Tristan Schwartzman

Principal, Director of Energy Services

Tristan Schwartzman is a major innovative presence in energy efficiency in Greater New York. He and his team have completed energy audits and retro-commissioning projects for more than 100 million square feet of commercial properties. He has helped lead those buildings through the design and implementation of annual multi-million-dollar capital improvement projects based on the findings of those reports, generating energy savings and financial savings for property owners. In the process, he and his team have created award-winning innovations, advancing the field.

Tristan has worked with the City of New York and PSE&G to implement programs to reduce energy consumption. He also worked with NYSERDA to pilot a statewide energy-saving initiative. He serves on the ACEC Energy Committee and advises NYECC on energy and sustainability issues.

Career highlights

With Tristan Schwartzman as Director of Energy Services, Goldman Copeland has completed energy audits and retro-commissioning projects for more than 30 million square feet of commercial properties. He has also led those buildings through the design and implementation of annual, multi-million-dollar, capital improvement projects based on the findings of those reports, generating energy savings and financial savings for property owners. In addition, he has worked with the City of New York and PSE&G to implement programs to reduce energy consumption. He has also worked with NYSERDA to pilot a statewide energy-saving initiative.

Under Tristan’s leadership, Goldman Copeland has pioneered the use of steam optimization panels to maximize the efficiency of aging steam-based cooling plants in large commercial buildings in New York City. He has expanded the use of those panels to incorporate control of auxiliary equipment to optimize the plant holistically rather than focus solely on the chiller. In doing so, he worked with Con Edison to establish that the system qualifies for rebates under their demand-management program.

With Tristan’s leadership of Energy Services, Goldman Copeland has been recognized with multiple ACEC New York Platinum Awards. The 2018 Platinum Award in the Environmental Category recognized the firm’s creation of a digital Geothermal Screening Tool that can be used by any building in New York City to determine if geothermal energy is geologically suitable and economically feasible. The 2019 Platinum Award in the Energy Category recognizes the firm’s work in upgrading the Penn South Central Plant Infrastructure. Penn South, a cooperative housing community with 10 residential towers, is one of the largest energy islands in New York City – and entirely co-generated. Through major energy efficiency upgrades over five years, Goldman Copeland has delivered a 30% reduction in energy usage.

Tristan Schwartzman, who began his career as a public-school math teacher before turning to engineering, has emerged as a major and innovative presence in energy efficiency in Greater New York. His commitment and innovations are helping to transform the region.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree: NYU (in English Literature)
Bachelor’s Degree: City College of New York (in Engineering)
Master’s Degree: Pace University (in Math Education)

Licenses and Certifications

Professional Engineer
Certified Energy Manager
Existing Building Commissioning Professional

Memberships and Affiliations

ACEC New York Energy Committee
BOMA Energy Committee
ASHRAE member
Tristan advises the New York Energy Consumer Council on energy and sustainability issues.
He serves as a judge for BOMA NY’s Pinnacle Award for Energy Sustainability, which recognizes building owners and operators for energy efficiency.
He has presented on retro-commissioning practices at ASHRAE, ASHRAE NY, and Buildings NY.
He has volunteered with Engineers Without Borders, leading a group that designed, fundraised, and built a now fully functioning water distribution system in a small town in Honduras.

Awards and Recognitions

Association of Energy Engineers – International Energy Engineer of the Year (2024)
ACEC New York – New Principal of the Year (2024)
Association of Energy Engineers – Energy Engineer of the Year for the Northeast US (2023)
Association of Energy Engineers, New York Chapter – Energy Engineer of the Year (2022)
ACEC New York Platinum Award (Energy Category) for the Penn South Central Plant Infrastructure Upgrade (2019)
ACEC New York Platinum Award (Environmental Category) for a Geothermal Screening Tool (2018)

Published Commentaries

PM Engineer – January 21, 2025 – “Reducing carbon emissions from houses of worship”
New York Real Estate Journal – November 14, 2023 – “A Pivotal Period for Geothermal Energy – with New York City Leading the Way – by Charles Copeland and Tristan Schwartzman.”
Healthcare Design, May 3, 2023, “Hospitals’ Extraordinary Potential For Improved Energy Efficiency”
Force Distance Times, November 22, 2022, “Geothermal Energy Can Help Reduce Reliance on Imported Fossil Fuels”
Business Energy Exchange, November 16, 2022, “Building on NYC’s Leadership in Geothermal Ground Source Energy”
The Hill, September 29, 2022, “Growing heat waves make geothermal energy vital to reducing grid demand”
ASHRAE Journal – August 2022 – “Developing Geothermal Screening Web Tools”
FacilitiesNet, September 23, 2021, “What Facility Managers Need to Know About Geothermal Ground Source Systems”
New York Real Estate Journal, September 21, 2021, “New York sets national pace for geothermal screening tools”
Goldman Copeland Blog – January 28, 2020 – “The Financial Benefit of Energy Studies: A Case Study”
Goldman Copeland Blog – June 12, 2019 – “How New York City’s New Law on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Affects Property Owners”