Destenie Nock
Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy
Destenie Nock received her Ph.D. in 2019 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There, she performed energy systems modeling in both New England and Sub-Saharan Africa, using multi-criteria decision analysis and applied optimization to better equip policy makers to understand energy planning options. Nock’s broad research interests are focused around using mathematical modeling tools to address societal problems related to sustainability planning, energy policy, and engineering for social good. She has a breadth of professional experience, having worked in industry, national labs, and government settings on issues related to energy systems and equity.
How Grocery Delivery Services Affect Pollution and Traffic
Air Conditioning and Summertime Energy Poverty
Climate Change Impacts on Household Energy Usage in Arizona
Economic Gaps in Heating and Cooling Habits
Modeling Consumer Preferences
Faculty Insights
Environmental Value of Efficient Power Distribution Systems
Planning an Equitable Energy Future: A Focus on Vulnerable Groups
Equitable Energy Planning in SubSaharan Africa
Energy Solutions for Equity and Resiliency with Destenie Nock and Arnav Gautam
Identifying Hidden Forms of Energy Poverty
Education
2019 Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Media mentions
Engineering and Public Policy
Hanig receives Rath Award
Lily Hanig was the 2024 recipient of the Bhakta and Sushama Rath Graduate Award for her research in the equity and sustainability impacts of U.S. transportation disruptions.
CMU Engineering
Comfort vs. cash: energy behavior changes during COVID-19
The pandemic altered how individuals consumed energy in their homes, and in some areas the changes adversely affected energy poverty.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE at COP28: energy justice and glacier projections
At the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), CEE professors Destenie Nock and David Rounce discussed topics such as energy efficiency, climate mitigation, mountain glaciers, and global temperature rise.
Science News Explores
Nock and her company Peoples Energy Analytics featured
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock and her company Peoples Energy Analytics were featured in a story done by Science News Explores. Using her background in math, she created a computer algorithm that helps people manage their utilities more effectively, and subsequently, lower their energy costs.
AZ Central
Nock talks to AZ Central about why people wait too long to turn on their ACs
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock talks to AZ Central about why people wait too long to turn on their ACs. “I have been able to find that there are some households that wait until the average outdoor temperature is above 78 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix to turn on their air conditioners, which often means the maximum daily temperature is 90 degrees,” Nock says.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Engineering a sustainable future: Navishka Pandit's impactful work with Fortune 500 firms
Navishka Pandit (MS '22) is making a significant impact as an engagement associate at EOS at Federated Hermes, where she analyzes sustainability and ESG issues for Fortune 500 companies, aiming to drive long-term value creation through sustainable business practices. Her journey from CEE at CMU to the financial industry highlights the importance of interdisciplinary education and determination to make a difference in the world of finance and sustainability.
Engineering and Public Policy
EPP professors receive College of Engineering faculty awards
Assistant Professor Destenie Nock and Professor Tim Brown won awards which recognize faculty who have displayed excellence in education and research.
CMU College of Engineering
2023 Engineering Faculty Awards announced
The 2023 Engineering Faculty Awards highlight faculty members who have shown outstanding educational, research, and service efforts. Congratulations to all of this year’s awardees!
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor Destenie Nock: recipient of the 2023 George Tallman Ladd Research Award
Professor Destenie Nock was awarded the George Tallman Ladd Research Award by the College of Engineering for her outstanding work in energy transitions and justice, marked by her well-funded research initiatives and impactful publications. Her research on energy equity, particularly in the transition to sustainable energy, extends globally, notably in sub-Saharan Africa, where she redefined energy poverty, shedding light on the challenges faced by impoverished households.
CMU Engineering
Understanding energy behaviors for a more equitable future
By studying energy-limiting behavior related to both heating and cooling in vulnerable households, policies can be modified and developed to address inequities.
Engineering and Public Policy
Climate change impacts on future residential electricity consumption and energy burden
In the pursuit of an equitable electricity sector amid the challenges of a warming climate, a team of researchers took a closer look at climate change's impacts on electricity consumption and energy burden.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Examining inequities: how rising temperatures exacerbate vulnerability in elderly and low-income groups
Andrew Jones, a PhD student, uncovered how climate change hits harder on elderly and low-income families, leading to higher cooling costs as temperatures rise. His study emphasizes the importance of air solutions to help these groups manage the increasing financial strain caused by climate shifts.