Episode 30: People Positive — The social impacts of climate work

The building industry has developed increasingly sophisticated ways to measure reductions in energy use and carbon emissions. But how can we demonstrate that our work is making people’s lives better? In this episode of Building Tomorrow, we speak with author Gayathri Unnikrishnan about her new book, People Positive, coming out September 22. Gayathri argues that a major gap in sustainability is in how the industry measures human impact. While the industry has pointed to the improved social and health outcomes of sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction, it has not focused the same efforts on people. People Positive defines the next frontier of climate work as building better instruments for measuring and communicating how buildings, materials, supply chains, and places affect people.

To close out our 2026 conference, we held a fireside chat with NYC Department of Buildings' Laura Popa and Urban Green CEO Chris Halfnight. We're excited to share this special conversation as an episode of Building Tomorrow. Tune in to hear them review the city's progress on Local Law 97, the latest building data and pathways to achieving the city's 2030 climate goals. You can also watch this discussion on YouTube and our website.

NYC’s multifamily buildings are at a crossroads: LL97 deadlines are approaching, summers are getting hotter, and the economics of electrification remain stubbornly complex. In this episode of Building Tomorrow, we're sharing the live taping of session 2 from our annual conference, Meeting the multifamily moment! Tune in to hear from a terrific panel of building industry experts about the path forward to affordability, carbon reduction and access to cooling in NYC’s multifamily sector.You can also watch the video for this session on YouTube and our website.

Energy insecurity impacts approximately 1 in 3 U.S. households, with many more at risk. In this fireside chat, Diana Hernández, author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy, joins Daphany Rose Sanchez to unpack the essential dimensions of energy insecurity. They’ll discuss the physical, economic, and behavioral toll of inadequate energy, as well as strategies for advancing equity.

For this episode of Building Tomorrow, we’re excited to share another live taping from our 2026 conference held on June 3 at NYU. In this session, our panelists draw from their diverse experiences in the public and private sectors to discuss the benefits of decarbonization for stakeholders and how building professionals can best communicate them to sell their projects. Tune in for an insightful discussion!You can find the full video of our conference introduction and keynote conversation on YouTube and our event recap page.

For this episode of Building Tomorrow, we're excited to share our live conversation with New York City Comptroller Mark Levine! At our 2026 conference, the city’s comptroller joined Urban Green Board Chair Sara Kendall to discuss the relationship between the climate and the city’s economy.You can find the full video of our conference introduction and keynote conversation on YouTube and our website at urbangreencouncil.org/2026-conference/ 

“Recognition is the first step to justice,” says Diana Hernández, co-author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. In the U.S., energy insecurity impacts over 1 in 3 households, according to a new federal report. With energy costs rising, many more households face high utility bills and struggle to maintain adequate temperatures in their homes. In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Diana Hernández joins Urban Green’s Rebecca Elzinga and Jada Shannon for a special conversation about energy insecurity. Hernández is a leading expert on equity, housing and health. Alongside co-author Jennifer Laird, she has met with homeowners and tenants across America to better understand the barriers to energy access and its impact on quality of life. Listen in to hear about the impact of energy insecurity and how building professionals might address this growing issue. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Carrier!

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, we delve into the state of New York City’s electrical grid, whether it can handle building electrification today and what is needed to transform it for the future. New analysis from Urban Green Council reveals that electrification doesn’t need to wait: NYC’s current grid has ample capacity to support heat pump installations, and even with a dirty grid, heat pumps reduce emissions and energy costs. At the same time, NYC’s grid is beginning to transform. By 2028, nearly half of the city’s electricity will come from clean sources due to the activation of Champlain Hudson Power Express and Empire Wind 1. Join Urban Green’s research and policy teams as they unpack how NYC can begin electrifying buildings today while cleaning the grid to reach our long-term building decarbonization goals.Host:Danielle Manley, Associate Director, Policy, Urban Green CouncilGuests:Adam Schiabor, Associate Director, Research, Urban Green CouncilMiranda Miller, Associate Manager, Policy, Urban Green Council Resources:NYC’s electricity supplyGrid capacity remains high for more heat pumpsNYC’s grid in transitionGuest: Danielle Manley, Associate Director, Policy, Urban Green CouncilDanielle is responsible for advocacy, analysis and collaboration on Urban Green’s policy initiatives in New York City and State. She previously worked at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University’s Earth Institute researching and communicating local climate risk information for stakeholders in global cities and ecosystems, and served as project manager for the Third New York City Panel on Climate Change Report. Danielle also worked for nonprofits in Buffalo on environmental education and advocacy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University at Buffalo.Guest: Adam Schiabor, Associate Director of Research, Urban Green CouncilAdam is responsible for conducting data analysis and research into sustainability topics. Prior to Urban Green, Adam worked at a non-profit healthcare company that was dedicated to using the Affordable Care Act to expand access to services and lower the cost of healthcare in New Mexico. Adam holds a B.S in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Oregon and a M.A in Economics from the New School for Social Research.Guest: Miranda Miller, Associate Manager of Policy, Urban Green CouncilMiranda manages Urban Green’s policy advocacy, analysis, and stakeholder engagement initiatives with a focus on advancing building decarbonization in New York City. She previously served as senior staff in the Office of U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko, where she authored and advised on legislation related to clean energy, transportation, and economic development. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College and a Master’s of Environmental Management with a specialization in energy from the Yale School of the Environment.

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, we’re introducing you to New York State’s Energy Plan, the policy that will guide energy-related decision making for the next 15 years — from now until 2040. Today’s host, Danielle Manley, Associate Director of Policy at Urban Green is joined by John Williams, the Chief Policy Officer of NYSERDA. They discuss the current state of the market and how energy policy can meet future demand, without delaying New York’s emission reduction goals. Listen to the episode to hear about how the state’s energy policy is shifting to deliver affordable, reliable, clean energy to more New Yorkers by 2040.John G. Williams, Chief Policy Officer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)John Williams was appointed Chief Policy Officer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on June 24, 2025. In this position, Mr. Williams is responsible for providing guidance for energy policy development for New York State. He oversees the Policy, Analysis, & Research team, providing economic analysis and scientific research to best inform policymakers in energy and environmental issues as well as the Business Performance Management unit, which provides market characterization and evaluation, markets and statistical insights, and metrics and performance analysis, all of which guide effective clean energy strategies. Mr. Williams is the recipient in 2021 of a Public Service Excellence Award from the State Academy for Public Administration. Host: Danielle Manley, Associate Director of Policy at Urban Green CouncilDanielle is responsible for advocacy, analysis and collaboration on Urban Green’s policy initiatives in New York City and State. She previously worked at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University’s Earth Institute researching and communicating local climate risk information for stakeholders in global cities and ecosystems, and served as project manager for the Third New York City Panel on Climate Change Report. Danielle also worked for nonprofits in Buffalo on environmental education and advocacy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University at Buffalo.ResourcesDraft NYS Energy Plan Urban Green Live: The Future of New York Nuclear Power If you enjoyed this episode, please consider⁠ ⁠becoming a member of Urban Green⁠⁠, and subscribing to our podcast for more insightful conversations on building a sustainable future.We'd like to thank⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Carrier⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring the event and podcast.#ClimateGoals #BuildingDecarbonization #EnergyEfficiencyChapters:00:59 — John’s path to energy policy03:25 — What deregulation changed for how electricity is generated and delivered05:32 — What is the State Energy Plan and how does it impact affordability, reliability, decarbonization, and load growth?09:51 — How the Energy Plan aligns with the CLCPA16:23 — Why nuclear is back in the mix22:27 — Buildings continue to be front and center27:45 — Transitioning the gas system30:34 — State and local alignment37:54 — What’s next?

In this episode of Building Tomorrow, guest host Adam Schiabor interviews NYCEDC’s Jamie Horton and NYU Stern Center’s Marianna Koval to discuss the recent report, Banking on Climate, which dives into the role of mortgage lenders in supporting building decarbonization efforts in New York City. They also share their personal journeys into sustainability, the importance of regulatory frameworks like Local Law 97, and the significant investment opportunities available in the green economy. Adam Schiabor, Associate Director, Research, Urban Green CouncilAdam is responsible for conducting data analysis and research into sustainability topics. Prior to Urban Green, Adam worked at a non-profit healthcare company that was dedicated to using the Affordable Care Act to expand access to services and lower the cost of healthcare in New Mexico. Adam holds a B.S in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Oregon and a M.A in Economics from the New School for Social Research.Guests:Jamie Horton is a member of the President’s Office at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. He has been with the organization for seven years and began in the real estate transactions department. In his current role as SVP, Special Projects & Business Operations he leads several initiatives that sit at the intersection of real estate and innovation industries development; Many of his initiatives focus on growing EDC and NYC’s role in the green economy, specifically the creation of a BATWorks, a $100 million climate innovation hub in South Brooklyn and growing the availability of green financing options for building decarbonization. Jamie holds a Bachelors of Public Health from UC Berkeley and a Masters of Real Estate Development from Columbia University.  Marianna Koval is an Executive in Residence at the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, where she develops innovative approaches to building decarbonization finance in New York City. Until July 2025, she served as director of Invest NYC SDG, a think tank and incubator that engaged the private sector to advance sustainability, equity, and resilience across key sectors including food and health, waste, climate resilience, renewable energy, the built environment, and sustainable mobility.  An attorney with more than 30 years of experience in environmental sustainability, public policy, and government in New York City, Koval holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, a JD from Fordham Law School, and an AB from Princeton University.Resources discussed in this episode: Banking on Climate: The Mortgage Lending for Decarbonization, December 2024, NYC EDCDecarbonization CompassIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider ⁠becoming a member of Urban Green⁠, and subscribing to our podcast for more insightful conversations on building a sustainable future.We'd like to thank⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Carrier⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring the event and podcast.#ClimateGoals #BuildingDecarbonization #EnergyEfficiency #NewYorkCity #NYC #NYCLocalLaw97 #Sustainability #Finance