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Understanding climate action through the words we useKeep an ear out for an easter egg after the outro on this one.The words we use matter. Terms like "sustainability”, “net zero” and “resilience” signify our industry's evolving priorities and concerns. These “buzzwords” reflect current cultural circumstances within the AEC industry and larger society while also actively shaping how we approach and address these issues. In this episode will be exploring the meanings and relationships between many of the current buzzwords that are alive in the AEC today. If you've ever wanted to deepen your understanding of words and terms like “sustainability”, “net zero”, “embodied carbon”, “circular economy”, “resilience” or “adaptation” you'll appreciate this interview w/ Kjell Anderson of LMN Architecture in Seattle.Yes, buzzwords come and go. We routinely air quote them somewhat irreverently. But do not be fooled - buzzwords are also important. Far from being superficial, these trends in language mark the emergence, acceptance, and eventual integration of new, often significant, ideas. When a word gains prominence, it often signals a collective reckoning with the issue it represents. Conversely, when it fades, it may indicate that the idea has either been absorbed into the mainstream, superseded by more urgent concerns, or—sometimes quite worryingly—been deprioritized.Dictionary definition of “Buzzword”: (pejorative) A word drawn from or imitative of technical jargon, and often rendered meaningless and fashionable through abuse by non-technical persons in a seeming show of familiarity with the subject.Kjell AndersonKjell is LMN's Director of Sustainable Design and leader of LMN's Green Team, spearheading initiatives into energy modeling, materials + health, and water use reductions. With 24 years of experience, Kjell is well-regarded at local and national levels as a sustainability expert. He is a founding part of Seattle's 2030 Roundtable, an inaugural member of AIA's National Energy Leadership Group, and in other roles in setting practical and innovative directions for the profession. Kjell has contributed to the design of dozens of LEED New Construction projects, plus Pilot projects under USGBC's Neighborhood Development and Commercial Interiors programs, including several Gold and Platinum-certified projects. He is the author of Design Energy Simulation for Architects, published by Routledge in 2014, and has guest taught Arch 533 (Advanced Environmental Systems) at the University of Washington. Kjell earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Washington State University.Some of Kjell's representative projects include the Hyatt Regency Seattle, Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion, and the Eastside Tech Tenant East Campus Modernization and RedWest South project.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited by Nico MignardiProduced by M. Walker
The Green Impact Report Quick take: From Midwestern roots to LEED Fellow status, Kristen Fritsch shares how sustainability becomes second nature in architecture and how biomimicry can inspire truly innovative design solutions. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Kristen (Atchity) Fritsch, AIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP is a Senior Associate and Director of Sustainability at Elkus Manfredi Architects where she has been implementing initiatives related to the AIA 2030 Commitment, healthy materials and embodied carbon. Her role also involves advising and assisting design teams with LEED, WELL, materials and systems research, and performance analysis such as solar mitigation and daylighting concepts. She has led firm-wide training on sustainable design practices and the greening of office operations and practice. Outside the office she has taught design studios at the Boston Architectural College on using biomimicry in the design process and is a member of the Board of Directors for Built Environment Plus (USGBC MA). Kristen is also a member of the LEED Materials Technical Advisory Group for USGBC.
With the U.S. now out of the Paris Agreement once again, questions are swirling around the state of our industry's sustainability efforts. USGBC Senior Policy Counsel Elizabeth Beardsley joins us to discuss that, as well as the recent COP29 conference in Azerbaijan. Much progress is still happening on many fronts, she says.
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
This week we welcome Elliott Horner, PhD & Nicholas Nassikas, MD for a discussion about Indoor air: Guidelines, policies, and regulation from their Paradigms and perspectives article in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). Nicholas Nassikas, MD is an attending physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at BIDMC and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on how weather and air quality affect the respiratory health of children and adults. Dr. Elliott Horner, Lead Scientist at UL Solutions has worked in the IAQ field for over 30 years, conducting research and field investigations, providing training, disaster response and litigation support and was director of an IAQ laboratory. He is a recognized expert on fungal allergens and the impact of moisture in buildings, and has published over 50 research papers and book chapters. He has served on committees for ASTM, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, AIHA, and USGBC and served on the Board of IAQA. He is past chair of the ASHRAE Environmental Health Committee, and is currently on Standard 62.1 and 241 committees. He also holds a Healthcare Construction Certificate from ASHE, is a LEED AP, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Allergy.
Joel Todd has been working in the green building field for more than 30 years, most recently as a USGBC Senior Fellow focused on social equity. Her career focused on green building methods and metrics development; she contributed significantly to LEED's earliest versions and co-founded the LEED Society Equity Working Group (an effort for which she was recognized with USGBC's prestigious Malcolm Lewis Impact Award). She describes how she came to work in this movement and how the people made her stay: “That's really the key to finding your path, I think: Find people you respect and enjoy working with and then keep learning from them.” Joel has a long view on the arc of progress and some pointed opinions about both the progress so far and what may be ahead. She notes, for example, that the deep knowledge in the industry has had some unintended consequences. She urges the community to “get out of our detailed, speciality comfort zones to have those conversations about the whole and how it all fits together. Otherwise, instead of working synergistically, things are going to start clashing.”
In this series on water, the one area that I've left out so far is the urban landscape. In this week's episode I got to chat with Jerry Yudelson, the author of 13 full-length professional and trade books on green buildings, integrated design, green homes, water conservation, building performance and sustainable development. Dubbed ‘The Godfather of Green' by Wired Magazine, Jerry's passion for optimizing the built environment is reflected by his many years of professional experience in the green building and certification fields, serving as an elected LEED Fellow and as president of the Green Building Initiative. He also served on the national board of the USGBC and chaired the Steering Committee for the largest green building show, Greenbuild, from 2004 through 2009. Despite being best known for ecological building design and policy, in this interview we're going to focus on his book Dry Run, which unpacks some of the best ways to manage scarce water resources and handle upcoming urban water crises. The book explains the most pressing water issues that urban zones face, and examines the vital linkages between water, energy use, urban development and climate change. Dry Run also demonstrates best practices for achieving “net zero” water use in the built environment through, water conservation strategies for buildings, factories, cities and homes, rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse and water reclamation systems, water efficiency retrofits, onsite sewage treatment, and new water reuse and supply technologies. In this interview we specifically address the urgent changes that cities need to make to ensure longer term water security. Jerry explains his classifications of the colors of water that help to categorize the different sources and uses for water in cities that require different management systems, and gives a few case studies of municipalities that have started to make improvements in their aquatic infrastructure.
With the recent news of Anderson Valley Brewing Company up for sale, Joe and Nick learned about the brewery using solar panels to source half of their energy, and this opened the door for more research! We discuss the organization (USGBC) that certifies businesses who demonstrate environmentally friendly and sustainable practices and how those businesses can achieve a LEED certification - our focus is on craft breweries but there are plenty of other businesses (many in North Carolina) who have achieved LEED Certified status. From solar panels and wind turbines to efficiency in equipment and infrastructure to reduce energy waste, there are solutions and opportunities for breweries to reduce their energy consumption and also reduce their energy costs by using alternative sources.
Enzo Tessitore, Licensed Architect & Urban Planner, LEED Fellow, sustainability advocate, local community supporter, amateur baker and classic car lover is a sustainability-driven executive with international experience in bringing people, organizations, and money together to help drive the global property industry toward green practices. In 2023, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the global green building movement and LEED, the USGBC recognized him as the youngest LEED Fellow in the world. As an Architect and Urban planner, Enzo is responsible for the Green Building Council Brazil operations, where he has worked for over seven years. He also served on the global business development team for Latin America at the US Green Building Council, focusing on developing the Brazilian market for Arc buildings' operational performance benchmark platform. He participates on several steering and technical committees, such as in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), in the global project Better Places for People, of the World Green Building Council, where strategies are discussed to increase the demand and the adoption of sustainable buildings that support the health, well-being, and productivity of the people within them, as well as in the Advancing Net Zero, also from the WorldGBC, which aims to increase adoption of Net Zero buildings throughout the world. For the past five years, he has maintained his professional practice in architecture and urban planning, working with projects focused on sustainability at different scales. Born in Brazil and educated in California and Sao Paulo, Enzo holds a double major in Architecture and Urban Planning from Escola da Cidade in Sao Paulo. Show Highlights Enzo became the youngest LEED Fellow at age 30. Brazil's status as the fifth-largest market for LEED certifications. Explains structure of World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and local chapters. Focus on decarbonization strategies and biodiversity. The absence of supportive legislation contributes to green buildings remaining a niche market despite a growing interest. The push for new construction and existing building retrofits is essential for achieving sustainability goals. AI's potential impact on green building design leading to more sustainable choices. Clear communication fosters understanding and alignment among diverse stakeholders in green building projects. “Green buildings are not going away… Green buildings are an umbrella. There's a whole bunch of things underneath it, whether you're an energy efficiency geek or you really love to study how the built environment affects our forests or maybe you're really into passive design. There's a whole bunch of things that are underneath that sort of green building umbrella. There's going to be more and more legislation that requires your building to be efficient. There's going to be more and more incentives for your building to be efficient. I hope at some point we're not allowed to build inefficient buildings...” -Enzo Tessitore 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
Welcome back to Sustainability Street, our podcast on the intersection of commercial real estate and the world we live in. For this episode, I'm tackling carbon credits with my guest Mahesh Ramanujam, CEO of Global Network for Zero and formerly the president & CEO of USGBC. For Ramanujam, carbon credits are a necessary bridge to achieving net zero in commercial real estate and the world. Not everyone shares that view, so we talk about why carbon credits have a public relations problem and the need for greater transparency and verification. “Our work is to really make the invisible visible so that the visible becomes actionable so that the actionable things then could be scalable.” Ramanujam said. Here are some highlights from our conversation: Carbon credits defined (2:26) Carbon credits under the microscope (5:33) SBTi's mixed message on credits (8:20 Offsetting vs. insetting (16:31) Achieving high-quality credits (20:52) Growing the supply of carbon credits (24:08)
In this episode of the REIT Report special series “Building to Zero,” the U.S. Green Building Council's Heather Payson and Wes Sullens share their perspectives on the building sector's sustainability journey and the path forward for decarbonizing commercial real estate.When USGBC was founded over 30 years ago and the first version of LEED was released, it established a clear and understandable framework to measure and define “green buildings.” Today, LEED has become a widely used rating system around the globe and, as a recognized indicator of leadership, has become an indispensable resource for the buildings community at large.“There's just so much going on in this space, and the urgency is greater than ever. We have to balance the urgency of what the market needs with what's possible. While things like policy help establish a floor…. it's become even more challenging to [define] what leadership means in these times,” shares Wes Sullens, LEED Fellow and Director at USGBC. “We use our group of volunteers and experts… that help us write our rating system. It's not something we cook up in a vacuum, the idea is to make sure LEED is that consensus standard for leadership, which I think is a unique place in the market.”
Katie Cash talks with Tara Bleakley, Associate Director for Market Transformation and Development at the USGBC's Florida chapter. Tara shares a brief overview of her career, starting with a background in art history and art business, which led her to various marketing roles from London to Orlando. She discusses her tenure at TLC Engineering Solutions, where she rose to partnership before taking a sabbatical to reconnect with family. This break steered her toward her current role at USGBC, fueled by her passion for combating climate change. Tara's current initiatives at USGBC extend beyond LEED certifications to include supporting sustainable and resilient community development. She believes in the critical role of mentorship within the AEC industry, particularly emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between seasoned professionals and young leaders. Tara emphasizes how her experiences inform her advocacy for sustainable building practices that not only meet but exceed established standards, thereby enhancing equity, affordability, and inclusivity in projects. Topics discussed in this episode:LEED CertificationClimate changeYoung leadersInclusivity in buildingsBusiness developmentSustainabilityConnect with Tara Bleakley, Associate Director, Market Transformation & DevelopmentUS Green Building Councilhttps://www.usgbc.org/people/tara-bleakley/0011562083Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-bleakley-576a7613/As the Florida Associate Director, for the Market Transformation and Development team at the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Tara plays a pivotal role in driving the organization's mission of transforming the built environment into a more sustainable and environmentally responsible sector. Tara focuses on creating strategic initiatives and partnerships to foster the adoption of green building practices and sustainable design principles within the broader market. Tara contributes to driving sustainability forward in the building and construction industry by fostering collaboration, advocating for policy changes, and promoting LEED building standards and practices. A big focus is engaging with USGBC's current stakeholder base around core programs and cultivating business opportunities for LEED with new clients in major target sectors.In Tara's spare time she enjoys adventuring in nature with her family, traveling for food and relaxing with a good book.Join Katie and Judy at PSMJ Resources AEC MarketPro! This year's event will take place Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Use code "Smartegies" to receive $200 off your registration.Connect with Katiehttps://smartegies.com/
Marco Valerio Ceccotti, Italian sustainability consultant and LEED AP. His background includes many of the first LEED v2.2 and v2009 certified projects in Italy, collaborating with design and construction companies. Graduated in Economics and specialized in Environmental Management, I'm fully involved in the Italian Green Building Movement since 2015, using USGBC rating systems to inform and improve decision making in the construction industry. Using such tools in this field as well as other business industries is a key factor to balance negative impacts created by environmental and social “externalities”, and to foster innovation, resilience and equity on each investment or initiative. I was also recently involved in piloting the latest version of LEED v5 for European projects. We need to find a “purpose” in business to ensure each company is not only devoted to financial stability, which is necessary, but also to provide products or services with a positive impact on our society. We need to create a stakeholder economy capable of redistributing value to people, of creating benefits for the whole community. This is why I'm also proud to work, day by day, with private companies aligned to these concepts' ad giving me the possibility to focus on what really matters, yes, as Green Building Show Highlights Highlights of work to achieve harmonized sustainability standards across 30 countries and one of the first LEED v5 projects. NATIVA's mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable business practices. Emphasis on double purpose companies that pursue profit and positive impact on people and planet with the same force. Additional Certification Programs and GBCI programs like True Zero Waste and Parksmart. True Zero Waste as a standard for multinational companies. Marco predicts a strong future for portfolio approaches and green finance. Emphasis on the importance of sustainability in long-term investments. European regulations like CSRD are driving transparency in sustainability efforts. “I think that everyone jumping into the green building movement should be excited because this is our moment. This is the moment when sustainability professionals become too important for projects, especially when the investment is a long term investment. Things must be studied with sustainability in mind, because otherwise, we will have in the future something that we regret. We have the chance now to do our job and help our society at the same time, we can be purpose driven professionals. ” -Marco Valerio Ceccotti 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
TITLE: Green Building and Sustainability Leader John Harrison (Returning Guest) John Harrison, FAIA, RDI, LEED Fellow. John is a sustainability innovator and licensed architect with extensive and diverse experience in both project and enterprise level certifications and design standards. He is one of the world's foremost experts on the global application of sustainable strategies at scale and utilizes his expertise in sustainable architecture, engineering and construction to enable organizations to reach unprecedented goals. John is a pioneer in the evolution and implementation of multiple LEED rating systems; as an early adopter for the original 1998 LEED pilot, the first commercial interiors rating system, and the LEED retail and volume build pilots. While at Starbucks, he co-authored the company's LEED for Retail Volume Build Program and led the execution team responsible for sustainable strategies and LEED certifications. With over 1,600 certified stores in 22 different countries/territories and all 50 US states, the program is recognized as the most successful green building program of its kind in the world. In private architectural practice, John spent 13 years at Mithun in Seattle working with a variety of sustainably driven retail, commercial and institutional clients including: Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI), Precor, Miraval Resort and Spa and the IslandWood Environmental Learning Center. IslandWood was one of the first five LEED Gold certifications in the world and an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award winner. For the outdoor retailer REI, John executed more than five dozen sustainable core stores, in addition to flagship projects in Bloomington, MN and Tokyo, Japan. With John's leadership, the REI building portfolio was elevated with scalable core standards based on sustainable strategies explored in flagship projects resulting in some of the first LEED ID+C Retail Projects ever certified. John is a dedicated environmental advocate who has donated thousands of hours, through multiple channels at local, regional, national and international levels. Through outreach, service and education, he has elevated the sustainability knowledge of building industry professionals, provided board leadership for ecologically focused nonprofits and helped develop environmental education for the next generation of leaders. He currently serves on the AIA COTE Advocacy Task Force, the Greenbuild Advisory Board and is board vice president for Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG), which is a regional non-profit focused on responsible forest practices and FSC certifications. Prior to his service with NNRG, John was board president for the environmental restoration and youth leadership development organization EarthCorps. John is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker on sustainability at scale and has led presentations to building professionals on subjects related to LEED volume certification and sustainability at the national AIA convention, multiple Greenbuild conferences and a variety of other industry events. Show Highlights Navigating global sustainability standards and challenges of working with different sustainability standards across countries. Importance of adapting to local codes and practices while maintaining global sustainability goals. Examples of projects in various countries, luxury retailers, and their unique challenges. The future of green building with a focus on carbon reduction and human health in building design. The need for generative design and inclusive leadership in the green building movement. Importance of addressing existing building stock and portfolio-driven solutions. John's collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to projects in his career. Exposure to sustainable materials and practices Early adoption of sustainable practices and materials. REI flagship store in Seattle. Challenges and successes in certifying over 1600 Starbucks stores globally. Collaboration with USGBC and GBCI to develop and refine the LEED volume program. Impact of his work on colleagues and the broader green building community “The other thing I think is thematic and necessary is that we can build a lot of really cool, perfect buildings and it takes a lot of effort and maybe they use very little water and no energy off the grid, but it doesn't account for the vast majority of the housing stock and the business stock and the office stock and the retail stock. The portfolio driven solutions are going to be another thing that is going to continue to drive the industry. It's like how do I take a massive machine and make it 20% better, because that 20% represents a whole heck of a lot of carbon and other negative impacts.” -John Harrison “I think it's more about the ripple effect. The ripple effect of green building projects is pretty cool, and totally quantifiable. It's like basic math and something people understand, the ripple effect with people that you either influenced or helped along the way or they helped you along the way and what they've become and where they've gone.” -John Harrison 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
USGBC recently announced the opening of the first public comment period for its draft rating system, LEED v5. This is just another step toward providing a comprehensive framework for creating sustainable, and resilient built environments. Laurie Kerr, Principal Climate Advisor for USGBC, talks to us about LEED v5 and what this milestone means for our industry.
A note to listeners who may be sensitive to the subject matter: This episode contains a brief discussion of suicide risk among construction workers. The work of decarbonizing our communities and cities has never been more critical than it is today. Countless observers of climate change are warning the world that our window to drastically reduce or eliminate fossil fuel use and avoid 1.5°C or more of global warming is narrowing with each year. We know that nearly 40% of global emissions come from the construction and operation of buildings. For the last 30 years, the U.S. Green Building Council has been focused on remediating this critical aspect of the global warming picture. Their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system is the world's most widely used framework for green design, augmented by LEED credentialing for professionals in sustainable design, construction, and operations. The USGBC operates through a network of 75 local chapters nationwide. Last week, six chapters in California announced they are combining their regional expertise and expanding their efforts under one inclusive statewide nonprofit, known as USGBC-California. In this interview, we'll learn more about the goals of the merger, and how the Los Angeles chapter was particularly instrumental in this effort to engage more communities and professionals working toward an energy transition. Listen in as Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and USGBC-California Executive Director Ben Stapleton discuss solutions for decarbonizing the built environment, ideals for the future of city health and design, and how California is currently leading the way in many U.S. climate efforts. Other articles referenced in this episode: “Arizona lawmaker calls climate research ‘anti-God,' pushes to ban it at state universities” (The Arizona Republic, March 14, 2024) “DeSantis bans local governments from protecting workers from heat and limits police oversight boards” (NBC Miami, April 14, 2024)
Lynn N. Simon, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Principal and West Sustainability Services Leader at Arup, is a Global Sustainability & ESG leader, with more than two decades of influencing behaviors, shifting mindsets, and co-creating to reach climate and equity goals across tech, real estate, and AEC sectors. She excels in developing and retaining client relationships, convening stakeholders to Board level, driving cross-functional programs in matrix organizations, and building multi-disciplinary global teams with a focus on carbon, waste, water, ecology, health, and DEI. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • Led a global, cross-functional team at Google on KPI setting and 1-5 year goals for carbon, water and waste • Positioned Google to meet its 2030 public commitments and Scopes 1, 2, and 3 across the portfolio • Converted underutilized global sustainability team by nurturing relationships and creating new organizational structure • Co-created and facilitated a community of 100 industry leaders, disruptors, and trailblazers at the Regen Lab@Google • Led a team that retained 250+ client relationships across commercial, residential, education, hospitality, civic and culture, government, health and transportation sectors. PRO BONO LEADERSHIP • Trustee on the Board of Directors of the Beverly Willis Architectural Foundation • Member, Sustainability and Climate Committee at Bet Haverim in Davis, CA • Mentor, New Buildings Institute Next Gen Program Show Highlights Lynn emphasizes the importance of diversifying clients and projects in consultancy. Entrepreneurship in this green building movement. Sustainability impact through projects, energy savings and practices. Addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) in your work. Discussion on the importance of addressing scope three embodied carbon work on the future of green building. The importance for young professionals to get involved in industry organizations and the significance of knowledge sharing. Challenges faced during the early days of USGBC and the development of the LEED rating system. Implementation of building lifecycle modeling and sustainability best practices Tips on authentic listening and client engagement strategies. Market transformation and policy requirements in sustainability consulting. “‘...My only piece of advice for you is to know when to talk less, know when to put a period on what you're trying to communicate or sell.' I've taken that advice with me and I don't always listen to it for people who know me, but I found it invaluable that he, one, was willing to take the time to come share his observation, but to also just think about when is it good to just be? That goes to the authentic listening piece; know when to stop presenting, to listen to what is happening in the room.” -Lynn N. Simon 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
Sabine Rogers, Federal Policy Project Manager for the U.S. Green Building Council, joined the podcast to discuss Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding, building energy codes, and performance standards. She provided an update on energy reductions in commercial buildings, how local governments can benefit from Inflation Reduction Act funding related to updated building and energy codes, and how to stay up to date with the work of the U.S. Green Building Council. Host: Ben Kittelson
Erica Weeks, is a licensed architect who has dedicated her career to sustainability. Erica manages the Sustainability Services Sector at Hastings Architecture, where she works with owners, architects, engineers, and contractors across the country to facilitate sustainability rating systems. Erica has a keen ability to create synergies between disciplines and execute cross discipline calculations. Erica earned her first LEED AP credential in 2006 and has facilitated the sustainability process on over 200 projects, under the array of available rating systems. She frequently presents at local, regional and national conferences for organizations such as the AIA and USGBC (US Green Building Council). She sits on the USGBC's Water Efficiency Technical Advisory Group (WE TAG), a global cohort of water experts that share knowledge to enhance requirements for water in the future versions of LEED. (2022-2023) Erica is in her second term nationally with the AIA's Framework for Design Excellence cohort, addressing sustainability for the “every-day” architect in the AIA's toolkits and has been a Committee on the Environment technical reviewer for the AIA's annual COTE Top 10 Awards program. (2021-2023). In June 2021, during USGBC Live, Erica was recognized as one of two individual Regional Leaders in the USGBC's “Big South” (15 states, from Maryland to Texas) for her on-going leadership to create sustainable buildings and communities. In 2017, Erica was named one of Nashville Business Journal's Women of Influence, in the category of Inspiration/Mentoring, for her on-going support of professional education within Hastings and beyond. Erica provides project-based mentorship to design professionals, with the overall goals of making sustainability inherent to the design/construction process and fostering the education of the next generation of design professionals. In October 2020, Erica was named a “Shero” in Courage by the US Green Building Council, for continuing to challenge the ‘business-as-usual' thinking of the design and construction industry to make sustainability an embedded priority. Show Highlights Insights on upcoming trends and developments in green building, such as LEED version 5 and the AIA's framework for design excellence. The involvement in various organizations promotes continuous learning and improvement in green building practices. Advice on emphasizing the importance of knowledge and avoiding greenwashing. Tips on pushing the boundaries and raising the bar in sustainability. Erica emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest research in the field and making sure you agree with the credit language. Familiarize yourself with AIA”s ten different principles around energy, resources, water, integrated design and discovery. The value of obtaining credentials and expertise in rating systems. Avoid being a “regular engineer” to find what you are meant to do in the built environment. “How do we implement all these other actual design features to make people feel connected with culture, feel connected with ecology? I think that question is increasingly important as we focus on more equitable social responsibility issues.” -Erica Weeks Show Resource and Information In 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
With funds from the Infrastructure and Investment Act and Inflation Reduction Act now available, the U.S. is accelerating its strategies to fight climate change. Climate Mayors, a bipartisan organization whose members are dedicated to demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities, is playing a vital, front-line role in this effort. Providing leadership and strategic direction for the organization's activities is its executive director, Kate Wright. USGBC recently spoke with her about the organization and the work that lies ahead.
Frustrations ran high at the annual global climate summit in Dubai in December, but our guest says there were still more than a few positive takeaways for our industry. U.S. Green Building Council senior policy counsel Elizabeth Beardsley returns to give us her report...
Hafsa Burt, LEED Fellow, previously worked at Frank Gehry & Associates and SOM before starting hb+a Architects. With an undergraduate, Masters Degree in Architecture & a minor in Electronic Design from SCAD she brings to her work an avant garde streak & a strong commitment to the triple bottom line. An environmentalist, she adopted and actively advocates for the 2030 challenge and is a huge proponent of high performance buildings. Her focus includes “Eliminating Toxins”, with Indoor Air Quality as a specialty. She has actively spoken on the topic of Indoor air quality as it relates to the practice of Architecture since 2009 all over the west coast and is an industry expert on “Healthy Building Practices”. She has served on the Council of Experts at USGBC's California Chapter on Indoor Air Quality and has served as a liaison for the Green Schools' Committee for USGBC State, primarily focusing on legislative decisions affecting Environmental Sustainability in the past. At the moment she is involved in Federal Advocacy at USGBC. She is also actively involved with the American Institute of Architects and is a member of the AIA California Climate Action Committee which looks at legislative decisions as they relate to the building environment, and has been involved in advocating for decarbonizing the built environment and is working with a group on policies that address Embodied Carbon and Life Cycle Analysis of projects. In 2019 founded a development arm for the firm called Box Lab which is focused on the development of zero energy/zero carbon buildings. She is involved in all projects, with a commitment to the practice of architecture as a collaborative and innovative enterprise and brings with her years of experience in Commercial, Institutional, Industrial and mixed-use realms in project size ranging from 2000 square feet to over 2 million square feet and project types ranging from tenant improvements to San Francisco airport. She has been awarded the title of ENR's 20 under 40 construction professionals in California and American Institute of Architects' coveted Young Architects' Honor Award and Fast Company's Innovation in Design for Box Factory. Show Highlights Educating clients on electrification and lifecycle analysis before it becomes a policy decision. Make your projects efficient as possible with minimizing materials and functions. Box Lab develops projects and prototypes with the highest sustainability goals, a minimum footprint and zero energy. What we need to know about the built environment post pandemic for healthy buildings. The new umbrella of ESG for healthy buildings and air quality. Hafsa's firm creates a universal design from the angle of sustainability and social justice. Early phase lifecycle analysis comparison, cost and what can be done. Trends happening at the policy level decarbonization to reduce operational emissions. California has started a good precedent to codify embodied carbon and help craft policies toward embodied carbon. “Challenge your thinking and also be as purpose-driven and as early as possible. You just cannot live in a vacuum. It's a global community and we have to be aware of what's happening and we need to make sure that every choice that we make, everything that we do is purpose-driven and you have a very strong reason why you're doing anything.” -Hafsa Burt 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
Heather Clark, who is the Director of Building Emissions at the White House Climate Office, recently spoke with Liz Beardsley from USGBC about the latest announcements regarding building decarbonization that were made by the U.S. Government during COP 28. They also discussed some upcoming developments, including the National Definition of Zero Emission Building.
Eddy Santosa, is a LEED Fellow and a global leader in the delivery of sustainable building strategies and design, with over 24 years of experience including delivering high-performance sustainable design on over 300 building projects across the U.S. and globally. He has been recognized for his global industry leadership by the USGBC where he has been appointed as a LEED Fellow, the highest level of recognition in the global sustainability sector. Eddy provides technical leadership to a number of nationally and globally significant professional bodies, including as the leader of the AIA National Building Performance Knowledge Community, the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) US as a board director, and a voting member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) SPC 209-2018R committee. He has served on the USGBC Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group specifically related to guidelines within version 4.1 of the LEED rating system. Eddy has published many articles on the topic of energy performance, building science, and sustainability as well as spoke at many conferences on the same topics. Show Highlights Discussion on climate and nature-based design for LEED. Building science, quantitative measure,s and how you can explain sustainability using a common metric and language. Design each phase effectively early on for a meaningful whole-building design. Tips to stay ahead of the LEED requirements for clients in different cities/regions. The 3 D's that are the future of a built environment. Using digitalization to assist you to achieve the goal. Trends to help with the critical data needed for projects. “A green building career is like a good rollercoaster - you need to keep flexible, change your strategy, and learn how to strategize your career to get to the end goal. The movement is very quick. Before, a LEED consultant wasn't as popular. Now it's become overcrowded and you need to strategize how you will be different. Green building is a good career when you enjoy learning many different things.” -Eddy Santosa 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 © 2023 GBES
Highlights today include: Home is Where the Light Is – Residential Light Fixture Program, USGBC and Arup Unveil Insights for U.S. Commercial Buildings in COP28 Report, IEC 62386's New Part 306 Expands Sensor Capabilities for DALI-Based Systems, Europe's Right to Repair Law to Change Luminaire Design, GE Lighting Lights Up the Holidays at NELA Park with Dazzling LED Light Displays, Pariah Lighting: A Visionary Fusion of Lighting Innovation and Sales Mastery.
Seema Bhangar is a Healthy Buildings & Communities Principal at the US Green Building Council; she focuses on research and innovation. She is also a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley's Center for the Built Environment. If you are interested in the field of human health and buildings, Seema advises you to “collect data and be curious and discerning and honest. We have evaluate impact and ask what we do not know.” Seema is working with a new team to rebuild a dedicated research function at USGBC. She is fueled, she says, by the magic that happens “when we bring researchers to our communities of practice.” Seema is deeply proud of the network of people she has cultivated during her career so far, "people who value having a vision, who ask questions at the right scales, and who voice their opinions," she says. "In buildings and health, it's not about the individual superstar. The nodes are people. Each one has a set of expertise and knowledge, and we really advance when we connect and share.” She is excited for the frontiers that are now being explored in the movement. “Health is different than energy, so we're using different methods than we did for the other pillars,” she says. “The community today has many tools and appreciates the need for urgency and scale.”
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
USGBC's senior manager of state and local advocacy, Jennifer Gunby, shares her top tips on how to advocate for more sustainable buildings and communities. If you've ever wondered how to use your professional expertise to positively impact your community and state, find the ways that work well for you using Gunby's advice and stories from her thousands of touchpoints in the field. Elizabeth Thompson, USGBC's vice president of growth marketing, interviews Gunby for this podcast.
What is green finance? How does it work? Why is it becoming so important to building industry leaders? Those are some of the questions USGBC addresses in this two-part podcast series featuring Chris Pyke and Sarah Welton of GRESB.
What is green finance? How does it work? Why is it becoming so important to building industry leaders? Those are some of the questions USGBC addresses in this two-part podcast series featuring Chris Pyke and Sarah Welton of GRESB. Part 2 explores how ESG and green finance complement each other and the action of green building, and why their relationship is so important to a financial community looking to lock in returns on its investments.
Learn how green bonds and sustainability-linked loans are backing our future in this USGBC+ article from fall 2022.
In this USGBC+ article by Calvin Hennick, hear how the developer behind the Hunter's Point neighborhood hopes to spark a national wave of homes that produce more energy than they consume.
In this USGBC+ article written and read by Farah Qadeer, hear how three companies in India exemplify the nation's commitment to emissions reduction.
Driven by his belief in a brighter future, the Global Network for Zero Co-Founder, President, and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam convenes a coalition of leaders dedicated to progressing society toward greater ESG compliance and ultimately a zero greenhouse gas economy. An investor, convener and unifier with decades of experience leading global technology platforms, Ramanujam focuses on integration and interoperability for optimal results in the sustainability sector. Experienced in both nonprofit and for profit sectors, Mahesh helps businesses, communities, cities, buildings and infrastructure to realize their ESG and net zero commitments. As President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and the global technology platform, Arc. Mahesh led the movement for transforming green building standards to ensure public health, equity and environmental sustainability in communities across the world. At USGBC, along with Network co-founders Sarah Merricks and Scot Horst, Mahesh set the gold standard for global green building certification and credentialing. In an effort to place greater awareness and adoption of human health and wellness performance markers, he future proofed the internationally recognized LEED rating system with a more rigorous and ambitious certification process, one that included the overdue and necessary decarbonization requirements for a net zero reality. Prior to his tenure as President and CEO, Mahesh served as the COO and CIO of USGBC, during which he ushered in a new era of groundbreaking programs. A respected thought leader, Mahesh regularly delivers keynotes at large events like Greenbuild, where he has secured and interviewed high-profile guests like former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Amal Clooney, Dan Levy and renowned architect Bjarke Ingels. Mahesh's writing has been featured in international media outlets and publications, and includes opinion pieces on climate change, ESG and investment, technology and policy. His USGBC work was preceded by leadership positions at IBM and Lenovo, where he led several business transformations programs. A graduate from India's Annamalai University with a degree in Computer Engineering, Mahesh always leads with an emphasis on inclusion and bridging divides. Our services for both our clients and candidates can be found below✔️For Employers: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/for-employers/✔️For Candidates: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/career-opportunities/✔️Consulting: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/consulting-services/✔️Executive Search: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/executive-search/Nenni and Associates on Social Media:► Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nenni-and-associates/► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nenniandassoc/► Email Listing: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/join-email-list/► Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NenniAssociates
In this week's episode, we explore the world of cement. Concrete is the second most consumed material on earth behind water and is essential to the infrastructure that will enable the transition to renewable energy. But producing cement, which is the material that glues concrete together, is incredibly carbon intensive. As CEO of Fortera, Dr. Ryan Gilliam looks to nature and how coral and shells are strengthened by imbedding ambient carbon. Fortera's first plant, in Redding, California, will come online by the end of 2023 and Fortera cement is construction ready. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Gilliam discusses how he partners with existing concrete suppliers, why the first iteration of Fortera failed to gain traction, and how he has built a business savvy team to bring Fortera cement to market. Links: ForteraDr. Ryan Gilliam on LinkedInVideo of Fortera Redding, California PlantMcKinsey: Spotting Green Business Opportunities in a Surging Net-Zero World Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, and Hilary at climatepositive@hasi.com or tweet them to @ClimatePosiPod.Episode Recorded August 9, 2023
USGBC's Ben Evans and Deisy Verdinez speak with Ted Toon at the EPA about the agency's new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The $27 billion program will provide low-cost financing for projects to reduce emissions and will have a particular focus on low-income communities. Learn how what this program is intended to accomplish and how projects can take advantage of this exciting program.
In this summer 2023 article by Kiley Jacques, hear how the SITES-certified Orange Mall adds a flexible, accessible and climate-responsive promenade to the ASU campus.
In this USGBC+ article by Lydia Lee, hear how, over 20 years, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center has used LEED Sustainable Sites strategies to support biodiversity and access to nature.
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
This week's episode features a conversation between me and Angel Ayon of Ayon Studio. We cover his journey into the profession, the development of the Reglazing Modernism book, and the creation of Ayon Studio. This was a fun conversation that is packed with great advice and lessons learned.Building Highlight: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, NYLinks:Ayon StudioReglazing Modernism bookGabl media CEU CoursesTangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's MusicBio: As both an Architect and Preservationist, Angel Ayón, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEED AP has more than twenty five years of experience working with historic buildings. Trained in his native Havana, Cuba, Washington, D.C., and New York City, his expertise ranges from building-envelope evaluation and repair to full-scale rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of commercial and residential properties, as well as cultural and educational institutions.Angel believes it is the responsibility of the current generation to save and secure our built heritage as a cultural asset. He currently serves as Vice-President of Save Harlem Now!, member of the Advisory Board of the Historic Districts Council, the Historic Preservation Committee of The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Preservation League of the NY State, and member of the Board of Directors of the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation. He is also an active member of Columbia University's Preservation Alumni, as well as the AIA, NCARB, nycoba/NOMA, USGBC, APTi, APT NE, US/ICOMOS, Docomomo_US and Docomomo New York Tri-State.Angel holds a professional degree in Architecture and a Master of Science in Conservation and Rehabilitation of the Built Heritage from Havana's Higher Polytechnic Institute, as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate in Conservation of Historic Buildings and Archaeological Sites from Columbia University in New York.**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.**
In honor of Net Zero Buildings Week 2023, we are sharing an audio version of our 2020 article on the first three LEED Zero Energy projects worldwide. https://www.usgbc.org/articles/first-three-leed-zero-energy-projects-show-market-what-s-possible
In honor of Net Zero Buildings Week 2023, we are sharing an audio version of our 2020 article on the first building to achieve LEED Zero in all four categories: carbon, energy, water and waste. https://www.usgbc.org/articles/colgate-palmolive-facility-new-jersey-achieves-leed-zero-waste
In this Spring 2023 USGBC+ article by Calvin Hennick, hear how growing diversity, equity and inclusion in the green building community involves many aspects that deserve our attention.
In this Winter 2023 USGBC+ article read by author Marialyce Pedersen, hear how combining TRUE with the EPA's WARM model accelerates results.
Ramana Koti, LEED Fellow, is the Sustainable Design Leader at HKS Architects responsible for sustainable design facilitation and building performance analysis. His focus is on getting projects off to the right start with an inclusive and integrative effort, measuring progress against goals, and delivering a quantified outcome. Ramana has published several technical papers on daylighting and energy performance in buildings and regularly blogs on green building related topics. He volunteers with the AIA 2030 Working Group and the USGBC at the local and national levels. Ramana has been a certified ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) since 2015 and was designated a LEED Fellow in 2019. Show Highlights Tools that help push the industry with daylight analysis and energy modeling. Ramana shares his experience with managing commercial mixed use practice all wrapped in one project. Start the projects off on a right footing to make sure the initial goals and strategies are being implemented. Packaging certification efforts at the end to achieve the targeted certification levels. How do you share LEED best practices amongst a large team? Incentives from the inflation reduction Act put the industry on a broader path to decarbonization and making buildings much more greener than they are. Tips on coaching your team on embodied carbon. “I wish somebody had told me change happens, but it happens more slowly; because when you're young, energetic, & hungry to affect change, you become anxious when results don't happen within the expected timeframe. But once you spend 10, 15 years in a field…things have a way of compounding and happening. And to quote Lao Tzu, "Do your work and then step back.'" -Ramana Koti Get the episode transcript here!! Show Resource and Information Linkedin Think Again (book) Living Building Challenge International Living Future Institute: Home 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
In this Winter 2023 USGBC+ article by Alana Pedalino, hear how Faith Baptist Church feeds Oakland's hungry and serves as the city's first climate resilience hub.
Hear from Anyeley Hallová, chair of the USGBC board of directors, Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC, GBCI and Arc, and Melissa Baker, senior vice president of LEED, as they review USGBC's 2022 activities and offer a preview of what's to come in 2023.
Alvin Tejada is a LEED Fellow, an Architect, Project Management Professional (PMP), a pioneering LEED & WELL Accredited Professional, and TRUE Advisor in SE Asia; He is also USGBC and IWBI Faculty. Alvin has acquired more than 25 years of experience in architectural and interior design, corporate real estate, construction, property and facilities management. He has advanced his career as an independent practitioner and a team player in multinational companies. Specialties: Construction and Project Management, Sustainability/ LEED, WELL, TRUE, EDGE Consulting, Property and Facilities Management, Architectural Design and Space Planning Show Highlights Challenges with LEED and green building in the Southeast Asia region. Partnership with USGBC & higher education to develop a center for sustainability learning in the Philippines. Grooming future architects on key sustainability practices as part of their design process. Heightened alertness and awareness of carbon footprints has pushed the standards for practice and reporting to become a normal requirement for the built environment. How the market has been transformed to adopt green building practices. Academia has to catch up to train students in taking the correct mindset and practices to drive the change needed for the world. “There's really an interest [in green buildings] coming from students, especially hearing me share actual experiences and the developments that are going on. I've seen how they've been performing with the exercises that I've been giving and it looks like they're up to the challenge of taking on extra credentials. I've also been encouraging them that this would really support them as they build their career early in life.” -Alvin Tejada “While we're living in a challenging time, this is also an exciting time. The speed of technological development may be dizzying. We know that humankind continues to evolve with rapid changes. Just keep reading, keep learning, keep sharing, and eventually you get into the habit of this green building movement.” -Alvin Tejada Get the episode transcript here!! Show Resource and Information LinkedIn How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: 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
Sheila M. Sheridan - IFMA Fellow, CFM, LEED AP O+M. Sheila retired from Harvard University where she was Director of Facilities and Services at the Kennedy School of Government. As an International Facility Management Association (IFMA )volunteer member, she has held numerous roles including the Chair. Currently, she is a USGBC Technical Committee member. Previously she was past vice chair of the LEED Operations and Maintenance Committee. She also participated as faculty for IFMA and USGBC courses. She is a recognized global speaker concerning facilities and sustainability. She has been a visiting lecturer at universities around the world. Show Highlights How volunteer work allows you to test the limits of your abilities and learn what you are really interested in. Invite champions, naysayers, and gossipers to your team to match your project to your mission. Tips to pave your own way to promote the change you want to see in your profession and an environmental steward. Sheila is a “tenacious pioneer” who shares her stories of inspiration and tips to help push sustainability forward and open new doors. Sustainability has no borders because the world's needs are connected for a positive future. Emerging trends and looking at how they manage buildings so we don't lose the voice of the people that work and live there. Growth in the industry only occurs when you invite people in, share information as an environmental steward. “It's not the green building movement anymore. It's, save the planet. Everything you do, both at home, at work and in your profession can make a difference right down to picking up a piece of trash. The green building movement is exciting. It's a vehicle to get you where we need to be and there's opportunities for you to be a specialist.” -Sheila Sheridan Get the episode transcript here!! Show Resource and Information Work Better. Save The Planet 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 © 2022 GBES
In this episode, Hilary Langer speaks with Michelle Moore, CEO of the nonprofit Groundswell and author of the recently published book, “Rural Renaissance. Revitalizing America's Hometowns Through Clean Power.” Michelle has spent her career advocating for equitable power. Her accomplishments range from delivering programs that cut energy use by $11 billion and led to the deployment of 3.2 Gigawatts of new renewable energy production while leading sustainability for the Obama Administration; to developing LEED into a globally recognized brand as Senior Vice President of USGBC. Hilary and Michelle discuss the values that motivate her, why Groundswell is revitalizing rural areas, and how the Inflation Reduction Act will change America. Links:Order “Rural Renaissance”Michelle Moore BioGroundswellMichelle Moore on TwitterInflation Reduction Act and DOE Loan ProgramInterfaceNational Rural Electric Cooperative AssociationUS Green Building CouncilEpisode recorded: November 9, 2022 Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, and Hilary at climatepositive@hannonarmstrong.com or tweet them to @ClimatePosiPod.
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