In this episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser welcome Derek Cowburn, founder of Lumen Cache, to discuss his journey from building automation in pharmaceutical facilities to pioneering smart DC power systems for homes and offices. Derek shares how his background in building controls and automation influenced his development of Lumen Cache; a company focused on creating a smart infrastructure that integrates DC power to drive lighting, sensors, and automation. He explains the advantages of DC power, especially as modern buildings transition to solar panels, batteries, and increasingly DC-centric electronics.

Derek explores the challenges of mainstreaming smart building technologies, particularly overcoming builders' concerns with reliability, cost, and installation ease. Lumen Cache's innovative modular plug-and-play system simplifies integration for builders and offers adaptability for future technology upgrades, unlike traditional AC systems. Derek also highlights the potential of integrating indoor air quality and energy management sensors, envisioning homes and offices that are "smart from the start" without the need for complex retrofits.

Throughout the conversation, Derek discusses his experiences in Shenzhen, China, leveraging the city's manufacturing ecosystem to scale production while planning to expand globally. The episode wraps up with Derek’s vision for the future—an interconnected ecosystem of smart devices that support energy efficiency and comfort, driven by Lumen Cache’s evolving infrastructure. He invites listeners to explore their new generation product, ReNetA, and looks forward to a follow-up conversation to share future developments.

Derek’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekcowburn/

YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@LumenCache

The System Design Tool Derek spoke of: https://youtu.be/ZCHEFiY5Bf0?si=4oqtf3jObVJEPV4O

Website: https://www.lumencache.com/

Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lumen-cache-inc-lumencache-/about/

Derek’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekcowburn/

Contact: https://www.lumencache.com/contact

This episode was recorded in October 2024.