TOPIC - Navigating the U.S. Electric Grid:
An Essential Guide
By: Amanda Bogner
ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer
Hosted At:
Piedmont Natural Gas Technology & Design Center
4339 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28217
Presentation Summary:
As buildings become increasingly electrified and energy-intensive, designers must understand how their building interact with the U.S. electric grid. This session introduces the structure of the national grid, the roles of key stakeholders, and the critical difference between generation, transmission, and distribution. Attendees will explore concepts of reliability and resilience, examine emerging trends like all-electric buildings and demand response, and learn how thoughtful design can support grid stability. The session highlights how design choices can modify, disrupt, or align with grid load profiles – empowering designers to create buildings that are energy-efficient, resilient, and compatible with a low-carbon, grid-integrated future.
Speaker Bio:
Amanda Bogner is passionate about architecture, sustainability, and the role buildings play in addressing climate change. A licensed mechanical engineer and ASHRAE-certified Building Energy Modeling Professional, she has over two decades of experience helping building owners and design teams use
energy modeling to create more energy-efficient, decarbonized buildings. Her career has been dedicated to making simulation-based decision-making accessible, accurate, and impactful across all phases of design, construction, and operations.
Amanda is currently Vice President at Catalyst Partners, a sustainability consulting firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, she provides technical leadership and strategic insight to integrate energy simulation into holistic decarbonization strategies for new and existing buildings. She is deeply committed to supporting architects, engineers, developers, and institutions in making data-informed decisions that result in high-performance buildings and reduced environmental impact.
Meeting Schedule
11:30 - Registration/Network
Noon - Lunch and Presentation