Built Environment Leaders to Discuss Net-Zero Strategies

Most business leaders understand why any new building project should target net-zero emissions — a balance of greenhouse gases produced and removed from the environment.

Ask those same leaders how to actually achieve that target and the clarity begins to fade, said Patty Lloyd, director of sustainability at Leopardo Construction.

"Total carbon, meaning both operational and embodied, is well understood within the green building communities," Lloyd said, "but outside of that community, there is quite a bit of educating and socialization of these concepts that needs to be done."

Part of that education will take place later this month at Northwestern’s Built Environment Exchange (BuiltX) — an idea forum and networking event for members of the built environment. The event, hosted by Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Executive Management for Design and Construction (EMDC) program and this month delivered in partnership with Illinois Green Alliance, will feature a panel discussion titled, "Collaborative Strategies for Net-Zero: Uniting Industry Commitments in the Built Environment."

The event will take place Wednesday, January 29, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lloyd will participate in the panel discussion, along with:

Nathan Kipnis, principal at Nathan Kipnis Architecture

Luke Leung, sustainable engineering studio principal at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

Max Puchtel, director of sustainability and government relations at the American Institute of Steel Construction

EMDC adjunct professor Lois Vitt Sale will moderate the conversation.

The EMDC program hosts several BuiltX events throughout the year. The upcoming event is organized in partnership with the Illinois Green Alliance.

"Companies face a number of challenges in achieving net zero certification on their projects," said Miranda Wright, education and engagement manager for the Illinois Green Alliance. "Though the challenges may seem daunting, our research identified plenty of actionable opportunities for the industry and the State of Illinois to scale to net zero."

The event will kick off with Deana Haynes, 2025 chair of Illinois Green Alliance’s Board of Directors, delivering an overview of the organization’s 2024 report, "Getting to Zero Illinois: The State of Decarbonizing Illinois' Buildings and Opportunities to Increase the Pace of Emissions Reductions."

The report outlines four interconnected categories describing both challenges and opportunities for achieving net-zero certification:

(1) advancing policy development and implementation

(2) leveraging financing and funding opportunities

(3) scaling technology solutions

(4) workforce development and skills training.

"I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue driving change through increased awareness and data-driven insights while learning from others who bring deep knowledge and experience to the conversation," Haynes said. "It’s events like these that are crucial in educating and empowering the built environment community to accelerate toward a more sustainable, equitable future."

Follow the EMDC program on LinkedIn to learn more about this and future BuiltX events.