About Us
The Green Engineer, LLP is a sustainable design consulting firm specializing in solutions to design, build, and operate buildings with improved energy efficiency and reduced impact on the environment. Founded in 2005 by Chris Schaffner, PE, LEED Fellow, the firm has a technical staff of eight LEED-Accredited Professionals. The expert team brings to the table experience and perspective from a variety of backgrounds including engineering, architecture, construction, planning, development, and public policy. We practice Integrative Design, and see sustainability as a core goal shared by design team members and stakeholders. Our practice uses tools such as energy and daylight modeling and life-cycle assessment of materials to analyze performance and inform our decision-making. We also consult for non-LEED clients, including affordable housing and other non-profit developers. To date, we have managed or been involved in more than 110 LEED projects in New England and around the country. See our projects. |
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Chris Schaffner, P.E., LEED Fellow
The Green Engineer founder, Chris Schaffner, P.E., LEED Fellow, is a professional mechanical engineer registered in Massachusetts, California, and Vermont. Chris has been a member of the USGBC faculty since 2001, training more than 9,200 building industry professionals in the LEED rating system. He is a member of the USGBC's Curriculum Committee, and is on the Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
How did you become involved with sustainable design?
Before I started building green, I felt a separation between my professional life and my personal thoughts and beliefs–I did what I thought my boss/client/peers wanted, instead of what I thought the best answer was. When I listened to the inner voice that told me to trust my own judgment, and do what I thought was best, it made all the difference.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
Although I don't look like one, I am an avid runner and ran in the NYC Marathon in November of 2010. My mantra is, "Someone has to finish last–why not me?"
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
I think we need every building to announce to visitors how much energy it is using.
After teaching a LEED workshop, what one thing do you want your students (professionals) to walk away with?
I hope they are as energized about the possibilities of green building as I am. Getting involved with LEED has been a life-changing experience for me, and I want to share that experience with others.
Erik Ruoff
How did you become involved with sustainable design? As a lifelong environmentalist I struggled to figure out how to have the most beneficial impact. I left school on the path for a career in environmental law, but became disenchanted by what I saw as the available options in the field. Too many positions in environmental law were struggling to make change, or worse, working for the wrong side. While I contemplated a career change (and chased the perfect ski day), I started working on single-family residential construction projects where I held every position from laborer to team leader. My 'ah-ha' moment came while working on a project in Colorado that had a motivated homeowner who was interested in energy efficient design. There I realized that sustainable design presented the perfect opportunity to merge my educational background in environmental theory and my experiential expertise in building construction. Working in sustainable design provides the opportunity to make real measurable environmental impacts in a sector that consumes huge amounts of energy and resources. I connected with Chris in late 2005 and became The Green Engineer's first employee in 2006.
What one thing do you want your clients to walk away with from their interactions with you?
I want them to understand that our services not only got them a plaque on the wall, but created a space that is durable, efficient and a better place to live and work.
What small green action do you advocate for in your daily life?
I spend extra money on fresh, local and/or organic food.
What is the most recent book you read? I finally got around to reading Michael Pollen's, The Omnivore's Dilemma and, yes, it is as good as everyone says it is.
Marie Nolan
How did you become involved with sustainable design?
I became involved with sustainable design while working as the Sustainable Design Research Coordinator for the Massachusetts Sustainable Design Roundtable, whose mission was to 'green' state buildings. Chris, the founder of TGE, was a member of the roundtable.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
I love hiking in the White Mountains with my family and my dogs.
What small green action do you advocate for in your daily life?
Turn off the tap!
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
I wish every building would automatically enter their energy data/utility bills into a program like Portfolio Manager to compare their energy use over time and with similar buildings.
What is the most recent book you read? While I was recently in Australia I read Diamonds and Dust, an autobiography by Sheryl McCorry, the first woman to run a million-acre cattle station in the outback.
Neetu Singh
Describe your first LEED project or other LEED experience and what you have learned.
The most interesting experience I have had thus far is on the Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center project, where I worked both as an energy modeler and LEED project manager.The dedication of the design team towards sustainability and LEED as a design tool, rather than a marketing strategy, was the winning point for this project. Quickly the project moved from just being LEED certified to a potential gold rating.
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
I would like all buildings to be designed for natural ventilation whenever weather permits, rather than centrally air-conditioned closed boxes.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
I love skiing and climbing mountains when I am not working.
What is the most recent book you read?
Recently I read Funny in Farsi, a tale about growing up Iranian in the U.S. with language problems. Being born and brought up in India, I could relate to the book, wondering how similar sentences could be worlds apart in meaning when spoken in India versus the US. Spoken Indian-English does sound funny in the US.
Sarah Michelman
How did you become involved with sustainable design?
As an architect I am acutely aware of the impact the built environment has on the natural environment. I was a big advocate for 'green' architecture in my former office. I was one of the founding members of the office's Sustainable Design Group and helped promote the importance of sustainable design within the office. I was the first member of the firm to work on multiple projects seeking LEED certification.
What one thing do you want your clients to walk away with from their interactions with you?
I would like them to perceive me as a friendly, reliable, sustainable design resource and valuable team member.
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo? Automatic lighting controls, including the integration of photocells and occupancy sensors because people always leave lights on!
What small green action do you advocate for in your daily life? I work with my children on the merits of turning off the lights and recycling. We do small things to respect the planet–we have a small urban garden where we work together to grow vegetables.
Carrie Havey
How did you become involved with sustainable design?
In my first couple of months in Boston I became very involved in the USGBC MA chapter. I had just started working at a landscape architect firm (my first landscape architecture job out of grad school) and was frustrated to be working on projects that required cutting down forest areas to put up cookie-cutter housing with a few trees in the front yard. I wanted to be doing something that made a positive impact on the environment. Getting involved in the USGBC chapter shifted my focus to sustainability and eventually led me to my current position.
Describe your first LEED project or other LEED experience and what you have learned.
One of my first LEED projects was the Mt. Auburn Cemetery Horticulture Center. I learned the importance of a design team that works together throughout the LEED process. An integrated design process can make a huge difference. This was a great team to work with; they were driven to make the project sustainable, not just LEED certified.
What small green action do you advocate for in your daily life?
Composting. I started a compost bin for my apartment building. It has been very successful and easy to do.
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
Low VOC product use. A change that doesn't have to cost a lot more money and has many health benefits.
Anthony Hardman
Describe your first LEED project and what you learned.
My first LEED project was for a new Caterpillar campus located in Panama. As an energy modeler, I gained substantial insight into the design challenges inherent to tropical climate zones. This project did not have personnel dedicated to the LEED certification process and most of the design team native to Panama were not LEED certified. It exemplified the importance of having dedicated LEED project managers.
How did you become involved with sustainable design?
As an Air Force Officer looking to transition out of the military, I had to decide between following a familiar aerospace engineering career path or try something new. I recognized the growth of the sustainability industry and was drawn to the challenge of reducing the energy footprint of buildings. As a result, my first position was with an HVAC design company that specialized in Geoexchange applications. It was the best career move I ever made!
What one thing do you want your clients to walk away with from their interactions with you?
I want my client to feel like they're working with a professional consultant who provides outstanding services and makes their job easier. Someone they would look forward to doing business with again.
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
A comprehensive energy audit. There are so many ways to save energy that don't require capital investment, and many more that can be implemented with no cost to the building owner through third party financing vehicles, grants and tax incentives.
Vipul Singh
Describe your first LEED project and what you learned.
My first LEED experience was working as an architect on the design of the Head Office for Spectral Services Consultants (in India), a USGBC Certified Platinum Green Building. Due its restrictive site, the project proved to be quite a challenge in achieving a delicate balance between building aesthetics and technological requirements for a Green Building. Working on this project helped me understand the importance of utilizing integrative design in order to achieve more energy and resource-efficient buildings.
How did you become involved with sustainable design?
My interest in the field began as an undergraduate student of architecture in India. My discontent at the manner in which many developers and architects were indiscriminately working towards creating built environments separate from nature made me recognize the value of a specialized knowledge required in the design and operation of buildings. Having found a direction of interest, I opted to pursue a graduate degree in built environment.
What one thing do you want your clients to walk away with from their interactions with you?
I would like to broaden the outlook of the people I work with and make them understand the importance of using energy-efficient design as a tool to strengthen both our cities and the environment. I hope to make them understand that sustainable design should go beyond just getting incentives and certifications.
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
To maintain an efficient building, it is important to educate and engage building occupants. Informing occupants of the green initiatives a facility has in place and educating them on measures that they can follow to be more resource efficient, can help ensure that the building operates in a sustainable manner.
Ruth Lewis
What have you learned about LEED?
LEED has changed from an unknown acronym to an eminently sensible way to look at buildings.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
Read books, play the piano, watch my daughter play soccer.
What small green action do you advocate for in your daily life?
I stopped using the dryer a couple of years ago (except for my husband's shirts, which I refuse to iron).
What is one small change you wish every building would undergo?
Don't overheat in winter and overcool in summer.
What is the most recent book you read? A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
The Green Engineer, LLP is a member of the US Green Building Council, an Energy Star Partner, a LABS21 Supporter, a participant in the Architecture 2030 Challenge, a USGBC Chapter sponsor, and a certified B Corporation. |
