Leaders in Energy recently celebrated another milestone – over 2,900 members in the Leaders in Energy Research, Communications, Policies & Analysis group on LinkedIn.

Whenever this happens, we like to shine the spotlight on our members to show the diversity of talents and backgrounds that are joining our group. Some join virtually from wherever they are located around the world. Others attend our monthly networking events in the Washington, DC area. Today, let’s welcome Ari Dolmon, who we asked to give a brief introduction.

This year was a reminder, for Americans broadly and for the residents of Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico in particular, that extreme weather events may overwhelm the systems and procedures previously believed to be sufficient to withstand hazards. Our urban planning is reliant on outdated information, one example being that 1,000 year flood predictions do not incorporate new data reflective of the effects of climate change. In response, many people in the federal, nonprofit, and private sectors are now addressing resiliency.

My current externship with the Institute for Market Transformation, a nonprofit focused on energy-efficient buildings, granted me the chance to attend the 2017 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston this month. There, I attended a multitude of lectures on resilient urban design. Resident scientists and policymakers from Washington, DC and Boston presented their mitigation and contingency plans for their respective cities.

Elsewhere, organizations such as LendLease, Enterprise Community Partners, and New Ecology, Inc. have addressed resiliency measures into their building designs and urban projects. Organizations like the Investor Confidence Project are advocating for stronger infrastructure and better energy efficient products, and offering tools and resources to investors to make a more informed judgement.

Resilient communities are successful when they utilize the combined weight of people and resources to protect their assets. My vision for the future is one of perseverance in the face of adversity. We’re a pioneering nation built on innovation, and we will continue to thrive, should we choose to plan ahead.

Ari Dolmon is an extern with the Institute for Market Transformation. They are sponsored by the Workforce Development Program of the DC Sustainability Energy Utility. They may be reached at ari.dolmon@gmail.com or on twitter at @Ari_Dolmon. 

Leaders in Energy is building a community of engaged leaders to create a sustainable energy system, economy, and world. The three main areas of action are the green economy, sustainable communities, and multigenerational leadership. With operations in Metro Washington DC, we’ve built a base that spans most major metropolitan areas and over 100 countries. More information is available at https://www.leadersinenergy.org and in the Leaders in Energy Research, Communication, Policies & Analysis (LERCPA) LinkedIn group.