Summary:

Water is one of the most overlooked systems in building performance, yet it sits at the intersection of energy, public health, resilience, and climate adaptation. In this episode, Matt Watson sits down with Paul Sambanis, PhD, Vice President of Sustainability at Sloan, to unpack why water efficiency deserves far more attention from building owners, operators, and the broader green building industry. From the retrofit of Wrigley Field to the water-energy nexus hidden inside every gallon that enters and leaves a building, the conversation reveals how much complexity lives behind something most of us take for granted every day.

Paul explains how water savings scale, why older buildings can still make meaningful progress through smart retrofits, and how technology like leak detection and advanced metering is changing the way owners manage risk. The episode also zooms out to the neighborhood and city level, connecting water infrastructure to flooding, environmental justice, and long-term community health. By the end, the message is clear: treating water as a strategic building priority is not just good stewardship, it is a practical path to lower emissions, stronger resilience, and healthier communities.

Key Takeaways:

• Water is a major but often invisible driver of building energy use and carbon emissions.

• Retrofitting older buildings can deliver meaningful water savings without major structural changes.

• Water quality matters as much as water efficiency, especially in dense urban systems.

• Smart connected plumbing, leak detection, and advanced metering help owners catch issues early and reduce damage.

• The water-energy nexus means water savings can also translate into energy and carbon savings.

• Flooding, stormwater management, and wastewater capacity are critical resilience issues for cities like Chicago.

• Environmental justice is central to water infrastructure decisions, especially in communities facing industrial burden.

• Decentralized water systems and on-site reuse are emerging as important strategies for the future.

• Public health outcomes, including mold and asthma, are closely tied to building water events.

• The future of water in buildings is moving toward smarter, more localized, and more adaptive systems.

Summary:

In this episode, we explore innovative approaches to green building design, code compliance, and energy efficiency with industry expert Sachin Anand, Principal at dbHMS. Sachin shares insights from the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) project, Chicago’s first Living Building Challenge certified school, highlighting the integration of building systems into the curriculum.

He emphasizes the importance of viewing energy codes as minimum standards rather than as a ceiling and discusses the role of commissioning in optimizing building performance. The conversation also covers practical steps for building owners to prepare for emerging energy code requirements and the transformative potential of new energy codes in accelerating decarbonization efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• Building sustainability breakthroughs require early, integrated design collaboration.

• Treat energy codes as foundational rather than a ceiling, unlocking deeper innovation.

• Commissioning is one of the lowest-cost high-yield strategy for resilient, efficient buildings.

• Embedding education into building systems fosters future innovation and engagement among occupants.

• Scaling holistic verification processes across large portfolios is simpler than expected when employing a modular, repeatable approach.

• The next horizon in sustainability is industry-wide transformation driven by new energy codes and technological innovation.

Episode Links:

• Building Green Communities Episode 2: Academy for Global Citizenship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Z0P3w70jE

Summary:

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of sustainable affordable housing with Claudia Rodriguez, Vice President of Design and Construction at Preservation of Affordable Housing. Claudia shares her journey from architecture to leading affordable housing projects, emphasizing the integration of high-performance building standards like passive house certification. She discusses the challenges and opportunities of implementing all-electric buildings in urban settings, highlighting strategies for energy and water efficiency, such as low-flow fixtures and envelope improvements.

Claudia also underscores the importance of community-centered design and how local input can significantly impact project success. The episode further explores the complexities of navigating financial structures for sustainable projects.

Key Takeaways:

• Claudia’s transition from architecture to affordable housing development.

• Importance of Passive House standards in sustainable housing.

• Challenges of implementing all-electric buildings in cities.

• Energy and water efficiency strategies for urban projects.

• Role of community engagement in design success.

• Navigating financial complexities in green projects.

• Policy advocacy's impact on sustainable development.

• Collaboration for equitable community development.

• Health benefits of energy-efficient housing.

• Future trends in sustainable affordable housing.

Episode Links:

• Illinois Energy Efficiency Showcase: https://www.illinoisgreenalliance.org/illinois-energy-efficiency-showcase

• POAH Basis of Design: https://www.poahbod.org/#welcome