How Do We Actually Deliver the Healthy, Comfortable Home of the Future?
What will it take to move beyond simple equipment swaps and deliver truly integrated, high-performing homes?
Building science, design, policy, finance, and technology leaders join REEF’s Cool House for a practical conversation about creating healthy, comfortable, resilient, and future-ready homes. The discussion will explore how heating, cooling, hot water, ventilation, controls, thermal storage, and hydronic delivery can work together as a complete system—while minimizing impacts on human health and the environment.
Panelists will examine the challenges and opportunities for innovative technologies, business models, and services; what consumers, designers, installers, investors, and policymakers need from one another; and how the industry can turn ambitious performance goals into homes that are practical to design, finance, build, and operate.
Moderator
Keith Larsen — Senior Reporter, The Real Deal
Keith leads in-depth coverage of New York City real estate and tracks how the housing industry is responding to climate regulations. His reporting connects building-decarbonization mandates, real estate economics, and the practical challenges of retrofitting existing properties. He brings a pragmatic perspective on where climate technology meets market adoption.
Panelists
Robert Benjamin — Founder and CEO, Aris Hydronics
Robert leads the development of integrated heating, cooling, and hot-water systems designed to make building electrification more accessible and practical. His work combines air-to-water heat pumps, hydronic distribution, natural refrigerants, and thermal storage, with a focus on overcoming barriers to residential and multifamily retrofits.
Ankit Kalanki — Principal, RMI
Ankit leads global efforts to advance next-generation efficient cooling technologies, refrigerant management, and resilience to extreme heat. An ACHR News 40 Under 40 HVAC leader, he brings experience in energy-efficiency implementation and climate-tech commercialization, working with manufacturers, researchers, and partners worldwide to move high-performance cooling solutions from development to adoption.
Ashima Chitre — Senior Associate, Shakespeare Gordon Studio
Ashima leads the design of residential environments ranging from single-family townhomes to large-scale affordable housing. A Certified Passive House Consultant, she combines holistic architectural design, building-systems coordination, careful material selection, and high-performance standards to translate environmental goals into practical projects that improve comfort and building performance.
Plan your visit
Tuesday, September 22 · 9:45–10:30 AM EDT
OASIS by Workville · Floor 12, Owner-Operator Lounge
315 W 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Part of REEF’s Cool House during Climate Week NYC, which is free but requires its own pre-registration.
Main Cool House registration · Explore the full REEF program