Jodi Smits Anderson
Username
Jodi Smits Anderson
Proposer First Name
Jodi
Proposer Email
jsmitsan@dasny.org
Proposer Last Name
Smits Anderson
Proposer Company/Organization
DASNY
Proposer Phone
(518) 257-3486
Boston 2022 Areas of Focus
Proposer Job Title
Director Sustainability Programs
Proposed Session Description
Welcome to another session intended to spur thought and identify ways to use your work, your business, and your choices to change the world in ways that are sometimes stealthy, always proven, and certainly replicable.
How can we inspire this awakening? By presenting ideas that are current and near current and encouraging reflection and discussion on the proven impact of these ideas. We want YOU to discover, with us, which ideas are greenwashing, which are pie-in-the-sky, which are here and ready. Also, who needs to become comfortable with the useful approaches? How can we engage with; the boots-on-the-ground, the architect, the lawyers in the room, and who are we missing?
In this session Jim and Jodi will also touch on the NY Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, NY City LL 97, legislation at the federal level and state level impacting refrigerants and blowing agents, cement content in concrete, and re-use of existing buildings, all of which underscore growing attention to operational carbon tracking AND embodied carbon awareness.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
We can work to find biogenic or low-carbon material companies with diversity in leadership. At this point we have not developed the particulars yet, so that focus is certainly achievable.
Learning Objectives
Define the term “greenwashing” and learn metrics needed to understand the value in sequestering and carbon-capture claims.
Learn about several tools for generating a useable carbon budget, as well as ways to use that budget to open discussions and inform design.
Learn how to talk about carbon in a way that helps the design team see its importance and ways to manage it.
Understand the path of current legislation and define ways to position your work in anticipation of future concerns
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
No, but it has been submitted to the NYS Green Building Conference with a more NY state and NYC focus.
Session Format
Collaborative problem-solving session
Session Format Details
A mix of collaborative problem solving and facilitated discussion. The focus is on very high levels of interaction with the attendees.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
90-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2022
Comments about your speaker roster
Both Jim and I are in this video. Please ignore the choppy editing, it was one of our first interviews on the channel.
Note that Jim and Jodi have presented often together. It is our comfort with each other, our sense of mutual support, and our willingness to explore ideas that will make this session dynamic and transformative.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
We would present a bunch of ideas within the context of “change to reduce carbon” and for each one, we ask the participants, “Is this idea…”
• Greenwashing? or maybe Snake Oil?
• Boots on the Ground? or maybe Shovel Ready?
• Path to a Positive Future?
• Pie-in-the-Sky?
And then discuss “why”.
Ideas may include:
What if...
...there was a chemical that you can add to concrete that reduces the CO2 emissions.
(Yes there is! But it reduces it by a tiny amount.)
...we could use low-cement concrete and we could get lower CO2 masonry units by asking for them?
(We can, and should!)
…we could build wood skyscrapers
(maaaan, the sequestration!)
…we could transition to always re-use first? Insist on deconstruction and reuse of materials second?
(Portland - historic homes and those built before 1916 must be fully deconstructed.)
...we considered alternatives to concrete slabs at grade level? (earthen floors?)
(Great! Who wants their project to be first?)
...we could produce steel with zero fossil fuel? (and what about waste to energy???)
(It would be expensive - unless carbon emissions were priced fairly.)
...we required full compliance with the Energy Code? or NYStretch?
(We would reduce carbon emissions significantly. Yes - not many projects today fully comply with the Energy Code.)
…every new or significant rehab project (building or infrastructure) needing financing (mortgage, bond, loan) was required to produce an embodied carbon budget?
(what would this take, and what tools would we use?)
Reviewer 1
Nielson, Christopher
Reviewer 2
Garvey, Amanda
Proposal #
107
Committee Decision
Being Considered
Presenters
Full Description
This session will debunk some assumptions about carbon as well as provide critical path thinking skills so that attendees can implement wise carbon-reducing strategies in their work. It is an important session specifically because it encourages participants to activate their curiosity, and to use their skills in discernment, as well as see their own agency in addressing climate.