We are excited to share with you the 2022 San Diego Green Building Conference + Expo Schedule with information on the Sessions and Speakers who will be presenting on October 21st!

We have included icons aligning with our four pillars of Decarbonization , Equity , Health & Wellness , and Water Reuse  to make it easier to follow a specific topic throughout the day.

For full details on the Conference + Expo please see this page.

PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE!

8:00am - 8:30am | Registration & Expo Hall (Foyer) and Breakfast (Deck)

8:30am - 9:15am | Welcome & Opening Keynote with SD City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera (Great Rooms I-IV)

9:15am - 9:45am | Expo Hall & Networking (Foyer and Deck)

9:45am - 10:45am | ES(H)G: Incorporating Health and Humanity into an ESG Strategy for Buildings and Organizations (Great Room I-III)

This panel discussion with an ESG, WELL, Sustainability, Energy, and Building Sciences collaborative team addresses best practices in health and wellness and resource conservation for the built environment. Today’s hyper-focus on ESG and climate resilience brings a new imperative to focus on issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, and climate risks. While these resilience strategies build a better future, it’s time to also focus on the missing “H”, Health and Humanity. This session will share strategies, solutions and case studies that explore core principles of continuous improvement and ESG metrics as they relate to energy, water, and indoor environmental quality; and expand our conversation into incorporating health and wellbeing from organizational goals down to building programs.

Speakers: Marika Erdely (Green EconoME), Jaime Nack (Three Squares Inc), Jennifer Bertholet-Jelovic (A SustainAble Production), Keely Felton (NOVA Group), Ravi Bajaj (Citadel EHS)

9:45am - 10:45am | Integrating Algal Technologies in the Urban Environment for Cutting Edge Circular Economy (Great Room IV)

In this session you will hear about how Airbuild is integrating algae into the built environment that allows it to act as a detoxifying medium for humanity’s activities. Algae is a natural resource proven to have amazing traits for growth, carbon dioxide sequestration, and water filtration under the right conditions and control. These conditioning and control methods present themselves in the form of engineered housings that are fastened and assembled on built environment features such as parking canopy’s, roadway sides, bridges, and buildings. Water filtration is a component that enters the conversation due to algae’s requirement to have a source of flowing water. Integrating algae growth housings into many forms of the built environment create breakthrough changes and possibilities for architecture, engineering, and design of the future.

Speakers: John Bucur (Airbuild), David Gory (Airbuild), Himanshu Mohare (Airbuild), Richard Mariita (Airbuild)

9:45am - 10:45am | Affordable Access to Equitable Solar for San Diego (and Beyond) (Shutters West)

In this session you will learn how the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) and Disadvantaged Communities Single-Family Affordable Solar Housing (DAC-SASH) programs incentivize solar panel installation on single-family and multi-family residences and provide green workforce development opportunities across California. The newer San Diego Solar Equity Program (SDSEP) is focused on providing access to solar for San Diego residential customers in Communities of Concern, as defined by the City of San Diego’s Climate Equity Index. Collectively, these programs have millions of dollars to provide financial incentives for residents that need it the most. Furthermore, the San Diego region has the potential to unlock the benefits of these programs while making strides in achieving decarbonization, equitable development, and clean energy goals.

Speakers: Eddie Price (GRID Alternatives), Monica de la Cruz (GRID Alternatives), Fabiola Lao (Center for Sustainable Energy), Mai Fang (Center for Sustainable Energy)

10:45am - 11:15am | Expo Hall & Networking (Foyer and Deck)

11:15am - 12:15pm | Challenges to Urban Greening: A Case Study in Urban Forestry (Great Room I-III)

This panel discussion highlights the importance of urban forestry development, challenges of urban greening, and proposed solutions to utilizing trees to bring co-benefits and offsets into the urban interface. An evaluation of the use of trees and the expansion of the urban forest will include the relationships of trees to urban heat islands, habitat restoration, energy reduction, and quality of life/views. Panelists will speak to the complexities of planting trees throughout San Diego County (published case study expected in Winter 2022), how partnership has provided solutions, and what changes will need to occur in order to continue planting a robust, sustainable urban forest for the benefit of the community and the environment.

Speakers: Kurt Peacock (Tree San Diego), James Berry (Tree San Diego), Ernesto Romo (Downtown San Diego Partnership), Elektra Fike-Data (Tree San Diego)

11:15am - 12:15pm | The Critical Role of Onsite Water Reuse in Sustainable Building Practices (Great Room IV)

This session will discuss how severe drought is increasingly drawing attention to an often overlooked topic of sustainability: water resilience. Attendees will learn about full resource recovery, water security and the cost-savings benefits that make onsite water reuse an essential component of building sustainability practices. The session will provide participants with an overview of local onsite reuse technology, including the implementation of a blackwater reuse system, as well as strategies to reduce first costs, incentive programs options and an in-depth look at what to expect during the permitting process in San Diego.

Speakers: Eric Hough (Epic Cleantec)

11:15am - 12:15pm | Shaping and Molding Energy Policy in California: Be An Influencer Not A Reactor (Shutters West)

Energy codes, standards and policy are often viewed by manufacturers, specifiers, and builders as necessary evils, factors that get in the way of executing building projects. Few of us realize the essential nature of the regulatory function of government - policy and regulations drive markets. California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6) have undergone one of the most significant updates in many years for the current 2022 code cycle and will look to incorporate additional decarbonization strategies in the 2025 cycle.
This panel will explain the 2022 Title 24 changes and updates, and how they impact the building industry today. They will demonstrate the mechanisms behind evolving better codes and standards; provide an overview of what factors to consider when planning products and projects; and discuss the building sector’s role in grid modernization and decarbonization.

Speakers: Josh Dean (California Energy Alliance), Charles Knuffke (Wattstopper/Legrand), John Busch (Leviton)

12:15pm - 1:15pm | Expo Hall (Foyer) and Lunch (Deck)

1:15pm - 2:15pm | Elevating the Human Experience with Biophilic Design Utilizing Modular Construction (Great Room I-III)

This session will focus on the occupant experience developed in the design process which embraces biophilic principles to promote health and wellness. The session will explore a few case study modular housing developments under construction and in design in San Diego which includes the El Cerrito Housing Development and the Newton Ave Housing Developments. The design for the El Cerrito mixed use development embraces the use of single use recycled shipping containers as a rigorous module in its five levels of housing on the upper floors which will be prefabricated modular units constructed off site. The use of modular construction innovates at every step of the delivery model from design, documentation, permitting to construction in promoting a lean delivery process in reducing the overall schedule. The design for this project utilized several strategies which elevate the human experience through social interactions starting at the street level with the entry courtyards, within the elevated roof gardens and with the community garden on the upper level. The integration of landscape with architecture embraces biophilia in connecting people with nature to promote health and wellness.

Speakers: Matthew Porreca (LPA Design Studios), Matt Winter (LPA Design Studios)

1:15pm - 2:15pm | Horton Plaza - Bringing Sustainable Scientific Innovation to Downtown San Diego (Great Room IV)

This session is a deep dive into the case study of the Campus at Horton, exploring the design strategies, the challenges faced in converting an existing structure and in delivering life science tenant space in a high-rise tower, all while targeting the highest levels of sustainable performance and zero-carbon operation. Currently in construction, the Campus at Horton is a transformation from the iconic outdoor mall to a new nearly 1 million SF mixed-use campus, including a 10-story high-rise, all-electric, life science tower. Targeting LEED Platinum, this new life science tower will incorporate airside and waterside energy recovery, variable controls and sensing for lab exhaust, and air-source heat pumps for heating and to supplement the campus chilled water central plant, and a photovoltaic and battery storage energy system.

Speakers: Calina Ferraro (Integral Group), Ransom Hamrick (Integral Group), Derek Heeb (RDC)

1:15pm - 2:15pm | DPR + JUST: An Exploration Into The Process of Earning a JUST Label (Shutters West)

This session will explore the process of earning a JUST label for a construction company with over 7,500 employees. The DPR team will explore how the process came about with support from the San Diego Living Future Collaborative, the steps required to align with the rating system, and the challenges and opportunities in utilizing a transparency platform around social justice and equity within the Construction space. Attendees will learn about where social inequities exist in Construction, how the company adjusted its organizational practices to align with the indicators and levels of performance in JUST v2.0, and some of the learned lessons of going through the JUST labeling process.

Speakers: Cari Williams (DPR Construction), Marissa Tyer (DPR Construction), John Ambert (DPR Construction)

2:15pm - 2:45pm | Expo Hall & Networking (Foyer and Deck)

2:45pm - 3:45pm | Symbiosis: A Patient-Centric Approach to Sustainable Healthcare Facilities Using Biology (Great Room I-III)

In this brand new talk for 2022, we’ll explore a new approach to achieving high performance educational facilities using a symbiotic mindset. We’ll explore the six categories of symbiosis: Systems, Senses, Signals, Cycles, Biomes, and Genomes, to uncover new approaches to boost student test scores, lower stress levels, or speed comprehension. While we all have been working with general sustainability in our projects, what if we fast-forwarded sustainability to where it is headed? As we move from the Digital Age to the Biological Age, the line between the natural and the manmade will start to disappear. In this talk, we'll explore how to embrace biology as the ultimate technology to develop a new approach to sustainable design that triggers specific physiological responses in students and staff using human systems, human senses, circadian rhythm, neurotransmitters, and microbiomes to transform how we provide care and learning.

Speakers: Eric Corey Freed (CannonDesign)

2:45pm - 3:45pm | San Diego International Airport New T1: Sustainability Triple Crown (Great Room IV)

The New Terminal 1 Project has integrated sustainability throughout the design, construction, and operations phases. The project is tracking to achieve sustainability awards across ParkSmart, Envision, and LEED. This session will focus on the pillars of Water Reuse and Decarbonization initiatives, describing the project elements of each and their evolution from design through operations. Our panelists will discuss how Sustainability frameworks have been leveraged to inform decision making on this landmark project, from design-construction-operation. This presentation will also include discussion on how these strategies could be replicated on other projects.

Speakers: Chad Reese (San Diego International Airport), Kristen Salinas (NORESCO), Brittany Waddell (ARRIVE Aviation Alliance), Cara Nager (San Diego International Airport), Courtney Eaton (Kleinfelder, Inc.)

2:45pm - 3:45pm | Palette Panel: Imprinting Culture Through Local Artists Perspective and Honoring Legacy Communities in Affordable Housing Developments (Shutters West)

Local art connects neighborhoods and residents as artists interpret the history of the area and society through a unique lens. This session will allow you to experience their passion and learn more about their approach with an art palette panel: renowned muralist Victor Ochoa and 2021 San Diego Art Prize Recipient Panca, Paola Villasenor, gaining a deeper understanding of our community. Learn how incorporating cultural context through artists' color and texture choices stimulates human connection and well-being. Rounding out the panel is seasoned developer Robert Ito, who’s commitment to housing equity and strategies for revitalization without gentrification has proven successful to retaining existing citizens and strengthening community.

Speakers: Victor Ochoa (California Arts Council), Isabel Garcia (Arte Atolondrada), Shirish Villasensor (Arte Atolondrada), Robert Ito (Ito Girard and Associates), Elizabeth Carmichael (ECOhouse Architecture)

3:45pm - 4:30pm | Expo Hall (Foyer)

4:00pm - 7:00pm | Happy Hour & Reception (Deck), light snacks available until 5:00pm

For full details on the Conference + Expo please see this page.