A former mechanical engineer with graduate training in journalism and environmental studies, Kat Friedrich is a freelance writer with expertise in energy, sustainability and technology.

Kat was former editor of the Clean Energy Finance Forum and has edited two magazines: BuildingEnergy and Renewable Energy World Magazine. Her reporting has appeared in Midwest Energy News, Scientific American, Earth Island Journal, and many other publications. She is a local co-organizer of Online News Association Western New England and the former organizer of NetSquared Boston.

Kat holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute. Her thesis analyzed media framing of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge energy resources debate.

For close to two years, Kat worked for American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on website strategy, technical writing, and environmental psychology research.

For four years, Kat was a writer and editor at the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning, a national initiative advancing diversity-friendly teaching techniques in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at colleges and universities.

As an engineer, Kat constructed parts for hybrid race cars before hybrid cars were on the market. She also built and tested

(Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System) The mechanical systems that provide thermal comfort and air quality in an indoor space are often grouped together because they are generally interconnected. HVAC systems includes central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, rooftop units, chillers, and packaged systems. Source: NC State University

systems to cool power electronics that were connected to utility power grids.