The Energy Efficiency Research & Analysis (EERA) Group in the Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC) in the Energy and Transportation Science Division (ETSD) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking applicants for a technical research position including applied research and development projects, financial analysis and training in the area of Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) and Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) for commercial buildings. This position augments ORNL's team that is operating in support of DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). FEMP facilitates the federal government's implementation of sound, cost-effective energy management and investment practices to enhance the nation's energy security and environmental stewardship. This position would be a part of ORNL's team to facilitate performance contracting project development for federal agency customers with multi-million-dollar energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) and other alternatively financed projects. The position is located in Oak Ridge, TN.
The EERA Group works to optimize the energy performance of buildings and industrial facilities through applied research, technical assistance, and technology deployment. The team's comprehensive knowledge of buildings and energy use spans multi-building sites, whole-building systems, system components, and building equipment.
Major Duties/Responsibilities
You will:
- Conduct statistical analysis, research and evaluations on the performance of individual ESPC projects by reviewing all financial aspects of project proposals such as project financing, costs for individual energy conservation measure, savings and utility rates.
- Evaluate and analyze the performance of ESPC programs for the overall program and trends within the program
- Use data from previously awarded ESPC and UESC projects to assess proposed costs of energy conservation measures in new projects
- Develop methods of assessing ESPC and UESC financing offers and methods of reducing financing costs
- Advise sponsors on the measures necessary for program and project improvement
- Participate in FEMP program outreach activities to promote third-party financing, including ESPCs, UESCs, ENABLE including serving as a technical trainer at workshops, conference presentations, etc.
- Develop and provide customized training for community, institutional, federal and other public sector customers
- Provide specialized technical assistance for community, institutional, federal and other public sector customers
- Collaborate with program managers on new program development opportunities within the area of applied research pertaining to implementing ECMs and energy project financing
- Present research and analysis results to Laboratory staff, sponsors, industry, and academia in the form of invited talks, high-impact reports, conference papers, or journal papers.
- Work may include writing technical reports, conference papers, or journal papers to summarize the results of technical assistance activities and contributing to periodic progress reports for sponsors.
- Candidate will support projects, collaborate with research staff and partner organizations on future research initiatives, network with related organizations, interact with existing sponsors in pursuit of additional research funding, and prepare proposals and present results to sponsors, peer reviewers, and others.