• This event has passed.

Embodied Carbon + Electrification – Full path to Decarbonization

In this webinar, we'll touch on the intricate relationship between electrification and embodied carbon, exploring how carbon reduction goes beyond operational and embodied carbon. Our panelists will share their experiences with buildings old and new, what approaches work to significantly lower carbon, and how everyone involved in a building project can contribute to moving the carbon needle toward zero in a healthy, resilient and economically savvy way.

Carbon reduction is not solely in the hands of architects and engineers. It doesn’t rely solely on policies or updated energy and building codes moving us to electrification and a circular economy. It’s also not entirely in the hands of the owner, the contractor, or the financing entity. It takes an understanding of each role and engagement by everyone involved in a project to move the carbon needle toward zero, in a healthy, resilient, and economically savvy way. And it also takes a willingness to make constant change work for you.

In this webinar, we’ll touch on the intricate relationship between electrification and embodied carbon––the quintessential cart/horse conundrum. We’ll explore how carbon reduction goes beyond operational and embodied carbon: awareness of larger system levels, such as urban heat island impacts, labor practices, salvage and reuse, community engagement, and natural system connections can all help us drive down our carbon emissions.

Carbon reduction is not bleeding edge or even leading edge. It’s good business. Building on research and code developments, the pragmatism of contractors, and the buying power and strategies of real estate developers, our panelists will share their experiences with existing buildings and new. What approaches work now to significantly lower carbon? What goals are causing friction in the building industry? What do we expect the near future to reveal? And, most importantly, what have they learned through their work about carbon reduction strategies that can inform your work?

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of decarbonization, including the importance of building performance standards, goal setting, information sharing, and purchasing processes in achieving carbon reduction goals.

Moderator and Panelists:

Jodi Smits Anderson – Associate Director of Codes and Policy at New Buildings Institute

Jodi seeks to expand carbon literacy through improved communication, education, and advocacy about GHG reduction goals. She is an architect and green building expert with decades of experience in the New York state government. Prior to joining NBI, Jodi served as the director of sustainability programs for DASNY, New York State’s public finance and construction authority, and as a managing principal for a large architecture and engineering firm. She is a Fellow of the AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, and a regenerative practitioner. She is a board member for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) and co-founder and vice chair of the Albany Riverfront Collaborative non-profit.

Jodi has spoken at conferences including Greenbuild, NESEA’s Building Energy Boston, Living Future Conference, and the NYS Green Building Conference, and she has taught at SUNY ESF, RPI, Ithaca College, NYU, Cornell, and SUNY Albany. Her goal is to work with others to continually learn about our world and our agency in creating our shared future.

Jennifer Taranto Vice President of Sustainability at STO Building Group

Jennifer, with over 25 years in commercial real estate and construction, is the vice president of sustainability at STO Building Group. Passionate about minimizing environmental impact, she shapes client goals and guides project teams to achieve corporate responsibility milestones, reducing operating costs and emissions.

A founder of Built Environment Plus, Jennifer is a sustainable construction leader, recognized with WELL AP (2018), WELL Faculty (2019-2021), and LEED Fellow (2023) awards. A speaker on the subject, she holds a BSc in Construction Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Aurora Jensen – Embodied Carbon Lead with Brightworks Sustainability in New York City

Aurora is the Embodied Carbon Lead with Brightworks Sustainability in New York City with a focus on materials and carbon, and a part-time faculty member at the Parsons School of Design. With her work she seeks to engage multiple scales of social and environmental concerns—from microscale heat flows to macroscale supply chains—by linking passive, active, and materials design decisions to climate. She uses her experience in high performance energy modelling and whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) to drive down the operational and embodied carbon of projects. She sits on the ILFI Energy and Carbon TAG, and co-leads the NYC chapter of the Carbon Leadership Forum. Aurora received her Masters in Design Studies in Energy and Environment with distinction from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

Lauren Moss Senior Vice President Chief Sustainability Office Vornado

Lauren Brust Moss is the Senior Vice President – Chief Sustainability Officer at Vornado Realty Trust, where she oversees the Company’s industry-leading sustainability programs including initiatives focused on energy efficiency, green cleaning, waste diversion, technology and infrastructure, and healthy environments.

Ms. Moss has more than 20 years of experience managing sustainability, energy and capital improvements for large-scale buildings and portfolios, and is recognized as an industry thought leader and advocate on green policy, regulation and compliance. Prior to joining Vornado, Ms. Moss was Senior Vice President at Adai, the administrator of the Fitwel certification program, and previously worked in the sustainability practices at engineering firms NORESCO and Steven Winter Associates. Ms. Moss is a member of the Board of the Building Energy Exchange (BE-Ex), Co-President of the New York Energy Consumers Council and a member of the GBCI Board of Directors.