Mar 14, 2022
“I hope to continue to inspire our
nation’s youth to pursue careers in science, technology
engineering, and math so they, too, may reach for the
stars.“
-Ellen Ochoa (American
engineer, former astronaut, and former director of the Johnson
Space Center)
The percentage of women in the construction industry grew from
9.9 percent in 2018, to 10.9 percent in 2020 marking a recent
steady increase in women's employment. Women now take on more roles
in the industry that range from work in the trades to project
management.
In honor of Women's History Month, we asked: "So what’s it like to
be a woman working in the HERS industry? What inspires women to
take this career path?"
In today’s podcast, we hear from Elizabeth Sanfelippo
of Brayn
Consulting, and Beth Ainsworth of Performance
Point about their career journeys leading to roles in the
HERS world.
They share their stories both coming from aspects of the fields of
art and design. We learn of some of the challenges, large and
small, as well as how they manage self-doubt and bias.
Elizabeth attended Middlebury College in Vermont where she received
her BA with a major in studio art. While attending Samford
University for a Masters in Environmental Management, she homed in
on her passion for residential energy efficiency and home
performance. She became a HERS Rater in 2016 (not really knowing
much about HERS) and now works as a senior engineering associate
for Brayn Consulting where she focuses on the 45L tax credit for
energy-efficient new construction homes. She was a 2019 RESNET ELC
Fellow and recently received the Jo-Ann Golden Humanitarian Award
in 2021 from the National Association of Women in Construction
Southeast Region.
Beth attended Appalachian State University, where she obtained a
master’s degree in building science. After being immersed in the
sustainable environment of Boone, NC for 10 years, she decided to
follow her passion and pursue a career in green building design.
She began working for Performance Point in 2010 and has been in the
industry as a HERS rater for almost 15 years. She specializes in
the modeling and design of custom housing and assists in the plan
review phase and design for multifamily projects with her NGBS
Verifier certification. In recent years, she has become a Quality
Assurance Designee.
We wrap up the conversation by sharing thoughts on how the concept
of women in the trades needs to be made “normal” in society’s
thinking.
You can also hear more perspectives on this topic by listening to
RESTalk
Episode 85: “The House that She built.”
You can get in touch with our guests here:
Elizabeth Sanfelippo: esanfelippo@brayn.com
Beth Ainsworth: Beth@theperformancepoint.com
RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage.
Learn more at www.RESNET.us
Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US