2026 Digital Program
Reducing C&D Waste - Manufacturer Responsibility
Recycling is not a new concept. Reducing waste, reusing and recycling products is a cornerstone of environmental responsibility and USG is proud to offer recycling programs that help USG and our customers become a part of the solution.
USG is a leader in manufacturing high-quality building materials designed to drive efficiencies and innovation across the construction industry worldwide. USG has 70+ locations and employs 8,500 people across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. As a subsidiary of the family-owned Knauf Group, with more than 42,000 employees at over 300 sites in 90 countries, USG provides its customers access to the world’s largest gypsum company. We exist to help our global customers more easily, safely, and affordably create sustainable and accessible spaces for all. Together, we are building the future of our industry.
Moving from Sustainability Ambition to Project-Level Action
CarbiCrete is a practical, specification-ready solution for reducing embodied carbon in buildings. Designed for architects, structural engineers, specifiers, and construction-sector decision-makers, the session explains how cement-free concrete can help project teams lower carbon without disrupting familiar design and construction workflows. CarbiCrete eliminates cement, uses steel slag as a binder, and permanently mineralizes captured COâ‚‚ during curing. The presentation will highlight how CarbiCrete products—such as CMUs and pavers—can support low-carbon building strategies using familiar material categories. By connecting carbon reduction, performance credibility, environmental documentation, and specification pathways, the session makes the case for CarbiCrete as a ready-now decarbonization option for the built environment.
CarbiCrete is a Montreal-based concrete technology company whose patented process enables the production of cement-free, decarbonized concrete made with industrial by-products and captured carbon dioxide.CarbiCrete’s technology replaces 100% of the cement content in masonry and hardscape products with steel slag, as steel-making byproduct, avoiding all cement-related emissions. The company then uses carbon dioxide to cure its concrete, permanently sequestering CO2 within the products.
Take Advantage of your Vertical Surfaces
Buildings are a major driver of global CO2 emissions, and addressing that starts with how we design and retrofit the structures we build. This session covers the basics of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), how the technology transforms facades, cladding, and railings into solar generators without sacrificing design. The primary focus, however, is on real project case studies, demonstrating how BIPV has been applied in new construction and retrofits to improve performance, aesthetics, and energy costs.
Mitrex is North America's leading manufacturer of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) — solar technology engineered directly into facades, cladding, railings, and glass. Headquartered and manufactured in Toronto, Mitrex turns the building envelope itself into a clean energy source, combining architectural design with renewable power generation by integrating building-integrated photovoltaics into cladding, facades, railings, and other architectural elements, transforming buildings into energy-generating structures,
Innovations in Sustainable HVAC Equipment and Systems
Windy City Reps continues to work with manufacturers that offer unique, sustainable solutions for the HVAC equipment and systems space. We will provide a brief update on the latest and greatest.
Windy City Representatives offers the broadest selection of industry leading brands and products to satisfy the diverse needs of the applied HVAC market in northern Illinois. From helping clients identify the optimal solution to providing on-site technical expertise, Windy City Representatives provides the knowledge, support and service to make your commercial heating and cooling projects run smoothly. With more than 30 engineers on staff, we have the expertise and resources to support your most complex projects. Our team utilizes state of the art design and engineering software to compliment over 500 years of combined experience in the applied HVAC industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, we carry out our mission “to be the most respected and sought-after provider of energy efficient HVAC solutions”.
Digging Out of Gas: How a 14-Borehole Geothermal Retrofit Cut Campus Emissions by 63%
Oxford Brookes University faced a challenge familiar to many campuses: how to modernize building energy systems and reduce emissions within the constraints of an existing, space-limited site. This brief case study highlights the university's partnership with Erda Energy on a phased project to transition an existing building's energy system to a geo-exchange heating and cooling network. Completed in just 22 weeks using only 14 boreholes, the project significantly reduced emissions, improved heating and cooling performance, and maximized the value of existing infrastructure.
Evergreen Energy Partners is a Certified B Corporation with nearly three decades of experience delivering energy efficiency programs. With expertise in trade ally networks, workforce training, market transformation, and electrification, Evergreen supports utilities and energy organizations across the United States, including programs and market development efforts in Illinois.
A key Evergreen client is Erda Energy, a company advancing geothermal heating and cooling solutions for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings. Erda's approach helps organizations reduce energy use, lower operating costs, and decrease carbon emissions through geo-exchange technology. The company is known for its innovative borehole design, ability to retrofit existing buildings, flexible financing models, and ongoing system monitoring to support long-term performance.
Autonomous Optimization: The Next Standard in Building Performance
This session will introduce a solution that autonomously optimizes HVAC operations in commercial buildings using artificial intelligence. The result is reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, improved occupant comfort, and lower operating costs, all without requiring costly equipment upgrades. Attendees will get a hands-on look at how the solution integrates with existing building management systems and delivers measurable impact at scale, without changing how facility teams already work.
Brainbox AI is a Montreal-based PropTech company specializing in autonomous, AI-driven HVAC optimization for commercial buildings. Its technology uses deep learning and generative AI to predict and adjust heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in real time, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without requiring costly equipment upgrades. By integrating directly with existing building management systems, Brainbox AI helps property owners and operators lower operating costs, improve tenant comfort, and meet sustainability targets. The solution is designed to be non-intrusive and scalable across large real estate portfolios, positioning Brainbox AI as a key player in the decarbonization of the built environment.
Modernizing Legacy Steam Radiators with the
Battery-Operated Radiator Controller (BORC)
Legacy steam radiators remain a common heating system in Chicago-area buildings, yet owners have few reliable options to reduce overheating, energy waste, and costs while maintaining occupant comfort. The Battery-Operated Radiator Controller (BORC) is a self-contained, battery-powered, direct screw-on replacement for traditional thermostatic radiator valves. It provides zone-level temperature control using an onboard temperature sensor and microcontroller. BORC can operate independently without a central building automation system (BAS), or it can communicate with an existing BAS. Developed by the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Built Environment Research Group and Radiator Revivers, with support from the Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Programs, BORC began pilot projects in 2019. More than 100 devices have been installed across multiple building types, demonstrating energy and cost savings while maintaining stable, controllable indoor temperatures. The patent-pending technology is currently being evaluated for inclusion in utility rebate and incentive programs.
Radiator Revivers LLC is a forward-thinking startup dedicated to commercializing next-generation control and sensing technologies for the built environment. Born out of extensive research initiatives at Illinois Institute of Technology and supported by grant funding from Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Programs our mission is to bring highly efficient, sustainable thermal and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) solutions to market. By bridging the gap between rigorous academic research and practical application, we develop smart, automated technology, such as our advanced smart radiator controllers, that transform outdated steam infrastructure into highly efficient self-regulating systems, directly supporting decarbonization and high-performance building retrofits.
Right-Sizing Pumps for Net Zero: Unlocking Energy, Water, and Lifecycle Savings
This session will introduce a solution that autonomously optimizes HVAC operations in commercial buildings using artificial intelligence. The result is reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, improved occupant comfort, and lower operating costs, all without requiring costly equipment upgrades. Attendees will get a hands-on look at how the solution integrates with existing building management systems and delivers measurable impact at scale, without changing how facility teams already work.
Grundfos is the world's largest pump manufacturer, specializing in energy-efficient water pumps and smart water management solutions.
Have a question about the Tech Forum?
Contact our Senior Program Manager, Miranda Wright, today!
