Going Green with Greenbuild 20-Nineteen
Farah Ahmad
HANDPRINTS OVER [CARBON] FOOTPRINTS
After being so consumed with working towards my professional license as an Architect, 2019 became the year I carved out the time to attend some of my favorite industry conference. Truly, building industry events are one of a kind, as it is an opportunity to check out the latest trends and technologies, as well as hear the perspective of other jurisdictions in design and construction decision making.
In 2019, I attended three major conferences: Climate Reality in Atlanta with Al Gore, AIA’s Conference on Architecture in Las Vegas, and to round up the year, Greenbuild in Atlanta with Barack Obama.
The last time I attended Greenbuild was in 2013. I was just over a year out of Architecture school, and a LEED Green Associate eyeing Environmental Sustainability in the building world as my niche. To return six years later was a flood of nostalgia. This initial venture to Greenbuild was my first conference as a professional. Truly, an experience like no other. There was a special camaraderie amongst the 2013 Greenbuild Scholarship Recipients in exploring Philadelphia and the small city we had created within Greenbuild inside the walls of the Convention Center. I credit that conference for further propelling my intrigue for green building, boosting my confidence, and affirming (to me) the vast limits of my profession.
My second experience at Greenbuild did not disappoint. 2019 themes in the green building industry revolved around resiliency in design (building to prepare for future natural disasters as a consequence of climate change), and interior health and wellness (creating healthier spaces with better quality for occupants).
What are my 2019 observations in green building trends?
There is an increasing focus on carbon as a metric measure for building performance.
Cities incentivize resilient design and/or integrate it with building code. Other jurisdictions simply dictate guidelines. Check out New York City’s latest guidelines here and regulatory requirements for flood-resistant construction here.
While our focus is largely on operational carbon in building emissions, embodied carbon makes up the majority of the carbon buckets of building. Pay closer attention to the ‘red list’ of building materials for interior retrofits during a building’s lifecycle.
Architects need to listen to their clients and assess what they truly need, in order to make the best use of resources. Bigger usually isn’t always better. One of my favorite sessions “Personal Homes of LEED Raters - Their Paths to LEED Platinum” really illustrated the benefits of compact homes and the consequential minimal impact of building systems in design (hello smaller HVAC distribution systems, and goodbye heat loss!).
I attended several sessions on waste management and building tenant engagement which really highlighted the role of building staff- building owners, managers, and custodial staff- and the ways they can effectively implement sustainable practices. Get them involved. Check this resource out!
There was more diversity in the products showcased on the expo floor. EV Charging Station infrastructure, integrated solar PV and green roof, and a broader array of interior furnishings/finishes made from recycled materials, stood out to me. Check out my Sustainability instagram for more in-depth coverage of the expo floor.
Federal Leadership
What makes an effective team?
“Having diversity on your team and people smarter than you”
-Barack Obama:
Obama’s keynote was a bittersweet reminder that there demands a quicker response time to the climate change disaster-”I know of no issue that is more urgent than [climate change]”- and that the nation needs to build a culture of integrity and not edge “close to the line of betraying public trust.” Because the 2016-2020 political administration had turned its back on the most threatening life crisis, it is important to recognize that the solution is a grassroots movement that has to be bottom up. “We didn’t live and breathe it [sustainability] the way this generation does,” explained a hopeful Obama. And while it is important to work individually (Obama cited simple actions- turning the lights off when not needed), the former President also acknowledged that building codes and environmental regulations will help us to work collectively and effectively.
Another prevailing theme of Greenbuild 19 was the celebration of origin stories of Sustainability. Why should and do we care about the growing impacts of this industry? Obama spoke of growing up in Hawaii, and recognizing that there is such a finite amount of land. What exists in itself is beautiful, and he appreciated at a young age its beauty. “That makes you want to sustain it because it is nice. Even as a young kid you appreciate and recognize that you don’t want to destroy it.” Each of us has that special place we call our home or our escape, and so we by default want to preserve and protect it.
Obama also recognized an inherent flaw in American culture. Simply put, our lifestyle emphasizes big everything. It’s the reason our carbon footprint has expanded, Obama explains. Larger cars and homes aren’t helping. “The question is, how much space do we need?” Obama jokingly referenced his stays at presidential suites in hotels, where it was difficult to navigate through all the unnecessary rooms, and that it would be much more efficient to stay in one room that houses all necessities.
All in all, the best part of Greenbuild has always been reconnecting with my industry friends (and making new ones!) from around the country. Greenbuild has become a precious hub for our green building community professionals. At the time of this post, the next Greenbuild event information will take place in 2021 in San Diego.
