Accelerating Building Decarbonization: A White House Roundtable with Government and Industry
Core members of the Biden Administration convened industry stakeholders in dialogue on equitable decarbonization of America's buildings, associated opportunities for jobs, and new programs for efficient electrified buildings. This session was moderated by Mark Chambers, White House Council on Environmental Quality.
- Speakers: Gina McCarthy, National Climate Advisor, White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy; Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy; Michael Regan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator; Katy Kale, U.S. General Services Administration Acting Administrator
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaborating to Implement Carbon Reduction Goals
Realizing progress toward ambitious goals is best achieved by an integrated team. Hear from leading Better Buildings partners about structuring stakeholder engagement toward carbon reduction goals across building portfolios. This session focused on team implementation – specifically who, when, and how – for collaborating across institutions, local governments, and national portfolios.
- Speakers: Ian Lahiff, City of Orlando, FL; Andrea Trimble, University of Virginia; Jon Utech, Cleveland Clinic
The Role of Architects, Engineers, and Contractors in Zero-Carbon Buildings
Architects, engineers, and contractors (A/E/C) are critical partners in working with building owners to create buildings that deliver top value for their clients. This collaborative discussion highlighted real-world strategies from leading A/E/C firms on how they are helping their clients deliver zero-carbon and other high-performance buildings. It was also a chance to learn about the Better Buildings Design and Construction Allies program and how you can get involved.
- Speakers: Sammy Houssainy and Paul Torcellini, National Renewable Energy Lab; Ryan Jang, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects; Ryan Poole, DPR Construction; Stet Sanborn, SmithGroup
Renewables and Advanced Controls: Why Now is the Time
Behind-the-meter energy resources are now more affordable than ever. A more dynamic electric grid with variable generation provides even more opportunities for building owners to leverage their facilities as tools for deeper cost savings. Hear how storage, on-site renewables, and advanced controls can all help you save money and increase demand flexibility.
- Speakers: Dana Schneider, Empire State Realty Trust; Tim Wilson, Gundersen Health System; Luba Zhaurova, City of Worcester, MA
Easy as ABC: How Advanced Building Construction Creates Efficient, Affordable, and Appealing Solutions for Low-Carbon Buildings
We live in an era of high-tech innovation, so why are most of our homes and buildings still using inefficient technologies and construction practices that have hardly changed in over a century? DOE’s Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Initiative is disrupting the building industry by catalyzing the union of superior energy efficiency and low-carbon solutions with modernized approaches to construction. ABC makes it easier and more affordable to achieve superior quality retrofits and new buildings while re-energizing our manufacturing industry and workforce. Watch this session and learn how DOE and its partners are working with private- and public-sector stakeholders across the buildings and construction sectors to transform the buildings market with ABC solutions.
- Speakers: Tim Kohut, National Core; Christina McPike, WinnCompanies; Lucas Toffoli, RMI
Pathways to Zero: Designing Impactful Carbon Reduction Targets
More than 25% of Fortune 500 companies have committed to dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions through Science-Based Targets, RE100, or a carbon neutrality pledge. However, not all targets are equal, and emissions reduction programs for commercial buildings and plants vary widely in both timeframe and approach. Drawing from the newly launched Low Carbon Pilot, this session addressed common questions, considerations, and pitfalls for setting carbon targets and designing programs to meet them.
- Speakers: Matt Donath, City of Milwaukee, WI; Jim Landau, MetLife Investment Management; Mark Puchalski, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation