Pittsburgh, PA
To bridge theory and practice, this session will focus on case studies of successful efforts to decarbonize federal buildings. Speakers will discuss on how they identified measures to decarbonize buildings and how they chose to implement them. The session will focus on the practical application of building performance standards in Executive Order 14057 and attempt to answer questions such as, which building systems and equipment can be electrified to help meet performance goals? How does this answer change based on new construction vs retrofit? How do building electrification strategies differ across geographic areas, building types, and missions? Speakers will also discuss the extent to which they used private financing as opposed to agency appropriated funding in order to bring their projects to fruition.
Instructors
Cynthia Bensburg, Energy Program Analyst, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, U.S. Department of State Read Bio
Cynthia Bensburg is an Energy Program Analyst in the Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). She has been with OBO for three years supporting the Energy Program. The Energy Program focuses on making the department's overseas buildings portfolio more energy efficient and resilient through utility data analytics, implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and strategizing around sustainability and decarbonization. Cynthia has previously worked for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) supporting renewable energy installations and state level energy and sustainability reporting requirements. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences from Cornell University.
Kelly Olson, Associate Director, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense Read Bio
Kelly Olson, P.E. is the Associate Director for MilCon in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Infrastructure Modernization and Resilience (ODASD(IM&R)). Her focus is developing the policy and technical framework to decarbonize new and existing DoD buildings. Prior to OSD, she worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Kansas City District on the Next NGA West Mega Project as a Contracting Officer's Representative, Civil Engineer, and Sustainability Lead. She received her MS from Stanford University in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a concentration in Sustainable Design and Construction. She is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Jeff Schaller, Energy Business Development Manager, Campus Energy, Southland Industries Read Bio
Jeff Schaller is a licensed mechanical engineer who has led the development and execution of numerous successful energy projects for municipal, state, and federal government buildings; correctional facilities; universities; and public schools across the U.S. over the past 19 years. He has held engineering, project development, business development, engineering management, and bid leadership roles for various types of energy infrastructure and utility savings projects. Jeff is currently a Business Development Manager for Southland Industries, where he focuses on developing campus energy upgrade projects through energy savings performance contracts (ESCO), public-private partnerships (P3), and other alternative procurement methods. His work assists clients with upgrading their energy infrastructure while transitioning to a sustainable utility future.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:
- Recognize the basics of efforts to decarbonize federal buildings;
- Identify what steps federal energy managers took to identifying how to reduce their buildings' carbon footprint;
- Recognize how federal employees can help to implement measures to reduce buildings carbon footprint;
- Identify what resources are available if you would be interested in reducing your buildings' carbon footprint.
