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.

Episodes

Mentioned books

Mar 3, 2021 • 31min

Discussing Living Buildings, Hawaii, and More With LAS’ Jim Nicolow (FAIA, LEED Fellow)

A nationally recognized expert on sustainable design, Jim serves as Director of Sustainability, leading the effort to incorporate sustainable design strategies and features into LAS design projects Nationally. Nicolow’s extensive knowledge of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system has made him a sought-after speaker, author, and blogger. He recently earned the distinctions of AIA Fellow and LEED Fellow. Nicolow joined LAS in 1997 and in 2001 became the first member of the firm-and one of the first in the country-to become a LEED Accredited Professional. He has participated in the successful LEED certification of more than 70 projects. He was instrumental in the firm’s early adoption of The 2030 Challenge, an initiative whose ultimate goal is the design of carbon-neutral buildings and leads the firm’s effort to identify opportunities and strategies for the routine integration of eco-effective design i all LAS projects as well as improving the environmental performance of the firm’s operations and workplaces. Jim attended the University of Michigan, where he received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Architecture, and Wester Michigan University, where he received a Master of Business Administration. He is a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certificate holder. Show Highlights Merge personal interest in sustainability with a professional career. What you need to know about Lord Aeck Sargent and Katerra? a firm interested in ecological design. technology company extensively looking to disrupt the design and construction industry. Clients that focus on sustainability as a key driver for their built environment projects motivate and move the industry. Sustainability challenges, materials and projects that incentivized the Hawaiian region to be efficient. The codes have really caught up to LEED with the ASHRAE 90.1 approach to LEED. The embodied carbon impact of the building products take on an ever greater importance. A push for mass timber as part of the future of the building industry. Jim’s highlight project that was completely focused on sustainability and creating a teaching building to tell the story of sustainability. “With the Living Building Challenge, as an example, you've got to power the building with the light that falls on the site and provide water with what falls on the site. I would like to see these solutions be solved on the municipal level; that way, the building operator is not also running an energy plant and a water treatment plant. It would be much better if we still had distributed systems, but solve some of these issues on a greater scale. I'm hoping we will start to look more comprehensively at communities rather than building by building.” Jim Nicolow’s Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2021 GBES

Feb 3, 2021 • 50min

Mexico City’s LEED Pioneer - Alicia Silva

Director and founder of Revitaliza Consultores in Mexico City, a firm specialized in environmental consulting for green building portfolios, Alicia is responsible for overseeing LEED certification, strategic development, and corporate sustainability initiatives in diverse markets encompassing México, Peru, Colombia and Spain. In 2015, Alicia was recognized by GB&D Magazine as one of the 20 women who are shaping the sustainability landscape of tomorrow. She has overseen certification projects for several icon buildings: Torre Mayor (a 55-floor multi-tenant corporate building), Antiguo Palacio del Ayuntamiento, (a 500 year old historic building), and CIINOVA (the highest scoring LEED certified building in Latin America). Alicica was featured in LEED in Motion Mexico, as one of the leaders in LEED consulting in Mexico. Alicia is a founding member of SUMe Sustentabilidad Para Mexico. She served as its Vice President from 2011-2015. She volunteered on the LEED steering committee with USGBC, and represented Mexico at the LEED international Round Table until 2016. Alicia also works hard to advance gender equality in the construction industry. Her company culture is designed to keep smart women in their jobs. Her company does this by offering flexible schedules and quality of life so nobody has to choose between career and family! She is the recipient of the Greenbuild Mexico Leadership Award 2019 a recognition for her trajectory as a change maker. Her goal is to build a sustainable future where community and business growth are aligned with the vitality of the planet and the quality of human life. Show Highlights Seattle’s EcoTopia and Ecopreneurs force you to convert to a super green life. Raising the standard overcomes gender bias in the industry and in Latin America. The benefits of LEED evolved to change the markets, increase education, and promote green building in a developing country. Tips for the role of a green building consultant and how to demonstrate a business case, a health case, a better world case for every building you work in. Strategizing how to make your whole portfolio better. Shifts of the investors and the projects, in terms of the climate emergency now that green building is at the forefront. Education is essential if you want to transform and inspire the market. “We really want to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world. I want to see the transformation that happens in people when they are moved internally by green buildings and sustainability and see, for perhaps the first time, that there is a better way of living this life. I want people to know we not only have the responsibility - but the power to build a better world for ourselves and for the generations that follow us.” -Alicia Silva Alicia Silva’s Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2021 GBES

Jan 27, 2021 • 31min

From Green Schools in California to Green Buildings in Kansas City With Sara Greenwood

Sara Greenwood is a sustainability consultant with over 15 years of experience. Her expertise and insight into emerging green building practices and technologies provide a unique perspective for clients pursuing green building certifications or business initiatives. Her experience in sustainable program development and management helps to guide project teams through the green building planning, documentation, and certification process. Sara consults on a number of projects of various building types such as multi-family residential, commercial offices, retail, healthcare, higher education facilities and government buildings. She has strong experience working with the following rating systems: LEED, WELL, Green Globes, CHPS, and ENERGY STAR. Greenwood also consults on sustainable business initiatives and climate services to clients in the corporate, higher educational institutions, and municipal sectors. By engaging in a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory of operations a roadmap can be developed to achieve emissions reduction goals. Her experience assisting cities with Climate Action Plans and energy efficiency and conservation strategies has put her at the forefront of implementing federal and California state legislation. She has helped manage several critical research programs under the California Energy Commission to inform future updates and related public interests. Greenwood has served on the USGBC Central Plains board for three years and has Chaired since January 2016 Specialties: New Construction, Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, Schools, + Existing Buildings certification nationwide. Project management. Sustainability Charrettes • LEED Certification • Rating System Analyst •Corporate Sustainability • Carbon Offset Programs • Project Management • Marketing • Green Materials • Construction Support • Contractor Training Show Highlights Advocated for sustainable schools to facilitate significant bond measures for districts to formally adopt resolutions to build sustainable schools. CHPS Framework is more comprehensive than LEED for Schools. Database of environmentally preferable products Criteria addressing new buildings, existing buildings, portable classrooms and specific rooms Working at CTG provided a broad reaching breadth of experience working that propelled Sara’s career. WELL or adapt elements of the WELL rating system is important to all projects because you can still pull from the WELL standard for the change in building markets. Explore ARC and other existing building performance metrics. Shift towards all electric and much more energy efficient buildings. You need to know about Kansas City, Missouri's commitment to have all public buildings be certified and the different building types all across the Kansas City area. “I'm optimistic that within the building community there will be renewed energy towards the optimization of building performance. All systems. Zero net everything: zero net waste, zero net water, zero net carbon.” -Sara Greenwood Sara Greenwood’s Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2021 GBES

Jan 20, 2021 • 31min

Green Buildings in Colombia Part 2: Green Factory CEO and LEED Fellow Diego Felipe Prada

Experienced Chief Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Skilled in Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Design and Sustainability. Strong business development professional graduated from Universidad de Los Andes. Show Highlights Colombia’s use of natural ventilation to fit their mild climate Sustainability analysis of LEED versus Edge Certification Diego’s project Elemental, was an open letter for sustainability Colombia’s push to create over 2 million sustainable social housing The push for a good ventilating systems The psychology of people and understanding the way to sell them sustainability Industry impact in green building now that the world is conscious about the environment Green Factory’s entrepreneurial journey to becoming a B-Corp “Sometimes you need to jump! Jump in and take risks. For me, sometimes I was a bit scared, which blocked me from doing things that I could and even wanted to do! I learned that sometimes you just have to take the leap and learn how to create your wings on the way down.” -Diego Felipe Prada Diego Felipe Prada’s Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2021 GBES

Jan 13, 2021 • 35min

Green Buildings in Colombia Part 1: Architect & Engineer Esteban Martinez

Esteban Martinez is an architect and civil engineer from the . He received his Master’s Degree in Sustainable Design from the Boston Architectural College and complementary studies in Sustainable Urbanism from the Rotterdam School of Architecture. Esteban holds the following credentials: LEED AP BD&C, LEED AP O&M, GREEN RATER, and Certified Building Commissioning Professional from the Association of Energy Engineers. Martinez is Co-Founder and Director of Sustainability at Green Loop, in Bogota, Colombia – South America where he brings his vast array of experience as a sustainability consultant, energy modeler, and commissioning agent. Esteban has worked on over 180 different projects located in Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and EEUU. In Colombia there are very few companies that develop sustainable architecture in every sense of the word. Most of them are exclusively limited to bioclimatic development, which represents only a small branch of sustainability in buildings. At an industrial level, most of the companies that work on ERUs are limited only to the analysis at the energy level, without going into the design and layout of buildings, and therefore the correct use of natural resources. By integrating the energy branch, with the design and rational use of other resources, it is possible to maximize the reduction of operational costs and therefore greater competitiveness of its products both nationally and internationally. Show Highlights Building in Latin America and mandates that are pushing efficiency. The benefits of a dual degree in engineering and architectural for bigger impact. How a “fluke” started the whole green building movement in Colombia? Esteban’s entrepreneurial journey to bringing LEED projects to Colombia. Energy simulations and bio climatic analysis throughout the world. A LEED gold rating system with less than 1% of extra costs. Materials that adapt to what the environment is bringing. The client looking at money is a good part of the sustainable equation. The impact Greenbuild has on your career. “Remember that sustainability is about people, planet, and profit. If the profit is not there, your client will probably do the project that you're pursuing, but he will never do it again. If it doesn't make economical sense, it's not sustainable.” -Esteban Martinez Esteban Martinez’s Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2021 GBES

Jan 6, 2021 • 43min

30+ Year Career at TIAA in Real Estate Sustainability with Nicholas Stolatis

Nicholas Stolatis leads the asset management and sustainability practice at EPN Real Estate Services, Inc. Nick has extensive experience managing real estate investment assets across all property types and supports clients’ development and implementation of operational best practices. He also advises and represents clients on transactional activities, including leasing, sales, acquisitions and financing. As Head of Global Real Estate Sustainability & Enterprise Initiatives for TIAA, Nicholas created the award-winning GRE Sustainability Initiative: increasing energy efficiency by 22%, reducing energy costs by $100MM and GHG emissions by almost 500,000 tons. His leadership in ESG integration helped TIAA develop unique programs such as Property Management Governance, Responsible Contractor Policies and Real Estate Brand Management. As a senior executive with the firm, he represented Global Real Estate on many corporate working groups, special teams and program initiatives. He was also responsible for the asset and portfolio management of real estate assets including: sales, dispositions, new development, re-positioning of troubled assets, and rehabilitation of foreclosed properties. Nicholas is actively involved in industry advocacy and education groups including BOMI, BOMA, IREM, and IPMS. He is Adjunct Professor with Fordham University's Real Estate Institute. He contributed to IREM's Sustainability Program, and BOMI's Asset Management and High Performance Investment courses, and he facilitates IREM's Ethics and Sustainability curricula. Nicholas is Chairman of the Board for BOMI International and serves on various executive committees, nonprofit advisory boards, investment and technology companies. He has earned the Certified Property Manager (IREM), Real Property Administrator (BOMI) and LEED-AP BD+C (USGBC) designations. Show Highlights The hands-on part of asset management. Asset management vs property management. How to understand the needs of your property. Energy Star is a perfect tool you need to be using for benchmarking. Nick shares the benefits and parameters LEED has on his industry. Differentiate between BOMA and BOMI. Questions and conversations to balance whole equation and discern what makes most sense for your builds. Nick’s exciting multifamily project with the benefits of having an all electric building. “We can't stop education. We have to be constantly learning, especially in this industry. If you're going to rely on what you knew 10 or even 5 years ago, you're behind the times.” -Nick Stolatis Nick Stolatis’ Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2021 GBES

Dec 30, 2020 • 37min

Taking an Entire Portfolio of Real Estate Carbon Neutral With Kilroy’s Sara Neff;

Sara Neff took Kilroy Realty Corporation from having no sustainability program to being named the #1 public real estate company across all asset classes on sustainability in the Americas by GRESB. At Kilroy, she oversees all sustainability initiatives such as the implementation of energy and water efficiency projects, solar and battery installations, green janitor education, all LEED certifications, the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations, and the greening of building and construction standards. Under her leadership they just achieved carbon neutral operations at the end of 2020! She also serves on The CLEEN Project advisory board, the GBCI Board of Directors, and the GRID Alternatives Board of Directors. Previously, she served on the USGBC Advisory Council and as Chair of the Board of Directors of USGBC Los Angeles, in addition to the Board of Directors of Young Professionals in Energy Los Angeles, Advisory Council of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, and the BOMA Los Angeles Sustainability Committee. She is a frequent speaker (20+ events per year) at industry conferences and seminars on energy efficiency, tenant engagement, market transformation, and green leasing. Select speaking engagements include ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year (Keynote), C40, USGBC Greenbuild, VERGE, US Conference of Mayors, BOMA International and ACEEE. Show Highlights Kilroy has the right market forces to make sustainability happen. The reasons you need to advocate for a standalone sustainability budget. Avoid getting trapped in sustainability with these staying power tips for the industry. What did Kilroy do to shock the commercial real estate world? Their impressive sustainability portfolio. Amount of influence over the whole industry, especially in something as important as carbon. The America's listed sector leader across all asset classes. Getting creative about off-site renewables. Sara talks all things GRESB (how green is your portfolio of CRE). Green building’s responsibility towards the impact buildings have on human health and productivity. Sara’s tips to make sustainability make business sense. A great tool that gives insight into the embodied carbon of construction materials and helps manage it. “Environmental people tend to just only want to talk about sustainability. You have to speak the language of business in our field of real estate, to really be able to be successful [with your sustainability initiatives].” -Sara Neff Sara Neff ’s Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2020 GBES

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!

Get the app