The Real Secret to Energy-Efficient Buildings? Operations & Maintenance Training
Aug 30, 2023
Show notes
Featuring
Luis Aragon, Senior Building Systems Engineer on SWA’s Building Operations, Decarbonization, and Efficiency (BODE) team
Luis focuses on Passive Building commissioning as well as commissioning for energy code compliance. Luis also provides training for multifamily building operators on, ventilation, air sealing, hydronic heating and domestic hot water distribution.
Heather Nolen, Building Systems Director on SWA’s Building Operations, Decarbonization, and Efficiency (BODE) team
Heather focuses on using data to design long-term capital plans for energy conservation. She works with multifamily property owners and managers to evaluate, manage, and improve building energy consumption across their portfolios.
Host: Dylan Martello, Senior Building Systems Consultant on SWA’s Passive House team
Dylan has experience working on high-performance projects ranges from Passive House consulting on large scale multifamily, commercial, institutional projects; net zero consulting on mid-rise multifamily; and envelope commissioning on mid-sized commercial projects.
Over the lifespan of a building, operations and maintenance staff arguably have the biggest impact on system performance and energy efficiency. With the right training, staff can keep a building running as it was designed to run and “create the change” to reduce energy usage, reduce repairs, and upgrade vs. replace equipment.
So how do project teams create O&M training programs that achieve all this?
In this episode, producer and guest host Dylan Martello chats with Luis Aragon and Heather Nolen—two O&M training experts at SWA—about balancing in-person and digital education, accounting for every learning style, breaking down language barriers, sustaining the training for the long term, and much more.
The Passive House Network Conference 2023 is a hybrid event for builders, designers, and community members to connect, learn, and plan for a decarbonized future. Over 2.5 days and thirty sessions, attendees will reflect on how Passive House bolsters climate resiliency, environmental justice, and everyday health. Share your ambitions. Bridge the connections. Register now, join the conversation, and start building your Passive House Network today: phnconference.org
We Want to Hear From You!
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com.
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Answering the Tough Questions About Energy Codes
Jul 07, 2023
Show notes
Featuring
Gayathri Vijayakumar
Gayathri Vijayakumar is a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Steven Winter Associates, Inc, with over 18 years of experience supporting high-performance multifamily buildings. She graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Engineering Science and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a MS in Mechanical Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management. Gayathri currently provides technical support to the EPA’s Indoor airPLUS program and ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction programs. She currently is a voting member of the 2024 IECC Residential Consensus Committee and Chair of RESNET’s Standards Development Committee, SDC300.
Karla Butterfield
Ms. Butterfield is a Sustainability Director at Steven Winter Associates, Inc., working with residential buildings. Her expertise is in sustainable consulting services, program certification support and implementation of high-performance building technologies. With architects, developers, builders, and homeowners, she develops specific sustainability strategies for both new construction and renovations.
William Zoeller
As Director of the Building Enclosure Services team at Steven Winter Associates, Bill has managed projects ranging from masonry restoration of landmarked buildings and deep-energy retrofits of historic properties to new construction Passive House residential towers.
Dylan Martello
Dylan is a Senior Building Systems Consultant and Certified Passive House Designer with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. specializing in Passive House and Net Zero projects. Dylan works with project architects and engineers to assist in the design of extremely energy efficient buildings. His direct project experience on large-scale Passive House certified or pre-certified projects comprises a wide range of use types such as high rise multifamily, core and shell offices, hotels, and industrial facilities.
Host: Robb Aldrich
Robb focuses on building energy systems: researching new technologies, monitoring performance, and helping practitioners create better, healthier, more efficient buildings.
What happens when you put four sustainable building experts involved in energy code development in a room and ask them to bring their favorite—and sometimes, most controversial—topics for discussion? You end up with more questions than answers!
In this roundtable episode hosted by Robb Aldrich, our guests ask each other these tough questions related to our nation’s energy codes:
Performance Metrics: How can energy codes be simplified? Is energy use intensity (EUI) a viable alternate metric?
Gas Bans: If jurisdictions cannot ban gas, how can we put electrification in the energy code?
Embodied Carbon: How should embodied carbon accounting be incorporated into energy codes?
Robb’s Bonus Question #1: How are building inspectors dealing with complicated energy codes?
Robb’s Bonus Question #2: Should there be electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements in energy codes?
Our episode host, Robb Aldrich, has been researching, consulting, and providing training on heat pump technology for over 20 years. During that time, heat pumps have evolved to meet the demands of residential heating in cold climates—resulting in significant implications for decarbonization and electrification goals.
Robb is sharing practical applications, important considerations, and real-world examples of the good and the bad (and the sometimes ugly) in Air-Source Heat Pumps: Achieving Comfort and Efficiency in Cold Climates available exclusively through SWA Academy.
This user-paced training program features eight chapters with short video lessons that deep-dive into elements of inverter-driven air-source heat pump implementation, from pre-design to installation to operations and maintenance.
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com.
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Cost vs. Conservation vs. Comfort – Roundtable, Part 2
May 01, 2023
Show notes
Featuring
Michelle DeCarlo
Michelle M. DeCarlo, PE, LEED AP BD+C, serves as an Associate Partner at Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B). Since joining the firm in 2007, she has led the HVAC design for JB&B on a variety of projects, including the new core and shell office design for 30 Hudson Yards, the commercial office redevelopment of the landmarked Moynihan Train Hall, and The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Michelle is also committed to the advancement of women in the industry. In 2018, she launched the JB&B Women’s Initiative, an in-house membership group whose mission is the empowerment of women to position them as leaders inside and outside the firm, and to promote the retention of women through leadership and professional development. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Real Estate for Women (CREW) of New York, currently serving as the President. She recently completed four years of service on the ASHRAE New York Board of Governors, serving as chairperson of its Women in ASHRAE Committee. Read more
Saeideh Kirby
Saeideh Kirby is the Senior Director leading Energy and Sustainability Services for multiple industry verticals within the Americas at JLL. In this role, she is responsible for the service delivery in the region and assisting more than 50 sustainability professionals in executing energy and sustainability programs for various clients to meet their sustainability goals. These programs include support in providing roadmaps and implementation towards carbon, energy, water, and waste goals through carbon and energy forecasting, benchmarking, energy conservation projects, energy procurement, alternative energy evaluation, investigation into new technologies, sustainable supply chain, and incorporating sustainability into the full lifecycle of facility management. Prior to joining JLL, Saeideh was senior energy project engineer at SourceOne and was responsible for conducting Cogen feasibility studies and design reviews for multiple clients based in New York.
Erin McElwee
As a Building Systems Consultant at SWA, Erin McElwee provides commissioning (Cx) services for NYC ECC code compliance, LEED Fundamental and Enhanced Cx, and Passive House projects. Erin assists teams with reviews of design drawings and project submittals, conducts commissioning tests on-site, verifies equipment specifications, and provides recommended corrective actions.
Host: Kelly Westby
Kelly Westby leads the Building Operations, Decarbonization, and Efficiency (BODE) team at SWA. She has a wide range of experience in building science, commissioning, and energy efficiency retrofitting. The BODE team is focused on optimizing performance and reducing energy use and carbon emissions of building systems for new construction and existing buildings across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. The team offers benchmarking, capital planning, energy management, implementation, commissioning, research, program management, and policy advisory services. Kelly’s commissioning, energy code, and efficiency projects cover millions of square feet of commercial buildings along the East Coast. She also speaks at events and conferences, sharing her expertise on industry best practices.
The ideal building is cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and comfortable for its occupants. But executing all three of these elements to perfection can be complex and costly. Can there ever be a win-win-win across all three?
In part two of our roundtable episode with Michelle DeCarlo, Saeideh Kirby, Erin McElwee, and Buildings + Beyond host Kelly Westby, our guests discuss how to find a balance between meeting project objectives and creating sustainable and healthy buildings. They also share how they’ve seen the COVID-19 pandemic change project priorities and building operations.
Did you miss part one of this roundtable? Go to the previous episode to hear our guests’ moving discussion on gender equity in the building industry.
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com.
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Take Action: How Everyone Can Help Advance Gender Equity in the Building Industry – Roundtable, Part 1
Mar 30, 2023
Show notes
Featuring
Michelle DeCarlo
Michelle M. DeCarlo, PE, LEED AP BD+C, serves as an Associate Partner at Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B). Since joining the firm in 2007, she has led the HVAC design for JB&B on a variety of projects, including the new core and shell office design for 30 Hudson Yards, the commercial office redevelopment of the landmarked Moynihan Train Hall, and The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Michelle is also committed to the advancement of women in the industry. In 2018, she launched the JB&B Women’s Initiative, an in-house membership group whose mission is the empowerment of women to position them as leaders inside and outside the firm, and to promote the retention of women through leadership and professional development. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Real Estate for Women (CREW) of New York, currently serving as the President. She recently completed four years of service on the ASHRAE New York Board of Governors, serving as chairperson of its Women in ASHRAE Committee. Read more
Saeideh Kirby
Saeideh Kirby is the Senior Director leading Energy and Sustainability Services for multiple industry verticals within the Americas at JLL. In this role, she is responsible for the service delivery in the region and assisting more than 50 sustainability professionals in executing energy and sustainability programs for various clients to meet their sustainability goals. These programs include support in providing roadmaps and implementation towards carbon, energy, water, and waste goals through carbon and energy forecasting, benchmarking, energy conservation projects, energy procurement, alternative energy evaluation, investigation into new technologies, sustainable supply chain, and incorporating sustainability into the full lifecycle of facility management. Prior to joining JLL, Saeideh was senior energy project engineer at SourceOne and was responsible for conducting Cogen feasibility studies and design reviews for multiple clients based in New York.
Erin McElwee
As a Building Systems Consultant at SWA, Erin McElwee provides commissioning (Cx) services for NYC ECC code compliance, LEED Fundamental and Enhanced Cx, and Passive House projects. Erin assists teams with reviews of design drawings and project submittals, conducts commissioning tests on-site, verifies equipment specifications, and provides recommended corrective actions.
Host: Kelly Westby
Kelly Westby leads the Building Operations, Decarbonization, and Efficiency (BODE) team at SWA. She has a wide range of experience in building science, commissioning, and energy efficiency retrofitting. The BODE team is focused on optimizing performance and reducing energy use and carbon emissions of building systems for new construction and existing buildings across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. The team offers benchmarking, capital planning, energy management, implementation, commissioning, research, program management, and policy advisory services. Kelly’s commissioning, energy code, and efficiency projects cover millions of square feet of commercial buildings along the East Coast. She also speaks at events and conferences, sharing her expertise on industry best practices.
To mark Women’s History Month, we wanted to get firsthand perspectives from women in the building industry. We invited Michelle DeCarlo of JB&B and Saeideh Kirby of JLL to join SWA’s Erin McElwee and Kelly Westby for a two-part episode tackling different topics—starting with gender equity.
In part one of their discussion, the group explores gender equity in male-dominated fields such as construction, HVAC, and engineering. They cover a range of topics, including microaggressions, implicit bias, authenticity in the workplace, and mentorship and sponsorship, and offer actionable takeaways for people of all gender identities to help advance gender equity across our industry.
We thank our guests for sharing their personal experiences!
Look out for part two of their discussion on balancing cost, conservation, and comfort in sustainable buildings.
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com.
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
ENERGY STAR NextGen: 5 Requirements for Climate-Friendly Homes
Feb 16, 2023
Show notes
Featuring
Asa Foss
Asa Foss joined EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch in 2020, where he’s managing ENERGY STAR NextGen, an operational decarbonization-focused new construction specification. He’s been in the residential efficiency industry since the early 2000s, including a decade at the U.S. Green Building Council where he was responsible for the development of the LEED for Homes rating systems. He renovated and lives in a designated-historic ENERGY STAR and LEED Platinum certified rowhouse in Washington, DC.
Elliot Seibert
Bio coming soon!
Building on the 25-year foundation of the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program, the EPA is gearing up to launch a new certification program for efficient single-family and multifamily homes: ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes and Apartments. Based on initial energy and emissions modeling, ENERGY STAR NextGen certified homes will achieve an average of 47% greater carbon savings than homes built according to 2021 residential energy code.
In this episode, Robb chats with two members of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch, Asa Foss and Elliot Seibert, about what home builders, raters, and buyers can expect from ENERGY STAR NextGen and its electric-forward—not all-electric—focus. They discuss each of the program’s requirements and the rationale and goals behind them.
Episode Information & Resources
The 5 NextGen Requirements for Climate-Friendly Homes:
Note: time stamps below in parenthesis
Highly energy-efficient construction (12:17)
ENERGY STAR certified heat pumps for space heating (16:47)
ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters (22:38)
Induction cooktops and electric ovens (Yes, we address the elephant in the room—the gas stove.) (29:38)
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com.
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
How Can We Convince More Homeowners to Make Energy-Efficiency Upgrades?
Jan 02, 2023
Show notes
Featuring
Christine Liaukus, RA, CPHC
Christine Liaukus, RA, CPHC, is the Housing and Community Development Program Manager for the Center for Building Knowledge at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. At the Center, Christine’s research is focused on improving the energy performance of existing buildings during typical retrofit projects, most recently with Re-Side Right. Christine has developed training for various New Jersey Clean Energy programs through the NJ Clean Energy Learning Center and has taught high-performance building enclosure coursework at the Hillier College of Architecture and Design at NJIT. Prior to joining NJIT, Christine was a Project Architect with the New York firm Chris Benedict R.A. creating environmentally responsible affordable housing. Christine is a member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and was the first Certified Passive House Consultant in New Jersey.
Adam Stenftenagel
Adam Stenftenagel has been working in the green building industry since 2004. He co-owns four Boulder, Colorado-based businesses that focus on helping new and existing homes use net-zero energy, including Snugg Home and Radiant Labs. He is also co-founder and CEO at both of these companies. Adam focuses on keeping the businesses running efficiently as well as business development and sales. He specializes in building science, energy modeling, and cost-benefit analysis. Adam’s passion is helping to prevent runaway climate change. He also enjoys live music, gardening, and hiking.
The average homeowner is aware that energy efficiency is important in the fight against climate change. The people who are most passionate about energy conservation are making upgrades to their homes and setting a good example for their neighbors. But how can we get more homeowners excited about doing the work (and navigating the cost) to improve their home’s performance?
On this episode, Robb chats with Adam Stenftenagel and Christine Liaukus (a SWA alum!), two experts on improving existing buildings, about what it’ll take to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of single-family homes on a much larger scale than we are today. They discuss data, strategies, technologies, and of course, financing that can help get millions of homeowners on the path to net zero energy.
SWA Academy is the user-paced learning platform that gives organizations and project teams the technical knowledge they need to create energy efficient, sustainable, and accessible buildings.
Organizations enrolled in SWA Academy can build custom training programs with accredited courses on topics from building design and construction to operations and maintenance.
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Designing for Equity in the Built Environment with Victoria Lanteigne
Nov 15, 2022
Show notes
Featuring
Victoria Lanteigne
Victoria Lanteigne has over 15 years of experience in improving the built environment through equity, inclusive design, and health and wellness.
Earlier in her career, Victoria joined SWA as a Senior Accessibility Consultant, collaborating with architects, developers, and other practitioners to improve the accessibility of buildings, and launched SWA’s inclusive design services. In 2020, Victoria joined the PhD in Design program at North Carolina State University, where she conducted extensive research to understand how design impacts the physical, mental, and emotional health of building occupants. Her doctoral research aims to develop a new industry framework for embedding equity in the design of the built environment.
This year, as Victoria nears the end of her PhD program, she rejoins SWA’s accessibility team as Principal of Research to lead a new equity research initiative—which will include the introduction of a new industry framework for embedding equity in building design and exploring outcomes.
There is a lot of work ahead of us to advance equity in the built environment. As more project teams aim to impact equity, there are overarching questions that need to be answered: What design strategies will advance equity in the built environment? And how do we make equity part of building performance?
In this episode, Alex chats with Victoria Lanteigne, Principal of Research at Steven Winter Associates (SWA), about her expertise in equity, health, and inclusive design. Victoria shares how, through her research, she hopes to build on the way we measure building performance—from outcomes focused on energy and resource efficiency to those that include aspects of human experiences, such as the health, wellbeing, and sense of belonging of all building occupants.
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Construction Diaries Part 2: Tips for Young Professionals
Oct 01, 2022
Show notes
Featuring
Dylan Martello
Dylan is a Senior Building Systems Consultant and Certified Passive House Designer with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. specializing in Passive House and Net Zero projects. Dylan works with project architects and engineers to assist in the design of extremely energy efficient buildings. His direct project experience on large-scale Passive House certified or pre-certified projects comprises a wide range of use types such as high rise multifamily, core and shell offices, hotels, and industrial facilities.
Jenny Powell
As a Building Systems Director at Steven Winter Associates, Jenny focuses on LEED Fundamental and Enhanced commissioning projects, as well as commissioning for energy code compliance.
Joe Andracchio
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer and Sustainability Consultant at Steven Winter Associates, Joseph manages both new and existing green building projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including LEED Homes and Multifamily Midrise, National Green Building Standard, Enterprise Green Communities, ENERGY STAR and multiple existing building incentive programs.
Michael Schmidt
Michael Schmidt is a Senior Building Systems Consultant with a focus on performance testing, field inspections, and verification of energy efficacy measures on projects pursuing Passive House certification. He consults with project teams throughout design and construction, with early involvement in plan reviews and later final testing to ensure actual performance meets design specifications. His Construction Management education, along with hands-on experience, allows him to collaborate and problem-solve with project teams. Michael is accredited in both the Passive House US (PHIUS) and International (PHI) standards.
Throughout the episode, the group provides some words of wisdom, including how to handle intimidation and animosity in the field, how to maximize time spent traveling from site to site, and more. Lastly, each guest ends the episode by sharing a piece of advice that they wish they had when they started their careers.
SWA is a proud sponsor of this year’s Green Building Showcase Awards Program & Celebration, the premier annual event celebrating the successes of the Massachusetts green building community. Hosted by Built Environment Plus – a membership-based nonprofit driving the sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operations of the built environment – this year’s showcase will take place October 27th, 2022 at Harvard University’s Science & Engineering Complex – last year’s Green Building of the Year Award winner.
This is a terrific opportunity to support the important work of Built Environment Plus while engaging key practitioners, leaders, advisors, decision-makers, and other stakeholders advancing the sustainability of the built environment. Learn more about the event here.
“The P3 Higher Education Summit examines campus infrastructure challenges faced by colleges and universities nationwide, and how new approaches to procurement, risk, planning, and asset management are helping campus planners and facility managers deliver critical projects nationwide.
Join over 600 college and university representatives, developers, and design-build professionals for two days of project delivery discussions and networking. Check out P3HigherEducation.com to learn more and to register. Opportunities for sponsorship are still available.
Register with code SWINTER for $100 off your registration!
We Want to Hear From You!
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Construction Diaries: Lessons Learned From SWA’s Inspection & Verification Experts
Aug 26, 2022
Show notes
Featuring
Dylan Martello
Dylan is a Senior Building Systems Consultant and Certified Passive House Designer with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. specializing in Passive House and Net Zero projects. Dylan works with project architects and engineers to assist in the design of extremely energy efficient buildings. His direct project experience on large-scale Passive House certified or pre-certified projects comprises a wide range of use types such as high rise multifamily, core and shell offices, hotels, and industrial facilities.
Jenny Powell
As a Building Systems Director at Steven Winter Associates, Jenny focuses on LEED Fundamental and Enhanced commissioning projects, as well as commissioning for energy code compliance.
Joe Andracchio
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer and Sustainability Consultant at Steven Winter Associates, Joseph manages both new and existing green building projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including LEED Homes and Multifamily Midrise, National Green Building Standard, Enterprise Green Communities, ENERGY STAR and multiple existing building incentive programs.
Michael Schmidt
Michael Schmidt is a Senior Building Systems Consultant with a focus on performance testing, field inspections, and verification of energy efficacy measures on projects pursuing Passive House certification. He consults with project teams throughout design and construction, with early involvement in plan reviews and later final testing to ensure actual performance meets design specifications. His Construction Management education, along with hands-on experience, allows him to collaborate and problem-solve with project teams. Michael is accredited in both the Passive House US (PHIUS) and International (PHI) standards.
One of the main drivers behind a successful building project is third-party inspection and verification. This critical, yet often overlooked, step in the construction process is designed to help buildings achieve a desired quality of performance and can also help save project teams substantial time and money along the way.
That being said, the role of an inspector or verifier is not for the faint of heart. They are often scrutinized and even blamed for “slowing progress” following a construction intervention. In reality, these dedicated professionals are actually looking out for the project’s best interest and save time in the long-run by preventing costly repairs. Without them, building performance and occupant health and comfort could be compromised.
In this episode, we invited three inspection and verification professionals from Steven Winter Associates to shed light on the challenges they face while inspecting construction projects. We learn what they look for when they are on site and how they reach solutions with project teams when standards are not being met. This engaging roundtable discussion is a great reminder of just how valuable a third-party inspector can be.
Sponsor
“The P3 Higher Education Summit examines campus infrastructure challenges faced by colleges and universities nationwide, and how new approaches to procurement, risk, planning, and asset management are helping campus planners and facility managers deliver critical projects nationwide.
Join over 600 college and university representatives, developers, and design-build professionals for two days of project delivery discussions and networking. Check out P3HigherEducation.com to learn more and to register. Opportunities for sponsorship are still available.
Register with code SWINTER for $100 off your registration!
We Want to Hear From You!
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
Practicing What We Preach: Everyday Solutions for Living a Sustainable Lifestyle
Jul 20, 2022
Show notes
Featuring
Robb Aldrich
Robb focuses on building energy systems: researching new technologies, monitoring performance, and helping practitioners create better, healthier, more efficient buildings.
Maureen Mahle
As Managing Director of the Sustainable Building Services team at Steven Winter Associates, Maureen leads a multi-faceted team dedicated to providing sustainable design and construction consulting for a variety of project types including community developments, residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use buildings.
Andrea Foss
As Sustainability Director at Steven Winter Associates and Washington, DC resident, Andrea leads a multi-faceted team dedicated to providing sustainable design and construction consulting for a variety of project types including community developments, residential and mixed-use buildings.
Gayathri Vijayakumar
Gayathri Vijayakumar is a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Steven Winter Associates, Inc, with over 18 years of experience supporting high-performance multifamily buildings. She graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Engineering Science and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a MS in Mechanical Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management. Gayathri currently provides technical support to the EPA’s Indoor airPLUS program and ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction programs. She currently is a voting member of the 2024 IECC Residential Consensus Committee and Chair of RESNET’s Standards Development Committee, SDC300.
We talk a lot about sustainability at a large scale; this typically includes large building projects or grid-level issues, like energy affordability and access to renewables. But how about the small-scale? What type of sustainability initiatives are people passionate about in their everyday lives?
To answer this question, Robb assembled a group of sustainability professionals from Steven Winter Associates and asked them to share some best practices for living a more sustainable lifestyle. Each guest responds with one topic they are passionate about and explains how they turned a common challenge into a sustainable solution.
Here’s the breakdown of topics by guest:
Maureen Mahle – Eliminating combustion and going all-electric [0:03:25]
Andrea Foss – Water conservation in toilets [0:24:15]
Robb Aldrich – Walkability and proximity to transit [0:41:10]
Gayathri Vijayakumar – Duct sealing [0:59:00]
Episode Resources
Eliminating combustion and going all-electric:
Video – Samantha Bee’s take on cooking with gas (with RMI):
“The P3 Higher Education Summit examines campus infrastructure challenges faced by colleges and universities nationwide, and how new approaches to procurement, risk, planning, and asset management are helping campus planners and facility managers deliver critical projects nationwide.
Join over 600 college and university representatives, developers, and design-build professionals for two days of project delivery discussions and networking. Check out P3HigherEducation.com to learn more and to register. Opportunities for sponsorship are still available.
Register with code SWINTER for $100 off your registration!
We Want to Hear From You!
Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com
About Buildings and Beyond
Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.
Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.
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Certified Homes and Apartments. Based on initial energy and emissions modeling, ENERGY STAR NextGen certified homes will achieve an average of 47% greater carbon savings than homes built according to 2021 residential energy code.
