The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Angela Gill Nelms shares how interdisciplinary approaches and customer-centered innovation can transform healthcare while creating more sustainable outcomes—offering valuable lessons for green building professionals seeking to drive change in their organizations. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Angela Gill Nelms is an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and board member with a diverse background in SaaS and medical device technology. She excels in building teams and companies centered on global corporate culture, strategic planning, and process improvement. As the founder and host of the mental wellness podcast, Recovery Advocate Network Coffee and Conversation, she addresses stigma and resource disparities in mental health. Angela has received numerous awards, including Georgia Tech's Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award and recognition among Atlanta's 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies. She serves on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board and the Recovery Advocate Network mental health board. Outside of work, Angela enjoys hiking, reading, and engaging in activities such as woodturning, blacksmithing, and cycling, having completed six IRONMAN races. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Angela Gill Nelms revolutionizes traditional innovation approaches: Key Insight #1: Building interdisciplinary teams drives better innovation outcomes The Challenge: Siloed expertise creates narrow solutions that fail to address complex problems The Solution: Angela pioneered cross-departmental collaboration at Georgia Tech, bringing together electrical, mechanical, computer science, and biomedical engineering students to solve a medical device challenge ROI: This approach not only earned her team top honors but transformed how Georgia Tech approaches Capstone projects, creating a new category for interdisciplinary teams Key Insight #2: Customer-centric design prevents expensive innovation failures The Challenge: Medical device innovators often develop "amazing widgets" without consulting end users The Solution: Angela's approach involves getting stakeholders into the feedback loop early—whether doctors, patients, or facility managers ROI: This methodology dramatically reduces waste, shortens development cycles, and creates solutions people actually want to use Key Insight #3: Healthcare environments can learn from children's hospitals to create more healing spaces The Challenge: Traditional medical facilities often feel sterile, institutional, and anxiety-inducing The Solution: Angela suggests modeling adult healthcare spaces after modern children's hospitals with natural light, bright colors, and engaging environments ROI: These design changes not only improve patient outcomes through reduced stress but can speed recovery time, shortening stays and reducing resource consumption Sustainable Soundbite "I think part of it is being able to tell better stories about the successes we've had and why those successes matter… and also speaking with partners across different industries to ask, 'okay, what really matters to you and what have you nailed and how can we use that to become creative?'" – Angela Gill Nelms Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Identify a challenge in your organization where cross-discipline collaboration could create more sustainable solutions. Invite unconventional stakeholders to your next planning meeting. This Quarter: Implement Angela's customer-centric approach by creating a feedback mechanism for building end-users to evaluate your sustainability initiatives before full implementation. This Year: Explore how healthcare design principles might inform your green building projects, particularly focusing on environments that promote wellbeing alongside sustainability. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Angela Gill Nelms: 🗒️ Read the transcript 📧 Email Angela: hello@AngelaGillNelms.com Want More Green...

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Mark Snyder introduces a groundbreaking approach to indoor air purification using microalgae bioreactors that not only clean air more effectively than traditional methods but could potentially save billions in energy costs while addressing common challenges in energy-efficient sealed buildings. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion As the CEO of VerdeTerra, Mark Snyder brings a diverse background spanning automotive engineering (including work on the Honda NSX supercar), aerospace contracting for NASA, and management consulting at Porsche Consulting. With an engineering foundation complemented by an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Italy and studies in Shanghai, Mark combines technical expertise with business acumen to develop sustainable solutions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Mark Snyder revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Harnessing Nature's Design for Indoor Air Purification The Challenge: Increasingly air-tight, energy-efficient buildings trap pollutants indoors, creating unhealthy feedback loops of recirculated air The Solution: The Albero, a microalgae bioreactor that mimics nature's own air purification system (70% of Earth's air is cleaned by ocean microalgae) ROI: Removes pollutants traditional filters can't touch: VOCs, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide Key Insight #2: Making Sustainability Economically Resilient The Challenge: Sustainability initiatives are often the first cut during economic downturns The Solution: Design clean technology that provides cost savings, ensuring it remains valuable even when companies face financial pressure ROI: Potential integration with HVAC systems could save an estimated 54 billion kilowatt hours in the United States alone Key Insight #3: Aesthetics as Key to Adoption The Challenge: Traditional air purifiers are often unsightly black boxes that detract from carefully designed spaces The Solution: Biophilic design principles using the golden ratio and nature-inspired architecture create purifiers that double as art ROI: Increased likelihood of adoption through products that enhance rather than detract from living spaces, available in both modern sculptural and traditional lamp-like designs Sustainable Soundbite "Sustainability isn't just about the environment; it's about creating systems that endure—socially, economically, and ecologically." – Mark Snyder Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit your building's current air purification methods and identify any VOC or gas pollution concerns traditional filters can't address This Quarter: Calculate potential energy savings from integrated microalgae air purification technology in your HVAC systems This Year: Pilot a microalgae air purification system in one space to demonstrate both aesthetic value and air quality improvements Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about VerdeTerra's microalgae purification: 📚 Recommended reading: 📝 Productivity tool: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Mark Snyder: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Andre Baros shares how technology can transform the overwhelming process of material selection, making sustainability data more accessible and helping architects make responsible choices without disrupting their workflow. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Andre Baros is an architect whose career has been anchored in sustainability, curiosity, and rigor. After graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology, he worked with award-winning firms including Harry Weese Associates, Wheeler Kearns Architects, and HOK. With over two decades of experience ranging from small-scale projects to 12-million-square-foot developments, Andre has recently joined ACE Labs to revolutionize how architects access material information. His personal commitment to sustainability includes 17 years of plant-based eating and 25 years of primarily using bicycles and public transit for transportation. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Andre Baros shares his insights on material selection and sustainability: Key Insight #1: Sustainability as Responsibility, Not a Buzzword The Challenge: The term "sustainability" often becomes siloed or treated as an add-on rather than integral to good design. The Solution: Andre's approach treats sustainable practices as "just the right way to do things" – a responsibility rather than a separate initiative. ROI: By integrating sustainability into core design decisions rather than treating it as a separate consideration, projects achieve both better performance and design integrity. Key Insight #2: Democratizing Material Data Through Technology The Challenge: Architects struggle with comparing "apples to oranges" when selecting materials, especially when sustainability metrics vary widely between product categories. The Solution: ACE Labs pre-populates normalized data across hundreds of material categories, making comparison and selection more accessible. ROI: Reduces time spent creating spreadsheets, increases data accuracy, and allows architects to make informed sustainability choices with performance metrics at their fingertips. Key Insight #3: AI as a Workflow Enhancement, Not Replacement The Challenge: Quality control for millions of data points requires substantial time and effort. The Solution: Strategic use of AI to assist with formula creation and data validation tasks. ROI: Tasks that would take a full day can be completed in half an hour, allowing professionals to focus on decision-making rather than data processing, despite the sustainability challenges of AI's power consumption. Sustainable Soundbite "Sustainability kind of runs through in the veins of everybody here... We also realize that one of the problems in the market is if you're only a sustainability tool, then you're one more thing people have to do. We want to say that sustainability isn't a separate bucket. It's part of the same bucket of all the decisions you make in a project." – Andre Baros Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your current material selection process and identify information gaps that hamper sustainable decision-making. This Quarter: Create a systematic approach to material responsibility by looking at entire supply chains, inspired by tools like ACE Labs or methods from "Manual of Biogenic Housing Design." This Year: Implement technologies that integrate sustainability data directly into your workflow rather than treating it as a separate consideration. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Andre Baros: 📚 Recommended Reading: 🗒️ Read the transcript Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Waste management expert Brandie Townsend revolutionizes how we view "trash" by demonstrating that landfills are obsolete and most materials can be repurposed, recycled, or reused for both environmental and economic benefits. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Dedicated to the triple bottom line: people, profit and the planet, Brandie Townsend brings a wide range of environmental connectivity and resources to the table with an extensive background in sustainability and hospitality. This energetic and skilled professional excels at developing positive relationships with clients and communicating the benefits of sustainable design, products & services. With experience developing optimal solutions and driving sustainable returns on investments, she's an influential strategist with talent for initiating & building teams and projects. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Brandie Townsend revolutionizes traditional construction and waste approaches: Key Insight #1: Landfills are obsolete when we recognize the value in waste The Challenge: Traditional waste management uses expensive landfills ($11 million holes in the ground) to dispose of valuable materials The Solution: Parse out materials for their next best use through deconstruction instead of demolition ROI: Save on dumpster fees ($75/ton, 5-ton max on roll-offs) while recapturing value from materials like dimensional lumber, metal, and gypsum Key Insight #2: Circular economy starts at the landfill scale house The Challenge: Municipalities lose money burying valuable resources while contractors pay to dispose of materials The Solution: Transform landfills into material recovery facilities where contractors can exchange materials ROI: Creates a marketplace where small contractors can bring materials for credit and purchase what they need, generating revenue for municipalities Key Insight #3: Construction waste management must be logistically planned The Challenge: Contractors default to the "easy button" - throwing everything in one dumpster The Solution: Use Gaylords, super sacks, or small hoppers to parse out waste by material type ROI: Makes material recovery more practical, reduces hauling costs, and adds value by directing materials to appropriate processors Sustainable Soundbite "All of that… is truly embodied energy [/Carbon]. We took a lot of time to make all this stuff and then we ended up throwing it into a hole. And that's really not the best use of our embodied energy." – Brandie Townsend Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Look at how much you're paying for dumpster service and explore alternatives for material separation This Quarter: Make trades responsible for their own waste streams (electrical, plumbing, etc.) since these materials have value to them This Year: Implement a comprehensive waste management plan that identifies appropriate receivers for each waste stream and tracks the value recovered Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: 🗒️ Connect with Brandie Townsend: 🔗 Learn about her reverse vending machine initiative for bottle and can recycling 🔗 Check out her work with Brewmark Flooring creating closed-loop recycling for trade show flooring Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: From youth activism to spearheading digital twin innovation at Nemetschek, Andreas Steyer reveals how technology is transforming building sustainability and why trusting design data is crucial for the industry's green future. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Based in Berlin, Andreas Steyer leads the global go-to-market strategy for Nemetschek's digital twin solution, DTwin. With experience spanning software development, product management at Procore, and co-authoring a book on BIM and circular economy, Andreas brings a unique perspective to how technology accelerates building sustainability. His journey from advising youth initiatives to shaping the future of construction tech demonstrates how diverse experiences drive innovation. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Andreas Steyer revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Bridging the Trust Gap with Open Platform Philosophy The Challenge: Construction teams don't trust architects' data and start from scratch when operating buildings The Solution: Create an open digital twin platform that accepts multiple data formats (BIM, point clouds, photogrammetry, 2D drawings) ROI: Prevents waste of valuable design and construction data, enabling seamless lifecycle management Key Insight #2: Real-Time Energy Monitoring and Predictive Simulations The Challenge: Buildings consume energy inefficiently without real-time feedback The Solution: Digital twins that monitor energy consumption in real-time and simulate future scenarios ROI: Optimizes energy usage, extends building system lifespans, and tracks emissions for decarbonization goals Key Insight #3: Enabling Circular Economy Through Data Connectivity The Challenge: Building materials end up as waste instead of being reused The Solution: Digital twins that connect data across projects to facilitate material reuse ROI: Reduces construction waste, lowers embodied carbon, and maximizes resource efficiency Sustainable Soundbite "Buildings are one of the areas where you can make the biggest difference in shaping a sustainable future." – Andreas Steyer Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your current building data strategy – are you losing valuable information between phases? This Quarter: Start a pilot project using digital twin technology to bridge design-construction-operations gaps This Year: Implement a circular economy strategy using connected data to track reusable building components Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Andreas Steyer: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Cha The Green Impact Report Quick take: This episode reveals a breakthrough in sustainable building technology - organic printed semiconductors that can turn any window into a power generator while reducing energy consumption by up to 50%. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Accomplished Senior Executive with successful management experience in global real estate strategy, research, financial technology and ESG investment. An extensive track record in real estate operations management, financial product development, revenue growth and capital funding. Full P&L responsibility for go-to-market strategies, the pursuit of operational improvements, and organic growth. Broad areas of expertise include strategic insight, innovation, financial and operational control, writing, marketing, sales, leadership, and forecasting. He currently serves as an Independent Consultant for PFLINKED, where he dedicates himself to delivering expert consulting to companies in the real estate industry, renewable energy, and startup ventures. Strong consulting professional background, graduated from Bucknell University and NYU, MBA. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Paul Frischer revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Organic Printed Semiconductor Breakthrough The Challenge: Traditional solar panels are heavy, expensive, and disruptive to architectural design The Solution: Ultra-lightweight transparent film that creates power while maintaining visibility and aesthetics ROI: Generates 25% of lighting power needs while reducing HVAC costs by 30-50% through infrared absorption Key Insight #2: Power Over Ethernet Revolution The Challenge: AC electrical systems are inefficient for modern DC-powered devices The Solution: Integration with Power over Ethernet distributes DC power efficiently throughout buildings ROI: 70-85% energy savings compared to traditional AC systems, with built-in battery storage for resilience Key Insight #3: Zero-Carbon Power Distribution The Challenge: Shipping fossil fuels globally for power generation creates massive emissions The Solution: Shipping lightweight semiconductor film as "zero-emission carbon power" ROI: Democratizes clean energy access - anyone, anywhere can generate power with simple installation Sustainable Soundbite "Imagine all of the oil that's being transferred around the world...Well, if we take plastic film, which has carbon in it at the nanoparticle level, we can actually ship power around the world in film."– Paul Frischer Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate your building's window systems for semiconductor shade integration This Quarter: Assess Power over Ethernet infrastructure opportunities This Year: Create a pilot installation to demonstrate ROI to stakeholders Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Paul Frischer: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Hollywood is going green! This episode reveals how the film industry is tackling its environmental footprint with innovative technology and practical solutions that can inspire any sustainability professional. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Ben Hall is a film director who splits time between Los Angeles and Atlanta and has worked in the production department on multiple studio feature films and television shows. He is developing and directing independent feature films via his production company, Marianna Motion Pictures. Some of his films include Sergeant Townsend (2012), Old Souls (2013), The Man From Outer Space (2017), and Night Into Day (2020). 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Ben Hall sustainably upgrades traditional production approaches: Key Insight #1: Replacing generators with clean energy alternatives The Challenge: Film sets typically run on massive diesel generators that create significant emissions The Solution: Implementing battery technology and solar power solutions to reduce generator usage ROI: 75% of base camp operations powered by solar and battery tech instead of generators, dramatically reducing emissions and fuel costs Key Insight #2: Creating sustainable waste management systems The Challenge: Film productions generate enormous amounts of waste that typically goes straight to landfill The Solution: Implementing compostable materials for catering and partnering with composting vendors ROI: Thousands of pounds of waste diverted from landfills monthly, creating a cleaner production environment Key Insight #3: Securing leadership buy-in for sustainability initiatives The Challenge: Middle-management sustainability efforts yield "middling results" without top-down support The Solution: Educating directors and producers about how sustainability practices integrate with production needs ROI: Crew-wide adoption of green practices when leadership demonstrates commitment to sustainability goals Sustainable Soundbite "Filmmaking is the best sector in the world to be playing around with green tech. We are the industry that is supposed to challenge and inspire and entertain. Therefore we should be the first ones to do it in a sustainable manner." – Ben Hall Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess where your current operations could substitute batteries or solar power for traditional energy sources This Quarter: Implement a comprehensive waste management program with compostable materials This Year: Build sustainability requirements into your leadership training and project planning phases Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link to episode page] 🗒️ Read the transcript . 🔗 Connect with Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Packaging and sustainability expert Tom shares how AI and smart technology are transforming recycling and landfill diversion efforts in stadiums, universities, and corporate buildings – creating a more engaging path to sustainability for the next generation. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Thomas (Tom) Grinnan is a Global executive and consultant who thrives in new markets, leveraging 25+ years in the Pharmaceutical, Life Science & Packaging industries. With a strong background in sustainable packaging innovation, he's now leading DC1 as CEO, where they develop AI-powered solutions to drive recycling and reduce landfill waste. At DC1, Tom is focusing on landfill diversion through innovative technology that makes recycling more accessible, measurable, and engaging for users while providing valuable sustainability metrics for organizations. Tom began his career in strategic planning after studying French and biology at the University of Virginia. His multilingual skills (fluent in French with knowledge of Spanish, Japanese, and German) helped him develop a niche in cross-border market expansion. Throughout his career, Tom has grown businesses by 15%+ annually through strategic innovation and mentoring. Prior to joining DC1 in March 2024, he worked with major corporations like Midwest, Faco, Westrock, and Silgan, where he gained firsthand experience in sustainable manufacturing practices that reuse resources and minimize environmental impact. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Tom revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: AI-Powered Recognition Transforms Recycling The Challenge: Traditional recycling systems are confusing for users and require manual sorting, leading to contamination and reduced effectiveness The Solution: DC1's Green Scanner technology—a smart sorting kiosk equipped with advanced cameras, an Nvidia chip, and barcode scanners that use AI to instantly identify recyclable items, calculate their carbon footprint, and direct users to proper disposal without requiring changes to existing bin infrastructure ROI: Dramatic increase in recycling participation with real-time carbon avoidance metrics, transforming a confusing process into an engaging experience that can be gamified through a companion app offering points and rewards Key Insight #2: Smart Infrastructure for Sports Venues and Universities The Challenge: Large venues like stadiums struggle with proper waste sorting among thousands of attendees despite aggressive sustainability goals The Solution: Strategic placement of smart kiosks that provide immediate feedback, gamification, and rewards for proper recycling behavior ROI: Enhanced community engagement through recycling competitions and incentives, with one university implementation achieving over 700 scans and 17kg of carbon diverted with just two stations Key Insight #3: Data-Driven Sustainability for LEED Buildings The Challenge: Buildings seeking LEED certification need verifiable waste diversion metrics rather than costly building retrofits The Solution: Cloud-based system for tracking and documenting recycling efforts while providing real-time feedback to building occupants ROI: Easier achievement of LEED certification points through waste stream improvements, enhancing building value without major structural changes Sustainable Soundbite "Universities have some of the most aggressive goals I've seen in terms of landfill diversion. Rather than trying to completely take apart their building, which is difficult once you've already got it built, it's a lot easier to go and look at your waste stream, clean it up, and use technology to help you there." – Thomas Grinnan Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Explore AI tools like ChatGPT to understand basic applications that can support your sustainability initiatives This Quarter: Investigate organizations like the...

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Award-winning designer Blima Ehrentreu shares how thoughtful interior design creates spaces that enhance lives while minimizing environmental impact, revolutionizing healthcare experiences and community-focused projects through human-centered approaches. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion As the Founder and CEO of The Designers Group, Blima Ehrentreu combines her creativity and talent to reform the design industry. Her passion for empowering women, giving back to the community, and championing women in the workforce earned her a spot on Globest's Women of Influence in 2020 & 2022. The Designers Group's diverse project portfolio spans the residential and commercial sectors, and Inc. Magazine ranked The Designers Group no.15 among the top fastest-growing private companies in the New York Metro Area in 2021. Blima's journey began in Toronto, where she pursued a master's in interior architecture and design while simultaneously working at an architectural firm to understand the technical aspects of building construction. Inspired by watching her family's home transformation as a child, she developed a passion for the construction industry. Starting with another female designer on a few projects, she grew The Designers Group into a multi-office operation with locations in New York, Miami, and Canada. Today, the firm specializes in high-end interior spaces for commercial, residential, and healthcare portfolios throughout the US and Canada. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Blima revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Holistic Approach to Sustainability The Challenge: Traditional sustainability approaches focus narrowly on materials while overlooking broader impacts on human experience The Solution: Integrating sustainability principles that address both environmental impact AND human well-being through thoughtful design choices ROI: Spaces that enhance lives, minimize environmental footprint, and create meaningful, transformative experiences for users and communities Key Insight #2: TDG Smart Building Concept The Challenge: Technology integration in building design often lacks coordination and fails to promote long-term sustainability The Solution: The TDG Smart Building Concept that integrates technology to enhance well-being, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainability long after project completion ROI: Spaces that continue to deliver sustainability benefits throughout their lifecycle while providing enhanced user experiences through technological innovation Key Insight #3: Hospitality-Inspired Healthcare Design The Challenge: Traditional healthcare and senior living facilities feel institutional and clinical, negatively impacting patient/resident experiences The Solution: Applying hospitality design principles to healthcare settings, creating environments that feel more like hotels or resorts than institutional facilities ROI: Transformative patient and resident experiences that promote healing and well-being, improving outcomes while maintaining functionality Sustainable Soundbite "Sustainability is not just about materials, but it's also about creating spaces that enhance lives while also minimizing the environmental impact. So, we always have to understand that our actions have an impact." – Blima Ehrentreu Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate how your design approach can enhance lives beyond just material selection; consider the holistic impact of your choices This Quarter: Explore 3D visualization and AI tools that can help communicate sustainable design concepts more effectively to clients This Year: Develop a strategy for technology integration that promotes ongoing sustainability and well-being long after project completion Connect & Learn More 🗒️ Read the transcript . 🔗 Connect with Blima Ehrentreu: 🏢 Explore The Designers Group: Want More Green Building...

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Singapore-based sustainability expert Nilesh Jadhav shares how AI, autonomous systems, and smart technologies are transforming buildings into intelligent, grid-interactive assets that can dramatically reduce carbon emissions while improving performance. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion With over 20 years of experience in the field of clean energy and decarbonization, Nilesh Jadhav (NJ) is a passionate champion of accelerating the net-zero transition for organizations and communities. In his professional role at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, he leads the delivery of end-to-end decarbonization solutions and digital services for sustainability. He is also a certified adult educator and conducts courses in the field of energy and sustainability as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Nanyang Business School. Nilesh is also an entrepreneur, thought leader, professional trainer, and coach, with expertise in smart and sustainable built environment technologies and digital and innovation ecosystem platforms. He co-founded and served as the first CEO of BtrLyf, a spin-off company of Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore), that offers a digital built environment ecosystem platform. He also worked as a Senior Scientist and Program Director at NTU, leading the Ecocampus Sustainability testbeding initiative and the research group on Sustainable Built Environment Technologies. A chemical engineer by training, Nilesh earned his masters at Delft University before transitioning from petrochemicals to sustainability. He holds an MBA in Operations and Process Management and is a Singapore Certified Energy Manager. He published the book "Green and Smart Buildings Advanced Technology Options" in 2017 and is driven by the mission of creating innovative pathways and partnerships for achieving complete decarbonization and net-zero goals. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Nilesh revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Virtual Energy Audits Transform Building Analysis The Challenge: Traditional building energy assessments require time-consuming physical audits and often miss optimization opportunities The Solution: Data-driven virtual audits that model building performance based solely on available data, enabling rapid identification of energy conservation measures ROI: Faster, more comprehensive energy analysis that scales across entire building portfolios while providing actionable energy-saving measures Key Insight #2: Autonomous Building Management Systems The Challenge: Buildings struggle with data management and optimization across multiple systems, making consistent sustainability performance difficult The Solution: AI-powered autonomous systems that manage building performance without human intervention, continuously optimizing for sustainability goals including Net Zero ROI: Buildings that self-regulate to maintain optimal energy performance, reducing consumption by 20-30% while improving occupant comfort and grid interaction Key Insight #3: Grid-Interactive Buildings as Energy Assets The Challenge: Buildings consume 20-30% of electricity but traditionally function as passive consumers rather than active grid participants The Solution: Smart technologies enabling buildings to participate in the renewable energy ecosystem through bi-directional electricity flow, electric vehicle charging, and energy storage ROI: Buildings that function as distributed energy resources, supporting grid stability while reducing operational costs and carbon emissions Sustainable Soundbite "Buildings being more autonomous in the way they are managed, highly digitally enabled, more smarter, and with the advent of AI being able to completely be autonomous in terms of their performance management, in terms of their sustainability goals, and able to deliver on goals like Net Zero." – Nilesh Jadhav Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these...

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Legendary software CEO Dave Lemont reveals how Acelab is transforming sustainable building by creating the industry's first comprehensive material decision-making platform, bringing AI-powered intelligence to material selection. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Dave Lemont brings to Acelab more than three decades of experience in scaling software companies across various industries. He has held five CEO roles and ten board member positions. Throughout his career, Lemont has launched, grown, and guided numerous software companies from inception through dramatic growth and success. He is an expert in identifying industry-changing ideas and building winning go-to-market strategies. He was CEO of Revit Technology, leading the company through its successful 2002 acquisition by Autodesk. Architecture practices currently using Acelab's platform include well-known firms such as AECOM, Gensler, and SOM. Acelab's product database boasts over 39,000 products across categories such as windows, doors, cladding, roofing, and insulation. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Dave revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: The Material Selection Workflow Gap The Challenge: Architects lack a robust workflow for material selection, often recycling old choices despite rapid innovation in sustainable materials The Solution: Acelab's comprehensive platform that organizes materials by aesthetics, performance, sustainability, certifications, and chemistry ROI: More informed material decisions that balance sustainability, performance, and cost—without adding time to the design process Key Insight #2: AI-Powered Material Research The Challenge: Individual architects can't possibly stay current with all the sustainable material innovations in the market The Solution: Acelab's AI-powered search using their "language of materials" taxonomy to find specific products that meet exact performance criteria ROI: Ability to discover innovative sustainable materials that might otherwise be overlooked, revolutionizing how materials are specified Key Insight #3: Firm Standards Libraries in the Cloud The Challenge: Architects' attempts to create material standards libraries often fail because they're difficult to maintain and update The Solution: Cloud-based firm libraries that stay current with manufacturer data and integrate with project workflows ROI: Consistent, up-to-date sustainable material selections across entire firms, making sustainability easier to implement at scale Sustainable Soundbite "Our tagline is 'make material choices that matter.' We're not going to only show materials because manufacturers pay us - we're going to return an honest search transparently—otherwise architects will not trust us. And we want to be the trusted advisor for them." – Dave Lemont Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Assess your current material selection process and identify where you might be recycling old specifications without evaluating newer, more sustainable options This Quarter: Explore how AI tools like Acelab could help improve your material selection process This Year: Develop a strategy to create or update your firm's sustainable material standards library Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Dave Lemont: 📷 Check out Dave's photography: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: From architect to researcher, Stuart Shell reveals how evidence and nature-inspired thinking are transforming sustainable design beyond conventional metrics to create holistic building solutions that benefit both people and the planet. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Stuart Shell works with an interdisciplinary team at BranchPattern to create building solutions that place people first. As an architect-turned-researcher, he focuses on what occupants need to be healthy and engaged. At BranchPattern, their beliefs are rooted in nature which has taught them that true sustainability sits at the intersection of human experience and environmental stewardship. Stuart Shell received a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Stuart is also certified by the Center for Active Design as a Fitwel Ambassador, Autodesk in Building Performance Analysis, the League of American Bicyclists as a League Certified Instructor, and the State of Nebraska as a Registered Architect. In addition, he is credentialed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED AP and by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) as a WELL AP. Finally, he has been certified by The Center for Health Design in EDAC. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Studart revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Evidence-Based Design Changes Everything The Challenge: Design decisions often made without proper research about actual performance outcomes The Solution: Applying rigorous research methodologies (like EDAC certification) to understand how buildings truly impact people ROI: More effective buildings that serve occupants' real needs, reducing the risk of "architectural failures" Key Insight #2: Expanding Sustainability to Include Biodiversity The Challenge: Climate-focused sustainability often neglects broader ecological impacts The Solution: Incorporating biodiversity into building projects, similar to UK's net biodiversity gain requirements ROI: Buildings that not only reduce carbon but actively support natural systems and habitat creation Key Insight #3: Salutogenesis as a Building Design Model The Challenge: Traditional "pathogenic" approaches focus only on eliminating negative factors The Solution: Designing for salutogenesis—creating environments that promote resilience and healing ROI: Spaces that provide occupants the resources to overcome challenges rather than just avoiding harm Sustainable Soundbite "We're in an industry that runs on construction and yet construction is inherently diminishing environments. The movement towards regenerative design is where I think a lot of that research has to be." -Stuart Shell Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Explore how evidence-based design methodologies could enhance your current projects This Quarter: Investigate ways to incorporate biodiversity elements into your building designs This Year: Consider how reuse strategies and circular economy principles could transform your design approach Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Stuart Shell: 📚 Book Recommendation: Check out Aaron Antonovsky's work on salutogenesis Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc ©2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: From Midwestern roots to LEED Fellow status, Kristen Fritsch shares how sustainability becomes second nature in architecture and how biomimicry can inspire truly innovative design solutions. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Kristen (Atchity) Fritsch, AIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP is a Senior Associate and Director of Sustainability at Elkus Manfredi Architects where she has been implementing initiatives related to the AIA 2030 Commitment, healthy materials and embodied carbon. Her role also involves advising and assisting design teams with LEED, WELL, materials and systems research, and performance analysis such as solar mitigation and daylighting concepts. She has led firm-wide training on sustainable design practices and the greening of office operations and practice. Outside the office she has taught design studios at the Boston Architectural College on using biomimicry in the design process and is a member of the Board of Directors for Built Environment Plus (USGBC MA). Kristen is also a member of the LEED Materials Technical Advisory Group for USGBC. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Kristen revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: Key Insight #1: Sustainability as Second Nature The Challenge: Sustainability initially treated as an add-on feature rather than an integral part of design The Solution: Embedding sustainable thinking from project inception, making it "the way we do things" ROI: When sustainable practices become standard, achieving LEED Gold or Platinum becomes more accessible and cost-effective Key Insight #2: Biomimicry as Design Inspiration The Challenge: Traditional design approaches that fail to learn from nature's 3.8 billion years of innovation The Solution: Looking to nature for problem-solving inspiration, like self-cleaning paint inspired by lily pad cell structures ROI: More efficient, elegant solutions that work in harmony with natural systems rather than against them Key Insight #3: Material Reuse at Commercial Scale The Challenge: Difficulty implementing material reuse beyond small-scale residential projects The Solution: Developing systematic approaches to reuse furniture and materials in larger commercial projects ROI: Reduced embodied carbon, cost savings for clients, and inspiring designs that tell a story of sustainability Sustainable Soundbite "The greatest thing is the thing that's already existing. So how do we do that at a commercial scale? I think we've done it at a residential scale or a small scale... But how do we break that and figure out how to do it at the commercial scale?" – Kristen Fritsch Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Take inventory of what materials in your current projects could be reused or repurposed This Quarter: Research biomimicry principles that could be applied to a current design challenge This Year: Develop a comprehensive approach to materials selection that prioritizes health, wellness, and embodied carbon reduction Connect & Learn More 🗒️ Read the transcript 🔗 Connect with Kristen Fritsch: 📚 Book Recommendation: "Birding to Change the World" by Trish O'Kane Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

Episode Title: Vardhan Mehta on Transforming Material Selection Through AI-Powered Design The Green Impact Report Quick take: A deep dive into how AI and smart data management are revolutionizing sustainable material selection in architecture, featuring insights from Acelab's founder on bridging the gap between sustainable ambition and implementation. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion: Vardhan Mehta is the Co-Founder & CEO of Acelab, where he leads an 85-person global team transforming how architects discover and specify sustainable building materials. A Harvard GSD graduate and former architect at Weiss Manfredi, Vardhan has turned his firsthand experience with specification challenges into a groundbreaking platform serving over 8,000 manufacturers and 125,000 products. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Vardhan shares revolutionary approaches to sustainable design: Key Insight #1: Data-Driven Sustainability The Challenge: Architects struggle to efficiently evaluate sustainability metrics across thousands of products The Solution: AI-powered platform aggregating and analyzing comprehensive product data ROI: Instant comparison of environmental impact, making sustainable choices more accessible and informed Key Insight #2: Unified Platform Revolution The Challenge: Too many disconnected tools and platforms in architectural workflow The Solution: Single source of truth for material selection and specification ROI: Streamlined process leading to better sustainable outcomes and improved project efficiency Key Insight #3: AI-Enhanced Decision Making The Challenge: Difficulty processing vast amounts of sustainability documentation and certifications The Solution: Machine learning algorithms that digest and interpret complex environmental data ROI: More informed sustainable material choices with reduced research time Sustainable Soundbite "We need to automate the documentation that an architecture firm needs to take on like the specs, the schedules, and integration of materials into their BIM files. The barrier of entry is really how much you need to know - not just one individual in the firm, but across the firm." - Vardhan Mehta Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Start building your digital material library with sustainability metrics This Quarter: Implement systematic sustainability evaluation criteria for material selection This Year: Develop comprehensive sustainability documentation processes Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Vardhan: 🗒️ Read the transcript: 📚 Recommended Book: "Selling the Wheel" - A guide to innovation and market adoption Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report Quick take: An enlightening conversation with BREEAM USA's Director of Operations on how science-based building standards are reshaping real estate value and transforming sustainable performance measurement. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Breana Wheeler is the Director of Operations for BREEAM USA, where she leads the deployment of BREEAM's sustainability standards in the United States. With over 20 years of experience in environmental and sustainability risk management, she has been instrumental in adapting BREEAM's science-based methodologies for the U.S. market since 2016. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Breana shares transformative insights into building certification: Key Insight #1: Beyond Traditional Certification The Challenge: Sustainability certification has historically been used mainly for marketing. The Solution: Integration of certification into asset value assessment and risk management. ROI: Access to better financing terms and enhanced asset value through verified performance. Key Insight #2: Industrial Evolution The Challenge: Traditional rating systems struggled with triple-net lease properties. The Solution: BREEAM's unique approach to measuring owner-controlled aspects. ROI: Enabling certification for previously underserved building sectors. Key Insight #3: Performance-Based Innovation The Challenge: Need for reliable, science-based performance metrics. The Solution: Dual metrics for energy and carbon intensity with minimum standards. ROI: Clear pathways to achieving net-zero goals while maintaining building value. Sustainable Soundbite "Once you see climate risk, you can't unsee it. No bank in the world is backing off. They may be backing off of their public commitments some, but there is no way they're backing off the biggest business risk they have to asset value in real estate." - Breana Wheeler Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Learn to speak the language of finance when discussing sustainability. This Quarter: Build cross-departmental relationships to enhance project success. This Year: Develop comprehensive metrics that align with Version 7's new standards. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Breana: 🗒️ Read the transcript: 🔗 Learn more about BREEAM USA's standards and certification process Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun™

The Green Impact Report Quick take: A masterclass in transforming sustainable building practices into regenerative design, featuring insights from HDR's Director of Sustainable Development on pushing beyond net-zero to create net-positive impact buildings. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Colin Rohlfing serves as the Director of Sustainable Development for HDR's Global Architecture practice, where he leads a team of 20+ sustainability experts. With over 20 years of experience, Colin has been recognized on BD+C's "40 Under 40" list and is a frequent speaker at major events including TEDx and SXSW. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Colin shares revolutionary approaches to sustainable design: Key Insight #1: The Evolution Beyond Sustainability The Challenge: Traditional sustainability metrics have become watered down over the past 20-30 years. The Solution: Implementing regenerative design frameworks that target pre-industrial revolution performance metrics. ROI: Achieving net-positive impacts in energy, carbon, water, and human health. Key Insight #2: Mass Timber Revolution The Challenge: High-carbon traditional building materials and construction methods. The Solution: 75+ mass timber projects, including first-of-their-kind healthcare facilities. ROI: Reduced embodied carbon while maintaining structural performance and expanding into new building types. Key Insight #3: Electrification & Resilience The Challenge: Fossil fuel dependency in building operations. The Solution: Full building electrification with integrated resilience strategies. ROI: 99% of California projects now all-electric, with growing adoption nationwide. Sustainable Soundbite "We can't just improve slightly from what it was 30 years ago when we had ecological disasters and poor air quality. We do need to go back to pre-industrial and agricultural revolution metrics if we're truly going to figure our way out of this mess that we're in." - Colin Rohlfing Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Start tracking both operational and embodied carbon in your projects. This Quarter: Implement energy modeling with payback analysis on all projects. This Year: Develop regenerative design metrics for your practice that go beyond traditional sustainability targets. Connect & Learn More 🌿 Connect with Colin: 🗒️ Read the transcript: 🔗 Watch Colin's TEDx Talk on regenerative design at Ted.com Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun™

Mark Chen, National Carbon Manager at Skanska, a global construction and development firm. Mark has over nine years of industry experience and has worked on a range of projects with high sustainability goals, including LEED, ILFI Living Building Challenge, and Zero Carbon certifications. Mark also brings expertise in corporate emissions reporting, corporate emissions reduction strategy, embodied carbon accounting and reduction strategy utilizing the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, and construction activity embodied carbon accounting and reduction strategy. His most recent project experience includes managing the sustainability strategy for a multi-billion-dollar campus redevelopment project, a multitude of data center projects, and many other project types across the country. Show Highlights Air quality issues in Southern California fostered a lifelong interest in sustainability and the desire to improve the built environment. Mark’s knowledge of sustainability and carbon reduction strategies in construction projects as the Leading initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive sustainability efforts as the National Carbon Manager at Skanska. Skanska's climate commitments: 70% emissions reduction by 2030, net-zero by 2045. Use of alternative clean fuels, research on electric and hydrogen-powered equipment. Focus on embodied carbon in construction Tracking emissions across projects, with varying levels based on client requirements. Providing embodied carbon assessments for structural materials on all projects using EC3 tools. Decarbonization in construction material manufacturing, innovation in electric and hydrogen equipment, digital footprint concerns Use of alternative clean fuels, research on electric and hydrogen-powered equipment. "Becoming comfortable being uncomfortable and realizing that putting yourself in those uncomfortable positions and situations - while in the moment doesn't feel great - is where the most growth comes from." -Mark Chen 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 © 2025 GBES

With an extensive background in sustainable architecture, Allison Bernett worked to reverse climate change and improve quality of life through innovative design. Allison Bernett pursued a diverse career spanning architecture, sustainable design, and biology, reflecting her belief that the most effective solutions to the climate crisis emerge from integrating the natural and built environments. Her expertise includes regenerative design, design for manufacturing and assembly, whole life carbon analysis, building performance simulation, and health and wellness strategies. As the founder of Vireo Design & Strategy, she leveraged this expertise to develop climate-positive solutions for her clients. Previously, Allison worked as the Sustainability Manager at the modular housing company Assembly OSM, where she guided designs through Passive House and WELL compliance. She also contributed to pioneering sustainability projects and research at Terrapin Bright Green, such as Factory as a Forest. Allison is a published author on early design building simulation and a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC). She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and biology from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.Arch degree from Cornell University. Through design and technology informed by the natural world, She believes that we can and must transform the built environment to support ecosystems, reverse climate change, and foster thriving communities. Show Highlights Advocated for Passive House design at Assembly OSM Developed ecological performance metrics for factories to integrate biological principles into factory design, enhancing sustainability and ecological impact. Allison started Vireo Design & Strategy to focus on diverse projects aimed at achieving a climate-positive future. Focuses on driving towards a climate positive future by going beyond net-zero to regenerative design, Emphasizes the importance of Passive House principles Highlights the significance of WELL certification for creating healthful spaces Stresses the need to consider both energy/carbon and human factors in design "Be open to new opportunities that may not seem like a perfect fit with your plan... especially in the sustainable design field. It's evolving so fast, so rapidly. There are new jobs and new roles and new specialties and needs coming out every year." 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 © 2025 GBES

Mike Bahr is the Regional Sustainability Manager at Turner Construction Company. Mike is responsible for helping clients achieve their sustainability goals by implementing efforts in embodied carbon, material selection, hybrid & electric equipment, and other sustainability initiatives. Mike is a leader in embodied carbon and understands the challenges that need to be overcome in sustainability, piloting efforts to track across all A-stages of a building’s lifecycle including best practices for A4 emissions. Mike has led sustainability implementation on over 4,000,000 sf of certified green building space, covered LEED, WELL and Living Building Challenge programs. Mike is also a member of the Market Leadership Advisory Board for USGBC Iowa. Prior to his full-time sustainability role, Mike worked as a project manager and engineer across diverse projects including health care, high-rise, multi-family, historical renovation, adaptive reuse & tenant improvement. These past experiences provide Mike with valuable knowledge of the challenges and opportunities the construction industry has ahead as it continues to push towards a more sustainable, just future. “Buildings are ubiquitous, supporting virtually every business, supply chain, economic need, and positive social outcome globally. However, buildings are responsible for nearly 50% of global GHG emissions, a significant amount of landfill waste, and can lead to negative health outcomes for individuals when poorly designed and operated.” Mike works to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions through delivering more sustainable buildings and real estate, at every stage of the lifecycle. He has contributed to positive outcomes on nearly 5 million square feet of 3rd party certified buildings spanning the LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge programs. Additional efforts have included construction equipment electrified, low-carbon materials, and circularity initiatives. He has achieved this through supply chain partnership, internal consensus building, and industry collaboration. Show Highlights Future trends in biodiversity and the circular economy. Recycling and embodied carbon while emphasizing client-driven initiatives. Turner's Approach to Sustainability Focuses on adapting national sustainability programs to local markets. Challenges in sustainability practices can differ significantly based on regional infrastructure and policies. Emphasis on client-driven sustainability approaches. On-site energy and fuel use for ESG program. Pushing for electric construction equipment to reduce emissions and air pollution. Implementing biodiversity assessments can lead to more sustainable design practices. Promoting the use of native species and habitats in project planning. Explore circular economy principles in building materials and processes. "Go out and find your people...USGBC chapters, Carbon Leadership Forum, the networks...Just kind of find those people, get to know each other, work together. This is fulfilling work, but it is challenging and there are a lot of obstacles."- Mike Bahr 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 © 2025 GBES