The Power of Open-Access Tools & Data to Empower Climate Action

26 Sep 2023

The Power of Open-Access Tools & Data to Empower Climate Action

26 Sep 2023
About the speakers
  • Sheena Zhang
    Sheena Zhang
    AEC Sustainability Specialist at Autodesk
    Sheena Zhang is an AEC Sustainability Specialist at Autodesk, where she develops the internal strategy across Autodesk's portfolio for connected sustainability workflows and capabilities. Prior to Autodesk, she was a sustainability consultant to the architecture, engineering, and construction industry at Atelier Ten, where she successfully managed projects of all scales and typologies, including adaptive reuse, museum, healthcare, and masterplans with a wide range of sustainability goals like net-zero operational and embodied carbon, zero waste of resources, and net-zero water waste. Her work includes the LEED Platinum and WELL Gold 550 Madison Avenue, LEED Platinum Colgate Benton Center, Ellinikon Metropolitan Park, and the Princeton University Meadows Neighborhood. As a LEED AP and Living Futures Accredited professional, she has a record of delivering a multitude of sustainability benchmarks and is passionate about democratizing sustainability tools for equitable impact in the built environment. She is a registered architect and has taught at the Pratt Institute and the Parsons School of Design.
  • Phil Northcott
    Phil Northcott
    CEO at C-Change Labs
    Phil Northcott is the CEO of C-Change Labs and a co-founder of BuildingTransparency.org. He is a veteran leader of advanced R&D teams who leads a team of dedicated software engineers bringing the best of information technology to the fight against climate change, with a core focus on carbon-intensive construction materials. Phil's background in development, standardization, and manufacturing of high-technology products give him a unique perspective on the needs of manufacturers seeking to excel and compete in selling climate-efficient products at scale.
  • Ian Schmellick
    Ian Schmellick
    Senior Associate at Silman
    Ian is a Senior Associate in Silman's Boston office. He has worked on a variety of project types from adaptive reuse through new construction projects ranging in size and typeology from single family residential through commercial and academic institutions. As a leader in sustainability within Silman and their commitment as signatories of the SE2050 challenge, he has been directly involved in promoting and delivering sustainable structures informed by the evaluation and tracking of their structural embodied carbon.
  • Brittany McNairy
    Brittany McNairy
    Senior Technical Coordinator at Perkins&Will
    Brittany is a Senior Technical Coordinator and Senior Associate in Perkins&Will’s Washington, DC office. She has experience with a variety of corporate, government, and education projects ranging from small interior renovations to campus workplace planning. As a sustainability leader, Brittany has worked on numerous projects with a particular focus on interior environments and their interaction with occupant health, wellness, and sustainability. Most recently leading the sustainability efforts for Perkins&Will’s new DC office pursuing certifications in LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge, and Fitwel Brittany’s strength is in blending the client’s aspirational health and wellness goals with the built environment, and project budget. In addition, Brittany co-leads the Washington DC office’s Net Zero Embodied Carbon and Social Purpose initiatives, and promotes social responsibility in her work.

Key takeaways

- Understand the impact and the benefits of open-access data in informing decision-making and progress toward project goals.

- Describe effective processes for collaboration in promoting the development of industry-wide tools and resources to drive decarbonization efforts.

- Leverage insights from the tallyCAT’s engagement with industry and organizational partnerships.

- Identify opportunities to bring carbon reduction strategies to the forefront of decision-making.