The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Susan El-Naggar is a LEED Green Associate and WELL AP and along with her husband, Tarik, AIA both are principals at Healing Environments. Susan has over 20 years of experience as an interior designer. She received her education for interior design at The International Academy of Design & Technology in Chicago and completed additional studies in Portugal, Egypt, Israel, and Montreal. She has worked on a variety of projects in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and California. Susan is an NCIDQ certified interior designer and a registered interior designer in Indiana and Illinois. Susan has been recognized in Who's Who in Entrepreneurs, participated in showcase houses for interior design in Indiana and Illinois, and has been a speaker and consultant throughout Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area. She has been a chairperson for the American Society of Interior Design IL Chapter, and Porter County Builders Association. She also sat as a juror for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). She is currently a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers, Valparaiso Chamber, and U.S. Green Building Council. Susan El-Naggar - Get To Know Susan Susan got her start at the International Academy of Design and Technology, focusing on interior design. She became sustainable-minded when she and her husband started to study products in their household. They began to switch these products with green products that worked for them. Then, they leaned into their interior design and agriculture business. Susan and Tarik now make sure houses and rooms promote healing and inner peace for the spirit. "My husband and I started to gather all of the products in our home and started to replace them with green products. This was the beginning of my journey into that space." - Susan El-Naggar Early Sustainability Journey Susan begins by telling us how she wanted to be an interior design and create her own business. This love started at a young age when she went to art school and would create art. Susan would do everything by herself when her first business started and then she went to school for interior design. Proudest Achievements Susan's greatest moment in her career was creating a project with her husband. This project was at a home, and the client wanted a healing spot for their household. Susan and her husband were able to tear down a master room and create a spa room. This was made with green products and natural products. They entered this in the American Society of Interior Design Illinois chapter and won first place. "We started to knock the room down all the way, and we could do whatever we wanted. All they wanted was a room like a spa retreat room. We were able to use green products, and it was one of the first times doing so." - Susan El-Naggar Book Recommendations Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen GBES Community: https://www.gbes.com/unlimited-leed-and-well-training-and-education/ Tune into this podcast to listen to the rest of Susan El-Naggar's journey in this podcast hosted by Charlie. Connect with Susan El-Naggar: 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

Mark Loeffler is a professional member of the International Association of Lighting Designers and a LEED Fellow and has practiced lighting and sustainable design consulting for more than 30 years. Based in the New Haven area, Mark enjoys working with innumerable architects, engineers, organizations, and institutions across the Northeast US on a wide range of ambitious and notable projects of every type and scale. Mark collaborates with architects, engineers, planners, and facility managers to help them better leverage their own lighting and sustainable design talents and resources to deliver inspired and vital buildings. From hourly consulting on individual project challenges to more comprehensive involvement in strategic planning, Mark assists with architectural lighting, day lighting, and sustainable design workshops, concept development, performance criteria, analytical requirements, peer review, and benchmarking readiness. Mark Loeffler - Get To Know Mark Mark grew up in Austin, Texas in the 1960s and 1970s. He started off at the University of Texas as a novelist but became an assistant lighting designer of Austin Ballet Theater. He then finished his degree in Humanities but focused on lighting as a career. In 1987, Mark and his wife moved to New Haven, Connecticut and finished with an MFA in Agricultural Lighting. Very quickly, Mark started integrated lighting and agricultural lighting, then got involved with energy efficiency and design. "I went to work for a woman who started her own firm that started integrated lighting and agricultural lighting and that's where I really got involved with energy efficiency and sustainable lighting design in the late '80s and early '90s, well before LEED." - Mark Loeffler Early Sustainability Journey Mark made the change from theatrical design to agricultural pretty quickly. Mark took what he knew from theatrical design and applied it to his agricultural practice. Mark admired that people respond to lighting in different ways and the combination of natural and artificial lighting is where he found his passion. Mark uses this as a framing tool to approach a design for his projects. Mike eventually worked for Howard J. Brown who let him explore this passion and taught him how to do better with less. "Howard Brown was a huge influence and gave me the opportunity to practice lighting design as part as early sustainable designs environmental management systems for corporations, which would become a big part in the sustainable movement." - Mark Loeffler Proudest Achievements Mark has had the pleasure to work on very notable buildings around the Connecticut area. He has been blessed with the opportunity to work on over 100 projects at Yale University and led the early beginnings of the sustainable movement on campus. He helped with the Brain Museum which was their first LED project and won Sustainable Project of the Year from the Illuminating Engineering Society. Mark was the founding member of the New Haven office that led the design team for the Brain Museum. "I've had the privilege to work on a lot of notable buildings since the 2000s, especially here in New Haven. Working at Yale University, we have been able to save 29% of their energy and have them use LEED Gold. So, over the years I've been able to work on over 100 projects." - Mark Loeffler Book Recommendations Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth by Malcolm Wells Tune into this podcast to listen to the rest of Mark Loeffler's journey in this podcast hosted by Charlie. Connect with Mark Loeffler: 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