Ron Bernstein

Ron Bernstein is CEO of RBCG Consulting, providing consulting, engineering, research, and educational services to organizations needing help navigating their energy and automation strategy. RBCG works with end users, owners, specifiers, suppliers, and integrators to develop IoT, interoperability, and open systems approaches to building automation, smart cities, outdoor lighting, BAS system design, network security, control system architecture, and communication protocol implementations. He is a significant contributor to ASHRAE’s new Building Automation System (BAS) Guide Specification, the MSSLC’s Adaptive Roadway Lighting Guidespec, CEA 709.5/6 LonWorks Home and Building Device Interoperability Standards, the US Army Corps of Engineers Unified Monitoring and Control Specification, Suncor Energy’s BAS and BMS Standards for the Oil and Gas industry, and many others.

Prior to starting his own company, he was a Senior Director, Program Manager, and Senior Engineer at Echelon Corporation supporting the global building automation and control networking marketplace and Executive Director and CEO of LonMark International, a non-profit development, promotion, education, and member support organization for control networking standards. Prior roles include engineering and management positions at Sharp Digital Information Systems and International Robomation Intelligence in the robotics, image processing, and automation industry.

Mr. Bernstein has 30+ years’ experience with building automation, control networking, interoperable systems, network communication protocols, standards development, specification development, educational program development, smart city system architecture, and facility master planning.

Active industry committee work include: Member Gridwise Architecture Council (GWAC), Chair of CTA R7 Home and Building Networking Committee, Chair of CTA R7 WG 13 and member CEA R7 WG17, DOE MSSLC Adaptive Streetlighting Controls Task Group, ASHRAE SGPC-13 Building Automation Systems Guidespec Committee, ASHRAE 1.4 Committee, and past Chair of the LonMark Building Automation Systems Task Group among others. He is a board adviser and past Chief Ambassador at LonMark International supporting the non-profit association with strategic planning, industry stewardship, and management of a team of ambassadors worldwide, and is a past Director of the Smart Buildings Institute.

Mr. Bernstein is a published author, past instructor for the APPA Institute, curriculum advisor to Mt SAC building automation program, advisor to Carnegie Mellon’s School of Architecture, frequent columnist, lecturer, and advocate for open integrated control systems. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a Masters in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, and a Masters of Philosophy from PTS College of Philosophy. He is the past Chair and advisor to HeatReach San Diego, an outreach charity and support organization helping people in need.