Biography
I am the Howard E. Lechler Endowed Director of the Construction Engineering Management program at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. I teach courses and execute research/work in an array of topics related to the built environment including: sustainability, resilience, and life-cycle thinking of infrastructure and buildings. I serve on the Univ. Sustainability Committee and am an affiliate faculty in the Institute for a Sustainable Environment (and play hockey now and again). In my faith life, I am a member of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Potsdam, NY, a member of Lutherans Restoring Creation (LRC) and am also a Synod Trainer for LRC. Beyond these efforts, I recently retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve, serving in various capacities including as the Battalion commander of the 479th Engineer Battalion at Fort Drum. I also continue to serve as the Co-Chair for the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the Upstate NY Community of US Green Building Council (USGBC). Not too far from campus, in Russell, NY, I proudly manage my family property (5th generation) near Backus Hill and Backus Road where you might catch me when I'm not doing all of the above or at home with my amazing wife Jackie and a couple cats watching a (2018 Stanley Cup winning Washington Capitals) hockey game.
Education
University of Missouri – Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology)
Clarkson University
Experience
Courses Taught
Research Interests
• Sustainable Construction
• Force Protection Engineering/Infrastructure Resiliency
• Integrated Project Delivery/Project Leadership
• Energy/Alternative Energy Metrics/Management & Informatics
• Alternate Transportation Impacts/Planning
Awards
Best Paper Award, ICEIS 2013, Area: Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems
George Mason University: Facilities Employee of the Month, August 2013; Sustainability Hero Award, 2012
Military: Bronze Star Medal; Combat Action Badge, Bronze Order de Fluery Medal
Leadership: Clarkson Phalanx Commendable Leadership/Inductee; Eagle Scout, BSA
Publications
Recent Presentations
• Backus, Erik C. (2016), Teaching Green - Prepping Students for LEED v4 and Envision (April 14, 2016): http://www.esf.edu/greenbuilding/2016/documents/2016NYSGBC_Erik_Backus.pdf
• Hogue, Markus, Webb, Mark, Backus, Erik C., Schay, Alan, (2016), The Brave New World of Facilities Informatics, APPA Annual Conference (July 13, 2016)
• Backus, Erik C. (2015), A Decision-Guided Energy Framework for Optimal Power, Heating, and Cooling Capacity, 2015 Clean Energy Economy Conference, Utica, NY (June 11, 2015) http://www.ncenergyconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-CEEC-Detailed-Agenda-ASL1.pdf
• Backus, Erik (2015), Improving Infrastructure Resilience through Partnership and Planning (March 12, 2015): http://www.esf.edu/greenbuilding/2015/documents/Backus.Abstract.WEB.pdf
• Backus, Erik and Farris, David (2014), Improving Infrastructure Resilience through Partnership and Planning (November 13, 2014): http://www.samejets.com/?page_id=318
• Backus, Erik (2014),”What’s Your Bootprint?” Together in Mission (TIM) Talk (like a TED Talk) on Sustainability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTk-XqqIWbA&feature=share&list=FLGOXjlqnKLc52vtsx5zYUwA&index=1
Selected/Recent Publications
• Backus, Erik C. (2017), “Technology, Trends, and How to Not be Swept Away”, CONEXPO/CONAGG News, September 26, 2017, http://www.conexpoconagg.com/news/september-2017/technology-trends-and-how-to-not-be-swept-away/
• Backus, Erik. C. and Weidner, Ted, (2017) “Getting the Most out of APPA’s FPI Survey and Report Tool—And a Preview of What’s to Come”, Facilities Manager, APPA (Sep/Oct 2017), pp 49-51
• Hogue, Markus, Backus, Erik C., Smeds, Christopher, and Webb, Mark (2016), Code Talkers: Informatics Moving Forward (Nov/Dec 2016)
• Backus, Erik C.; Schay, Alan; Theimier, Ana (2016), APPA Facilities Informatics Maturity Matrix Technical Report, July 2016, APPA http://www.appa.org/bookstore/product_browse.cfm?itemnumber=1306
• Backus, Erik (2014), “Lighting Your Worship Space Primer: Bringing in the Light, Sustainably”, http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=bHV0aGVyYW5zcmVzdG9yaW5nY3JlYXRpb24ub3JnfHd3d3xneDo0N2UxMTAyYTIwYTBhOGMy
• Backus, Erik and Lo Margaret (2013), “George Mason University Environmental Design Standards”, http://facilities.gmu.edu/ProjMgmtConst/DesignStandardsManual/upload/3-4-ENVIRONMENTAL-STANDARDS.pdf, June 28, 2013
• Ngan, Chun-Kit, Brodsky, Alexander, Egge, Nathan, and Backus, Erik (2013), “A Decision-Guided Energy Framework for Optimal Power, Heating, and Cooling Capacity Investment”, ICEIS 1, page 357-369. SciTePress, http://adweb.clarkson.edu/~ebackus/EnergyPaper.pdf; Best Paper Award
• Backus, Erik (2011), “True Sustainability: A Rubric for Evaluating Infrastructure Rating Systems and Resiliency”, The Infrastructure Security Partnership, http://adweb.clarkson.edu/~ebackus/TISP.pdf, November 20, 2011
• Showalter, William Eric and Backus, Erik Carl (2010). “Recruiting Construction Leaders and Managers for the Future.” The 10th International Conference "Modern Building Materials, Structures and Techniques", Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Publishing House "Technika" May 19, 2010, Lithuania, pp. 524–531, http://adweb.clarkson.edu/~ebackus/Construction.pdf
• Backus, Erik C., Major (2008). “A Time for Hope: Iraq Founds a New Kind of Village.” Castle Chronicle, February-July 2008; Volume 2, pp. 6-9
• Backus, Erik C., Major (2008). “Field Force and Facility Engineer Training.” Engineer Bulletin, April-June 2008; Volume 38 PB 5-08-2, pp. 40-42, http://www.wood.army.mil/engrmag/PDFs%20for%20Apr-Jun%2008/Backus.pdf.
• Backus, Erik C., Major (2008). “Warrior Focused Construction: Tips for Success.” Castle Chronicle, August 2007-January 2008; Volume 1, pp. 22-24