Q-and-A with Megan Cordes
Megan Cordes is the Director of Sustainability and Building Science for Beazer Homes. She joined Beazer in October 2023 with over 15 years of experience working with forward-thinking industry leaders to advance building energy efficiency, sustainability, and renewable energy practices thoughtfully and cost-effectively. For more than 25 years, Beazer has been a leader in building homes ahead of current standards and beyond expectations. Beazer was the first U.S. national homebuilder to publicly commit that by the end of 2025, every home built will meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Home program. In her role, Megan is responsible for furthering Beazer’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
How was your experience speaking as the thought leader at BuildingsNEXT? What did you take away from your conversations with students and seeing their projects?
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to BuildingsNEXT as a thought leader, and the experience was just as inspiring for me as I hope it was for the students! Talking to the students showed me that they’re so thoughtfully approaching problems we urgently need to solve. In my role, forward-thinking strategy is crucial to sustaining Beazer Homes' position as the leader in energy efficient home construction. The students at BuildingsNEXT brought strategic mindsets to their work, demonstrating how far we’ve come in this industry with respect to building better quality, energy efficient homes—and showing they have what it takes to continue making progress. The strategic approach to building that they are taking is sophisticated and nuanced – informed by what we veterans have learned to date but also infused with the fresh ideas and energy that come with beginning one’s career.
What inspired you to pursue a career sustainable building?
I studied Physics in college and took a class called the Physics of Energy (shout out to Dr. Knight). I love a good word problem and this problem of how to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase the efficiency of buildings seemed like an important one to solve. I intentionally chose more classes along those lines and ended up with a robust knowledge base about this when I graduated. The longer I continue to do this work, the more I love it. We are making relentless progress toward a better standard for residential new construction and every day I know that I am a part of that progress. It’s a great feeling.
What challenges did you face when breaking into the field?
I come from a family with no college graduates, so when I went to college I had no idea what my options were. So my first challenge was figuring out what I could do with my education and drive to play a part in the way buildings use energy. Beyond that, when I entered this industry as a woman I was severely outnumbered by men. It was intimidating to break into a space where I wasn’t sure I belonged, but I’m glad I didn’t let it stop me. Over the years I’ve come to see how bringing a different perspective into this space makes me an asset.
What advice would you give a younger generation starting their path in high performance building and sustainability?
Throughout my career I have seen ebbs and flows in the progress we have made toward high performance building. My advice to the younger generation is to keep moving forward regardless of circumstances that might make it difficult. Trust your instincts and be confident in your path and you’ll make a difference.
