From Caution to Catalyst: Turning AI Skepticism into Informed Innovation

As AI reshapes, well, everything, practitioners are asking: How can I use AI to expand my impact without compromising my values or professional judgment? This session presents complementary perspectives on AI adoption. Elizabeth Kelly shares how she transformed her decarbonization expertise into an AI-enabled workflow, to help a small consulting practice rapidly identify investment-ready retrofit opportunities while keeping human expertise and accountability centered. Bright Power’s Andrea Mancino then explores how mission-driven organizations can reconcile AI's environmental footprint with its potential to accelerate implementation by streamlining complex decision-making. Together, these illustrate a practical framework for using AI thoughtfully, responsibly, and effectively.