Cara Carmichael: Senior Consultant
Contact Information
Rocky Mountain Institute
Attn: Built Environment Team
1820 Folsom Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
e-mail: BET@rmi.org
phone: 303-245-1003
With a unique blend of architectural and engineering experience and education, Cara Carmichael has a diverse portfolio of skills ranging from technical daylighting modeling and analysis to big picture sustainability integration for large-scale developments and LEED coordination and education. She has contributed to a wide variety of projects, including commercial, large-scale retail and residential developments, educational facilities, and other mixed-use projects around the world. At RMI, she focuses on project management and creating and applying integrated, whole-system solutions.
RMI Projects
- Summerlin Centre
- Chicago Botanic Gardens
- Snowmass Base Village Redevelopment
- Makena Resort Development
- Ameya Preserve
- Fort Collins Police Services Facility
- NELHA
Background
Mrs. Carmichael previously worked at ENSAR Group, a sustainable design consulting firm that merged with RMI to form the Built Environment team. While at ENSAR Group, Mrs. Carmichael gained experience with climatic design strategies, energy analysis, charrette development, computer modeling, and daylighting design techniques. She consulted on a range of projects including daylighting and energy studies for K-12 schools, universities, retail and national park facilities, and assisted with the development of sustainable design guidelines internationally. Cara also managed project data for an in-depth laboratory case study evaluated by the Green Building Tool, an international green building rating system.
Past Projects
- Fossil Ridge High School
- Palolo Chinese Home
- GB Tool Project Development
- University of Denver College of Law
- University of Colorado Memorial Center
Education
Bachelors of Environmental Design, University of Colorado, 2003
Masters of Civil Engineering, Building Systems Engineering, University of Colorado, Anticipated 2009 Graduation
Qualifications
LEED Accredited Professional (both 2.1 and 2.2 NC)
Green Points Certified
American Institute of Architects IDP Program
ASHRAE Student Member
Professional Affiliations/Recognition
Colorado College, Presidential Advisory Council on Sustainability
LEED EB Core Committee 2005-2007
Sustainable Travel International, 2005 assisted with the development of training material for auditors
Presentations
- “A Sampling of LEED projects”, AIA COTE, July, 2004
- “Daylighting Design”, USGBC Colorado Chapter Fall Greening Conference, September, 2004
- Moderator, Sustainable Resources, Sustainable Building Solutions, October, 2004
- “Integration in LEED”, Women in Design, August, 2005
- “Daylighting strategies and case studies”, Guest speaker at the University of Colorado Daylighting Class, September, 2005
- “Hawaii Gateway Energy Laboratory”, Solar 2006 conference, July, 2006
- “LEED Platinum for Rocky Mountain Institute”, Solar 2006 conference, July 2006
- “LEED for Commercial Interiors in Action”, Greenbuild conference, November, 2006 (voted in the top 10 presentations at the conference)
- “Institutional Applications of LEED”, Rocky Mountain Sustainability Summit, February, 2007
- “Fort Collins Police Services-a LEEDing perspective to integrated design”, Colorado Chapter of the USGBC annual conference, Fort Collins, Colorado, September, 2007
- “LEED Overview and innovative project case studies”, Guest speaker at the University of Colorado AREN 3010 course, Mechanical engineering, December 2007.
Publications
“Sustainable Innovation Design Strategies” Article in FMJ November/December 2004, Coauthor
“Hawaii Gateway Energy Laboratory”, Solar 2006 conference proceedings,
“LEED Platinum for Rocky Mountain Institute”, Solar 2006 conference proceedings