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

To decarbonize New York City buildings, heating systems reliant on fossil fuels must be replaced with sustainable alternatives. In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Brightcore’s Jonathan Hernandez joins Urban Green’s Ellen Honigstock to discuss geothermal energy and how it can be expanded in NYC to decarbonize buildings and make them more resilient. 

Listen in as they dive into the geothermal industry, and how new policies and technologies are making the installation of more ground source heat pump systems possible.

HOST:

Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council

GUEST:

Jonathan Hernandez, Director of Business Development, Geothermal, Brightcore

RESOURCES:

Find the images and graphics discussed in the episode here.

In February 2023, Michael Deane, former Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Turner Construction and Urban Green Board Member, passed away, leaving behind a legacy as a dedicated sustainability champion and friend to the green building movement. 

Today, we’re re-releasing this 2018 conversation between Michael and Urban Green Senior Director of Education Ellen Honigstock: a wide-ranging discussion on eliminating construction waste and the wide array of innovations that lie at the intersection of sustainability and construction. This conversation remains as timely now as when it was recorded.

Guest:

Michael Deane, former Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Turner Construction

Host:

Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council

Resources:

• Athena Sustainable Materials Institute  

• Tally, Life Cycle Analysis App

• Carbon Leadership Forum, Embodied Carbon Network

• Living Building Challenge

As materials and construction account for 11 percent of global carbon emissions, embodied carbon—the emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials—will play a key role in our path to deep decarbonization of our built environment.

Join Shruti Narkar and Ellen Honigstock in a conversation with Aurora Jensen where she provides helpful tips on how to measure, track and scale the reduction of embodied carbon through her experience of working on real-world projects.

Guest:

Aurora Jensen, Senior Technical Specialist and Embodied Carbon Lead, Brightworks Sustainability

Hosts:

Shruti Narkar, Project Manager, CodeGreen

Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council

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

Last year Urban Green published a major research report, Grid Ready, which found that converting building heating and hot water systems from fossil fuels to electric heat pumps does not pose any near-term risk to New York City’s electric grid.

Our research and policy team recently expanded this analysis to explore how increasing power demand from building electrification impacts the grid in environmental justice communities. This new analysis, Exploring Equitable Electrification, found that the 15 NYC grid areas that may see the fastest electrification of heat and hot water systems and the earliest grid constraints are primarily Environmental Justice Areas. Therefore, it’s essential that building electrification policies and programs are designed to ensure an equitable transition—one that secures the benefits and mitigates potential challenges of building electrification.

Join Urban Green’s research and policy team as they unpack the dynamics behind this new research!

Host / Guests:

Christopher Halfnight, Senior Director, Research and Policy, Urban Green Council

Adam Schiabor, Manager, Research, Urban Green Council

Danielle Manley, Manager, Policy, Urban Green Council

Resources:

• Grid Ready: Powering NYC's All-Electric Buildings Report, 2021

• Exploring Equitable Electrification, Analysis, 2022

• Environmental Justice Organizations: UPROSE, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

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.

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"

Retrofitting existing buildings can help increase energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions. But what do these retrofits look like in a place like Manhattan, where almost one-third of total floor area has landmark status and is, therefore, energy-code exempt?

In this episode, Dr. Erica Avrami, Nate Rogers and Kate Reggev discuss these energy code waivers and how, despite the waivers, new greenhouse gas legislation could necessitate energy retrofits in historic buildings. This new era of regulation marks a momentous shift in regulation practices and signals a need for significant reforms to preservation policies in light of climate change.

This interview expands on Dr. Avrami’s previous research, including her paper, “Energy and Historic Buildings: Toward Evidence-Based Policy Reform,” which examines the implications of a changing legislative landscape on historic preservation in NYC.

Recorded May 10, 2022

HOSTS:

• Nate Rogers, Senior Associate, Beyer Blinder Belle
• Kate Reggev, Project Manager, Zubatkin Owner Representation

SPEAKER:

• Dr. Erica Avrami, James Marston Fitch Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation

RESOURCES:

• Article: Energy and Historic Buildings: Toward Evidence-Based Policy Reform
• Watch the interview on Urban Green’s website

The first compliance period for Local Law 97 is here, and energy upgrades in NYC’s existing buildings will need to pick up. But what kind of upgrades are needed, and who will do the work? 

Manny Pastreich, President of 32BJ SEIU, joins Urban Green CEO John Mandyck on Building Tomorrow for a discussion on how we can mobilize the green workforce to complete these energy upgrades.

HOST:

• John Mandyck, CEO, Urban Green Council

SPEAKER:

• Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU

RESOURCES:

• Recording of the Workforce Solutions for Decarbonizing Buildings event

Installing an energy upgrade in an occupied building is difficult. These projects are also critical to realizing decarbonization goals.

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, hear from Trevor Smith, a construction manager with extensive experience in completing design-build energy projects in occupied buildings. Trevor shares tips on how to carry out these projects successfully, including how to improve communication and work better with operations staff.

HOSTS:

• Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council

• Shruti Narkar, Sustainability Project Manager, JLL

SPEAKER:

• Trevor Smith, Project Manager, Ecosystem Energy Services

Measuring and disclosing “financed carbon emissions”—or Scope 3 emissions—by banks and financial institutions is critical for investors who seek to understand climate risk in their portfolios.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is responsible for the management of over $240 billion in pension funds and is leveraging this role to drive carbon disclosure, including Scope 3 emissions, from the companies in which pension funds are invested. On September 13, 2023, Comptroller Lander joined Urban Green Council CEO John Mandyck for a conversation about his net zero plan and how finance can be a lever for decarbonization.

HOSTS:

• John Mandyck, CEO, Urban Green Council

SPEAKER:

• Brad Lander, NYC Comptroller

RESOURCES:

• NYC’s Net Zero Implementation Plan

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

Embodied carbon—the emissions resulting from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials—will play a key role in decarbonizing the built environment. 

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Ellen Honigstock and Prateek Srivastava sit down with Stantec’s Robby Vogel to get a Structural Engineer’s perspective on strategies to reduce embodied carbon and how they can be employed in the built environment.

They discuss everything from new technologies to navigating client relationships to how emerging and established professionals can learn from one another to shape the future of sustainable projects. If you’ve ever wondered what embodied carbon is and why it matters, this episode is a must-listen!

GUEST

Robby Vogel, Principal, Structural Engineering Design Leader, Stantec

HOSTS

Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council

Prateek Srivastava, Structural Engineer, Stantec

RESOURCES

Stantec

What is SE2050?

As New York City transitions away from fossil fuels, it’s imperative that environmental justice be centered in policy making, and that people from historically disadvantaged communities actively benefit from the transition.

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Zakiyah Sayyed and Anushka Maqbool sit down with Sonal Jessel, Director of Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, to talk about Sonal’s career journey, WE ACT’s work with electrification and workforce training, and the importance of centering environmental justice in the electrification conversation.

GUEST:

Sonal Jessel, Director, Policy, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

HOSTS:

Zakiyah Sayyed, Former Crew Supervisor for NYC°CoolRoofs

Anushka Maqbool, Programs Associate, Urban Green Council

RESOURCES:

• WE ACT for Environmental Justice Website
• Gas Free NYC: Decarbonizing New York City’s Future Buildings with Local Law 154
• WE ACT Membership
• Urban Green's Analysis: Exploring Equitable Electrification

The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest climate action ever taken by the federal government. In this episode of Building Tomorrow, hear from Amanda Clevinger and Ion Simonides about the IRA’s substantial incentives for green building initiatives, including tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient upgrades and renewable energy installations.

HOSTS:

Ellen Honingstock, Senior Direction, Education, Urban Green Council

Amanda Clevenger, Policy and Programs Director, Bright Power

SPEAKER:

Ion Simonides, Senior Policy and Programs Analyst, Bright Power

RESOURCES: 

NYS Guide to Inflation Reduction Act Savings

Rewiring America’s Incentive Calculator ⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Bright Power: Energy Efficiency Federal Tax Credit for Condos and Co-ops⁠⁠

Bright Power: The Inflation Reduction Act - A Guide for Multifamily Building Owners (Webinar)

Bright Power: Unlocking Tax Credits with Energy Star and Zero Energy Ready Homes (Webinar)

Abbreviations used in the episode:

IRA - Inflation Reduction Act

ITC - Investment Tax Credit 

LIHTC - Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

45L - New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit 

25C - Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit

EPA GGRF - EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Live from Urban Green's 2025 annual conference, this special episode of Building Tomorrow features an exciting conversation about the future of battery storage on the grid and in buildings. 

In the coming years, battery storage will be an increasingly important tool for adding capacity to the electrical grid and increasing resilience. As demand for renewable energy grows, battery storage offers a flexible solution to store excess energy, ensuring a reliable and stable power supply. In this session, leading experts will share valuable insights into how battery storage will be integrated into the green building landscape, helping to optimize energy use, support decarbonization, and improve overall grid reliability.

The panel discussion is moderated by Gina Bocra, WSP. 

The other panel speakers are: 

• Molly Rafelson, Clean Fight

• John Romano, Con Edison

• Daniella Leifer, Sustainable CUNY

• Claudia Villar-Leeman, NY-BEST

This 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, NYSERDA

• Joe Chavez, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

• Susan Leeds of Garrison Associates

• Marc Zulaga of Cadence OneFive

This 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.

The 32BJ Training Fund provides free training to eligible 32BJ SEIU workers, ranging from cleaners, maintenance workers, building engineers, and superintendents so they can build the environments where people want to live and work. 

Hear from Michaela Boren, Manager for Green Programs, about how the 32BJ Training Fund has incorporated sustainability training into their work, and how that training helps workers advance in their careers.

RESOURCES: 

32BJ Training Fund website

32BJ Training Fund Course Catalog 

32BJ SEIU website 

We'd like to thank ⁠Carrier⁠ for sponsoring Urban Green's podcast.

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 EDC
• Decarbonization Compass

If 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 

In this episode of "Building Tomorrow," we delve into New York State's ambitious climate goals and the pivotal role buildings play in achieving them.

New data analysis from Urban Green Council reveals that one-third of all large buildings in the state exist outside of New York City, but we know little about their energy use.

Listen in as Danielle Manley, Associate Director of Policy at Urban Green Council, makes the case for why statewide benchmarking is a crucial first step towards empowering large building owners with energy insights that can guide building upgrades, and drive market demand for efficiency.

Guest: Danielle Manley, Associate Director of Policy at Urban Green Council

Danielle 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.

Host: Ellen Honigstock, Senior Director, Education, Urban Green Council. Ellen oversees the development of Urban Green’s Public Programs. She is also responsible for developing the curriculum for Urban Green’s signature programs, including GPRO and Crushing the Code. Ellen has 28 years of experience as an architect and volunteered for Urban Green for several years before joining the staff, where she served as the first Residential Green Building Advocate for Urban Green Council, working to increase green building and LEED for Homes certification in the New York residential marketplace, and as a committee chair of the Green Codes Task Force. 

Resources

• The Case for Statewide Benchmarking, May 21, 2025, Urban Green Council
• DataTrends: Benchmarking and Energy Savings, US EPA
• Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Benefits, IMT
• Integrated Energy Data Resource (IEDR) Program, NYSERDA

If 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

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, Arup

• Jessica Mederson, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP

• Talley Burley, Environmental Defense Fund

• Mónika Serrano-Riedlinger, Adaptate LLC

This 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.

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, we’re introducing you to New York State’s Energy Plan, the policy that will guide energy-related decision making for the next 15 years — from now until 2040. 

Today’s host, Danielle Manley, Associate Director of Policy at Urban Green is joined by John Williams, the Chief Policy Officer of NYSERDA. They discuss the current state of the market and how energy policy can meet future demand, without delaying New York’s emission reduction goals. 

Listen to the episode to hear about how the state’s energy policy is shifting to deliver affordable, reliable, clean energy to more New Yorkers by 2040.

John G. Williams, Chief Policy Officer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

John Williams was appointed Chief Policy Officer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on June 24, 2025. In this position, Mr. Williams is responsible for providing guidance for energy policy development for New York State. He oversees the Policy, Analysis, & Research team, providing economic analysis and scientific research to best inform policymakers in energy and environmental issues as well as the Business Performance Management unit, which provides market characterization and evaluation, markets and statistical insights, and metrics and performance analysis, all of which guide effective clean energy strategies. Mr. Williams is the recipient in 2021 of a Public Service Excellence Award from the State Academy for Public Administration.

Host: Danielle Manley, Associate Director of Policy at Urban Green Council

Danielle 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.

Resources

• Draft NYS Energy Plan 
• Urban Green Live: The Future of New York Nuclear Power 

If 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

Chapters:

00:59 — John’s path to energy policy

03:25 — What deregulation changed for how electricity is generated and delivered

05:32 — What is the State Energy Plan and how does it impact affordability, reliability, decarbonization, and load growth?

09:51 — How the Energy Plan aligns with the CLCPA

16:23 — Why nuclear is back in the mix

22:27 — Buildings continue to be front and center

27:45 — Transitioning the gas system

30:34 — State and local alignment

37:54 — What’s next?

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 Council

Guests:

• Adam Schiabor, Associate Director, Research, Urban Green Council

• Miranda Miller, Associate Manager, Policy, Urban Green Council 

Resources:

• NYC’s electricity supply

• Grid capacity remains high for more heat pumps

• NYC’s grid in transition

Guest: Danielle Manley, Associate Director, Policy, Urban Green Council

Danielle 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 Council

Miranda 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.