Regional Differences, Shared Solutions - A Southern Case Study
Username
Meredith Elder
Proposer First Name
Meredith
Proposer Email
meredith.elder@2kbco.com
Proposer Last Name
Elder
Proposer Company/Organization
2KB Energy Services
Proposer Phone
(470) 709-5148
Proposer Job Title
Relationship Development
Proposer Additional Info
Presenter at NCAPPA - Women in Facilities North Carolina; background in grassroots efforts and communications.
Proposed Session Description
As one in three U.S. buildings requires major renovation, the Southeast’s urgent need for resilient infrastructure offers valuable insights for us all. Despite policy and financial obstacles, the region is forging paths in adaptive carbon reduction strategies. By exploring both struggles and successes, we can learn from each other’s approaches to resilience, as shown in a recent 2KB project in North Carolina. Together, we can create energy solutions that transcend regional divides.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Ruthie is a team member of a nationally operating Southern 8(a) firm. The market in the South struggles to find financial motivations and support for decarbonizing retrofits. 2KB has the perspective of tackling this landscape as a small, disadvantaged business.
Learning Objectives
Consider the decarbonization and resilience successes in the Northeast, and how these systems and funding opportunities might be replicable in other regions.
Consider the decarbonization and resilience strategies in the South, and how similar innovative and creative problem-solving may be applied elsewhere.
Evaluate issues that different parts of the county face on the path to decarbonization, and through these outside perspectives, how might we shed light on each other's roadblocks?
Identify knowledge sharing opportunities across regions for a more interconnected and effective pursuit of decarbonization.
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 2 - Some prior knowledge helpful.
Session Format
Presentation followed by facilitated discussion or breakout groups
Session Format Details
A 30-minute exploration of the energy decarbonization landscape in the South, a 15-minute breakout session to discuss regional differences and lessons learned, and a 15-minute reconvening to share thoughts.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
90-minute session
Comments about your speaker roster
Ruthie Norton has over a decade of experience in sustainability and resilience planning within the public sector, having executed over $180M in energy savings projects and prepared cities across the country for fleet electrification. Her career began in the City of Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability, where she developed the City’s first comprehensive sustainability plan. This plan incorporated ten areas of discipline, five stakeholder groups throughout the community, and hundreds of collaborative initiatives. Ruthie has since served local governments and transit agencies nationwide in fleet electrification and facility decarbonization.
In her current role as Strategic Development Director for 2KB Energy Services, Ruthie identifies strategic service areas and markets to help the organization achieve its goal of creating a more sustainable community for all. Ruthie has facilitated the implementation of facility assessments, procurement of architectural and engineering companies, and the ensuing construction. She is skilled at developing partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including non-profits, government entities, academia, and businesses with has proven results in strategic energy and fleet planning/implementation.
Ruthie earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Recent Speaking Engagements:
AWPA – Jekyll Island – 1 hour presentation with a follow up workshop – July 2024
National Facility Managers Tradeshow – Baltimore, MD – 1 hour – March 2024
Georgia Environmental Conference – Athens, Ga – 1 hour panel moderation – May 2023
Presenters
Full Description
Often, the South lags behind other regions in decarbonization efforts. Is there still something to learn from those facing these challenges? What if those closest to the obstacles—regressive policies, climate-change impacts, limited funding—are also closest to the solutions? What if regions across the country, with varied decarbonization landscapes and funding mechanisms, embraced the benefits of knowledge-sharing and mutual learning?
According to the Energy Information Administration, one in three U.S. commercial buildings are failing and in need of major renovations. Additionally, the Southeast region needs accessible solutions for infrastructure as environmental changes intensify. As energy resilience becomes an increasingly urgent issue, the Southeast presents a unique opportunity to explore adaptive approaches for carbon reduction, despite the constraints posed by local policy. This presentation will delve into effective strategies for fostering resilience and decarbonization in a region where environmental impact is felt acutely yet the policy response remains slow to catch up.
The last half of the session will encourage dialogue in breakout groups and a reconvening in the final quarter hour. Discussion might include: Is it necessary to consider less-effective regions in long term strategy for national decarbonization? Will the big picture solutions be inclusive of regions that seem too far off-course? Can we learn from the South's hurdles and challenges in order to innovate solutions that are inclusive of all?