Sustainable Construction in a Changing Climate: Retrofitting, Green Building, and the Future of the Industry with Susan Heinking

Susan's career journey in sustainable construction @ 0:00

Susan Heinking has a background in architecture and has been working in the construction industry for the past 10 years, with a focus on sustainable building practices. She discusses how her career has evolved from architecture to construction, with a consistent emphasis on designing and building environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient structures.

The shift in attitudes towards climate change and sustainability @ 3:20

Susan describes how attitudes towards climate change and the importance of sustainability have shifted over the course of her career. In the early years, there was more skepticism, but now there is a much greater awareness and demand for sustainable building practices, as the impacts of climate change have become more evident.

Challenges of retrofitting vs. building new @ 3:59

Susan discusses the tradeoffs between retrofitting existing buildings versus building new, more energy-efficient structures. Existing buildings can often be made more sustainable, but there is also a cultural preference for new, "shiny" buildings. She highlights the need to balance these considerations and find the most responsible approach for each project.

The role of government regulations and incentives @ 12:00

Susan explains how government regulations and incentives have impacted the sustainability efforts in the construction industry, sometimes helping and sometimes hindering progress. She discusses how she has adapted her approach to focus more on the business case for sustainability, rather than relying solely on government mandates.

Emerging trends and the role of technology @ 18:39

Looking to the future, Susan discusses the increasing collaboration and standardization happening within the construction industry to drive sustainability efforts. She sees potential for AI and other technologies to help streamline processes and improve efficiency, while still allowing for customization to meet the needs of individual clients and projects.

Recap and next steps @ 24:52

Michael and Susan wrap up the conversation, with Susan providing information on how listeners can connect with her and learn more about her work in sustainable construction.

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