Dr. Nora Wang Esram is a distinguished thought leader known for pioneering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability. She has successfully launched and expanded numerous large-scale initiatives in areas such as building energy ratings, connected homes, healthy buildings, electrification and energy storage, and embodied carbon—collaborating with over 400 organizations. A prolific author, Dr. Esram has published 60 peer-reviewed papers and is a sought-after speaker, having presented at 60 conferences and 250 public webinars. She has been featured in media interviews and has testified before Congress on critical energy and sustainability issues.

As the senior director of research at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Dr. Esram shaped and managed ACEEE’s research agenda, overseeing programs in buildings, industry, transportation, behavior, and health. Previously, she was chief engineer in the Energy and Environment Directorate at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where she led multidisciplinary projects worth tens of millions of dollars 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 and the Director’s Award for Exceptional Engineering Achievement from the PNNL.

Dr. Esram holds a Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Arts in architecture from the National University of Singapore. She was a licensed architect in Washington and holds certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). She is also a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Frontiers of Engineering.