Presenters:

Don Horn, Director, Sustainable Design Program, U.S. General Services Administration, Seattle, WA

Ann Kosmal, Architect, U.S. General Services Administration's Public Building Service, Washington, D.C.

Legislation directed toward energy efficiency and sustainability continues to improve, yet many achievements toward sustainability are the result of everyday decisions by everyday people. What inspires people to embrace new approaches to sustainability? While it may be easy to talk about systems thinking, it might be challenging to cause-and-effect thinkers to incorporate sustainable approaches into everyday decisions. We need methods to encourage and motivate citizens, professionals, stakeholders, and communities who are prepared to carry forward these changes.

Ponder the following before joining us: What is the nature of change being called for in design and construction? How, what, or who has the greatest potential to catalyze this change?

Join our session to determine how to reframe work so people understand where they are now, while enhancing their capabilities for effective action and identify the educational processes, coaching, training and other tools we can use to encourage people to live their values.

Our dialogue will be used to inform the new Federal Office of High-Performance Green Buildings and be part of the on going contribution to Expanding Our Approach at gyre.buildinggreen.com

Presenter Bios

Don Horn

Don Horn is Director of Sustainability for GSA’s Public Buildings Service and works nationally and internationally to influence green building policies. He advises GSA’s National Office on sustainable design guidance for new construction, repair and alteration, facility management, leasing, and assists regional offices in project implementation related to high-performance green buildings. Don served on the ASHRAE Standard Project Committee 189.1 and as Federal Advisor on the Board of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Ann Kosmal

Based on her diverse experience in private sector commercial architecture and Disney Imagineering, Kosmal is an architect with particular knowledge in the area of high-performance design based on extensive examination of sustainable methodologies and assessment of actual building performance. In the U.S. General Services Administration’s Public Building Service, she engages this knowledge to build sustainable practices, help associates understand sustainability for daily action, and make meaningful and lasting steps towards a sustainable enterprise.