High Performance Is Not High Tech

Abstract

Decades of experience developing cutting-edge, architecturally integrated climate concepts for buildings has shown one consistent lesson: simpler is better. High-tech designs can be realized and achieve great performance, but are generally necessary only in response to specific architectural or programmatic constraints. In most cases, simple, low-tech solutions have the best chance of achieving ambitious performance goals. Olsen will use a variety of case studies from Transsolar's work around the globe to illustrate this key lesson.

Bio

Erik is a managing partner at Transsolar KlimaEngineering, an international climate engineering firm determined to create exceptional, highly comfortable spaces with a positive environmental impact. He leads the New York team in working collaboratively with architects worldwide to develop and validate low-energy, architecturally integrated climate and energy concepts.

Passionate and highly skilled, Erik is a firm believer in innovation adding value to the human experience wherever possible. In addition to his specialist work at Transsolar, he has worked as a consulting mechanical engineer on a wide variety of building types and launched and directed the City of Chicago's Green Permit Program, and is a graduate of Purdue University and MIT.