2026 Event Program

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Detailed session descriptions are available at the bottom of this page. Our program is subject to change.

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GBI Workshop: "Decarbonizing the Built Environment: GBI's Journey to Net Zero Learning Lab"

Wednesday, October 7  |  9:30am–12:30pm

Join GBI for the Journey to Net Zero™ Learning Lab, an experiential workshop designed to equip building professionals with the knowledge and tools to drive carbon reduction in the built environment. This half-day session will introduce participants to strategies for reducing embodied and operational carbon, demonstrate the Journey to Net Zero™ assessment and calculator, and explore how standardized methodologies support credible and measurable progress toward decarbonization. Attendees will gain practical insights that can be applied to design, construction, and operations to support healthier, more resilient, and sustainable buildings. Upon completion of the in-person training, attendees will become certified experts of GBI’s Journey to Net Zero™ program.

Location: Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)
525 S Hewitt St Suite 150, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Parking: A paid parking lot is available onsite as well as free street parking.

Hosted in partnership with Green Building Initative.

Hosted in partnership with Green Building Initative.

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GBI_Logotype_Main

Hosted in partnership with GrowGood.

Hosted in partnership with GrowGood.

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GrowGood_logo_full_color_wtag

GrowGood Regenerative Farm Experience

Wednesday, October 7  |  9:30am–11:30am

Join us at GrowGood’s regenerative urban farm in Bell for a hands-on volunteer experience and learn what it takes to operate a thriving community-based agricultural space. Volunteers will support a variety of activities that may include composting, planting and seeding, preparing garden beds, and other farm projects. We recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen, and water for the day.

Venue: The Bell Farm
The closest formal address to use is 5502 K Street, Bell CA

Parking: A parking lot will be available at the farm entrance.

Morning Yoga Flow

Wednesday, October 7  |  10:00am–11:00am

Start your morning with movement and intention at the Net Zero Conference. Join Southern California Edison’s Ruby Rose Yepez for a revitalizing Hatha yoga flow set against the stunning Los Angeles skyline in a serene park setting. This guided session invites you to awaken your body, center your mind, and ignite your energy as you move through intentional postures and breathwork. Align your chakras, build momentum, and ground yourself for a day of inspiration, innovation, and connection.

Please bring your own yoga mat, water, and any other items you may need for your comfort during the session.

Location: Vista Natural Hermosa Park 
100 N Toluca St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Parking:Enter and park through the North Gate on Colton St. A small lot is available on-site. The yoga session will be taking place by the Lovers Bench.

Welcome Happy Hour

Wednesday, October 7  |  4:30pm–6:30pm

Join us in kicking off the Net Zero Conference at our Welcome Happy Hour! Hosted at Perch, this gathering allows attendees to mingle and network prior to the main event. Enjoy drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres in a glamorous rooftop setting, taking in sweeping views of Downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains.

Location: Perch
448 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Parking: Paid parking is available in the structure directly across from the venue entrance as well as at Pershing Square.

Main Conference & Expo

Thursday, October 8  |  7:30am–6:00pm

We are pleased to announce that our Net Zero Conference & Expo will be hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center! Join us for zero carbon learning opportunities across all industries, exciting keynotes, and networking in the Expo Hall. 

Venue: Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall
1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Parking: The Convention Center charges $25-40 for parking. Onsite charging stations are available for EVs. There are also a variety of offsite parking lots within walking distance (fees vary). Visit our venue page for more info.

Trailblazer Awards

Thursday, October 8

Each year, the Net Zero Conference Trailblazer Awards celebrate interdisciplinary leaders making a positive impact on people and the environment. Join us at the Main Stage to commend our winners and nominees’ exemplary work in the climate space.

Learn more about our Trailblazer Awards here.

Location: Main Stage

Women in Net Zero Mixer

Thursday, October 8

Join us on the Expo Hall floor to briefly hear from special guest speakers, then enjoy networking with sustainability leaders, meaningful conversation and—of course—coffee! This networking opportunity is open to everyone, but creates space to focus specifically on women, non-binary, and female-identifying individuals. After all, your network is oftentimes one of your most valuable assets, so it’s worthwhile to invest in building strong relationships with other co-conspirators in the decarbonization space. Join us in celebrating diversity in the AEC industry and forging bonds with new connections. As Bill Nye says, “Everyone you will ever meet, knows something you don’t.”

Location: Expo Hall

Hosted in partnership with U.S. Green Building Council.

Hosted in partnership with U.S. Green Building Council.

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usgbc_blk

Hosted in partnership B Local LA and 50th Parallel.

B Local LA logo black (2)
B Local LA logo black (2)
50thPPR-Logo_primary_black
50thPPR-Logo_primary_black

Hosted in partnership B Local LA and 50th Parallel.

Happy Hour in the Expo Hall

Thursday, October 8  |  5:00pm–6:00pm

Need more time to network during the event? We got your back! Once educational sessions conclude, kick back in the Expo Hall to meet with exhibitor booths and fellow attendees. A cash bar will be available. Don’t miss the raffle and be sure to check out onsite custom t-shirt printing to take home a keepsake.

Location: Expo Hall

View Session Descriptions

8:30am - 9:15am

Net zero carbon has shifted from aspiration to expectation, yet many teams struggle to turn climate commitments into clear design action. What does it truly take to deliver a net zero carbon building while balancing operational energy, embodied carbon, electrification, renewables, cost, and architectural intent? This session opens with a fast-paced primer that reframes net zero as a design challenge, not a technical add-on. Participants explore how early decisions about massing, enclosure, systems, and materials shape long-term carbon outcomes and gain a practical framework for evaluating decarbonization strategies. In the interactive second half, small teams design a hypothetical project using strategy cards and a carbon-cost tracker to reach net zero within a fixed budget. Attendees leave prepared to lead confident, credible net zero conversations.

Speakers:

Building on their groundbreaking resilience planning efforts in 2022, Western Riverside Council of Governments received an award from the Adaptation Planning Grant Program of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation for a series of next step initiatives to assist their member agencies (incorporated cities, counties, and special districts) amid mounting climate hazards and utility service disruptions. The culminative Energy Resilience Plan 2.0 comprises feasibility studies for Community Resilience Centers and microgrids at strategic local facilities and a detailed Implementation Plan for use by member agencies to advance resilience initiatives beyond the grant project.

Speakers:

  • Alex Mitoma, Manager, Climate Advisory Services, AECOM
  • Daniel Soltero, Program Manager, Western Riverside Council of Governments / Inland Reg. Energy Network

Clean energy and building decarbonization policies run the risk of disproportionally burdening our most vulnerable citizens – low income households, seniors, children, and disadvantaged communities. This session will discuss how we can get to net zero while still making sure the transition is affordable, equitable and creates a healthy environment in which people can thrive.

Speakers:

Mass timber is considered a scalable climate solution for storing carbon and avoiding high emitting construction materials like concrete and steel. However, the World Bank projects that global wood demand may outstrip global supply by 2-3x in the next 30 years. Tropical timber bamboo can address that shortfall. The fastest growing woody plants on Earth these bamboos are now being planted for timber and are already being used for mass timber. The bamboo plants can be sustainably harvested annually and provide multigenerational livelihood to indigenous and rural communities.

Speakers:

  • Brian Dunbar, Executive Director, CSU Institute for the Built Environment
  • David Sands, Founder and Chief Architect, LEED AP, Bamboo Living and RIZOME

Concrete’s global scale makes it essential to any credible net‑zero strategy. Responsible sourcing provides a practical, verifiable pathway to reduce the material’s carbon footprint while improving transparency and performance across the supply chain. Certification frameworks such as the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) help project teams evaluate environmental stewardship, ethical practices, and continuous improvement from raw materials through ready‑mix production. By prioritizing lower‑carbon cement blends, optimized mix designs, renewable energy, efficient quarry operations, and circular practices like recycled aggregates, responsible sourcing directly reduces embodied carbon. It also supports compliance with LEED v5 and emerging owner requirements for low‑carbon procurement. This session will show how responsible sourcing accelerates market transformation and enables concrete to meaningfully contribute to global net‑zero commitments.

Speakers:

  • Ignacio Valdivia, Sustainability Manager, Holliday Rock
  • Lionel Lemay, Director, Market Development, North America, Concrete Sustainability Council

Lancaster didn’t wait for the hydrogen market to mature—it started building the path forward. The same city that became America’s first net-zero community by launching its own public energy utility is now applying that model to hydrogen. First Public Hydrogen (FPH2) is the nation’s first public hydrogen authority, designed to make clean hydrogen accessible and affordable for cities ready to act. Hear from the mayor who championed both revolutions, a rocket scientist bringing hydrogen to aviation, a board member shaping state policy, and a former LA utility commissioner who knows what it takes to move public institutions toward clean energy.

Speakers:

  • Aura Vasquez, Strategic Clean Energy Executive, First Public Hydrogen Authority
  • Dr. Anita Sengupta, CEO, Hydroplane Ltd.
  • R Rex Parris, Mayor of City of Lancaster, Chairman of FPH2, City of Lancaster; First Public Hydrogen Authority
  • Tanya Peacock, Managing Director, EcoEngineers

California’s goal of achieving 100% carbon-free energy by 2045 has heightened the urgency to reduce peak demand and relieve grid stress. As buildings become increasingly electrified, managing energy demand is essential for reliability and sustainability. This presentation will examine the distinction between total energy use and peak demand, emphasizing that while peaks cannot be eliminated, they can be reduced and shifted. Panelists will discuss how passive strategies—such as solar shading, high-performance glazing, and material selection—can work alongside active systems like advanced HVAC controls, demand-controlled ventilation, thermal storage, and on-site solar with batteries.

Speakers:

As climate, economic, and social disruptions intensify, resilience can no longer be addressed through isolated projects or stand‑alone solutions. It must be intentionally designed into the systems that shape how regions plan, build, operate, and adapt. Today, however, resilience efforts remain fragmented across sectors, supply chains, data platforms, and institutions undermining long‑term performance and net zero outcomes. This structured, facilitated discussion examines resilience as infrastructure, focusing on how digital tools, shared data systems, and coordinated decision‑making frameworks can enable cross‑sector alignment across the built environment, energy systems, and supporting supply chains. Drawing from real‑world ecosystem‑building work across public, private, and community actors, the session explores why current systems break down and how infrastructure for coordination can be designed from the outset. Participants will engage in structured mapping to identify resilience gaps and infrastructure opportunities applicable to their own projects, organizations, and regions.

Speakers:

  • Jaycherie Little, Solar Project Developer, 10Power
  • Kamilah Sanders, Global Ecosystem Strategist & CEO, Greater Than Equa

9:30am - 10:40am

Host: Drew Shula, Founder & CEO, Verdical Group

Emcee: Sarah Pilla, Meteorologist & Anchor, Spectrum News

Keynotes:

10:40am - 11:20am

Each year, the Net Zero Conference Trailblazer Awards celebrate interdisciplinary leaders making a positive impact on people and the environment.

11:45am - 12:30pm

The Net Zero Accelerator has mentored 120+ companies since 2020, turning early-stage climate technology into real, deployed solutions. This fireside chat pulls back the curtain on how NZA moves companies from pilot to scale: what actually works, what doesn’t, and what it takes to turn a good idea into market traction.

But this isn’t just a look inside an accelerator. It’s a look at what’s possible for anyone in the room. Every attendee here works somewhere that could be a pilot site, a partner, a customer, or a collaborator for the kind of innovation happening on this stage.

Colin Mangham and Sebastian Muñoz will be joined by NZA founders spanning different stages of that journey, from early cohort companies to alumni scaling in the real market, to show what it actually looks like to think this way and act on it.

Speakers:

The climate crisis is an education problem — we have the solutions we need, we just aren’t implementing them yet. Influencers have a unique opportunity to use their platform to engage their community and share resources at scale. In this panel, climate influencers will discuss their various perspectives on the opportunity to inform and inspire their followers to take action.

Speakers:

Chicas Verdes is redefining climate leadership by positioning youth as decision-makers in community-based sustainability. This session examines how student-led school gardens across Los Angeles are leveraged as community-driven hubs that advance environmental justice while contributing to net zero goals in the built environment. Through a gamified model, students design, build, and activate these spaces as launch points for initiatives that expand green space, increase food access, reduce waste, and strengthen community resilience. Chicas Verdes alumni and staff will share replicable strategies for integrating youth leadership into climate solutions and shifting decision-making to communities most impacted by environmental inequities. Attendees will engage in an interactive design exercise and leave with actionable tools to implement equitable, community-centered climate strategies in their own contexts.

Speakers

Discover how the “Hillside Living Laboratory,” a model of wildfire resilient design, thrives in a high-risk environment. By bridging high-performance engineering with immersive education. This session explores the duality of systems visibility, demonstrating how Net Zero and embodied carbon goals transform into tangible learning tools through indoor-outdoor integration. We will detail the iterative design process, showcasing how energy and daylighting simulations are leveraged to optimize thermal comfort and visual performance while minimizing environmental impact. Beyond the building envelope, we examine regenerative site strategies—from fire-resilient landscapes and stormwater gardens to drought-tolerant habitats. Join us to learn how integrating technical rigor with contextual sensitivity creates resilient, net zero campuses that foster an indelible sense of place and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Speakers:

Public discourse around clean energy these days often focuses on setbacks; policy reversals, market volatility, and infrastructure challenges. Yet beneath the noise, powerful trends suggest the transition is moving forward in durable, and in some cases irreversible, ways. This session explores how market signals, technology adoption, and system-level shifts are reshaping energy supply, buildings, transportation, and the grid- often faster than policy headlines imply. We’ll examine how economics, innovation, and user demand are increasingly aligned with decarbonization goals, creating momentum that designers, engineers, and policymakers can actively leverage. Rather than a victory lap or a warning, this talk offers a grounded look at where progress is quietly accelerating, and why those signals matter for real-world projects, codes, and planning decisions happening today.

Speakers: 

  • Dave Intner, Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
  • Ruby Rose Yepez, New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison

Raising the Bar by Lowering the Carbon demonstrates how early engagement, education, and an integrated design and construction process can translate embodied carbon goals into built outcomes. Using San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 as a case study, the architect, general contractor, and sustainability consultant share how whole-building life cycle assessment (WBLCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and performance-based specifications were introduced early and used to align the client, design team, and supply chain. Through proactive collaboration with trades and suppliers, the team unlocked low-carbon material solutions and achieved a 30% reduction in global warming potential while maintaining cost, schedule, and constructability. This session highlights how education and early alignment enable scalable, real-world decarbonization across complex infrastructure and net-zero projects.

Speakers: 

The California State University (CSU) system is evaluating the feasibility of implementing deep geothermal and/or geoexchange systems to decarbonize campus heating systems. To support this effort, CSU conducted a statewide assessment of both technologies across, considering geologic conditions, existing infrastructure, energy demand, and policy drivers that influence implementation. This session will outline CSU’s methodology for evaluating geothermal potential, summarize the technologies evaluated and key findings, and highlight lessons learned from applying a consistent framework across diverse campus conditions. It will also explore how emerging technologies are expanding the viability of deep geothermal in locations previously considered unsuitable. Attendees will gain insight into scalable approaches for assessing geothermal opportunities across a large portfolio and integrating these systems into campus decarbonization strategies.

Speakers:

Across two large and complex campuses, this session explores practical, scalable pathways to deep decarbonization. Through projects at the Illinois State Capitol Complex and San José State University, we highlight how reducing energy demand, rethinking legacy systems, and prioritizing electrification can drive meaningful carbon reductions. Both efforts emphasize the importance of phased implementation, stakeholder coordination, and leveraging existing infrastructure to minimize cost and disruption. Grounded in detailed analysis and long-term planning, these strategies balance ambition with feasibility, ensuring solutions are not only technically sound, but actionable. By aligning sustainability goals with real-world constraints, these projects demonstrate how institutions can transition away from fossil fuel-based systems while maintaining reliability, managing costs, and preparing for future growth.

Speakers:

This interactive panel brings together Dr. Sarwat Chowdhury (UC Irvine) and Ms. Patty Oh (Cool OC) to explore equity challenges in urban green spaces across local and global contexts. The session examines how Net Zero strategies can differentially impact communities based on socio-economic and cultural conditions, and highlights approaches for fostering inclusive leadership and participation. Drawing on 15 years of experience with the United Nations, Ms. Chowdhury will share global insights, while Ms. Oh will present lessons from community-based climate and sustainability initiatives she leads in Southern California. As practitioners in climate mitigation, sustainability, and community engagement—and as women of color—the speakers offer valuable perspectives on advancing equitable, inclusive approaches to urban climate solutions amid persistent gaps in representation.

Speakers:

1:00pm - 1:30pm

Join us on the Expo Hall floor to briefly hear from a special guest speaker, then enjoy networking with sustainability leaders, meaningful conversation and—of course—coffee! This networking opportunity is open to everyone, but creates space to focus specifically on women, non-binary, and female-identifying individuals. After all, your network is oftentimes one of your most valuable assets, so it’s worthwhile to invest in building strong relationships with other co-conspirators in the decarbonization space. Join us in celebrating diversity in the AEC industry and forging bonds with new connections. As Bill Nye says, “Everyone you will ever meet, knows something you don’t.”

Speakers:

2:15pm - 3:00pm

 The LACC Expansion Project integrates sustainability throughout both design and construction. In pursuit of LEED Gold certification, the panel will share highlights of the project’s ongoing sustainability efforts and environmental stewardship goals. Topics will include low-carbon concrete, waste reduction and diversion, healthy materials, and other sustainable design and construction practices. 

Speakers

Most Net Zero roadmaps are either too academic to execute or too fragmented to scale. Building owners need a “True North” to navigate evolving regulations, rising energy costs, and the push for decarbonization. This session cuts through the noise to provide a clear, actionable roadmap for achieving Net Zero energy across diverse portfolios. We will bridge the gap between energy modeling and real-world implementation, focusing on the critical intersection of onsite renewables, embodied carbon, and circular economy principles. As an author of 12 books on sustainable design, I will share strategies for removing the institutional “drags” that slow innovation. Leave with a data-backed blueprint to move beyond pledges and toward a measurable, carbon-neutral future for every building you manage.

Speakers: 

Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing contributors to landfill, yet most solutions remain fragmented. This session explores how Project ReWear is building a community-based circular system that keeps clothing in continuous use while reducing environmental impact. Through initiatives like the Landfill Project, which tracks textile diversion in real time, and the Don8 Project, which redistributes clothing through nonprofit partnerships, the model extends the life of garments beyond resale. Large-scale community events and accessible pricing further drive participation, turning everyday consumers into active contributors to the circular economy. Attendees will gain a practical, replicable framework for reducing textile waste at the local level—demonstrating how circular systems can serve as scalable climate solutions rooted in community engagement.

Speakers:

As embodied carbon becomes a defining factor in sustainable K–12 performance, this session offers a three-part, practice-based approach. First, we cover structural baselines and reduction strategies, including early collaboration, procurement-informed decisions, and concrete/steel comparisons. Second, we show how to integrate WBLCA into design to meet CALGreen requirements and pursue LEED v5 pathways through benchmarking, EPD review, and structural coordination. Third, we outline a finish-material evaluation process for interiors and exteriors that pairs embodied carbon calculations with the AIA Materials Pledge to support healthier, low-toxicity environments. Attendees will leave with actionable methods that align policy, certification, cost, and constructability for school districts.

Speakers:

Decarbonizing a single building is hard. Decarbonizing two major institutional campuses simultaneously—while maintaining operations, navigating New York’s CLCPA legislation, and coordinating across hundreds of buildings totaling millions of square feet—is a different challenge entirely. This session presents the clean energy master plan developed for Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Rochester Regional Health (RRH), one of the Finger Lakes region’s largest healthcare networks. Wendel Companies led the project with client engagement and campus-level ECM integration; Cyclone Energy Group contributed detailed energy modeling across ten representative buildings, with thermal load analysis feeding directly into central plant decarbonization planning. Presenters will share data-driven lessons learned, phasing strategies, available funding pathways, and the hard realities of translating a rigorous roadmap into implementable action.

Speakers: 

This presentation evaluates the important role that Interiors play within the push for carbon neutrality, for both “design” and for clients’ CSR/ESG initiatives. It will explore an 8,300sf case study project in Toronto – 2 Bloor East, Suite 3200 – designed to achieve the Living Future’s Zero Carbon Certification standard (targeting “Preliminary Award”, June 2026). The case study will evaluate how carbon neutrality on the project aligned with the client’s near- and long-term objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and it will dive deeply into opportunities for design, construction and operations to reduce both operational and embodied carbon. As a result, participants will gain insight into how fit outs hold the key towards scalable, verifiable carbon neutrality outcomes on any schedule, budget and design vision.

Speakers:

  • Blake Jackson, Director, Sustainability, NORR Architects & Engineers
  • Cyle Sheppard, Sustainability Designer, NORR Architects & Engineers

As organizations accelerate toward net zero, the challenge is no longer setting ambition, it’s executing at scale. While AI is often criticized for its energy demands, it is increasingly essential for driving measurable decarbonization outcomes. In this session, leaders from Deloitte will explore how AI, when embedded into enterprise workflows and infrastructure systems, can move organizations from fragmented pilots to enterprise-wide climate action. From optimizing energy use in the built environment to automating carbon tracking and reporting, attendees will see how digital platforms operationalize sustainability. Through real-world examples, this session will demonstrate how integrating data, AI, and workflows enables faster decisions, greater accountability, and scalable progress toward net zero.

Speakers:

  • Dilip Krishna, Global CTO, Sustainability, Deloitte
  • John Mennel, Managing Director and Climate Tech Practice Leader, Deloitte

Owned by East LA Community Corporation (ELACC), Vallejo is a 17-unit, 100+ year old multifamily property in East LA, where low-income residents face disproportionate exposure to extreme heat and poor indoor air quality, conditions worsened by aging, fossil-fuel-dependent building systems. Preserving affordability at 41–50% AMI while addressing these vulnerabilities required overcoming a chronic NOI deficit through a “scope-to-incentive” strategy, stacking four programs (CAMR, LIWP, MAHEP, + TECH Clean California) plus grants for 97% cost coverage on ~$1 million scope. Now complete, the all-electric retrofit delivers mini-split HVAC, heat pump water heating, induction cooking, and Energy Star windows, eliminating combustion pollutants, improving thermal comfort, and averting 11.7 MTCO2e annually. Join us to hear lessons learned and transferable best practices from this first-of-its-kind net zero retrofit.

Speakers:

3:15pm - 4:00pm

This session explores HOK’s high-acuity behavioral health portfolio – Veterans Affairs Long Beach (VALB), UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital (NPRH), and Kedren Children’s Village – demonstrating how extreme clinical precision for psychiatric environments and decarbonization can be mutually reinforcing. These projects serve Southern California’s most at-risk demographics: veterans requiring long-term recovery (VALB), high-acuity neuropsychiatric patients (UCLA), and underserved, often unhoused pediatric populations in South Los Angeles (Kedren). The presentation addresses how these projects achieve significant energy reductions (including NPRH’s transition to all-electric) while maintaining rigorous anti-ligature and safety requirements for behavioral healthcare. Participants will gain insight into leveraging early-design building performance simulations to reduce embodied and operational carbon while boosting patient well-being through biophilic integration. VALB has been awarded LEED Silver, and UCLA NPRH is tracking for LEED Gold.

Speakers:

LEED v5 new MR prerequisites and credits raise expectations for embodied carbon reduction, but many teams struggle to turn requirements into real design decisions. This session delivers a practical workflow for connecting whole-building life-cycle assessment directly to BIM models and aligning results with LEED v5. Follow a step-by-step process to extract quantities, define system boundaries, build a credible baseline, apply EPD data, and evaluate design options. See how to translate BIM models into LCA results for measurable carbon reductions and prepare documentation that meets reviewer expectations. Walk away with a repeatable workflow you can apply immediately to improve design decisions and increase LEED v5 success.

Speakers:

What can U.S. practitioners learn from global net zero case studies? This panel examines lessons from a major headquarters project in Mexico, a high-performance building portfolio in India, an office space in Brazil, and a US-based HQ project translating insights into U.S. engineering and policy contexts. Panelists will focus on emissions assessment, renewable energy integration, Scope 3 considerations, and certification-driven performance tracking. Discussion will emphasize transferable engineering strategies rather than regional policy differences.

Speakers:

“Net Zero Water” emerges as a pivotal concept and framework for achieving water self-sufficiency. Essentially, Net Zero Water entails making a household as water self-sufficient as possible by utilizing both rainwater and water harvested from the building and its surroundings. However, this objective presents significant challenges in the arid Southwestern United States particularly in urban and suburban environments. To effectively implement Net Zero Water at a residential scale, it is imperative to simultaneously maximize water efficiency within households and establish a shared infrastructure space with the adjacent neighbors. These neighborhood shared spaces facilitates the sharing of infrastructure costs, enhances resilience, and improves overall quality of life. This session will delve into the holistic and meticulous planning and design required to attain residential Net Zero Water.

Speakers:

The path to net zero buildings goes beyond operational efficiency—it starts with the materials that shape our built environment. This dynamic panel brings together leading voices to explore how low-carbon, circular, and next-generation materials are transforming the industry. 

Join us for a forward-looking conversation on the technologies, strategies, and real-world projects driving down embodied carbon at scale. Panelists will highlight breakthrough innovations in sustainable materials; practical approaches to procurement and specification; and how evolving codes, policies, and market demands are accelerating adoption across the building lifecycle. 

Attendees will gain valuable insights into what’s working today—and what’s coming next—as the industry moves toward scalable net zero solutions. Expect actionable ideas, inspiring case studies, and a clear view into how material innovation is reshaping the future of high-performance buildings. Perfect for professionals committed to climate-forward design, construction, and development, this session delivers the knowledge and connections needed to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Speakers:

Delivering net-positive energy buildings is no longer theoretical. This session showcases the 850,000-SF Wells Fargo Corporate Campus in Dallas as a built example of achieving surplus energy performance when energy strategy guides design from day one. The campus is designed to generate approximately 5% more energy on-site annually than it consumes. The team pursued deep demand reduction with on-site renewables, using façade optimization, daylighting, dynamic glazing, right-sized systems, and operational alignment to reach an EUI 29% below the national average. The session unpacks key trade-offs between performance, comfort, cost, and constructability in a hot climate, and provides a practical roadmap for delivering scalable net-positive projects through passive design, electrification, and renewable energy integration.

Speakers:

  • Matt McDonald, Principal – Commercial Sector Leader, Corgan
  • Varun Kohli, Principal & Director of Sustainability, Corgan

In this session, we will outline how Charles Drew University (CDU) used a $50 million grant received from the State of California towards creating a pathway for a 60,000 GSF net zero medical school. This grant also assisted CDU with converting its LCME preliminary accreditation to a fully accredited four-year Allopathic Medical School Program. We will share several design decisions involving the owner, contractor, architect and consultants that paved the way for the CDU medical school to achieve 80% energy efficiency from the AIA 2030 baseline and establish a pathway to net zero with a tight state funded budget. The University’s mission is to serve the under-resourced communities of South Los Angeles and majority of practicing graduates go on to serve disadvantaged communities.

Speakers:

As the first state in the country to adopt embodied carbon requirements into its Green Building Standards Code, California is beginning a new journey of implementation and compliance for the construction stage of building lifecycles. In July 2024, all nonresidential commercial building projects over 100,000 square feet and school building projects over 50,000 square feet were required to comply with one of three pathways. In January 2026, this threshold dropped to 50,000 square feet for all nonresidential buildings. This session introduces these new requirements and shares the experiences of two local jurisdictions—Marin County and the City of Santa Monica—that have adopted embodied carbon reach codes.
 
Speakers:

Building Resilient Futures is a Fellowship Pilot Project that develops innovative workforce training approaches in construction, architecture, and facilities management while embedding climate resilience, worker rights, and environmental justice principles. The project is a collaborative effort among nine community colleges within the Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC), the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, and the U.S. Green Building Council, California (USGBC-CA). This initiative builds and strengthens career pathways for an inclusive and climate-ready workforce, serving historically disinvested communities and underrepresented groups in the construction sector by identifying the barriers they face and designing solutions that ensure equitable access to sustainable careers. This project is funded by a California Jobs First Catalyst grant.

Speakers:

  • Damian Lomeli, Adjunct Instructor, West Los Angeles College
  • George Cortez, Employer Engagement Coordinator, The CA Center for Climate Change Ed at West LA College
  • Joana (Jo) Tavares, Director, California Center for Climate Change Education at West LA College

4:15pm - 5:00pm

Net zero commitments are set at the organizational level but succeed or fail during construction. Contractors are increasingly responsible for Scope 3 emissions, yet lack standardized systems to measure and manage construction-phase impacts. This session highlights how leading general contractors are using the Contractor’s Commitment to operationalize decarbonization across real project portfolios. Developed by contractors, for contractors, the framework provides a structured approach to track carbon, materials, waste, water, and workforce metrics at the jobsite level. Version 3.0 introduces a standardized data structure that closes the gap between climate commitments and construction delivery, enabling consistent, scalable reporting aligned with ESG expectations. Panelists will share real-world implementation, lessons learned, and practical strategies to embed measurable performance into project execution.

Speakers:

As communities, businesses, and governments commit to ambitious climate goals, utilities sit at the center of the transition to a net zero future. In this session, leading utility providers will come together to discuss new initiatives and strategies to make net zero a reality at a utility scale. The session will explore how utility providers are evolving their operations, infrastructure, and customer engagement strategies to deliver reliable, affordable, and decarbonized energy. They will focus on long and short-term plans to transition away from natural gas to an electrified grid statewide. Attendees will gain insight into how utilities are shaping the energy landscape and building collaborative pathways toward net zero, with a focus on practical solutions, partnerships, and scalable strategies. Join the discussion!

Speakers:

  • Allan Marks, President, Board of Water and Power Commissioners, LA Department of Water and Power
  • Brian Bustamante, Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
  • Ursula Schmidt, Interim Section Manager, Sustainability and Resilience, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

This session presents a life-cycle assessment and life-cycle cost analysis of the East Mason Warehouses at the Presidio in San Francisco, comparing the 2023 rehabilitation of seven historic warehouses with a hypothetical new-build replacement. Using OneClick LCA, C.Scale and IES-VE, the team quantified embodied carbon, operational energy, and 60-year ownership costs. The as-built renovation achieved an “A” embodied-carbon rating at just 76 kg CO2e/m2, versus more than 600 kg CO2e/m2 for new construction, while also delivering a lower net present cost despite slightly higher utilities. Attendees will learn how reuse, longer replacement cycles, and targeted material choices can substantially reduce whole-life carbon and cost, informing net-zero pathways for portfolios of existing buildings.

Speakers:

This panel presents a case study of a 230,000 SF campus office building in Columbus, Ohio, where Cyclone Energy Group along with Heapy ran over 1,200 parametric energy model iterations to steer design decisions in real time. Key findings—including the outsized impact of window-to-wall ratio on East/West facades, the dominance of equipment power density, and the differentiation between three mechanical system options—directly shaped the architectural design. The session also confronts an underexplored tension: in markets with below-average gas rates and carbon-heavy electrical grids, decarbonization pathways require honest, location-specific analysis rather than universal electrification assumptions.

Speakers:

Not every important story finds an audience. In fact, cutting through the noise and capturing sustained attention has never been more difficult as people are inundated with information and exhausted by new media meeting them wherever they are. In 2026, the net zero story is more multifaceted than ever, bringing together economic, environmental, supply chain, technology, entrepreneurial, and cultural narratives with enormous implications for everyone. Communities far outside the traditional climate conversation are living with the implications of climate change and experiencing the effects of the net zero transition wherever they are. This moderated conversation brings together working journalists doing the reporting and telling the net zero stories in the past year. It will explore how climate coverage has evolved, what it takes to make these stories land with a broad audience, and where the most important reporting is happening right now.

Speakers:

In the efforts to rebuild in the aftermath of recent wildfires, designers, builders, and homeowners need an integrated approach to address both resilience and decarbonization. This session will study how wildfire hardening and building electrification can result in homes that are both climate ready and wildfire resilient and will introduce the incentive programs RISE & SWITCH, designed to aid that transition.

Speakers:

You already believe in the work. You’ve built the expertise, followed the science, committed your career. So why do some climate solutions take root in communities while others — just as well-designed — never quite land? Sometimes what’s missing isn’t more effort, better data, or a stronger case. It’s something quieter: the invisible barriers between professionals and the communities they’re working to serve. This panel explores what happens when those barriers are cleared. Through real examples and grounded conversation, panelists will share what changes when communities are meaningfully involved in climate decisions: faster adoption, deeper trust, more durable outcomes. This isn’t a case for working harder. It’s a conversation about what becomes possible when communities become co-authors of climate solutions.

Speakers:

  • Aura Vasquez, Strategic Clean Energy Executive, First Public Hydrogen Authority
  • Gina Goodhill, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Clean Power Alliance
  • Nina Knierim, Deputy Director of CA Programs, CORE- Community Organized Relief Effort
  • Shawn Sweeney, Executive Director, LA Climate Week, Collidescope Foundation

Phase change material (PCM) ceilings improve thermal comfort and add passive resilience during heat events—critical for schools and other occupant-dense buildings facing rising temperatures. Armstrong World Industries, AECOM, and IES, Ltd will share how Armstrong’s Templok PCM ceiling is embedded in IES-VE and applied in real design workflows. We’ll discuss what the models show about comfort improvements and peak load reduction across building types, with schools as a high-value case study for occupant outcomes. We’ll cover key modeling assumptions, common pitfalls, and how to interpret results alongside other resilience strategies (envelope, controls, ventilation, demand management). We’ll also briefly highlight how Section 48E Federal Investment Tax Credits are helping fund PCM ceiling upgrades.

Speakers: 

Net zero strategies are often evaluated through carbon reduction targets, yet their greatest impact may be improving human health. This session explores how building electrification, cooling access, infrastructure siting decisions, and energy affordability directly influence asthma rates, heat illness risk, indoor air quality, and household stress. Drawing from community-informed implementation across the Southeast, speakers will demonstrate how public health frameworks strengthen net zero planning and increase adoption in historically underserved communities. Attendees will gain practical tools to communicate health co-benefits, integrate equity into infrastructure decisions, and align climate strategies with measurable community outcomes. Centering health within net zero planning helps accelerate implementation while ensuring benefits reach the people most impacted first.

Speakers:

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Orange County Sanitation District Tour - SOLD OUT

Monday, September 16th  |  10:00am – 11:00am

Enjoy an educational experience by touring the new Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters Complex. Learn how sustainability goals were implemented throughout the building’s design such as low-impact development infrastructure, biogas energy generation, sun-shading, and more while still remaining cost-conscious. 

Venue: Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters Complex
18480 Bandilier Cir, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Parking: A private lot is available. 

Morning Yoga

Tuesday, September 17th  |  9:00am – 9:45am

Need a good stretch? Get your exercise and fresh air in with Troy Bacon of Shala Yoga & Wellness Services. Yoga mats and towels will be provided. This event will take place at beautiful Eisenhower Park, where we will also be hosting a cleanup. 

Address: Eisenhower Park
2864 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865

Parking: Free parking lots are available.

Park Cleanup - SOLD OUT

Tuesday, September 17th  | 10:00am – 11:00am

We’re partnering up with B Local LA, Tru Earth, and Oceanwise to host a park cleanup! Help us to make a positive impact in our community and defend against plastic pollution by collecting trash and debris. Gloves and bags will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Address: Eisenhower Park
2864 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865

Parking: Free parking lots are available.

Southern California Edison's (SCE) Energy Education Center Tour - SOLD OUT

Tuesday, September 17th  |  1:00pm – 3:00pm

SCE’s Energy Education Center (EEC) – Irwindale stands out as a one-of-a-kind educational facility. With a diverse range of free courses and workshops led by industry experts, and state-of-the-art displays showcasing efficient and sustainable technologies, the EEC is a must-visit for anyone interested in energy efficiency and sustainability.

Venue: SCE Energy Education Center – Irwindale
6090 Irwindale Ave, Irwindale, CA 91702

Parking: A private lot is available. 

Anaheim Convention Center Sustainability Tour - SOLD OUT

Tuesday, September 17th  |  4:00pm – 5:00pm

The Anaheim Convention Center is the largest LEED®-certified convention center in the United States and takes great pride in their sustainable practices. Take a walkthrough of the largest exhibition facility on the West Coast to learn about their comprehensive recycling program, rooftop herb garden, onsite composting, and more.

Venue: Anaheim Convention Center
800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802

Parking: The Convention Center charges $25 for parking and transactions are cashless. Onsite charging stations are available for EVs. There are also a variety of offsite parking lots within walking distance (fees vary). Visit our venue page for more info.

Trailblazer Awards Gala​

Wednesday, September 18th  |  6:30pm – 9:30pm

The Trailblazer Awards Gala celebrates interdisciplinary leaders making a positive impact on people and the environment. Food and drinks will be provided. Elevated cocktail attire is requested. 

Venue: House of Blues Anaheim
400 Disney Way #337, Anaheim, CA 92802

Parking: The GardenWalk self-parking structure has two entrances conveniently located on Disney Way and Katella Ave between Harbor Blvd and Clementine St. The first hour is free and the cost is $4 for each additional hour thereafter.

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Submit to Speak

The Net Zero Conference abstract submission process is highly competitive as our speaking opportunities provide valuable access and visibility to leaders in the climate space. 

Our abstract submission period for the 2026 event has now closed.

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Nominate a Keynote Speaker

Do you know someone that would be an inspiring keynote for our Net Zero Conference? We’d love to open the floor for your suggestions for leaders and changemakers with an expertise in Climate, Net Zero, ESG, Equity, Carbon, or Resilience.  

Contact us with any questions.

Nominations for 2026 are open.

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Nominate for Trailblazer Awards

Each year, the Net Zero Conference Trailblazer Awards celebrates interdisciplinary leaders making a positive impact on people and the environment. Do you know a leader in the climate space who is deserving of a Trailblazer Award? Share their information with our team for consideration.

Nominations for 2026 are open.

NOMINATE

Partner Hosted Event by USGBC-LA​

Mini-Golf & House Party with USGBC-LA

Wednesday, September 13th from 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Join us at the La Kretz Innovation Campus for an event you will never FORE-get!

Come for the competition, the special guest DJ, food, and the cold drinks, but stay for the networking and rejoining of our community at this fun in-person event! Let’s “putt” the fun back into fundraising as this annual event directly benefits the USGBC-LA Legacy Project.

This is a separately ticketed event hosted in partnership with USGBC-LA. Register here.

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