Professional Background
Christopher Naismith is the Founder and CEO of Audette.io, a company specializing in decarbonization planning for commercial real estate. Trained as an Engineer and Building Scientist, Naismith has over a decade of experience working with commercial and institutional real estate owners to design energy efficiency and decarbonization strategies.
Key Roles and Expertise
- Retrofit Specialist: Known for his expertise in retrofit projects, Naismith has an extensive background in executing strategies to improve building performance.
- Cleantech Expert: Naismith has contributed significantly to clean technology solutions aimed at reducing carbon footprints in the built environment.
- Government and Commercial Programs: He has been involved in developing government-scale programs and project engineering for HVAC solutions.
Recent Activities and Insights
- Electrification and Building Performance: In a recent LinkedIn post dated Sep 6, 2024, Naismith emphasized the importance of having an electrification plan for asset management.
- ESG Data Analyst Role: As per a LinkedIn post from Aug 14, 2024, he reflected on challenges and insights from his new role as an ESG data analyst for real estate.
- Public Webinar: Naismith hosted a webinar on June 26, 2024, focusing on CRREM (Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor) and its impact on North American real estate.
Company Overview: Audette.io
- Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Audette.io is recognized as a leading platform for decarbonization planning in commercial real estate.
- Mission and Technology:
- Audette.io develops tools that enable commercial real estate asset managers to create detailed, budget-ready plans aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions.
- The company has aggregated a data lake covering every commercial building in North America, integrating energy and equipment records to provide actionable zero-carbon capital plans.
Financial and Operational Highlights
- Total Funding: Approximately $10,680,928 from six funding rounds.
- Largest Funding Stage: Seed.
- Number of Investors: 12.
Notable Interviews and Articles
- Authority Magazine Interview (Feb 2, 2023):
- Naismith discussed the essential role of carbon-free buildings in achieving a carbon-free economy.
- Emphasized the need for empathy, accountability, and audacity in corporate culture.
- Shared his vision for connecting financial incentives and technologies to support carbon reduction in real estate.
Personal Background
- Early Life and Career Shift: Grew up in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and initially worked as a housing developer. A transformative experience in New Mexico, where he worked on off-grid housing projects, motivated him to pivot towards sustainable building sciences.
- Mentorship: Credited engineer Justin Blanchfield for mentoring him, which significantly shaped his career trajectory.
Life Lessons and Philosophies
- "Get Out of the Building": Advocates for testing solutions in real-world settings to ensure practical applicability.
- Empathy, Accountability, Audacity: Values that Naismith embeds into his leadership at Audette.io.
Conclusion
Christopher Naismith brings a robust combination of technical expertise, leadership, and a deep commitment to sustainability to his role at Audette.io. His efforts in decarbonization planning have positioned Audette.io as a critical player in the transition towards a carbon-free built environment. His strategic focus on integrating technology and actionable data has enabled commercial real estate sectors to accelerate their journey toward sustainability.