Decarb NY Retrofitting
Retrofitting for a Sustainable Future
Innovations in Residential Building Upgrades
🗓️ Date: July 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: New York, New York
(Venue details provided after registration)
🌟 Presented in partnership with: SOM, 5, ROCKWOOL, Trane, and Parity
Summit Overview
Join industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability experts for a full-day forum dedicated to advancing energy-efficient and resilient solutions in residential retrofits.
Through a curated agenda of case studies, panel discussions, and networking sessions, attendees will gain practical insights into scalable strategies for decarbonizing multifamily buildings, optimizing performance, and aligning with emerging local laws.
Event Agenda & Speaker Lineup
8:30 - 8:50 AM - Registration & Networking
8:50 - 9:00 AM – Opening Remarks
Sigal Shemesh, Associate, Sustainability Lead at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
– Leads sustainability strategy integration across multi-scale projects, focusing on regenerative design, carbon reduction, and occupant well-being. LinkedInScott Donachie, CEO at Decarb Summits
– Connecting decision-makers across real estate, finance, and technology to drive sustainable impact, leading over 170+ organizations in transforming the built environment. LinkedIn
9:00 - 9:40 AM – Best Practices for Retrofitting Multifamily Buildings
Exploring effective strategies to enhance sustainability and efficiency in residential buildings.
Ryan J.S. Baxter (moderator), Carbon Strategist at 5. - A lifelong New Yorker and innovator, specializing in building decarbonization and PropTech strategies. He leverages his extensive expertise as a Carbon Strategist and advisor to drive transformative, high-performance solutions across the built environment. LinkedIn
Laura Spencer Humphrey, Senior Director Of Energy and Sustainability at L+M Development Partners Inc.
– Drives sustainable energy initiatives at the intersection of public and private sectors, specializing in market transformation and real-world implementation in the built environment. LinkedInTodd Kimmel, US Senior Manager of Sustainable Solutions at ROCKWOOL North America
– Expert in high-performance, low-energy building solutions, specializing in sustainable materials, technical sales, and business development in the building industry. LinkedIn
9:40 - 10:20 AM – Urban Retrofit in Action: 55 Water Street
Explore a transformative deep energy retrofit in NYC's financial district.
Clayton Brancato, Associate at JB&B - Leverages eight years of commercial building controls and energy management experience at Honeywell to deliver decarbonization, IoT-driven automation, and smart-building solutions - and authors the weekly BMS reConnect newsletter on HVAC, energy and smart buildings. LinkedIn
Grant Salmon, Comprehensive Solutions Account Executive at Trane Technologies - Leverages eight years of commercial building controls and energy management experience at Honeywell to deliver decarbonization, IoT-driven automation, and smart-building solutions - and authors the weekly BMS reConnect newsletter on HVAC, energy and smart buildings. LinkedIn
10:20 - 10:40 AM – Coffee & Networking
10:40 - 11:20 AM – Navigating Local Laws: Local Law 97 Meets Local Law 11
A real-world case study on improving multifamily building efficiency and compliance.
John Skipper (moderator), Director, Energy Management at FirstService Energy - Advises a portfolio of over 600 NYC multifamily buildings on compliance, procurement, benchmarking, demand response, and efficiency to lower costs and carbon emissions. A former Fortune 500 utility attorney and Canadian energy consultant, he’s also led multi-million-dollar efficiency programs and served on several nonprofit boards. LinkedIn
James Hannah, Managing Director at Parity Inc.
– Specializing in HVAC optimization and energy efficiency solutions to reduce consumption in multifamily and hospitality buildings. LinkedInEd Rawlings, Principal at Rawlings Architects - A veteran New York City architect and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate with 28 years of experience, known for award-winning projects like Dance Theater Workshop/The Dance Building and The Roosevelt Island School. LinkedIn
Stefan Unger, Former President of the Board of Directors at 201 East 79th Street
11:20 - 12:00 PM – Hybrid Electrification & Utility Collaboration: The Savoy Park Story
A collaborative session with Fairstead and Con Edison highlighting electrification lessons from the NYSERDA Empire Building Challenge.
Michael Gilbert, Director of Energy & Sustainability at Fairstead
– Leads strategic investments and pilots in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and smart-building technologies across a $100 M affordable housing portfolio. A Cornell‐trained Professional Engineer and MBA, he brings deep expertise in sustainability, resource optimization, and cleantech strategy to both real estate operations and impact investing. LinkedInCon Edison Representative - TBA
12:00 - 12:45 PM – Networking & Lunch
12:45 - 1:05 PM – Retrofit Case Studies In-depth examples showcasing retrofit successes in multifamily housing.
Open Slot
1:05 - 1:25 PM – Cutting-Edge Technologies for Decarbonizing NYC Explore innovative systems, tools, and strategies advancing citywide decarbonization.
Open Slot
1:25 - 1:45 PM – Local Law Updates & Retrofit Impacts What new legislation means for your retrofit roadmap.
Open Slot
1:45 - 2:00 PM – Passive House Case Studies. Real-world adoption of Passive House design in the NYC multifamily market.
Open Slot
2:00 - 2:30 PM – Networking & Coffee
2:30 - 2:40 PM - Closing Remarks
Scott Donachie, CEO at Decarb Summits.
– Connecting decision-makers across real estate, finance, and technology to drive sustainable impact, leading over 170+ organizations in transforming the built environment. LinkedIn
Why Attend?
✅ Gain insights from top industry experts on residential retrofitting and sustainability
✅ Learn best practices for energy efficiency and cost savings
✅ Explore real-world case studies and innovative retrofit strategies
✅ Network with professionals shaping the future of residential sustainability
Register to reserve your spot
If you have any questions about the event or would like to request an invitation, please contact:
andrew.byrne@decarbsummits.com