Engineering the Future: Meet the Innovators Who Make It Happen (Part 4)

As we conclude our National Engineers Week series, we’re excited to introduce Sharon Estomih Hamis. With a deep passion for sustainability and building performance, Sharon has dedicated her career to helping businesses and communities reduce energy consumption and achieve their carbon reduction goals. Combining her expertise in architecture, building physics, and energy modeling, she plays an integral role in advancing Resource Innovations' mission to drive clean energy solutions.  

Meet Sharon: Driving Building Decarbonization One Project at a Time       

Q: Can you tell us a little about your background and what led you to your current role?

I’ve always been passionate about sustainability and optimizing building performance. With a background in architecture and building physics, paired with graduate studies in healthy and sustainable buildings, I was naturally drawn to a role where I could make a tangible impact on energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

Through my studies and hands-on experience, I honed my expertise in energy modeling, HVAC systems, and building performance analysis, allowing me to identify and implement effective energy conservation measures (ECMs). My experience in thermal comfort analysis, daylight simulations, and energy audits, along with my certifications in energy management, aligned perfectly with Resource Innovations' mission to advance clean energy solutions.

Q: How does your work contribute to RI’s success and future goals?

My work directly supports RI’s mission of accelerating the clean energy transition by helping businesses and communities reduce energy consumption, improve efficiency, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Through comprehensive energy audits, I not only help clients save on energy costs but also contribute to carbon reduction goals, reinforcing RI’s commitment to combating climate change. I also assist clients in navigating utility incentive programs, securing financial support for energy upgrades, and making sustainability more accessible and equitable for a broader range of businesses and communities.

Beyond individual projects, I contribute to internal process improvements, such as developing energy savings calculation tools and streamlining incentive application workflows. These efforts enhance RI’s efficiency, allowing us to scale our impact and deliver smarter, faster solutions to clients.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of working behind the scenes on energy solutions?

The most rewarding part is seeing the tangible impact of our work—whether it’s reducing a building’s energy use, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, or helping clients secure incentives for sustainable upgrades. It’s especially fulfilling when clients share their excitement about lower energy costs, improved building comfort, or enhanced operational efficiency. Knowing that my contributions lead to real-world environmental and financial benefits makes the work incredibly meaningful. I also enjoy collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across the nation to develop innovative solutions that make buildings more sustainable and comfortable.

Q: Can you share an example of a creative solution you’ve implemented?

In one project, a client was experiencing unexpectedly high energy consumption. After a deep dive into their building automation system, I discovered a misconfigured control sequence that was causing simultaneous heating and cooling in different zones. Instead of recommending costly equipment replacements, I worked with the controls team to reprogram the system, leading to significant energy savings without additional capital expenditure. It shows how data-driven insights and system optimization can be just as impactful as major retrofits.

Q: What’s one project you’re especially proud of?

I worked on a medium-scale energy audit for a commercial facility (university) where we identified multiple ECMs, including HVAC upgrades, and control system optimizations. The client decided to do the project in stages based on their budget; nonetheless, the measures implemented resulted in over 13% energy savings and a significant reduction in the building’s energy cost. What made this project especially rewarding was the client’s enthusiasm for sustainability, they called us back with excitement on how quickly their monthly energy costs decreased—they also went beyond the recommended measures to implement additional green initiatives like adding solar panels.

Q: What excites you about the future of energy?

The future of energy is all about decarbonization, electrification, and smarter energy solutions. My work plays a key role in this transition by reducing energy waste, optimizing HVAC systems, and implementing demand-side strategies that cut emissions and ease grid strain. I also focus on grid-responsive solutions, ensuring buildings adapt energy use efficiently to support grid stability and renewable integration.

With AI, IoT, and predictive analytics transforming energy management, I use building simulations and data-driven modeling to help clients adopt more efficient, future-ready solutions. Beyond technology, I’m passionate about expanding clean energy access so that small businesses and communities can benefit from efficiency programs. Ultimately, I’m excited to accelerate the clean energy transition with practical, scalable solutions that drive real impact.

Q: If you had unlimited resources, what energy challenge would you solve?

If I had unlimited resources, I would focus on scaling up energy-efficient retrofits for existing buildings. While new buildings often incorporate sustainability features, the majority of energy waste comes from older, inefficient structures. I’d implement large-scale retrofits that combine energy-efficient HVAC systems, smart controls, and renewable energy sources, transforming these buildings into more sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective spaces.

As we wrap up our series, we’re inspired by the contributions of Sharon and all our engineers, whose dedication, expertise, and innovative solutions are shaping a more sustainable, equitable future. At Resource Innovations, we’re excited to continue advancing efforts that drive lasting environmental impact and promote energy access for all.