Greenbuild 2024: A Catalyst for Change (But Are We Missing the Global Conversation?)

Last week, I had the privilege of attending Greenbuild International Conference & Expo 2024 in Philadelphia, the largest sustainable buildings conference in this hemisphere. As always, it was a source of inspiration, challenges, and thought-provoking insights. But as much as I left energized, I also felt a certain gap—a realization that, while the conference delivered on many fronts, it also underscored the need for a broader, more global perspective in sustainability.

Here’s a glimpse into my week, the lessons learned, and the challenges that lie ahead.

Monday: Steering Committees and the Road to LEED V5

The week began with the #LEED Steering Committee meeting, where I joined an incredible team of experts to discuss updates to LEED New Construction, Interior Design, and Existing Buildings. My focus, however, was on the Cities and Communities rating system.

The goals for LEED V5 are ambitious—centered on improving quality of life, achieving decarbonization, and fostering regenerative ecosystems. While the framework already captures much of this, updating it is a significant challenge. With a preliminary set goal of one year to finalize the draft proposal for #LEEDV5, the urgency is palpable.

Collaborating with Tim Smith , our Chair, John Law, AICP, PLA and Erik C. Backus , it reminded me of how far we’ve come—and how much is still to be done. It’s a daunting task, but the stakes are higher than ever. As if to punctuate this urgency, Philadelphia greeted us with unusually warm weather for November—73°F—a stark reminder of the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Tuesday: PHIUS, Historical Lessons, and Tough Questions

On Tuesday, I immersed myself in Phius 's workshop on passive building design—a 7-hour session that was both enlightening and sobering. One of the most striking revelations was the historical data on building efficiency. Back in 1890, the average Energy Use Intensity (EUI) was 63.1 kBTU/sqft/year. Compare that to the peak average of 100.5 in 1960. Today, we’ve improved, with modern buildings averaging 66.2—but we’re still not back to where we were in 1890.

This raises important questions: Are we truly learning from the past? Are we moving fast enough? Current projections suggest that at our current pace, we won’t reach net-zero building performance until 2150. That timeline is simply unacceptable. We need faster, more aggressive actions, leveraging tools like Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and energy modeling to drive better design decisions.

The workshop also reinforced the value of simplicity. Overly complex systems often fail due to poor integration, while simple solutions, like a well-placed thermostat, consistently outperform in real-world scenarios.

Wednesday: Keynotes and Decarbonization

The conference officially began on Wednesday with a powerful keynote from Don Cheadle, who spoke about using his platform to amplify the voices of those working tirelessly in climate advocacy. His message—helping those “without the light” shine brighter—was a poignant reminder of how much visibility matters in driving meaningful change.

Later sessions tackled the pressing issues of decarbonization and resilience. One standout was the integration of resilience credits into LEED V5, which opens up pathways for designing projects that not only reduce carbon but also enhance community preparedness. These sessions were a reminder of how critical it is to align our strategies with both immediate and long-term needs.

Thursday: ARC, Regeneration, and a Global Perspective

Thursday started with updates to the ARC platform, introducing enhanced tools for managing portfolios and tracking decarbonization across all three scopes. These tools are key for measuring progress and setting actionable goals at scale.

The day’s highlight was a session on ecosystemic regeneration—an approach that integrates ecological restoration into building projects. This concept of symbiotic living with nature aligns deeply with Green Loop ’s vision. While the session was inspiring, I found myself wishing for a more interactive format. Discussions like these could benefit from audience engagement, allowing participants to share ideas and co-create solutions.

Reflections on Community and Representation

One of the most rewarding aspects of Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is connecting with the sustainability community and global leaders. It’s always heartwarming to see familiar faces, like Maria Alexandra Cardona Peña , Enrique Motolá , Alicia Silva , Edner Bellanger , Vatsal Bhatt, PhD Peter Templeton , and the Consejo Colombiano de Construcción Sostenible (CCCS) team, as well as new ones. Spending time with my lovely Green Loop team— Jalime Eskaff Diaz and Juliana Sarmiento —is always inspiring.

But as much as I value these connections, I couldn’t help but notice that this year’s conference felt more U.S.-centric than previous editions. The sessions were excellent, showcasing the strength of U.S.-based sustainability efforts, but I believe the conference could benefit from a more global lens. Greenbuild attracts attendees from around the world, and incorporating more voices from LATAM, Europe, and beyond would unlock richer, globally relevant insights. Sustainability is a universal challenge, and diverse perspectives are critical to driving innovation.

Moving Forward

As I reflect on the week, I’m reminded of the urgency of our mission. At Green Loop , we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable design—not just ticking boxes for certifications, but deeply integrating tools like LCAs, regenrative design and energy modeling into the design process. True sustainability goes beyond documentation; it’s about creating buildings and communities that thrive.

How are you pushing boundaries in your work to address the urgency of climate action?

Let’s keep the conversation going and the momentum strong. See you in Los Angeles for Greenbuild 2025—hopefully with an even broader, more inclusive perspective on what sustainability means across the globe.