The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

Do green buildings matter to you? This podcast fuels your fire with inspiring interviews from industry and nonprofit leaders across the built environment. Not sure if green building matters? Listen to the personal stories of our guests and let Charlie’s passion help convince you why green buildings are essential to our shared future. Each episode illustrates a unique journey through sustainability and towards resilience. Charlie explores the challenges and celebrations of the movers and shakers in the green building industry. Hear behind the scene stories from the inner world of green and healthy building design, construction, and management.

Iryna Sukhodub on Building Ukraine's Green Future Through Wartime Reconstruction 08/06/2025

Iryna Sukhodub on Building Ukraine's Green Future Through Wartime Reconstruction The Green Impact Report Quick take: Iryna Sukhodub reveals how Ukraine's massive reconstruction effort is driving green building innovation—from IFI-funded sustainable housing for 4.5 million displaced people to the strategic shift from energy-only thinking to comprehensive sustainability that could reshape your project priorities. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Iryna Sukhodub is a Building Modeling and Simulation Specialist at iC consulenten Ukraine and Associate Professor at the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute." Honored as Scientist of the Year by President Zelenskyy in 2020, she bridges academia and industry through energy efficiency research, green building certification expertise, and mentoring the next generation of women engineers in sustainability. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Iryna revolutionizes traditional reconstruction approaches: Key Insight #1: IFI Financing Creates Green Building Momentum The Challenge: Green certification isn't mandatory in Ukraine, limiting sustainable development incentives The Solution: International Financial Institutions require sustainability standards for reconstruction loans and grants—driving market demand through financing requirements ROI: Access to favorable loan rates and grant funding, plus tenant lease requirements from international companies demanding certified buildings Key Insight #2: Resilience + Renewables = Reconstruction Strategy The Challenge: Ukraine's damaged infrastructure needs rebuilding while serving 4.5 million internally displaced people The Solution: Integrate PV systems with energy storage for dual benefits—cost reduction and power resilience during electricity shortages ROI: Lower operational costs plus business continuity during grid disruptions, creating "future-proof" infrastructure investments Key Insight #3: Shift From Energy-Only to Comprehensive Sustainability The Challenge: Ukrainian projects historically focus solely on energy efficiency and renewables, missing broader impact opportunities The Solution: Expand to embodied carbon, life cycle assessment, accessibility, climate adaptation, and indoor environmental quality ROI: Enhanced building performance, health outcomes, and alignment with international certification standards like LEED v5 and WELL Sustainable Soundbite "We still have to implement projects and we have to implement them in a sustainable manner, especially for the people that need housing at the moment." – Iryna Sukhodub Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate how financing requirements could drive sustainability in your projects—research available green financing programs and certification incentives in your region This Quarter: Expand beyond energy efficiency—conduct a gap analysis of your projects against comprehensive sustainability frameworks like LEED v5 or BREEAM This Year: Build resilience into your renewable energy strategy—explore PV + storage combinations that deliver both cost savings and operational continuity during grid disruptions Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript [Link] 🔗 Connect with Iryna Sukhodub: 📖 Recommended reading: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37662935

Herbert Koomson on Transforming Waste Management Through Data-Driven Audits 07/30/2025

Herbert Koomson on Transforming Waste Management Through Data-Driven Audits The Green Impact Report Quick take: Herbert Koomson reveals how waste audits uncover 50% recyclable materials hiding in trash streams and why the future of sustainability messaging isn't about saving the planet—it's about saving your bottom line. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Herbert Koomson transitioned from engineering to sustainable design at West Virginia University, where Professor Chris Haddix guided him to pass the LEED GA exam before graduation. He began his sustainability career with the NYC Department of Sanitation, educating major restaurant chains about commercial organics rules. Currently at RTS, he conducts waste audits throughout North America, helping clients achieve higher diversion rates through data-driven strategies. Herbert is also a coffee connoisseur, wrestling fan, and proud New Yorker who believes in making sustainability accessible rather than preachy. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Herbert revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: Waste Audits Reveal Hidden Gold in Your Trash The Challenge: Businesses assume they're recycling properly while up to 50% of recyclable materials end up in landfills The Solution: Systematic waste audits combined with walkthrough assessments identify contamination sources and mislabeled waste stations ROI: Higher diversion rates reduce waste costs while meeting sustainability goals—clients see measurable improvements within one audit cycle Key Insight #2: Geography Determines Your Diversion Success The Challenge: Voluntary recycling programs lead to bare minimum compliance and lower diversion rates The Solution: Target markets with mandatory separation laws like California and Austin, Texas, which drive 3x higher diversion rates than voluntary programs ROI: Regulatory compliance creates consistent revenue streams while voluntary markets rely on client motivation and budget priorities Key Insight #3: Make Sustainability About Wallets, Not Polar Bears The Challenge: Traditional sustainability messaging focuses on environmental impact, which can feel political or preachy The Solution: Frame waste management as business efficiency—cost savings, space optimization, and operational improvements ROI: Financial benefits resonate universally while environmental benefits become the bonus, not the burden Sustainable Soundbite “Sustainability isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. If we want to design a future that includes everyone, we have to start building with empathy and intention today.” – Herbert Koomson Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Conduct a mini waste audit in your office—spend 15 minutes identifying what's in your trash that should be recycled This Quarter: Evaluate waste station signage and labels across your properties—worn or confusing signs kill diversion rates This Year: Implement the "waste audit wheel"—baseline assessment, consulting improvements, follow-up audit to measure progress Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about RTS: 🔗 Connect with Herbert Koomson: 📚 Recommended reading: by William Rhoden 📖 More reads: by Andrew Klavan and by Daniel Keyes 🗒️ Read the transcript Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37602455

Morgan Holl on Transforming Waste Into Circular Building Materials 07/23/2025

Morgan Holl on Transforming Waste Into Circular Building Materials The Green Impact Report Quick take: Morgan Holl reveals why "connectivity drives circularity" in recycling and how his glass processing innovation tackles the 38% of landfill waste from construction—plus the strategic insight that could transform your approach to sustainable materials sourcing. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Morgan Holl is a current founder in the sustainability space, with past C-suite experience in general management, strategic planning, corporate development, and product innovation. Previously, he's led product teams encompassing both long-cycle innovation in the chemical space, and short-cycle SaaS/HaaS in IoT domains. He's led decisions tied to large and small bolt-on acquisitions, authored strategic roadmaps, and prioritized organic capital deployment. Nothing excites him more than when he is able to create value and solve complex problems through partnerships. His model is rooted in humility, empathy, and an insatiable, innate curiosity. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Morgan revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: Connectivity Drives Circularity in Construction The Challenge: People feel disconnected from recycling outcomes, leading to reduced participation and mistrust in the system The Solution: Create transparent, local processing that shows exactly where materials go and what they become ROI: Increased recycling participation, community engagement, and cost-effective local material loops Key Insight #2: Glass Processing Unlocks Hidden Material Value The Challenge: Glass breaks in single-stream recycling, contaminating other materials and making processing expensive The Solution: Process glass locally for non-traditional applications like engineered soil blends and sustainable building materials ROI: Captures high-volume recoverable material typically sent to landfills while creating functional building products Key Insight #3: Construction Waste Represents the Biggest Circular Opportunity The Challenge: Construction and demolition waste accounts for 38% of all landfill material—massive volumes with huge environmental impact The Solution: Scale thoughtful reuse and recycling of C&D waste while incorporating recycled materials into new building products ROI: Outsized improvements in circularity with significant cost savings and LEED credit opportunities Sustainable Soundbite "We launched this business with the idea of overcoming those challenges in the world of recycling... connectivity drives circularity." – Morgan Holl Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit your current project's waste streams—identify high-volume materials that could be processed locally instead of landfilled This Quarter: Research local circular material suppliers and calculate potential LEED credits from C&D waste diversion This Year: Develop partnerships with regional processors to create closed-loop material systems for your building portfolio Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about Overlooked Materials: 🔗 Connect with Morgan Holl: 📚 Recommended reading: 🗒 Read the transcript [LINK TO BE ADDED] Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37413245

Hamed Soroush on Turning the Subsurface Into Clean Energy Batteries 07/16/2025

Hamed Soroush on Turning the Subsurface Into Clean Energy Batteries The Green Impact Report Quick take: Hamed Soroush reveals how subsurface thermal energy storage can cut data center cooling power by 80% while creating 6-month energy batteries from underground rocks—plus the mindset shift that transformed his oil & gas expertise into breakthrough clean energy solutions. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Hamed Soroush is a subsurface engineering expert and entrepreneur who has led over 350 consulting projects across seven countries. As founder of Teverra, he's pioneering technologies that transform underground formations into long-term energy storage systems. A former SPE Distinguished Lecturer, Hamed bridges oil & gas innovation with clean energy solutions, focusing on geothermal energy, carbon storage, and thermal energy systems that can store energy for months without significant loss. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Hamed revolutionizes traditional energy approaches: Key Insight #1: Subsurface Rocks Are Nature's Ultimate Batteries The Challenge: Current battery technologies offer only 4-10 hour storage while renewable energy needs long-term solutions The Solution: Heat rocks underground using excess renewable energy, storing thermal energy for 6+ months with only 5-6% loss ROI: Creates "artificial geothermal reservoirs" that provide baseload renewable energy without the limitations of traditional batteries Key Insight #2: Data Centers Can Cut Cooling Power by 80% The Challenge: 40% of data center power consumption goes to cooling, limiting Georgia's ability to add new facilities The Solution: Use subsurface formations and groundwater for district cooling systems ROI: 80% reduction in cooling power consumption plus 70% cut in CO2 emissions, enabling more data centers with existing grid capacity Key Insight #3: Transfer Oil & Gas Innovation to Clean Energy The Challenge: Clean energy lacks the advanced subsurface technologies already proven in oil & gas The Solution: Apply geomechanics, drilling expertise, and reservoir engineering to geothermal, carbon storage, and energy storage ROI: Accelerates clean energy deployment by leveraging decades of subsurface innovation instead of starting from scratch Sustainable Soundbite "We are wasting almost half of the energy that we spend a lot of time, effort, and money to generate. And by saving this energy that's wasted, we can actually lift many country's people from poverty." – Hamed Soroush Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess your building's cooling loads and explore subsurface cooling potential for energy efficiency gains This Quarter: Connect with local geothermal professionals to evaluate thermal energy storage opportunities for your portfolio This Year: Investigate district-scale thermal systems that can share energy between heating-dominant and cooling-dominant buildings Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about Teverra: 🔗 Connect with Hamed Soroush: 📚 Recommended reading: 🗒️ Read the transcript Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37413215

Larry Lessard on Scaling Geothermal Networks for Maximum Climate Impact 07/09/2025

Larry Lessard on Scaling Geothermal Networks for Maximum Climate Impact The Green Impact Report Quick take: Larry Lessard reveals why geothermal systems are 400-600% more efficient than fossil fuel alternatives and how network geothermal is revolutionizing district-level sustainability—plus the strategic insight that could reshape your approach to renewable energy priorities. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Lawrence (Larry) Lessard is an applied scientist with a career encompassing hydrogeology, contaminated site remediation, and geothermal system design and installation. He is the founder of both Lessard Environmental, Inc. and Achieve Renewable Energy, LLC. He is also a nature and astronomical photographer, third degree blackbelt in Judo, and a Hang Glider Pilot. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Larry revolutionizes traditional HVAC approaches: Key Insight #1: Geothermal Efficiency Crushes All Alternatives The Challenge: Natural gas boiler systems max out at 92% efficiency while losing energy up the flue The Solution: Geothermal systems move heat energy instead of creating it, achieving 400-600% efficiency ROI: Equipment lasts twice as long (protected indoors) with dramatically lower lifecycle costs and zero combustion emissions Key Insight #2: Network Geothermal Unlocks District-Scale Impact The Challenge: Individual building systems can't serve properties without underground space or share thermal loads The Solution: Connect multiple buildings to shared ground heat exchangers—cooling-dominant buildings export heat to heating-dominant ones ROI: 100+ year lifespan for ground infrastructure creates generational sustainability investments, like "building a cathedral" Key Insight #3: Target the Biggest Carbon Slice First The Challenge: Many sustainability efforts focus on electricity (only 10-15% of emissions) while ignoring bigger opportunities The Solution: Prioritize building heating/cooling (30%+ of emissions) and transportation (34%) for maximum climate impact ROI: Attacking the largest emission sources delivers the biggest environmental returns and typically the best financial incentives Sustainable Soundbite "If a natural gas boiler system is maybe 92% efficient, a geothermal system, through that same calculation, is 400 to 600% efficient. You get more energy out of the operation of the equipment than you put into it." – Larry Lessard Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Calculate your building's heating vs. cooling loads to determine geothermal feasibility and efficiency potential This Quarter: Explore federal tax credits (30-50% depending on location and domestic content) and local utility rebates for geothermal installations This Year: Evaluate network geothermal opportunities across your building portfolio—identify cooling-dominant buildings that could share heat with heating-dominant ones Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about Achieve Renewable Energy: 🔗 Connect with Larry Lessard: 📚 New England Geothermal Professional Association: 📖 Recommended reading: 🎬 Recommended viewing: "Dark Waters" (2019 film) 🗒️ Read the transcript Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37352270

Ross Guberman on the AI-Powered Waste Management Revolution 07/02/2025

Ross Guberman on the AI-Powered Waste Management Revolution The Green Impact Report Quick take: Ross Guberman reveals how AI sensors and tech-enabled waste management can slash building operating costs while hitting zero waste targets—turning dumpster diving into data science. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Ross Guberman is a seasoned executive with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental management. Currently serving as the SVP of Sustainability at Recycle Track Systems, he has a proven track record of leading organizations towards high profit and impactful practices. His diverse experience includes founding and leading Great Forest as CEO, where he honed skills in contract negotiation and program development. Ross's early career as an Environmental Volunteer with the Peace Corps in Cape Verde reflects his long-standing commitment to environmental issues. With a strong educational background in Mathematics from Rutgers University, he combines analytical skills with strategic planning expertise. Ross is passionate about creating enjoyable workplaces while driving sustainable development initiatives. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Ross revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: AI Sensors Turn Waste Bins Into Smart Infrastructure The Challenge: Building managers have no visibility into bin fullness, leading to unnecessary pickups, contamination, and wasted hauler routes The Solution: RTS Pello sensors with cameras and sonar monitor bin levels 24/7, detect contamination, and automatically alert haulers when service is needed ROI: Eliminates truck traffic, right-sizes service schedules, and provides real-time contamination feedback to reduce recycling stream pollution Key Insight #2: Consolidated Portfolio Management Beats Fragmented Haulers The Challenge: Large building portfolios juggle multiple waste haulers with separate invoices, no data consistency, and zero optimization across sites The Solution: Single technology platform managing 1,000+ locations with unified billing, data analytics, and sustainability reporting ROI: Dramatic time savings for accounting teams, consolidated invoicing, and leveraged negotiating power across entire portfolios Key Insight #3: Gamification Makes Waste Reduction Tangible The Challenge: Energy and water savings are invisible to building occupants, making sustainability engagement difficult The Solution: Reverse vending machines that reward recycling behavior with instant incentives like raffle entries and discounts ROI: Creates visible sustainability touchpoints that change behaviors and build environmental awareness across building communities Sustainable Soundbite "With waste, everybody touches waste. I don't know if you've been to a party, but anytime you say anything that you do anything in waste management, everyone wants to talk about it. This is a way to really engage people and let them see sustainability." – Ross Guberman Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Conduct a detailed waste audit across different floors and areas to understand your building's waste generation patterns This Quarter: Pilot AI-enabled waste monitoring in one building to demonstrate cost savings and contamination reduction This Year: Implement portfolio-wide waste consolidation and technology integration to achieve 90%+ landfill diversion rates Connect & Learn More 🌿 Explore RTS's waste technology solutions: 📚 Recommended reading: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Ross Guberman: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37248840

Caroline Vanderlip on Scaling the Circular Economy with Re:Dish 06/25/2025

Caroline Vanderlip on Scaling the Circular Economy with Re:Dish The Green Impact Report Quick take: Caroline Vanderlip reveals how to tackle the trillion-unit packaging waste crisis by making reuse as convenient as disposal—and why the built environment holds the key to scaling circular economy solutions. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Caroline Vanderlip is a high-energy senior executive who pivoted from building digital media empires (including launching CNBC) to revolutionizing the circular economy. Four years ago, she discovered the burgeoning concept of moving the world away from single-use toward reuse—and it came to define her life's work as founder of Re:Dish. With a background spanning journalism at Stanford, media innovation at NBC, and EdTech ventures, Caroline combines strategic vision with operational expertise to make reuse an everyday reality for corporate clients like Barclays Bank. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Caroline revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: The Built Environment is the Reuse Bottleneck The Challenge: Buildings lack space and infrastructure for dish rooms needed to make reuse feasible at $150+ per square foot The Solution: Outsource reuse operations just like laundry and linens—centralized washing, sanitizing, and tracking systems ROI: Eliminates the need for expensive in-building dishwashing infrastructure while enabling massive waste diversion Key Insight #2: Closed Environments Trump Consumer Behavior Change The Challenge: Open-loop consumer reuse programs struggle with adoption and logistics The Solution: Target "closed environments" like corporate cafeterias, K-12 schools, and campuses where you can influence groups collectively ROI: Complete system transformation—Barclays switched all single-use cups and containers to reusables across NYC, New Jersey, and Delaware locations Key Insight #3: Data-Driven Sustainability Sells to Decision Makers The Challenge: Companies need concrete metrics to justify sustainability investments and track progress The Solution: Life cycle assessments on every product plus real-time tracking of waste diversion, carbon savings, and water conservation ROI: Clients receive comprehensive data showing exactly how much carbon wasn't emitted and how much water was saved through their reuse program Sustainable Soundbite "Before Coke went to aluminum cans, they washed the bottles and refilled them. Reuse is not a new concept. We just as a society became more accustomed to the convenience of disposable." – Caroline Vanderlip Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit your building's single-use packaging consumption in cafeterias, break rooms, and meeting spaces This Quarter: Calculate the potential waste diversion and carbon savings from switching to a reusable system This Year: Pilot a closed-loop reuse program in one building to demonstrate ROI and scalability for your portfolio Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about Re:Dish's reuse solutions: 📚 Recommended reading: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Caroline Vanderlip: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/37135925

Bonny Gray on Revolutionary Water Systems, Building Re-Use, and the Future of Prefab Construction 06/18/2025

Bonny Gray on Revolutionary Water Systems, Building Re-Use, and the Future of Prefab Construction The Green Impact Report Quick take: LEED Fellow Bonny Gray reveals how she built the world's largest cistern under a parking garage, battles "LEED-like" terminology that's undermining green building credibility, and why prefabricated construction might be the key to scaling sustainability. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Bonita Tice Gray, AIA LEED AP BD+C, is Director of Sustainability and Quality at Method Architecture and a 2022 LEED Fellow—the green building industry's most prestigious professional designation. Selected as one of only 20 distinguished green building professionals worldwide, Bonny has made exceptional contributions to sustainability in Texas over her decade-plus career. Her achievements include administering diverse LEED and Austin Energy Green Building projects, serving as Author/Liaison for SXSW Eco from 2013-2016, and leading as USGBC Central Texas Co-Chair. She created the LEEDv4 Green Associate Professionals class and authored the Texas Green School Symposium. Starting her journey in Iowa farm country with a coal-heated 1916 home, Bonny discovered her passion for architecture walking through the beautiful red brick Architecture Hall at University of Nebraska—where she was one of only two women in her graduating class. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Bonny Gray revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Massive water capture systems can solve regional scarcity challenges The Challenge: Texas faces severe water scarcity, forcing buildings to compete for limited municipal resources The Solution: Bonny designed the world's largest cistern underneath a parking garage at AMD's campus, capturing all roof and site water runoff for irrigation and cooling tower systems ROI: This butterfly-roof design with integrated water management eliminated municipal water dependency while creating a replicable model for water-stressed regions Key Insight #2: "LEED-like" terminology undermines legitimate green building credibility The Challenge: Developers use "LEED-like" language to appear sustainable without third-party verification or actual performance standards The Solution: Bonny advocates for clear binary thinking—you either have a LEED-certified building or you don't, with no middle ground ROI: Eliminating misleading terminology protects building owners from greenwashing liability while ensuring they capture actual energy savings and operational benefits Key Insight #3: Prefabricated construction is the next frontier for sustainable building The Challenge: Traditional construction creates massive waste streams and unpredictable carbon footprints The Solution: Bonny champions pre-assembled facades, 3D-printed buildings using carbon-negative concrete, and manufactured housing approaches with precise material planning ROI: Prefab reduces construction waste to near-zero, enables exact carbon accounting, and scales sustainable practices faster than traditional building methods Sustainable Soundbite "You can take the most mundane building and make it into something brand new that is just amazing and sustainable because you are not putting any more embodied carbon out into the world when you use an existing building." – Bonny Gray Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit your current projects for misleading "green-like" or "LEED-like" language. Replace with specific, measurable sustainability claims or pursue actual certification. This Quarter: Investigate water capture opportunities on your sites. Calculate potential cistern capacity and irrigation offset for your climate zone using Bonny's butterfly roof approach. This Year: Explore prefabricated building components for your next project. Research local manufacturers offering sustainable pre-assembled facades or investigate modular construction options that reduce embodied carbon. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with The Lawrence Group: 🗒️ Read the transcript 📚 Read Bonny's recommended books: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36929410

Sean Ronnie Hill on Passive House Design and the Future of Low-Energy Buildings 06/11/2025

Sean Ronnie Hill on Passive House Design and the Future of Low-Energy Buildings The Green Impact Report Quick take: Sean Ronnie Hill shares how his journey from a freezing, poorly built Belfast home to founding Rise Design Studio led to breakthrough insights on passive house principles, embodied carbon calculations, and the massive shift toward all-electric buildings—essential knowledge for green building professionals navigating today's sustainability landscape. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Sean Ronnie Hill is the Director and Architect at RISE Design Studio, a Sustainable & Regeneration Architect, Passivhaus Designer, Retrofit Expert, and Member of The Green Register, dedicated to creating better homes and spaces for a sustainable future. As the founding director of RISE Design Studio (established in 2011), Sean brings over 20 years of experience from award-winning UK practices, including John McAslan + Partners, Arca, and Technē Architecture + Interior Design. Based in London with expansion into Barcelona, RISE specializes in residential architecture, listed building consent, conservation area projects, and community buildings. Sean's design ethos centers on four key principles: design-led approach, commercial mindfulness, innovation, and sustainability. He's committed to nurturing the next generation of architects, having mentored at several UK universities, and believes in creating places that respond to contemporary challenges, including the climate crisis. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Sean Ronnie Hill revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Passive House principles create ultimate comfort while achieving lowest energy consumption The Challenge: Traditional buildings leak energy through poor insulation, thermal bridges, and drafty construction—like Sean's childhood home where the family slept in sleeping bags indoors The Solution: Passive House design eliminates thermal bridges, maintains constant filtered fresh air, and creates super-insulated building envelopes that recover heat from exhaust air ROI: Buildings achieve near-zero energy consumption while providing optimal temperature control, eliminating cold spots, preventing mold growth, and delivering unmatched occupant comfort Key Insight #2: The shift to all-electric buildings is accelerating beyond just environmental benefits The Challenge: Most London homes rely on gas for heating and hot water, creating carbon emissions and energy price volatility The Solution: Rise Design Studio now cuts gas connections entirely, implementing air source heat pumps and induction cooking in retrofit and new construction projects ROI: Clients gain energy independence from volatile gas markets (especially post-Ukraine war price spikes), reduce operational carbon, and future-proof their buildings against incoming regulations Key Insight #3: Embodied carbon calculations are becoming essential for every design decision The Challenge: The industry focuses on operational energy while ignoring the massive carbon footprint embedded in materials—every brick, beam, and insulation board carries significant carbon storage The Solution: Rise collaborates with structural engineers using software that calculates embodied carbon for timber, steel, and concrete structures, while exploring natural materials through partnerships like ACAN (Architects Climate Action Network) ROI: Clients receive comprehensive carbon impact data for informed material choices, preparing for future building permit requirements that will mandate total carbon planning beyond just operational efficiency Sustainable Soundbite "More and more clients are wanting to be aware and they want to make sure that whatever work that they do…that the building be able to perform sustainably in terms of its operational energy, but also longevity." – Sean Ronnie Hill Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess your current projects for thermal bridge elimination opportunities. Start conversations with structural engineers about embodied carbon calculations for your next design. This Quarter: Develop a client presentation template that explains the comfort benefits of passive house principles alongside energy savings. Begin researching air source heat pump solutions for your regional climate. This Year: Partner with structural engineers who can provide embodied carbon data for material selections. Explore natural material suppliers in your area and consider pursuing passive house training or certification. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Sean Ronnie Hill: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🏢 Visit RISE Design Studio: 📚 Recommended reading: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36929365

Angela Gill Nelms on Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare and Technology 06/04/2025

Angela Gill Nelms on Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare and Technology The Green Impact Report Quick take: Angela Gill Nelms shares how interdisciplinary approaches and customer-centered innovation can transform healthcare while creating more sustainable outcomes—offering valuable lessons for green building professionals seeking to drive change in their organizations. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Angela Gill Nelms is an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and board member with a diverse background in SaaS and medical device technology. She excels in building teams and companies centered on global corporate culture, strategic planning, and process improvement. As the founder and host of the mental wellness podcast, Recovery Advocate Network Coffee and Conversation, she addresses stigma and resource disparities in mental health. Angela has received numerous awards, including Georgia Tech's Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award and recognition among Atlanta's 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies. She serves on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board and the Recovery Advocate Network mental health board. Outside of work, Angela enjoys hiking, reading, and engaging in activities such as woodturning, blacksmithing, and cycling, having completed six IRONMAN races. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Angela Gill Nelms revolutionizes traditional innovation approaches: Key Insight #1: Building interdisciplinary teams drives better innovation outcomes The Challenge: Siloed expertise creates narrow solutions that fail to address complex problems The Solution: Angela pioneered cross-departmental collaboration at Georgia Tech, bringing together electrical, mechanical, computer science, and biomedical engineering students to solve a medical device challenge ROI: This approach not only earned her team top honors but transformed how Georgia Tech approaches Capstone projects, creating a new category for interdisciplinary teams Key Insight #2: Customer-centric design prevents expensive innovation failures The Challenge: Medical device innovators often develop "amazing widgets" without consulting end users The Solution: Angela's approach involves getting stakeholders into the feedback loop early—whether doctors, patients, or facility managers ROI: This methodology dramatically reduces waste, shortens development cycles, and creates solutions people actually want to use Key Insight #3: Healthcare environments can learn from children's hospitals to create more healing spaces The Challenge: Traditional medical facilities often feel sterile, institutional, and anxiety-inducing The Solution: Angela suggests modeling adult healthcare spaces after modern children's hospitals with natural light, bright colors, and engaging environments ROI: These design changes not only improve patient outcomes through reduced stress but can speed recovery time, shortening stays and reducing resource consumption Sustainable Soundbite "I think part of it is being able to tell better stories about the successes we've had and why those successes matter… and also speaking with partners across different industries to ask, 'okay, what really matters to you and what have you nailed and how can we use that to become creative?'" – Angela Gill Nelms Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Identify a challenge in your organization where cross-discipline collaboration could create more sustainable solutions. Invite unconventional stakeholders to your next planning meeting. This Quarter: Implement Angela's customer-centric approach by creating a feedback mechanism for building end-users to evaluate your sustainability initiatives before full implementation. This Year: Explore how healthcare design principles might inform your green building projects, particularly focusing on environments that promote wellbeing alongside sustainability. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Angela Gill Nelms: 🗒️ Read the transcript 📧 Email Angela: [email protected] Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36739495

Mark Snyder on Revolutionizing Indoor Air Quality with Microalgae Technology 05/28/2025

Mark Snyder on Revolutionizing Indoor Air Quality with Microalgae Technology The Green Impact Report Quick take: Mark Snyder introduces a groundbreaking approach to indoor air purification using microalgae bioreactors that not only clean air more effectively than traditional methods but could potentially save billions in energy costs while addressing common challenges in energy-efficient sealed buildings. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion As the CEO of VerdeTerra, Mark Snyder brings a diverse background spanning automotive engineering (including work on the Honda NSX supercar), aerospace contracting for NASA, and management consulting at Porsche Consulting. With an engineering foundation complemented by an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Italy and studies in Shanghai, Mark combines technical expertise with business acumen to develop sustainable solutions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Mark Snyder revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Harnessing Nature's Design for Indoor Air Purification The Challenge: Increasingly air-tight, energy-efficient buildings trap pollutants indoors, creating unhealthy feedback loops of recirculated air The Solution: The Albero, a microalgae bioreactor that mimics nature's own air purification system (70% of Earth's air is cleaned by ocean microalgae) ROI: Removes pollutants traditional filters can't touch: VOCs, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide Key Insight #2: Making Sustainability Economically Resilient The Challenge: Sustainability initiatives are often the first cut during economic downturns The Solution: Design clean technology that provides cost savings, ensuring it remains valuable even when companies face financial pressure ROI: Potential integration with HVAC systems could save an estimated 54 billion kilowatt hours in the United States alone Key Insight #3: Aesthetics as Key to Adoption The Challenge: Traditional air purifiers are often unsightly black boxes that detract from carefully designed spaces The Solution: Biophilic design principles using the golden ratio and nature-inspired architecture create purifiers that double as art ROI: Increased likelihood of adoption through products that enhance rather than detract from living spaces, available in both modern sculptural and traditional lamp-like designs Sustainable Soundbite "Sustainability isn't just about the environment; it's about creating systems that endure—socially, economically, and ecologically." – Mark Snyder Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit your building's current air purification methods and identify any VOC or gas pollution concerns traditional filters can't address This Quarter: Calculate potential energy savings from integrated microalgae air purification technology in your HVAC systems This Year: Pilot a microalgae air purification system in one space to demonstrate both aesthetic value and air quality improvements Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about VerdeTerra's microalgae purification: 📚 Recommended reading: 📝 Productivity tool: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Mark Snyder: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36739170

Andre Baros on Revolutionizing Material Selection in Sustainable Architecture 05/21/2025

Andre Baros on Revolutionizing Material Selection in Sustainable Architecture The Green Impact Report Quick take: Andre Baros shares how technology can transform the overwhelming process of material selection, making sustainability data more accessible and helping architects make responsible choices without disrupting their workflow. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Andre Baros is an architect whose career has been anchored in sustainability, curiosity, and rigor. After graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology, he worked with award-winning firms including Harry Weese Associates, Wheeler Kearns Architects, and HOK. With over two decades of experience ranging from small-scale projects to 12-million-square-foot developments, Andre has recently joined ACE Labs to revolutionize how architects access material information. His personal commitment to sustainability includes 17 years of plant-based eating and 25 years of primarily using bicycles and public transit for transportation. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Andre Baros shares his insights on material selection and sustainability: Key Insight #1: Sustainability as Responsibility, Not a Buzzword The Challenge: The term "sustainability" often becomes siloed or treated as an add-on rather than integral to good design. The Solution: Andre's approach treats sustainable practices as "just the right way to do things" – a responsibility rather than a separate initiative. ROI: By integrating sustainability into core design decisions rather than treating it as a separate consideration, projects achieve both better performance and design integrity. Key Insight #2: Democratizing Material Data Through Technology The Challenge: Architects struggle with comparing "apples to oranges" when selecting materials, especially when sustainability metrics vary widely between product categories. The Solution: ACE Labs pre-populates normalized data across hundreds of material categories, making comparison and selection more accessible. ROI: Reduces time spent creating spreadsheets, increases data accuracy, and allows architects to make informed sustainability choices with performance metrics at their fingertips. Key Insight #3: AI as a Workflow Enhancement, Not Replacement The Challenge: Quality control for millions of data points requires substantial time and effort. The Solution: Strategic use of AI to assist with formula creation and data validation tasks. ROI: Tasks that would take a full day can be completed in half an hour, allowing professionals to focus on decision-making rather than data processing, despite the sustainability challenges of AI's power consumption. Sustainable Soundbite "Sustainability kind of runs through in the veins of everybody here... We also realize that one of the problems in the market is if you're only a sustainability tool, then you're one more thing people have to do. We want to say that sustainability isn't a separate bucket. It's part of the same bucket of all the decisions you make in a project." – Andre Baros Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your current material selection process and identify information gaps that hamper sustainable decision-making. This Quarter: Create a systematic approach to material responsibility by looking at entire supply chains, inspired by tools like ACE Labs or methods from "Manual of Biogenic Housing Design." This Year: Implement technologies that integrate sustainability data directly into your workflow rather than treating it as a separate consideration. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Andre Baros: 📚 Recommended Reading: 🗒️ Read the transcript Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36618990

Myles Cohen on Paperization: Revolutionizing Sustainable Packaging and Recycling 05/14/2025

Myles Cohen on Paperization: Revolutionizing Sustainable Packaging and Recycling The Green Impact Report Quick take: Quick take: Myles Cohen shares invaluable insights into the recycling industry, sustainable packaging innovations, and how professionals can drive value-based sustainability initiatives that benefit both business and the environment. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Myles Cohen is a results-oriented leader in sustainable packaging, residential and industrial recycling, and environmental sustainability sectors. With senior executive experience at organizations including Pratt Industries, Sonoco, and Duracell, Myles has developed broad expertise in operations, sales, marketing, and general management. As founder of Circular Ventures Consultancy, he helps organizations address ESG issues related to waste, recycling, landfill diversion, sustainable packaging, and challenging public policy issues. A sought-after keynote speaker and industry advocate, Myles brings a creative, entrepreneurial approach to sustainability challenges. Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Myles Cohen revolutionizes traditional approaches to recycling and packaging: Key Insight #1: The Reality of Recycling Markets The Challenge: Misconceptions about recycling markets since China stopped accepting certain materials The Solution: Understanding recycling as a commodity with robust global markets, particularly for paper ROI: America collects 150 million tons of recyclable materials annually with strong markets for everything from metals (70% of US steel comes from recycled iron) to paper (40+ million tons collected yearly) Key Insight #2: Paperization: The Future of Sustainable Packaging The Challenge: Plastic packaging creating environmental concerns with limited recyclability The Solution: “Paperization” – converting plastic packaging to paper-based alternatives ROI: Over 100 product categories shifting from plastic to paper packaging, including innovations like paper-based six-pack holders, wine bottles, and shipping envelopes Key Insight #3: Business-Driven Sustainability The Challenge: Sustainability initiatives viewed as “vitamins” (nice-to-have) rather than “painkillers” (essential) The Solution: Focusing on value-based, economically viable sustainability initiatives ROI: Retailers and consumers driving demand for sustainable packaging, creating economic incentives for manufacturers to innovate with thinner papers and right-sized packaging Sustainable Soundbite Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess your current packaging or building materials – identify where you can reduce, reuse, or switch to more sustainable alternatives. This Quarter: Investigate “paperization” opportunities for your products or construction materials – what plastic components could be replaced with paper-based alternatives? This Year: Develop metrics that demonstrate both environmental and financial benefits of your sustainability initiatives – remember Myles’ advice to “run to me with bad news” and “hire for attitude, train for skill.” Connect & Learn More Connect with Myles Cohen: Read the transcript: 📚 Recommended Reading: “Everybody’s Trash” by Duncan Watson – an educational and entertaining look at recycling and waste management Don’t forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the website. Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun™ /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36366345

Brandie Townsend on The Value of Waste: Transforming Trash into Treasure 05/07/2025

Brandie Townsend on The Value of Waste: Transforming Trash into Treasure The Green Impact Report Quick take: Waste management expert Brandie Townsend revolutionizes how we view "trash" by demonstrating that landfills are obsolete and most materials can be repurposed, recycled, or reused for both environmental and economic benefits. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Dedicated to the triple bottom line: people, profit and the planet, Brandie Townsend brings a wide range of environmental connectivity and resources to the table with an extensive background in sustainability and hospitality. This energetic and skilled professional excels at developing positive relationships with clients and communicating the benefits of sustainable design, products & services. With experience developing optimal solutions and driving sustainable returns on investments, she's an influential strategist with talent for initiating & building teams and projects. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Brandie Townsend revolutionizes traditional construction and waste approaches: Key Insight #1: Landfills are obsolete when we recognize the value in waste The Challenge: Traditional waste management uses expensive landfills ($11 million holes in the ground) to dispose of valuable materials The Solution: Parse out materials for their next best use through deconstruction instead of demolition ROI: Save on dumpster fees ($75/ton, 5-ton max on roll-offs) while recapturing value from materials like dimensional lumber, metal, and gypsum Key Insight #2: Circular economy starts at the landfill scale house The Challenge: Municipalities lose money burying valuable resources while contractors pay to dispose of materials The Solution: Transform landfills into material recovery facilities where contractors can exchange materials ROI: Creates a marketplace where small contractors can bring materials for credit and purchase what they need, generating revenue for municipalities Key Insight #3: Construction waste management must be logistically planned The Challenge: Contractors default to the "easy button" - throwing everything in one dumpster The Solution: Use Gaylords, super sacks, or small hoppers to parse out waste by material type ROI: Makes material recovery more practical, reduces hauling costs, and adds value by directing materials to appropriate processors Sustainable Soundbite "All of that… is truly embodied energy [/Carbon]. We took a lot of time to make all this stuff and then we ended up throwing it into a hole. And that's really not the best use of our embodied energy." – Brandie Townsend Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Look at how much you're paying for dumpster service and explore alternatives for material separation This Quarter: Make trades responsible for their own waste streams (electrical, plumbing, etc.) since these materials have value to them This Year: Implement a comprehensive waste management plan that identifies appropriate receivers for each waste stream and tracks the value recovered Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: 🗒️ Connect with Brandie Townsend: 🔗 Learn about her reverse vending machine initiative for bottle and can recycling 🔗 Check out her work with Brewmark Flooring creating closed-loop recycling for trade show flooring Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36366300

Andreas Steyer on Bringing Digital Twins to Life for Sustainable Buildings 04/30/2025

Andreas Steyer on Bringing Digital Twins to Life for Sustainable Buildings The Green Impact Report Quick take: From youth activism to spearheading digital twin innovation at Nemetschek, Andreas Steyer reveals how technology is transforming building sustainability and why trusting design data is crucial for the industry's green future. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Based in Berlin, Andreas Steyer leads the global go-to-market strategy for Nemetschek's digital twin solution, DTwin. With experience spanning software development, product management at Procore, and co-authoring a book on BIM and circular economy, Andreas brings a unique perspective to how technology accelerates building sustainability. His journey from advising youth initiatives to shaping the future of construction tech demonstrates how diverse experiences drive innovation. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Andreas Steyer revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Bridging the Trust Gap with Open Platform Philosophy The Challenge: Construction teams don't trust architects' data and start from scratch when operating buildings The Solution: Create an open digital twin platform that accepts multiple data formats (BIM, point clouds, photogrammetry, 2D drawings) ROI: Prevents waste of valuable design and construction data, enabling seamless lifecycle management Key Insight #2: Real-Time Energy Monitoring and Predictive Simulations The Challenge: Buildings consume energy inefficiently without real-time feedback The Solution: Digital twins that monitor energy consumption in real-time and simulate future scenarios ROI: Optimizes energy usage, extends building system lifespans, and tracks emissions for decarbonization goals Key Insight #3: Enabling Circular Economy Through Data Connectivity The Challenge: Building materials end up as waste instead of being reused The Solution: Digital twins that connect data across projects to facilitate material reuse ROI: Reduces construction waste, lowers embodied carbon, and maximizes resource efficiency Sustainable Soundbite "Buildings are one of the areas where you can make the biggest difference in shaping a sustainable future." – Andreas Steyer Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your current building data strategy – are you losing valuable information between phases? This Quarter: Start a pilot project using digital twin technology to bridge design-construction-operations gaps This Year: Implement a circular economy strategy using connected data to track reusable building components Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Andreas Steyer: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36332345

Paul Frischer on Organic Printed Semiconductors: The Future of Zero-Carbon Buildings 04/23/2025

Paul Frischer on Organic Printed Semiconductors: The Future of Zero-Carbon Buildings Paul Frischer on Organic Printed Semiconductors: The Future of Zero-Carbon Buildings The Green Impact Report Quick take: This episode reveals a breakthrough in sustainable building technology - organic printed semiconductors that can turn any window into a power generator while reducing energy consumption by up to 50%. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Accomplished Senior Executive with successful management experience in global real estate strategy, research, financial technology and ESG investment. An extensive track record in real estate operations management, financial product development, revenue growth and capital funding. Full P&L responsibility for go-to-market strategies, the pursuit of operational improvements, and organic growth. Broad areas of expertise include strategic insight, innovation, financial and operational control, writing, marketing, sales, leadership, and forecasting. He currently dedicates himself to delivering expert consulting to companies in the real estate industry, renewable energy, and startup ventures. Strong consulting professional background, graduated from Bucknell University and NYU, MBA. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Paul Frischer revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Organic Printed Semiconductor Breakthrough The Challenge: Traditional solar panels are heavy, expensive, and disruptive to architectural design The Solution: Ultra-lightweight transparent film that creates power while maintaining visibility and aesthetics ROI: Generates 25% of lighting power needs while reducing HVAC costs by 30-50% through infrared absorption Key Insight #2: Power Over Ethernet Revolution The Challenge: AC electrical systems are inefficient for modern DC-powered devices The Solution: Integration with Power over Ethernet distributes DC power efficiently throughout buildings ROI: 70-85% energy savings compared to traditional AC systems, with built-in battery storage for resilience Key Insight #3: Zero-Carbon Power Distribution The Challenge: Shipping fossil fuels globally for power generation creates massive emissions The Solution: Shipping lightweight semiconductor film as "zero-emission carbon power" ROI: Democratizes clean energy access - anyone, anywhere can generate power with simple installation Sustainable Soundbite "Leadership isn't about titles or positions; it's about the courage to stand up for what's right, even when it's not popular."– Paul Frischer Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your building's window systems for semiconductor shade integration This Quarter: Assess Power over Ethernet infrastructure opportunities This Year: Create a pilot installation to demonstrate ROI to stakeholders Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Paul Frischer: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36265275

Ben Hall on Revolutionizing Sustainability in Filmmaking 04/16/2025

Ben Hall on Revolutionizing Sustainability in Filmmaking The Green Impact Report Quick take: Hollywood is going green! This episode reveals how the film industry is tackling its environmental footprint with innovative technology and practical solutions that can inspire any sustainability professional. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Ben Hall is a film director who splits time between Los Angeles and Atlanta and has worked in the production department on multiple studio feature films and television shows. He is developing and directing independent feature films via his production company, Marianna Motion Pictures. Some of his films include shorts Sergeant Townsend (2012), Old Souls (2013), and feature films The Man From Outer Space (2017), Night Into Day (2020), and upcoming, Remote (2025)🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Ben Hall sustainably upgrades traditional production approaches: Key Insight #1: Replacing generators with clean energy alternatives The Challenge: Film sets typically run on massive diesel generators that create significant emissions The Solution: Implementing battery technology and solar power solutions to reduce generator usage ROI: 75% of base camp operations powered by solar and battery tech instead of generators, dramatically reducing emissions and fuel costs Key Insight #2: Creating sustainable waste management systems The Challenge: Film productions generate enormous amounts of waste that typically goes straight to landfill The Solution: Implementing compostable materials for catering and partnering with composting vendors ROI: Thousands of pounds of waste diverted from landfills monthly, creating a cleaner production environment Key Insight #3: Securing leadership buy-in for sustainability initiatives The Challenge: Middle-management sustainability efforts yield "middling results" without top-down support The Solution: Educating directors and producers about how sustainability practices integrate with production needs ROI: Crew-wide adoption of green practices when leadership demonstrates commitment to sustainability goals Sustainable Soundbite "Filmmaking is the best sector in the world to be playing around with green tech. We are the industry that is supposed to challenge,inspire, and entertain. Therefore we should be the first ones to do it in a sustainable manner." – Ben Hall Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess where your current operations could substitute batteries or solar power for traditional energy sources This Quarter: Implement a comprehensive waste management program with compostable materials This Year: Build sustainability requirements into your leadership training and project planning phases Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link to episode page] 🗒️ Read the transcript . 🔗 Connect with @hall_ben_hall - Instagram Handle Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/36153115

Thomas Grinnan on Revolutionizing Waste Management with AI-Powered Technology 04/09/2025

Thomas Grinnan on Revolutionizing Waste Management with AI-Powered Technology The Green Impact Report Quick take: Packaging and sustainability expert Tom shares how AI and smart technology are transforming recycling and landfill diversion efforts in stadiums, universities, and corporate buildings – creating a more engaging path to sustainability for the next generation. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Thomas (Tom) Grinnan is a Global executive and consultant who thrives in new markets, leveraging 25+ years in the Pharmaceutical, Life Science & Packaging industries. With a strong background in sustainable packaging innovation, he's now leading DC1 as CEO, where they develop AI-powered solutions to drive recycling and reduce landfill waste. At DC1, Tom is focusing on landfill diversion through innovative technology that makes recycling more accessible, measurable, and engaging for users while providing valuable sustainability metrics for organizations. Tom began his career in strategic planning after studying French and biology at the University of Virginia. His multilingual skills (fluent in French with knowledge of Spanish, Japanese, and German) helped him develop a niche in cross-border market expansion. Throughout his career, Tom has grown businesses by 15%+ annually through strategic innovation and mentoring. Prior to joining DC1 in March 2024, he worked with major corporations like Midwest, Faco, Westrock, and Silgan, where he gained firsthand experience in sustainable manufacturing practices that reuse resources and minimize environmental impact. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Tom revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: AI-Powered Recognition Transforms Recycling The Challenge: Traditional recycling systems are confusing for users and require manual sorting, leading to contamination and reduced effectiveness The Solution: DC1's Green Scanner technology—a smart sorting kiosk equipped with advanced cameras, an Nvidia chip, and barcode scanners that use AI to instantly identify recyclable items, calculate their carbon footprint, and direct users to proper disposal without requiring changes to existing bin infrastructure ROI: Dramatic increase in recycling participation with real-time carbon avoidance metrics, transforming a confusing process into an engaging experience that can be gamified through a companion app offering points and rewards Key Insight #2: Smart Infrastructure for Sports Venues and Universities The Challenge: Large venues like stadiums struggle with proper waste sorting among thousands of attendees despite aggressive sustainability goals The Solution: Strategic placement of smart kiosks that provide immediate feedback, gamification, and rewards for proper recycling behavior ROI: Enhanced community engagement through recycling competitions and incentives, with one university implementation achieving over 700 scans and 17kg of carbon diverted with just two stations Key Insight #3: Data-Driven Sustainability for LEED Buildings The Challenge: Buildings seeking LEED certification need verifiable waste diversion metrics rather than costly building retrofits The Solution: Cloud-based system for tracking and documenting recycling efforts while providing real-time feedback to building occupants ROI: Easier achievement of LEED certification points through waste stream improvements, enhancing building value without major structural changes Sustainable Soundbite "Universities have some of the most aggressive goals I've seen in terms of landfill diversion. Rather than trying to completely take apart their building, which is difficult once you've already got it built, it's a lot easier to go and look at your waste stream, clean it up, and use technology to help you there." – Thomas Grinnan Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Explore AI tools like ChatGPT to understand basic applications that can support your sustainability initiatives This Quarter: Investigate organizations like the Green Sports Alliance to connect with like-minded sustainability professionals and technology innovators This Year: Evaluate your waste stream management systems and identify opportunities for technology integration that can improve both participation and data collection Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Tom on 📚 Explore recommended books: by Eric Ries and Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35967735

Blima Ehrentreu on Designing with Purpose: Creating Sustainable and Transformative Spaces 04/02/2025

Blima Ehrentreu on Designing with Purpose: Creating Sustainable and Transformative Spaces The Green Impact Report Quick take: Award-winning designer Blima Ehrentreu shares how thoughtful interior design creates spaces that enhance lives while minimizing environmental impact, revolutionizing healthcare experiences and community-focused projects through human-centered approaches. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion As the Founder and CEO of The Designers Group, Blima Ehrentreu combines her creativity and talent to reform the design industry. Her passion for empowering women, giving back to the community, and championing women in the workforce earned her a spot on Globest's Women of Influence in 2020 & 2022. The Designers Group's diverse project portfolio spans the residential and commercial sectors, and Inc. Magazine ranked The Designers Group no.15 among the top fastest-growing private companies in the New York Metro Area in 2021. Blima's journey began in Toronto, where she pursued a master's in interior architecture and design while simultaneously working at an architectural firm to understand the technical aspects of building construction. Inspired by watching her family's home transformation as a child, she developed a passion for the construction industry. Starting with another female designer on a few projects, she grew The Designers Group into a multi-office operation with locations in New York, Miami, and Canada. Today, the firm specializes in high-end interior spaces for commercial, residential, and healthcare portfolios throughout the US and Canada. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Blima revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Holistic Approach to Sustainability The Challenge: Traditional sustainability approaches focus narrowly on materials while overlooking broader impacts on human experience The Solution: Integrating sustainability principles that address both environmental impact AND human well-being through thoughtful design choices ROI: Spaces that enhance lives, minimize environmental footprint, and create meaningful, transformative experiences for users and communities Key Insight #2: TDG Smart Building Concept The Challenge: Technology integration in building design often lacks coordination and fails to promote long-term sustainability The Solution: The TDG Smart Building Concept that integrates technology to enhance well-being, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainability long after project completion ROI: Spaces that continue to deliver sustainability benefits throughout their lifecycle while providing enhanced user experiences through technological innovation Key Insight #3: Hospitality-Inspired Healthcare Design The Challenge: Traditional healthcare and senior living facilities feel institutional and clinical, negatively impacting patient/resident experiences The Solution: Applying hospitality design principles to healthcare settings, creating environments that feel more like hotels or resorts than institutional facilities ROI: Transformative patient and resident experiences that promote healing and well-being, improving outcomes while maintaining functionality Sustainable Soundbite "Sustainability is not just about materials, but it's also about creating spaces that enhance lives while also minimizing the environmental impact. So, we always have to understand that our actions have an impact." – Blima Ehrentreu Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate how your design approach can enhance lives beyond just material selection; consider the holistic impact of your choices This Quarter: Explore 3D visualization and AI tools that can help communicate sustainable design concepts more effectively to clients This Year: Develop a strategy for technology integration that promotes ongoing sustainability and well-being long after project completion Connect & Learn More 🗒️ Read the transcript . 🔗 Connect with Blima Ehrentreu: 🏢 Explore The Designers Group: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35967690

Nilesh Jadhav on Smart Technologies Revolutionizing Building Decarbonization 03/26/2025

Nilesh Jadhav on Smart Technologies Revolutionizing Building Decarbonization The Green Impact Report Quick take: Singapore-based sustainability expert Nilesh Jadhav shares how AI, autonomous systems, and smart technologies are transforming buildings into intelligent, grid-interactive assets that can dramatically reduce carbon emissions while improving performance. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion With over 20 years of experience in the field of clean energy and decarbonization, Nilesh Jadhav (NJ) is a passionate champion of accelerating the net-zero transition for organizations and communities. In his professional role at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, he leads the delivery of end-to-end decarbonization solutions and digital services for sustainability. He is also a certified adult educator and conducts courses in the field of energy and sustainability as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Nanyang Business School. Nilesh is also an entrepreneur, thought leader, professional trainer, and coach, with expertise in smart and sustainable built environment technologies and digital and innovation ecosystem platforms. He co-founded and served as the first CEO of BtrLyf, a spin-off company of Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore), that offers a digital built environment ecosystem platform. He also worked as a Senior Scientist and Program Director at NTU, leading the Ecocampus Sustainability testbeding initiative and the research group on Sustainable Built Environment Technologies. A chemical engineer by training, Nilesh earned his masters at Delft University before transitioning from petrochemicals to sustainability. He holds an MBA in Operations and Process Management and is a Singapore Certified Energy Manager. He published the book "Green and Smart Buildings Advanced Technology Options" in 2017 and is driven by the mission of creating innovative pathways and partnerships for achieving complete decarbonization and net-zero goals. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Nilesh revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Virtual Energy Audits Transform Building Analysis The Challenge: Traditional building energy assessments require time-consuming physical audits and often miss optimization opportunities The Solution: Data-driven virtual audits that model building performance based solely on available data, enabling rapid identification of energy conservation measures ROI: Faster, more comprehensive energy analysis that scales across entire building portfolios while providing actionable energy-saving measures Key Insight #2: Autonomous Building Management Systems The Challenge: Buildings struggle with data management and optimization across multiple systems, making consistent sustainability performance difficult The Solution: AI-powered autonomous systems that manage building performance without human intervention, continuously optimizing for sustainability goals including Net Zero ROI: Buildings that self-regulate to maintain optimal energy performance, reducing consumption by 20-30% while improving occupant comfort and grid interaction Key Insight #3: Grid-Interactive Buildings as Energy Assets The Challenge: Buildings consume 20-30% of electricity but traditionally function as passive consumers rather than active grid participants The Solution: Smart technologies enabling buildings to participate in the renewable energy ecosystem through bi-directional electricity flow, electric vehicle charging, and energy storage ROI: Buildings that function as distributed energy resources, supporting grid stability while reducing operational costs and carbon emissions Sustainable Soundbite "Buildings being more autonomous in the way they are managed, highly digitally enabled, more smarter, and with the advent of AI being able to completely be autonomous in terms of their performance management, in terms of their sustainability goals, and able to deliver on goals like Net Zero." – Nilesh Jadhav Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your building's cooling systems – the largest energy consumer in tropical climates – for optimization opportunities This Quarter: Explore how smart building technologies could enhance your existing sustainability certification efforts (like LEED or Green Mark) This Year: Develop a strategy for incorporating grid-interactive capabilities into your building portfolio, including renewable energy and energy storage Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Nilesh Jadhav: 📚 Explore Nilesh's book: "Green and Smart Buildings Advanced Technology Options" Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35858740

Dave Lemont, Former CEO at Revit, on Revolutionizing Material Selection in Sustainable Design 03/19/2025

Dave Lemont, Former CEO at Revit, on Revolutionizing Material Selection in Sustainable Design The Green Impact Report Quick take: Legendary software CEO Dave Lemont reveals how Acelab is transforming sustainable building by creating the industry's first comprehensive material decision-making platform, bringing AI-powered intelligence to material selection. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Dave Lemont brings to Acelab more than three decades of experience in scaling software companies across various industries. He has held five CEO roles and ten board member positions. Throughout his career, Lemont has launched, grown, and guided numerous software companies from inception through dramatic growth and success. He is an expert in identifying industry-changing ideas and building winning go-to-market strategies. He was CEO of Revit Technology, leading the company through its successful 2002 acquisition by Autodesk. Architecture practices currently using Acelab's platform include well-known firms such as AECOM, Gensler, and SOM. Acelab's product database boasts over 39,000 products across categories such as windows, doors, cladding, roofing, and insulation. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Dave revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: The Material Selection Workflow Gap The Challenge: Architects lack a robust workflow for material selection, often recycling old choices despite rapid innovation in sustainable materials The Solution: Acelab's comprehensive platform that organizes materials by aesthetics, performance, sustainability, certifications, and chemistry ROI: More informed material decisions that balance sustainability, performance, and cost—without adding time to the design process Key Insight #2: AI-Powered Material Research The Challenge: Individual architects can't possibly stay current with all the sustainable material innovations in the market The Solution: Acelab's AI-powered search using their "language of materials" taxonomy to find specific products that meet exact performance criteria ROI: Ability to discover innovative sustainable materials that might otherwise be overlooked, revolutionizing how materials are specified Key Insight #3: Firm Standards Libraries in the Cloud The Challenge: Architects' attempts to create material standards libraries often fail because they're difficult to maintain and update The Solution: Cloud-based firm libraries that stay current with manufacturer data and integrate with project workflows ROI: Consistent, up-to-date sustainable material selections across entire firms, making sustainability easier to implement at scale Sustainable Soundbite "Our tagline is 'make material choices that matter.' We're not going to only show materials because manufacturers pay us - we're going to return an honest search transparently—otherwise architects will not trust us. And we want to be the trusted advisor for them." – Dave Lemont Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess your current material selection process and identify where you might be recycling old specifications without evaluating newer, more sustainable options This Quarter: Explore how AI tools like Acelab could help improve your material selection process This Year: Develop a strategy to create or update your firm's sustainable material standards library Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Dave Lemont: 📷 Check out Dave's photography: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35726105

Building with Biology: Stuart Shell's Biodiversity-Centered Design Philosophy 03/12/2025

Building with Biology: Stuart Shell's Biodiversity-Centered Design Philosophy The Green Impact Report Quick take: From architect to researcher, Stuart Shell reveals how evidence and nature-inspired thinking are transforming sustainable design beyond conventional metrics to create holistic building solutions that benefit both people and the planet. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Stuart Shell works with an interdisciplinary team at BranchPattern to create building solutions that place people first. As an architect-turned-researcher, he focuses on what occupants need to be healthy and engaged. At BranchPattern, their beliefs are rooted in nature which has taught them that true sustainability sits at the intersection of human experience and environmental stewardship. Stuart Shell received a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Stuart is also certified by the Center for Active Design as a Fitwel Ambassador, Autodesk in Building Performance Analysis, the League of American Bicyclists as a League Certified Instructor, and the State of Nebraska as a Registered Architect. In addition, he is credentialed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED AP and by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) as a WELL AP. Finally, he has been certified by The Center for Health Design in EDAC. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Studart revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Evidence-Based Design Changes Everything The Challenge: Design decisions often made without proper research about actual performance outcomes The Solution: Applying rigorous research methodologies (like EDAC certification) to understand how buildings truly impact people ROI: More effective buildings that serve occupants' real needs, reducing the risk of "architectural failures" Key Insight #2: Expanding Sustainability to Include Biodiversity The Challenge: Climate-focused sustainability often neglects broader ecological impacts The Solution: Incorporating biodiversity into building projects, similar to UK's net biodiversity gain requirements ROI: Buildings that not only reduce carbon but actively support natural systems and habitat creation Key Insight #3: Salutogenesis as a Building Design Model The Challenge: Traditional "pathogenic" approaches focus only on eliminating negative factors The Solution: Designing for salutogenesis—creating environments that promote resilience and healing ROI: Spaces that provide occupants the resources to overcome challenges rather than just avoiding harm Sustainable Soundbite "We're in an industry that runs on construction and yet construction is inherently diminishing environments. The movement towards regenerative design is where I think a lot of that research has to be." -Stuart Shell Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Explore how evidence-based design methodologies could enhance your current projects This Quarter: Investigate ways to incorporate biodiversity elements into your building designs This Year: Consider how reuse strategies and circular economy principles could transform your design approach Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Stuart Shell: 📚 Book Recommendation: Check out Aaron Antonovsky's work on salutogenesis Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc ©2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35568425

Kristen Fritsch on Architecting Sustainable Futures Through Biomimicry and Beyond 03/06/2025

Kristen Fritsch on Architecting Sustainable Futures Through Biomimicry and Beyond 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. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Kristen revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Sustainability as Second Nature The Challenge: Sustainability initially treated as an add-on feature rather than an integral part of design The Solution: Embedding sustainable thinking from project inception, making it "the way we do things" ROI: When sustainable practices become standard, achieving LEED Gold or Platinum becomes more accessible and cost-effective Key Insight #2: Biomimicry as Design Inspiration The Challenge: Traditional design approaches that fail to learn from nature's 3.8 billion years of innovation The Solution: Looking to nature for problem-solving inspiration, like self-cleaning paint inspired by lily pad cell structures ROI: More efficient, elegant solutions that work in harmony with natural systems rather than against them Key Insight #3: Material Reuse at Commercial Scale The Challenge: Difficulty implementing material reuse beyond small-scale residential projects The Solution: Developing systematic approaches to reuse furniture and materials in larger commercial projects ROI: Reduced embodied carbon, cost savings for clients, and inspiring designs that tell a story of sustainability Sustainable Soundbite "The greatest thing is the thing that's already existing. So how do we do that at a commercial scale? I think we've done it at a residential scale or a small scale... But how do we break that and figure out how to do it at the commercial scale?" – Kristen Fritsch Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Take inventory of what materials in your current projects could be reused or repurposed This Quarter: Research biomimicry principles that could be applied to a current design challenge This Year: Develop a comprehensive approach to materials selection that prioritizes health, wellness, and embodied carbon reduction Connect & Learn More 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Kristen Fritsch: 📚 Book Recommendation: "Birding to Change the World" by Trish O'Kane Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35520420

Vardhan Mehta on Transforming Material Selection Through AI-Powered Design 02/26/2025

Vardhan Mehta on Transforming Material Selection Through AI-Powered Design Episode Title: Vardhan Mehta on Transforming Material Selection Through AI-Powered Design The Green Impact Report Quick take: A deep dive into how AI and smart data management are revolutionizing sustainable material selection in architecture, featuring insights from Acelab's founder on bridging the gap between sustainable ambition and implementation. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion: Vardhan Mehta is the Co-Founder & CEO of Acelab, where he leads an 85-person global team transforming how architects discover and specify sustainable building materials. A Harvard GSD graduate and former architect at Weiss Manfredi, Vardhan has turned his firsthand experience with specification challenges into a groundbreaking platform serving over 8,000 manufacturers and 125,000 products. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Vardhan shares revolutionary approaches to sustainable design: Key Insight #1: Data-Driven Sustainability The Challenge: Architects struggle to efficiently evaluate sustainability metrics across thousands of products The Solution: AI-powered platform aggregating and analyzing comprehensive product data ROI: Instant comparison of environmental impact, making sustainable choices more accessible and informed Key Insight #2: Unified Platform Revolution The Challenge: Too many disconnected tools and platforms in architectural workflow The Solution: Single source of truth for material selection and specification ROI: Streamlined process leading to better sustainable outcomes and improved project efficiency Key Insight #3: AI-Enhanced Decision Making The Challenge: Difficulty processing vast amounts of sustainability documentation and certifications The Solution: Machine learning algorithms that digest and interpret complex environmental data ROI: More informed sustainable material choices with reduced research time Sustainable Soundbite "We need to automate the documentation that an architecture firm needs to take on like the specs, the schedules, and integration of materials into their BIM files. The barrier of entry is really how much you need to know - not just one individual in the firm, but across the firm." - Vardhan Mehta Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Start building your digital material library with sustainability metrics This Quarter: Implement systematic sustainability evaluation criteria for material selection This Year: Develop comprehensive sustainability documentation processes Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Vardhan: 🗒️ Read the transcript: 📚 Recommended Book: "Selling the Wheel" - A guide to innovation and market adoption Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun. /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35421135

Breana Wheeler, BREEAM USA on Transforming Building Performance Through Science-Based Standards 02/19/2025

Breana Wheeler, BREEAM USA on Transforming Building Performance Through Science-Based Standards The Green Impact Report Quick take: An enlightening conversation with BREEAM USA's Director of Operations on how science-based building standards are reshaping real estate value and transforming sustainable performance measurement. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Breana Wheeler is the Director of Operations for BREEAM USA, where she leads the deployment of BREEAM's sustainability standards in the United States. With over 20 years of experience in environmental and sustainability risk management, she has been instrumental in adapting BREEAM's science-based methodologies for the U.S. market since 2016. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Breana shares transformative insights into building certification: Key Insight #1: Beyond Traditional Certification The Challenge: Sustainability certification has historically been used mainly for marketing. The Solution: Integration of certification into asset value assessment and risk management. ROI: Access to better financing terms and enhanced asset value through verified performance. Key Insight #2: Industrial Evolution The Challenge: Traditional rating systems struggled with triple-net lease properties. The Solution: BREEAM's unique approach to measuring owner-controlled aspects. ROI: Enabling certification for previously underserved building sectors. Key Insight #3: Performance-Based Innovation The Challenge: Need for reliable, science-based performance metrics. The Solution: Dual metrics for energy and carbon intensity with minimum standards. ROI: Clear pathways to achieving net-zero goals while maintaining building value. Sustainable Soundbite "Once you see climate risk, you can't unsee it. No bank in the world is backing off. They may be backing off of their public commitments some, but there is no way they're backing off the biggest business risk they have to asset value in real estate." - Breana Wheeler Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Learn to speak the language of finance when discussing sustainability. This Quarter: Build cross-departmental relationships to enhance project success. This Year: Develop comprehensive metrics that align with Version 7's new standards. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Breana: 🗒️ Read the transcript: 🔗 Learn more about BREEAM USA's standards and certification process Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun™ /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35209785

Colin Rohlfing, LEED Fellow Discusses Regenerative Design & Sustainable Leadership 02/12/2025

Colin Rohlfing, LEED Fellow Discusses Regenerative Design & Sustainable Leadership The Green Impact Report Quick take: A masterclass in transforming sustainable building practices into regenerative design, featuring insights from HDR's Director of Sustainable Development on pushing beyond net-zero to create net-positive impact buildings. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Colin Rohlfing serves as the Director of Sustainable Development for HDR's Global Architecture practice, where he leads a team of 20+ sustainability experts. With over 20 years of experience, Colin has been recognized on BD+C's "40 Under 40" list and is a frequent speaker at major events including TEDx and SXSW. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Colin shares revolutionary approaches to sustainable design: Key Insight #1: The Evolution Beyond Sustainability The Challenge: Traditional sustainability metrics have become watered down over the past 20-30 years. The Solution: Implementing regenerative design frameworks that target pre-industrial revolution performance metrics. ROI: Achieving net-positive impacts in energy, carbon, water, and human health. Key Insight #2: Mass Timber Revolution The Challenge: High-carbon traditional building materials and construction methods. The Solution: 75+ mass timber projects, including first-of-their-kind healthcare facilities. ROI: Reduced embodied carbon while maintaining structural performance and expanding into new building types. Key Insight #3: Electrification & Resilience The Challenge: Fossil fuel dependency in building operations. The Solution: Full building electrification with integrated resilience strategies. ROI: 99% of California projects now all-electric, with growing adoption nationwide. Sustainable Soundbite "We can't just improve slightly from what it was 30 years ago when we had ecological disasters and poor air quality. We do need to go back to pre-industrial and agricultural revolution metrics if we're truly going to figure our way out of this mess that we're in." - Colin Rohlfing Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Start tracking both operational and embodied carbon in your projects. This Quarter: Implement energy modeling with payback analysis on all projects. This Year: Develop regenerative design metrics for your practice that go beyond traditional sustainability targets. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Colin: 🗒️ Read the transcript: 🔗 Watch Colin's TEDx Talk on regenerative design at Ted.com Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun™ /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/35209825

National Carbon Manager at Skanska Mark Chen 02/05/2025

National Carbon Manager at Skanska Mark Chen Mark Chen, National Carbon Manager at Skanska, a global construction and development firm. Mark has over nine years of industry experience and has worked on a range of projects with high sustainability goals, including LEED, ILFI Living Building Challenge, and Zero Carbon certifications. Mark also brings expertise in corporate emissions reporting, corporate emissions reduction strategy, embodied carbon accounting and reduction strategy utilizing the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, and construction activity embodied carbon accounting and reduction strategy. His most recent project experience includes managing the sustainability strategy for a multi-billion-dollar campus redevelopment project, a multitude of data center projects, and many other project types across the country. Show Highlights Air quality issues in Southern California fostered a lifelong interest in sustainability and the desire to improve the built environment. Mark’s knowledge of sustainability and carbon reduction strategies in construction projects as the Leading initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive sustainability efforts as the National Carbon Manager at Skanska. Skanska's climate commitments: 70% emissions reduction by 2030, net-zero by 2045. Use of alternative clean fuels, research on electric and hydrogen-powered equipment. Focus on embodied carbon in construction Tracking emissions across projects, with varying levels based on client requirements. Providing embodied carbon assessments for structural materials on all projects using EC3 tools. Decarbonization in construction material manufacturing, innovation in electric and hydrogen equipment, digital footprint concerns Use of alternative clean fuels, research on electric and hydrogen-powered equipment. "Becoming comfortable being uncomfortable and realizing that putting yourself in those uncomfortable positions and situations - while in the moment doesn't feel great - is where the most growth comes from." -Mark Chen 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 /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/34994675

Working Toward Climate-Positive Architecture with Allison Bernett 01/29/2025

Working Toward Climate-Positive Architecture with Allison Bernett With an extensive background in sustainable architecture, Allison Bernett worked to reverse climate change and improve quality of life through innovative design. Allison Bernett pursued a diverse career spanning architecture, sustainable design, and biology, reflecting her belief that the most effective solutions to the climate crisis emerge from integrating the natural and built environments. Her expertise includes regenerative design, design for manufacturing and assembly, whole life carbon analysis, building performance simulation, and health and wellness strategies. As the founder of Vireo Design & Strategy, she leveraged this expertise to develop climate-positive solutions for her clients. Previously, Allison worked as the Sustainability Manager at the modular housing company Assembly OSM, where she guided designs through Passive House and WELL compliance. She also contributed to pioneering sustainability projects and research at Terrapin Bright Green, such as Factory as a Forest. Allison is a published author on early design building simulation and a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC). She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and biology from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.Arch degree from Cornell University. Through design and technology informed by the natural world, She believes that we can and must transform the built environment to support ecosystems, reverse climate change, and foster thriving communities. Show Highlights Advocated for Passive House design at Assembly OSM Developed ecological performance metrics for factories to integrate biological principles into factory design, enhancing sustainability and ecological impact. Allison started Vireo Design & Strategy to focus on diverse projects aimed at achieving a climate-positive future. Focuses on driving towards a climate positive future by going beyond net-zero to regenerative design, Emphasizes the importance of Passive House principles Highlights the significance of WELL certification for creating healthful spaces Stresses the need to consider both energy/carbon and human factors in design "Be open to new opportunities that may not seem like a perfect fit with your plan... especially in the sustainable design field. It's evolving so fast, so rapidly. There are new jobs and new roles and new specialties and needs coming out every year." 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 /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/34994605

Regional Sustainability Manager at Turner Construction - Mike Bahr 01/22/2025

Regional Sustainability Manager at Turner Construction - Mike Bahr 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 /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/34924110

AI in MEP Design with the CEO of Augmenta Francesco Iorio 01/15/2025

AI in MEP Design with the CEO of Augmenta Francesco Iorio Francesco Iorio is the CEO of Augmenta, leading a team focused on AI, computational science, and user-centered design to revolutionize construction. The Augmenta Construction Platform uses generative AI to transform building design and construction, partnering with forward-thinking AEC companies like Interstates, Lighthouse Electric, and Miller Electric Company to boost productivity and optimize their electrical design process. An Innovation Specialist, Research Scientist/Leader, Technical Manager and Software Architect, with a constant drive for innovation, business acumen and the ability to build and nurture extremely high-performing teams, together with excellent software development and project management skills. Proven experience and a track record of innovation in multiple fields, with considerable technical and business impact.Expert knowledge of software architecture, strategic innovation, high performance systems, machine learning, multi-threaded/multi-processor/distributed computing scalability issues, low-level systems performance optimization, signal processing, 3D computer graphics, low-latency and real-time programming and principles. Expertise in designing and leveraging computing solutions ranging between small, low-power embedded systems, hybrid custom accelerators and GPUs, large-scale cloud-based software and supercomputers with several thousands of processors, and from fundamental research and custom software prototyping to customer-facing shipping products. Initiation of and contributions to business development activities, client-facing strategic innovation sessions and presentations, academic partnerships and M&A activities. Invited speaker and panelist at multiple high-profile scientific and engineering venues.Several awarded patents and numerous scientific publications in the field of computer science. Show Highlights Augmenta’s innovative approach to automating building design to boost efficiency, minimize waste, and promote sustainability. Leverage artificial intelligence to automate and optimize building design processes, particularly in the construction industry. Reduce material waste and improve compliance with building codes through intelligent design solutions. Target customers: specialty subcontractors in electrical trades and engineering firms The Generative Design research program focuses on leveraging computational power to create optimized building designs. First building constructed using Augmenta's AI: public elementary school in rural Michigan. AI system trained on synthetically generated data and real-world projects. Collaboration and assembling diverse teams as key to success. “I have a virtue that I love to collaborate with people. Like for me, collaboration and surrounding myself with people who are even smarter and kinder than me is what I actually enjoy the most." - Francesco Iorio 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 /episode/index/show/gbespodcast/id/34859690

The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

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