Driving Digital Decarbonization: Tools Reducing Carbon Emissions at Scale

Event Pass Type	Price	Quantity
In-Person - Student with Valid ID	$20.00 USD	0 1 2 3 4
In-Person - General Public	$50.00 USD	0 1 2 3 4
In-Person: AIA Member (not AIANY)	$50.00 USD	0 1 2 3 4

Join the AIANY Committee on the Environment (COTE) for half-day symposium on the critical intersection of digital technology and decarbonization in the built environment. Following the launch of AIANY's Building Decarbonization Action Plan, the event recognizes the urgent need to transform architectural practice to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals over the next four years.

The symposium will explore how data-driven digital tools—from BIM-integrated lifecycle assessment (LCA) platforms to construction digital twins and IoT sensors—are revolutionizing sustainable design and construction. These technologies enable embodied carbon accounting, automate Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) generation, advance district-scale energy analysis, and improve construction site resource efficiency. Three panels will examine real-world case studies from multiple perspectives: technology developers, data consumers, and building experts, addressing pressing questions about data ownership, liability, and AI's role in accelerating sustainable design solutions. The panels will focus on:

• Streamlining lifecycle embodied carbon reporting: Exploring how lifecycle assessment (LCA) tools integrate into design workflows and how automation is transforming Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) generation for construction materials.
• Modeling energy data for futureproofing NYC's grid: Examining how urban-scale energy modeling tools and data analysis enable large-scale building electrification and power storage integration across New York City.
• Data-driven construction practices: Examining on-site decarbonization technologies including real-time equipment emissions tracking, AI-powered sensing for thermal and structural performance monitoring, material passports, and waste management.

This event is worth a total of 3 LU | 3 HSW credits. Each session is worth 1 LU | 1 HSW credit.
 

9:15-10:15 AM

Panel 1: Streamlining embodied carbon reporting
Exploring how lifecycle assessment (LCA) tools integrate into design workflows and how automation is transforming Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) generation for construction materials.

Panelists: 
Peter Bacas, Senior Manager, ERG
Jack Rusk, CEO and Co-founder, c.scale
Ben Ciavola, Managing Director of Software and Data, WAP
Rushita Vora, ENV SP, LEED GA, WELL AP, Embodied Carbon Technical Lead, New York Metro, AECOM

Moderator:
Jeremy Shiman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate, WRNS Studio

10:20–11:20 AM

Panel 2: Modeling for futureproofing NYC’s grid

Examining how urban-scale energy modeling tools and data analysis enable large-scale building electrification and power storage integration across New York City.

Panelists:

Shresht Nagpal, PhD, HBDP, BEMP, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, CEO, CarbonSignal
Michael Reed, Sr. Director, Building Transformation, NYSERDA
Molly Dee-Ramasamy, PE, CEA, Principal, Deep Carbon Reduction Group at Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B)

Moderator:
Carlos Cerezo, Director, Global Head of Sustainability, KPF

11:25–12:25 PM

Panel 3: Data driven construction practices

Examining on-site decarbonization technologies including real-time equipment emissions tracking, AI-powered sensing for thermal and structural performance monitoring, material passports, and waste management.

Panelists:
Britain Morris, Regional Sales Manager, Converge
Morgan Lewis, CEO, Material Index
Rebecca Schmidt, RA, CPHT, LEED AP, NY Regional Sustainability Manager, Turner
Bobby Johnston, AIA, CPHD, Founding Partner, Co-Adaptive
Angela Iraldi, Senior Sustainability Manager, Skanska

Moderator:
Amanda Kaminsky, Founder and Principal, Building (Product) EcoSystems

12:25–12:30 PM

Closing remarks + Networking