Congratulations to our fifth annual Net Zero Fellows: Jean von Bargen Root of MWA Architects, Inc., and Jessy Ledesma of HomeWork Development. Through two fellowship grants, these industry experts will receive funding to support net-zero research in Oregon.
Jean’s research focuses on removing barriers to net-zero commercial-industrial development. She will review sustainability standards and development codes in Portland, Medford and Bend to understand their application to net-zero industrial development and create a design guide with proposed solutions to remove barriers. Jean will partner with Convergence Architecture, a COBID (Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity) certified firm, to conduct and disseminate the recommendations.
Jessy will analyze new combinations of systems and technologies for affordable, resilient net-zero housing. She will explore the application of a mass plywood panel envelope, monobloc heat pump to thermally condition a high-mass floor slab and thermal storage and solar energy in multifamily cluster housing. Jessy will also coordinate with the National Association of Minority Contractors Oregon to develop a workforce training about the fast-growing fields of mass timber and net-zero construction. Through this training, she hopes to connect diverse contractors across the state with tools and information about new construction types and net-zero building strategies. Jessy will partner with Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, Institute for Health in the Built Environment, Tallwood Design Institute, Swinerton Construction and Timberlab.
