Embodied Carbon + Electrification – Full Path to Decarbonization
A focal point of our discussion will be retrofitting existing buildings and the imperative to reuse materials and structures. We’ll address the necessity of developing new systems and methodologies to facilitate this transition, emphasizing both environmental benefits and economic returns. Our panelists will share their insights on integrating heat pumps and optimizing building envelopes to minimize energy consumption while effectively reusing existing infrastructure, thereby reducing overall carbon footprints.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of embodied carbon and electrification, including the importance of building performance standards in achieving operational carbon reduction goals.
Panelists:
Jennifer Taranto – Vice President of Sustainability at STO Building Group
Jennifer, with over 25 years in commercial real estate and construction, is the vice president of sustainability at STO Building Group. Passionate about minimizing environmental impact, she shapes client goals and guides project teams to achieve corporate responsibility milestones, reducing operating costs and emissions.
A founder of Built Environment Plus, Jennifer is a sustainable construction leader, recognized with WELL AP (2018), WELL Faculty (2019-2021), and LEED Fellow (2023) awards. A speaker on the subject, she holds a BSc in Construction Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Aurora Jensen – Embodied Carbon Lead with Brightworks Sustainability in New York City
Aurora is the Embodied Carbon Lead with Brightworks Sustainability in New York City with a focus on materials and carbon, and a part-time faculty member at the Parsons School of Design. With her work she seeks to engage multiple scales of social and environmental concerns—from microscale heat flows to macroscale supply chains—by linking passive, active, and materials design decisions to climate. She uses her experience in high performance energy modelling and whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) to drive down the operational and embodied carbon of projects. She sits on the ILFI Energy and Carbon TAG, and co-leads the NYC chapter of the Carbon Leadership Forum. Aurora received her Masters in Design Studies in Energy and Environment with distinction from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.
