The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

Charlie Cichetti
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Jul 31, 2019 • 37min

From Living Buildings to SF Environment with Eden Brukman

About this episode In the Green Belt Movement Podcast today, Charlie engages Eden Brukman, who leads the Living Building Challenge. Eden Brukman is formally trained as an architect, and also a creative writer, with a strong bias in creating children's books. Eden shares her journey as an architect until she took a significant shift in her career to education advocacy in sustainability development by leaving the architectural practice. Key Talking Points Eden's backstory in architectural practice. Eden Bruk's transition in career to sustainability development. Eden's opinion on the architectural industry. The future in the sustainability industry. Key Milestones of the Episode [01:26] Eden's backstory on her background. [03:07] Why Eden was interested in venturing into architecture. [03:51] The people who inspired Eden to focus on architecture. [08:14] Eden's opinion on the architecture industry. [14:58] How Eden delved into the sustainability industry. [20:03] Eden's current goals and projects in the sustainability industry. [26:14] Eden's take on her career world. [27:18] The habits that help Eden remain successful in her career. [30:29] Eden Brukman's favorite book. [32:08] Eden's advice to people getting into the green building industry. [33:21] What made Eden transition from architectural practice into advocacy education. Key Quotes "Architecture is a social science; we have to learn everything about design for our clients who haven't seen them to design something that will be successful to them." "Everyone has their own path and we need to embrace the path and give people the ability and help along the way to bring them along; and for them to bring others along." Key Resource The Living Building Challenge Connect with Eden Brukman Eden Brukman is on Twitter Eden Brukman is on LinkedIn Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jul 24, 2019 • 41min

Passive Houses and Zero Net Energy with James Geppner

Passive Houses and Zero Net Energy with James Geppner About this Episode In this episode, Charlie talks with James Geppner about zero net energy and how we adjust our behaviors and adjust as a society. James is the Executive Director for Erase 40 in New York and has lived there for the last 30 years. Key Talking Points James's journey in the film industry to sustainability and zero net energy. Working with behaviorists to develop programs to launch Zero Building Industry Contrast of consumer behavior How our point of view can be incredibly inaccurate of what our needs will be Why wasn't the choice of passive homes commonplace What costs come with certain risks Key Milestones of the Episodes [0:41] James's background [1:48] James's unusual career [4:41] James's entry into sustainability [5:51] An enormous amount of authority at a young age [8:14] Jame's achievements [10:56] Next trend [15:50] Started studying why passive homes weren't commonplace [20:34] The Lucky Game Project [31:27] Having conversations with people who have small firms Key Quotes "Early on in my film career I ran one of the offices in New York and was connected to a studio…." "I was basically asking basic sort of very fundamental behavioral question, which is what motivates people. "It's having conviction around something so others will join you in your effort." "We tend to be very bad at predicting what our needs will be even a very short time out." Key Resources Erase 40 Website Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely, Simon Jones, et al. Death and the Afterlife: Biblical Perspectives on Ultimate Questions (New Studies in Biblical Theology) Paperback – March 6, 2018 by Paul R. Williamson Get in Contact with James James Geppner on LinkedIn Don't forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the Green Building Matters website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jul 17, 2019 • 42min

Having Researchers on Staff | A Discussion with LEED Fellow Z Smith

About this Episode In this episode, Charlie talks with Z about his very unique career through the green building industry after earning multiple degrees. Z Smith decided to get his Master's degree in Architecture after he already had a Bachelor's in Physics and PhD in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science. Yes, you read that right. His career also includes a variety of experiences with pioneering brands and countries including Xerox, RCA Labs and the Japanese government. Key Talking Points Why Z Smith became interested in the "green" movement The journey Z Smith took from physics through electrical engineering and computer science to architecture The importance of internal researchers within architecture firms Setting up feedback loops and learning from the outcomes What are we really trying to get the building to do, elegantly, with the least amount of materials Finding resistance when hiring Picking up the pace with rating systems and raise the standards in communities Key Milestones of the Episode [1:40] Z Smith's background [2:34] The university job that introduced Z Smith to the sustainable industry [5:57] The start of Z Smith's journey into architecture [7:49] What is happening behind the scenes on the research side [10:50] What frustrated Z Smith the most in architecture [14:46] Touchstone throughout career [18:29] Tracking our work [23:13] Applying rigor to a practice [27:15] David Lake's Spice Girl moment [31:49] Rating systems have a place but we need to pick up the pace Key Quotes "At the time I was going to college, it was the late 70's. We were just getting through the energy crisis and it looked like if we didn't solve problems with energy, we were going to end up in some war with the Middle East." "In fact, if you pick up your iPhone or smartphone, you are actually looking at a field of amorphous silicate." "Many of our clients would love to have an energy efficient building if not a net zero building but they just assume that it is not possible and not practical." "My main gift is to convince people that things are possible." Key Resource Home Energy Saver Get in Contact with Z Smith Z Smith is the Director of Sustainability and Building Performance at Eskew+Dumez+Ripple and an associate professor of architecture at Tulane University, and a speaker on sustainability issues. Z Smith on LinkedIn Don't forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the Green Building Matters website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jul 10, 2019 • 30min

Future of the Industry with Brad Pease of Paladino & Co.

About this Episode In this episode, Charlie talks with Brad Pease about his 16-year career as a green building expert with Paladino and Company. Brad shared how he got into the sustainability industry, why he chose to work (and continue to work) with Paladino and Company, and his thoughts of the future of the sustainable building industry. Key Talking Points Brad's reasons for jumping from history to architecture and then to the sustainable building industry Architecture's relationships - Brad shares his unique perspective on architecture The shift in sustainability What's needed in the sustainability industry right NOW Key Milestones of the Episodes [1:38] Brad's background [3:00] Brad's entry into sustainability [5:50] The four people that had the most impact on his career [10:32] Brad's current projects [14:18] The shift in checking LEED for performance vs points [17:00] What we need in the future of sustainability? [18:07] The importance of conversation in the sustainability Key Quotes "At the end of the day, it's not the projects that I worked with. It's going to be the people I worked with…" "The narrative has changed from 'I need to get a LEED certification' to 'How do I impact my carbon footprint'?" "I don't spend any time convincing anybody that sustainability should be a core value...but I can show them how a strategy...that aligns to the values that they hold dear to themselves." Key Resources Paladino and Company 747: Creating the First Jumbo Jet and Other Activities from a Life in Aviation by Jay Spenser and Joe Sutter Get in Contact with Brad Brad Pease was a history major who switched into is the Vice President of Technical Services with Paladino & Company. Brad Pease on Twitter Brad Pease on LinkedIn Don't forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the Green Building Matters website Don't forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the Green Building Matters website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jul 3, 2019 • 45min

Net Zero Design Competition with Prasad Vaidya

About this Episode In this episode, we talk with Prasad Vaidya about his experience growing up in one of the most populous cities in the world (Mumbai) to a LEED Fellow/consultant/professor of a Master's degree program that is scaling the sustainability industry. Prasad shared his initial interest in sustainability and how he (and the sustainability industry) have evolved over the years. Key Talking Points Transitioning from traditional architecture to sustainability Early mentors and projects in Prasad's career The evolution of the sustainability building industry Improving sustainability building models to improve energy efficiency Why sustainability is about more than checklists Why there is so much to be done in sustainability Key Milestones of the Episodes [1:46} Prasad's background [3:09] How did you get that spark to sustainability? [5:00] Prasad's transition to the US [7:19] Mentors and early influences [9:50] How has sustainability and the energy-efficient movement changed over the years? [17:00] Early design assistance [14:09] Prasad's proudest work achievements [19:17] What is your current "green" mission? Key Quotes "There's so much to be done." "There are architects who want to make a difference…" Key Resources Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Building Solar Decathlon Entry by CEPT University's Team Kill Bill (Affordable Housing Category) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_p3MmZ_Ucg Other Resources Race to Zero student competition The Art of Andy Goldsworthy Passage by Andy Goldsworthy Get in Contact with Prasad Prasad Vaidya is a LEED Fellow, professor at CEPT University, and consultant with a background in architecture who specializes in energy efficiency, sustainability, and integrated design. Prasd Vaidya on LinkedIn Don't forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the Green Building Matters website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jun 26, 2019 • 32min

GBM with Nate Adams

Nate Adams, The House Whisperer About this Episode In this episode, we talk with Nate Adams, aka "The House Whisperer" about the residential side of things, particularly energy performance. Nate shares how he got into the field of improving home energy performance and the powerful movement he is supporting to help make energy efficiency the norm in the industry. Key Talking Points Nate's nontraditional route into the "green" movement The "Electrify Everything" movement & Nate's mission to improve energy performance in every home Why home performance needs a measurement upgrade The importance of teaching while learning to make a stronger movement Key Milestones of the Episodes [1:19] Nate's background [2:13] Nate's nontraditional route into sustainability [4:16] The "Electrify Everything" Movement [8:00] Nate's movement into the "entrepreneur" side of building green [14:03] The "House Whisperer" Process [20:13] What should the industry be focused on? [21:57] Why we need standardized energy measures [23:59] Consistent routines & teaching while evolving Key Quotes "The math has flipped to where renewable energy is the least expensive source [of energy] in most places." Key Resource The Home Comfort Book: The ultimate guide to creating a comfortable, healthy, long lasting, and efficient home. Other Resources An Inconvenient Truth Electrify Everything! A Practical Guide to Ditching Your Gas Meter Energy-Efficient Homes Are Worth More. So Let's Create an Easy Metric for Buyers An Efficiency Manifesto: Energy and Home Performance Programs Need Serious Reform Get in Contact with Nate Nate Adams is the owner of The House Whisperer, green building industry writer, consultant, business partner for One Knob Consulting and Energy Home Performance, and author of "The Home Comfort Book" The House Whisperer Website Nate Adams on LinkedIn Don't forget to catch more episodes and resources for all of your green building news at the Green Building Matters website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jun 19, 2019 • 33min

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with Joe Connell

Joe Connell has been Executive Director of the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) since 2017. Being in the building trades since I was 15 years old, and in reuse nonprofits for the last 20 years I am a builder at heart. Whether it's renovating our 1887 home on an offshore island in Maine, or restructuring and building a nonprofit for success, I delight in looking for ways to improve systems and structures. Building a successful nonprofit, is not much different than building a solid house; square, level, plumb, is the trick; and keep the junk out. The difference with nonprofits is that the people are the foundation; and that's the fun part. Since 2000, I have been a leader in the reuse industry, first in the Northwest where I helped launch several local reuse groups in Portland, Oregon; and served on the City of Portland's Deconstruction Advisory Group to pass the nation's first deconstruction ordinance. Then nationally with Habitat for Humanity through my work on the National ReStore Committee. I am now continuing that work nationally with the BMRA. While with Habitat we built the Portland Habitat ReStores into one of the nation's top 5 ReStores in revenue and net profit. Since joining the BMRA I have been revising and refocusing the organization to align the BMRA with other industries in the sustainable materials management industry and continue to heighten the awareness of reuse and deconstruction. I am also strongly focused on the incredible potential for workforce development and social ventures within the reuse economy. Other than building and rebuilding I love to cook, garden, and walk the rocky island beaches of my home in Maine. My favorite quote is from another Maine transplant; "I wake up every morning determined both to change the world and have one heck of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day a little difficult." E.B. White Joe Connell - Get To Know Joe Joe grew up in an inner city, New Jersey working class family. He went to school in Chicago, Wheaton College and got into construction because his father was a painter. Joe started working with his dad when he was 13 and then decided he did not want to be a painter, so he learned how to be a carpenter. "Growing up in an inner city in New Jersey it was a rough place, a rough environment, I didn't get out of New Jersey or really see trees without buildings until I was 13 years old and went to a camp in upstate New York in the Adirondacks and it blew my mind." -Joe Connell Early Start of Career While Joe was at camp, it was his first exposure to the natural world. He was the kid that walked around without permission exploring without permission. They were always looking for him, but he always found his way back. The men Joe met at this camp became the most influential people in his life. "They taught me what it meant to be a person of honor and respect and gave me something bigger to shoot for while at the same time teaching me that the natural world was an extremely valuable place." - Joe Connell Making a Career in Sustainability Joe lived in New York City after college working as a carpenter and was frustrated with the trades and the amount of waste. He didn't really know what to do about that or how to wrap his head around it. Joe then moved to Maine and started working with some contractors who were working in the very early stages of green buildings and were way ahead of the curve. Once they stopped swinging their hammers I went back to school. "I went back to school and got a degree in Conflict Management Mediation and Facilitation because I'd gotten involved in a couple board of directors locally and wanted to turn to non-profit." - Joe Connell Potential of Building Materials Joe got a job while going to school at Habitat for Humanity Restore. He knew construction and building materials but not the sales side of building materials. They were doing about $250,000 in sales that year but Joe knew it had more potential. In the 12 years he was there they increased their employees and went to 4.5 million a year in sales. "I went to my boss and said we've got to change this up or I'm going to go because we're just nowhere in mapping the potential here." - Joe Connell Book Recommendations Essays of E. B. White by E. B. White, Malcolm Hillgartner, et al. Tune into this podcast to listen to the rest of Joe Connell's journey in this podcast hosted by Charlie. Connect with Joe Connell: Linkedin Facebook Twitter Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jun 12, 2019 • 31min

LEED Progress in Mexico with Cesar Ulises Trevino

Cesar Ulises Trevino is the General Director of Bioconstrucción y Energía Alternativa, a pioneering consulting firm and leader in sustainable building in Mexico and Latin America. He has developed emblematic projects including the first LEED-NC Gold and LEED-NC Platinum certifications in Latin America.Cesar has been the keynote speaker at multiple conferences in America, Europe and Asia. He is a member of the Advisory Group on Sustainable Building of the Commission of Environmental Cooperation for North America. Additionally Cesar is an editorial collaborator in various magazines and specialized magazines. Cesar Ulises Trevino - Get To Know Cesar Cesar grew up in Monterrey, Mexico. He was a civil engineer at Tec de Monterrey, with a master's degree in construction management from the University of Newcastle in England. He developed his professional career in Grupo Vitro (Mexico), the Norwegian Institute of Research for Construction (Norway) and the General Directorate of Construction of Works of the Metro (Mexico). He was the first professional Hispanic to receive the LEED Accreditation™ AP and the prestigious LEED™ Fellow. Cesar was also the founding president of the Mexico Green Building Council and former Secretary-General of the World Green Building Council. Mentors Cesar looks to people that have encouraged and helped him throughout his career. He mentions his family first, saying how they've always had his back. Cesar mentions how he has had many mentors and it is hard to single anyone out. He has enjoyed working with everyone and continues to love it. "I can tell you that the best experience from this journey is the people." - Cesar Ulises Trevino Accomplishments Cesar is very happy with his group for completing milestone projects. He has completed projects in Latin America, Mexico, and Norway. There have been some challenges with LEED in Cesar's region. They have gotten better over time, but at one point it was hard for Cesar to make a business case and do what he wanted to do. Cesar has had to work extremely hard to get where he is, and it shows with the progress made in his region. "It was a very strong message to the industry. This project can be done, and it was achieved by Mexicans." - Cesar Ulises Trevino Tune into this podcast to listen to the rest of Cesar Ulises Trevino's journey in this podcast hosted by Charlie. Connect with Cesar Ulises Trevino: Linkedin Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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Jun 5, 2019 • 20min

A More Sustainable and Resilient City with Mike Hess

A More Sustainable and Resilient City with Mike Hess Mike Hess is the Smart City Project Director in Orlando, Florida. He was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin. He graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Mike spent most of his life in Wisconsin and then was recruited by an engineering company in Orlando and focused on mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering for buildings. "My background is in mechanical engineering but I quickly switched to an energy and sustainability focus early in his career." -Mike Hess Mike's Aha Moment Mike remembers bumping into the CEO at the coffee machine where they had a discussion about Energy Star. The CEO asked Mike if he would do some research and provide him a short memo version so he was up to date for clients. That whole exercise caused Mike to stumble upon LEED and more holistic green building rating system. It was just a chance encounter that has brought him to where he is today. "Once I read about it (green buildings), I just gravitated towards it and realized that it was just the right thing to do." -Mike Hess Transitioning From the Engineering Side Mike started out as a mechanical engineer right out of college. He traveled across the country trying to convince people to pursue LEED and Energy Star. Mike believes it was too early for those customers. He started his own green building consulting firm so he could focus on sustainability. Once the sustainability movement started to pick up, Mike was recruited back and took his small business to a national and international reach. "For about 10 years projects were mostly LEED, well over a hundred LEED certified projects." - Mike Hess Book Recommendations Cradle to Cradle: . Remaking the Way We Make Things by Michael Braungart and William McDonough Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M Benyus Tune into this podcast to listen to the rest of Mike Hess's journey in this podcast hosted by Charlie. Connect with Mike Hess: Linkedin Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES
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May 29, 2019 • 28min

The Importance of Sustainability with Susan Kaplan

BuildingWrx is a firm founded by Susan Kaplan for the purpose of providing collaborative solutions for greening buildings, sites, cities and businesses, and finding more equitable solutions for all design, planning and community endeavors. Clients have included GSA, Community Environmental Center, Perkins Eastman Architects, NYSERDA (via Sustainable Performance Consulting, Inc.), Federal Reserve Bank and The RockefellerGroup. Susan Kaplan - Get To Know Susan Before her company went all-in on green, Susan worked on a few eco-minded projects and didn't fall in love right away. Susan said landscape architecture didn't really inspire joy at this point, but this feeling was temporary. They brought in a new president who wanted to go green, and that is when Susan fell in love with building/architecture and that change luckily came at a time that my office started embracing sustainability, about 1999. So I really got in at the beginning - the Solaire was my first project for Battery Park City Authority!. She worked on parks and buildings, and found it fascinating to find new ways to benefit the environment around her. She always wanted to make things better not only for the projects, but for the surrounding environment as well. "It is interesting to think about the impact we have on the environment in ways we don't think about." -Susan Kaplan The Future of Sustainability Susan says it is very important to look to the future for sustainability. This is where we have to go as a society and we need to make it the best environment possible for future generations. Susan says we need to collectively raise our children to respect and care for the environment. They will be the ones here after we are gone, and instilling these values can ensure that idea of sustainability will exist beyond our own lifetime. Words of Encouragement Susan said it is most important to find work in an area you love, because it makes it much easier to stay motivated in that field. It is a simple concept, but only a small percentage of people work in a field that they genuinely enjoy. We all have an untapped potential in areas we may have never thought about. Susan encourages everyone to find that thing they love, and turn it into something special. "There is something we all really love doing, and once we love doing it, we are so much better at it." - Susan Kaplan Book Recommendations Urban Alchemy: Restoring Joy in America's Sorted-Out Cities by Dr. Mindy Fullilove Chocolate Chip Recipe https://ourbestbites.com/jacques-torres-chocolate-chip-cookies/ Tune into this podcast to listen to the rest of Susan Kaplan's journey in this podcast hosted by Charlie. Connect with Susan Kaplan: Linkedin Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram 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 insurances that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join 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 iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2019 GBES

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