Speaker: Jeff Perlman, President of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Consulting firm Bright Power, Inc. (www.brightpower.biz)

LECTURE TOPIC:

In a December 2005 report by Capital E for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Greg Kats and Jeff Perlman analyze the full benefits of green, high performance schools.  These benefits include everything from energy and water savings to better health of teachers and students to increased test scores and their ramifications on future earnings.  This report follows on the landmark 2003 Kats (with Perlman et al) report The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings, which is cited in the NYC Green Buildings legislation passed several months ago.  Mr. Perlman will discuss the findings of the report, as well as possible implications for NYC.

Program Sponsors: Benjamin Moore, C/S Group, Computer Floors, Inc., Forbo, Lutron Electronics, NYSERDA, The New York Real Estate Journal, Tate Access Floors, Zeftron and Zumtobel Staff Lighting.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY:

Jeff has designed, installed and/or obtained financing for solar and energy efficiency projects on numerous buildings in the New York area. As co-Executive Director of Big Apple Solar Installation Commitment (BASIC - www.basicsolar.org), he organized and promoted well-attended events about the feasibility of solar energy in NYC, made presentations to numerous audiences around the city, and managed a team of over twenty volunteers. He has earned a reputation as a competent and enthusiastic community educator and organizer, as well as someone who can make complicated energy concepts simple to understand.

As a consultant with Capital E (www.cap-e.com) he co-authored, with Greg Kats, the ground-breaking report, ?The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings,? showing that building healthy, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible buildings makes economic sense, too. The findings of this report are referenced in pending New York City Council green building legislation. Other projects he has worked on have included solar industry technology assessment, business plan development and financial/market analysis.

In 2003, Jeff designed a successful solar marketing campaign to NYC architects for Solar Energy Systems (www.solaresystems.com). He is a trained solar installer and has done professional rooftop installations, as well as designing stationary solar systems and a solar powered car. He is currently working towards certification from the Building Performance Institute (BPI) in residential energy efficiency. Articles he has written on energy, science and music have appeared in a variety of general interest publications.

Jeff holds a degree in Applied Physics from Yale, and he lives in Brooklyn.