2022 Year in Review: Rebecca Berry, Finegold Alexander Architects

What person, project, transaction or market trend had the greatest impact on your industry this year? This year’s game changer for the built environment is the Inflation Reduction Act. This act included $370 billion earmarked for investments to fight climate change. It will potentially provide all building owners and developers – including not-for-profits – with tax credits or direct payments for Green Energy Technology Investments. These include solar, wind, solar thermal, geothermal and biogas. Owners can use these credits or direct payments to assist in financing these technologies for both new construction and deep energy retrofits. We are already having detailed conversations with our engineering partners and clients about how to take advantage of this federal investment.

What was your most important professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2022? Our firm’s launch of FA Energy! This new division was developed to assist institutions in meeting their commitments toward a carbon-free future at all scales, from individual buildings to campus-wide or portfolio bases. We provide architectural support for engineering-led energy master plans, assessing existing and historic buildings for synergistic interventions in support of decarbonization goals.

We’ve developed a streamlined process to help institutions make informed decisions that enhance energy-efficiency and reduce the carbon footprints of their existing buildings. Decarbonization is key to addressing climate change, and we are working to be part of the solution.