HUS Sponsors IGA Getting to Zero Summit
As Jade Tier Sponsors for the Illinois Green Alliance “Getting to Zero” Summit, we were excited to support an event inspiring growth, innovation, and discourse in the green building community, of which is central to our work.
On October 19th, 2024, the summit brought together leaders from diverse industries to exchange knowledge, address challenges, and celebrate progress toward Net Zero and Decarbonization goals. Sponsoring the event reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable building practices and highlights the importance of collective action in achieving these ambitious goals.
Insights Gained
The Decarbonization Report uncovered key challenges and opportunities for advancing our collective energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts.
By surveying 100 Illinois Green members across a variety of industries involved in green building, the report highlighted successes, such as Illinois’ increase in net zero projects equivalent to 85 Willis Towers since 2005. It also illuminated gaps, including the limited amount of “cutting-edge decarbonization technologies” across the U.S. – reflected in only 2% of buildings.
Thanks to regulatory programs like the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), opportunities for jobs in green technology are expanding, but the workforce to employ these tactics is lacking. This data validated HUSARCH’s mission to bridge these gaps by providing workforce training that starts with building assessments and advances individuals into decarbonization strategies through energy modeling and LEED-focused initiatives.
As a firm committed to transparency and decarbonization, we were impressed by the Oak Park’s Community Recreation Center (CRC) case study, which emphasizes the discrepancies between projected and actual Energy Use Intensity (EUI) from pre- to post-occupancy. This reinforces the importance of closing the gap between our energy goals and real-world building performance. With this in mind, we continually refine our energy modelling techniques to help buildings meet, and exceed, their net zero goals.
Driving Change Through Collaboration
The Summit was a reminder of the power of collaboration. From Loyola Loyola University’s ambitious commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025, to statewide regulatory programs like the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the green building community is driving tangible change.
We left The Illinois Green Summit energized and motivated to continue expanding our impact. As both sponsors and practitioners, we are honored to contribute to the growth and innovation shaping the future of sustainable building in Illinois and beyond.
We look forward to supporting more events like this one that spark collaboration, knowledge sharing, and transformative action in the pursuit of Net Zero.
To learn more about the Summit’s key takeaways and the path to Net Zero, read this recap of the Summit.
