Specialists in certain technologies may find the coverage of some of the sys-
tems in this book to be elementary but can gain knowledge of other technology
systems they may be less familiar with. To deal with a smart building one has
to be somewhat of a generalist, understanding the synergy principal: “the
whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It also helps to know something
about each of a building’s technology systems, as well as the processes needed
to design, construct, and operate a building.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank and acknowledge several people whose input and influence
helped shape this book. I’m fortunate to work every day with three exceptional
individuals: Neil Gifford, who is simply one of the best building controls and
system integration consultants on the planet; Gina Elliott, an energetic woman
with extensive experience in business, technology, and integrated systems; and
Andres Szmulewicz, a quiet, methodical, and extremely competent man who
I’ve teamed with for years. I am also grateful to Christopher Rendall, a fine
young engineer from the University of Texas who helped with research. Last,
but not least, I need to thank my wife Kate for her endless patience and
counsel.
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