Nora Wang Esram joins New Buildings Institute as the new CEO to drive its ambitious mission of eliminating emissions from the built environment.
Portland, ORE., March 18, 2025—New Buildings Institute (NBI), a mission-driven nonprofit organization working to advance scalable and practical approaches that equitably eliminate carbon emissions from the built environment, today announced the appointment of Nora Wang Esram as its new chief executive officer starting March 31, 2025.
Esram brings over 20 years of experience in the clean energy and sustainability sectors, with a deep commitment to advancing innovative solutions and decarbonizing the built environment. In her new role, she will lead NBI’s efforts to develop and promote high-performance building practices, policies, and technologies that drive measurable progress toward a zero-emission future. Esram is a distinguished thought leader and uniquely poised to guide NBI into its next phase of innovation and impact.
“I am honored to join New Buildings Institute team and build upon the organization’s impressive track record of driving transformative change in the built environment,” said Esram. “With the built environment accounting for 30% of total energy use and nearly 75% of electricity consumption annually in the U.S., efficient, smart, low-carbon buildings are key to addressing challenges such as rising electricity demand, energy affordability, grid reliability, and the increasing impacts of extreme climate events. I look forward to collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable building practices and technologies that create healthier and more resilient communities for all.”
Before joining NBI, Esram served as the senior director of research at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), where she shaped and managed ACEEE’s research agenda, overseeing programs in buildings, industry, transportation, behavior, and health. Previously, Esram was chief engineer in the Energy and Environment Directorate at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where she led multidisciplinary projects to advance building technologies. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award for Innovation from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and the Director’s Award for Exceptional Engineering Achievement from the PNNL.
“Nora’s deep expertise, strategic vision, and proven track record of driving impactful change make her the ideal leader to guide NBI’s mission forward,” said Michael Colgrove, President of NBI’s Board of Directors. “Her appointment comes at a critical juncture as we work to address the urgent challenge of climate impacts and ensure that the built environment is part of the solution.”
Under Esram’s leadership, NBI will continue to advance its work towards net zero with our goals for clean energy integration, healthy and advanced buildings, and thriving communities. The organization will also expand its partnerships with policymakers, industry leaders, and community-based organizations to drive widespread adoption of sustainable building practices.
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About New Buildings Institute:
New Buildings Institute (NBI) is a mission-driven nonprofit organization working to advance scalable and practical approaches that equitably eliminate emissions from the built environment. Through research, policy, and market transformation initiatives, NBI is driving the adoption of high-performance building practices, technologies, and policies that create healthier, more sustainable, and resilient communities. For more information, visit newbuildings.org.
Media Contact:
Anna Zamir, Associate Director, Marketing and Communications
annaz@newbuildings.org
(805) 570-3835