Rebecca Riss, Performance Director at OPN Architects

The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

Rebecca Riss is originally from White Plains, New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Studio Art from Carleton College in Minnesota and Master of Architecture from Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.

Her passion for sustainability has led her to be active in AIA New York COTE, a steering committee member for the Carbon Leadership Forum New York Chapter, and the Carbon Leadership Hub Policy Lead, just to name a few.

A true environmentalist, Rebecca is excited by the change in architecture, as the approach to sustainability continues to respond to new research, technology, and priorities.

Her involvement and initiative have helped develop and implement updated standards, advocate for meaningful policy changes, and explore more holistic methods for evaluating a project’s health and environmental impacts across the industry.

Rebecca’s motivation comes from the colleagues and the communities she serves. She states, “It is inspiring to work with smart, caring, and inquisitive people to positively impact our neighbors and our future generations.”

• AIA Framework for Design Excellence design principles that integrate sustainability into all aspects of architecture.

• Exploring tools for embodied carbon analysis and outreach to suppliers for detailed reporting.

• Excited about AIA Materials Pledge and increased manufacturer disclosure.

• Material vetting strategies for lower embodied carbon products ensuring products with lower environmental impact are prioritized.

• Implementing life cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate the overall sustainability of materials throughout their entire lifecycle.

• Integrating both operational and embodied carbon strategies to minimize overall carbon footprint in building design.

• Encouraging client education and advocacy for sustainable practices.

• Sustainable design practices tailored to meet the unique needs of educational, public facilities, and municipalities to enhance community infrastructure.

“...If you're getting into this green building movement now - just be proactive about going outside of your comfort zone. Take initiative to do what interests you and explore the questions that you're invested in. And you don't need to ask permission of people to take those next steps and dive into the sustainability issues that you're particularly interested in exploring.”

-Rebecca Riss

Get your episode transcript here!

Show Resource and Information

• LinkedIn

• Materials Pledge

• Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

• People, Planet, Design

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