The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

• Scott Donachie on Calming the Fears of Decarbonization

    The Green Impact Report Quick take: Former Wall Street trader Scott Donachie reveals why relationship-building trumps technology pushing in decarbonization deals, shares the HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M, and explains his "calm the fears of the unknown" approach to navigating Local Law 97 compliance. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Scott Donachie is the Chief Executive Officer at Companies for Net Zero, connecting decision-makers across real estate, finance, and technology to drive sustainable impact. Based in New York, he leads an ecosystem of 300+ organizations transforming the built environment and infrastructure. A former Wall Street trader turned decarbonization evangelist, Scott discovered sustainability eight years ago after learning about 400 dormant landfills in New Jersey. He hosts invite-only Decarb Summits that bring together building owners, investors, and technology providers to share real-world lessons from the trenches. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Scott revolutionizes traditional building decarbonization approaches: Key Insight #1: Finance Background Creates Sustainability Superpower The Challenge: Most sustainability professionals struggle to navigate complex deal structures and financing decisions The Solution: Combine deep finance experience with sustainability expertise to become "dangerous" in both arenas ROI: Ability to champion deals through complicated decision-making units and secure financing for projects others can't close Key Insight #2: Pragmatic Solutions Beat Flashy New Construction The Challenge: Industry focuses on $40M new green buildings while ignoring immediate retrofit opportunities The Solution: Prioritize proven technologies with strong case studies—like the patented HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M annually ROI: Faster implementation, lower risk, and demonstrated returns that build credibility for larger future projects Key Insight #3: Relationship-First Approach Wins Over Product Pushing The Challenge: Technology vendors lead with features instead of understanding the full decision-making ecosystem The Solution: Build deep personal relationships, learn clients' kids' names, and address the needs of CFOs, facilities managers, and building owners simultaneously ROI: Long-term partnerships that create referral networks and repeat business in an industry built on trust Sustainable Soundbite "Calming the fears of the unknown. How do you do that? Just collaboration with very intelligent people that are in the room...everyone can be calm and positive because they are sharing their ideas and are not working in silos.” Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Identify the three key stakeholders in your next decarbonization project (CFO, facilities, building owner) and map their individual concerns and success metrics This Quarter: Research local and state incentives beyond federal programs—Scott emphasizes hyper-local public-private partnerships are expanding as federal support shifts This Year: Build your "lessons from the trenches" database by connecting with building owners who've completed similar retrofits and can share real operational data Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: 🔗 Connect with Scott Donachie: 📚 Recommended reading: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

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• Scott Donachie on Calming the Fears of Decarbonization

    The Green Impact Report Quick take: Former Wall Street trader Scott Donachie reveals why relationship-building trumps technology pushing in decarbonization deals, shares the HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M, and explains his "calm the fears of the unknown" approach to navigating Local Law 97 compliance. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Scott Donachie is the Chief Executive Officer at Companies for Net Zero, connecting decision-makers across real estate, finance, and technology to drive sustainable impact. Based in New York, he leads an ecosystem of 300+ organizations transforming the built environment and infrastructure. A former Wall Street trader turned decarbonization evangelist, Scott discovered sustainability eight years ago after learning about 400 dormant landfills in New Jersey. He hosts invite-only Decarb Summits that bring together building owners, investors, and technology providers to share real-world lessons from the trenches. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Scott revolutionizes traditional building decarbonization approaches: Key Insight #1: Finance Background Creates Sustainability Superpower The Challenge: Most sustainability professionals struggle to navigate complex deal structures and financing decisions The Solution: Combine deep finance experience with sustainability expertise to become "dangerous" in both arenas ROI: Ability to champion deals through complicated decision-making units and secure financing for projects others can't close Key Insight #2: Pragmatic Solutions Beat Flashy New Construction The Challenge: Industry focuses on $40M new green buildings while ignoring immediate retrofit opportunities The Solution: Prioritize proven technologies with strong case studies—like the patented HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M annually ROI: Faster implementation, lower risk, and demonstrated returns that build credibility for larger future projects Key Insight #3: Relationship-First Approach Wins Over Product Pushing The Challenge: Technology vendors lead with features instead of understanding the full decision-making ecosystem The Solution: Build deep personal relationships, learn clients' kids' names, and address the needs of CFOs, facilities managers, and building owners simultaneously ROI: Long-term partnerships that create referral networks and repeat business in an industry built on trust Sustainable Soundbite "Calming the fears of the unknown. How do you do that? Just collaboration with very intelligent people that are in the room...everyone can be calm and positive because they are sharing their ideas and are not working in silos.” Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Identify the three key stakeholders in your next decarbonization project (CFO, facilities, building owner) and map their individual concerns and success metrics This Quarter: Research local and state incentives beyond federal programs—Scott emphasizes hyper-local public-private partnerships are expanding as federal support shifts This Year: Build your "lessons from the trenches" database by connecting with building owners who've completed similar retrofits and can share real operational data Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: 🔗 Connect with Scott Donachie: 📚 Recommended reading: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

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• Iryna Sukhodub on Building Ukraine's Green Future Through Wartime Reconstruction

    The Green Impact Report Quick take: Iryna Sukhodub reveals how Ukraine's massive reconstruction effort is driving green building innovation—from IFI-funded sustainable housing for 4.5 million displaced people to the strategic shift from energy-only thinking to comprehensive sustainability that could reshape your project priorities. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Iryna Sukhodub is a Building Modeling and Simulation Specialist at iC consulenten Ukraine and Associate Professor at the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute." Honored as Scientist of the Year by President Zelenskyy in 2020, she bridges academia and industry through energy efficiency research, green building certification expertise, and mentoring the next generation of women engineers in sustainability. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Iryna revolutionizes traditional reconstruction approaches: Key Insight #1: IFI Financing Creates Green Building Momentum The Challenge: Green certification isn't mandatory in Ukraine, limiting sustainable development incentives The Solution: International Financial Institutions require sustainability standards for reconstruction loans and grants—driving market demand through financing requirements ROI: Access to favorable loan rates and grant funding, plus tenant lease requirements from international companies demanding certified buildings Key Insight #2: Resilience + Renewables = Reconstruction Strategy The Challenge: Ukraine's damaged infrastructure needs rebuilding while serving 4.5 million internally displaced people The Solution: Integrate PV systems with energy storage for dual benefits—cost reduction and power resilience during electricity shortages ROI: Lower operational costs plus business continuity during grid disruptions, creating "future-proof" infrastructure investments Key Insight #3: Shift From Energy-Only to Comprehensive Sustainability The Challenge: Ukrainian projects historically focus solely on energy efficiency and renewables, missing broader impact opportunities The Solution: Expand to embodied carbon, life cycle assessment, accessibility, climate adaptation, and indoor environmental quality ROI: Enhanced building performance, health outcomes, and alignment with international certification standards like LEED v5 and WELL Sustainable Soundbite "We still have to implement projects and we have to implement them in a sustainable manner, especially for the people that need housing at the moment." – Iryna Sukhodub Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Evaluate how financing requirements could drive sustainability in your projects—research available green financing programs and certification incentives in your region This Quarter: Expand beyond energy efficiency—conduct a gap analysis of your projects against comprehensive sustainability frameworks like LEED v5 or BREEAM This Year: Build resilience into your renewable energy strategy—explore PV + storage combinations that deliver both cost savings and operational continuity during grid disruptions Connect & Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link] 🗒️ Read the transcript [Link] 🔗 Connect with Iryna Sukhodub: 📖 Recommended reading: Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

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• Herbert Koomson on Transforming Waste Management Through Data-Driven Audits

      The Green Impact Report Quick take: Herbert Koomson reveals how waste audits uncover 50% recyclable materials hiding in trash streams and why the future of sustainability messaging isn't about saving the planet—it's about saving your bottom line. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Herbert Koomson transitioned from engineering to sustainable design at West Virginia University, where Professor Chris Haddix guided him to pass the LEED GA exam before graduation. He began his sustainability career with the NYC Department of Sanitation, educating major restaurant chains about commercial organics rules. Currently at RTS, he conducts waste audits throughout North America, helping clients achieve higher diversion rates through data-driven strategies. Herbert is also a coffee connoisseur, wrestling fan, and proud New Yorker who believes in making sustainability accessible rather than preachy. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Herbert revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: Waste Audits Reveal Hidden Gold in Your Trash The Challenge: Businesses assume they're recycling properly while up to 50% of recyclable materials end up in landfills The Solution: Systematic waste audits combined with walkthrough assessments identify contamination sources and mislabeled waste stations ROI: Higher diversion rates reduce waste costs while meeting sustainability goals—clients see measurable improvements within one audit cycle Key Insight #2: Geography Determines Your Diversion Success The Challenge: Voluntary recycling programs lead to bare minimum compliance and lower diversion rates The Solution: Target markets with mandatory separation laws like California and Austin, Texas, which drive 3x higher diversion rates than voluntary programs ROI: Regulatory compliance creates consistent revenue streams while voluntary markets rely on client motivation and budget priorities Key Insight #3: Make Sustainability About Wallets, Not Polar Bears The Challenge: Traditional sustainability messaging focuses on environmental impact, which can feel political or preachy The Solution: Frame waste management as business efficiency—cost savings, space optimization, and operational improvements ROI: Financial benefits resonate universally while environmental benefits become the bonus, not the burden Sustainable Soundbite “Sustainability isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. If we want to design a future that includes everyone, we have to start building with empathy and intention today.” – Herbert Koomson Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Conduct a mini waste audit in your office—spend 15 minutes identifying what's in your trash that should be recycled This Quarter: Evaluate waste station signage and labels across your properties—worn or confusing signs kill diversion rates This Year: Implement the "waste audit wheel"—baseline assessment, consulting improvements, follow-up audit to measure progress Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about RTS: 🔗 Connect with Herbert Koomson: 📚 Recommended reading: by William Rhoden 📖 More reads: by Andrew Klavan and by Daniel Keyes 🗒️ Read the transcript Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.  

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• Morgan Holl on Transforming Waste Into Circular Building Materials

    The Green Impact Report Quick take: Morgan Holl reveals why "connectivity drives circularity" in recycling and how his glass processing innovation tackles the 38% of landfill waste from construction—plus the strategic insight that could transform your approach to sustainable materials sourcing. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Morgan Holl is a current founder in the sustainability space, with past C-suite experience in general management, strategic planning, corporate development, and product innovation. Previously, he's led product teams encompassing both long-cycle innovation in the chemical space, and short-cycle SaaS/HaaS in IoT domains. He's led decisions tied to large and small bolt-on acquisitions, authored strategic roadmaps, and prioritized organic capital deployment. Nothing excites him more than when he is able to create value and solve complex problems through partnerships. His model is rooted in humility, empathy, and an insatiable, innate curiosity. 🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Morgan revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches: Key Insight #1: Connectivity Drives Circularity in Construction The Challenge: People feel disconnected from recycling outcomes, leading to reduced participation and mistrust in the system The Solution: Create transparent, local processing that shows exactly where materials go and what they become ROI: Increased recycling participation, community engagement, and cost-effective local material loops Key Insight #2: Glass Processing Unlocks Hidden Material Value The Challenge: Glass breaks in single-stream recycling, contaminating other materials and making processing expensive The Solution: Process glass locally for non-traditional applications like engineered soil blends and sustainable building materials ROI: Captures high-volume recoverable material typically sent to landfills while creating functional building products Key Insight #3: Construction Waste Represents the Biggest Circular Opportunity The Challenge: Construction and demolition waste accounts for 38% of all landfill material—massive volumes with huge environmental impact The Solution: Scale thoughtful reuse and recycling of C&D waste while incorporating recycled materials into new building products ROI: Outsized improvements in circularity with significant cost savings and LEED credit opportunities Sustainable Soundbite "We launched this business with the idea of overcoming those challenges in the world of recycling... connectivity drives circularity." – Morgan Holl Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps: This Week: Audit your current project's waste streams—identify high-volume materials that could be processed locally instead of landfilled This Quarter: Research local circular material suppliers and calculate potential LEED credits from C&D waste diversion This Year: Develop partnerships with regional processors to create closed-loop material systems for your building portfolio Connect & Learn More 🌿 Learn about Overlooked Materials: 🔗 Connect with Morgan Holl: 📚 Recommended reading: 🗒 Read the transcript [LINK TO BE ADDED] Want More Green Building Insights? Newsletter coming soon! Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

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