The Leading Edge team had a wonderful time at the California Green Building Conference last week! As always, we enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new connections, and of course learn from our incredible peers. Thank you to USGBC California for yet another successful event, and to all those who shared the nuggets of wisdom below: ▶ Sustainability Beyond the Envelope (Ransom Hamrick, PE, Jimmy Parker and our very own Sara Hickman, LEED AP, WELL AP, EcoDistricts AP) Always consider the "E", "S", AND "G" needs particular to your project's community. For Campus at Horton in San Diego, this means.... 1. Considering the needs of all stakeholders when making design decisions. 2. Taking advantage of abundant sunshine with solar PV and battery storage. 3. Being mindful of water consumption by installing the largest known blackwater system of its kind. 4. Taking an adaptive reuse approach to minimize embodied carbon and construction waste while preserving the historic character of a beloved community fixture. ▶ Industry Pain Points in Emerging Building Technologies- Unsurprisingly, new technologies tend to be costly. Do your research and provide alternative solutions to the "big name" new technologies on the market. ▶ CCUS at Scale (David Gottfried, Kevin Hydes) Aggregate is a powerful and often overlooked means of reducing the embodied carbon content of concrete. - Lime-based aggregate has the ability to act as a "carbon sink". - Unlike fly ash, is a viable option post-fossil fuel phaseout. - Blue Planet products demonstrate a comparable PSI to standard concrete following 28-day curing period. ▶ Advancing Deconstruction & Materials Reuse in the Built Environment (Denise Braun, Jennifer Wehling, Kathryn Soter) Be prepared for pushback from designers, who often prefer all-new materials for aesthetic reasons. Additionally, the cost of refurbishing salvaged materials can be higher than purchasing new. It is the role of the consultant to balance meeting their project's sustainability goals in a cost-effective manner while continuing to move the needle forward.
Joseph Monte
5mo
Go team Leading Edge!
Way to go Ransom.
Architect l Sustainability Strategist l Housing Advocate l AIA LA Board of Directors
5moAs always, amazing takeaways.