In our newest Ask the Expert series on the Building Conversations podcast, STOBG’s Vice President of Sustainability, Jennifer Taranto, explores the evolving world of net zero buildings—what it means, key drivers behind the movement, and how government regulations, renewable energy, and emerging technologies are shaping the future of sustainable construction.

The urgency to combat climate change in the AEC industry is driving innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One such initiative is EMission Zero, launched by Seattle-based architecture firm Miller Hull.

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.

The data center landscape in the U.S., particularly in New Jersey, is experiencing significant growth driven by the evolution of technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Yet there is still a good deal of uncertainty around how to meet this growing need.

Sometimes the tools we use shape us, as much as they do the task at hand. For the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry that’s perhaps a little truer than most; ironically so, given the persistent reputation for clinging to the old ways.