Persuasion, Pushback, and Compromise: Making the Case for Decarbonization
How do high performance building practitioners persuade clients to pursue deep reductions in operational and embodied carbon? Industry experts from architecture, energy consulting, and development share lessons on owner decision making, cost, risk, and defining an acceptable outcome for new construction and rehab projects. The discussion offers honest reflection on what persuasion methods succeed, when results are limited, and how some strategies fail. Presenters will also share lessons learned, and perspectives on what strategies work best with various stakeholders. We know how to do it; we just need to convince the owners.
Session Chairs
Session Speakers
Discuss the real‑world challenges of delivering low operational and embodied carbon projects within owner and developer cost, risk, and delivery constraints
Evaluate how design, engineering, and ownership perspectives and competing priorities may influence decisions, budgets, and project feasibility
Communicate long‑term value and life‑cycle cost benefits of Passive House and carbon reduction using relevant persuasive strategies to skeptical stakeholders
Recognize where persuasive efforts succeed or fail and apply lessons learned to future high‑performance projects
Pending approval for 1 credit hour toward AIA, BOC, BPI, NARI, Phius, and RESNET certification