Final Capstone Presentations, 2020

Below see the video recordings for the final capstone reviews for the Fall, 2020 semester. Following each presentation is the abstract for the project. Open Passive House: Making a business case for multifamily affordable Passive House  Summary (Abstract): ​There exists a highly compelling case for promoting Passive House building standards for the affordable multifamily sector in New York City. In addition to deep energy and carbon reductions that align with the goals of New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act, increased occupant comfort and climate resiliency will greatly benefit some of New York City’s most vulnerable populations. There is great interest in Passive …

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Alumni Profile: Ben Leer, Class of 2015

My name is Ben Leer, I am a sustainability consultant, designer, builder and educator. I currently teach in the Building Science department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and am a NAPHN trainer for the international Passive House Tradesperson Certification. My path has been unconventional and at times challenging, but my various experiences have given me a broad perspective on what it means to create a sustainable future.   As an undergrad at Hunter College I studied environmental science. This is where I was first introduced to the many problems that plague our planet. Armed with the scientific knowledge that things had …

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Student Project: Environmental Education Program Evaluation

As part of the requirements for completing the capstone for the Program, students must present a video mid-year review documenting progress so far and research directions for the next semester. Students Carolina Salane and Navida Rukhsha Vignoles present their work in the video below on evaluating botanic garden children’s education programs across New York City.

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