The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Former Wall Street trader Scott Donachie reveals why relationship-building trumps technology pushing in decarbonization deals, shares the HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M, and explains his "calm the fears of the unknown" approach to navigating Local Law 97 compliance.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Scott Donachie is the Chief Executive Officer at Companies for Net Zero, connecting decision-makers across real estate, finance, and technology to drive sustainable impact. Based in New York, he leads an ecosystem of 300+ organizations transforming the built environment and infrastructure. A former Wall Street trader turned decarbonization evangelist, Scott discovered sustainability eight years ago after learning about 400 dormant landfills in New Jersey. He hosts invite-only Decarb Summits that bring together building owners, investors, and technology providers to share real-world lessons from the trenches.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Scott revolutionizes traditional building decarbonization approaches:

Key Insight #1: Finance Background Creates Sustainability Superpower

• The Challenge: Most sustainability professionals struggle to navigate complex deal structures and financing decisions
• The Solution: Combine deep finance experience with sustainability expertise to become "dangerous" in both arenas
• ROI: Ability to champion deals through complicated decision-making units and secure financing for projects others can't close

Key Insight #2: Pragmatic Solutions Beat Flashy New Construction

• The Challenge: Industry focuses on $40M new green buildings while ignoring immediate retrofit opportunities
• The Solution: Prioritize proven technologies with strong case studies—like the patented HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M annually
• ROI: Faster implementation, lower risk, and demonstrated returns that build credibility for larger future projects

Key Insight #3: Relationship-First Approach Wins Over Product Pushing

• The Challenge: Technology vendors lead with features instead of understanding the full decision-making ecosystem
• The Solution: Build deep personal relationships, learn clients' kids' names, and address the needs of CFOs, facilities managers, and building owners simultaneously
• ROI: Long-term partnerships that create referral networks and repeat business in an industry built on trust

Sustainable Soundbite

"Calming the fears of the unknown. How do you do that? Just collaboration with very intelligent people that are in the room...everyone can be calm and positive because they are sharing their ideas and are not working in silos.”

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Identify the three key stakeholders in your next decarbonization project (CFO, facilities, building owner) and map their individual concerns and success metrics
2. This Quarter: Research local and state incentives beyond federal programs—Scott emphasizes hyper-local public-private partnerships are expanding as federal support shifts
3. This Year: Build your "lessons from the trenches" database by connecting with building owners who've completed similar retrofits and can share real operational data

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Access full episode resources: Decarb Summits
• 🔗 Connect with Scott Donachie: LinkedIn
• 📚 Recommended reading: How the Scots Invented the Modern World

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Former Wall Street trader Scott Donachie reveals why relationship-building trumps technology pushing in decarbonization deals, shares the HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M, and explains his "calm the fears of the unknown" approach to navigating Local Law 97 compliance.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Scott Donachie is the Chief Executive Officer at Companies for Net Zero, connecting decision-makers across real estate, finance, and technology to drive sustainable impact. Based in New York, he leads an ecosystem of 300+ organizations transforming the built environment and infrastructure. A former Wall Street trader turned decarbonization evangelist, Scott discovered sustainability eight years ago after learning about 400 dormant landfills in New Jersey. He hosts invite-only Decarb Summits that bring together building owners, investors, and technology providers to share real-world lessons from the trenches.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Scott revolutionizes traditional building decarbonization approaches:

Key Insight #1: Finance Background Creates Sustainability Superpower

• The Challenge: Most sustainability professionals struggle to navigate complex deal structures and financing decisions
• The Solution: Combine deep finance experience with sustainability expertise to become "dangerous" in both arenas
• ROI: Ability to champion deals through complicated decision-making units and secure financing for projects others can't close

Key Insight #2: Pragmatic Solutions Beat Flashy New Construction

• The Challenge: Industry focuses on $40M new green buildings while ignoring immediate retrofit opportunities
• The Solution: Prioritize proven technologies with strong case studies—like the patented HVAC foam that saved Mandalay Bay $15M annually
• ROI: Faster implementation, lower risk, and demonstrated returns that build credibility for larger future projects

Key Insight #3: Relationship-First Approach Wins Over Product Pushing

• The Challenge: Technology vendors lead with features instead of understanding the full decision-making ecosystem
• The Solution: Build deep personal relationships, learn clients' kids' names, and address the needs of CFOs, facilities managers, and building owners simultaneously
• ROI: Long-term partnerships that create referral networks and repeat business in an industry built on trust

Sustainable Soundbite

"Calming the fears of the unknown. How do you do that? Just collaboration with very intelligent people that are in the room...everyone can be calm and positive because they are sharing their ideas and are not working in silos.”

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Identify the three key stakeholders in your next decarbonization project (CFO, facilities, building owner) and map their individual concerns and success metrics
2. This Quarter: Research local and state incentives beyond federal programs—Scott emphasizes hyper-local public-private partnerships are expanding as federal support shifts
3. This Year: Build your "lessons from the trenches" database by connecting with building owners who've completed similar retrofits and can share real operational data

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Access full episode resources: Decarb Summits
• 🔗 Connect with Scott Donachie: LinkedIn
• 📚 Recommended reading: How the Scots Invented the Modern World

Want More Green Building Insights?

Newsletter coming soon!

Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Iryna Sukhodub reveals how Ukraine's massive reconstruction effort is driving green building innovation—from IFI-funded sustainable housing for 4.5 million displaced people to the strategic shift from energy-only thinking to comprehensive sustainability that could reshape your project priorities.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Iryna Sukhodub is a Building Modeling and Simulation Specialist at iC consulenten Ukraine and Associate Professor at the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute." Honored as Scientist of the Year by President Zelenskyy in 2020, she bridges academia and industry through energy efficiency research, green building certification expertise, and mentoring the next generation of women engineers in sustainability.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Iryna revolutionizes traditional reconstruction approaches:

Key Insight #1: IFI Financing Creates Green Building Momentum

• The Challenge: Green certification isn't mandatory in Ukraine, limiting sustainable development incentives
• The Solution: International Financial Institutions require sustainability standards for reconstruction loans and grants—driving market demand through financing requirements
• ROI: Access to favorable loan rates and grant funding, plus tenant lease requirements from international companies demanding certified buildings

Key Insight #2: Resilience + Renewables = Reconstruction Strategy

• The Challenge: Ukraine's damaged infrastructure needs rebuilding while serving 4.5 million internally displaced people
• The Solution: Integrate PV systems with energy storage for dual benefits—cost reduction and power resilience during electricity shortages
• ROI: Lower operational costs plus business continuity during grid disruptions, creating "future-proof" infrastructure investments

Key Insight #3: Shift From Energy-Only to Comprehensive Sustainability

• The Challenge: Ukrainian projects historically focus solely on energy efficiency and renewables, missing broader impact opportunities
• The Solution: Expand to embodied carbon, life cycle assessment, accessibility, climate adaptation, and indoor environmental quality
• ROI: Enhanced building performance, health outcomes, and alignment with international certification standards like LEED v5 and WELL

Sustainable Soundbite

"We still have to implement projects and we have to implement them in a sustainable manner, especially for the people that need housing at the moment." – Iryna Sukhodub

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Evaluate how financing requirements could drive sustainability in your projects—research available green financing programs and certification incentives in your region
2. This Quarter: Expand beyond energy efficiency—conduct a gap analysis of your projects against comprehensive sustainability frameworks like LEED v5 or BREEAM
3. This Year: Build resilience into your renewable energy strategy—explore PV + storage combinations that deliver both cost savings and operational continuity during grid disruptions

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Access full episode resources: [Link]
• 🗒️ Read the transcript [Link]
• 🔗 Connect with Iryna Sukhodub: LinkedIn
• 📖 Recommended reading: Tiger Hunters by Ivan Bagran

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Herbert Koomson reveals how waste audits uncover 50% recyclable materials hiding in trash streams and why the future of sustainability messaging isn't about saving the planet—it's about saving your bottom line.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Herbert Koomson transitioned from engineering to sustainable design at West Virginia University, where Professor Chris Haddix guided him to pass the LEED GA exam before graduation. He began his sustainability career with the NYC Department of Sanitation, educating major restaurant chains about commercial organics rules. Currently at RTS, he conducts waste audits throughout North America, helping clients achieve higher diversion rates through data-driven strategies. Herbert is also a coffee connoisseur, wrestling fan, and proud New Yorker who believes in making sustainability accessible rather than preachy.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Herbert revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches:

Key Insight #1: Waste Audits Reveal Hidden Gold in Your Trash

• The Challenge: Businesses assume they're recycling properly while up to 50% of recyclable materials end up in landfills
• The Solution: Systematic waste audits combined with walkthrough assessments identify contamination sources and mislabeled waste stations
• ROI: Higher diversion rates reduce waste costs while meeting sustainability goals—clients see measurable improvements within one audit cycle

Key Insight #2: Geography Determines Your Diversion Success

• The Challenge: Voluntary recycling programs lead to bare minimum compliance and lower diversion rates
• The Solution: Target markets with mandatory separation laws like California and Austin, Texas, which drive 3x higher diversion rates than voluntary programs
• ROI: Regulatory compliance creates consistent revenue streams while voluntary markets rely on client motivation and budget priorities

Key Insight #3: Make Sustainability About Wallets, Not Polar Bears

• The Challenge: Traditional sustainability messaging focuses on environmental impact, which can feel political or preachy
• The Solution: Frame waste management as business efficiency—cost savings, space optimization, and operational improvements
• ROI: Financial benefits resonate universally while environmental benefits become the bonus, not the burden

Sustainable Soundbite

“Sustainability isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. If we want to design a future that includes everyone, we have to start building with empathy and intention today.” – Herbert Koomson

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Conduct a mini waste audit in your office—spend 15 minutes identifying what's in your trash that should be recycled
2. This Quarter: Evaluate waste station signage and labels across your properties—worn or confusing signs kill diversion rates
3. This Year: Implement the "waste audit wheel"—baseline assessment, consulting improvements, follow-up audit to measure progress

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Learn about RTS: Recycle Track Systems
• 🔗 Connect with Herbert Koomson: LinkedIn
• 📚 Recommended reading: $40 Million Slaves by William Rhoden
• 📖 More reads: True Crime by Andrew Klavan and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
• 🗒️ Read the transcript here

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Morgan Holl reveals why "connectivity drives circularity" in recycling and how his glass processing innovation tackles the 38% of landfill waste from construction—plus the strategic insight that could transform your approach to sustainable materials sourcing.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Morgan Holl is a current founder in the sustainability space, with past C-suite experience in general management, strategic planning, corporate development, and product innovation. Previously, he's led product teams encompassing both long-cycle innovation in the chemical space, and short-cycle SaaS/HaaS in IoT domains. He's led decisions tied to large and small bolt-on acquisitions, authored strategic roadmaps, and prioritized organic capital deployment. Nothing excites him more than when he is able to create value and solve complex problems through partnerships. His model is rooted in humility, empathy, and an insatiable, innate curiosity.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Morgan revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches:

Key Insight #1: Connectivity Drives Circularity in Construction

• The Challenge: People feel disconnected from recycling outcomes, leading to reduced participation and mistrust in the system
• The Solution: Create transparent, local processing that shows exactly where materials go and what they become
• ROI: Increased recycling participation, community engagement, and cost-effective local material loops

Key Insight #2: Glass Processing Unlocks Hidden Material Value

• The Challenge: Glass breaks in single-stream recycling, contaminating other materials and making processing expensive
• The Solution: Process glass locally for non-traditional applications like engineered soil blends and sustainable building materials
• ROI: Captures high-volume recoverable material typically sent to landfills while creating functional building products

Key Insight #3: Construction Waste Represents the Biggest Circular Opportunity

• The Challenge: Construction and demolition waste accounts for 38% of all landfill material—massive volumes with huge environmental impact
• The Solution: Scale thoughtful reuse and recycling of C&D waste while incorporating recycled materials into new building products
• ROI: Outsized improvements in circularity with significant cost savings and LEED credit opportunities

Sustainable Soundbite

"We launched this business with the idea of overcoming those challenges in the world of recycling... connectivity drives circularity." – Morgan Holl

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Audit your current project's waste streams—identify high-volume materials that could be processed locally instead of landfilled
2. This Quarter: Research local circular material suppliers and calculate potential LEED credits from C&D waste diversion
3. This Year: Develop partnerships with regional processors to create closed-loop material systems for your building portfolio

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Learn about Overlooked Materials: Overlooked Materials
• 🔗 Connect with Morgan Holl: LinkedIn
• 📚 Recommended reading: The Wide Lens by Ron Adner
• 🗒 Read the transcript [LINK TO BE ADDED]

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Hamed Soroush reveals how subsurface thermal energy storage can cut data center cooling power by 80% while creating 6-month energy batteries from underground rocks—plus the mindset shift that transformed his oil & gas expertise into breakthrough clean energy solutions.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Hamed Soroush is a subsurface engineering expert and entrepreneur who has led over 350 consulting projects across seven countries. As founder of Teverra, he's pioneering technologies that transform underground formations into long-term energy storage systems. A former SPE Distinguished Lecturer, Hamed bridges oil & gas innovation with clean energy solutions, focusing on geothermal energy, carbon storage, and thermal energy systems that can store energy for months without significant loss.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Hamed revolutionizes traditional energy approaches:

Key Insight #1: Subsurface Rocks Are Nature's Ultimate Batteries

• The Challenge: Current battery technologies offer only 4-10 hour storage while renewable energy needs long-term solutions
• The Solution: Heat rocks underground using excess renewable energy, storing thermal energy for 6+ months with only 5-6% loss
• ROI: Creates "artificial geothermal reservoirs" that provide baseload renewable energy without the limitations of traditional batteries

Key Insight #2: Data Centers Can Cut Cooling Power by 80%

• The Challenge: 40% of data center power consumption goes to cooling, limiting Georgia's ability to add new facilities
• The Solution: Use subsurface formations and groundwater for district cooling systems
• ROI: 80% reduction in cooling power consumption plus 70% cut in CO2 emissions, enabling more data centers with existing grid capacity

Key Insight #3: Transfer Oil & Gas Innovation to Clean Energy

• The Challenge: Clean energy lacks the advanced subsurface technologies already proven in oil & gas
• The Solution: Apply geomechanics, drilling expertise, and reservoir engineering to geothermal, carbon storage, and energy storage
• ROI: Accelerates clean energy deployment by leveraging decades of subsurface innovation instead of starting from scratch

Sustainable Soundbite

"We are wasting almost half of the energy that we spend a lot of time, effort, and money to generate. And by saving this energy that's wasted, we can actually lift many country's people from poverty."

– Hamed Soroush

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Assess your building's cooling loads and explore subsurface cooling potential for energy efficiency gains
2. This Quarter: Connect with local geothermal professionals to evaluate thermal energy storage opportunities for your portfolio
3. This Year: Investigate district-scale thermal systems that can share energy between heating-dominant and cooling-dominant buildings

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Learn about Teverra: Teverra.com
• 🔗 Connect with Hamed Soroush: LinkedIn
• 📚 Recommended reading: The Future is Faster Than You Think
• 🗒️ Read the transcript [Link]

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Larry Lessard reveals why geothermal systems are 400-600% more efficient than fossil fuel alternatives and how network geothermal is revolutionizing district-level sustainability—plus the strategic insight that could reshape your approach to renewable energy priorities.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Lawrence (Larry) Lessard is an applied scientist with a career encompassing hydrogeology, contaminated site remediation, and geothermal system design and installation.

He is the founder of both Lessard Environmental, Inc. and Achieve Renewable Energy, LLC. He is also a nature and astronomical photographer, third degree blackbelt in Judo, and a Hang Glider Pilot.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Larry revolutionizes traditional HVAC approaches:

Key Insight #1: Geothermal Efficiency Crushes All Alternatives

• The Challenge: Natural gas boiler systems max out at 92% efficiency while losing energy up the flue

• The Solution: Geothermal systems move heat energy instead of creating it, achieving 400-600% efficiency

• ROI: Equipment lasts twice as long (protected indoors) with dramatically lower lifecycle costs and zero combustion emissions

Key Insight #2: Network Geothermal Unlocks District-Scale Impact

• The Challenge: Individual building systems can't serve properties without underground space or share thermal loads

• The Solution: Connect multiple buildings to shared ground heat exchangers—cooling-dominant buildings export heat to heating-dominant ones

• ROI: 100+ year lifespan for ground infrastructure creates generational sustainability investments, like "building a cathedral"

Key Insight #3: Target the Biggest Carbon Slice First

• The Challenge: Many sustainability efforts focus on electricity (only 10-15% of emissions) while ignoring bigger opportunities

• The Solution: Prioritize building heating/cooling (30%+ of emissions) and transportation (34%) for maximum climate impact

• ROI: Attacking the largest emission sources delivers the biggest environmental returns and typically the best financial incentives

Sustainable Soundbite

"If a natural gas boiler system is maybe 92% efficient, a geothermal system, through that same calculation, is 400 to 600% efficient. You get more energy out of the operation of the equipment than you put into it." – Larry Lessard

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Calculate your building's heating vs. cooling loads to determine geothermal feasibility and efficiency potential

2. This Quarter: Explore federal tax credits (30-50% depending on location and domestic content) and local utility rebates for geothermal installations

3. This Year: Evaluate network geothermal opportunities across your building portfolio—identify cooling-dominant buildings that could share heat with heating-dominant ones

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Learn about Achieve Renewable Energy: Achieve Renewable Energy

• 🔗 Connect with Larry Lessard: LinkedIn

• 📚 New England Geothermal Professional Association: NEGPA

• 📖 Recommended reading:A Civil Action: Jonathan Harr 🎬 Recommended viewing: "Dark Waters" (2019 film)

• 🗒️ Read the transcript here

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.

The Green Impact Report

Quick take: Ross Guberman reveals how AI sensors and tech-enabled waste management can slash building operating costs while hitting zero waste targets—turning dumpster diving into data science.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Ross Guberman is a seasoned executive with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental management. Currently serving as the SVP of Sustainability at Recycle Track Systems, he has a proven track record of leading organizations towards high profit and impactful practices.

His diverse experience includes founding and leading Great Forest as CEO, where he honed skills in contract negotiation and program development. Ross's early career as an Environmental Volunteer with the Peace Corps in Cape Verde reflects his long-standing commitment to environmental issues.

With a strong educational background in Mathematics from Rutgers University, he combines analytical skills with strategic planning expertise. Ross is passionate about creating enjoyable workplaces while driving sustainable development initiatives.

🌱Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Ross revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches:

Key Insight #1: AI Sensors Turn Waste Bins Into Smart Infrastructure

• The Challenge: Building managers have no visibility into bin fullness, leading to unnecessary pickups, contamination, and wasted hauler routes

• The Solution: RTS Pello sensors with cameras and sonar monitor bin levels 24/7, detect contamination, and automatically alert haulers when service is needed

• ROI: Eliminates truck traffic, right-sizes service schedules, and provides real-time contamination feedback to reduce recycling stream pollution

Key Insight #2: Consolidated Portfolio Management Beats Fragmented Haulers

• The Challenge: Large building portfolios juggle multiple waste haulers with separate invoices, no data consistency, and zero optimization across sites

• The Solution: Single technology platform managing 1,000+ locations with unified billing, data analytics, and sustainability reporting

• ROI: Dramatic time savings for accounting teams, consolidated invoicing, and leveraged negotiating power across entire portfolios

Key Insight #3: Gamification Makes Waste Reduction Tangible

• The Challenge: Energy and water savings are invisible to building occupants, making sustainability engagement difficult

• The Solution: Reverse vending machines that reward recycling behavior with instant incentives like raffle entries and discounts

• ROI: Creates visible sustainability touchpoints that change behaviors and build environmental awareness across building communities

Sustainable Soundbite

"With waste, everybody touches waste. I don't know if you've been to a party, but anytime you say anything that you do anything in waste management, everyone wants to talk about it. This is a way to really engage people and let them see sustainability." – Ross Guberman

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Conduct a detailed waste audit across different floors and areas to understand your building's waste generation patterns

2. This Quarter: Pilot AI-enabled waste monitoring in one building to demonstrate cost savings and contamination reduction

3. This Year: Implement portfolio-wide waste consolidation and technology integration to achieve 90%+ landfill diversion rates

Connect & Learn More

• 🌿 Explore RTS's waste technology solutions: RTS.com

• 📚 Recommended reading: Nonviolent Communication:

• 🗒️ Read the transcript here

• 🔗 Connect with Ross Guberman: LinkedIn

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Green Building Matters, Inc © 2025 | Good Green Fun.