Therese Peffer of the California Institute of Energy and the Environment explains the Cal openBAS project, designed to bring data-driven efficiency to small and medium size commercial buildings. Sensors integrated into lights are the Internet of Things examples highlighted. Image: http://www.ktvu.com/

The local news team at KTVU interviewed Therese Peffer of the California Institute for Energy and Environment, University of California, on the Cal openBAS project. The video does a great job of explaining the challenge of getting devices — lights, sensors and HVAC-tied thermostats — to work together. There is $1.5 million in grant money from the U.S. Department of Energy available for the the most promising openBAS project.  Lights equipped with Enlighted dimming controls were among the devices integrated at the sensor/actuator level.  Highlighted in blue in the diagram below, the team is using open-source software known as sMAP (simple Monitoring and Actuation Profile) to get things to talk to one another.