by Richard Yancey, Executive Director, Building Energy Exchange

Fifty-two years on, Earth Day remains a significant milestone to gauge how far we’ve come in addressing the health of our environment and to prioritize our path forward.  With buildings, which comprise a dominant part of our carbon emissions, solutions are less centered around technological innovation, and more around scaling impact – many effective efficiency measures are known but have yet to become business as usual.  How do we accelerate change in a notoriously slow industry to innovate?

We are working with our community and our partners, locally and nationally, to create a new business as usual.   For Earth Day 2022, we invite all to join us in scaling impact:

Become informed.  Our on-demand learning platform, BE-Ex Ed, offers on-demand training on energy efficiency and high-performance design, and current NYC climate regulations.  Earn continuing education credits while learning how to master your next building project.  In honor of #EarthDay all courses are free through April.

Create a building decarbonization hub in your community.  BE-Ex is collaborating with the Institute for Market Transformation to support the creation and operation of local resource hubs that accelerate measurable, equitable, and sustainable action to improve the health, comfort, and performance of buildings, with hubs progressing in Washington DC, Saint Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, and Denver.  Learn more.

Join the Conversation.  Participate in one of our many upcoming events, where you can learn, exchange ideas, and join our vibrant community:

• On Tuesday, April 19, BE-Ex’s Women in Sustainability & Energy (WISE) series hosted the Columbia University Women & Sustainability group for a networking lunch, connecting seasoned professionals from across the energy and sustainability industry to emerging professionals. Learn more and get involved with WISE here.
• This past Thursday, April 21, BE-Ex held our monthly Climate Mobilization Act Primer, a one-hour session on New York City’s climate legislation and its impact on the building industry. Register for next month’s session here.
• On Tuesday, April 26, BE-Ex and REBNY deliver a unique offering for the real estate community— the Fundamentals of the Climate Mobilization Act and Passive House Design — connecting New York City climate policy to high-performance design practices that offer pathways to regulatory compliance. Register here.
• Just after Earth Week, our Beyond Zero series returns, celebrating carbon neutral-ready projects across New York that improve the health, affordability, and resiliency of communities. This session focuses on the industrialization of construction, highlighting methods for delivering low-carbon buildings that compress costs and increase scalability. Register here.

Support us.  This Earth Week, become a BE-Ex Ambassador and participate in our mission of convening industry stakeholders, providing neutral, expert information, and radically transforming the built environment towards better buildings, better cities, and a better climate.

Help us to accelerate the transition to healthy, comfortable, and low carbon buildings, for everyone, everywhere.  Wishing you a meaningful and impactful Earth Day.