Melissa O'Mara’s Post

We are taking stock of the regenerative building movement at Living Future. I welcome you all, here or not, to take the time and reflect on our progress. Join us in thinking strategically at a systems level on how we move forward together. The themes of alignment and collaboration heard here are so often on my own lips. I feel this moment as an emergence of that idea coming into wider practice and know it will have an outsized impact on the work we do. Changing the attributes of a system's components rarely has a big impact on how the system functions, but if you change the relationships within the system, entirely new functions can emerge. Viewed from the lens of system science, more collaboration within the building industry isn't a 'nice to have', it is fundamentally how we change the behaviors we are stuck in and need to grow beyond.

Rethinking Business Practices for a Better Future by Charlene Norman This three-part series takes a deeper look into the concept of Degrowth. With sustainability expert Nooshin Akrami, who holds chartered qualifications as both an environmentalist and architectural technologist, this is a thought-provoking discussion about a concept that challenges the very foundation of our economic system. The first episode is here, the second is here. We […] #boomers #babyboomers

A regenerative building goes more good (instead of less harm) to its local economy, culture and people... The full extent of value created by regenerative buildings is still be discovered and these three projects (some of the largest in the world) expand that boundary of understanding. 1. Amazon's Climate Pledge Arena shows how regenerative building performance can attract your key audience - in this case artists like Coldplay! 2. Google's Bay View and Gradient Canopy Campus shows how innovation can permeate a regenerative building project and incubate new technologies. 2. Harvard's Science and Engineering Complex shows how research and asking the right questions can raise the minimum bar for the entire industry. A huge thank you to Lindsay Baker for welcoming me onstage at the International Living Future Institute's Living Future Conference to hear these stories up close from Chris Roe, Amazon's Director of Worldwide Carbon, Kate Turpin, Google's Director of Design Performance - Real Estate Development and Heather Henriksen, Harvard University's Chief Sustainability Officer. Full story is linked in the comments! What value have you seen created by regenerative building projects?

Sustainability thrives when industries unite. Collaborative innovation, where experts from construction, energy and environmental science come together, offers real-world solutions to complex problems. For example, cross-industry partnerships driving circular economies or shared tech tackling resource waste. The way I see it, the future isn’t about competition. It’s about co-creation. How can we foster more of these alliances to accelerate meaningful change? 📧 Contact admin@infravisory.com.au to explore opportunities to collaborate and create a sustainable impact together. #Collaboration #SustainabilityInnovation #CircularEconomy

Reflecting on a past project where we constructed a stable entirely from reclaimed materials. This endeavor was not only an exercise in sustainability but also a testament to the impact of hands-on work. It underscores the importance of resourcefulness and creativity in problem-solving. Let’s continue to innovate and apply these principles to our professional and personal projects. #Sustainability #Innovation #ProjectManagement

The future of real estate is green! A report by McKinsey & Company explores the rise of sustainable buildings and communities, showcasing projects like The Edge in Amsterdam, which incorporates regenerative design principles for energy efficiency and eco-friendly living. 🌎 This shift in real estate towards sustainability isn't just about buildings; it's about creating healthier environments for people and the planet. As someone passionate about sustainable living, I see these developments as crucial steps towards a more harmonious relationship between human habitats and nature. Read more details at mckinsey.com and imagine a world where every building contributes positively to our ecosystem. 🌎

Happy Earth Day! I've been thinking a lot about how we, as a species, often focus on economic growth at all costs. But what if we shifted our approach? Instead of just aiming for growth, we could explore new ways of doing business, perhaps vis-a-vis mapping new business value flows that focus on sustainability, circular and regenerative models. As Dennis Meadows states well in this video, "If your only tool is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail... and if your only tool is GNP (Gross National Product), then every issue appears as an economic problem." We need to rethink our economic tools to make real change. What are your thoughts on this?

Growth at any cost is an empty vessel.

🔄 Unlearning really is a daily practice! Regenerative wording isn't always so easy, even for those out here saying "regeneration" 100x a day. Thank you for the daily reminders Jannik Kaiser & Unity Effect . 🤝 Stay tuned! 🔧 RegenBeings is teaming up with Unity Effect to bring you a practical (and dare we say, "insightful") blog article on Regenerative Innovation Ecosystems—coming soon. ✨ From sustainability to regeneration, ecosystem-based businesses are the future. Let’s shape innovation design to be a true partner on this journey. #Sustainability #Regeneration #Innovation #Ecosystems #Being #RegenBeings