As the urgency of climate-related goals intensifies, the green building community is turning its focus towards achieving net zero targets.

The upcoming Greenbuild 2024 conference, themed “Built to Scale,” will serve as a pivotal platform for this endeavour, offering over 100 sessions on crucial industry topics.

Scheduled for November 12-15 in Philadelphia, the event will provide attendees with opportunities to engage in learning about net zero and decarbonisation strategies.

Key sessions on net zero goals

• Achieving zero waste goals with TRUE workshop: Taking place on Tuesday, November 12, from 1-5 p.m., this workshop will delve into the TRUE certification program, which is dedicated to zero waste performance through sustainable resource management. Attendees will gain insights into transforming waste management approaches into resource-centric plans that support a circular economy. The workshop will cover stakeholder engagement, data collection, and communication strategies, illustrated by case studies from TRUE-certified facilities, including the renovated USGBC headquarters.
• Making zero-emissions buildings the new normal: This session, scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, from 3-4 p.m., will explore the factors enabling zero-carbon buildings. It will highlight the role of USGBC and its members in leading this transformation, examining policy and market drivers, and future developments. The session will discuss the impact of LEED Zero projects and the National Definition for Zero Emission Building on accelerating zero-emission buildings.
• We can’t wait until 2050: reaching zero embodied carbon today: Also on Wednesday, November 13, from 3-4 p.m., this discussion will focus on reducing the carbon footprint of buildings to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It will address the challenges of achieving zero embodied carbon and explore pathways for significant reductions. Experts from various fields will share strategies and discuss the Life Cycle Impact Reduction credits in LEED.

Greenbuild 2024 aims to inspire and equip attendees to tackle the challenges of sustainability head-on, contributing to a sustainable future through education and collaboration.