Key Takeaways: 2024 Women in Green Building Leadership Luncheon
April 12, 2024
On April 10, Illinois Green convened nearly 200 leaders from the green building industry in Chicago to explore the theme of Fresh Perspectives and consider how we as a community can infuse new ideas and innovations into our workflow to set the groundwork for a greener future.
Our esteemed panelists led a discussion on the major hurdles of decarbonization, the importance of engaging local stakeholders and communities, and how women can inspire fresh perspectives in a male-dominated industry.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion
- The notion that companies must balance business and climate interests is a misnomer—in fact, sustainable design, construction, and operations offer tremendous opportunities for growth, especially in the workforce.
- Globally and here in Illinois, the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect socially and economically marginalized people. Therefore, the fight against climate change can’t come solely from the ivory tower and the corporate C-suite, but must also include a bottom-up, community-driven process that engages the voices of those bearing the brunt of its impacts. Finding organizations within those communities to partner with is crucial.
- Though progress has certainly been made, women still face disproportionate hurdles in the workforce—especially in the building industry. Women are also more likely to be advocates for sustainability and decarbonization within their organizations. That means women have to work even harder than their male counterparts to have their voices heard and affect meaningful change.
- In most corporate cultures today, sustainability initiatives are viewed as a cost center rather than an opportunity for growth. This means that decarbonization programs are often the first to be cut when revenue dips, and there is less opportunity for advancement and promotion for careers in sustainability. It’s imperative that we within the green building community push for a cultural change at the top.
Five years ago, Illinois Green Alliance launched a new strategic plan with a bold north star to guide our work: to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois was net zero by 2050. Mainstreaming the technology and building methods, whether new or existing, is no easy feat. But we realized no one was better positioned to make it happen than green building professionals.Our focus over the last five years have been about laying the foundation necessary to meet our long-term vision and I’m excited to share the progress we’ve made. These past five years have been guided by three pillars: ● Educating industry professionals to ensure they have the expertise to use net zero building methods in their work and can help us raise awareness about their value with building owners and policy makers. ● Removing barriers by providing information about the technical, financial, social and policy roadblocks to net zero adoption and passing new laws that help to overcome these barriers. ● Demonstrating it can work everywhere by collaborating with building types in historically underinvested communities that are considered difficult to implement net zero methods. That focus has paid off, allowing us to meet many of the goals we set for our work across all of our strategies. For example:
At the start of 2025, I told our members that we can build a movement of green building advocates that can continue the progress made in Illinois for high-performance building, regardless of what happens in Washington D.C. Over the last year, you’ve proven me right. While elsewhere green building and clean energy goals have been put on pause, Illinois has continued the fight and won three huge victories that usher in historic investment in clean energy and green buildings and raise the bar for building performance, completely changing the landscape for what is possible in this industry.
he mission of the Illinois Green Schools Project (IGSP)—our year-long school sustainability action and recognition program--is to empower educators, school administrators, students, and school communities to create healthy, sustainable learning environments. This work requires passion, collaboration, and informed support, and as an IGSP program coordinator, I’m always on the lookout for opportunities that help schools build the knowledge and connections needed to drive meaningful, lasting change in their buildings and districts. The Green Schools Conference has long been one of the most impactful gatherings in this space. Its focus on the intersection of environmental health, sustainability, and education makes it a uniquely valuable event for anyone working to make schools healthier and greener places for students to learn and grow. From educators, administrators, and district representatives to facilities managers, students, and community organizations, the Green Schools Conference is a powerful space to learn, collaborate, and fuel your next big idea. This year’s conference promises a rich lineup of workshops, education sessions, and networking and recognition events that speak to the needs and realities of today’s school sustainability landscape. Districts across Illinois are navigating shrinking budgets, aging infrastructure, and a newly passed state-wide law requiring the inclusion of climate education in public school curriculum starting in 2026. Therefore, I’m particularly excited to see sessions on the agenda exploring climate action and resilience planning, opportunities to connect students to sustainability career pathways, and environmental literacy in classrooms. These conversations are essential as programs like the Illinois Green Schools Project continue evolving to support schools in setting goals, tracking progress, and engaging diverse communities in sustainability work. If you’re considering attending this year, I encourage you to take a look at the agenda and explore the sessions that could support your school or organization’s goals. You’ll find no shortage of practical insights, creative ideas, and meaningful connections. I know those who attend will come away with the same clarity, inspiration, and sense of comradery that have made past conferences so influential for myself and others in the Illinois school sustainability community.
