Sustainable Design Facilitator and LEED Consultant, Helen Kessler

The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

Helen has worked on over 80 LEED projects in various roles leading the design and construction team to develop more sustainable projects. On most projects, she is the primary LEED consultant and Project Team Administrator. In addition to leading the LEED process, we provide energy efficiency/energy modeling and commissioning consulting. In recognition of our technical abilities, HJKessler Associates has been recognized as a LEED® Proven Provider™ for the Building Design and Construction rating system family by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

LEED Platinum projects have included Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and Kresge Centennial Hall, Legacy Charter School in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago (K-8), Exelon's Headquarters Project, which, at the time it was certified, was by far the largest LEED Commercial Interiors project to achieve Platinum; the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, the first house of worship to achieve LEED Platinum; the Chicago Center for Green Technology, the first LEED Platinum municipal building; Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy, a Chicago public high school; Bousfield Hall, a residence hall at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign; and some Interpretive Centers. LEED Gold projects have included projects at Northwestern University, many schools and libraries for the Chicago Public Building Commission, municipal facilities such as police and fire stations, office buildings, and many others. Current projects include schools, university facilities, hotels, office buildings, and other project types.

Her goal is always to encourage and facilitate an integrative approach to design and to encourage teams to go as far beyond the LEED requirements as possible.

Specialties: Sustainable design, LEED and energy efficiency consulting

Commissioning process management Facilitation Regenerative Development.

Show Highlights

• How to turn Silver into LEED Platinum at relatively little or no extra costs?

• Helen’s career is made up of “disparate parts” that have made a tremendous impact on energy efficiency and sustainability in our world. Hear her tips on what to study for an impactful career.

• Using energy models as a design tool will make a valuable resource and significant difference.

• Embodied Carbon is making a come back into conversations.

• Helen explains why you can’t have a regenerative design or buildings without considering these essential factors.

• How LEED became a very important tool in transforming the market?

• To solve issues on climate change society needs to become more creative and develop technologies related to human and social development.

“I've also been educating myself about racism and especially that history of our country. I am more convinced than ever that we won't create a sustainable world until we create a sustainable society that gives everyone an equal opportunity.”

-Helen Kessler

Helen Kessler Transcript

Helen Kessler’s Show Resource and Information

• Drawdown by Paul Hawken

• The Regenerative Life by Carol Sanford

• The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

• A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

• About Ta-Nehisi Coatess

• Toni Morrison: Books

• Regenesis Group
• Carol Sanford Institute
• CREW Chicago - Home
• Chicago Build Expo
• HJKessler Associates
• LinkedIn
• [e-mail]

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