Decarbonizing Buildings: A Whole Life Cycle Approach

Event Pass Information

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Zoom Ticket: Student with Valid ID
Zoom Ticket - General Public

Event Details

The design, construction, and operation of buildings account for roughly 40% of global energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Historically, significant attention has been focused on reducing the energy use associated with building operations, but as buildings approach increasing levels of efficiency and the energy grid decarbonizes, design and material choices become increasingly impactful. The embodied carbon associated with the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, in-use, and end-of-life phases of buildings accounts for around 11% of global carbon emissions (more than a quarter of total buildings related emissions around the world). Reducing these emissions to meet community and industry climate goals, on a path to zero emissions, will require a comprehensive approach that addresses all stages of the building lifecycle. Designers, policymakers, corporations and investors are increasingly focused on opportunities to achieve higher performing buildings with less impact across their life-cycle.

This panel event will explore current and developing initiatives to reduce building related GHG emissions at multiple scales (from products and materials to whole buildings) and the essential role of a holistic approach based on standards and tools that address the entire building life-cycle. A special focus will be on the complex alignment of multiple actors across the building and construction industry to achieve decarbonization and resilient outcomes of our existing and future building stock.

Schedule:
Breakfast: 8:30–9:00 am ET

Welcome: 9:00–9:10 am ET

  • Ryan Colker, Vice President, Innovation, International Code Council
  • Mallory Taub, Assoc. AIA, Co-Chair, AIANY Committee on the Environment; Sustainability Director, Climate Action & Sustainability Leader, Senior Associate, Gensler

New York City Construction Decarbonization Announcement: 9:10–9:15 am ET

  • Sylvie Binder, Greenhouse Gas Policy Advisor, Office of the Mayor, New York City

Panel Discussion: Forging the Path to a Decarbonized Built Environment: 9:15–10:15 am ET

  • Roland Hunziker, Co-Chair, Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
  • Heather Clark, Senior Director of Building Sector, White House Climate Policy Office
  • Emma Gonzalez-Laders, Assistant Director for Energy Code Services, New York State Department of State
  • Sylvie Binder, Greenhouse Gas Emission Policy Advisor, Office of the Mayor, New York City
  • Yasemin Kologlu, AIA, Co-Chair, AIANY Committee on the Environment
  • Tina Paillet, President, RICS
  • Moderator: Ryan Colker, Vice President, Innovation, International Code Council

Panel Discussion: Developing the WLCA Ecosystem to Get Us There: 10:15–10:55 am ET

  • Ryan Colker, Vice President, Innovation, International Code Council
  • Bradley R. Nies, AIA, Sustainable Design Program Expert, U.S. General Services Administration
  • Anil Sawhney, Head of Sustainability, RICS
  • Moderator: Daniel Piselli, AIA, Member, AIANY Committee on the Environment; Director of Sustainability and Principal, FXCollaborative

Closing: 10:55–11:00 am ET

  • Alexandra Faciu, Board Member, RICS Americas World Region