insight
Coming Back Stronger
Coming Back Stronger
RMI and Bloomberg Philanthropies report outlining infrastructure policies and investments for cities to promote recovery and build a better future.
Alisa Petersen is an Senior Associate with RMI’s US Program. She currently works on the Residential Energy+ initiative analyzing paths to zero carbon performance for existing residential buildings.
Background
Prior to joining RMI, Alisa worked for Seventhwave, a nonprofit energy efficiency company in Madison Wisconsin, where she served as an Energy Engineer and Project Manager. At Seventhwave, Alisa provided technical assistance to building owners and design teams to help inform a more energy efficient building design. Although she analyzed all types of commercial buildings, she specialized in multifamily buildings and supermarkets. She also researched and wrote publications on building energy conservation measures including demand control kitchen ventilation, high efficiency refrigerated display cases, lighting task tuning, and cold climate facades.
Education
B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, UW-Madison
Certificate in Engineering for Energy Sustainability, UW-Madison
Certifications:
LEED Accredited Professional, Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C)
Engineer in Training (EIT)
Location
Washington, DC
Authored Works
Authored Works
Blog
The US Needs Urgent Federal Climate Policy—RMI Has Some Ideas
Climate action is back on the federal agenda in the United States. We’ve seen President Biden take executive action to tackle the climate crisis, rightfully linking it to job creation, environmental justice, and strengthening America’s infrastructure. We’ve…
Blog
Signs of Hope for US Federal Climate Action in 2021
As we enthusiastically bid 2020 farewell, for many reasons 2021 is starting to feel like a year to be hopeful. While the roll-out of vaccines signal an impending slow-down to the pandemic, recent activity in DC is offering a similar glimpse to solutions on the horizon for the climate crisis.
Blog
3 Ways Cities Can Build Back Better through Green Recovery
As we approach the fourth month of the pandemic, cities across the United States continue to be hit hard. I recently spoke with mayors who are being asked to simultaneously manage unprecedented public health challenges, a rise of social unrest, increased unemployment, and a looming housing crisis, on top of…
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US City Stimulus
The report recommends five strategies that Congress could use to direct stimulus investment toward helping cities recover and build back better from the dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn.
Blog
Six Key Policies for Cutting Emissions in the Latest Climate Bill
Last Tuesday, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released its Climate Crisis Action Plan report, which maps a comprehensive federal response to climate change. Many of these ideas are included in the “Moving Forward Act” (H.R.2) that passed the House last Thursday and now goes to…
Blog
Zero-Energy Homes: Tunneling Through the (Electrification) Cost Barrier in Cold Climates
A decade ago, the prevailing wisdom held that all-electric buildings presented many challenges: they were served by dirty coal instead of cleaner natural gas, they struggled to meet temperature setpoints in cold climates, and they drastically increased utility bills. Why then this big push toward electrification? Simply put, electrification is…
Blog
New Zero-Energy Homes Almost to Cost Parity, While Codes & Incentives Help Cross the Finish Line
If you had a choice between building new homes that meet basic standards and building comfortable, healthy homes that dramatically cut energy bills, which would you prefer? How about if the low-energy homes cost the same (or nearly the same) as a standard home to build? If the cost is…
Blog
Unlocking Energy Upgrade Projects in New Markets
Since moving into Boulder Commons in late 2017, Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI’s) net-zero energy (NZE) multitenant Class A office in Boulder, Colorado, RMI has been working to share lessons learned and increase adoption of advanced green and net-zero energy leases. While innovative efforts such as RMI’s have been raising…
Blog
Zero-Energy Homes Are Ready for Mainstream Markets
Zero-energy (ZE) homes—efficient homes that produce or procure as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of a year—are often marketed as luxury homes, only available to the select few that are willing to pay a significant premium to do the right thing for the environment. In keeping…
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The Economics of Zero-Energy Homes
NEW: Cold Climates Addendum offers additional guidance for ZE and ZER homes built in climate zones 6 and 7. This report demonstrates that the cost increase to build a zero-energy or zero-energy ready home is modest—far less than consumers, builders, and policymakers realize—and highlights methods builders and policymakers can use…