

The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2025 โข 29min
Dana Pucillo on Acoustic Wellness and Sustainable Interiors
๐ฏ The Green Impact Report Quick take: This episode uncovers how acoustics, materials, and design intersect to create healthier, more sustainable buildings. Dana Pucillo shares how listening โ in design, leadership, and innovation โ is transforming interior environments for human wellness. ๐ Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Dana Pucillo is the Vice President of the Acoustics Division at Carnegie, a leader in sustainable interiors. With a career spanning 30+ years in interior design, commercial manufacturing, and sustainability, Dana champions healthy materials, innovative product development, and people-first leadership โ all with a strong New York edge and an artist's heart. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Dana Pucillo revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: ๐ก Key Insight #1: Replacing Fiberglass with Recycled PET in Acoustic Panels The Challenge: Fiberglass acoustic panels are industry standard โ but come with VOC and chemical binder concerns. The Solution: Dana's team transitioned their fabric-wrapped acoustic panels to an American-made, recycled PET core. ROI: Maintains acoustic performance while eliminating harmful materials โ a big win for sustainability and indoor wellness. ๐ก Key Insight #2: Making Acoustics a Wellness Conversation The Challenge: Acoustics are often overlooked in building performance and wellness. The Solution: Carnegie positions acoustics as a central factor in how people feel in environments like classrooms and healthcare facilities. ROI: Improved user experience and health outcomes โ acoustics become a strategic part of wellness design. ๐ก Key Insight #3: Equipping Specifiers and Facility Managers to Make Healthier Choices The Challenge: Budget and lead time constraints push decision-makers toward status quo materials. The Solution: Dana's team is building tools and visibility into acoustic solutions that meet budget and sustainability goals. ROI: Democratizes green choices for specifiers and facility managers alike โ without trade-offs. ๐ Sustainable Soundbite "Just because something might look good doesn't mean it's necessarily solving the problem in the best wayโฆ we are solutions for our clients." โ Dana Pucillo ๐งฉ Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Reevaluate material choices for acoustic performance and health impact. This Quarter: Explore vendors and manufacturers using RPET or other low-VOC, recycled materials. This Year: Develop educational tools or internal guides to help specifiers choose sustainable acoustic solutions. ๐ Connect & Learn More ๐ Read the transcript here ๐ Connect with Dana Pucillo: Website, LinkedIn ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ Join the Green Building Movement: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. ๐ฉ Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Nov 5, 2025 โข 35min
From BIM to Circular Sampling: Benjamin Glunz on Building Smarter
๐ The Green Impact Report Quick take: Architect-turned-tech CEO Benjamin Glunz is reshaping the AEC industry by tackling inefficiency, waste, and legacy workflows. In this episode, he shares how platforms like BIMsmithยฎ and Swatchboxยฎ are making sustainability the standard โ not the exception. ๐ค Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Benjamin Glunz is the Founder and CEO of Anguleris, the company behind BIMsmithยฎ and Swatchboxยฎ. An architect by training, Ben is driven by a mission to simplify specification, reduce material waste, and empower the next generation of AEC pros with smarter tools. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building ๐ง Key Insight #1: Circular Sampling with Second Life The Challenge: Architectural material samples often end up in landfills after projects end. The Solution: Swatchbox's Second Life initiative collects, recirculates, and redistributes unused samples. ROI: 50,000+ samples diverted from landfills, reducing demand for net new sample production. ๐ง Key Insight #2: Turbocharging Sustainability Through Product Selection The Challenge: Architects waste critical hours shuffling paperwork instead of making high-impact material decisions. The Solution: BIMsmithยฎ streamlines product research and specification with architect-built tools. ROI: Faster, more informed decisions that increase sustainability and reduce project waste. ๐ง Key Insight #3: Moving from Time-Based to Value-Based Architecture The Challenge: AEC firms are locked into a billable-hours model that disincentivizes innovation. The Solution: Ben advocates for shifting to value-based pricing and tech-integrated workflows. ROI: Increased profitability, better design quality, and accelerated project timelines. ๐ฌ Sustainable Soundbite "Helping architects make better product decisions is the fastest way to scale sustainability across projects." โ Benjamin Glunz ๐ Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit how your firm manages material samples โ can any be returned, reused, or recirculated? This Quarter: Test BIMsmithยฎ or similar tools to reduce friction in product specification. This Year: Champion circular practices internally and pitch one initiative to your leadership team. ๐ Connect & Learn Mo ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ Join the Green Building Movement: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe ๐ Read the transcript here ๐ Connect with Benjamin Glunz: LinkedIn Website ๐ Want More Green Building Insights? Get exclusive tips, expert interviews, and green design tools โ delivered twice a week. ๐ฌ Subscribe FREE โ https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Oct 29, 2025 โข 34min
Maureen Waters on Powering Sustainability with Real Estate Data
๐ฏ The Green Impact Report Quick take: Maureen Waters is redefining what ESG looks like in commercial real estate. From legacy giants like Cushman & Wakefield to her current role as President at Measurabl, Maureen shares the hard-won insights that are helping decarbonize global portfolios โ using data at a scale never seen before. ๐ Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Maureen Waters is President of Measurabl, the most widely adopted sustainability data platform in real estate. With 25+ years across tech, VC, and real estate giants, she leads with a rare blend of strategic rigor and operational clarity โ helping $3 trillion in assets get ESG right. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building ๐ง Key Innovation #1: Democratizing ESG Data with a Freemium Model: The Challenge: ESG reporting has long been cost-prohibitive for smaller real estate owners. The Solution: Measurabl's free self-serve platform now enables widespread access to ESG tools. ROI: Expanded inclusivity, compliance readiness, and broader sustainability participation. ๐ง Key Innovation #2: Automating Utility Data with AI: The Challenge: Utility bill collection was inefficient and error-prone. The Solution: Measurabl's "Bill AI" automates data capture across diverse formats. ROI: Dramatically faster processing, lower labor costs, and higher data accuracy. ๐ง Key Innovation #3: Shifting from SaaS to Sustainability Ecosystem: The Challenge: Fragmented tools couldn't meet the demands of modern ESG strategy. The Solution: Measurabl evolves into a data ecosystem, serving not just owners but capital markets, insurers, and index providers. ROI: Stronger market positioning and full-spectrum ESG intelligence. ๐ฌ Sustainable Soundbite "If you're always looking in the rearview mirror, you can't move forward. The future is in how we leverage data to make sustainability scalable." โ Maureen Waters โป๏ธ Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Identify where your ESG workflows still rely on manual utility data. This Quarter: Test a freemium sustainability platform like Measurabl. This Year: Map your real estate ESG data strategy to city and state compliance requirements. ๐ Connect & Learn More ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ Read the transcript here ๐ Join the Green Building Movement: Link ๐ Connect with Maureen Waters: LinkedIn Website ๐ Want More Green Building Insights? Get exclusive tips, expert interviews, and green design tools โ delivered twice a week. ๐ฌ Subscribe FREE โ https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Oct 22, 2025 โข 40min
Rise & Resonate: Sustainable Communities with Architect Don Jacobs
๐ The Green Impact Report Quick take: Donald Jacobs takes us back to the early days of Sea Ranch and shows how designing with the land โ not over it โ can spark a half-century of sustainable building practices. From passive solar to international design work, his career proves sustainability is both timeless and scalable. ๐ค Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Donald Jacobs is an architect whose career spans 58 years. From designing 100+ custom homes and the Sea Ranch Chapel to co-founding JZMK Partners, he has shaped communities in the U.S. and abroad. Today, he continues to restore past projects and support HomeAid, a nonprofit building shelters for the transitionally homeless. ๐จ Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Donald Jacobs revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: ๐ฏ Key Insight #1: Disappearing Architecture The Challenge: Conventional homes often clash with natural landscapes. The Solution: At Sea Ranch, Jacobs embraced a philosophy of blending structures into the land, using native materials and natural tones to minimize visual impact. ROI: A community where homes feel part of the ecosystem, preserving views and reducing environmental disruption. ๐ฏ Key Insight #2: Passive Solar Before It Was Popular The Challenge: Rising energy costs and inefficient heating/cooling in the 1970s. The Solution: Jacobs collaborated with pioneers like David Wright to integrate passive solar design, shielding from northwest winds while capturing southern sun. ROI: Homes that were more comfortable, energy-efficient, and decades ahead of green codes. ๐ฏ Key Insight #3: Scaling Sustainability Globally The Challenge: Mainstream developer housing often resisted sustainable innovation. The Solution: Through JZMK, Jacobs pushed design excellence and brought sustainable principles into master-planned communities across six countries. ROI: International recognition, larger project scales, and ripple effects for future sustainable developments. ๐ง Sustainable Soundbite "Real innovation isn't ruled by technologyโit's powered by the people who believe it must work." โ Donald Jacobs ๐ฃ Episode Overview From Sea Ranch's pioneering design philosophy to leading an international firm, Donald Jacobs has spent nearly six decades proving that buildings can โ and should โ work in harmony with nature. In this conversation, he shares lessons from iconic projects, mentors who shaped him, and his nonprofit work that extends sustainability into the social realm ๐ Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Walk your project site and identify one way to work with the land, not against it. This Quarter: Explore passive design strategies โ like wind protection or solar orientation โ that can be integrated without added cost. This Year: Build partnerships with community organizations or nonprofits to ensure your work has both environmental and social impact. ๐ Connect & Learn More ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ Read the transcript Here โป๏ธ Join the Green Building Movement: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe ๐ Connect with Donald Jacobs: Email: don@donjacobsarchitect.com LinkedIn Website โป๏ธ Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter here: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Oct 15, 2025 โข 30min
Karl Borree on Making Sports Floors Smarter, Safer, and More Sustainable
๐ฏ The Green Impact Report Quick take: This episode is a must-listen for architects, contractors, and LEED Pros looking to level up athletic spaces. Karl Borree shares how flooring can dramatically impact health, sustainability, and even climate goals โ if you design it right. ๐ Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Karl Borree is a veteran of the performance flooring industry and a passionate advocate for sustainable product innovation. As a key voice at Action Floors, Karl works at the intersection of health, athletics, and material science โ driving forward the only carbon-negative maple flooring solution on the market today. With a background in coaching, economics, and rhetorical theory, he brings a unique human-centered lens to sustainable product strategy. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building ๐ก Key Insight #1: Flooring Isn't Just About Bounce โ It's About Emissions, Safety, and Lifecycle The Challenge: Traditional gym floors often use PVC-based pads that off-gas and lose performance over time. The Solution: Action Floors uses natural rubber pads that don't off-gas, last longer, and offer superior restitution for athletes. ROI: Improved air quality, safer impact absorption, extended lifespan โ with verified carbon-negative. ๐ก Key Insight #2: One Size Doesn't Fit All โ Design for the Athlete, Not Just the Space The Challenge: Many school districts default to "standard" flooring systems without considering age, activity, or use-case. The Solution: Action Floors offers 14+ custom subfloor systems tuned to the specific athlete profile โ from preschoolers to pros. ROI: Reduced injuries, enhanced performance, and floors that align with building lifecycle and functional demands. ๐ก Key Insight #3: Carbon-Negative Sports Flooring Exists โ If You Know Where to Look The Challenge: Most stakeholders assume performance floors are carbon-intensive due to manufacturing and global shipping. The Solution: Action Floors sources maple from the UP of Michigan, leveraging cold climate slow-growth trees, and runs a verified carbon-negative operation. ROI: Global shipments with a smaller footprint than local competitors โ backed by SGS-certified EPDs. ๐ง Sustainable Soundbite "Follow your passion, not your pension โ that'll bring you everything you really want." โ Karl Borree ๐ Episode Overview Think sports flooring is just about looks or bounce? Think again. In this episode, Karl Borree of Action Floors pulls back the curtain on a massively underappreciated part of green building: what's under your feet. From carbon-negative maple to all-natural rubber pads engineered to reduce concussions, Karl shares how performance flooring is being reimagined with sustainability โ and athletes โ at the center. โ
Your Green Building Action Plan This Week: Ask your flooring vendor if they have an EPD โ and what's under the surface. This Quarter: If you're designing a space for athletes (of any age), evaluate whether your flooring supports performance and long-term health. This Year: Shift from lowest-bid procurement to lifecycle-focused design โ especially in public education and athletic facility projects. ๐ Connect & Learn More ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ Read the transcript: here ๐ Connect with Karl Borree: [LinkedIn] ๐๏ธ Explore Action Floor Systems, LLC ๐ Join the Green Building Movement: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe โ๏ธ Want More Green Building Insights? Get exclusive tips, expert interviews, and green design tools โ delivered twice a week. ๐ฌ Subscribe FREE โ https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe

Oct 8, 2025 โข 27min
Yaron Dycian on Cracking the Code of Water Waste in Buildings

Oct 1, 2025 โข 29min
Episode 400: Charlie Cichetti on 8+ Years of Green Building Conversations That Matter
๐ฃ The Green Impact Report Quick take: In this milestone 400th episode, host Charlie Cichetti reflects on over eight years of interviewing green building pioneers. He shares timeless lessons, celebrates the community, and previews what's next in the world of sustainability storytelling. ๐ Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Charlie Cichetti is one of the most credentialed experts in the green building world and a LEED Fellow. He's the founder and host of Green Building Matters, a passionate educator, and a leader in sustainability-driven entrepreneurship. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building In this special solo episode, Charlie flips the script to reflect on how Green Building Matters became the most downloaded podcast in its space โ and why that matters now more than ever. ๐ง Key Insight #1: Storytelling Inspires Action The Challenge: Technical content can alienate early-career sustainability pros. The Solution: Focus on personal stories, authentic journeys, and real-world projects. ROI: Listeners report earning credentials, launching new roles, and pushing for green certifications. ๐ง Key Insight #2: There's No One Path to Green Building Leadership The Challenge: The industry often emphasizes rigid roles or career tracks. The Solution: Showcase diverse voices โ from LEED Fellows to students, sales pros to engineers. ROI: Encouragement and validation for professionals forging unique green careers. ๐ง Key Insight #3: Consistency Builds Community The Challenge: Maintaining weekly momentum for 8+ years is rare. The Solution: Leverage virtual teams, strong systems, and personal commitment. ROI: 400+ episodes, a global audience, and top 3% status in the podcasting world. ๐ง Sustainable Soundbite "This podcast is a megaphone for the green building movement โ and you're the reason it matters." โ Charlie Cichetti ๐ Episode Overview What started as a passion project has grown into a global platform for green building professionals. In this special solo episode, Charlie Cichetti marks Green Building Matters' 400th episode with a heartfelt reflection on the podcast's journey โ from humble beginnings to becoming a top 3% podcast worldwide. He shares behind-the-scenes stories, key lessons learned, gratitude for the people who've helped shape the show, and a powerful vision for what comes next โ including deeper dives into AI, regenerative design, and community engagement. Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this is an inspiring reset on why this platform โ and this mission โ matters. โ
Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Reflect on your own sustainability journey. Share an episode with a colleague who needs encouragement. This Quarter: Revisit favorite episodes and reach out to past guests for insight or mentorship. This Year: Join the growing Green Building Matters community through LinkedIn, events, or by becoming a guest yourself. ๐ Connect & Learn More ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ Read the transcript: here ๐ Join the Green Building Movement: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe ๐ Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. ๐ Subscribe to our FREE newsletter here: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Sep 25, 2025 โข 16min
GBES Episode 399 โ Live from Blueprint Vegas 2025 - The Future of the Built World
๐ The Green Impact Report Quick take: Live from the Blueprint Vegas 2025 conference, Charlie Cicchetti unpacks how AI, automation, and sustainability startups are shaping the built world. Whether you're a green building professional, an entrepreneur, or curious about the latest tech in construction and real estate, this recap offers major takeaways from one of the industry's most influential events. ๐ค Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Charlie Cicchetti Charlie is the founder of Green Building Education Services (GBES) and Schema. A LEED Fellow and one of the most credentialed green building experts globally, he's dedicated to scaling sustainability through tech, training, and thought leadership. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building In this special episode, Charlie breaks down innovations and insights straight from the Blueprint Vegas 2025 conference โ where the future of the built world is being written. ๐ง Key Insight #1: AI is not just a cost-saver โ it's a growth engine The Challenge: Traditionally, AI in real estate has been used primarily to reduce operating costs. The Solution: Charlie emphasizes AI's broader potential โ automating repetitive tasks to let professionals focus on creativity and customer experience. ROI: Boosted efficiency and employee satisfaction, while increasing the quality of customer engagement and problem-solving. ๐ง Key Insight #2: Robotics are entering construction โ literally The Challenge: Labor shortages and inefficiencies continue to plague the construction industry. The Solution: Real-world applications of robotics were showcased on the expo floor, from automation in logistics to on-site tasks. ROI: Potential for reduced delays, lower costs, and improved safety in construction projects. ๐ง Key Insight #3: Startups like Mill and Switch are redefining climate tech The Challenge: Finding scalable, tech-driven solutions that actually move the needle on sustainability. The Solution: Mill is revolutionizing food recycling (not just composting), while Switch Automation is pushing AI and ML in building controls. ROI: Measurable impacts on waste reduction and energy efficiency across building portfolios. ๐ฌ Sustainable Soundbite "Don't look at AI just to save money. Ask โ how can you use AI to really grow your business?" โ Charlie Cicchetti ๐ Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Connect with sustainability-focused startups like Mill and Switch. Explore their offerings and how they can integrate into your current workflow. This Quarter: Attend an industry conference like Blueprint Vegas, Net Zero, or Greenbuild to network, discover new tools, and gain cross-sector insight. This Year: Start an intrapreneurial initiative within your company. Identify one area where tech and sustainability intersect and champion a pilot project. ๐ Episode Overview In this special episode of the Green Building Matters Podcast, we're coming to you from Blueprint Vegas 2025 at The Venetian, Las Vegas โ the premier event on the future of the built world. With over 3,000+ attendees, 250+ speakers, and 50+ countries represented, Blueprint brings together the brightest minds in real estate, construction, technology, and sustainability. โป๏ธ Why Blueprint Matters for Green Building Blueprint isn't just another real estate tech event โ it's where the future of sustainable construction and operations takes shape. From decarbonization strategies to AI-driven building management, this year's conversations spotlight how the built world is adapting to climate goals and net-zero commitments. ๐ Connect & Learn More Resources & Links ๐ Blueprint Vegas 2025 Official Website ๐ง More episodes of the Green Building Matters Podcast ๐ฉ Contact us to share your green building story: [podcast@greenbuildingmatters.com] ๐ Read the transcript: here ๐ Join the Green Building Movement: https://greenbuildingmatters.com/ โ๏ธ Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter here: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Sep 17, 2025 โข 34min
Brian Sheng on Turning Air into Water
๐ฏ The Green Impact Report Quick take: This week's episode goes beyond bricks and beams. Brian Sheng, co-founder and CEO of Aquaria, is tackling one of the planet's most overlooked sustainability challenges: water. His team is building clean water infrastructure by literally harvesting water from air โ a breakthrough that could redefine how communities access one of life's most critical resources. ๐ค Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Brian Sheng is the co-founder and CEO of Aquaria, a company pioneering atmospheric water generation at scale. A first-generation American who grew up in New York, Brian studied at Princeton before building a career as both an entrepreneur and investor in future-focused technologies. After leading Fresh, an early-stage venture firm that backed AI, climate, and government tech, Brian shifted to operating in climate innovation. At Aquaria, he's on a mission to make reliable, abundant, and sustainable water accessible to communities everywhere. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Brian Sheng revolutionizes traditional thinking about water and infrastructure ๐ง Key Insight #1: Water is the overlooked frontier of sustainability. The Challenge: Infrastructure projects are stalled by insufficient access to clean water. The Solution: Aquaria generates water directly from air, creating a new and abundant supply chain. ROI: Reliable, decentralized access to clean water for homes and communities, reducing strain on existing systems. ๐ง Key Insight #2: Startups can shift how infrastructure is built. The Challenge: Water infrastructure is costly, slow, and dependent on outdated systems. The Solution: Aquaria approaches water like solar โ distributed, scalable, and technology-driven. ROI: Faster deployment, more resilient communities, and the potential to scale from individual homes to entire cities. ๐ง Key Insight #3: Mission-driven innovation requires intentional culture. The Challenge: Founders often struggle to balance speed with sustainable talent growth. The Solution: Brian builds teams with intentional mentorship, complementary co-founders, and a mix of in-person and distributed collaboration. ROI: A resilient, mission-aligned company culture that scales alongside the tech. ๐ Sustainable Soundbite "We are like solar, but for water โ energy from the sun, water from the air." โ Brian Sheng ๐ Your Green Building Action Plan: Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate where water access could bottleneck your building or community projects. This Quarter: Explore distributed water solutions like atmospheric generation to reduce risk. This Year: Build partnerships with innovators that scale sustainable infrastructure, not just energy, but also water. ๐ Connect & Learn More ๐ฟ Access full episode resources here ๐ Read the transcript here ๐ Connect with Brian Sheng: Website: https://www.aquaria.world/ Brian on: LinkedIn Brian on: Instagram Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. ๐ Subscribe to our FREE newsletter here: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Sep 10, 2025 โข 43min
Kristen DiStefano on Designing for Future-Ready Sustainability
The Green Impact Report Quick take: What if your master plan was smart enough to beat policy to the punch? Kristen DiStefano shares bold strategies from Atelier Ten that are shaping the future of zero-carbon communities โ before the ink is dry on today's code. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Kristen DiStefano is a Director at Atelier Ten and a leading voice in environmental design. Trained in both civil engineering and architecture, she brings technical fluency and people-centered creativity to some of the West Coast's most ambitious sustainable projects. From net-zero campuses to district-scale reuse systems, her work bridges policy, performance, and people. ๐ฑ Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Kristen DiStefano revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Building a blackwater-powered future in Mission Rock The Challenge: Water reuse wasn't even legal when the project began. The Solution: Design a district-wide blackwater treatment and reuse system anyway. ROI: Now required by code, the system will save an estimated 16 million gallons annually. Key Insight #2: Rethinking energy at California College of the Arts The Challenge: Maker spaces with kilns, glass furnaces, and labs have huge loads. The Solution: Dual strategy โ reduce architectural demand and work directly with studio leaders to tackle equipment use. ROI: Smart controls + future microgrid + PV = a scalable model for low-carbon academic buildings. Key Insight #3: Expanding what "zero carbon" really means The Challenge: Too many sustainability frameworks stop at operations. The Solution: Kristen argues for a broader carbon scope: refrigerants, site work, EV infrastructure, and even transportation emissions. ROI: A regenerative, resilient framework that keeps pace with realityโand policy shifts. ๐ Sustainable Soundbite "Eventually the goal would be to never emit carbon to begin with. But we're not quite there yet. So let's chart the path." โ Kristen DiStefano ๐ Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Revisit your project's early-stage energy and water assumptions โ are you future-proofing or checking boxes? This Quarter: Map your carbon strategy across all five pillars: operations, embodied materials, refrigerants, transportation, and site impacts. This Year: Pilot one regenerative or district-scale solution โ even if it's ahead of current code. Be the reason it's normalized later. Connect & Learn More ๐ฟ Access full episode resources: [GreenBuildingMatters.com/podcast] ๐ **Read the transcript here.** ๐ Connect with Kristen DiStefano: [LinkedIn] | [Atelier Ten] Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter here: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc ยฉ 2025 | Good Green Fun.


