The Net Zero Fellowship aims to address technological, financial, social, and other market barriers to net-zero energy buildings and to grow the community of practitioners advancing commercial net-zero energy development in Oregon and Washington.
Since 2017, Energy Trust has invited building industry professionals or companies to submit research proposals that advance net-zero commercial buildings. Individuals or firms in the fields of community development, urban planning, architecture, engineering, construction, facility management, public policy, or academia are encouraged to apply.
Research must be relevant to Oregon and/or Washington; however, the fellow is not required to be a resident. One to two fellows are selected annually and awarded up to $60,000 to conduct research over approximately a 12-month period. Selected fellow(s) work closely with members of Energy Trust and its Net Zero Advisory Panel and share research results publicly with the region’s growing community of net-zero practitioners.
Learn more about past fellowship research.
Watch a recording of the Net Zero Fellowship informational session to learn more about the fellowship requirements and to hear from previous fellows – Jean von Bargen Root and Dr. Ihab Elzeyadi – about their experience.
“Prior to this (Fellowship) I was the director of sustainability at MWA as well as a principal. I wore the hat proudly, but I wear the hat more firmly now. My knowledge of relevant resources is so much broader, and I can better support clients, consultants and peers.” – Jean von Bargen Root, 2021 Net Zero Fellow
Net Zero Fellowship Application Timeline:
- February 7, 2023 – Application opened
- March 16, 2023 – Virtual informational session
- June 2, 2023 – Applications due
- Early fall 2023 – Fellows announced
Interested in applying for next year’s grant? Check out the 2023 application and Q&A for reference.
Advisory Panel
To assist in selecting and advising the fellow(s), Energy Trust convenes a Net Zero Advisory Panel of leaders from a variety of commercial new construction industry sectors.
| J’reyesha (Jay) Brannon NSBE Pro PDX and City of Portland | Shelly Carlton Energy Trust | Andrea Caudill Port of Portland |
| Ralph DiNola New Buildings Institute | Erica Dunn Opsis Architects | Ihab Elzeyadi University of Oregon |
| Joel Good RWDI | Jeni Hall Energy Trust | Mark McKechnie Oregon Architecture Inc. |
| Michelle Montiel Green Hammer | Lindsey Naganuma SERA Architects | Sam Rosenberg Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Kara Williams Kara Williams Consulting and Vanir Construction |