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

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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

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#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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↳ 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 #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

Join Tech Climate Spotlight

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

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Welcome to The Down Low with Joe | Episode 21 | 18/02/25

The Climate Gap is growing—can AI help close it?

Commercial buildings are one of the biggest contributors to energy waste and carbon emissions, yet change has been slow. 20-30% of building energy is wasted, with HVAC being the biggest culprit.

In this episode of The Down Low with Joe, we sit down with Sam Ramadori, former CEO of BrainBox AI (now acquired by Trane Technologies), to discuss how AI is transforming HVAC, energy management, and sustainability at scale.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why buildings waste so much energy and how that impacts the Climate Gap

• How AI can forecast HVAC needs with 99% accuracy

• The role of autonomous building control in lowering emissions

• Why AI is solving the labor shortage—not replacing jobs

• The impact of Trane’s acquisition of BrainBox AI on scaling AI-driven energy efficiency

This isn’t just about cutting costs - it’s about solving the Climate Gap.

📌 Watch now to learn how AI is shaping the future of 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

Join Tech Climate Spotlight

#TheDownLowWithJoe #ClimateGap #ai #energyefficiency #sustainability #hvac #smartbuildings #BrainBoxAI #TraneTechnologies #buildingautomation

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Welcome back to Climate Tech Spotlight 💡 Hosted by Lewis Martin, a climate tech talent specialist passionate about building industry-defining teams across niche and global enterprises.

In this episode, Lewis speaks to Ben Tacka from Phaidra, a pioneering company deploying AI virtual plant operators to transform industrial facilities. They explore how AI is revolutionizing industrial efficiency, particularly in optimizing cooling systems and reducing energy consumption while maintaining critical stability.

The episode delves into the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI solutions in data centers, and how self-learning, intelligent control systems are shaping the future of sustainable infrastructure.

They also discuss:

• The intersection of AI and sustainable data center operations
• Innovative approaches to reducing energy consumption in computing
• Balancing increasing computing demands with environmental responsibility
• The future landscape of sustainable infrastructure and green technology
• Real-world applications of AI in industrial efficiency
• Strategies for maintaining stability while optimizing energy usage

About Phaidra

Phaidra is revolutionizing the industrial sector with AI-powered control systems that automatically learn, adapt, and improve over time. Founded by experts from Google-Deepmind, Trane, and Johnson Controls, Phaidra transforms static infrastructure in pharmaceutical production, data centers, and district energy facilities into dynamic, resilient operations. Their technology has already achieved impressive results, delivering 40% energy savings at Google's data centers, and they're rapidly expanding their AI solutions to other industrial applications.

To speak to Lewis about becoming a guest, or to discuss the topic in more detail, get in touch at lewis@lewismartinc.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

To sign up and hear about the next episode straight to your inbox, visit: https://lnkd.in/ehykVybJ

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