Description:

Did you know greenhouse gas emissions from San Francisco buildings have been cut by more than half since 1990? Nonetheless, there’s a long road to travel to deliver on our commitment to a zero-emissions building stock by 2050. As California prepares to implement new building and energy codes in 2020, support for building decarbonization and electrification is growing among design professionals, state and local policymakers, environmental advocates, developers, and other key industry stakeholders. We know that efficient, all-electric buildings and transport are instrumental to protecting the climate; in addition to cutting greenhouse gases, efficient electric systems reduce indoor and outdoor pollution while generating positive economic, health, and equity outcomes for the community. Staff from San Francisco Department of the Environment will present the City’s commitments, plans, and current legislation aiming to accelerate delivery of zero-and-low carbon buildings; share how these efforts fit within the update to the city’s Climate Action Strategy; and discuss important actions the city is taking in its own facilities. We invite you to come listen, share your thoughts, and learn about additional opportunities to engage and support this work.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the contributions of buildings, transport, and materials to San Francisco greenhouse emissions over the last three decades – what’s working, and targets for improvement.
• Understand local energy code options for San Francisco that align with climate action goals.
• Be introduced to evidence that efficient all-electric buildings can be constructed and operated at comparable or lower cost than standard practice across a range of uses and climate zones.
• Learn how affordable housing owners and project teams are leading an equitable transition to resilient, zero carbon buildings.

About the Speaker(s):

Eden Brukman

Eden Brukman is Senior Green Building Coordinator at SF Department of the Environment. She has focused her career on establishing socially and environmentally responsible solutions for human habitat: Eden coauthored Living Building Challenge and directed its evolution and global deployment 2007-2012; served as the first Technical Director of Health Product Declaration Collaborative; and contributed to the early development of other programs including Pharos Project, Declare, and EcoDistricts. Also a licensed architect, her advocacy efforts have led to policy reform, decentralized building and community developments, and the creation of a network of local action groups in cities all over the world.

Rich Chien

Rich Chien is a Senior Environmental Specialist with the Department of the Environment, where he works on policies and programs that support climate resilient buildings and communities while collaborating closely with key stakeholders to ensure equitable outcomes. He manages all aspects of the city’s PACE program and related green financing efforts, and leads implementation of small and medium commercial energy efficiency programs on behalf of the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN). Previously, Mr. Chien helped create the commercial buildings benchmarking and audit ordinance and continues to monitor and update the green building code for new construction.

Barry Hooper

Barry Hooper is a Senior Green Building Coordinator who collaborates with the SF Department of Building Inspection in development and delivery of the San Francisco Green Building Code – which requires new buildings to meet substantive overall green building standards, install solar PV or living roofs, and be wired for flexible expansion of EV charging. Barry also manages San Francisco’s Existing Buildings ordinance, which requires annual energy benchmarking and an actionable plan to improve energy efficiency. He is active in the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, and co-chairs the C40 Cities Private Sector Buildings Efficiency Network (C40 PBEN).

Ticket Pricing

• AIASF Members: $10
• General Admissions: $15

Registration

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