Congratulations to our
Leadership Award Recipients
| | On Sunday, February 1st, BACnet International proudly recognized several individuals and organizations for their exceptional volunteerism and service to both BACnet International and the broader BACnet community during our Annual Leadership Dinner at the AHR Expo in Las Vegas. The evening also included a special celebration of BACnet’s 30th anniversary as an ASHRAE Standard, marking three decades of innovation and global impact. | | |
BTL-WG Volunteer of the Year Award
Courtney Adams
Passive Logic
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BACnet International Marketing Committee Award
Ken Gilbert
Automated Logic
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Lifetime Achievement Award
Jim Butler, Cimetrics
Award accepted by Jim Butler
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Lifetime Achievement Award
Karl Heinz Belser
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Service Recognition as BTL Technical Advisor
Michael Osborne
BACnet International
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The Clipper Award
Emily Hayes
BACnet International
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The Atlas Award
Joel Bender
Cornell University
Award accepted by
Steven Bushby
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BACnet Impact Award
Fei Han and Wei Wei Mo
University of New Hampshire
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Catalyst Award
Given to BACnet
International by INBAC
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BACnet International
Hall of Fame
Jim Lee
Cimetrics
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Foundation Award
ASHRAE
Award accepted by
Stephanie Reiniche
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AHR Expo Education Sessions Now Available
on The BACnet Institute (TBI)
| | Two of our AHR Expo education sessions are now available to view on The BACnet Institute (TBI) and can be accessed in the Resource Library. You can find them by navigating to the Media tab under “AHR Expo Education Sessions” or by sorting the Resource Library by “Recently Updated.” Access to The BACnet Institute, including AHR Expo presentations, courses, and additional learning materials, is free with a registered account. | | |
BACnet 101: An Introduction to BACnet
Presented by Edward Tom
Session Description: BACnet is a popular open building automation protocol that continues to grow. This session will teach you about the basic building blocks and design philosophy that have made, and continue to make, BACnet so widely embraced. Learn how BACnet can help you now and into the future as the Building Internet of Things (B-IoT) and Cybersecurity continue to evolve.
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BACnet in Mission-Critical Applications
Presented by Ken Gilbert
Session Description: This session expands the traditional view of BACnet by showcasing its powerful role in mission-critical and non-traditional environments. Through real-world case studies, we’ll explore how BACnet is enabling smarter, more efficient operations in data centers, laboratories, and large-scale vertical farming systems.
| | BACCARI Certificate Authority Software Tool Beta 3: Now Available for Public Download | | |
BACnet International’s Cybersecurity Acceleration Program was developed to help suppliers jumpstart BACnet/SC by providing the means to efficiently generate, exchange, and manage these files, significantly simplifying system integration. The program developed BACCARI (BACnet Certificate Authority Reference Implementation Tool) to build and process files using the CARI file format, as proposed in 135-2020 Addendum cs. The tool’s zip file format conveys BACnet/SC CSRs to a certificate authority and returns the signed operating certificates. This tool is the industry’s standard for certificate authority implementation.
The BACCARI Certificate Authority software tool beta 3 was released in 2025 and the operating code has been made public (at no charge) in Q1 2026 to promote interoperable certificate signing and exchange. For more information, email info@bacnetinternational.org.
| | BACnet International Welcomes Kaishi Zhang, Johnson Controls, to the Board of Directors | | Dennis Swoboda, Belimo; Robert Hemmerdinger, Delta Intelligent Building Technologies (Canada), Inc.; and Salvatore Cataldi, Belimo, were reelected to the board. | | |
BACnet International is proud to announce the results of its most recent board of directors’ election. Kaishi Zhang, Vice President of Products for Global Building Automation Systems and Controls at Johnson Controls, will begin his first term this year. Zhang joined Johnson Controls in January 2023 to lead the product organization, overseeing strategy and the full product lifecycle to advance the company’s vision for autonomous buildings.
Prior to joining Johnson Controls, Kaishi held leadership positions at Schneider Electric and Rockwell Automation in the industrial software and controls domain. He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Zhejiang University, China. He is also a graduate of various leadership programs at INSEAD and MIT.
Dennis Swoboda, District Sales Manager, Belimo Americas; Robert Hemmerdinger, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Delta Intelligent Building Technologies (Canada), Inc.; and Salvatore Cataldi, Senior Product Lead, Belimo Americas, were reelected to the board and will begin new terms this year.
Dennis Swoboda has over 20 years of lighting control experience and gives frequent talks and presentations on energy codes, lighting, and BACnet. He has been a member of BACnet International for over a decade and has previously served as the BACnet International marketing committee chair. He currently serves as a District Sales Manager at Belimo Americas.
Robert Hemmerdinger is the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Delta Controls, Inc., and a member of the executive management team. Robert’s role includes global responsibility for sales growth and driving brand awareness. Robert is an award-winning senior leader with an impressive record of success in developing and implementing highly effective global strategic business initiatives that drive substantial revenue growth and profitability. He has established a strong reputation as an earnings optimizer through extensive international experience analyzing the needs of Fortune 500 organizations, designing, and directing strategies to secure productive long-term relationships, expand market share, boost visibility, marketing, and worldwide presence.
Salvatore Cataldi, Senior Product Lead for Belimo, has led an extensive career in building automation systems with a focus on BACnet integration. Since 2018, Cataldi has led several initiatives within Belimo, including the conceptualization of the Belimo Digital Ecosystem. Within the building automation community, he has served in leadership positions in various digital standardization committees and consistently exhibits dedication to advancing the industry.
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Call for Articles:
Journal of Building Automation, Issue 29
| | BACnet International is now accepting article submissions and advertising reservations for Issue 29 of the Journal of Building Automation, and we invite you to be part of it! This highly anticipated edition will spotlight the latest innovations, real-world success stories, technical advancements, and industry insights shaping the future of building automation. From in-depth features on the evolving BACnet protocol to broader trends transforming smart buildings worldwide, the Journal serves as a trusted resource for thought leaders, engineers, manufacturers, and decision-makers across the industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your expertise, highlight your solutions, and connect with a global audience, driving the next generation of intelligent buildings. Please review the deadlines and submission criteria below to secure your place in this exciting issue. | | |
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, March 10th
Publication Date: Friday, April 24th
Contact:
Mary Catherine Russell
BACnet International
Marketing and Communications Manager
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New Implementer Guide Now Available:
Guide to the Device Object
| | The Guide to the Device Object provides the small but important facts about the Device object that are often overlooked by first-time developers and testers of BACnet products. | |
Renew your Company's Corporate Membership | | Corporate Member primary contacts have recently received communication for BACnet International Corporate Membership Renewal. If you have any questions, or your company's primary membership contact has changed, please contact David Nardone, Director of Education and Membership, at david@bacnetinternational.org. | | |
Every month, BACnet International
will highlight a resource from
The BACnet Institute (TBI) Resource Library!
| | This month's featured TBI resource is BACnet Authorization and Authentication,” presented by Dave Robin, BSC Softworks. The presentation gives an overview of the features of Addendum cp. Robin also gives a first-hand demonstration of BACCARI (BACnet Certificate Authority Reference Implementation Tool). The tool builds and processes files using the CARI file format, as stated in 135-2020 Addendum cs. The zip file format conveys BACnet/SC CSRs to a certificate authority and returns the signed operating certificates. | | The BACnet Institute (TBI) is an online portal for BACnet-focused learning and knowledge sharing. It provides an easy path to BACnet information and learning for everyone involved with BACnet systems. The portal includes three on-demand FREE courses and over 215 resources including white papers, articles, presentations, and a community forum. TBI Resources are free, but registration for an account is required. Courses are eligible for CEUs and PDHs. | | |
For BACnet International Corporate Members, if you have any news concerning one of your BTL-listed products, case studies, or company news stories, let us know, and we will be glad to include it in Cornerstones! All submissions should be sent to Mary Catherine Heard, BACnet International's Marketing and Communications Manager, at marycatherine@bacnetinternational.org.
Please ensure that we are included in your distribution lists for product and company news release as well.
| | Belimo Expands Warehousing and Distribution Operations Across the Americas to Meet Growing Market Demand | | |
Belimo, a global leader in damper actuators, control valves, sensors, and meters continues to expand its warehousing, logistics, and customization operations across the Americas to support strong customer demand and long-term growth. These investments reflect Belimo’s commitment to ensuring fast delivery times, and operational excellence as global trends drive increased demand for energy-efficient building technologies and healthier indoor air.
Following another year of strong growth across the Americas region, Belimo has significantly expanded its logistics footprint in both the eastern and western United States. Additional details on Belimo’s sales performance will be shared with the release of its sales revenue results on January 19, 2026.
In Connecticut, Belimo recently signed a multi-year lease for a new 170,000-square-foot warehousing facility in Stratford, designed to support anticipated growth in the coming years. The Stratford facility will become operational in Quarter 2, 2026. Once the Stratford facility is open, Belimo’s total operations related space in Connecticut will total 282,000 square feet.
| | New CDU Templates with BACnet Support Lead the Nlyte 16.0.300 Release | |
The Nlyte 16.0.300 system release introduces powerful new Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) templates, giving operators enhanced visibility into liquid‑cooled environments right out of the box. With the addition of standardized CDU profiles and a dedicated COOLANTDISTRIBUTION device type, teams can more easily monitor cooling infrastructure using BACnet (and Modbus) without custom configuration. These new templates are designed to accelerate deployment while improving consistency across mixed CDU environments.
Leading the update are new Carrier CDU 65LL Core and Extended templates, along with a flexible Nlyte‑CDU profile for non‑Carrier systems. Built with BACnet support in mind, these templates help organizations integrate CDU telemetry directly into Energy Optimizer and System Utilization Monitor workflows, enabling more reliable monitoring as liquid cooling becomes critical for high‑density workloads. Explore how the Nlyte 16.0.300 release makes modern cooling easier to manage—starting with smarter, standards‑based CDU monitoring.
| | NEW: Packaged Terminal Heat Pump (PTHP) | | Midea has introduced a new Packaged Terminal Heat Pump designed for individually controlled hotel rooms and hospitality environments as well as multifamily residential applications. The all-climate system delivers 100% heating at 5°F and cooling performance up to 115°F, supported by a self-heated condensate misting design that prevents ice buildup in extreme conditions. Operating as quietly as 30 dB(A) and STC up to 31, the PTHP enhances comfort while simplifying property management through intelligent controls and an integrated fresh air system delivering 60 CFM with MERV 13 filtration. The solution helps property owners reduce energy use by up to 75 percent, offering a compelling return on investment without the need for major renovations. With convenient front access and a rotating PCB, the unit offers easy access for any future repair or replacement needs without removing the unit from its sleeve. | | |
Rheem® Unveils 2035 Sustainability
Roadmap at 2026 AHR Expo
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Rheem®, a leader in the HVAC and water heating industry for over 100 years, revealed its vision for sustainability and numerous product innovations at the 2026 AHR Expo. Rheem's portfolio of 50 global brands, including Rheem Heating & Cooling and Water Heating, features advanced and environmentally conscious product solutions for residential and commercial applications.
Building a Sustainable Future
Rheem’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Peel; Chief Operating Officer, Alex Housten; and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability, Chee Wee Gan, announced the next chapter in the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability at the AHR Expo with new targets that outline a bold vision for 2035 and beyond. Rheem is advancing its mission to engineer what is best for customers, the industry and the environment by establishing new goals through the company’s A Greater Degree of Good™ initiative, including:
Rheem’s 2035 Sustainability Goals:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 30% across the entire lifecycle of Rheem products.*
- Optimize packaging, ensuring 90% of packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable, or has 50% recycled content.**
- Maintain zero waste to landfill (ZWTL) status across all factories and extend the initiative to new acquisitions.†
- Reduce global waste intensity by 10% (ton/unit).‡
- Complete one million trainings for plumbers, contractors and key industry influencers worldwide, covering sustainable product use, refrigerant management, and best practices.
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Congratulations to the following
BACnet International Corporate Members who have achieved BTL Certification!
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