2023 40 Under 40: Zara Fahim, PE, LEED AP EBOM, CEM, 38

Senior Energy Engineer, Arup; MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

By Consulting-Specifying Engineer May 15, 2023

A core member of Arup’s energy team, Fahim is responsible for energy and sustainability consulting for a range of complex projects across the commercial property, public utility, education and other key sectors. Having joined the firm in 2008, Fahim has more than a decade of experience providing services for decarbonization, energy feasibility studies on microgrids, campus utility masterplans, cogeneration plants and solar projects. Equipped with the knowledge of mechanical systems design, she enjoys the diversity of projects she works on. As an advocate for equitable decarbonization, Fahim’s focus is on existing building projects ranging from retro-commissioning, energy auditing, decarbonization studies, commissioning, LEED, microgrid feasibility studies, campus masterplans and post-occupancy assessments of buildings. Digitally focused, she is proficient at energy modeling in software like IES, Trane Trace, EnergyPro and eQUEST. Fahim is also interested in net zero design and decarbonization strategies and supports the use and development of in-house and external tools to streamline her work and processes on these types of projects. She has lectured and delivered presentations on a range of subjects including sustainability, net zero energy and carbon neutral design. In her free time, Fahim loves cooking and hosting friends and family. A skilled chef, she often cooks traditional Pakistani cuisine, but also enjoys trying foods of all kinds. She enjoys spending time outdoors. She engages in various activities such as hiking, sightseeing and almost anything involving nature. Fahim also is an avid traveler and is looking forward to taking international trips with her family.