(WS04) From Policy to Impact: Driving Positive Change at the State and Local Level

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: Room 304

Earn 3 Credit(s)

Decarbonizing the building sector, especially when meeting ambitious ESG goals including 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas emissions targets, requires place-based policies that accelerate equitable diffusion of practices and technologies. The need for policies to drive action is even stronger in ‘market blind spots,’ such as building supply chains, construction activities and existing buildings. In this workshop, USGBC and leading building policy advocates will help participants understand the policy opportunities at state and local levels, as well as new Federal initiatives that aim to support such policies. The workshop will focus on key policy approaches for decarbonization including codes and requirements, incentives, and performance standards that lean into technologies including beneficial electrification, building-grid integration, portfolio-wide solutions, and super insulated envelopes. The challenge of states where regulatory approaches are traditionally unsuccessful will also be included, with an emphasis on solutions and leveraging alternatives such as funding programs. Equity issues and approaches will be interwoven throughout the workshop. We will also examine recent policy proposals, reflect on challenges, lessons learned, and replicability with an emphasis on moving from policy proposals to real market impacts.

Learning Objectives:

Increase knowledge about the opportunities and challenges in advancing building decarbonization.
Illustrate how policy can be leveraged towards meeting state and local governments’ decarbonization goals.
Demonstrate an understanding of the partners, strategies and examples in building decarbonization policy.
Understand available funding sources and Federal initiatives supporting state and local governments in implementing building decarbonization policy.

Presenter(s)

Jennifer Gunby, PE, LEED AP

Senior Manager, State and Local Advocacy
USGBC
Alex Dews, LEED AP, BD+C

Managing Director, Programs
Institute for Market Transformation
pB

panama Bartholomy

Executive Director
Building Decarbonization Coalition
Jeremy Knoll, LEED Fellow, AIA, SEED, EcoDistricts (he/him/his)

Director of Sustainability and Regenerative Design
BNIM Architects
Julie Hendricks, AIA, GRI, LEED Fellow (she/her/hers)

Senior Sustainability Manager
JLL Project & Development Services
David Smedick, MEM, LEED AP BD&C (he/him/his)

Federal and International Policy Manager
RMI
Stacy Smedley, Living Future Accredited, LEED BD+C

Executive Director
Building Transparency