Scaling Impact for the Built Environment through Innovation: Insights from David Gottfried

As the Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge judging process advances, startups are gearing up to present their solutions to address each Opportunity Statement of the Challenge under the key pillars of Carbon, Energy, Waste and Water. Carbonless Asia Community Lead 🌺 Fangqin Chuah (蔡枋芩) speaks with David Gottfried , a trailblazer in the global green building movement and expert panelist for the Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge.

David Gottfried is a leading figure in the global sustainable building movement, who founded the U.S. Green Building Council and the World Green Building Council , now active in over 80 countries. His leadership has impacted hundreds of thousands of projects across nearly 200 nations and inspired a vast network of accredited professionals.

Currently, Gottfried serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at Blue Planet Systems , a company focuses on producing Synthetic Limestone aggregate through a circular process that captures and mineralises CO2 from industrial sources and Direct Air Capture. 

Could you begin by sharing a bit about your background and what led you to focus on the green tech and sustainability sectors? What sparked your interest in these areas?

I began my journey in sustainability by studying solar engineering at Stanford University several decades ago, where I also designed a net-zero home. My career then shifted to real estate development and construction in Washington, DC. In 1991, I became involved in green buildings at its start in the U.S. My first major project was developing a standard for green building at the AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING & MATERIALS (ASTM). This led me to co-found the U.S. Green Building Council and, later, start the World Green Building Council in 1998, which included helping to establish the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) around 2002.

After two decades of green strategic consulting, I joined Blue Planet Systems to manufacture carbon-negative concrete using a biomimetic process. My passion for nature and natural systems, which began during my early years as a backpacker and engineer, has always been a driving force behind my work in sustainability and care for the planet.

We are now a few months into the Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge, how has it been for you as a judge? What motivated you to join this initiative?

I'm thrilled to be a part of this Challenge. My love for Hong Kong and its advanced green building initiatives grew stronger during my last speaking tour, sponsored by the U.S. Consulate and State Department.

I appreciate the Challenge’s pragmatic approach of integrating innovative technologies into buildings, which aligns perfectly with my interests and expertise.

How does the Challenge help drive sustainable practices and green technology advancement in cities like Hong Kong?

It's important to research, purchase, install and test new technologies that push the envelope. Hong Kong's unique high-rise urban environment, where 90% of electricity consumption is attributed to buildings, makes it an ideal testing ground for these innovations.

As a judge, what key criteria will you focus on when evaluating the startups in the Challenge? Are there any specific qualities or innovations that particularly excite you?

I’m looking for startups that demonstrate scalable impact with urgency in the Challenge’s key areas of energy efficiency, embodied carbon, water, and waste minimisation. I’m excited to see seasoned teams with the experience and commitment necessary to drive and scale these innovations forward, pushing towards regeneration.

What would you say are the biggest challenges facing green tech startups today, especially for those looking to enter Hong Kong?

Breaking into a new market and gaining acceptance can be very hard for startups. The Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge can greatly accelerate this by involving serious property developers in the process, which enhances credibility and provides the necessary support to overcome market entry barriers. I enthusiastically support this unique approach.

Is there an inspirational story that comes to your mind where a green tech initiative had a substantial impact?

I recall visiting a LEED Platinum building in Oregon that featured the first commercial scale on-site black water treatment facility, using worms to purify water. This kind of innovative thinking is inspirational and serves as a glimpse into the future, where every building could have a similar system, driving significant environmental impact.