Check out the photos and recordings from our 2026 conference at NYU!
It’s a pivotal moment for climate action. Federal headwinds are impeding progress, states are prioritizing energy cost and reliability, and New York City is entering a new mayoral era with fresh opportunities. Where do we go from here?
At NYC NEXT: 2026 Building Trends, a fantastic lineup of building-industry experts came together to discuss the key forces transforming how we design and use buildings.
In a special keynote conversation with NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, we delved into the city’s progress in decarbonizing buildings to achieve a sustainable future. In the following sessions, our panelists discussed how to sell decarbonization in 2026, energy insecurity in the U.S., and innovations for multifamily buildings. A closing conversation with NYC’s Department of Buildings’ Laura Popa covered lessons from the first year of Local Law 97 compliance and what comes next on the road to 2030.
You can now watch the recording of our conference introduction and live keynote conversation on YouTube. Stay tuned for upcoming recordings of later sessions!
Keynote conversation
Note: Keynote begins at 12:06
- Mark Levine, New York City Comptroller
- Sara Kendall, Group VP
SourceBlue LLC | Turner Construction Co.
Session 1:
How to sell decarbonization in 2026
- Fiona Cousins, Arup (Moderator)
- HG Chissell, Advanced Energy Group
- Anthony Fiore, NYSERDA
- Hrisa Gatzoulis, Rudin
- Dana Schneider, Empire State Realty Trust
Fireside chat: On energy insecurity with Diana Hernández
- Daphany Rose Sanchez, Kinetic Communities Consulting (Moderator)
- Diana Hernández, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Meeting the multifamily moment
- Danielle Manley, Urban Green Council (Moderator)
- Jennifer B. Leone, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- Adam Romano, Association for Energy Affordability
- Kelly Westby, Steven Winter Associates
- Kelly Ziegler, Con Edison
Thank you to our sponsors!
Keynote conversation w/ Rory Christian
Rory Christian, Chair and CEO of NYS Public Service Commission, discusses how NYC can achieve a just transition to sustainable energy.
NYC Next: Shaping Building Decarbonization
Check out the recordings and photos from NYC Next: Shaping Building Decarbonization!
A climate conversation with Gina McCarthy
The first White House National Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy, shares lessons learned from climate advocacy.