Decarb MA Higher Education
🌟 Presented in partnership with Celsius Energy, Envelope LLC, Gilbane, and SGH.
Join us in Waltham as we explore how higher-education institutions are partnering with real estate developers, local governments, and private-sector leaders to fund, entitle, and execute both campus expansions and deep energy retrofits.
This Summit will highlight best practices for retrofitting existing building stock to comply with Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) and Boston’s BERDO requirements, while addressing how to reposition and convert older assets for new uses and long-term flexibility. We will also dig into building envelope compliance, and the rapidly evolving landscape of geothermal systems and Thermal Energy Networks (TENS) projects across the region.
Hear directly from Smith College, MIT, Tufts University, and other leading Massachusetts institutions, alongside top designers, developers, facilities and energy leaders, and heads of sustainability.
Summit Focus
We’ll explore:
How higher-ed institutions partner with developers and local governments to fund, entitle, and deliver new campus projects.
Key design and development trends shaping the next generation of campuses.
Strategies to navigate complex procurement and align with BERDO, and new energy standards.
Approaches for working with historic buildings and Passive House guidelines.
Practical pathways to building envelope compliance and risk mitigation under emerging codes.
How geothermal and Thermal Energy Networks (TENS) are being planned, financed, and delivered for campus-scale decarbonization.
The day will feature deep-dive sessions, real-world case studies, and interactive Q&A discussions, offering actionable insights from multiple perspectives: design, development, facilities, energy, and sustainability. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with leaders from across higher education, real estate, and government to share ideas and build partnerships for a more sustainable campus future.
Summit Agenda & Speaker Lineup
8:00 - 8:50 AM – Registration & Networking
8:50 - 9:00 AM – Opening Remarks
Scott Donachie (moderator), 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 – Resilient Building Envelopes: Designing And Delivering Envelope Systems That Support BERDO And BEPS Compliance
Ryan David Ewell (Moderator), Founder and Director at Envelope LLC
- He leads Envelope LLC, delivering high-performance, low-carbon building envelope solutions that reduce energy use, cut embodied carbon, and improve long-term resiliency across university, government, healthcare, and multifamily projects. LinkedInJoshua Kevila, Principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)
- He specializes in high-performance building enclosures that improve energy efficiency, durability, and long-term performance. With over two decades of experience, he leads enclosure design, assessment, and forensic investigation on complex glazing, roofing, and wall systems, helping project teams deliver resilient, low-carbon building solutions. LinkedInJohn Meyers, Preconstruction, Gilbane -John is a preconstruction executive at Gilbane, specializing in leading early-phase project planning and cost management for large-scale developments. He brings extensive expertise in coordinating design, budgeting, and stakeholder alignment to ensure project success from concept through groundbreaking.
9:40 – 10:00 AM – Coffee & Networking
10:00 - 10:20 AM – Technology Showcase
10:20 - 10:50 AM – The Future of Thermal Energy Networks (TENS) for the MA Region
Innovative approaches to integrating geothermal energy and TENS into campus infrastructure.
Eric Bosworth, Principal Consultant at Thermal Energy Insights
- He leads Thermal Energy Insights, advising on thermal energy networks, 5th-gen district systems, and geothermal-based clean heat strategies, with expertise in feasibility analysis, utility engagement, and regulatory planning. LinkedInJoshua Soble, US Country Manager at Celsius Energy
- He leads U.S. operations for Celsius Energy, deploying shallow geothermal systems that reduce building emissions and improve energy performance. With experience in renewable energy project development and clean-tech financing, he specializes in scaling geothermal and efficiency solutions across the built environment. LinkedIn
10:50 - 11:20 AM – Higher Ed Case Studies
Real-world lessons in deep energy retrofits and BERDO-aligned strategies from Boston’s institutional sector.
Dano Weisbord, Chief Sustainability Officer & Associate VP for Campus Planning at Tufts University
- He leads sustainability and campus planning at Tufts University, overseeing a multi-campus decarbonization master plan and major energy, infrastructure, and capital planning initiatives. A national leader in higher-ed climate strategy, he integrates planning, policy, and organizational change to advance deep decarbonization across the university. LinkedInErinn McGurn, Associate Vice President for Sustainable Capital Programs at Smith College
- Registered architect with 25+ years in strategy, design, and project management. She oversees campus planning and capital project delivery at the intersection of sustainability and operations, advancing decarbonization and resilient, human-centered design across the institution. LinkedIn
11:20 - 11:50 AM – Technology Showcase
11:50 - 12 PM – Inside MIT’s Thermal Energy Networks (MITTEN)
Practical design, financing, and operational lessons from MIT’s pioneering retrofit plan.
Susan Murcott, Senior Lecturer at MIT D-Lab
- An environmental engineer at MIT for 12 years, she teaches courses on water, sanitation, hygiene, and climate-health, leads student projects in 25+ countries, and co-founded Pure Home Water and the Kanchan Arsenic Filter to bring safe drinking water to communities worldwide. LinkedIn
12 PM – Closing Remarks
Scott Donachie (moderator), 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