Radio BE-Ex

In honor of Daylight Hour 2020, we welcome one of the foremost building science engineers in the US to Radio BE-Ex, Steve Selkowitz.  As the long time Group Leader of the Windows and Envelope Materials Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Steve has driven the advancement of high performance building envelopes for decades and was a primary force behind the creation of FLEXLAB–the Facility for Low Energy Experiments in Buildings–a test bed facility that allows for the testing of energy efficiency technologies in a highly instrumented but real world environment.  BE-Ex was honored to partner with Steve and his team at LBNL on one of our early projects, the Living Lab: Advanced Daylighting Controls Demonstration Project, in 2014.  The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Steve will join us to talk about his long focus on daylighting in buildings, the advancements he’s seen over that time and what we can expect in the near future.

The increasing influence of Passive House in the building industry has led to renewed interested in a host of building materials, from high performance windows to innovative air and moisture control systems, to insulation with very low embodied carbon.  Ken Levenson of 475 Building Supply joins our host, Yetsuh Frank, to discuss the application of these newly available materials and what other new materials or systems we might expect in the near future.

Although Passive House has been successfully applied to a huge variety of building types, it all started with small residential projects looking to push the envelope on interior comfort and energy efficiency.  What is it that makes Passive House such an ideal lens for small residential projects?  And how is this appeal different for architects, owners, and other stakeholders?

In Cho of ChoShields Studio and Michael ingui of Baxt Ingui Architects join our host, Yetsuh Frank, to discuss the residential applications of Passive House and the various ways this progressive building performance standard can transform how both professionals and lay people experience buildings.

New York State has one of the most progressive climate action plans in the country– a commitment to 100 percent carbon free electricity by 2040, and carbon neutrality across all sectors of the economy by 2050.  Achieving these mandates will be a major challenge, with the building sector impacted as much as any other component of our highly industrialized economy.

As Senior Vice President, Strategy and Market Development, Janet Joseph is a critical member of the executive leadership team at NYSERDA, with direct responsibility for the decarbonization of the building sector across the State.  We will discuss what the coming year holds for NYSERDA,  the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges and opportunities it presents to advancing our clean energy priorities, and the new landscape for promoting high performance buildings across the 4th most populous state in the nation and it’s third largest economy.

As communities across the globe look to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis the role of the built environment will be paramount.  How might the buildings we live, work and recreate in improve the transition back to a world not dominated by sheltering in place?

Few people in North America are more knowledgeable about the implementation of Passive House than our guests for episode 2 of Radio BE-Ex: Lois Arena of Steven Winter Associates, and Monte Paulsen of RDH. Both have been at the forefront of applying Passive House to the largest buildings, and the most diverse typologies, both new construction and deep retrofits. Join us for a wide ranging discussion on the future of Passive House in North America–where it is likely to be applied immediately, and where its implementation still presents major challenges.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with an inspiring conversation among industry leaders Sara Neff of Kilroy Realty and Dan Egan of Vornado.  Both Kilroy and Vornado have committed to carbon neutrality for all their buildings, in 2020 and 2030 respectively.  With high profile portfolios on both the east and west coasts, targeting these goals at their respective organizations will present both common and specific challenges.  At the same time, Kilroy and Vornado are at the forefront in proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the built environment.  Join us for an Earth Day conversation on navigating our present crisis while remaining committed to the climate action our communities so desperately need.