Considerations for Underserved Commercial Buildings
This webinar will introduce the concept of underserved, or equity-eligible, commercial buildings. Speakers will discuss reasons why certain commercial buildings are underserved, common barriers to pursuing upgrades in underserved commercial buildings, and potential strategies for overcoming or addressing those barriers. A focus of this webinar will be understanding how to craft a locally appropriate definition of “underserved commercial” and choosing which segments of building stock and/or community (e.g., by location, ownership type, business/entity type, building size, etc.) to target to maximize the benefits of energy efficiency in your community.
Speakers:
Carolin Tolentino, Research Analyst, ACEEE
Carolin Tolentino assists the Buildings Team with research on energy codes and low- and zero-energy buildings. She joined ACEEE in 2020. Prior to joining ACEEE, Carolin was an intern at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability with the Sustainable Resources team. Before that, she interned with the Education Department at Urban Green Council.
Carolin earned a bachelor of arts in environmental policy and German studies from Rice University.
Carolyn Conant, Technical Assistance Coordinator, ACEEE
Carolyn works on ACEEE’s Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity (R2E2) initiative, which provides deep technical assistance to state, local, and tribal governments as well as community-based organizations to jumpstart energy upgrades for single family and multifamily affordable housing, especially in frontline communities. She joined ACEEE in 2022. Prior to joining ACEEE, Carolyn managed Fort Collins Utilities’ Bloomberg Mayors Challenge-winning residential energy efficiency program, Epic Homes. Before that she worked on municipal sustainability objectives, community engagement, strategic planning, and implementation related to the City of Fort Collins’ Our Climate Future Plan, which centers equity and leads with race while working toward the community’s clean energy, waste reduction, and carbon reduction goals.
Carolyn earned a master of arts in environmental sociology from Colorado State University and a bachelor of arts in social and cultural analysis and metropolitan studies from New York University.
Amber Wood, Buildings Program Director, ACEEE
Amber directs the Buildings Program to increase energy efficiency and decarbonize buildings and homes through policies and codes at the federal, state, and local levels. She promotes best practices to enhance equity and affordability in the commercial, multifamily, and residential sectors. She joined ACEEE in 2021. Prior to joining ACEEE, Amber worked at the City and County of Denver as the energy program administrator in the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency.
Amber holds a master of science in engineering systems from the Colorado School of Mines and a bachelor of science in civil and mechanical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.