The Office of Physical Plant has significantly reduced direct greenhouse gas emissions through a combination of mechanical systems updates, lighting retrofits, continuous commissioning and supply side upgrades. But there’s still room for more savings in the future. In this workshop, participants will explore some of these possibilities and consider the role of the larger university community in their implementation.
PARTICIPANTS
ROB COOPER
Director, Energy and Engineering, Office of Physical Plant
Rob leads a 200-person workforce responsible for the operation and maintenance of utility systems and energy systems and programs.
JESSICA FATICA
Administrative Support Assistant, Dean’s Office, Liberal Arts
Jessica is a 2007 Penn State alum, has worked at the University since 2008, and is a member of the Liberal Arts Green Steering Committee. Jessica is interested in education for staff, faculty, and students to reduce waste and increase recycling and composting on campus while decreasing contamination between these streams.
KEVIN GOMBOTZ, PE CEM
Director of Commercial Services, Envinity, Inc.
Kevin’s focus is on energy efficient facility retrofits. As an energy manager, Kevin has evaluated wide‐ranging commercial and industrial facilities with focuses on education, health care, office buildings, water treatment facilities, and multi‐tenant residential buildings. Plans developed by Kevin’s team are self-financing: the energy savings produced pay for the equipment replacements needed, with energy savings and carbon reduction being valuable co-products.
MARK. D. HUNCIK
Air Quality and Meteorological Consultant
Mark is an independent consultant with over 25 years of experience specializing in air quality compliance and permitting, with additional emphasis on dispersion modeling and weather forecasting. He has worked for a variety of industries including electric generating (coal, gas, oil, biomass), manufactured wood products, brick manufacturing, rubber manufacturing, and printing and coating operations. Mark received his degree in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to starting his own business in 1999, Mark’s work experience included support and project management roles with a regulatory agency, a public electric utility company, and environmental and meteorological consulting companies. He has also served as an officer for a local chapter of the American Meteorological Society and the Air and Waste Management Association.
JASON MOORE
Operations Engineer, Office of Physical Plant
RAYMOND NAJJAR
Professor of Oceanography, Department of Meteorology
Dr. Najjar is an oceanographer who conducts research on the marine carbon cycle and the impacts of climate change in coastal regions. He participated in several studies that assessed the impacts of climate change on the mid-Atlantic region of United States. He is also active in efforts to communicate climate science to the general public.
JAMIE QUAIL
Student
Jamie is a Psychology major at Penn State. She is very passionate about her field of study and is considering blending it with ecology in a field called Eco-psychology. Jamie’s love of nature and life drives her in all that she does, and she strives to make a larger difference in both the world and the people around her.
ERICH SCHIENKE
Lecturer, Energy & Mineral Engineering
GORDON TUROW
Director, Campus Planning and Design, Office of Physical Plant
Gordon Turow is Pennsylvania State University’s director of campus planning and design. Gordon is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of quality for campus planning, architecture, and landscape design at Penn State and its 24 campuses throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His responsibilities also include development and implementation of campus master plans, design review of the university’s capital projects, development and enforcement of university design standards and guidelines, and selection of architecture consultants.