Podcasts about Living Building Challenge

Why take the 6 hour and 40 minute drive to the Applegate Region in Southern Oregon? I had to see what 29 year old Mini Byers has acquired. Cowhorn Bioynamic Vineyard and Garden is a Petal-certified Building under the Living Building Challenge 2.1 by the International Living Future Institute.  The tasting room is LEED-certified, and there is a beautiful, modern guest home on the property overlooking the vineyard. Naturally, I accepted the offer to stay there for two days. While there, I spent a morning with Mini's winemaker, Vince Vadrine. We talk about his background, the vineyard, and the Rhone wine varietals he crafts. A trip to the area is well worth it. There's so much to see and experience, of which we took full advantage! On The Wine Road Podcast is supported by Sonoma Clean Power. Music was sourced APM Music, and the theme was composed by Marscott.  

Welcome, Regenerators! In this special bonus episode of Care More Be Better, we bring together Parts 9 and 10 of our Regeneration series inspired by Paul Hawken's groundbreaking book, Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation. Trimmed for your listening pleasure.Part 9: Energy We dive deep into renewable energy—from solar and geothermal to wind and microgrids. We discuss the rise of electric vehicles, heat pumps, energy storage innovations, and the need to electrify everything. I even share my journey of switching banks away from JP Morgan Chase, which heavily funds fossil fuels, and what that kind of vote-with-your-wallet action means.Part 10: Industry We take on the hard truths about Industry—Big Food, Healthcare, Plastics, Fashion, War, and more. We explore how extractive capitalism must be replaced with regenerative thinking and practice. Along the way, I weave in insights from prior podcast guests and offer honest, tangible actions we can each take.Key Topics Covered:Fossil fuel phaseout & the renewable revolutionElectric vehicles, energy efficiency & infrastructureSolar, geothermal, and microgrid innovationRegenerative agriculture's connection to healthThe politics and economics of extractive industriesFashion waste, plastics pollution, and clean tech solutionsCarbon offsets vs. carbon onsetsResources & Links:Visit CareMoreBeBetter.com to access full transcripts, guest bios, YouTube videos, and moreLearn more about regenerative fashion from Caroline Priebe (Ep. 14) and Anca Novacovici (Ep. 33)Carbon: The Book of Life by Paul Hawken Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis In One Generation by Paul Hawken INTERVIEW WITH PAUL HAWKEN (Ep. 38): Regeneration: Ending The Climate Crisis In One Generation with Paul Hawken, 5 Time Best-selling Author and Environmentalist11 Part Series on Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis In One GenerationRegeneration Part 1: Podcast Updates And Regenerating Our Oceans Regeneration Part 2: Forests And Their Role In Climate Change Regeneration Part 3: Wild Things and Wilding, A Review of Paul Hawken's Book on Ending The Climate Crisis in One Generation Regeneration Part 4: A Review of The Climate Activist Portal – Nexus – on Regeneration.org with Anca Novacovici, Tia Walden, Julie Lokun and Nicole Davis Regeneration Part 5: Land, Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Restoration To Reverse Global Warming Regeneration Part 6: People, Indigeneity and Our Role In Reversing Global Warming Regeneration Part 7: Cities, Green Architecture, The Living Building Challenge and Getting To Net Positive Regeneration Part 8: Food, The Need for Localization and Decommodification To End The Climate Crisis Regeneration Part 9: Energy Use, Renewal and Storage As We Transition Away from Fossil Fuels and Electrify Everything Regeneration Part 10: Solving The Climate Crisis By Regenerating Industries Regeneration Part 11: The Role of Action + Connection In Reversing Global WarmingJoin the Conversation: Have a question for Paul Hawken? Please send me a DM on Instagram or an email to hello@caremorebebetter.com.JOIN OUR CIRCLE. BUILD A GREENER FUTURE:

In this special replay, we unite two dynamic explorations from Paul Hawken's Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, focusing on how cities and food systems can be transformed for the better. From living buildings to urban farms, from rethinking meat to minimizing food waste—this episode offers a hopeful, actionable roadmap to regeneration.What You'll Learn:How cities can shift from being carbon culprits to climate solutionsThe role of green architecture and the Living Building ChallengeWhat the 15-minute city really means (and why Paris is leading the charge)How food systems became the #1 cause of climate change—and how we can reverse thatReal solutions for food waste, access, and biodiversity in our dietsWhy “eating everything” (not just 3 crops!) matters for our health and the planetPractical ways to support regenerative change in your daily lifeMentioned In This Episode:Regeneration by Paul HawkenBlocPower and founder Donnel BairdRooftop Roots, Lufa Farms, and other inspiring urban farming examplesJonathan Safran Foer's We Are The WeatherEpisode 20: Interview with Howard Schiffer of Vitamin AngelsTalking Home Renovations with Katharine MacPhailCareMoreBeBetter.com | Newsletter & Activist GuideSupport the Pod: If you value this work, support Care More Be Better on Patreon: caremorebebetter.com/support Share with a friend. Leave a review. Be part of the regenerative wave.

The term "greenwashing" was coined back in 1983 by environmentalist Jay Westerfeld while surfing in Fiji. He later published an essay in 1986 titled "It All Comes Out in the Greenwash," highlighting how companies were making misleading claims about their environmental practices. Fast forward to today, greenwashing has become a sophisticated art form and big business, with some of the world's largest corporations caught in the act.   Whether through misleading marketing in examples like Volkswagen, BP, Nestle, and Fiji Water, or in financial manipulation used by hedge funds and inconsistency among ratings agencies, it's clear the line between genuine sustainability and greenwashing can often be blurred.   One bright spot in the haze is the emergence of modern building efficiency standards that are re-imagining actual sustainability goals. Standards like LEED, BREEAM, Net Zero Energy Building, and the Living Building Challenge set rigorous criteria for energy efficiency, water conservation, and overall environmental impact. These standards all contribute to a major challenge for sustainability: last-mile power.   "Last mile power" refers to the final stage of the electricity delivery process from the power distribution network to the end user, such as homes, businesses, and other facilities. This term is borrowed from telecommunications, where "last mile" describes the final leg of the network that delivers services to customers. In the context of power delivery, it involves the infrastructure and technologies that ensure electricity reaches its final destination efficiently and reliably.   Greenfield construction projects benefit from these new standards where everything can be designed from scratch, but what about brownfield solutions for the last mile?   That's where modern technology solutions like power-over-ethernet, or PoE, can make a real impact on efficiency and reliability without resorting to manipulation to achieve sustainability targets. Where simple modifications using existing infrastructure can make a big impact.    How can Microchip Technology prevent greenwashing through real, tangible sustainability solutions?   Links from the episode: www.microchip/com/poe https://www.thesinclairhotel.com/technology    Guests:  Alan Jay Zwiren

Welcome to Episode 59! The whole team gathered for our first fully online interview with 2024 Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA Gold Medal winners Hugh Tennent and Ewan Brown. Their award citation describes them as having "travelled commonly avoided pathways" in their work, and our discussion delves deeper into their meeting, the strong commitment to listening and learning, and the complementary nature of their partnership. Their inventive incorporation of Te Ao Māori into architectural responses overlaps with the most pressing needs of the profession to mitigate its effect on the environment, and is captured neatly when they say, "All of the Living Building Challenge projects are kaupapa Māori projects" The discussion is better than the audio quality on this chat, for which we beg your indulgence as we test our ability to interview remote guests. Theme Music: The Cosmic Wheels Cover photo: Catherine Cattanach https://www.catherinecattanach.com/

  Mike Bahr is the Regional Sustainability Manager at Turner Construction Company. Mike is responsible for helping clients achieve their sustainability goals by implementing efforts in embodied carbon, material selection, hybrid & electric equipment, and other sustainability initiatives.    Mike is a leader in embodied carbon and understands the challenges that need to be overcome in sustainability, piloting efforts to track across all A-stages of a building's lifecycle including best practices for A4 emissions. Mike has led sustainability implementation on over 4,000,000 sf of certified green building space, covered LEED, WELL and Living Building Challenge programs. Mike is also a member of the Market Leadership Advisory Board for USGBC Iowa.   Prior to his full-time sustainability role, Mike worked as a project manager and engineer across diverse projects including health care, high-rise, multi-family, historical renovation, adaptive reuse & tenant improvement. These past experiences provide Mike with valuable knowledge of the challenges and opportunities the construction industry has ahead as it continues to push towards a more sustainable, just future. “Buildings are ubiquitous, supporting virtually every business, supply chain, economic need, and positive social outcome globally. However, buildings are responsible for nearly 50% of global GHG emissions, a significant amount of landfill waste, and can lead to negative health outcomes for individuals when poorly designed and operated.”   Mike works to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions through delivering more sustainable buildings and real estate, at every stage of the lifecycle. He has contributed to positive outcomes on nearly 5 million square feet of 3rd party certified buildings spanning the LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge programs.    Additional efforts have included construction equipment electrified, low-carbon materials, and circularity initiatives. He has achieved this through supply chain partnership, internal consensus building, and industry collaboration.   Show Highlights   Future trends in biodiversity and the circular economy. Recycling and embodied carbon while emphasizing client-driven initiatives.  Turner's Approach to Sustainability Focuses on adapting national sustainability programs to local markets. Challenges in sustainability practices can differ significantly based on regional infrastructure and policies. Emphasis on client-driven sustainability approaches. On-site energy and fuel use for ESG program. Pushing for electric construction equipment to reduce emissions and air pollution. Implementing biodiversity assessments can lead to more sustainable design practices. Promoting the use of native species and habitats in project planning. Explore circular economy principles in building materials and processes.   "Go out and find your people...USGBC chapters, Carbon Leadership Forum, the networks...Just kind of find those people, get to know each other, work together. This is fulfilling work, but it is challenging and there are a lot of obstacles."- Mike Bahr      Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on .  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the !   Copyright © 2025 GBES

Toby Diggens explains what it takes to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge, and working to the standard when renovating an existing building. Check out the show notes for more information.

"I started my career as a Mechanical and Hydraulic Engineer but soon realised my passion was designing buildings for people and planet. I effectively facilitate and manage sustainability outcomes within projects. I enjoy inspiring people, sharing knowledge and creating great team relationships." In this inspiring episode, sustainability consultant Trish shares her passion for creating a built environment that respects and regenerates nature. Trish discusses integrating biophilic and regenerative principles into construction, focusing on reusing, repurposing, and healing the land rather than exploiting it. Her approach challenges the disposable culture of modern building practices, advocating for structures designed to last over a century.

For our latest podcast, we talked to Myrrh Caplan, who is Senior VP for Sustainability at Skanska and leads the construction company's national sustainability team. Since joining Skanska as a Project Manager in 2005, Myrrh has helped shape Skanska's national approach to sustainable building. She established the company's first national Green Construction program and chaired Skanska's first National Green Council. Myrrh has advised on nearly 300 certified projects and projects seeking LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL, Envision, and other certifications. She sits on the board of mindfulMaterials, serves on several industry committees, and participates in research with key partners. We heard from Myrrh about her passion for weaving a positive legacy through the work, and how she brings that to the projects and to the overall enterprise. She speaks about her team as a family that is “in it together” and she is proud of how shared success, to this group of people, “comes before egos.”  She told us about a recent accomplishment, her work on the Associated General Contractors Playbook on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting in construction (https://www.agc.org/climate-change-playbook). And we couldn't resist asking Myrrh to talk about some notable recent projects, including PDX (the new airport in Portland, Ore., designed by ZGF) and the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station (in New York City, designed by SOM). 

In this episode of the Elevate Podcast, we're joined by Arwen Dickinson, Head of Delivery at Unispace, to explore the award-winning Arup office fit-out in Auckland. Aimed at achieving the rigorous Living Building Challenge certification, this project stands as one of New Zealand's most sustainable commercial interiors. Arwen shares insights into the sustainability achievements, including an impressive 99% waste diversion from landfills and the use of locally sourced, non-toxic materials.We delve into the cultural integration aspect of the project, where Unispace collaborated with local Māori iwi to honor Aotearoa's heritage. The design concept, "Mai i ngā maunga ki te moana," creates a spiritual connection between the history of the place and a regenerative future, making the workspace more than just an office—it's a journey that reflects New Zealand's rich cultural narrative.Arwen also discusses the significant impact the project has had on employee well-being, with post-occupancy data showing a 95% utilization rate and 100% of employees believing the office design supports their well-being. Tune in to learn how this project sets a new benchmark for sustainable commercial interiors in New Zealand, blending cultural heritage with cutting-edge sustainability practices.Useful linksUnispaceSupreme Award for the 2024 NZ Commercial ProjectTake A Tour Of Arup's Sustainable Auckland Offices By UnispaceArwen Dickinson's LinkedInWhere else you can find usWebsite: https://www.masterbuilder.org.nz/Elevate Platform: http://elevate.masterbuilder.org.nzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/masterbuildernz/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuildersYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmh_9vl0pFf0zSB6N7RrVegTwitter: https://twitter.com/MasterBuilderNZ

Aligning business with biology, disruptive design uses systems thinking to create models that show what “good” really looks like. Two winners of the 2012 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Award-visionary architect Jason McLennan of the acclaimed Living Building Challenge and entrepreneur Cheryl Dahle of The Future of Fish-demonstrate breakthrough systems designs that can transform major industries, create a healthy sustainable environment and make life beautiful and fun. Resources Jason McLennan – From Reconciliation to Regeneration Deep Community Resilience: Preparing for the Coming Age, Place-By-Place | Jason F. McLennan Child-Centered Planning: A New Specialized Pattern Language Tool | Jason F. McLennan This is an episode of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series. Visit the radio and podcast homepage to learn more.

  Allison Hudock has over 23 years of professional experience while working for 3 highly respected, fast-paced, environmental consulting firms. Allison holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior from Rutgers University, in addition to her LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, Living Future Accreditation, Fitwel Ambassador credentials. Allison has been a freelance contributor for GBES for several years, and puts her passion for sustainability and wellness to use in creating best-in-class continuing education content for GBES customers holding LEED, WELL and SITES credentials.  Allison entered the sustainability space as a mid-career pivot. Her experience includes reviewing project documents and drawings, updating LEED and WELL project scorecards and credit trackers, attending internal and external meetings and project charrettes, and preparing project exhibits. She enjoys providing support on LEED and WELL projects that encourage healthy behavior and include healthy and/or lower carbon materials.  Allison aspires to provide project support on projects that support communities and Living Building Challenge projects. Allison is a member of Mindful Materials and the International Living Future Institute.  Show Highlights   The challenges of finding mentors in sustainability and tips on how to find your own path.  Trends for LEED v.5 and its new focus on recognizing resilience (resilience is not the same as sustainability) and equity. WELL projects and the importance of biophilic design and adaptive reuse. Mentions the influence of the TV show 'Greensburg' and Leonardo DiCaprio on her career path. Discusses the importance of continuous learning, webinars and online courses to prepare for the WELL AP and LEED exams. Allison's passion for pets and the wellness movement. Why stack credentials such as LEED AP, Fitwel Ambassador, and WELL AP. GBES on continuing education content and her involvement with Mindful Materials. “LEED v5: I'm super excited about it. I am so happy they've incorporated resilience. It is not the same as sustainability, and very important, also the equity, inclusion, and also, for someone like me, who's very heavily interested in materials, the fact that they have reorganized the materials category on the scorecard. I think is going to be very helpful going forward.” -Allison Hudock    Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on .  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the !   Copyright © 2024 GBES

On this episode of The Green Hour, we sit down with Mike Johnson to discuss the importance of material transparency in the built environment. Mike is the Director of Materials for the International Living Future Institute, a non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable and regenerative practices in the built environment through initiatives like the Declare label, Living Building Challenge, and the Living Product Challenge. Join us for a conversation on regenerative design, transparency, and holistic thinking.

  Brittany Storm, LEED Fellow, Brittany Storm is a LEED Fellow with LEED AP specialties in BD+C and ID+C. She is also WELL AP, FItwel Ambassador, as well as USGBC and IWBI Faculty   She has extensive experience in the sustainable building industry and over 15 years of experience working on projects seeking various green building certifications including LEED, the WELL Building Standard, and the Living Building Challenge. Her professional background allows her to speak to audiences about both big picture and technical aspects of a green building project. Recognized as a thought leader, Brittany has a depth and breadth of technical expertise in the areas of healthy, sustainable construction materials, green building standards and rating systems, and sustainable manufacturing.   Brittany has directed numerous projects and managed the development of sustainability guidelines for a wide range of industry associations and green building standards. Brittany has consulted on more than 150 buildings with experience working with many different building types, including office buildings, tenant spaces, hotels, retail, warehouse and distribution centers, multifamily properties and public order and safety buildings. Brittany has also developed 2 LEED volume prototypes and has certified many LEED volume projects, representing over 2 million square feet and counting.    In her role as a sustainable building consultant, she advocates for healthy, sustainable building materials and construction practices. As a sustainable consultant to manufacturers, Brittany influences the identification and implementation of sustainable alternatives to manufacturers' products and processes. She advocates including manufacturers as part of the project team in order to select products that best meet the project's budget, performance, aesthetic, and sustainability needs.    Using her background in construction, Brittany offers a technical approach to problem solving and finding the best product(s) for each project team's sustainability goals. From advocating for healthy materials to developing critical industry content for healthy materials, she exemplifies leadership in transforming the design and construction industry.    She is active on many sustainability committees including LEED's Materials and Resources (MR) Technical Advisory Group (TAG), mindful MATERIALS, and several industry trade associations.   Show Highlights   Manufacturer engagement needs to evolve to create a better understanding of what goes into their products, how their products impact human health and the environment. Brittany's shares how to help develop your career and the many sides of sustainability.  Proactive wellness is much more than green cleaning and the air quality.  Florida Green Building Coalition certification similar to LEED. A prototype to simplify and streamline the LEED certification process to address the actual volume of projects and client's needs. Shift the demands and responsibility away from architects and contractors to educate clients on decarbonization. Avoid panic mode thinking to achieve LEED certification in the initial planning stages.  Design a healthy space by selecting building materials that impact wellbeing, ecosystems, environments that are diverse, equitable, and cohesive. “I do encourage project teams to work with manufacturers. Don't just ask them for their sustainability information. Educate them, explain your green goals, then let them help you select the best product that makes the most gains for your sustainability project…I strongly believe that green building standards need to do a better job of educating and/or keeping manufacturers informed of what's being asked of them so that they can keep up with the growing demand for sustainable products.” -Brittany Storm   Show Resource and Information L Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on .  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the !   Copyright © 2023 GBES  

In this bonus episode, we share a LIVE conversation from the 2023 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Washington D.C.Cherise is joined by Brittany Storm, Sustainability Manager at MAPEI. Discover MAPEI's commitment to minimizing environmental impact and promoting healthier buildings, as Brittany discusses the dynamic evolution of sustainability trends, including a focus on carbon reduction. Gain valuable insights from the case study of a LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge project, showcasing the company's dedication to creating a greener and more sustainable future.If you enjoy this episode, visit arcat.com/podcast for more. If you're a frequent listener of Detailed, you might enjoy similar content at Gābl Media. Mentioned in this episode:ARCAT Detailed on Youtube

Hello Earthlings! In today's episode, our host Lisa Ann Pinkerton (CEO of Technica Communications), is joined by Lindsay Baker (CEO and Chief Strategist of the International Living Future Institute) to explore a future where living buildings give more to the environment and society then they take. To hear Lindsay say it, designing buildings that use materials that won't make us sick, reuse their water, generate their own energy and create economic and community benefits is not a far-fetched idea. Lisa and Lindsay discuss the Living Building Challenge work of the International Living Future Institute, as well as examples of buildings already in existence like the Kendeda building in Atlanta. Digressions include the tiny home movement, composting toilets, and the healing power of plants. In Restoring Our Faith in Humanity this week are Sebastião and Lélia Salgado, a Brazilian couple who spent over 20 years restoring their section of Atlantic Rainforest from a barren land to a thriving forest full of wildlife.This is the third episode in our built environment series, to hear the other episodes in this series please see the links below:S2E5 - Electrification: the Smart Home Upgrade S3E4 - The Big Idea Behind Tiny Homes Key Topics: What Living Buildings are and how they are usedExamples like the Kendeda building in Atlanta, and the Bullitt Center in Seattle The Red List - a program that screens building materials for a set of chemicals that are known to be harmful for human health, especially carcinogenic materialsHow the living building challenge fits in with the other types of certifications, such as the LEED, the Green Building certification and Zero-Carbon certification.Building codes and Living Buildings Voices on The Show: Lindsay Baker, CEO and Chief Strategist of the International Living Future Institute X: Lindsay BakerLinkedIn: Lindsay BakerInstagram - Living Future InstituteLisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability LinkedIn: Lisa Ann...

So I make electricity from the sun. With that electricity, I make water out of air.  With that water, it goes to the pressure tank.  That pressure tank would then take it to the water heater. The water heater is a heat pump water heater, which we use the electricity from the sun to heat the water heater. The bi-product of water heater is the air conditioning.  That's the only air conditioning we would use, which we pipe the air conditioning out of the water heater into the house.  Then you take a shower, and that shower water goes out to my fruit trees in the front yard, and that was all gravity fed.  So make electricity, make water, heat the water with the electricity from the sun, shower then feed the fruit trees.   -Ryan McEvoy Ryan McEvoy, a principal and founder of Gaia Development.  While Gaia Development has an impressive track record of developing and/or consulting for more than 500 sustainable buildings around the world, our conversation was about Campbell Collective, which is a residential property he bought and renovated in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles guided by the Living Building Challenge garnering Zero-Energy Certification.  Ryan explains why he chose to go with the Living Building Challenge (LBC)  program as opposed to LEED, and how the process of putting together his net-positive water and net-positive energy went, and how he ended up with three petals out of seven for LBC.  With regenerative and permaculture design, the place is now an urban farm oasis providing the community with fruits, vegetables and herbs.  As he prepares the property for an upcoming home tour for USGBC-LA in November, he shares with us the challenges he had so far and the vision he has for the property for the future.

In this episode, Cherise is joined by JP Emery, Principal, Ankrom Moisan Architects. They discuss Aegis Living Lake Union, an Assisted Living and Memory Care community in Seattle, Washington.You can see the project here as you listen along.Aegis Living Lake Union is a 73,000 sq. ft., 6-story assisted living community that boasts 77 units and is the first assisted living community built to meet Living Building Challenge 3.1 Petal Certification.Inspired by the historic rowing clubs and culture of the area, the exterior exhibits natural cedar siding and rough brick. The surrounding landscaping has been thoughtfully curated to consider biodiversity and rainfall.If you enjoy this episode, visit arcat.com/podcast for more. If you're a frequent listener of Detailed, you might enjoy similar content at Gābl Media. Mentioned in this episode:ARCAT Detailed on Youtube

This week, we're exploring buildings that are biophilic, climate resilient, and set the gold standard for net positive, responsible design. Specifically, we'll dive deep into two projects by ZGF Architects, an industry leader in sustainable and regenerative design: Portland's PAE Building, the first developer-driven Living Building,  and the very biophilic expansion of the main terminal at Portland International Airport. Our guest today is Kathy Berg, a partner with ZGF, who worked closely on both projects. In this episode, we chat with Kahty about bringing nature into the built environment, designing buildings meant to last into the distant future, and the amazing technology that supports climate resilience. Show NotesZGF ArchitectsAbout Kathy BergPAE Engineers, The PAE Living BuildingPort of Portland, PDX Airport Main Terminal ExpansionFollow ZGF Architects on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTubeKey Words: Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Biophilic Architecture, Architecture, Living Building, Living Building Challenge, Sustainability, Climate Resilience, Green Building, Built Environment, Nature, Nature Based Solutions 

As you might know, the Earthkeepers podcast is part of a larger organization called Circlewood—and Circlewood has a dream to establish an inspirational, educational eco-village in a place called Camano Island in Washington State. In the podcast conversation today, Circlewood's director James Amadon and Forrest are joined by David Vandervort, the architect who has held the vision and designed the built spaces that will make up Circlewood Village. Among other things, we talk about green architecture, about listening to the land, and about building in harmony with the nature of place.Guest: David Vandervort●      Vandervort Architects●      LinkedInMentions:●      Circlewood Village●      Tom and Christine Sine●      Living Building Challenge●      Cross laminated timber●      Bob BerkebileFind us on our website: EarthkeepersSupport the Earthkeepers podcastKeywords: architecture, sustainability, sustainable architecture, community, village, design, creativity, environment, energy, resources, local, living buildings, equity, environmental justice, affordability, green building, regenerative architecture, restoration,  Find us on our website: Earthkeepers. Donate here to Earthkeepers Podcast.Our parent organization: Circlewood. Join the Stand.

Learn about the environmentally sensitive design and construction of the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center and the Living Building Challenge certification process. Sandy Elliott, Parks Operations Administrator for Pikes Peak – America's Mountain, shares the fascinating details. Speaker's Slides https://studio809podcasts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Peak-Alliance-Presentation.pdf Pikes Peak - America's Mountain https://coloradosprings.gov/drivepikespeak This episode was recorded at the Sustainability in Progress  (SIP) virtual event on July 19, 2023. Sustainability in Progress is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free) the third Wednesday of every month. Register here for the August 16 SIP, Denver Public Schools' Climate Action Plan https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctcu-srz0uHtTWIXd_vjdZGva87qykG6NR The mission of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future is to promote regional sustainability and advance the Pikes Peak region's sustainability plan (PPR2030) through regional collaboration and outreach. Connect with us at peakalliance.org The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region. Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future https://www.peakalliance.co/ Pikes Peak Permaculture https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/ GrowthBusters https://www.growthbusters.org Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:    

  Rob Watson  is an international leader in market transformation, circular economy, sustainable materials management, and green buildings. Watson is known as the “Founding Father of LEED.” Under Rob's direction, LEED became the largest and fastest-growing international green building standard. Author Thomas Friedman called Rob "one of the best environmental minds in America." In 2019, Dartmouth Alumni Magazine recognized Mr. Watson as one of the "25 Most Influential Alumni" in the College's 250 year history.   Watson is a Principal with Upland Road, LLC, which develops eco-industrial campuses around a disruptive technology and business model that will revolutionize the global materials management industry by separating, diverting, and recycling up to 95% of municipal mixed waste that is collected in one bin.   Rob is also the Founder and Co-Chair of the SWEEP (Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance) Standard, a system of market transformation standards geared to move the waste industry toward sustainability.   Previously, Watson launched ECON Group and EcoTech International to implement cutting edge lifecycle optimized LEED projects in the US and China.   Watson was a Senior Scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for 21 years and received the 2013 International Conservation Award from the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. In 2011, he was an international Zayed Energy Future Award semi-finalist & was profiled on CNN International. Watson was the first foreigner honored for Green Building Innovation by the Chinese Ministry of Construction in 2005 and received the first lifetime achievement award from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2002.   Mr. Watson is an Adjunct Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and has an MBA from Columbia University and a MS from UC Berkeley. He is married to Green Schools Alliance Founder Margaret Howard Watson and has a 23-year-old son, Max.   Show Highlights Rob Watson, the Founding Father of LEED shares his stories and expertise on making a difference in the industry.  The ability to grasp complex systems, understand how they're put together and how to change them.  The curve balls thrown from the industry and how to adjust your swing to support and create systems that work.  Rob breaks down the SWEEP standard as “LEED for solid waste.” Creating a structure where value is captured by providing: buildings as a service.  The problem of the industry that the USGBC needs to be focusing on to transform and deliver sustainability that has true value.  The development of eco-industrial campuses that recycle 90-95% of everything. Smart centers sustainable materials and advanced recovery technology. Be part of “Humanity Inc. and a subsidiary of Planet Co.” by being systems thinking, but with a futurist mindset. AI could possibly be the seed of our salvation. Beyond tweaking LEED. We need to figure out how to deliver the Living Building Challenge and LEED Zero in a cost effective way. The need for radical confidence and a Star Trek moment before 2200. "Radical confidence. The Dalai Lama was asked by a colleague of mine, what's it going take to solve our environmental crisis? And he said, ‘Radical confidence.' And that's basically, the old person who plants a tree. It's just doing something that you're never going to receive the benefit of because you have a positive vision of the future. I'm going to do it because it's the right thing to do and whether I benefit from it or not is not super relevant. Obviously, you've got to keep the roof over your head and food on the table. But at the end of the day, you have to have a life that's worth living. And that means, doing things outside of yourself to make it, you just make the world a better place." -Rob Watson   Show Resource and Information Linkedin   Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on .  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the !   Copyright © 2023 GBES

How homeowners and the community can reduce wildfire risk and prepare for a wildfire event. Ashley Whitworth, Wildfire Mitigation Program Administrator for the Colorado Springs Fire Department, brings us up to speed on defending against wildfire. She also tells us about the Division of the Fire Marshal, and Peak Alerts. Ashley served as a Wildland Firefighter on the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Presenter's Slide Presentation https://studio809podcasts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Peak-Alliance-Presentation.pdf Sign up for Peak Alertshttps://member.everbridge.net/1772417038942752/new Outdoor burning guidelines, burn bans, burn restrictionshttps://www.coswildfireready.org/ 719-444-7000 – non-emergency number to report violations Ashley Whitworth Office: 719-385-7342Ashley.Whitworth@coloradosprings.gov Please take the Green Drinks Meetup surveyhttps://forms.gle/QGYCaQ1JXvJoNk1p6 Sustainable and Resilient Pikes Peak Region group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/47914284779 This episode was recorded at the Sustainability in Progress  (SIP) virtual event on June 21, 2023. Sustainability in Progress is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free) the third Wednesday of every month. July's event: Sustainability in Progress: How the Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center is Meeting Environmental ChallengesJuly 19, Noon to 1 pmLearn about the environmentally sensitive design and construction of the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center and the Living Building Challenge certification process. Sandy Elliott, Parks Operations Administrator for Pikes Peak – America's Mountain, will share the fascinating details. Reserve here to receive a link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscuqorDwjHNSUN7Dg-H9PNEJeQBmsAvUS The mission of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future is to promote regional sustainability and advance the Pikes Peak region's sustainability plan (PPR2030) through regional collaboration and outreach. Connect with us at peakalliance.org The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region. Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future https://www.peakalliance.co/ Pikes Peak Permaculture https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/ GrowthBusters https://www.growthbusters.org Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:      

Aligning business with biology, disruptive design uses systems thinking to create models that show what “good” really looks like. Two winners of the 2012 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Award—visionary architect Jason McLennan of the acclaimed Living Building Challenge and entrepreneur Cheryl Dahle of The Future of Fish—demonstrate breakthrough systems designs that can transform major industries, create a healthy sustainable environment and make life beautiful and fun. This is an episode of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series. Visit the radio and podcast homepage to find out how to hear the program on your local station and how to subscribe to the podcast.

  Paige Tisdale is currently the vice president for the IFMA, Portland Oregon and Southwest Washington chapter. Paige also is in a Business Development role for Dennis' 7 Dees Landscaping. She has a greater affinity for plants than those around her. She learned (and now teaches) the benefits that plants give to us Mentally, Emotionally, Physically, and Subconsciously. These multiple angles have grown her passion for enhancing our environments indoors and out through moss art, living walls, green roofs, and more.    Office spaces need to attract and retain top talent, help mental health issues, and make people feel awesome. She works with designers, architects, and facilities teams to help bring nature into the office. She is an Ambassador for plants everywhere, and will continue to share in whatever way people will listen.   Paige loves interacting with and helping others. She loves building long lasting and meaningful relationships, and has proved that honesty and transparency go a long way in forging these connections.   Getting to share her passion and see other people enjoy the end results of her work, grow relationships, and become a trusted partner, rather than ‘just another supplier' is very important to her.  Show Highlights Tips encouraging sustainability by incorporating greenery in design for all commercial services with varying environments.  Paige's company can help develop and design for all commercial services and multi-tenant buildings to increase aesthetic and knowledge. The Oregon State Treasury Building is one of the first buildings of its kind in the nation as a resiliency building that will withstand any disaster. Understanding the benefits and difference in designing with moss art walls vs Living Wall in Biophilic design. Benefits of IFMA, the facility manager's trade organization. Green Plants For Green Buildings is a national organization trying to bridge the gap between architects, designers and interior landscapers.  Research and education on why greenery is important for our wellness in our built environment. CEU courses to support your credentials. Connection to Bioflu design, Fitwell, the Well Building Standard and the Living Building Challenge. Tips for how architects can coordinate and collaborate with interior landscapers to select products and materials that support the foundation and design of  buildings. Help companies with their brand image by creating better wellness rooms or lounge spaces to increase productivity.   “We saw a huge influx of people wanting to redecorate office spaces. A lot of companies want to adjust their offices to draw more employees back. You want that extra reason to go to work instead of staying at home where you're comfy and you can walk your dog at lunchtime and do whatever you want. Bringing people back to offices means you have to create a cooler workspace.” -Paige Tisdale  Get the episode transcript here!!   Show Resource and Information NY Times article: A Super Building for Fragile Times Sarah J Maas: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series | Green Plants for Green Buildings CEU Courses: Book a CEU Presentation |  Dennis' 7 Dees Instagram  Linkedin Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes.  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!   Copyright © 2023 GBES

Eleven years ago, a fateful Google search of ‘eco-conscious communities near Atlanta' led Stephanie Walsh & Brandon Blanchard to Serenbe. In the intervening years, they've become integral members of the community. They've both worked here - Brandon in hospitality and Stephanie as an agent with Serenbe Real Estate - built a home here, lived in every hamlet in the community, and built lifelong friendships. In this episode, Steve and Monica catch up with Brandon and Stephanie to discuss their mutual love of the outdoors, the new home they're planning to build using the Living Building Challenge as a guideline, and how residents of all ages bond over a shared love of great food & a good old-fashioned tailgate party. Show Notes & Further Reading Serenbe Real EstateHeritage Supper ClubLiving Building ChallengeKendeda Building at Georgia TechKey Words: Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Sustainability, Regenerative, Living Building Challenge, Hospitality, Culinary, Real Estate, Yoga, Serenbe, Serenbe Real Estate

Laura Hamilton-O'Hara - CEO, the Living Future Institute of AustraliaLaura has a Master's Degree in Social Ecology and two decades of industry experience working in environmental sustainability and social justice in Australia and South Africa. After several years in strategic roles at Taronga Zoo, Macquarie University and the Centre for Sustainability Leadership, Laura is currently the CEO of the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA). LFIA harnesses the built environment as a powerful vehicle to create a world that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.She talks with us about the importance of biophilia, fractals and why the Living Building Challenge is important to the built environment.This podcast is brought to you in association with GH Commercial proud sponsors of our 2023 Commercial series of podcasts. 

Paolo Bevilacqua is group head of sustainability for Frasers Property Limited. The role is with the parent company that owns Fraser's Property Australia, one of the earliest and most courageous movers on the sustainability and greening front. Think  Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre in Melbourne, a Living Building Challenge project that really challenged the thinking on what is possible in development. Not to mention those who worked on it.Host: Tina PerinottoProduced by: The Fifth EstateThe Fifth Estate website: www.thefifthestate.com.auSign up to the newsletter: https://thefifthestate.com.au/subscribe Support The Fifth Estate: thefifthestate.com.au/support-us LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-fifth-estate Twitter: @FifthEstateAUFacebook: www.facebook.com/thefifthestateAu

The Living Future Institute of Australia is the Australian manager for the well-known Declare Label and Living Building Challenge, amongst other initiatives. While each of these programs stands alone in its benefits and utility for the industry, in this episode we were thrilled to be joined by Laura Hamilton O'Hara (LFIA CEO) who explains how the initiatives complement each other.    Join Joe, Laurence, and Laura as they delve deeper into these widely known product labelling and building certification schemes, and discuss how the Living Future Institute is supporting the design and construction industry through its transition to a more sustainable future.    To get in touch with Laura or find out more about The Living Future Institute of Australia and its programs you can visit https://living-future.org.au/.    For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au. 

Passive House Podcast guest cohosts Mary James and Ilka Cassidy interview Kelly Moynihan, Principal at the women-led firm, HPZS (https://hpzs.com/). With certifications in Passive House design, Living Building Challenge, WELL Standard, and LEED, Kelly's work to decarbonize the built environment spans Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Links to upcoming events: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-february-20th-2022 Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

This episode features Shan Arora, Director of the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Institute of Technology and Jimmy Mitchell, Senior Director Business Development at Skanska. Our guests discuss how the Kendeda Building was developed to meet one of the world's most ambitious building performance standards — the Living Building Challenge. - Shan offers insights into the operations of a sustainable building and the impact it has on students and staff on campus.- Jimmy gives listeners an introduction to the Living Building Challenge and how the Kendeda Building not only met but exceeded those standards.- Students share their experience of the building.Listen and subscribe to the podcast.Learn more at Foresight.Skanska is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Skanska. The views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Skanska employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of Skanska or any of its officials. While Skanska endeavors to keep the information up to date and correct, Skanska makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the podcast or the information, products or services mentioned in the podcast for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.#SustainablePlaces #UrbanSpaces #EnergySavings #HealthyPlaces #KendedaBuilding #ShapingSustainablePlaces #Foresight #LivingBuildingChallenge

Mary Davidge has spent her career at the forefront of biophilic design. Between 2014 and 2021, Mary served as Google's Director of Global Design, where she worked closely with biophilic leaders like Bill Browning and Judi Heerwagen to implement design solutions across Google's campuses that prioritize health, happiness, and the environment. Prior to that, she ran her own firm, where her groundbreaking work in biophilic design and green building helped lay the foundation for certifications like LEED Platinum and the Living Building Challenge. Nowadays, Mary serves on the board of the Biophilic Institute and on the advisory board of the International Living Future Institute Biophilic Design Initiative, advocating tirelessly for biophilic solutions at scale. In this episode, we discuss Mary's career at the intersection of tech and green building, the importance of placemaking, and why greening cities can solve multiple societal problems at once. Show NotesAbout Mary Davidge Google's Mary Davidge Talks Sustainability Changes in Silicon Valley Over the Years (Green Building Matters)Why Does Biophilic Design Make Us Feel So Good? With Bill Browning (Biophilic Solutions)Biophilic Design and the Human Habitat with Dr. Judith Heerwagen (Biophilic Solutions)Terrapin Bright GreenLEED Rating System (U.S. Green Building Council)Living Building Challenge (Living Future)Defining the Worst Type of Street Design (City Lab)What is Placemaking? (ArchDaily)Opinion | Since When Have Trees Existed Only for Rich Americans? (New York Times)The Biophilic InstituteKeywords: Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Green Building, Google, Google Campus, Silicon Valley, Tech, Tech Industry, Design, Architecture, Equity, Environmental Justice, Health

I know Sinéad Cullen is not alone in once feeling inadequate for not being a fists-in-the-air, protest-in-the-streets kind of activist. For not taking a bold stand in that dimension of The Great Turning we call "Holding Actions." I also know she's not alone - and many of you listening will relate - in being deeply inspired by spontaneous creative expression, by powerful shifts in perspective, and by creative new design solutions. An architect, visual artist, and Movement Medicine teacher, Sinéad is deeply engaged in the other two dimensions of The Great Turning: "Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes," and "Shifts in Consciousness." Click Play now to hear us talk about: shifting from a "linear economy" way of designing buildings toward structures (and art!) that are "designed for disassembly" plus why sometimes people don't like that ideagetting lost and coming home through creativitytraveling the spiral of the Work that Reconnects through movement and visual artcreative expression as the bridge between hopelessness and possibilitysolutions that emerge from slowing down, and valuing diverse perspectivesand Sinéad dreaming up a new chapter in her life that brings her back to architecture, integrating Movement Medicine, the Work that Reconnects, and her time spent in ecovillages and indigenous communities Be sure to visit the show notes, where you can learn more about Sinéad, as well as find links to more info about the circular economy, a video of Jason McLennan's talk at Bioneers, the Living Building Challenge, and two poems that came up during our conversation: turningseason.com/episode19

Our guest in this episode is Stephen Choi. Stephen is a UK-qualified Project Architect and Australian-qualified Project Manager. He co-founded the not-for-profit environmental building consultancy, Architecture for Change, and has been a long-time ambassador for the Living Future Institute in Australia. In this interview, Stephen shares what the Living Building Challenge is, the importance of buying products that are either local or being produced ethically, and he talks about some of the fantastic initiatives behind the Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre, which has been certified as one of the most sustainable buildings in the world. This interview is conducted by Hilary Duff, an EmAGN representative based in Victoria.

In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Paul Schwer, President at PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc. As the president of PAE, Paul leads a talented group of over 380 engineering, design, and business professionals creating the most energy and water efficient buildings in the world. Ted and Paul discuss the Living Building Challenge, and how it is the next step past LEED. Paul goes on to highlight the potential for timber framing, the PAE office building using waste as a product, and the concept for the "Irresistible Stairway" at the Bullitt Center.  He also digs deeper into changing human behavior through curiosity, and expanding our thinking through our connection to nature. 

i(x) Net Zero investee company Sustainable Living Innovations CEO and co-founder Arlan Collins talks to Proactive about the building technology company's achievement of constructing the world's first multifamily tower to meet the net zero energy requirements set by the International Living Future Institute's Living Building Challenge program. Features of the tower, which is called 303 Battery and is located in downtown Seattle, includes solar panels on the building's roof, exterior walls and balconies, greywater and waste heat recovery systems, hydronic heating and cooling systems, regenerative elevator motors, distributed DC power systems, and SLI's advanced network systems and data management platform to ensure optimal building operations.

Ralph Bicknese, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, LEED Fellow is a nationally recognized sustainable design leader with over 40 years of experience and is a principal and co-founder of Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects. His expertise has been demonstrated throughout his career starting with sustainable community committee work with the City of Ames, Iowa in 1980 and most recently on several pioneering projects seeking certification to the Living Building Challenge and/or the LEED Green Building Rating System. Mr. Bicknese has significant experience in all phases of the architectural process including as a principal with complete project responsibility. Ralph's objective is for every act of design and construction to enrich life.   His role as sustainability consultant for The Gateway Arch National Park Arch Visitor Center & Museum is his largest project to date at over $130 million in project cost. It involved a complex international team, and achieved LEED Gold certification in January 2019.   Ralph assisted in the founding of the U.S. Green Building Council - Missouri Gateway Chapter where he served as Chair, Past Chair, Program Chair, Government Advocacy Chair, and as the chapter's Green School Advocate. He was a juror on the USGBC-Minnesota Chapter's 2011 Leadership in Sustainability Awards, served on two Greenbuild Session Selection Committees, the Greenbuild 2005 Program Committee, USGBC Advisory Committee on Haiti Recovery, initiated, helped organize and facilitate the Katrina Charrettes at Greenbuild 2005, and was a contributor to The New Orleans Principles. Ralph is a former board member of the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (Washington, DC) and Vice Chairman of the SMART Sustainable Building Product Committee (Washington, DC), served on the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District Sustainable Futures Committee, serves on the Maplewood, MO Sustainability Commission, is 2019 Co-chair and Chair-elect of the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group, a member of the AIA Sustainable Leadership Group and is a frequent mentor, juror, panelist and lecturer for architectural and sustainability courses. He served on Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's Home Building and Residential Energy Efficiency Panel in 2009, served as an Advisor on the State of Missouri MDNR-Department of Energy Missouri Energy Stakeholder Process in 2011, was a peer reviewer for the Public School District's Adherence to Guidelines For Environmentally Sound Practices in 2010 and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's Missouri's Energy Efficiency Potential: Opportunities for Economic Growth and Energy Sustainability in 2011, and worked with State Legislators to establish the Missouri Green Schools Legislative Caucus in 2009.   Ralph is an ardent champion and advocate for transformative green building at local, state and federal levels. He has served and continues to serve on several boards and committees dedicated to widespread sustainability, has participated in several publications and is a frequent mentor, juror and panelist for students at K-12 schools, universities and colleges and frequently lectures on numerous facets of green building. Show Highlights Benefits and support of various trade organizations. Volunteering tips to transform sustainability and your career.  Sneak peek into the AIA and Mindful Materials presentation at the AIA Chicago Conference.  Ralph reflects on some pioneering projects and tackling earlier energy crises.  ​​Ames Sustainability action plan is a model for others to follow. AIA's resources and action committee to “Propel the bell” for practitioners to adopt sustainability. Materials Equity Climate action Framework for design excellence Ten principles Choosing less harmful products to protect “fence line” communities and people within buildings.  Climate Action Equity for a holistic approach and material selection pledge.  EC3 tool and common materials framework to select carbon content products and lifecycle analysis. Ralph's vision of where buildings, regenerative design, and materials will go using nature as a model.  “A huge driving factor is that we really need to be addressing climate action through design. It has to do with operational energy, embodied carbon, and equity. We have to do a better job of making designs more equitable…” -Ralph Bicknese Get the episode transcript here!   Ralph Bicknese's Show Resource and Information Linkedin Tyson Research Center - Washington University in St. Louis Climate Action Plan | City of Ames, IA AIA National Geographic  Scientific American Magazine  The New Yorker Centennial Hawaii Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands Chesapeake Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln  Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes.  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2022 GBES

As part of a special Shift series on Inventures 2022, we're presenting an episode for each of the seven content tracks featured at this year's event. This episode puts a spotlight on the track Taming Urban Jungles and features an interview with Ben Hildebrant, a principal investigator with SAIT's Green Building Technologies Access Centre. Green Building Technologies' researchers work with industry partners and students to help small-to-medium sized enterprises develop new technologies and processes, enhancing the commercializing of green technologies in Canada. One of their pilot projects is The Confluence, a residential home striving for full certification under the most rigorous green building standard in the world, the Living Building Challenge. Learn more about the house and see pictures at theconfluence.ca. Taming Urban Jungles  The built environment—including building operations, as well as building materials and construction—generates roughly 40% of the world's CO2 emissions. The Canadian government has set a goal that all new buildings will be built to net-zero ready energy standards by 2030, meaning they are designed to produce as much clean energy as they consume, once renewable energy components—like solar panels—are installed. Net-zero energy buildings are expected to be at least 80% more energy efficient than those being constructed today. To meet that objective, researchers, technology developers and construction companies are coming together to develop new technologies and techniques that will make the buildings of tomorrow possible.  Hear from the innovators and thought leaders who are shaping the future of community life, functionally, economically and culturally as part of the Taming Urban Jungles track at Inventures 2022.Bio Ben Hildebrant is a principal investigator with the Green Building Technologies Access Centre at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Ben received an Architectural Technologies diploma from SAIT in 2013 with a focus in Building Development Technologies and has worked for several years as a building science technologist. During that time, he diagnosed and oversaw the repair of building envelope issues in single and multi-family buildings. He has also served as a building envelope consultant on multiple multi-family and commercial construction projects in Calgary and Fort McMurray. Ben's mechanical and troubleshooting strengths stem from his background as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Today, Ben's focus with Green Building Technologies at SAIT is to oversee building and material science related research. He also supports the development of educational curriculum to help increase the adoption of green, high performance building design and construction concepts. 

In this episode, Commissioner Echols and John Noel discuss with Shan Arora of Georgia Tech the Living Building Challenge "building standard" that GA Tech is pioneering. It is the highest level of sustainability. In the 2nd half of the show, Walton County entrepreneur Rick Huszagh discusses his biofuel business of making biodiesel from french fry oil.

Guest Mike Johnson, Director of Sustainability for 3form, shares his insights on sustainability in the built environment, including: The architecture & design industry's immense impact on global climate emissionsHow marketplace demand drives progress in sustainabilityThe importance of measuring the footprint of the products we useHow the Living Building Challenge and other programs are leading the way How social equity figures into sustainability in the built environment

When the Living Building Challenge was first conceived in the early 2000's many people had their doubts. Lauded as the world's most rigorous and aspirational green building standard, the challenge was deemed almost impossible. And in many places illegal.Living Buildings have design and performance imperatives like the building needing to produce more energy than it consumes; all the water used is harvested on-site; materials come from local sources and are non-toxic; the project makes a positive and equitable contribution in the community; agriculture is cultivated; and waste is seen as a resource with no sewer connection.But what about an entire community based on those same set of green building standards? That's where Matthew Grocoff comes in. He is a founding member of THRIVE Collaborative that is one of a few developers in the world to attempt a Living Community Challenge.On this episode Matthew talks about how his background buying and retrofitting a turn of the century house to be Net Zero for energy and water helped lead him into his current endeavor of developing Veridian at County Farm.Veridian is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the US  and will be an all-electric, mixed-income, integrated community with trails, gardens, woods, and playgrounds. Multiple building types are slated to be developed that meshes several different progressive urban forms that will definitely help put this community on the map.

For twenty-two years The Ecology School has been teaching people how to tune into and read the pattern language of nature. The school aims to transform how people think about science, food, the environment, and themselves through joyful, hands-on learning for all ages. They approach the science of ecology through wide-eyed, hands-on exploration of the ecosystems outside their doors, making nature's lessons memorable with play, humor, and games, and applicable with real life models of sustainable farming and living.Co-founder Drew Dumsch is a leading environmental educator that is passionate about addressing the large, complex issues we face today through ecological education. He has led an entrepreneurial career that has exposed him to not just outdoor education, but also green building, agroforestry, organizational management, and development.Set in a pristine location on the Saco River in Southern Maine, The Ecology School's innovative River Bend Farm campus lives and breathes a sustainable culture. The campus is one of the first sites in the world to become Living Community Challenge certified through the International Living Future Institute, and they are showcasing groundbreaking ways of growing food and conserving energy to lead by example that humans can thrive while nourishing the ecosystems we inhabit. River Bend Farm's forest, fields, and streams allows people to explore specific plants, animals, organisms and their habitats, providing a rich understanding of how living and non-living factors affect one another over time in every ecosystem. River Bend Farm opens our eyes to what's possible while reimagining the future in real time.

Amanda Sturgeon is our guest this week. In 2015 she was named as one of the Top 10 most powerful women in sustainability, she is a Ted Talk speaker and AIA fellow,  and she is the former CEO of the Living Future Institute.  We will discuss regenerative and biophilic design in our buildings. How we can better connect our buildings and nature. What a more sustainable built environment could look like and some of the many benefits. Check out her books- Creating Biophilic Buildings, and All We Can Save.Amanda currently works in Sydney as the regenerative design lead for Mott MacDonald. Which is one of the largest employee owned companies in the world that focuses on engineering and development consultancy. Their work ranges from airports, buildings, highways, solar installation, and rail transit. So a company that has a big impact. As some background, the Living Future Institute  is an organization that works to transform our communities to be ecologically restorative and social just, through certifications such as the Living Building Challenge and Declare Label. Living Building Challenge is the worlds most ambitious and advanced performance standard for buildings. There have been more than 650 buildings around the world pursuing Living Building Challenge.  I hope you enjoy this episode from a champion in the sustainability space.Please leave a review and subscribe to podcast to get notified of new episodes!You can find  Amanda on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-sturgeon-faia-58407a16/Check out Mott MacDonald: https://www.mottmac.comLearn more about about the Living Futures Institute: https://living-future.org

Welcome to our first podcast in our new series hosted by the AIA Utah BEC | COTE Committee called Building Resilience that encompasses all these wonderful things about:ArchitectureBuilding technologyMaterials Methodologies specific to this building's regionAn open conversation about how buildings can make the built and global environment betterIn this episode, we're taking an in-depth look at the “Living Building Challenge.” We'll be talking about the Arch Nexus Sacramento Office design and building technologies it embodies. The office is an adaptive reuse of an existing one-story structure that has been certified under the Living Building Challenge.Our special guest today is Erica McBride from Architectural Nexus, who is the building manager for this wonderful building.-We would like to thank our fiscal sponsor AIA Utah for supporting this endeavor. Check AIA Utah website to find more information, diagrams, pictures, and resources you may hear on this show as well as an archived copy of this and other future podcasts. We'd also like to thank Utah Arts Alliance and Midnight Records Productions for allowing us to use this amazing studio. At Midnight Records Productions, their primary focus is on the artist and providing a comfortable, relaxed, creative environment where artists can come together to achieve their common musical goals and get their best performances recorded. See how you can help them accomplish their goals by visiting www.midnightrecordsproductions.com and www.utaharts.org.Music: Outdoors in Summer by Shane Ivers - www.silvermansound.com

On this episode, Amira Ayoub, an architect out of Cairo, Egypt talks about her passion to change the world and create a resilient future for her kids and future generations. She is an architect that specializes in biophilic and regenerative design. Amira is USGBC® LEED & WELL Faculty™,  a Living Future and Fitwel Ambassador, and has designed the first Fitwel and Living Building Challenge projects in North Africa and the Middle East.She is the founder of the Living Future Cairo Collaborative and  was also awarded as a Living Future Hero for 2019. In 2019 she was nominated by the UNFCCC with other 100 visionary thinkers and interdisciplinary thought leaders from around the world to join the Resilience Frontier Initiative and co-create visions of desirable climate-resilience futures beyond 2030.

Molly Freed is the Manager of Buildings and Water at the International Living Future Institute. We take a deep dive into water codes and permitting, in the context of using and reusing water more efficiently. Molly offers anecdotes from around the country to help us understand the intersection of public health and sustainability goals. We also cover the water petal of the Living Building Challenge, ideas for increasing the resiliency of our water infrastructure … and, of course, urine harvesting!

Jason McLennan calls himself a "professional troublemaker." For his entire career Jason has been pushing the boundaries on what is possible in the built environment. To him, sustainable and regenerative design shouldn't be something we need to have a label for--it should just be the way. Jason is the principal of McLennan Design and is considered one of the world's most influential individuals in the field of architecture and the green building movement today. He is the founder of the International Living Future Institute, which launched the Living Building Challenge to the world in 2006. Jason shares his story on this podcast from growing up in a coal mining town to getting started as an architect. He talks about how the Living Building Challenge came about and his process of conceptualizing the impact he wanted to have on the built environment.  He is one of those visionaries that will forever be hailed as a pioneer and catalyst for the transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.

Myer Harrell is the Director of Sustainability at Weber Thompson, a multidisciplinary design firm. We review Weber Thompson's growing experience with the Living Building Challenge and debate how the City of Seattle's zoning incentive is helping to spur more LBC projects. Also … I challenge Myer to recite Red List ingredients, Myer exhibits keen memory of green building conferences in the oughts, and we start the unofficial podcast reading list.

The podcast for project managers by project managers. We're taking a tour of the Georgia Institute of Technology's Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design. This building was built to the Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification standards, the most advanced measure of sustainability possible in the current built environment. , before COVID19 quarantine restrictions.) Table of Contents 01:45 … About The Kendeda Building 02:51 … John and Shan: Proud Parents 05:06 … Project Schedule 06:13 … The Kendeda Fund 07:49 … The Living Building Challenge: Version 3.1 10:48 … Red List Materials 12:27 … Ceiling Construction 14:46 … The Staircase Story 16:14 … Managing Triple Constraint Requirements 18:47 … Understanding the Project: John's Story 20:16 … Team Selection Process 22:44 … A Heavily Populated Certified Living Building 24:23 … Continuing Education 26:07 … Podcasting in the Restroom 28:25 … Net Positive Water Consumption in the Bathroom 29:45 … Turning Waste into an Asset 31:07 … Podcasting in the Basement 35:58 … Project Surprises 39:15 … The Cost of Sustainable Design 40:50 … Looking Back on the project 44:34 … Closing WENDY GROUNDS:   Welcome to Manage This, the podcast by project managers, for project managers. I'm Wendy Grounds, and with me is Bill Yates.  And Bill, we're doing something very different today, it's a first for Manage This. BILL YATES:   This is a very different episode. Wendy you've connected with leaders of another fascinating project, and this time we're gonna go to the source, we're gonna see it. So this one's all about sustainability, and we're going to look at a living building. Now, recently I took a tour of the Ford Rouge Factory where Ford Motor Company makes F150s, those pick-up trucks, and they build those under a huge space, and they have a roof that's a living roof. WENDY GROUNDS:   Ahh okay. BILL YATES:   It's 450 thousand square feet. So they're able to capture the water, they have drought-resistant ground cover on top that collects and filters the water that they use in their manufacturing process. It's one of the largest living roofs in the world, and WENDY GROUNDS:  Very cool BILL YATES:   I've seen it. WENDY GROUNDS:   Ah very nice BILL YATES:  So I can't wait to check out this living building. WENDY GROUNDS:   I hadn't heard about that one, so I'm excited to to where we're going today. So the Georgia Institute of Technology constructed The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, and they call it a living-learning laboratory, and the two guests we're talking to today are both working in The Kendeda Building. The first one is John DuCongé. John is a senior project manager in the design and construction department at Georgia Tech. Currently, John serves as a senior project manager on The Kendeda building. Our other guest is Shan Arora. He's the director of The Kendeda building. BILL YATES:   Yes, so let's take a tour of this living building here that is on the campus of Georgia Tech, and check it out. About The Kendeda Building BILL YATES:  We are on the Georgia Tech campus.  We are in a gorgeous building, and I can't wait to dig into more about it, and John, so you're the project manager on this. Give us a sense, help the audience understand what we're looking at here, so tell us some of the specs on this building. JOHN DUCONGÉ:  Okay, this is a 37,000-square-foot building.  It's a classroom building and auditorium, we also have class labs in the building.  And it's fully functional as an academic center on campus that's featuring a lot of sustainable design initiatives that, you know, we as a campus have been trying to achieve, and so this is taking us to a new level of sustainable design. Having a Living Building Challenge project on campus is really an accomplishment for us.  We're thankful to the Kendeda Fund for sponsoring this project.  It is a combination of different types of construction,

A visit to Desert Rain, the Bend home of Tom Elliott and Barbara Scott that is the first single-family home in the world to earn certification under the Living Building Challenge.