The DC-Powered Building Revolution: A 2030 Conversation
A Visionary Exchange on the Past and Future of Building Efficiency
By Robert Kroon
Imagine reflecting on the transition to DC-powered buildings in the year 2030. Below is a conversation in 2030 with Miles Everett Parker: Managing Partner of Parker Croft Associates, an engineering firm specializing in DC-powered building design and retrofits.
August Berres: Miles, it's a pleasure to finally have you here. Five years ago, when we first started pushing the DC revolution, I knew it would fundamentally change the industry. But even I'm surprised at the speed of adoption.
Miles Everett Parker: (Chuckles) Speed is relative, isn't it? For me, 2026 felt like a slow-motion train wreck. We were so entrenched in the AC world, we couldn't see the shift happening.
August Berres: That first client request for a DC comparison… it was a wake-up call, wasn't it?
Miles Everett Parker: A sledgehammer to the head, more like. We dismissed it. "DC? For a whole building? Preposterous!" We were so focused on the "good old boy" network, the dinners, the golf outings, that we lost sight of the actual value proposition.
August Berres: The relationship-driven approach was a staple for decades.
Miles Everett Parker: Exactly. And it worked, until it didn't. When the client walked away, citing superior energy efficiency and long-term cost savings with DC, we were stunned. It forced a brutal self-assessment.
August Berres: You had to pivot.
Miles Everett Parker: Pivot is an understatement. We had to completely reinvent ourselves. First, we had to educate ourselves on DC power. It wasn't just about swapping components; it was a fundamental shift in design philosophy. Then, we had to revamp our sales strategy. No more relying on personal connections. It was about data, performance, and demonstrating tangible savings.
August Berres: It must have been a difficult transition.
Miles Everett Parker: It was. Some of our sales team couldn't adapt. They were used to a different kind of deal-making. We had to bring in people with a more technical, consultative approach. And then, there was the creativity aspect.
August Berres: Creativity?
Miles Everett Parker: Absolutely. DC opened up so many possibilities for energy optimization. We started looking at integrated systems, microgrids, and leveraging on-site renewable energy. We realized that maximizing efficiency wasn't just about individual components; it was about the synergy between them.
August Berres: That's where AI has been instrumental, hasn't it?
Miles Everett Parker: Essential. We're now using AI-powered building management systems that analyze everything – occupancy forecasts, weather patterns, historical climate data, energy storage – to optimize energy usage in real-time. It's not just about saving energy; it's about predicting and preventing peak loads, smoothing out demand, and maximizing the lifespan of our systems.
August Berres: The integration of BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) has been a game-changer.
Miles Everett Parker: A necessity. The ability to store and distribute DC energy has allowed us to create truly resilient and sustainable buildings. We're seeing clients achieve near-zero energy consumption in some projects.
August Berres: And the competition?
Miles Everett Parker: Many didn't make it. They were too slow to adapt, too resistant to change. The DC revolution separated the innovators from the dinosaurs.
August Berres: It’s a testament to Parker Croft Associates' resilience and adaptability.
Miles Everett Parker: We learned a hard lesson, but it was a valuable one. We’re now at the forefront of this industry, helping clients build the sustainable, efficient buildings of the future.
August Berres: And that future, Miles, is powered by DC.
