Michael Gilbert is a dynamic energy and sustainability professional with extensive knowledge of technology, policy and finance. He currently serves roles in both Fairstead and Fairstead Ventures.
At Fairstead, a multi-family real estate owner/operator developer with hundreds of buildings across the country, Michael serves as Director of Energy and Sustainability. He identifies opportunities for improvements in sustainability performance, design, operation, and net operating income that can be actualized within Fairstead’s real estate portfolio.
At Fairstead Ventures, which partners with proptech innovators to deploy leading edge solutions for affordable housing, Michael acts as Director of Cleantech, Proptech, and Decarbonization. Here, he leverages his deep expertise of both building systems and the Fairstead Portfolio, along with his robust network of contacts, to identify solutions and strategic VC investment opportunities. Collaborating with internal stakeholders, VC partners, startups, and public sector agencies, he strives to implement innovative technologies and drive positive change within the real estate sector, including Proptech and Aging-in-Place.
Prior to his time at Fairstead and Fairstead Ventures, Michael worked for Consolidated Edison, the local utility servicing the New York City metropolitan area, where he led business development programs on energy efficiency, demand management, demand response, distributed generation, and EVs. He worked directly with the region’s largest commercial, industrial, and multi-family real estate companies and project developers.
In addition, Michael has previously served as the manager of energy, environment, health, and safety for Pitney Bowes, and worked in management consulting for several domestic and international clients. He began his career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), working on both hazardous waste remediation and international environmental development.
As a recognized thought leader, Michael has lectured at Cornell and Columbia Universities’ graduate and business schools, and energy, sustainability and real estate conferences in Israel, India, and across the U.S.. These opportunities have allowed him both to learn and share his subject matter expertise and insights covering areas such as Cleantech, Proptech, Healthtech, finance, ESG, and decarbonization.
Michael holds a BS in agricultural engineering, an MS in environmental engineering from Cornell University, and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He serves on the City of White Plains Sustainability Committee, and is a licensed Professional Engineer, Certified Energy Manager, and Certified Energy Auditor.