To bridge theory and practice, this session focuses on case studies of successful efforts to decarbonize federal buildings. Speakers discuss how they identified measures to decarbonize buildings and how they chose to implement them. The session focuses on the practical application of building performance standards in Executive Order 14057 and attempts 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 versus retrofit? How do building electrification strategies differ across geographic areas, building types, and missions? Speakers 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, 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.
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 can take to identify how to reduce their buildings' carbon footprint;
- Recognize how federal employees can help to implement measures to reduce their buildings' carbon footprint;
- Identify what resources are available to help with reducing a building's carbon footprint.
