Me (Nathan Gauthier) on Green Building Matters Podcast

A few weeks ago I was interviewed by Charlie Cichetti for his Green Building Matters Podcast. I've listened to other episodes in the past and was very excited when he reached out to me and asked if I'd do an episode. Here's the link if you're interested:

https://www.gbes.com/green-building-matters-podcast/harvard-and-maritime-high-performance-building-edu-with-nathan-gauthier/

Choosing by Advantage

We've been doing a lot of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) projects lately. For example, I spend every Monday at a collocation site for a new dormitory at Rhode Island School of Design. All of the designers and key sub-contractors are present and most of the subs are "designing" their own systems - essentially going straight to shop drawings. The groups are organized by cluster, with individuals sometimes included in more than one cluster and of course inter-cluster communication encouraged. I'm the MEP cluster lead. The photo below shows us reviewing possible MEP layouts with the structural engineer and architect as we place and size utility shafts.

One of the things I like about this process is using Choosing by Advantage (CBA) to select the best systems for the project. When we were selecting the HVAC systems, we started with 7 potential options. We then identified 9 potential advantages one system might have over another (see below) and eventually selected a 3-pipe VRF for heating and cooling with a dedicated outdoor air system through energy recovery ventilators.

IPD and CBA are ways to help project teams deliver high performance buildings to our clients. The integrated approach and looking at the building holistically allows us to optimize the whole and makes for a really rewarding experience.

A related post on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangauthier/detail/recent-activity/shares/

Clark University Presentation

On Tuesday, March 16th, I was a guest lecturer in Professor Will O'Brien's MGMT 252 Green Business Management course at Clark University. The course is supposed to introduce the concept and practice of sustainable development and energy management as they related to local small business, local government, local non-profits, and local citizens. I came in and spoke about how Harvard University was embracing sustainability. My presentation was similar to others I've given on the subject, though updated somewhat. The presentation can be found here.

Professor O'Brien taught a Sustainable Business course as part of the Masters of Science in Facilities Management program I'm pursuing through Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The sustainability plan found here is one my group did for Taza Chocolate as part of that class.