Why Retrofitting Existing Buildings is the Biggest Opportunity in Real Estate, with OTI CEO Brian Turner

Brian Turner is the CEO of OTI, a master systems integrator that connects HVAC, lighting, and building systems into unified platforms to drive operational and energy efficiency, and ESG performance across the built environment. With over 30 years of experience in building automation, Brian has worked closely with major property owners to advance system integration and building data strategies. Prior to OTI, he led Controlco and later BuildingsIOT, where he helped shape the evolution of smart building infrastructure and IoT-driven operations.  At OTI, Brian is focused on transforming how buildings operate by bringing together fragmented systems into a single, intelligent layer—making buildings smarter, more efficient, and easier to manage.

(01:40) - What's OTI
(02:32) - 30 Years of Building Technology
(04:13) - The Retrofit Opportunity
(05:55) - Why LEED Performance Slips
(07:03) - Investing in Energy Technology
(11:17) - A Unified Brain for Buildings
(14:48) - How OTI Engages Clients
(16:08) - Product Roadmap
(18:55) - Regulation vs Real Market Drivers
(19:59) - Comfort Across Asset Classes
(25:27) - Feature: Blueprint: The Future of Real Estate 2026 in Vegas on Sep. 22-24
(26:19) - Local Law 97
(27:49) - When Owners Take Action on Energy
(34:33) - Split Incentives in Leases
(38:12) - Passive House Needs Operational Technology
(40:20) - Wireless & Lower Retrofit Costs
(44:49) - Where AI Adds Value
(48:20) - Collaboration Superpower: Albert Einstein and Claude Shannon

💚 Learn more:
➡️ Visit OTI
➡️ Brian Turner on LinkedIn

💚 Feature:
➡️ Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2026: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on September 22nd-24th, 2026. As a friend of Tangent, you can save $300 on your All-Access pass.

💚 Connect with Tangent:
➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn
➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn
➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn

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