We are in the middle of a climate catastrophe. We have been trying to understand and minimize our operational environmental impact for a long time. Energy efficient light bulbs, better HVAC systems, new refrigerants, better building enclosures…..but operations is only about half the problem. All of these new solutions and tools continue to add to global warming, even while they try and stop it. To truly combat an enemy such as this, you need to understand it fully. You need to know as much about it as possible, so why have we only looked at half the problem. Embodied impacts need to be married with our understanding of operational savings, in this session we will learn not only what all the acronyms are around embodied impacts, but why we need them and how to use them best.

Our presenter, Josh Jacobs, is responsible for engaging and understanding the global marketplaces' sustainable/healthy rating systems, codes, purchasing policies, and standards for WAP Sustainability. In this role he helps develop and track the environmental programs that are being utilized throughout the world. As a LEED AP+ BD&C, Josh has served on over 40 sustainably focused committees, including but not limited to ASHRAE 189.1, LEED Steering Committee, USGBC’s Pilot Credit Committee, and served on the water/IEQ work group that developed the first public draft of the IgCC. He is a recurring guest lecturer at multiple universities and has spoken on sustainable building practices and purchasing on 5 continents. He works with organizations investor relations and sustainability teams to help them understand sustainable financial reporting tools such as SASB, GRI, and TCFD. Josh served as Chairman of the US Mirror Committee for ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement, the 2015 NAHB Material/IEQ Working Group, Vice Chair for USGBC’s Pilot Credit Committee, and currently serves a USGBC’s LEED Steering Committee Chair and as Vice Chair of ASHRAE 189.1.