Sarah Gudeman
asks why, then asks why not.
Building science, sustainability, and indoor environmental quality, from a mechanical engineer who grew up around people who studied ecosystems for a living.
LEED Fellow · PE · WELL AP · BCxP · CEM · Principal & VP, BranchPattern
About
Principal and VP at BranchPattern. Recovering perfectionist. Stubborn optimist.
I'm a mechanical engineer who ended up obsessed with air. Not the metaphorical kind: the kind you're breathing right now, indoor air, outdoor air, and the overall quality.
My father ran the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin, Minnesota, where I was born. We moved to Omaha in 1988 when he took a job with the Nature Conservancy. Growing up around people who studied outdoor ecosystems for a living gave me an early interest in the environment. It became an interest in the indoor environment once I trained as an engineer: same physics, same stakes, much smaller scale. Meanwhile, my mom showed me how to lead, manage, and achieve in all areas of life (inspiration I carry forward into my coparenting and work).
I work across integrative design, building performance modeling, sustainability consulting, indoor environmental testing, and commissioning in new and existing buildings. Corporate real estate, K‑12, higher ed, multifamily, entertainment, institutional, recreational. If a building has an HVAC system and people inside it, I've probably worked on something like it, for clients ranging from local nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies.
In 2021, I was named a LEED Fellow, one of 21 people worldwide that year. I still ask "why" and then "why not" more than is probably comfortable for the people around me.
At BranchPattern KC headquarters, Improving Life Through Better Built Environments.
Credentials
- PEProfessional Engineer
- LEED FellowUSGBC
- BCxPBldg. Commissioning Professional
- WELL AP+ Faculty
- CEMCertified Energy Manager
- CPHCPassive House Consultant
- BEMPEnergy Modeling Professional
- PHIUS+Verifier
- FitwelAmbassador
Clifton Strengths
Volunteering
- Fontenelle ForestBoard, Governance Committee
- CREW NetworkSustainability Council
- Marian High SchoolBuilding Committee
- TeamMatesMentor
- AIACOTE Top Ten Technical Reviewer
- DOE WE2Program Mentor
- ASHRAEStandards Committees (235P, 189.1)
Recognition
- CREW Network, Impact Award, Sustainability Trailblazer
- Leadership Omaha, Class 45
- Midlands Business Journal, 40 Under 40
- ACEC Nebraska, Young Professional of the Year
- USGBC Nebraska Flatwater, Volunteer of the Year
- Marian High School, Sr. Marcella Alumni Leadership Award
Speaking
I love talking about building science, sustainability, integrative design, and indoor environmental quality. My career has included a range of opportunities I’m thankful for: about 180 talks, panels, webinars, and podcast appearances so far, from Greenbuild stages and USGBC webinars to AIA and ASHRAE chapters, CREW Convention, firm lunch-and-learns, Girl Scout troops, and high school classrooms. These are just some of the topics I’m talking about currently — happy to develop a custom presentation or topic as needed, including for CEU requirements. Speaking on panels, presenting to classes or groups, and generally increasing our collective intelligence are all passions of mine.
Crafting Excellence
The collaborative art of project delivery: early alignment, the integrative design process, and why sustainable outcomes are a moral question as much as a technical one.
The ROI of IEQ
Indoor environmental quality through the lens of LEED, WELL, and Fitwel: what these frameworks measure and the return they generate for owners.
IAQ Sensors, Show and Tell
A hands-on look at indoor air quality monitoring hardware, what it's good at, where it falls short, and where the category is headed.
The Benefits of Commissioning
Commissioning types (including monitoring-based, enclosures, and systems), the deficiencies it's built to surface before occupancy, and where it connects to other services.
WELL and Fitwel Standards
A working guide to both wellness frameworks: air, water, light, and movement, and how to apply them across building types.
The LEED Rating System
A deep dive into LEED, scaled to the audience: an introduction for the newly certifying, an advanced session for the already fluent.
My AI Life: Avoiding Reverse Centaurs
On using AI to amplify judgment instead of replace it: what responsible delegation looks like, and why the human stays accountable for the decision.
Decarbonizing the Buildings We Already Have
Existing-building strategy under LEED v5 O+M: where the carbon actually is, what's cost-effective now, and how to sequence the rest.
The Work You Do Today Sets You Up for Tomorrow
On mentorship, networking, and saying yes to the small things: practical talk for people earlier in their careers about building a path, not just a résumé.
Video examples and IAQ monitor reviews on YouTube. Get in touch to scope a session on any of the above, or something not on this list.
Media
A working archive, including interviews, articles, and the occasional podcast tangent.
Podcasts
- Design the Future — Ep. 119: Kristy Walson + Sarah Gudeman
- PlotLines — Engineering Sustainability in Commercial Real Estate
- Edifice Complex — Ep. 101: Solutionist Stories
- Air Quality Matters — Ep. 75: The Human Side of Sustainable Engineering
- Cheers with Engineers — Ep. 6: Sarah Gudeman and Her Dedication to Sustainability
- Green Building Matters — Ep. 198: LEED Fellow, Director of Sustainability at Morrissey Engineering
- Better Buildings for Humans — Ep. 147: Your Building Isn't Making You Sick by Accident
Articles & features
- USGBC — Early LEED v5 Projects
- USGBC — Q&A on LEED v5 for O+M
- USGBC — LEED Pro Spotlight
- USGBC — LEED for Operations & Maintenance
- BuildingGreen — The "Brown" Assets LEED Left Behind
- Midlands Business Journal Feature
- Solutionist Stories archive — read every issue on this site
- Solutionist Stories with Sarah — Newsletter
Also building
The parts of my life that don't fit on a résumé, but still take up real estate in my head.
AI x CRE ↗
A practitioner-led working group I started for commercial real estate professionals learning how AI actually changes the work. Over 100 members, monthly sessions, now forming into a nonprofit resource for women in the industry.
Sustainability Vetting Guide ↗
A free guide for owners and architects evaluating engineering teams on sustainability practice, covering nine categories from carbon disclosure to indoor air quality.
CE Credit Finder ↗
A short, guided way to find continuing education hours for AIA, PE, LEED, WELL, CEM, commissioning, Passive House and ICC credentials.
Oscar Watch ↗
A yearly goal to see every Best Picture nominee before the ceremony airs. Equal parts film education and logistics puzzle, depending on how late the nominations land.
Cutting Open Rocks
Working with my son to create a dedicated socials channel dedicated entirely to cutting rocks open to see what's inside.
Energy Code Compliance Flowchart (IECC/90.1) ↗
A flowchart mapping the energy code compliance path under IECC and ASHRAE 90.1.
IAQ Monitor Comparison SUPERsheet ↗
A side-by-side comparison of indoor air quality monitors.
USGBC School IAQ Fact Sheets ↗
USGBC’s full series of school indoor air quality fact sheets.
Snapshots
in no particular order
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Follow along on socials.
Get in touch
Speaking requests, project inquiries, or something else entirely. Historically, "something else" has included restaurant recommendations or discussions about new interesting music or concerts, which are also welcome.
Fastest way to reach me is LinkedIn. Copy it below or use the link in the list.