Scott Waguespack Named Senior Vice President of Corporate Administration

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Bernhard recently announced that Scott Waguespack has been hired as the company’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Administration. Waguespack is responsible for the management of all human resources, marketing and communications functions within the company, as well as facilities and key administrative functions.

Waguespack brings with him decades of experience in the HR and administrative realm. He will leverage his expertise in organizational development, employee engagement and performance management, and complex problem-solving to oversee and advance key initiatives and position Bernhard for continued growth.

“Scott’s expertise and relationship-focused mindset make him a valuable addition to the Bernhard team,” said Melissa Samuel, chief legal officer at Bernhard. “We know his leadership will help us grow in a sustainable, strategic manner to continue to deliver optimal solutions for our clients.”

With more than 25 years in this field, Waguespack is well-versed in assessing risk, developing strategies and implementing positive changes to achieve sustainability and growth in challenging market conditions.

“I look forward to building relationships with employees and clients alike at Bernhard,” said Waguespack. “I know I am joining a powerhouse team and together we can create opportunities for growth and the enhancement of our key values and goals.”

Waguespack has served companies in the oil and gas, technology, construction and fabrication, and engineering industries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in general studies from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Bernhard Instrumental in First C-PACE Project in New York City and Largest in the United States

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By: Ryan Hoff, PE, CEM, Project Manager at Bernhard

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When we think of improvements, we often think of “bigger, better, faster, stronger.” Instead, perhaps we should be determining when less actually becomes more. Bernhard and Petros Partners recently demonstrated that less is more when it comes to carbon emissions and less traditional loan financing.

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing is at the core of this new philosophy. C-PACE is a program created to give building owners a path to finance projects that increase building efficiency (and therefore reduce energy use and carbon emissions and create more sustainable buildings). This program is unique because the financing can fund up to 100% of all project costs that contribute to energy use improvement and it’s now available in a majority of states.

Although paramount to the process, financing is just one part of the deal. C-PACE needs an energy model of the project’s baseline, design building and an evaluation of the project budget in order to move forward. That’s where Bernhard’s team of experts come into the picture. Bernhard has been providing these crucial energy audits for C-PACE financing since 2017 and we work hard to fully understand the differences of each state’s C-PACE program to help determine the maximum amount of financing for which a project is eligible.

To date, 38 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to allow the use of C-PACE financing. For most states, the savings over the term of the loan must exceed the total loan principal. The recent, historic project in New York will do just that. This project at 111 Wall Street will retrofit the 900,000-sqare-foot tower for efficiency, resiliency, and local law compliance. Not only is this the first C-PACE project in New York City, but it is also the largest C-PACE loan in United States history. It is estimated to save $3.0 million in annual energy costs and avoid $850,000 in annual Local Law 97 fines starting in 2030.

According to Real Estate Weekly, by 2030 the program will create 689 green jobs and reduce 447,600 metric tons of CO2e from our atmosphere, an equivalent of taking 97,344 passenger cars off the road for a year.

For this groundbreaking project, Petros Partners is the financial group providing the loan and Bernhard provided the energy audit. The building was flooded during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and ownership has struggled to operate at anything exceeding 50% occupancy. The building required a major renovation and a final decision was made to creatively combine C-PACE financing with standard loans to complete the work.

Energy improvements included:

  • Replacing all existing lighting with LED lighting
  • Redesigning and replacing a majority of the existing HVAC system with modern energy efficient systems
  • Replacing all existing plumbing fixtures with new low-flow fixtures
  • Replacing all existing elevators with new high-efficient elevator system
  • Abatement and removal of hazardous asbestos containing material

Along with the estimated energy and operation costs, the project is estimated to decrease carbon emissions by 42%. The energy conservation project is being paired with an architectural renovation that anticipates enabling the building to reach full occupancy again. The aging infrastructure, high energy utility rates, and Local Law 97 all make New York City a prime market for additional C-PACE projects, and the 111 Wall Street project is a clear example of how successful they can be.

This is just one example demonstrating how Bernhard can help building owners pursue C-PACE. Our team of experts have completed C-PACE energy audits in 13 different states and have identified more than $830 million of C-PACE financing for our clients. Our projects have ranged from $1 million to $89 million and have included new construction or renovations in buildings such as:

  • Offices
  • Apartments
  • Hotels
  • Sports complexes
  • Warehouses
  • Hospitals

If a project is ongoing, our experts are able to partner with a financial group and identify the amount of C-PACE for which the project is eligible. If determining energy savings opportunities or the replacement of aging infrastructure is the goal, Bernhard has a full mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) design team with an emphasis on sustainability, which works to:

  • Identify the energy conservation measures
  • Make a business case for energy efficiency
  • Design the project
  • Provide PACE energy audit
  • Provide commissioning
  • Provide measurement and verification

We have specialized expertise in energy audits for C-PACE financed projects and we know how to help you maximize your budget, leverage savings and be part of creating a more sustainable future. Learn more about our commercial energy audit services here.

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Bernhard Prioritizes Sustainability with Creation of Vice President of ESG Position

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Bernhard is continuing their focus towards a better future with the announcement of Alyssa Jaksich as their first Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). The new position demonstrates the company’s commitment to deliver innovative engineering, construction, and energy solutions that work to promote sustainability across the industry.

“Not only are customers becoming more critical of their own ESG performance, they are also turning that lens on us,” said Ed Tinsley, chief executive officer at Bernhard. “With eight of the top 10 business risks identified by the World Economic Form being ESG related, it is becoming increasingly clear that a heightened awareness of ESG factors is critical to sustaining success.”

Jaksich will develop, consolidate, operationalize, and publicize Bernhard’s ESG strategies and initiatives through coordination with multiple internal teams and business stakeholders, furthering Bernhard’s ongoing mission of promoting sustainability.

“Ethics, safety, teamwork, and innovation are the very foundation and fabric of our work,” said Melissa Samuel, chief legal officer at Bernhard. “As a result of Alyssa’s diverse experience, she has come to embody these values while gaining an intimate awareness of both internal and external needs for ESG.”

Under Jaksich’s leadership, Bernhard will establish clearly defined goals to enhance its commitment to reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, improving its internal diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and creating momentum behind its charitable giving and community engagement efforts. The company’s ESG framework will focus on transparency, stakeholder engagement and performance tracking to measure results.

“Establishing an ESG program cannot be a paper or marketing exercise – there must be real commitment behind our policies and initiatives paired with quantitative and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Jaksich, “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to work alongside our executive team to further embed ESG initiatives into Bernhard’s culture, business plan and strategy.”

Jaksich previously served as Bernhard’s Vice President of EaaS implementation where she led a team focused on increasing efficiencies within the solutions division at Bernhard, particularly related to Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) projects. She was a key driver in the development of Bernhard’s industry leading measurement and verification services, and was heavily involved in the development of numerous EaaS projects. Jaksich earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., double majoring in chemical physics and economics.