Theresa Weston, founder of The Holt Weston Consultancy and a building science research professional specializing in the durability and energy efficiency of buildings, will deliver the 2023 Hankin Distinguished Lecture, hosted by the residential construction program and the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, which is housed in Penn State’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her talk, “Residential Innovation Challenges and Opportunities,” will be held at 4 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the Freeman Auditorium in the HUB-Robeson Center at University Park. A reception will follow the free, public event.
Lecture Description:
The amelioration of global climate change through energy efficiency improvements and decarbonization and the response to it through the resilience of our built environment and communities will impact our life in the coming years. These aspects of climate change, along with managing the effects of diminishing housing affordability, and enhanced interest in health and well-being are expected to drive the residential construction industry. While these areas often appear to be in opposition with each other, when they intersect or overlap, the challenges created provide unique opportunities for innovation. This presentation will highlight these trends and their intersections through examples of industry research and innovations.
About the Hankin Distinguished Lecture Series:
The Hankin Distinguished Lecture series, hosted by Penn State’s residential construction program and the PHRC, was established in 2006 to honor the late Bernard Hankin and his family for their continuous and dedicated support of the residential construction program at Penn State. It brings world-class speakers to Penn State to address students, faculty, industry members and the public with thought-provoking topics and education related to the housing industry. The residential construction program and the PHRC are administered within Penn State’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering. The lecture series is free and open to the public.