Investigate the evolution and future of building energy efficiency, and examine how modern buildings use significantly less energy than their historical counterparts. In this module you will hear from the world-renowned Amory Lovins, Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus and former Chief Scientist of Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Lovins is also a Senior Precourt Scholar of Integrative Design and Energy Efficiency at Stanford University.

Examine advanced strategies for optimizing HVAC systems, focusing on energy-efficient heating, cooling, and distribution methods, while gaining insights into the latest technologies and case studies that drive sustainability and reduce operational carbon in building management.

Gain a deeper understanding of how electrification reduces operational carbon, enhances efficiency, and supports the transition to renewable energy in building management, and examine the latest technologies and energy-efficient solutions for space heating, water heating, and cooking.

Examine the integration of renewable energy and storage systems in buildings as a crucial step in achieving operational decarbonization.

Review how structural system and building material selection impact a building’s embodied carbon, the role of building reuse in carbon reduction, and the tools available to assess and manage embodied carbon.

Examine the business case for building decarbonization, particularly through the lenses of developers and building owners, and learn about strategies for making decarbonization both financially viable and impactful in the long term. In this module, you will hear from Dr. Roshan Mehdizadeh Corsiglia, Senior Director at Google.

In this final activity, you will demonstrate your understanding and application of building decarbonization principles by evaluating a fictional building that is underperforming on key sustainability goals and propose climate-appropriate, actionable strategies for improvement.