Building Tomorrow: Conversations with Climate Solvers

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, we delve into the state of New York City’s electrical grid, whether it can handle building electrification today and what is needed to transform it for the future. New analysis from Urban Green Council reveals that electrification doesn’t need to wait: NYC’s current grid has ample capacity to support heat pump installations, and even with a dirty grid, heat pumps reduce emissions and energy costs. At the same time, NYC’s grid is beginning to transform. By 2028, nearly half of the city’s electricity will come from clean sources due to the activation of Champlain Hudson Power Express and Empire Wind 1. Join Urban Green’s research and policy teams as they unpack how NYC can begin electrifying buildings today while cleaning the grid to reach our long-term building decarbonization goals.Host:Danielle Manley, Associate Director, Policy, Urban Green CouncilGuests:Adam Schiabor, Associate Director, Research, Urban Green CouncilMiranda Miller, Associate Manager, Policy, Urban Green Council Resources:NYC’s electricity supplyGrid capacity remains high for more heat pumpsNYC’s grid in transitionGuest: Danielle Manley, Associate Director, Policy, Urban Green CouncilDanielle is responsible for advocacy, analysis and collaboration on Urban Green’s policy initiatives in New York City and State. She previously worked at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University’s Earth Institute researching and communicating local climate risk information for stakeholders in global cities and ecosystems, and served as project manager for the Third New York City Panel on Climate Change Report. Danielle also worked for nonprofits in Buffalo on environmental education and advocacy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University at Buffalo.Guest: Adam Schiabor, Associate Director of Research, Urban Green CouncilAdam is responsible for conducting data analysis and research into sustainability topics. Prior to Urban Green, Adam worked at a non-profit healthcare company that was dedicated to using the Affordable Care Act to expand access to services and lower the cost of healthcare in New Mexico. Adam holds a B.S in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Oregon and a M.A in Economics from the New School for Social Research.Guest: Miranda Miller, Associate Manager of Policy, Urban Green CouncilMiranda manages Urban Green’s policy advocacy, analysis, and stakeholder engagement initiatives with a focus on advancing building decarbonization in New York City. She previously served as senior staff in the Office of U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko, where she authored and advised on legislation related to clean energy, transportation, and economic development. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College and a Master’s of Environmental Management with a specialization in energy from the Yale School of the Environment.

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, guest host Adam Schiabor interviews NYCEDC’s Jamie Horton and NYU Stern Center’s Marianna Koval to discuss the recent report, Banking on Climate, which dives into the role of mortgage lenders in supporting building decarbonization efforts in New York City. They also share their personal journeys into sustainability, the importance of regulatory frameworks like Local Law 97, and the significant investment opportunities available in the green economy. Adam Schiabor, Associate Director, Research, Urban Green CouncilAdam is responsible for conducting data analysis and research into sustainability topics. Prior to Urban Green, Adam worked at a non-profit healthcare company that was dedicated to using the Affordable Care Act to expand access to services and lower the cost of healthcare in New Mexico. Adam holds a B.S in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Oregon and a M.A in Economics from the New School for Social Research.Guests:Jamie Horton is a member of the President’s Office at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. He has been with the organization for seven years and began in the real estate transactions department. In his current role as SVP, Special Projects & Business Operations he leads several initiatives that sit at the intersection of real estate and innovation industries development; Many of his initiatives focus on growing EDC and NYC’s role in the green economy, specifically the creation of a BATWorks, a $100 million climate innovation hub in South Brooklyn and growing the availability of green financing options for building decarbonization. Jamie holds a Bachelors of Public Health from UC Berkeley and a Masters of Real Estate Development from Columbia University. Marianna Koval is an Executive in Residence at the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, where she develops innovative approaches to building decarbonization finance in New York City. Until July 2025, she served as director of Invest NYC SDG, a think tank and incubator that engaged the private sector to advance sustainability, equity, and resilience across key sectors including food and health, waste, climate resilience, renewable energy, the built environment, and sustainable mobility. An attorney with more than 30 years of experience in environmental sustainability, public policy, and government in New York City, Koval holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, a JD from Fordham Law School, and an AB from Princeton University.Resources discussed in this episode: Banking on Climate: The Mortgage Lending for Decarbonization, December 2024, NYC EDCDecarbonization CompassIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider ⁠becoming a member of Urban Green⁠, and subscribing to our podcast for more insightful conversations on building a sustainable future.We'd like to thank⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Carrier⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring the event and podcast.#ClimateGoals #BuildingDecarbonization #EnergyEfficiency #NewYorkCity #NYC #NYCLocalLaw97 #Sustainability #Finance

Live from Urban Green's 2025 annual conference, this special episode of Building Tomorrow features an exciting conversation about how resilience is shaping building design today and how the industry is evolving to meet climate challenges.Sustainability and resilience are closely linked in the building sector. With more frequent heat waves and extreme storms, New York City’s buildings must be prepared for a changing climate. Decarbonization efforts must integrate resilience to ensure long-term sustainability. The panel discussion is moderated by Susanne DesRoches, NYSERDA. The other panel speakers are: Ilana Judah, ArupJessica Mederson, Stafford Rosenbaum LLPTalley Burley, Environmental Defense FundMónika Serrano-Riedlinger, Adaptate LLCThis episode was recorded on June 2, 2025 at Urban Green's NYC Next: Shaping Building Decarbonization conference at NYU in New York City. For more information, visit Urban Green's ⁠conference page⁠. We'd like to thank ⁠Carrier⁠ for sponsoring the event and podcast.

Live from Urban Green's 2025 annual conference, this special episode of Building Tomorrow features an exciting conversation about a new concept for a program that would dramatically simplify decarbonization projects and drive down costs. The panel discussion is moderated by Chris Halfnight, Urban Green’s Senior Director of Research and Policy. The other panel speakers include: James Gepner, NYSERDAJoe Chavez, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental JusticeSusan Leeds of Garrison AssociatesMarc Zulaga of Cadence OneFiveThis episode was recorded on June 2, 2025 at Urban Green's NYC Next: Shaping Building Decarbonization conference at NYU in New York City. For more information, and videos, visit Urban Green's conference page. We'd like to thank Carrier for sponsoring the event and podcast.

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Mark MacCracken, the Vice President of CALMAC at Trane Technologies, joins host Ellen Honigstock and co-host Whitney Smith to discuss thermal energy storage. Thermal energy storage is a clean energy alternative that involves using ice for cooling and water for storing heat. Listen in to learn more about how this method of heating and cooling compares to fossil fuel systems and conventional electric resistance. HOSTS: Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council Whitney Smith, Senior Climate & Sustainability Leader and Associate Principal, Arup GUEST: Mark MacCracken, Vice President and CALMAC Portfolio Leader, Trane Technologies

Building systems are designed and installed separately, but at the end of the day, they have to work together in order for a building to work as intended. Commissioning makes that happen. In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Kelly Westby from Steven Winter Associates joins Urban Green’s Ellen Honigstock to discuss all things commissioning, including: Commissioning as a systems-thinking process The importance of communication Where human science and building science come together By the end of their conversation, you’ll be able to see how commissioning makes a building complete! This is a crossover episode! Make sure to listen to the Buildings + Beyond podcast to hear Kelly interview Ellen about addressing the skills gap in the sustainable building industry. HOST: Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council SPEAKER: Kelly Westby, Managing Director, Building Operations, Decarbonization, and Efficiency, Steven Winter Associates RESOURCES: Listen to our crossover episode featuring Ellen on Steven Winter Associates' Buildings + Beyond podcast: "Mind the Gap – Addressing the Skills Gap in the Sustainable Building Industry" Explore the resources mentioned in this episode: Buildings + Beyond Podcast by Steven Winter Associates Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Workforce Solutions for Decarbonizing Buildings Event, November 15, 2023 Want to learn more? Previous Building + Beyond Episode with Kelly about Commissioning, "The Keys to Commissioning with Kelly Westby"

In Dr. Melissa Checker’s 2020 book, The Sustainability Myth, she took a critical look at the hidden costs—and contradictions—of New York City’s ambitious sustainability agenda. Her insights into the dynamics of environmental gentrification shed light on some of the hidden forces driving redevelopment in the city. Three years after the book was published, Dr. Checker joined Building Tomorrow to chat about what has changed in the years since and how we can equitably distribute the benefits of the green transition. HOSTS: Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council Amy Marpman, Director, Sustainability, SBM Management Services SPEAKER: Dr. Melissa Checker, Hagedorn Professor of Urban Studies at Queens College and Professor of Anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center RESOURCES: Link to purchase: The Sustainability Myth

Current benchmarking of building performance provides energy consumption data on a monthly basis. Molly Dee-Ramasamy thinks we can do better. Join Taylor Duncan and Ellen Honigstock as they interview Molly about a new cross-collaborative initiative that explores how measuring certain building data on an hourly basis can make benchmarking more precise, fair, and actionable in support of an affordable, low-carbon future. Guest: Molly Dee-Ramasamy, Director, Deep Carbon Reduction Group, JB&B Hosts: Taylor Duncan, Vice President, Northeast Growth & Development, Energy by 5 Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council Resources:  Benchmark 8760 Website Benchmark 8760 Fact Sheet

Decarbonization, electrification, and climate adaptation are the topics that are driving decision-making in the public and private sectors today. In this new podcast series by Urban Green Council we break down these complex topics, and introduce you to people who are advancing the reality of a clean, affordable low-carbon future and are helping solve climate change bit by bit.