Convergence of Change Makers

The Sustainability Symposium 2025 brought together industry luminaries to explore accelerating the transition to a sustainable future. Check out what they had to say.

The Sustainability Symposium 2025: A Force of Nature was more than a conference—it was a declaration that the era of incremental change is over. Hosted virtually by Green Builder Media, this ninth annual gathering united trailblazers from across industries to confront the climate crisis head-on. Through candid conversations and bold ideas, the Symposium underscored a critical truth: sustainability is no longer optional—it’s the foundation of economic resilience and innovation.

Day 1 of the Symposium focused on pioneering the path forward and unleashing innovation. I had the privilege of kicking off the event with Kill the Carbon, Keep the Comfort: The Net Zero Revolution is Here!, during which I emphasized that sustainability has transitioned from a peripheral concern to a central economic driver and a fundamental component of business resilience.

I highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the building sector, noting its potential to optimize design, construction, and operations, and I addressed the urgent need to decarbonize the built environment.

The next session, Burn the Rulebook: The Radical Future of Homebuilding, featured Allan Merrill, CEO of Beazer Homes, who underscored the need for the homebuilding industry to embrace sustainable innovation. He highlighted the transformative potential of AI in the homebuying process, stating, “AI will create the capacity for consumers to have their lifestyle, their values, their beliefs reflected in their home search.”

Merrill outlined a future where homes will increasingly be equipped with systems that understand and adapt to the lifestyles of their inhabitants. My favorite part: when he described a model for leveraging blockchain to democratize home ownership.

Jacob Atalla, VP of Sustainability at KB Homes, and Will Sarni, Practice Lead for Water and Nature at Earth Finance, led Power, Water & Survival: The Race to Keep the Lights On & Taps Flowing. The two industry icons explored next-gen water and energy solutions that are rewriting the survival guidebook in a hotter, drier, more unpredictable world.

They accentuated the importance of decentralized solutions like microgrids and onsite water generation systems to reduce dependence on aging infrastructure and enhance community resilience, and they highlighted advancements in water recycling and desalination technologies as essential tools for addressing water scarcity.

Next up, Sneha Kumari, Founder of Merlin AI, explored the dual role of artificial intelligence in AI & Sustainability: Game-Changer or Apocalypse Machine?. She addressed critical questions about AI's potential to optimize resource use versus its energy consumption implications, and she delved into the complex relationship between AI and environmental sustainability.

The discussion highlighted AI's potential to optimize energy grids, reduce waste, and enhance resource efficiency, while also acknowledging concerns about its energy consumption and environmental impact. Kumari explained that the responsible integration of AI into environmental strategies requires careful consideration of its benefits and drawbacks.

Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainable Living Officer at Kohler, concluded the first day of the Sustainability Symposium 2025 with Sustainability is No Longer Just a Footprint Initiative—It’s a Mindset Shift. She emphasized that sustainability isn’t just about what companies do behind the scenes—it’s about empowering and inspiring customers to make better choices every day.

Kohler discussed how businesses that seamlessly integrate sustainability into their products, messaging, and experiences will lead the next era of responsible living. She also addressed the role of leadership in fostering a sustainable mindset, advocating for transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Her presentation served as a call to action for organizations to reimagine their roles in building a more sustainable future.

Akshat Rathi, Senior Climate Reporter at Bloomberg, opened the second day of the Sustainability Symposium with Climate Capitalism: Saving the Planet is the Smartest Investment Yet. He argued that sustainability isn’t a sacrifice—it’s the biggest business opportunity in history, and companies betting on green tech are dominating the market, while those still on the fence risk obsolescence.

Rathi challenged the prevailing narrative of climate doom, asserting that the world is already deploying effective climate solutions at scale. He stressed that these advancements are not confined to niche sectors but are integral to the broader capitalist framework, demonstrating that environmental sustainability and economic growth can coexist.

Drawing from his extensive reporting, Rathi highlighted how diverse capitalist systems—from the U.S. to China and India—are adapting to integrate climate considerations, thereby redefining traditional economic models. Rathi's insights underscore a pivotal shift in the global economic landscape: embracing "climate capitalism" as a means to drive innovation, resilience, and long-2term profitability.

In ClimateTech Evolution: The Next Frontier, Scott Tew, VP of Sustainability, Trane Technologies, and Vijay Deshmukh, VP Product Management, Trane Technologies, explored how breakthrough technology like phase change materials, circular products, and next-generation energy storage are redefining sustainability and transforming homes and buildings.

The two subject matter experts discussed how advanced technologies, such as AI and IoT, can enhance energy efficiency and support decarbonization efforts. The speakers discussed the importance of viewing buildings as interconnected systems, where optimizing one component can lead to significant overall improvements in performance and sustainability.

The Resiliency Evolution: Building for a World That Won’t Play Nice panel, featuring Matt Power of Green Builder Media, Marshall Gobuty of Pearl Homes, and Cynthia Adams of Pearl Certification, discussed strategies for constructing homes capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

The panelists underscored the necessity of smart, adaptable solutions that allow homeowners to shelter in place, and they explored challenges and opportunities in the insurance and mortgage sectors to appropriately address resiliency issues. The far-reaching conversation covered climate-responsive design, smart technologies that allow homes and communities to adapt to changing environmental conditions, policies and practices that make high-performance homes affordable for all, and the importance of certification programs in promoting and verifying the resilience and sustainability of homes.

Reuven Carlyle, Founder of Earth Finance, concluded with Don’t Say the ‘D’ Word: Winning the Decarbonization Debate in Hostile Territory, addressing the politicization of climate discourse and advocating for decarbonization as a business imperative.

Drawing from his experience in spearheading Washington's comprehensive climate legislation, Carlyle emphasized the importance of reframing decarbonization as a strategic business opportunity rather than a political liability. He highlighted how companies can leverage sustainability to gain a competitive edge, attract investment, and align with evolving regulatory landscapes.

By focusing on economic benefits and risk mitigation, Carlyle argued that businesses can effectively navigate and lead in regions resistant to traditional climate narratives. His insights underscored the necessity of integrating climate strategies into core business models to drive both environmental and financial performance.

As we reflect on the insights shared during the Symposium, one message resonates clearly: the future is not a distant horizon—it’s being built today by those courageous enough to lead.

If you missed any part of the Symposium or want to revisit these powerful sessions, you can watch the full event recordings here: Sustainability Symposium 2025: A Force of Nature.

A heartfelt thank you to Trane Technologies and Whirlpool Corporation for their continued support of our annual Sustainability Symposium, as well as their total commitment to corporate sustainability.

Want to learn more about zero carbon building? Enroll in Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy, which has robust courses on net zero carbon building, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings.  

And be sure to check out the COGNITION Carbon Offsets Marketplace if you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle.