Dustin Mason: The Business Case for Green Buildings: Inside LEED v5 and the Triple Bottom Line

Host Drew Bacchus welcomes Dustin Mason of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to open the front door to green buildings and sustainable design. Dustin shares the core mission of the USGBC and discusses the business case for sustainability, emphasizing the triple bottom line (people, profit, planet) and the financial ROI of energy-efficient buildings.

The conversation highlights best-in-class Georgia LEED projects, including the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (LEED Platinum and True Zero Waste certified) and the net-zero Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech.

We dive deep into the future of green building standards, exploring the priorities of the new LEED v5, which focuses 50% of its points on decarbonization and introduces a new emphasis on ecological conservation and quality of life. The discussion also tackles the critical challenge of embodied carbon and the need for circularity in the built environment, particularly with existing buildings.

Finally, learn about opportunities for cleantech innovation in Georgia through the "Atlanta Way" of public-private partnerships, the importance of resiliency in the South, and the best ways for individuals and companies to get involved locally with the USGBC through volunteerism, membership, and free education.