Greenbuild 2024: A Recap and Reflections on the Future of Sustainable Design

By Chris Schaffner, PE, LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty

Founder, CEO & Owner

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This past November, I had the opportunity to attend Greenbuild 2024 in Philadelphia. This event always proves to be a valuable experience for connecting with colleagues and gaining insights into the latest trends insustainable design. While the rollout of LEED v5 was a significant focus of this year's conference (more on that in another newsletter piece!), I wanted to share some broader takeaways that resonated with me.

Two prominent themes emerged from the sessions I attended:

1. The Rise of Passive House: The influence of Passive House principles was undeniable. This rigorous standard for energy efficiency is gaining traction across the country, and its impact was evident in discussions ranging from building codes to electrification strategies. The core tenets of Passive House – airtight construction, continuous insulation, and high-performance windows – are increasingly being recognized as vital tools for achieving ambitious energy reduction targets. It was particularly interesting to hear from a representative of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) about how Passive House has shaped our state's building codes, serving as a model for other regions.

2. Embodied Carbon Takes Center Stage: As operational carbon is increasingly addressed through electrification and energy efficiency, the conversation is shifting towards embodied carbon—the emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of building materials. Several sessions delved into strategies for reducing embodied carbon, including innovative approaches to concrete production and the integration of reclaimed materials into life cycle assessments. The connection between material reuse and healthy materials was also highlighted, emphasizing the potential for creating buildings that are both sustainable and beneficial to occupant well-being.

(I’ll take a moment here to note that we offer both Passive House Design Consulting (including WUFI Passive Modeling) and Whole Building Life CycleAssessment (LCA) services. If you need help with these, please call us.)  

Beyond these key themes, a few other observations stood out:

• Wood Takes Root: The exhibit hall strongly emphasized wood construction, aligning with the growing interest in mass timber and other sustainable wood products. The co-location of Greenbuild with a wood construction conference further underscored this trend.
• HVAC Takes a Backseat: Surprisingly, there was a noticeable absence of major HVAC companies promoting heat pumps and high-efficiency systems from the exhibit hall. This seemed at odds with the broader focus on electrification and decarbonization.
• Social Equity is Still Important: The conference occurred in the immediate aftermath of the Presidential election, and I felt a mixture of trepidation and hope from many of the attendees I spoke with. However, one thing that came through loud and  clear in my conversations is that sustainability must include equity in the discussion.
• A Closing Plenary with Impact: While the first two plenary sessions were somewhat underwhelming, the third left a lasting impression. Ari Wallach, an expert on long-term thinking, delivered a powerful message about the importance of considering the long-term consequences of our design decisions. Among other ideas, he suggested writing a letter to your future self as a way to adjust your mindset.  Here’s link if you want to try it https://www.longpath.org/futureme

Looking Ahead:

Greenbuild 2024 provided a snapshot of a rapidly evolving industry in which the pursuit of sustainability is expanding beyond energy efficiency to encompass embodied carbon, health, and social equity.

At The Green Engineer, we're committed to staying at the forefront of these trends. We help our clients navigate the complexities of decarbonization, optimize building performance, and create environmentally responsible spaces that are conducive to human health and well-being. Together, we can create a built environment that supports a thriving future for all.

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