The Weidt Group’s Chris Baker Wins Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40 Award
Principal at Energy and Software Consulting Firm Recognized for Efforts to Move U.S. Toward a Clean Energy Economy
Minneapolis, MN, November 22, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Weidt Group®, offering energy analysis and consulting to reduce the environmental impacts of building design and construction, has announced that Chris Baker, AIA, PE, BEMP, BEAP, LEED AP BD+C, Principal and business development leader of Energy Design Assistance for commercial new construction at the firm, was named a winner in the Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40 Awards. In its inaugural year, the 40 Under 40 Awards will be given annually to emerging leaders throughout the Midwest who work tirelessly to accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy. A selection advisory committee of energy experts and executives selected Baker due to his extensive energy-efficiency portfolio and development of The Weidt Group’s Net Energy Optimizer (NEO®) software, among other achievements.
“At The Weidt Group, we partner with building owners, architects, engineers and utilities to reduce the energy use of new and existing buildings,” said Jason Steinbock, Principal at the firm. “Since joining our team in 2006, Chris has worked in a range of roles to further energy efficiency. He has worked closely with the architects and engineers to cost-effectively save energy on individual projects, and he has worked on industry committees to set policies and standards to drive energy efficiency across our built environment. Chris has also worked closely with our software developers to create tools that allow us to reach more buildings with deep energy analysis in a timely and cost-effective way.”
Baker’s energy leadership is evidenced through developing energy efficiency software tools and services that have benchmarked the energy consumption of more than 12,000 existing buildings in six states and provide comparative analysis for more than 500 new or major renovation commercial projects each year. This includes Net Energy Optimizer (NEO®), which uses basic information about a design project to build standard DOE-2 energy models so design and construction teams can quickly and easily compare hundreds of options to understand how different design decisions impact energy efficiency and costs. He has also worked on more than 108 energy-efficient buildings, with his industry impact encompassing a total of 16,220,917 square feet and saving 60,458,112 kWh of electricity and 302,751 MMBTU of gas per year.
“Throughout my career, I have strived to develop innovative software and design methods that create a more sustainable built environment,” said Baker. “With The Weidt Group’s support, I have been able to engage in energy consulting and develop energy modeling software that influences building owners and designers in reaching efficiency goals and expanding the market penetration of demand-side management (DSM) programs. It is an honor to be recognized by Midwest Energy News, and I hope this award helps us start conversations with current and potential clients that focus on how we can work together to integrate new energy-saving measures into existing and new construction.”
Baker received his MBA from the University of Minnesota and bachelor’s degrees in architecture and architectural engineering from the University of Kansas. Active in the architecture and engineering industry, he is a subcommittee chair of ASHRAE SPC 209 Proposed Standard on Energy Simulation Aided Design, drafting a national standard on how energy simulation should be used to aid architects and engineers in reducing the energy consumption of new and majorly renovated buildings. He has also served on industry committees advancing energy efficiency policy, including the Codes and Standards working group of Minnesota’s 1.5 percent Energy Efficiency Solutions Project, a stakeholders group advising the State of Minnesota how it can save 1.5 percent of the net-retail energy sales per year through efficiency and conservation.
About The Weidt Group:
The Weidt Group, the energy practice of EYP Inc. with offices nationwide, was established in 1977 to account for and manage the environmental impacts of building design and construction. Collaborating with architects, engineers, building owners, product manufacturers, utilities, and government clients, The Weidt Group makes available accessible strategies for building lifelong energy performance through analysis, benchmarking, verification, and software development. For more information, visit www.twgi.com.
“At The Weidt Group, we partner with building owners, architects, engineers and utilities to reduce the energy use of new and existing buildings,” said Jason Steinbock, Principal at the firm. “Since joining our team in 2006, Chris has worked in a range of roles to further energy efficiency. He has worked closely with the architects and engineers to cost-effectively save energy on individual projects, and he has worked on industry committees to set policies and standards to drive energy efficiency across our built environment. Chris has also worked closely with our software developers to create tools that allow us to reach more buildings with deep energy analysis in a timely and cost-effective way.”
Baker’s energy leadership is evidenced through developing energy efficiency software tools and services that have benchmarked the energy consumption of more than 12,000 existing buildings in six states and provide comparative analysis for more than 500 new or major renovation commercial projects each year. This includes Net Energy Optimizer (NEO®), which uses basic information about a design project to build standard DOE-2 energy models so design and construction teams can quickly and easily compare hundreds of options to understand how different design decisions impact energy efficiency and costs. He has also worked on more than 108 energy-efficient buildings, with his industry impact encompassing a total of 16,220,917 square feet and saving 60,458,112 kWh of electricity and 302,751 MMBTU of gas per year.
“Throughout my career, I have strived to develop innovative software and design methods that create a more sustainable built environment,” said Baker. “With The Weidt Group’s support, I have been able to engage in energy consulting and develop energy modeling software that influences building owners and designers in reaching efficiency goals and expanding the market penetration of demand-side management (DSM) programs. It is an honor to be recognized by Midwest Energy News, and I hope this award helps us start conversations with current and potential clients that focus on how we can work together to integrate new energy-saving measures into existing and new construction.”
Baker received his MBA from the University of Minnesota and bachelor’s degrees in architecture and architectural engineering from the University of Kansas. Active in the architecture and engineering industry, he is a subcommittee chair of ASHRAE SPC 209 Proposed Standard on Energy Simulation Aided Design, drafting a national standard on how energy simulation should be used to aid architects and engineers in reducing the energy consumption of new and majorly renovated buildings. He has also served on industry committees advancing energy efficiency policy, including the Codes and Standards working group of Minnesota’s 1.5 percent Energy Efficiency Solutions Project, a stakeholders group advising the State of Minnesota how it can save 1.5 percent of the net-retail energy sales per year through efficiency and conservation.
About The Weidt Group:
The Weidt Group, the energy practice of EYP Inc. with offices nationwide, was established in 1977 to account for and manage the environmental impacts of building design and construction. Collaborating with architects, engineers, building owners, product manufacturers, utilities, and government clients, The Weidt Group makes available accessible strategies for building lifelong energy performance through analysis, benchmarking, verification, and software development. For more information, visit www.twgi.com.
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The Weidt Group
Kimberly A. Bridges
877.938.1588
Kimberly A. Bridges
877.938.1588
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