Skip to Main Content U.S. Department of Energy
Energy and Environment Directorate

Katherine Cort

Katherine Cort

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 372-4374

Biography

Katherine Cort is a senior economist and project manager with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) where she has worked since 1998. Prior to joining PNNL, she worked as an economic analyst for the State of Washington, Seattle Public Utilities, and spent a year as a research associate with the Tropical Science Center of Costa Rica. Ms. Cort supports a variety of projects related to the assessment of energy-efficiency programs, technologies, and research. She provides technical support for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Program and has conducted business case and economic impact studies for emerging building technologies ranging from advanced nanolens window coatings for daylighting to self-correcting controls for HVAC systems. She currently leads PNNL’s Residential High-R Window and Window Attachment programs.

Ms. Cort also supports research, strategies, and policy development related to energy and water resilience for the U.S. Department of Army developing definitions, metrics, valuation methodologies, and budget justification for increased Army and Department of Defense investments in energy and water security. Ms. Cort also regularly performs economic impact analyses for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, related to the startup, re-licensing, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants. She also has worked on projects for the DOE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security related to the reducing the global threat of terrorism as well assessing the economic impacts of energy management and infrastructure.

Research Interests

  • Benefit/Cost and Regulatory Analysis
  • Energy Efficiency Economics
  • Socioeconomic Analysis

Education and Credentials

  • B.S., Economics, Southern Methodist University
  • M.A., Economics, University of Washington
  • Certified Energy Manager (CEM)

PNNL Publications

2024

  • Gunderson P.K., E. Louie, and K.A. Cort. 2024. "Laboratory and Field Validation of the Performance Benefits and Costs of Thin Triple-Pane Windows in Residential Buildings." Science and Technology for the Built Environment 30, no. 7:767-784. PNNL-SA-191549. doi:10.1080/23744731.2024.2357529

2023

2022

  • Cort K.A., T.L. Gilbride, C.A. Antonopoulos, K. Ueno, W. White, and J. Elton. 2022. "Case Studies of Residential Façade Upgrades in Four Climate Zones." In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings (Buildings XV), December 5-8, 2022, Clearwater Beach, FL, 112 - 120. Peachtree Corners, Georgia:American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). PNNL-SA-172224.
  • Gunderson P.K., E. Louie, C.E. Metzger, S.I. Rosenberg, and K.A. Cort. 2022. "Results from Laboratory and Field Study of Thin Triple Pane Windows." In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings (Buildings XV), December 5-8, 2022, Clearwater Beach, FL, 667 - 675. Peachtree Corners, Georgia:American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). PNNL-SA-172226.
  • Pilet T.J., S. Mullaly, E. Bauer, and K.A. Cort. 2022. Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades. PNNL-33380. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades

2018

  • Cort K.A., J.A. McIntosh, C.E. Metzger, T.D. Ashley, and G.P. Sullivan. 2018. "Completing the Connected Home with Smart Window Shades." In ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 12-17, 2018, Pacific Grove, CA, 12-1 - 12-12. Washington, District Of Columbia:American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. PNNL-SA-135343.
  • Cort K.A., J.A. McIntosh, G. Sullivan, T.D. Ashley, C.E. Metzger, and N. Fernandez. 2018. Testing the Performance and Dynamic Control of Energy-Efficient Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes. PNNL-27663 Rev 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1477792.Testing the Performance and Dynamic Control of Energy-Efficient Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes

2017

2016

  • Gilbride T.L., and K.A. Cort. 2016. "Low-E Storm Windows Gain Acceptance as a Home Weatherization Measure." Home Energy 33, no. 3:12-17. PNNL-SA-115342.
  • Petersen J.M., K.A. Cort, S.H. Widder, T.D. Culp, and G. Sullivan. 2016. "Mind the Gap: Summary of Window Residential Retrofit Solutions." In ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 21-26, 2016, Pacific Grove, CA, 1-1- 1-12. Washington Dc:American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. PNNL-SA-117151.
  • Tardiff M.F., G.T. Bonheyo, K.A. Cort, T.W. Edgar, N.J. Hess, W.J. Hutton, and E.A. Miller, et al. 2016. "Applying the Scientific Method of Cybersecurity Research." In IEEE Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST 2016), May 10-11, 2016, Waltham, MA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-117303. doi:10.1109/THS.2016.7568886

2008

  • Scott M.J., J.M. Roop, R.W. Schultz, D.M. Anderson, and K.A. Cort. 2008. "The Impact of DOE Building Technology Energy Efficiency Programs on U.S. Employment, Income, and Investment." Energy Economics 30, no. 5:2283-2301. PNNL-SA-48831.

2007

  • Scott M.J., J.A. Dirks, and K.A. Cort. 2007. "The Value of Energy Efficiency Programs for U.S. Residential and Commercial Buildings in a Warmer World." Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 13, no. 4:307-339. PNNL-SA-45117. doi:10.1007/s11027-007-9115-4

2005

  • Scott M.J., J.A. Dirks, and K.A. Cort. 2005. "The Adaptive Value of Energy Efficiency Programs in a Warmer World." In Reducing Uncertainty Through Evaluation: 2005 International Energy Program Evaluation Conference, 671-682. Madison, Wisconsin:International Energy Program Evaluation Conference. PNNL-SA-45118.
  • Scott M.J., J.A. Jaksch, and K.A. Cort. 2005. "A Ten Year Retrospective on Environmental Justice: What Have We Learned?." In Proceedings, Waste Management 2005, February 27 - March 3, 2005, Tucson, Arizona."Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management: Cost-Effectiveness, Risk Reduction, and Technology Implementation". Tuscon, Arizona:Waste Management Symposia Inc. PNNL-SA-43942.

2004

  • Belzer D.B., and K.A. Cort. 2004. "Statistical Analysis of Historical State-Level Residential Energy Consumption Trends." In Proceedings, 2004 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 22-August 27, 2004 in Pacific Grove, California, Panel 1, 25-38. Washington, District Of Columbia:American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. PNNL-SA-41129.
  • Hostick D.J., D.M. Anderson, D.B. Belzer, K.A. Cort, J.P. Dion, J.A. Dirks, and S.C. McDonald. 2004. "Scenario-Based R&D Portfolio Analysis: Informing the Tough Decisions." In 2004 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 4-148 - 4-162. Washington, District Of Columbia:American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. PNNL-SA-41698.

2003

  • Hostick D.J., K.A. Cort, D.B. Belzer, J.A. Dirks, D.B. Elliott, D.M. Anderson, and J.P. Dion. 2003. "Measurement and Baseline Issues Related to Evaluating a Diverse Portfolio of Federally-Supported Building Energy-Saving Programs." In 2003 International Energy Program Evaluation Conference Proceedings. Evaluation: Meeting Diverse Needs, August 20-22, 2003, Seattle, WA.. Madison, Wisconsin:IEPEC Committee. PNNL-SA-38308.

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts