Decarbonizing in the District: Aligning Legislation with Technology to Reduce Building Emissions
26 Sep 2023
Decarbonizing in the District: Aligning Legislation with Technology to Reduce Building Emissions
26 Sep 2023
About the speakers
- Taylor BulowAssociate Director of ESG at Verdani PartnersTaylor works for Verdani Partners in the Corporate ESG Department as an Associate Director of ESG. She is a driven ESG professional with six years of experience working as a consultant in the commercial real estate industry. Taylor is focused on on providing comprehensive sustainability services that help companies and organizations understand, quantify, manage and report their overall ESG efforts. She specializes in strategizing with clients on leading ESG frameworks and rating systems including GRESB, SASB, TCFD, UN SDG's, CDP, GRI, MCSI, etc.
- Byron AveryDirector, Strategic Accounts at Prescriptive Data, Inc.Byron Avery is a Director of Strategic Accounts at Prescriptive Data, developer of the smart building operating system Nantum OS. Mr. Avery leads expansion efforts across existing customer portfolios, as well as solution architecture development for new real estate Clients. He also assisted Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory with recent Nantum OS technical evaluation publications. Previously, Byron supported business development and customer support efforts across several energy consulting firms, energy supply companies, and energy management software providers. Byron earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College.
- Theresa BackhusDirector at Building Innovation Hub, Institute for Market TransformationTheresa (she/her) brings her experience improving the performance of buildings and landscapes to her role as Director of the Building Innovation Hub, ensuring its mission and strategic vision are executed. Prior to joining IMT, she was a green building consultant, supporting the DMV building industry in navigating policy, code, and certifications. At the U.S. Green Building Council, she was integral to the development of the LEED v4 rating system program. Her past work also includes planning, design, and construction observation in both the public and private sectors. Theresa holds a BLA from Virginia Tech, and an MEM from the Duke Environmental Leadership Program. She is a Registered Landscape Architect, LEED AP, and SITES AP.
- Rebecca TimmsDirector of ESG at JamestownRebecca Timms is the Director of ESG at Jamestown. She leads environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives through the Jamestown Green program. Prior to joining Jamestown in 2012, Ms. Timms worked as a local government consultant for Clark Patterson Lee, where she served as Community Development Coordinator and Sustainability Commission Staff Liaison for the City of Dunwoody. She is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and holds a LEED AP O+M credential. Ms. Timms is an active volunteer with the Urban Land Institute, the US Green Building Council, and Community Farmers Markets. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Environmental Policy from Sewanee: the University of the South and a Master of Science in Sustainable Development: Environmental Policy and Management from Utrecht University.
- Mark WitschorikDirector of Asset Management, Digital Asset Strategy at JamestownMark Witschorik is a Director of Asset Management, Digital Asset Strategy at Jamestown. Mr. Witschorik leads the teams responsible for the Mid-Atlantic region, its strategic direction, and performance. Previously, he led the regional portfolio efforts and joint venture activities for Columbia Property Trust in several East Coast markets including Washington, D.C. and Boston. Mr. Witschorik began his career at the J Street Companies and later Akridge, holding a number of acquisition, development, and related roles. Mr. Witschorik is an active member of DCBIA, NAIOP, and ULI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
Key takeaways
- Strategies that organizations can leverage to reduce risk and increase opportunity through compliance with BEPS.
- Solutions for the most common barriers organizations face when strategizing for energy and carbon efficiency across various building types.
- An understanding of the role BEPS can play in supporting compliance across portfolio-wide decarbonization plans.
- How to choose partnerships that support both rapid and strategic building-level emissions reductions with limited resources.