WHO
WE ARE
Robert Nemeth
Contact
Robert Nemeth is a Design Assistance Specialist for the Smart
Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) at the University
of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC). He consults with Illinois
businesses to help them identify cost effective improvements
to their planned or existing buildings and equipment to increase
energy efficiency. Studies examine insulation levels, the
effects of different glazing types, roof characteristics,
mechanical system alternatives, lighting systems and controls,
and more.
Robert has also worked at the U.S. Army Construction Engineering
Research Laboratory (USACERL) for eight years as a researcher
in the Energy Systems Division performing many of the same
functions as at SEDAC.
Robert has his own architectural practice and also works
for the Building Research Council (BRC) at the University
of Illinois. BRC projects include investigating mold in Native
American Housing for ONAP/HUD, and energy related work. He
has been to approximately 36 Reservations to investigate moisture
related housing problems, and provide on-site technical assistance.
Robert also was the technical consultant on two videos addressing
mold issues and building practices in Native American Housing.
Robert is a licensed Architect in the State of Illinois.
He has been involved with the design and construction of buildings
since 1975. He has a Bachelor of Science in Architectural
Studies, a Masters of Architecture, and Master of Science
in Civil Engineering, all from the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign. He has taught building technology courses
at the University of Illinois in the School of Architecture
and at Parkland College in the Building Sciences Department.
Ben Sliwinski
Contact
Ben J. Sliwinski is presently Technical Director of the Smart
Energy Design Assistance Center at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign.
Mr. Sliwinski has thirty years experience as a project manager
and principal investigator completing interdisciplinary research
projects involving energy systems simulation and analysis,
design optimization of energy systems, software development,
data collection, statistical data analysis, and utility program
evaluation. He has provided consulting services to utilities,
government agencies, and private research organizations in
the areas of building energy efficiency, energy system modeling,
and energy data analysis.
He has a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering
from the University of Illinois, with specialization in Heat
Transfer and Fluid Mechanics. He has completed three advanced
courses in systems simulation and optimization (ME323, ME423,
ME499) at the University of Illinois Mechanical Engineering
Department. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in General
Engineering from the University of Illinois with specialization
in Mathematics and Computer Science.
Eileen Westervelt, PE, CEM
Contact
Eileen Westervelt is a Design Assistance Specialist for
the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) at the University
of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC). She performs energy
assessments for small businesses and identifies strategies
to increase business profitability by enhancing the energy
and cost performance of building construction, space conditioning
equipment, standard appliances/ equipment, specialized commercial/
industrial processes, and power generation. Recently her work
on energy trends and options for Army installations received
national and international attention as is was discussed in
the US Congress and reviewed by US News and World Report,
Energy Bulletin and Global Public Media.
Eileen served as a Research Engineer for the U.S. Army Engineer
Research and Development Center/Construction Engineering Research
Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) for fifteen years. She led the Strategic
Energy Planning group, which reviewed and suggested improvement
opportunities for Army Energy Programs, including energy management,
energy security, and building construction. These comprehensive
recommendations were supported with policy, business process,
energy, financial and pollution assessments. As program manager
of REEP, an energy modeling software, Eileen was responsible
for model enhancements, software releases and website design
and maintenance. On the Energy Security Plans team, she assessed
distributed generation (DG) options for increased electrical
security at Army installations. She co-developed a screening
tool for assorted DG technologies including renewable energy,
fuel cells, micro turbines, and internal/external combustion
engines. She managed assorted energy demonstration and verification
projects of building envelope upgrades, HVAC equipment and
controls, and commissioning efforts. She is a registered Professional
Engineer, a Certified Energy Manager and member of AEE (Association
of Energy Engineers) and SAME (Society of American Military
Engineers). She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from
the University of Illinois.
Eric Wilson
Contact
Eric J.H. Wilson is a Design Assistance Specialist for the
Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) at the University
of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC). He performs energy
assessments for Illinois small businesses and identifies strategies
to increase business profitability by enhancing the energy
performance of their planned or existing buildings, examining
the building envelope, HVAC equipment, lighting systems, and
controls. He conducts life-cycle cost analyses for the energy
efficiency strategies, as well as for implementation of on-site
renewable energy generation.
Eric also does work for the Building Research Council (BRC)
at UIUC. He has worked on a Native American Housing Cost study
for the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development/Office
of Native American Programs, conducting blower door tests
and overall energy efficiency assessments of Native American
housing.
Eric has a Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering
(now Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering) from
UIUC with a minor in the Environmental Fellows Program.
Wael El-Sharif, 360 ENERGY
GROUP
Contact
Wael El-Sharif is chief executive of the 360 ENERGY GROUP.
He plays a major role in the development and oversight of
the Small Business $mart Energy Program.
Wael attended George Washington University to earn his Bachelor
of Science degree in Computer Engineering and his Master of
Engineering Management degree in Marketing of Technology with
a minor in Information Systems. He has also completed coursework
for a Doctor of Science degree in Marketing of Technology
with a minor in Management of Science, Technology and Innovation.
He has also attained Accredited Installer and Certified Geoexchange
Designer accreditation.
Wael was formerly Executive Director of the GHPC and had
been with the Consortium since its inception and maintains
trusting relationships throughout the industry, on the professional
and political spheres. Through his tenure with the Consortium,
Wael has been responsible for managing a $23 million US Department
of Energy market mobilization program, has helped the government
of Canada to mobilize their market and create a Canadian Geoexchange
Coalition, secured and managed a ~$1.3 million program to
promote geoexchange to Southern California Edison customers,
and has managed multiple market transformation and mobilization
programs throughout the US with costs exceeding $44 million.
Jessica Commins, Smart Energy Design Assistance Program
Manager for 360 ENERGY GROUP
Contact
Jessica, an Illinois native, attended Rollins College,
where she graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelors
Degree in Organizational Communications. She brings to 360
ENERGY GROUP nearly a decade’s worth
of media experience and her writing has been published internationally,
ranging from technical research journals to local newspapers.
Her management background includes an equally varied array
of examples, from the successful delivery of State grant programs
to nationally promoted charity events.
As Smart Energy Design Assistance Project Manager, Jessica has been involved in every
aspect of the program since its earliest phases. She was directly
responsible for the administration of GHPC’s efforts
in the program, in partnership with UIUC and DCEO and will
continue in that role with the 360 ENERGY GROUP. Jessica also
manages communications with Service Providers and Design Assistance
Experts, and the RFQ review process therein. She also coordinates
media and industry outreach activities with SEDAC.
Alan Chalifoux, P.E., SEDAC Design Assistance Expert
Contact
Alan is president of Eta Engineers, LLC, an engineering consulting firm specializing in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) design for sustainable buildings. Alan holds an MSME (Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a BSME degree from University of D.C., and a BA degree from Amherst College. He has 30+ years experience in the buildings industry, ranging from solar contractor to project manager of large MEP design efforts. He has extensive experience in computer-based building energy analysis and energy efficiency analysis. His involvement in energy efficiency ranges from design of efficient MEP systems tailored to the small buildings of the central Illinois market, to MEP design for large office buildings, to managing base-wide energy-efficiency retrofits for the U.S. Army. Alan is a LEED® 2.0 Accredited Professional and a member of ASHRAE. Eta Engineers is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, and Alan is Chair of the Central Illinois Chapter of the USGBC. Eta Engineers currently has 4 LEED-certified projects (one Silver, two Gold, one Platinum) and is involved in six other projects seeking LEED certification, and has designed numerous commercial-sized ground source heat pump systems.
|
