Justin Heavey

Promoted climate commitments and green building policy alignment to build consensus around sustainable design choices for the renovation of historic 90,000 sq. ft. academic building.

Achieved the building’s first LEED rating and New York State’s Deep Energy Retrofit target of a 50% reduction in energy use. Worked with funding agencies, contractors, and consultants to set LEED and green building targets. Reduced total building energy consumption despite adding cooling. Funded with support from SUNY Construction Fund (SUCF).

Researched and advised on green building practices and LEED certification for new construction of 52,000 sq. ft. building.

Conducted advanced energy, financial, and emissions modeling analysis for the biomass-fueled, campus-integrated combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Created outreach materials and provided tours of the CHP plant to students, campus visitors, and funding agencies. Funded with support from SUCF and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Served as senior personnel for a regional five-year interdisciplinary research consortium among more than 80 academic, industry, government, and community partners to advance sustainable bioenergy supply chains from multiple feedstocks.

Provided bioenergy producers with critical extension services such as field demonstrations, crop scouting, and a specialized equipment-sharing cooperative. Funded with support from U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).

Contributed technical and analytical support to a multiyear, applied research project to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and life cycle emissions of bioenergy crops.

Technical services included experimental design, GPS and GIS tasks, sample collection and handling, time-motion studies, and farm equipment operation. Funded with support from U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (DOE BETO).

Helped lead a multiyear applied research project to remediate a 100-acre former industrial site using ecological engineering to protect local waterways from contaminated runoff.

Collected physical samples and data from shrub willow evapotranspiration planting to understand the hydrologic and ecological function of the system. Supervised teams to conduct on-site data collection, establish new plantings, perform crop maintenance, and conduct harvesting operations. Prepared project reports, maps, and data visualizations.

Pioneered the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipped with multispectral cameras to survey commercial bioenergy crops to detect plant health and stress using vegetation indices for improved analytics and crop management.

Built the EcoWillow 3.0S financial analysis tool, developed the base-case economic and emissions scenario, and helped integrate the tool into a combined stochastic techno-economic/life cycle assessment (TEA/LCA) model.

Led all aspects of a three-year statewide “green technology transfer” grant award.

Conducted applied research on living snow fences. Trained New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) staff to design, install, and maintain living snow fences using best practices for effectiveness, efficiency, and return on investment. Funded with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

Directed all aspects of a five-year project to educate farmers and communities about USDA BCAP, facilitate landowner enrollment, and support active participation by enrolled producers across New York State.

Applied for and administered grant funding for the campus energy manager position to manage campus utility use and emissions at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF).

Secured grant funding and facilitated two-year project with engineering firm Ramboll to create SUNY ESF’s first Clean Energy Master Plan for renewable energy, conservation, efficiency, and carbon neutrality.

Set pathway for 85% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050.

Assessed carbon sequestration rates and drafted forest management policy for specific plots of SUNY ESF forest land in the Adirondack Mountains to meet and exceed the institutional carbon neutrality goal.

Modeled and visualized carbon sequestration scenarios accounting for forest type, succession, and silvicultural management prescriptions.

Designed a decision matrix of salt-resistant and hardy native shrub species for multifunctional plantings on roadsides to break up headlight glare and improve road safety.

Planted and monitored a species trial along a roadside with heavy salt spray exposure.

Applied for grant funding and administered audits with engineering firm Ramboll and subcontractors to assess 250,000 sq. ft. across more than 50 buildings in remote locations and retro-commission several large buildings on the main campus.

Facilitated research on commercial willow bioenergy plantings to study field water quantity and quality, erosion, and soil GHG emissions on bare fields versus established crops.

Created and implemented an aerial crop-scouting protocol using licensed drone flights to capture aerial photos and videos of 1,200 acres of commercial bioenergy plantings.

Monitored crop health throughout the growing season in conjunction with ground assessments. Analyzed aerial and ground observations and shared crop health findings and management recommendations with producers.

Established and led operations on a three-quarter-acre campus garden from 2009–2023.

Garden features include a mature edible forest garden with over 50 species of edible perennials, a small fruit orchard, an organic vegetable garden, a pollinator garden, and an Indigenous Three Sisters garden. The garden has employed dozens of students for more than ten years, providing firsthand experience with sustainable food systems and traditional ecological knowledge. Originally funded by the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) student club and the SUNY ESF Sustainability Division.

Championed the establishment of a student-run composting program utilizing static aerated bins and applying the compost at the community garden.

Facilitated a working relationship between students, dining, facilities, and campus leadership.