This year’s Greenbuild 2025 Conference once again reminded us why this community matters so much. Our team joined from different corners of the world — China, Hong Kong, the U.S., Europe, Cambodia — each bringing their unique perspective to the global dialogue on sustainable building and design.
A New Era for Standards – LEED v5
Many sessions this year focused on what’s next for LEED v5 — a milestone that’s set to change the way we think about climate resilience and embodied carbon. It was meaningful to see the rollout taking shape, with real projects showing how global goals can turn into local action.
The discussions centered on results — designing for performance, addressing climate risks, finding smarter ways to reduce impact across a building’s life cycle. It was also inspiring to see how different regions are interpreting these ideas in their own ways, proving that sustainability isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Value of Green Building
One of the all-time popular topics was the tangible value of green building. How does sustainable design translate into measurable benefits for building owners?
Alessandro Bisagni, Founder & President of BEE Incorporations, contributed to this dialogue through his session on ‘The Financial Value of LEED,’ sharing real examples of cost savings and financial benefits achieved before and after certification.
Innovation and the AI Wave
AI has clearly arrived in the sustainability world. From energy modeling to materials analysis and waste audits, our team saw how rapidly these technologies are reshaping green building practices.
“We see a lot of new technologies and products being enhanced by AI. It helps us ‘speak the same language’ across disciplines.” – Andy Leng, Assistant Project Director
A special highlight for our team was the session AI-Facilitated Decarbonization Practices for Green Building Development in APAC, led by Jing Wang, Vice President of USGBC North Asia, and Andy Leng, BEE’s Assistant Project Director, with Stella Lu, Project Director of Engineering, as facilitator. The session captured how AI can bridge data, design, and decision-making.
Materials Matter
Materials and transparency were another major focus this year, especially through the Mindful Materials initiative and its Common Materials Framework (CMF), which connects programs like LEED, WELL, and the Living Building Challenge.
“Less duplication, more alignment, and bigger impact at scale. We still have a long way to go for a deeper understanding of materials.” – Stella Lu, Project Director of Engineering
Celebrating Effort, Connection, and Progress
The dedication and passion of the Greenbuild community left a lasting impression on our team. Seeing professionals who have spent decades advancing sustainability reminded us why long-term commitment matters. A highlight for many was the USGBC Leadership Awards Celebration, which honored individuals and teams whose sustained efforts have made a real difference in advancing green building — congratulations to all the winners!
We are grateful to USGBC, all the participants, and the event organizers for creating such an inspiring atmosphere. The energy throughout the week reminded us how much can be achieved when people come together around a common goal. We connected, we laughed, we learned, and we enjoyed every moment together. See you next year!
