Registration Closes on March 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM. Please contact Gabby at [email protected] if you need to register after this time.
Earn 1.0 LU|HSW
Presented by Committee on the Environment
In February 2020, Columbus Mayor Andrew J Ginther announced an ambitious goal for the Columbus community to be carbon neutral by 2050. Buildings account for 55% of community-wide carbon emissions so ensuring our building stock is as efficient as possible is beneficial to Columbus building owners, tenants, public health, energy demand, infrastructure, and utilities. The Energy and Water Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance requires all larger buildings to track and report energy and water usage to the city. Five years into benchmarking, Columbus began a stakeholder engagement process to develop a Building Performance Standard (BPS) that will use data and lessons learned from benchmarking, along with community input, to set energy targets for buildings and provide technical and financial assistance through the process of building improvements and compliance. This presentation will look at the Benchmarking Ordinance, the process to develop a draft BPS, the status of the Columbus Ordinance, and how building energy performance fits into the larger Columbus Climate Action Plan. We will examine the major components of a BPS, and relevant lessons from existing BPS’ around the country. The session will also include some perspective from COTE members and an activity where attendees can provide feedback about the draft BPS Ordinance and reflect on how it will affect AIA’s sustainability goals.
Meet the Speakers
Eric Porr | Management Analyst II, Energy Efficient Buildings
Eric manages the Columbus Benchmarking Ordinance, in the department of Building & Zoning Services. He has a bachelor’s from Otterbein College and an MS in Management and Sustainability from New England College. Eric has a background in Energy Efficiency (EE) and his passion for sustainability is evident in both his personal and professional life. He has worked for the United States Green Building Council as a Program Manager, a Technical Account Manager on the AEP Ohio Incentives Program for Commercial New Construction, and as a Residential Energy Specialist conducting Home Energy Assessments on the MASS SAVE Program while employed with CLEAResult. Eric developed his passion for sustainability by designing and building ‘Earthships’ with his wife and friends in rural Ohio with the use of a waste veggie-oil truck. Most recently, Eric has been able to share his passion by teaching sustainability merit badge in Scouting America.
Cassie Johnson | MPA, Buildings & Energy Coordinator, City of Columbus
Cassie implements the Buildings section of the Columbus Climate Action plan which seeks to reduce pollution by increasing renewable energy, increasing building efficiency, and improving resilience of new construction. Prior to joining the Sustainable Columbus team, Cassie engaged and supported Ohioans in their understanding of the impacts of local and statewide policy on the Communications Team at The Ohio Environmental Council. She then earned her master’s degree in public administration from The Ohio State University.
Lunch will be provided.
AIA Members / Allied Members: Free
Assoc. AIA Members / Students: Free
Non-Members: $30