The term “net zero” has garnered plenty of buzz around the AEC industry, among policy makers, and within the sustainability community—but what does net zero actually mean? We sat down with STO Building Group’s own VP of Sustainability, Jennifer Taranto, to answer some of the top questions about building, designing, and managing net zero buildings.

Seattle’s Lake Union has lived many lives throughout its history. It is the ancestral home of the Duwamish indigenous people and a key part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal that connects Lake Washington to the Puget Sound. The freshwater lake was also the construction site of Boeing’s first aircraft and the location of Tom Hanks’ houseboat in the movie Sleepless in Seattle.