Next week, on March 9-10, the 27th annual GLOBALCON Expo will be held in Boston's Hynes Convention Center! Along with this year's expo will be a conference, seminars, and workshops that allow attendees to discover new products, techniques, solutions and services, and network with industry professionals.
USGBC MA has obtained free tickets to the Expo for any of our Members that wish to attend, and we also have a handful of remaining discounted tickets to the full conference for a special rate of $595 (which is a $300 discount). This package would include: admission to the multitrack conference sessions, a pass to attend the exposition, a copy of the Show Proceedings, as well as luncheons in the exhibit hall.
Lastly, if you plan on attending the exposition, make sure to stop by our booth! We are also looking for volunteers to man the booth if anybody is interested. Here is more info about the event, taken from the website:
WHY GLOBALCON
Decision makers from business, industry and government must now seek integrated energy solutions — solutions which assure both a secure and affordable energy supply to meet today's and tomorrow's needs, and effective management of energy and overall operational costs. The GLOBALCON Expo will emphasize four critical areas of leading edge technology and related services:
✓ Energy Management, HVAC and Smart Building Systems
✓ Renewables, Alternative Energy and Onsite Generation
✓ Lighting Efficiency and Integrated Energy Solutions
✓ Plant and Facilities Management
Presented By…
GLOBALCON 2016, presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, is designed specifically to facilitate those seeking to expand their knowledge of fast-moving developments in the energy field, explore promising new technologies, compare energy supply options, and learn about innovative and cost-conscious project implementation strategies.
Hosted By…
National Grid, Platinum Sponsoring Partner to USGBC MA, is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to customers and communities across Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. They work closely across the energy industry, connecting tradespersons, contractors, regulators, and energy supply representatives to deliver quality services to their customers.
We are attending an event next month that we want to share with all our members.. the 4th Annual Massachusetts Water Forum, hosted by Foundation for a Green Future. This event is on Tuesday, March 22nd, in honor of World Water day. The forum will focus on methods to rethink water management as the Commonwealth prepares for a changing climate. Since we are in Boston, a coastal urban community, water management and climate change are both timely topics, so don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn how we can more efficient and prepared!
More about the Event:
The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) will present a game-changing plan to transform the way we manage water in our urban and suburban spaces. The forum will encourage all participants to pose questions, add their insights, and think about new designs, systems and resource uses.
Participants may join for one or more segment of this program.
Where: BSA Space, 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA
4th Annual Massachusetts Water Forum Program
1:00 pm Secretary Matthew Beaton will open the 4th Annual Water Forum
1:10 pm Brief greeting by Youth Representatives from the morning's Youth Summit led by Green Schools
1:15 pm Panel Discussion: Transforming Our Water and Energy Systems
3:00 pm Panel Discussion ends. Short coffee break.
3:15 pm Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1: Infrastructure for a Livable Future
Breakout Session 2: Design and Legislation
Breakout Session 3: Resilient Water Systems
5:00 pm Breakout Sessions end.
5:30 pm Keynote speaker, Wenonah Hauter and Cocktail Reception.
The 4th Annual Massachusetts Water Forum is brought to you thanks to the following partners:
The Office of Representative Chris Walsh
Boston Society of Architects
Charles River Watershed Association
City of Boston
MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority)
Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC)
Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
Green Schools
Forum Participants:
Foundation for a Green Future has the privilege of welcoming the Commonwealth's Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew Beaton. Representative Chris Walsh of the 6th Middlesex District will serve as Moderator. Panelists include:
Bob Zimmerman, Executive Director of Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)– Bob will present a game changing way of treating water in our cities and towns which will be set up through CWERCs – Community Water and Energy Resource Centers. The Forum continues into two breakout sessions. The first will delve more deeply into the establishment of CWERCs and the second will look at ways our legislators and designers can support this transformative process.
Austin Blackmon, City of Boston's Chief of Energy,Environment and Open Space
Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
Bradley Campbell, Executive Director, Conservation Law Foundation
Carter Craft, Sr Economic Officer|Water and Resilience, Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York
Charlie Jewell, Director of Planning and Sustainability, Boston Water and Sewer Commission
Breakout Session 2: Design and Legislation
Led by Senator Jamie Eldridge of the 5th Middleesex and Worcester District and Representative Carolyn Dykema of the 8th MIddlesex District
Breakout Session 3: Resilient Water Systems
Led by Julie Conroy, Senior Environmental Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
GUEST KEYNOTE SPEAKER from Washington,DC: “Water and Energy,” Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, author of Frackopoly
WHEN
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM
WHERE
I – 290 Congress Street. #200. Boston, MA 02210
This March, in just a few weeks, the USGBC MA chapter will be hosting a special COP21 Paris Climate Talks Unconference to revisit these important international conversations.
This is a unique opportunity to discuss the historic 2015 United Nations Congress of the Parties (COP21), held this past December in Paris, France. The provisions and commitments reached in the agreement have global implications for sustainability, climate change, and green building, and certainly warrant a closer examination, extensive analysis, and more discussion.
For this reason, we have put together a half-day event featuring a community of experts from a variety of organzations and firms. Panelists who attended the Paris climate talks will be present, with break-out groups led by local issue experts.
Michael Green, Climate Action Business Association
Christopher Mackey, Payette
Professor John Sterman, MIT System Dynamics Group
Our unConference Discussion Leaders:
Josh Craft, Environmental League of Massachusetts
Henrietta Davis, former Mayor of the City of Cambridge
Elizabeth Saunders, Clean Water Action
More about the Event:
More than 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are buildings-related, and emissions could double by 2050 if we carry on business as usual. Inaction increases risks and vulnerability of countries, regions and local communities from climate change. Yet:
The buildings sector offers one of the most cost-effective and economically beneficial paths for reducing energy demand and associated emissions while at the same time supporting adaptation and resilience to climate change.
Many low-energy, renewable and deep- renovation solutions are available. Proven policy, finance and technology actions exist.
The economic, health, and social benefits of sustainable buildings are significant. Buildings provide shelter, places to live, work, learn and socialize, directly affecting our daily lives.
Buildings are long-term ventures. Today’s new buildings are tomorrow’s existing stock. Failure to act now will lock in growth in GHG emissions for decades.
Here is how the morning will pan out:
8:30 – 9 Registration and networking
9 – 9:15 Keynote and opening
9:15 – 10:30 Breakout (unconference)
10:30 – 10:40 Break + Networking
10:40 – 12:00 Paris Panel with questions from audience
Both the panel and breakout sessions will focus on the following topics and will provide perspectives from various professional backgrounds:
Value Chain Transformation: is the building sector capable of massive deployment of low emitting buildings and deep renovations? How will building sector stakeholders better work together to scale up solutions adapted to local circumstances?
Bridging the investment gap: how ready is the finance sector to increase investment in building efficiency? How will we address the critical need to scale up the public and private financing of EE and sustainable buildings. We will explore how buildings and EE can contribute to realizing MA's carbon goals and how the financial sector can help support that.
Public Policies: what is the readiness to implement long term action plans to address the key role of local jurisdictions to organize and facilitate integrated policy packages and collaborative approaches that shift to a low carbon and resilient built environment.
Building rating & reporting systems: how do they support the COP21 momentum?
Please join us as a community of advocates and practitioners as we explore how to leverage the public awareness and policy momentum generated by COP21 to drive policy gains in Massachusetts.
We have a special cameo blog post from Caroline Higley, a Tufts University student, and member of the Tufts Energy Group. Here is her take on our Policy Podium for net metering that we hosted on 2/25. Take it away, Caroline!
In the past five months, the Massachusetts solar industry arrived at a critical crossroads, as two policies reached capacity. With the net metering caps being reached in August 2015, and the SREC-II large-generation program being filled in late February 2016, the pressue is on for state legislators to reach a compromise before development grinds to a halt. Over 15,100 individuals are employed in the Massachusetts solar industry, and approximately $800 million was invested in Massachusetts solar installations in 2014. These figures indicate the importance of an immediate compromise to maintain and support the solar energy economy in Massachusetts (“Massachusetts Solar.” Solar Energy Industries Association, 2015. Web. 28 Feb.)
This week, the U.S. Green Building Council – Massachusetts Chapter (USGBC MA), hosted a “Policy Podium” event to discuss the status of the legislative gridlock on net metering and solutions to move forward. Panelists included four professionals: David Colton, Easton Town Administrator; Charles Harak, National Consumer Law, Tim Roughan, National Grid; and Matt Shortsleeve, Solect Energy. Overall, these individuals were directed to answer two questions: “What does the MA Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council need to know to be effective advocates for net metering?” and “What is one strategy USGBC MA can adopt to promote a compromise?”
Panelists first gave an overview of the factors affecting legislative compromise. Conversations on Beacon Hill seek to address priorities in order of urgency, which include lifting the net metering caps while determining the future structure of net metering and incentives. A dynamic conversation followed, in which panelists discussed: the solar incentives program, the distribution of costs to support solar, project sizes, the justification to change legislative terms and eliminate certainty for grandfathered projects, the rates at which projects are compensated, the impacts to the grid, and the value of increased access to solar via community solar. Each panelist advocated for different combinations of the solutions, indicative of their individual experiences.
Panelists were encouraged to answer the two guiding questions throughout the debate. As agreed upon by panelists, the ultimate strategy for the USGBC MA is to advocate for the completion of a value of solar study. Panelists reinforced that the costs of solar are unclear, the benefits of solar are unrecognized, and that legislators will need hard facts and figures to reach a decision.
A comprehensive study might make a decision more conspicuous, but I would argue that we already know the value of solar. Several renewable energy analyses have been executed in states throughout the country, and cite the solar industry’s job creation, the elimination of emissions, improved public health, local independence, alleviation at peak demand, price stability, and resiliency as few of many positive externalities. These studies have quantified cost benefits of solar, and can be applied in a framework to Massachusetts; however, political interests here have deterred this from happening.
Rather than delay action by advocating for a study, I would call forth Massachusetts residents to focus on the bigger picture. As active citizens looking to our futures, our goals should include a move away from fossil fuels to meet the Green Communities Act standards and to set a national precedent following the Paris Accord. As clean energy leaders, we must learn from the mistakes that other states have made (ex. Nevada’s decision to forestall their solar industry), while learning from the successes of other states (ex. Rhode Island’s program to promote home efficiency updates prior to solar installation). Widespread solar growth can only be a positive trend, and residents must remember the values upon which we pride ourselves in this state. When these sentiments are expressed to, and then mirrored by, our legislators, a decision might come a little easier.
Our next Policy Podium will be an evening with Senator Benjamin Downing and solar industry professionals, where we will discuss the future of solar energy and green jobs in Massachusetts. Don't miss out! Monday, March 14th, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, 50 Milk St, 17th floor, “Milky Way” conference room, Boston, MA, 02109. Register now!
This morning marked the inaugural Policy Podium event, with the focus being on net metering in Massachusetts. We had 90 minutes of dynamic and informative discussions, led by our four panelists:
David Colton (Town Administrator of Easton)
Charles Harak (National Consumer Law Center)
Tim Roughan (National Grid)
Matt Shortsleeve (Solect Energy)
Special thanks go out to USGBC MA Advocacy Committee member David Bliss for bringing these four panelists together.
The intention of this Policy Podium was to answer one question: What can the USGBC MA Chapter do to support net metering and solar energy development in Massachusetts? When one aspect of net metering is being discussed, it opens up two cans of worms, so kudos go to our Executive Director, Grey Lee, for keeping the conversations on-track and ensuring audience participation. While the discussions between panelists and audience members were empassioned, everyone attending was there to listen and learn. This was an important step in each side coming to the table to hear the other out.
The main takeaway for the Chapter was to support raising or eliminating the net metering caps, or solar development will be dead in the water. However, short-term cap increases are not the solution. We must build legislation that grows with solar development, or we will run into this problem every few years.
However, there were many other takeaways from these discussions:
Solar load management through grid modernization will be key to the future of solar. When the grid is able to give utilities the full amount of details, this will result in making solar more cost-effective.
Grid modernization, including virtual net metering and community solar, must be undertaken. Tim Roughan stressed that grid modernization must come before, not after, solar development.
Transparency in the financial models of solar developers is needed; if installation costs are going down, is the money going to the right place?
A comprehensive study for the value of solar energy must be undertaken, and not just for solar users. How can solar energy benefit the NON-solar user (even through indirect means, such as cleaner air)?
The next SREC incentive program must place a fair price on solar, and should include different classes of solar customers to determine varying levels of value.
We must ask the legislature why there is no transparency in the politics of solar, and question them on their priorities for energy generation, distribution, and net metering pricing.
Highlight the challenges facing building-level solar (structural restrictions, shading, mixed-use buildings), and give the solutions.
Compromises must be made by utilities AND solar developers & users; utilties should pay-out more for solar generation, while solar users & developers should pay their fair share in supporting grid modernization.
This event was a resounding success, and we are already looking forward to our next Policy Podium with Senator Benjamin Downing, one of the core legislators in creating a future for renewable energy in Massachusetts.
Special thanks to Celis Brisbin who served as the clerk of the works for this event, which was actually on his birthday! Yay Celis!
Join us for a presentation on the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Survey-what it is, how it works and where it’s going-presented by Laura Barnatt, of TA Realty, and our Existing Buildings Committee.
The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark was created in 2009 by a team of economists and statisticians from the Netherlands. Co-founded by Nils Kok at the University of Maastricht, GRESB was developed as a way for portfolio managers to more complexly assess real estate assets to uncover greater value for owners.
GRESB is a process of assessment which enables the multi-faceted aspects of property to be tracked over time in greater detail than has ever been done before. Through the GRESB process, an asset is rated in a new way, and the management entity is evaluated in a new way, which creates useful data about the underlying asset. With this data, and with the identification of component processes, asset managers can see into real estate and how non-financial aspects affect their financial performance.
The 2015 survey data highlights global trends and attempts to explain their impact on investors, GRESB survey participants, and the green building market. The 707 Participants–whose institutional capital represents $2.3 trillion of property value–have made many great strides in sustainability since 2014. The in-depth survey focuses on 7 thematic targets. This survey impressively revealed an average improvement from GRESB participants in each category:
Management: 96% have a specific person with responsibility for implementing sustainability objectives Disclosure & Assurance: 92% report having specific sustainability objectives Tenant & Community Engagement: 60% now have best-practice lease clauses Health and Well-Being: 84% increase in new construction measures to support health and well-being Climate Risk & Resilience: -3.04% reduction in GHG emissions Water & Waste: -1.65% decrease in water use Energy: -2.87% reduction in energy consumption
This event will be on March 15th, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM at 50 Milk St. in the “Milky Way” room on the 15th floor. Don't miss out, register now!
On March 9-10, the 27th annual GLOBALCON Expo will be held in Boston's Hynes Convention Center! Along with this year's expo will be a conference, seminars, and workshops that allow attendees to discover new products, techniques, solutions and services, and network with industry professionals.
USGBC MA has obtained free tickets to the Expo for any of our Members that wish to attend, and we also have a handful of remaining discounted tickets to the full conference for a special rate of $595 (which is a $300 discount). This package would include: admission to the multitrack conference sessions, a pass to attend the exposition, a copy of the Show Proceedings, as well as luncheons in the exhibit hall.
Lastly, if you plan on attending the exposition, make sure to stop by our booth! We are also looking for volunteers to man the booth if anybody is interested. Here is more info about the event, taken from the website:
WHY GLOBALCON
Decision makers from business, industry and government must now seek integrated energy solutions — solutions which assure both a secure and affordable energy supply to meet today's and tomorrow's needs, and effective management of energy and overall operational costs. The GLOBALCON Expo will emphasize four critical areas of leading edge technology and related services:
✓ Energy Management, HVAC and Smart Building Systems
✓ Renewables, Alternative Energy and Onsite Generation
✓ Lighting Efficiency and Integrated Energy Solutions
✓ Plant and Facilities Management
Presented By…
GLOBALCON 2016, presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, is designed specifically to facilitate those seeking to expand their knowledge of fast-moving developments in the energy field, explore promising new technologies, compare energy supply options, and learn about innovative and cost-conscious project implementation strategies.
Hosted By…
National Grid, Platinum Sponsoring Partner to USGBC MA, is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to customers and communities across Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. They work closely across the energy industry, connecting tradespersons, contractors, regulators, and energy supply representatives to deliver quality services to their customers.
One of our special Silver Sponsoring Partners is Nitsch Engineering. We have benefitted from the presence of Sandy Brock, partner at Nistch and Chief Engineer, as a Director on our Board for many years. Other staff including Jared Gentilucci have been instrumental in managing our efforts in Central Massachusetts, where we have used Nitsch's offices in Worcester to hold events and educational sessions.
Nitsch Engineering delivers client-focused, creative, cost-effective, and sustainable project solutions to its building/site development and infrastructure clients. Nitsch specializes in providing civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, structural engineering, green infrastructure, planning, and GIS services. Since 1989, Nitsch has worked with academic clients, developers, corporate and institutional owners, public agencies, architects, and other design professionals on major private development and public infrastructure projects in 18 states and five countries.
The group is committed to addressing the issues of climate change and resiliency. They understand that each community threatened by climate change faces a unique situation that requires tailored solutions: one-size-fits-all solutions are not an option. Green infrastructure is an integral part of addressing climate change concerns. Combining landscape beautification with stormwater management produces a number of important benefits that are highly adaptable to various climates.
For example, an increase in vegetation lowers urban heat island effects and increases the natural evaporative cooling abilities of plants. Further, these softscapes act as natural “sponges” to absorb increased precipitation expected in humid climates, reducing the strain on aging infrastructure caused by every day rainfall while buffering the impacts of damaging weather to protect development and investment. In recognition of such benefits, these techniques are increasingly being utilized in major cities including Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City, and Boston – and Nitsch Engineering has been actively involved in designing resilient projects in each of these areas.
Built by Chapter Sponsoring Partner, Columbia Construction Company, this facility was designed by an integrated design team of passionate green builders.
The LEED Platinum Net-Zero Energy Building, one of the Commonwealth's first, forecasts exceptional energy reduction of 50%. The building is oriented to optimize energy production from the 290 kW rooftop photovoltaic array and minimize heating and cooling energy use. The envelope includes structural insulated panels and triple-glazed windows. The high performance mechanical system includes radiant heating and cooling, direct outside air system, mechanically assisted natural ventilation, energy recovery units, LED lighting and a closed-loop geothermal ground source heat pump system, all of which is tracked with real-time building energy management system.
The three-story 45,000 SF Net-Zero headquarters houses over 120 Mass Wildlife biologists and environmental reviewers, and is shared by the information and education program staff as well. It is a showcase for the conservation mission of the agency. The Office of Fishing and Boating Access maintain over 275 fishing and boating public access facilities statewide. Flexible by design, program areas include offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, a library, GIS laboratory, and a wet lab for research. This Net Zero Energy Building is open to the public year-round and is a venue for environmental education.
Read more about Columbia Construction hereand in our blog!
Join us at BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Trade Show, March 8-10 at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston MA. It's going to be awesome!
We will be right there on the trade show floor – let us know if you'd like to volunteer to share the good news of the USGBC MA Chapter to conference attendees.
The BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Trade Show is the Northeast's premier gathering for sustainable design, green building, and renewable energy professionals. Produced by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), the annual event attracts more than 3,500 practitioners working together to advance the adoption of sustainable energy practices in the built environment. Attendees span all sectors of the building industry, ensuring that the people you meet and the knowledge you gain will expand your network and strengthen your business. Conference sessions are rigorous, relevant, and rooted in whole-systems thinking. The trade show hosts companies with cutting edge products and services. Greenwashing is left at the door. Sound good? Join us!
Annie is widely regarded within the marketplace as an expert in third-party verification and sustainable program development. She previously held positions like Vice President of Certification Services at GreenCircle Certified, LLC until starting her own independent organization in 2017. She sits as a technical advisor to: the US Green Building Council’s Materials and Resources TAG, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Clean Production Action and the GreenScreen Program, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, the ASTM E 60 Committee, and the Collaborative for High Performing Schools National Technical Committee.
LAUREN HILDEBRAND
Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
Lauren Hildebrand is a Sustainability Director at SWA. Her work focuses on sustainable and high performance residential and commercial building design, construction, renovation, and operation. Ms. Hildebrand’s expertise includes: sustainable design integration; indoor air quality and energy performance testing; and implementing project certification for both commercial and residential programs, such as LEED®, ENERGY STAR®, NYSERDA, NJ Clean Energy, and Enterprise Green Communities. Awards presented to her clients include the 2013 USGBC NJ Urban Green Project Award. Ms. Hildebrand works as a LEED® for Homes Green Rater and verifies implementation of the LEED® for Homes criteria. She is an integral part of the initial strategic planning sessions and workshops with builders, architects, and homeowners based on the LEED for Homes program. She also partners with and implements criteria for Enterprise Green Communities (EGCC), NYSERDA’s Multi-Family Performance Program, and the ENERGY STAR® Multi-Family High-Rise Program Certification. Ms. Hildebrand also has experience with a variety of commercial and mixed use projects, including LEED® for New Construction, Commercial Interior, Core and Shell, and Schools. In addition to her project experience and program guidance, Ms. Hildebrand manages classroom training and curriculum development for architects, owners, developers and building management staff on green and high performance building design strategies, cost effective building system operation, and energy-saving maintenance practices.
MICHAEL GRYNIUK
PE | Associate, LeMessurier
Michael Gryniuk, PE is a Structural Engineer at LeMessurier in Boston. As the leader of LeMessurier’s Sustainability practice, he is responsible for strategy, project consulting, and education for LeMessurier. He is currently on the Steering Committee of Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Sustainability Committee of ASCE and currently serves as Chair of the Structural Engineers (SE 2050) Commitment Program Working Group whose aim to establish a national commitment program for structural engineers for the purpose of achieving net zero embodied carbon in structural systems by 2050. Mike taught for many years at the Boston Architectural College. His current projects include the 2 million square foot Hub on Causeway development as well as upcoming developments of Kenmore Square. Mike has also led several other projects for institutions including Boston College, Holy Cross, RISD and UNH. Mike attended Syracuse University and Tufts University.
ANNE PECK
Vice President, AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group
As Vice President in AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group, Ms. Peck is responsible for physical property inspections, engineering and mechanical system evaluations and environmental audits on potential investments for all commercial property types. She is also responsible for the review and analysis of energy audits and LEED gap analysis with respect to acquisitions, and oversees the scope and results of third-party due diligence reports on property acquisitions. For development projects, Ms. Peck is responsible for the evaluation of construction documents to assess the constructability and recommend sustainable products and practices. She is responsible for overseeing the construction of new development projects from AEW’s initial involvement through closeout and warranty completions. Ms. Peck assists asset managers with large capital improvement projects or physical problems at various properties. In addition, Ms. Peck Co-Chairs AEW’s Sustainability Committee and provides guidance and assistance with most sustainability initiatives with the objective of reducing operating costs, improving indoor air quality and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. She sits on the GRESB Real Estate Benchmark Committee in North America and assists with all sustainability reporting for AEW. Ms. Peck is a licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor with LEED AP Certification, and passed her FE exam towards a mechanical engineer/registered professional engineering license.
ANDREA ALAOWNIS
Interior Designer, Jacobs, Boston
Andrea Alaownis is an Interior Designer with the Jacobs, Boston, MA office. After graduating from Radford University, she has concentrated on commercial projects through all phases of design and construction. As a WELL Accredited Professional, she participated in assisting the Jacobs Boston office to achieve WELL V1 Gold, Fitwel 3 Stars, and LEED V4 Gold certifications and continues to educate the design community and clients on wellness through design.
KIMBERLY LEWIS
Senior Vice President, Market Transformation and Development U.S. Green Building Council
As Senior Vice President for Market Transformation and Development in North America, Kimberly Lewis knows better than anyone that market transformation begins with community. Kimberly is laser focused on diversity, inclusion, equity and advancing transparency and excellence. By honing our community’s focus on collaborative impact, Kimberly incorporates people‐centric strategies to provide the organization and movement with a strong foundation of stakeholder based support.
Kimberly’s efforts encourage innovation in the market and challenge all of our community members to go above and beyond what was possible yesterday, to define the built environment of tomorrow. Kimberly knows that when we celebrate our leaders and advocate for growth across sectors, regions, and programs, taking care to bring our best to underserved populations and communities, we achieve real and lasting market transformation of the highest order.
To this end, Kimberly directs all of USGBC’s local communities, volunteers, and emerging professionals around the world, delivering on the USGBC mission to improve the quality of life for all through more sustainable cities and communities worldwide.
Kimberly was the founder of the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which is now globally represented in five international markets. She has served on the advisory boards of Starwood Hotels, Marriott International Hotels and the convention and visitors bureaus in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Denver. She is a member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), where she has served on the CSR task force.
Kimberly serves on the board of directors for Groundswell and is the former chair of the board of trustees of the Green Building Foundation. Committed to healthy communities and equitable access to green buildings regardless of income level, Kimberly has been recognized with numerous awards. In April 2011, Kimberly received prestigious recognition as the White House Champion of Change for Clean Energy. She was also named Glamour Magazine 70th Anniversary 70 Women Leaders to Know in Sustainability. Most recently Kimberly was recognized with GB&D Magazine’s 2018 Women in Sustainability Leadership Award.
JIM STANISLASKI
AIA LEED AP BD+C | Senior Associate, Gensler Boston
Jim Stanislaski, AIA LEED AP BD+C is an Architect at Gensler in Boston. As co-leader of Gensler’s northeast region Design Resilience practice, he is responsible for strategy, project consulting, and education for over 1,000 staff in four offices. He is currently a Director on the Board of USGBC MA and a member of the Architecture Boston Magazine Editorial Board. Jim is a former President of AIA MA and has served on two National Academies research panels for renewable energy and energy efficiency at airports. As a past co-chair of the Boston Society of Architects Committee on the Environment (BSA/COTE), Jim led the AIA 2030 Professional Series at the BSA, serving to educate local designers on strategies to achieve net positive energy goals for buildings. Jim has also testified before state and city government committees to advocate for environmental legislation and regulation. Jim started his career as a US Air Force officer and attended Syracuse University.
CARLIE BULLOCK-JONES
LEED Fellow, WELL AP | Founder and Principal, Ecoworks Studio
Carlie Bullock-Jones, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, is the founder and managing Principal of Ecoworks Studio and has dedicated her entire career to bringing about a greener, healthier built environment. As a nationally known expert in sustainability, Carlie has facilitated on numerous award-winning projects. With a passion for green sports, Carlie has spearheaded LEED certification efforts for several stadiums, arenas, and training facilities for the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS and higher education projects. Most notably, Carlie was the LEED consultant for the new home of the Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes-Benz stadium, which achieved the highest LEED Platinum score of any sports facility in the world.
As a LEED Faculty mentor for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the first external WELL Faculty for the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), Carlie is a highly sought-after speaker and writer for national events and publications. She has been extensively involved in the development of LEED standards over the years, serving as a Subject Matter Expert for USGBC and GBCI, assisting in course curriculum, exam development and reference guide creation. In 2012, Carlie was inducted by USGBC as a LEED Fellow, one of 77 in the world at that time. Carlie is also one of the first WELL Accredited Professionals on the planet, demonstrating expertise and extensive knowledge of human health and wellness in the built environment. As an early adopter of the WELL Building Standard, Carlie facilitated WELL certification efforts for the 27th, 37th and 100th WELL certified projects in the world (Silver, Gold and Platinum respectively). Most recently, Carlie was the recipient of the 2018 Inaugural IWBI WELL Leadership Recognition Award.
KOMAL KOTWAL
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Komal Kotwal is a Sustainable Design Leader and Project Manager at HOK with over 13 years of experience. Komal has led sustainable design and LEED Certification efforts for over 2M square feet including 1+M sf. of LEED Platinum projects and two Net-Zero projects. With the intent of bringing the human connection to sustainability, Komal currently focuses on intentional design to address human behavior and foster physical, mental, and emotional health. As a WELL AP, Komal is one of HOK’s leads in promoting and practicing health and wellness in architecture. Komal has served on the AIA Houston Chapter’s Board of Directors, Texas USGBC Regional Council and on USGBC’s Greenbuild Program Committee among others. A strong advocate for equity and inclusivity, Komal serves on HOK’s firm-wide Diversity Advisory Council and is a recent addition to HOK’s Management Board.
Speaking Engagements
TSA Convention 2016: Design for Healthy & Livable Communities
Gulf Coast Green Conference 2015: Integrating LEED ND Communities
CSI Chapter Annual Meeting 2014 : 2030 Commitment and how to get there
American Society of Indian Engineers ( ASIE) 2016: Getting to LEED Platinum
University of Houston, 2018: Staying Ahead of the Commercial Energy Code
Texas A&M University, 2016: Integrating Sustainability: A path to Net-zero
ANITA SNADER
LEED AP BD+C | Environmental Sustainability Manager, Armstrong World Industries
Anita Snader is the Environmental Sustainability Manager of Armstrong World Industries in Lancaster, PA. She manages the sustainability strategy for Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Solutions, and serves as an internal environmental advocate, and environmental spokesperson. She is a LEED accredited professional, and well versed in the LEED rating systems and USGBC initiatives. As co-chair of Armstrong’s LEED EB team, she led the corporation to a LEED EB Platinum for their Headquarters building in Lancaster, PA in June 2007, and served on the team obtaining LEED EB recertification in 2014.
Recently, Anita has led Armstrong in a new initiative focusing on the Health and Wellbeing of occupants called Better Spaces. She drives the material health and transparency efforts, and created and manages Armstrong’s commitment through our SUSTAIN™ portfolio of high performance ceiling systems.
Anita joined Armstrong in 1997. Her experience is in Marketing, Research, Product Development and Customer Satisfaction both in the consumer goods, hospitality, building products and advertising industries. Her passion centers in developing strategies for reducing our impact on the environment through product and process innovation, and is always looking at opportunities to share knowledge and innovation with others.
Speaking Engagements: • Mindful Materials Series (2018 – NYC, Chicago)
• USGBC Central PA – 2017 – Green Con – Healthier Buildings
• USGBC GreenBuild – 2016 – Los Angeles, CA – LEEDv4 and Material transparency
• Living Future – Seattle 2016 – Declare and Living Building Challenge
• Costa Rica Green Building Congress – May 2015 – Materials and LEEDv4
• Canada Green Building Conference – June 2015 – Panel on Material Transparency
• USGBC GreenBuild – 2014 New Orleans, PA – two sessions
• State of Green Business – 2011
• PA Green Growth Partnerships, Pittsburgh, PA 2009
• PennTap, Green Workshop, Harrisburg, PA 2008
• Central PA USGBC Chapter Construction Waste Workshop, 2008
• LEED for Existing Building Workshop, Lancaster, PA, November 2007
• NeoCon East, Green Building Workshop, Baltimore, MD, October 2007
• ICA International Conference – Madrid- Acoustics and Green Building, September 2007
• ASHRAE ‘007 Conference – Long Beach, CA – Acoustics and Green Building, May 2007
• GreenBuild 2006 – Got LCA?, November 2006
• Local Green Building Council of PA –LEED for Schools Workshop, October 2006
• Various Recycling Summits throughout the nation
• Customer and sales presentations each month
Tune in:
Listen to a podcast interview with Anita Snader here.
DR. JOSEPH ALLEN
Assistant Professor of Exposure Science | Director of the Healthy Buildings program
Dr. Allen researches community and occupational exposures and health risks related to a broad range of chemical, biological, physical and radiological stressors. In particular, he focuses on the built environment, emissions from building materials and consumer products, and building system performance, each of which has the potential for both positive and negative impacts on human health, well-being and productivity. He is the Director of the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health and faculty director of the Harvard Sensors for Health research group. Dr. Allen teaches a class on the Impact of Buildings on Human Health, and is the faculty advisor for a new initiative out of Harvard’s Office for Sustainability – the Harvard Healthier Building Materials Academy.
HEATHER HENRIKSEN
Managing Director, Harvard University Office for Sustainability
Heather Henriksen has served as Harvard University’s chief sustainability officer since 2008, advising the President and senior leadership on strategy and building an organizational change enterprise. Heather leads the Office for Sustainability which oversees the implementation of the Harvard’s comprehensive Sustainability Plan (co-created with faculty and students in 2014) and the University’s ambitious new Climate Action Plan (to be fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026) which builds upon the 2016 achievement of Harvard’s initial science-based climate goal.
The Office for Sustainability has expanded a multi-disciplinary living laboratory research program that partners with faculty and students to use the campus as a test bed for piloting and sharing innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. A nationally recognized leader in healthier building materials, Heather is leading an effort with faculty within Harvard to translate research into practice related to heath in the built environment including a focus on addressing the use of chemicals of concern in common building products. Through this work, Harvard is partnering with business and non-profit leaders as they strive to transform the marketplace for a healthier built environment. Heather also advises courses throughout Harvard College and the professional graduate schools and speaks nationally and internationally on sustainability.
Heather is on the Board of Directors of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative. Heather serves as Advisory Committee Co-chair of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), and she is a member of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). Heather holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
LAUREN M. WALLACE
Principal & Director of Certifications and Consulting, Epsten Group, Inc.
Lauren M. Wallace is a Principal and the Director of Certifications and Consulting at Epsten Group, Inc., where she has helped facilitate sustainability and wellness measures for thousands of projects around the globe. Ms. Wallace is a USGBC and WELL Faculty member, WELL AP, LFA, LEED AP BD+C, LEED Project Reviewer, BREEAM USA In-Use Assessor, Fitwel Ambassador, Parksmart Advisor, and TRUE Advisor. With a background in Architecture, Ms. Wallace has more than ten years of experience in sustainability. She speaks regularly to audiences with varying expertise about implementing change in the building industry, focusing on technical information and application.
BECCA RUSHIN
Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Jamestown
Becca Rushin is the Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at Jamestown where she leads ESG initiatives through the Jamestown Green program and the Jamestown Charitable Foundation. Prior to joining Jamestown in 2012, Ms. Rushin worked as a local government consultant for Clark Patterson Lee, where she served as Community Development Coordinator and Sustainability Commission Staff Liaison for the City of Dunwoody. She is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and holds a LEED AP O+M credential. Ms. Rushin is an active volunteer with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Environmental Policy from Sewanee: the University of the South and a Master of Science in Sustainable Development: Environmental Policy and Management from Utrecht University.
JODI SMITS ANDERSON
Director of Sustainability Programs, DASNY | LEED AP BD+C
Jodi Smits Anderson is the Director of Sustainability Programs for DASNY, an architect, LEED AP BD+C, AIA member, lifetime member of NESEA, past regional and national U.S. Green Building Council committee member, wife, mom, hiker, kayaker, knitter, and storyteller. She has spoken at the ILFI unconference in Seattle, WA, at the NACUBO conference in Austin, TX, at the first Wellness in Design conference in San Diego, CA, and several times each at Greenbuild, NESEA’s Building Energy Boston, and the NYS Green Building Conference, and has been a guest teacher at SUNY ESF, RPI, Ithaca College, NYU, Cornell, and SUNY Albany. She is a NY Energy Code trainer, the 2018 recipient of the Green Building Advocate award, and has assisted in research and writing for Project Drawdown, which cites the 100 market-proven ways we already have in our toolkit to reduce CO2 in our atmosphere. She has a featured article appearing in the Journal of Green Building’s V14 N3 in July of 2019, on Excellence in Building Envelopes, and is currently working on a ZNE renovation to an existing residence hall, a project intended to change how we do renovation projects in New York state. Jodi’s goal is to understand and incorporate informed sustainable practices into design, construction, and living, and to share whatever she has learned and learn still more from whomever will talk with her.
JIM NEWMAN
Founder and Principal, Linnean Solutions | LEED AP, O+M; EcoDistrict AP
Jim is the Founder and Principal at Linnean Solutions, a mission-driven firm that helps local governments, organizations, and communities reach sustainability and resilience goals. Jim’s twenty years of experience includes carbon mitigation planning and life cycle assessment; sustainability and resilience building certification; climate action and adaptation planning for municipalities, agencies, and organizations; resilience analysis, policy, and design standard development; EcoDistrict planning and management; and stakeholder engagement processes to strengthen communities. As a Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems (LENSES) Facilitator and Trainer, Jim regularly leads community planning workshops, and trains others in becoming effective facilitators.
Previous to Linnean, Jim worked with BuildingGreen as the Director of Strategy, where he led the development and introduction of most of BuildingGreen’s online products including LEEDuser.com, BuildingGreen Suite, and the High Performance Buildings Database. Jim is a founding board member of the Resilient Design Institute, and a key author of several influential resilience reports and tools—including the Building Resilience in Boston report and
the Enterprise Community Partners’ Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience manual. He is a member of the RELi/USGBC Steering Committee, where he has worked to bring a social equity lens to the development of the new certification standard for resilient buildings.
JULIE JANISKI
Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineering
Julie Janiski leads integrated teams of engineers, designers, analysts, and subject-matter experts at BuroHappold Engineering for projects with ambitious goals related to design innovation, building performance, and the health, wellbeing and experience of building occupants and community. Julie’s recent work includes: Cornell Tech’s new Verizon Executive Education Center with Snohetta; Glenstone Museum with Thomas Phifer and Partners, St. Ann’s Warehouse theatre in Brookyln with Marvel Architects; a number of U.S. Embassy projects internationally for the U.S. State Department; a new corporate headquarters campus in Baltimore for Under Armour; an integrated “roadmap” plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by the year 2050 (80×50) for the City of New York; and The House at Cornell Tech – a residential high-rise in New York City which is certified Passive House. Julie also teaches at Columbia University’s GSAPP in the first-year core studio, and has been a guest critic/lecturer at other universities including MIT, Tulane, and NYU.
SARA NEFF
Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation
Sara Neff is Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation. Sara took Kilroy from having no sustainability program to being named the #1 publicly traded real estate company on sustainability in North America by GRESB, and under her leadership the company recently committed to becoming the first carbon neutral real estate company in North America by the end of 2020.
At Kilroy, she oversees all sustainability initiatives such as solar and battery deal-making, the implementation of energy and water efficiency initiatives throughout the existing and development portfolios, the integration of sustainability standards into annual financial reports, the launch of the Kilroy Innovation Lab, and the award-winning green leasing program. She holds a BS from Stanford and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
TRISTAN ROBERTS
Co-Founder, Facilitator at The Laurentia Project | LEED AP BD+C, LFA
Tristan Roberts is responsible for leading staff support for HPDC’s Technical Committee, education programs, and the evolution of the HPD Open Standard. Mr. Roberts is a leader in the advancement of green building practices. Prior to joining HPDC in May 2018, he was part of BuildingGreen, Inc. for eleven years, where he most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer, moderating and leading the community development of LEEDuser forum which supports over 10,000 users. He is the author of hundreds of articles and in-depth reports on building industry trends and technologies, and is a frequent speaker and educator in the areas of green building and sustainable design. His objective stance and focus on practical tools has earned him the trust of a wide spectrum of stakeholders in the industry, including architects, sustainability professionals, manufacturers, and nonprofit groups. Mr. Roberts has taught sustainability and building science at the Boston Architectural College.
TIM CONWAY
Vice President of Sustainable Development, Shaw
As a flooring industry expert, Tim Conway is focused on the positive affects that sustainable flooring products have on our buildings, and more importantly, the people that occupy and live in the spaces we design. Tim has worked closely with Bill McDonough and the internal team at Shaw for the past twelve years developing and maintaining Shaw’s Cradle to Cradle certifications, HPDs and EPDs. His unique role at Shaw enables him to drive the communication between clients’ requirements and the product development team at Shaw. He has presented at GreenBuild, Living Future, and Design Future Council and has been an integral part in the development of healthy carpet specifications for clients all over the world. Tim is passionate about collaborating with clients to develop flooring specifications that are safe throughout a product’s entire supply chain, from raw material chemical building blocks to end of life replication. He has a unique ability to translate complex systems like Cradle to Cradle and HPDs into simple stories that empower change and deliver buildings that have positive intent for the future of our people and our planet.
BILL WALSH
Founder and President, Board of the Healthy Building Network
Bill Walsh is the Founder and President of the Board of the Healthy Building Network (HBN). Since 2000 HBN has been defining the leading edge of healthy building practices that increase transparency in the building products industry, reduce human exposures to chemicals in building materials, and create market incentives for healthier innovations in manufacturing. He has been Visiting Professor at Parsons The New School for Design, is a Fellow of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts, and a founding board member of the Health Product Declaration (HPD) Collaborative. Bill and HBN have been awarded the Design for Humanity Award by the American Society of Interior Designers (2019); WEACT for Environmental Justice Leadership Award (2018); Healthy Schools Network Hero (2013); US Green Building Council’s Leadership In Advocacy Award (2012). Previously he served as a national campaign director at Greenpeace USA, and held staff attorney positions with the US Public Interest Research Group and the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law Center. He holds a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and LLM in Public Interest Advocacy from Georgetown University.
BRENT TRENGA
Building Technology Director, Kingspan North America
Brent has truly run the construction industry gamut serving in various roles including Architect, Construction Manager, Developer and even project owner, allowing him to fully understand the sustainability ecosystem. As Building Technology Director for Kingspan North America, Brent is committed to reducing the environmental impact of business operations, products and services through continuous improvement and environmental transparency.
JENNIFER TARANTO
LEED® AP ID+C, BD+C, USGBC Faculty, WELL® AP, WELL Faculty and Fitwel Ambassador Structure Tone, Director of Sustainability
Jennifer Taranto ensures the principals of sustainability, wellbeing, and Lean construction are incorporated into client projects and everyday work practices throughout the STO Building Group.
Jenn is a passionate advocate for reducing environmental impact of the built environment and enabling organizations to improve people’s health and wellbeing while reducing the construction and operating costs of facilities. She gets involved in the early stages of client projects to define the needs and the overall sustainability goals in order to create an internal road map to team success.
Jennifer brings more than eighteen years of experience in the commercial real estate and construction industry, and joined Structure Tone in 2001. Her previous roles included superintendent and project manager prior to becoming Structure Tone’s Director of Sustainability in 2008.
As a founder of the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter and the former Chair of the Chapter’s Board of Directors she is recognized as a leader in the sustainable built environment. She has lectured at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Boston University and spoken at Labs21 Conference (I2SL), Delaware Valley Green Building Council’s Sustainability Symposium, Living Futures and Greenbuild. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Jennifer has a Bacon number of 2.
LEIGH STRINGER
Workplace Strategy Expert and Researcher, EYP
Leigh Stringer is a workplace strategy expert and researcher whose work has been covered recently by BBC News, The Globe and Mail, Fortune, CNN and Good Morning America. She works for EYP, an architecture and engineering firm. She is the author of two best-selling books, The Green Workplace and The Healthy Workplace. Leigh is currently collaborating with Harvard University’s School of Public Health on a new Health and Human Performance Index and the Center for Active Design in New York on their Fitwel building certification program to create new tools, connect like minds and blur the boundaries across industries in order to advance our improve our well-being at work. Leigh is on the board of directors of a new non-profit, Global Women for Wellbeing, an organization that aims to give women a voice to create better health and wellbeing for themselves, their businesses, and their communities.
CHARLEY STEVENSON
Principal, Integrated Ecostrategy
Charley Stevenson has been delving deeper and deeper into healthier building materials since beginning work on his first Living Building Challenge project in 2011. With the team at IES, he has developed process and software to integrate better materials selections into all project types and to transform the market as quickly and easily as possible. The Red2Green platform has reduced Red List research and documentation effort by a factor of three while building up a library of over 10,000 products screened for compliance.
PETER SMITH
Senior Vice President, International WELL Building Institute
Peter is engaged with leading organizations and institutions seeking to transform their real estate portfolios to enhance health and business metrics. As Senior Vice President at IWBI, he leads a team driving the global growth and adoption of the WELL Building Standard, the first performance-based building standard to exclusively focus on human health. Peter is also an active speaker and educator, promoting health in the built environment through industry events and technical workshops. Previously, Peter served as Vice President of Delos Solutions, a team of consultants and subject matter experts incorporating health and wellness strategies into the pioneering WELL Certification projects. Working closely with Delos Labs, an internal research group, he identified best-in-class design solutions, products and technologies to improve the built environment and optimize for human health, well-being and environmentally sustainability. Peter has an extensive background in building science and energy efficiency. Prior to joining Delos and IWBI, he worked as a Sustainability Consultant at Steven Winter Associates, an industry leading green building consulting firm. Focusing on affordable housing in the greater New York City area, Peter worked with multifamily developers to implement sustainable design principles and energy efficiency measures into new construction projects and validate high-performance building criteria. Peter holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in Environmental Economics. He also maintains accreditations for WELL AP™ and WELL Faculty™.
JASON JEWHURST
Principal, Bruner/Cott
Jason’s passion for reconnecting with the natural environment informs all of his work as a specialist in sustainable and high-performance building design. With a strong technical background in building systems, technology, and sustainability, Jason is driven by a deep respect for craftsmanship and the art of making and by the possibilities created by merging tested traditions of construction with new fabrication technologies and material production. He leads design teams to explore possibilities inspired by a shared set of values and goals to create high-performance contemporary architecture that is beautiful and inspiring. He is a recipient of a 2017 Living Hero Award.
BLAKE JACKSON
Architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader, Stantec Architecture and Engineering
Blake Jackson is an architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader with Stantec Architecture and Engineering in Boston, Massachusetts. His work focuses on the nexus between sustainability, wellness, and resiliency, and he has over fifteen years’ experience in planning, retail, hospitality, labs, healthcare, commercial, higher-education, and multifamily projects. Blake is a prolific author and speaker on his three main areas of focus, is an adjunct faculty at the Boston Architectural College and at Mount Ida College, and he currently serves as the Vice President for Advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects. He was named a national top “40 Under 40” built environment professional by Building Design and Construction Magazine in 2015.
ANNE HARNEY
FAIA, LEED Fellow, Long Green Specs
Anne Hicks Harney has over 30 years of experience, focusing on high quality design imbued with a solid technical and sustainable foundation. Formed in 2016, Long Green Specs provides sustainability focused construction specifications and building science material expertise to Architectural firms across the country. She is a member of the AIA COTE Advisory Group. She was a founding co-chair of the Baltimore – Building Enclosure Council, chair of the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group, and a member of the USGBC Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group. In 2016, Ms. Harney was awarded fellowship by the AIA and became a LEED Fellow.
Speaking Engagements
Living Future unconference 2019 – Using the AIA COTE Toolkit to Elevate Every Project –
Living Future unconference 2019 – Entering the material pool – deep end jump or shallow slide?
2019 AIA Women’s Leadership Summit – Go Forth and Prosper, While Changing the World
Greenbuild 2018: Chicago IL, November 2018 – Closing the Transparency Loop: Collaboration in Action
AIA Conference on Architecture 2018, New York NY: Holding Ourselves to Higher Standards – Healthy Materials Every Time
BRENT EHRLICH
Products & Materials Specialist, BuildingGreen
Brent is the products & materials specialist at BuildingGreen, where he has been researching and writing about green building products, materials, and their health and environmental impacts for more than a decade. He brings a nuanced understanding of materials, their constituents, and lifecycles to his work as a consultant and speaker and leads a team of editors that selects products for the company’s BuildingGreen Approved database and annual Top 10 Products Award.
Speaking Engagements
• Annual BuildingGreen’s Top 10 Products award at Greenbuild (8 years as presenter)
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association: NESEA 2014: The Forest and the Trees
• NESEA 2011: Materials Track Chair + Cool New Products presentation
MATT EDLEN
Director of Acquisitions and Development
Matt Edlen oversees acquisitions and development in the Midwest and East Coast for Gerding Edlen’s various investment funds. Matt is responsible for sourcing, negotiating and executing on investment opportunities across key urban markets within those regions.
Prior to his role in acquisitions, Matt was focused on the development and management of the firms internal multifamily marketing and sales platform. His efforts have helped the firm invest over $1 billion worth of real estate across the country in cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago.
Matt currently serves as national chair of the board for Design Museum Foundation and as a board member for Boston’s NOAH (Neighborhood of Affordable Housing), and The Oregon Sports Authority. He has also served as board member and chair of the site selection committee for PHAME Academy, board member and co-chair of the Arts Connector Program of Business for Culture and the Arts, and alumni board member of Young People’s Theater Project. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago.
MIKHAIL DAVIS
Director of Restorative Enterprise, Interface
Mikhail Davis is Director of Restorative Enterprise at Interface, a world-leading modular flooring company with a fully integrated collection of hard and soft flooring. Interface’s mission, Climate Take Back™, invites industry to commit to making a profit in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life. Mikhail is responsible for advancing Interface’s mission in the Americas by building internal leadership capacity, facilitating strategic alignment of efforts, and creating external partnerships that shift the marketplace toward sustainability. He leads Interface’s product transparency efforts in the Americas and was lead author and editor of Interface’s Radical Industrialists column at GreenBiz.com for two years.
An expert in sustainable materials and NGO collaborations, he represents Interface in many organizations focused on sustainability innovation, closed-loop systems, recycling, and chemicals of concern, including serving as 2016-18 Chair of the US Green Building Council’s Technical Advisory Group on Materials and Resources (MR TAG), Co-Chair of the Materials Working Group of BizNGO and Program Advisor to the Next Generation Bio-based and Sustainable Chemicals Summit.
STEVEN BURKE
Sustainability Manager, Consigli Construction Company
Steven is a Sustainability Manager at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., an 800+ person construction firm based in Massachusetts. His position involves management of company sustainability processes and sustainable construction projects at Consigli. He has a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, and has delivered many presentations on how to integrate health and wellness into the design and construction of the built environment.