Can Building Supers Become Energy-Saving Superheroes?
Todd Rogers
Proposal Status
Ready for Committee Review
Username
Todd Rogers
Proposer First Name
Todd
Proposer Email
trogers@energytrainers.net
Proposer Last Name
Rogers
Proposer Phone
(315) 569-3635
Proposer Job Title
President
Proposer Additional Info
For over twenty years, Todd Rogers, CEM has been designing innovative energy education and behavior-based energy management programs. His program design services are utilized by K-12 schools, energy service companies (ESCO's), public housing authorities, utilities, and government agencies. His work includes development of building operator training programs and the design and management of behavioral energy management (BEM) programming at over 30 public housing authorities, nationwide. He was the lead curriculum developer of the NYSERDA-funded Top Ops program, which integrates building operator training with a strategic energy management approach. Developed in partnership with Ross Energy, LLC, this program impacts over 60 multifamily buildings in New York City and provides training along with 1-on-1 mentoring for over 55 building supers.
He also led the development of KiloWatch, a student-driven BEM program for K-12 schools. KiloWatch is a way for school districts to reduce energy costs while incorporating hands-on, STEM-based learning experiences for students.
The breadth of his experience includes performing analyses for energy performance contracting projects and teaching public school. In 2002 he founded Energy Training Solutions (ETS), which has become a national leader in energy education and behavioral energy management, occupant engagement programming, and training for building operators.
Proposed Session Description
Building supers can make a big difference in building energy use. But training this audience and changing day-to-day maintenance procedures presents special challenges, particularly in older, mid-size, steam-heated buildings in NYC. We will present the challenges and successes of the NYSERDA-funded Top Ops Program, which integrates site-based training into a Strategic Energy Management (SEM) approach and detail the most effective interventions leading to behavior change and skills uptake.
Why is this session important?
With tight budgets, these buildings often delay energy and water upgrades. Thus, building operators can play an outsized role in generating savings for the building. However, many challenges stand in the way due to the typical terms and structure of the building super role including:
• Willingness of management to direct staff and hold staff accountable for taking on additional tasks
• Supers who hold full-time jobs outside of their buildings
• Skepticism about impacts of energy improvements
• Resistance to accepting additional task assignments
• Language and culture
• Scheduling
Comments
YES. The "managing" part of
YES. The "managing" part of the built environment is less flashy but equally important in decarbonization efforts. Might be helpful to include how behavior change in operators translates to actual energy savings, through load profiles comparisons etc.
Round 2 Discussion: YES. Full
Round 2 Discussion: YES. Full disclosure, I know Todd from 32BJ. I do not work directly with him. I met with Todd and Keirnyn about this proposal and I think it is great. It falls in-line with empowering the individuals charged with running our buildings with the skills to actually maintain them on a higher level. In terms of "justice and equity" I see this program as a springboard for Supers to see beyond their current roles. It's an opportunity to connect on-the-job-training with fields of study that they may have previously thought beyond them because of the formal education limitations they may have. In addition, building Supers are at the forefront of the energy field.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
The majority of buildings we’re working with are rent-stabilized housing, with approximately 50% of both the building operators and tenants meeting the eligibility requirements to be considered a Disadvantaged Community or Priority Population.
Learning Objectives
1. Transfer strategies and procedures to O&M personnel that result in increased savings
2. Engage management and provide necessary background and training to help them motivate staff and understand effective procedures
3. Integrate training within a SEM framework that is targeted to specific audiences
4. Determine the tasks most likely to be successfully implemented by building supers
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
The majority of buildings we’re working with are rent-stabilized housing, with approximately 50% of both the building operators and tenants meeting the eligibility requirements to be considered a Disadvantaged Community or Priority Populations. The program impacts 62 buildings (over 2,200,000 SF) across two management companies and provides training and support to 57 staff. To date, 52 remote 1-on-1 training sessions, and 42 1-on-1 onsite training sessions have been completed. These sessions will continue throughout 2023. The program aims to generate annual energy savings of over $202,000 while avoiding over $133,000 in annual NYC Local Law 97 fines between 2024 and 2030 and over $1 million in annual fines after 2030.
In the session, we will detail the kinds of recurring interventions that were most effective at increasing skills uptake and changing the ways supers maintain buildings. Several strategies employed will be shared in detail including:
• On-site group and 1-on-1 training approaches that minimize travel and schedule disruptions while providing experience on actual equipment maintained by students
• Periodic mentoring/training sessions that incorporate elements of accountability combined with instruction along with quarterly management meetings.
• Integration of off-the-shelf survey software, as well as a video conferencing platform with augmented reality features.
• Management training that leads to better communication with staff regarding energy management practices and how to demonstrate that these efforts are a priority within their organizations.
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
NYC 2023 Areas of Focus
Session Format Details
The presentation could be structured as a moderated panel discussion between the presenters. With building operators and owners represented as well as program developers and implementers this format could work well in engaging the audience.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2023
Comments about your speaker roster
The roster includes the presidents of the two collaborating organizations that developed the program along with a building super and the owner of one of the management companies we worked with. In addition the NYSERDA program manager has been invited to participate in this session.
Reviewer 1
Boren, Michaela
Reviewer 2
Robertson, Martin
Curator
Robertson, Martin
Proposal #
153
Session #
NYC23-545
Committee Decision
Accepted
Round 1: YES I like how the
Round 1: YES I like how the proposal includes various points of view - a building operator, owner, trainer, and NYSERDA. What is not really mentioned and should be included in the proposal is decarbonization and financial savings metrics on the outcome of the training. Maybe ensure that something like a case study is presented.