Each year, the education sessions at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo offer attendees unparalleled access to the latest innovations, strategies and market trends in green building while elevating the work of leading practitioners and industry experts. Greenbuild 2024, taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nov. 12–15, is no exception. Themed “Built to Scale,” this year’s sessions will spotlight the green building community’s commitment to wholesale market transformation.

If you are an engaged industry professional looking to stay ahead of the curve, I encourage you to check out all Greenbuild has to offer through the education program, summits and workshops, keynotes and tours. As the leader of USGBC’s U.S. Market Transformation and Development team, which focuses on creating market change through local engagement, I’d like to highlight a few sessions I’m particularly excited about that will showcase the great work being done at the local level and by our staff, volunteer leaders and corporate, government and nonprofit partners.

Psychological Barriers of Toilet to Tap in the Desert Southwest

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 1:45–2:45 p.m.

Explore how we can navigate key psychological barriers to implementing water reuse technologies at the scale needed to address growing development and water scarcity in the Southwest U.S. USGBC Associate Director Anitra Pickett will moderate this session, which will showcase novel projects and how teams overcame regulatory and political challenges in markets that historically have not supported on-site water reuse.

Iconic Buildings through LEED v5 O+M

Thursday, Nov. 14, 3–4 p.m.

Looking for opportunities to take a deep dive into the latest on LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance? This session is for you! I will be moderating this discussion with practitioners who are working on iconic existing buildings—practitioners who will provide critical feedback and insight into LEED v5’s potential to support project teams in meeting goals around decarbonization, health and well-being, equity, biodiversity and more.

Enhancing Workforce Skills for Building Efficiency: Expert Panel on NYC’s Decarbonization Efforts

Friday, Nov. 15, 10:15–11:15 a.m.

Building operators and maintenance employees play an essential role in reducing energy use. Focusing on improving the skills of these employees can significantly improve building efficiency and lower operating costs. Moderated by Tia Metzger, USGBC associate director, this session will feature a panel of leading experts out of New York City (NYC), New York, who will discuss how they, as building operators, owners, training experts and sustainability consultants, are working to contribute to the success of NYC’s decarbonization efforts and local policy through workforce development.

Facing Resistance, Building Resilience: Transcending Politics in the Heartland

Friday, Nov. 15, 10:15–11:15 a.m.

Building LEED-certified structures in regions where sustainability faces industry and political resistance can be a challenge. USGBC Director Julie Peterson will lead a conversation with dedicated LEED professionals and volunteer USGBC Market Leadership Advisory Board members who have successfully cracked the code for consistent success, transforming a Midwestern city through both government and grass roots volunteer efforts.

Learn while building local U.S. market connections at Greenbuild