Sustainability professionals from all over the world — including Robins & Morton Senior Sustainability Manager Jackie Mustakas — gathered in Philadelphia in November for the 2024 Greenbuild International Conference + Expo, the largest sustainable building event in the country. This year, Greenbuild featured more than 200 education sessions on topics such as LEED v5, resilience, decarbonization, and more.
This year, Mustakas summarized several key takeaways from the event to share with clients, partners, and Robins & Morton team members to support them in implementing industry-leading sustainability practices in 2025 and beyond.
1. Decarbonization
One of the main topics at the conference was decarbonization, which is an ongoing focus for the Robins & Morton Sustainability team. Mustakas explained that the firm has been proactive in its decarbonization efforts for more than 15 years and finds ways to advance those efforts each year.
Robins & Morton continues to be efficient on jobsites with fuel and utility usage, and over the years, it has implemented practices such as collaborating early with design partners to create more energy-efficient designs. The team is also intentionally selecting more carbon-conscious materials when possible, which includes working with its Self-Perform Work team to investigate appropriate applications for concrete mix designs with lower embodied carbon.
2. Social Responsibility
Another prominent topic was equity and social responsibility as it relates to sustainability. Several speakers discussed the importance of applying green building principles in every geographical area possible, as healthier buildings create healthier communities for the future.
A related topic was building for wellness, an inherent part of building green. Speakers discussed how to design and create healthier spaces for the well-being of occupants, something that is always top-of-mind for Robins & Morton as a healthcare-focused builder.
3. Demolition and Renovation
Mustakas attended several sessions on the topics of salvage and re-use, which is important in any project involving demolition or renovation activities. Speakers stressed the importance of mindfulness when it comes to material removal, encouraging builders to consider the best outlet for specific materials and prioritize re-use opportunities over recycling.
4. LEED v5
Since LEED v5 is launching soon, it was a major subject at this year’s Greenbuild. The U.S. Green Building Council has completed the two public comment periods for the new balloted rating system, and it will open for registration in early 2025. Each credit in the new system is connected to one or more of the three central areas of impact: decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration.
In addition, there are proposed LEED points associated with tracking carbon emissions on jobsites. Robins & Morton has tracked data associated with these metrics for years, and LEED v5 will allow the team to use its carbon emission data to add additional points to projects pursuing LEED certification.
In addition, LEED v5 will incorporate several of the Robins & Morton’s best practices into the prerequisites for certification. Essentially, this process compiles best practices from across the industry and makes them mandatory for certification, pushing LEED projects to build even greener.
LEED v5 will be the system for five years, after which the U.S. Green Building Council will launch LEED v6.
5. Resilience
Designing and constructing resilient buildings was another major theme that related to several other topics such as decarbonization and social sustainability. Mustakas explained that, since the majority of Robins & Morton’s projects are healthcare-focused, the company approaches construction with resilience as a top priority.
“We build life-saving spaces,” Mustakas said. “So the backup-plan mindset is an inherent part of our services and expertise.”
At Greenbuild, speakers stressed the importance of this approach, especially as industry professionals look toward the future of building. With the potential for more intense natural disasters, building resilient buildings is more important now than ever.
“We’re now looking at resiliency through a different lens,” Mustakas said. “We’re looking at the bigger picture to ensure that we construct buildings that are resilient not only for our clients but for our communities, while also limiting our environmental impact and therefore lessening the need for additional proofing in the future.”
Mustakas also returned with several resources that industry groups shared, which she will bring to the Robins & Morton Sustainability Council in the coming months to determine their potential uses and benefits within the company.
The Biggest Takeaway
There was one presentation that really stood out to Mustakas, and the takeaway applies to everyone. Actor, director, activist, and author Don Cheadle gave the keynote presentation, and he discussed the power of teamwork.
Cheadle encouraged the audience to find their unique role in making an impact — even if that role is small. For instance, he said, perhaps they know someone who has an idea, and they know someone who can make it happen. While it may seem like an insignificant effort, introducing those two people to one another can lead to remarkable results.
The topic of sustainability can be an intimidating one, and achieving impactful results can seem overwhelming. However, the perspective that Cheadle presented encourages industry professionals to believe that together, build a greener future is indeed possible.