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Decarb Do No Harm: Applying the Hippocratic Oath to Existing Buildings

Gone are the days of simple light fixture changes to save money and power. The low-hanging efficiency fruit has been harvested, and building owners, utilities and municipalities are in search of the next quick fix. But taking a standard new construction approach to an existing building might cause more harm than good: potential moisture and mold, new material VOC’s, or wasteful removal of systems before end-of-life. This session will explore the critical evaluation process needed at the beginning of an existing building decarbonization project to do no harm to the building, occupants, community, or planet.

Event Date
Friday, March 21, 2025 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Session Chairs

Room / Location
Harbor 1
Learning Objectives
Defend why decarbonization of existing buildings is a significant part of a global effort to reach carbon neutrality
Differentiate between using principles from adaptive reuse and new construction compared to building specific decarbonization efforts
Explain the importance of building a plan based on forensic investigation of a building’s existing envelope and systems
Detangle the energy efficiency of asset management, engineered building systems/operations, and the architectural envelope
CEU Information

This session is approved for 1 credit hour toward AIA (LU|HSW), BOC, BPI, LEED (BD+C, ID+C), and NAHB certification. Those who attend a full day of the conference are additionally eligible for credit toward MA CSL, NARI, PHI, Phius, and RESNET certification.

Session ID
BOS25-225
Session Documents