<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<oembed>
  <version>1</version>
  <type>rich</type>
  <provider_name>Libsyn</provider_name>
  <provider_url>https://www.libsyn.com</provider_url>
  <height>90</height>
  <width>600</width>
  <title>Metrics-Driven Design and the Future of Green Infrastructure with Umesh Atre</title>
  <description>🎯&amp;amp;nbsp;The Green Impact Report Quick take: Umesh Atre shares a powerful journey from India to becoming a LEED Fellow and a sustainability leader at Parkhill. In this episode, he dives into how metrics-driven design, embodied carbon strategies, and infrastructure-focused sustainability are changing the green building landscape — especially in challenging regions like West Texas. 🙋‍♂️&amp;amp;nbsp;Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Umesh Atre, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, is a seasoned sustainability professional with over two decades of experience working across various building sectors in India, the United States, and Canada. A LEED AP since 2004, he is a highly regarded LEED expert in Texas. Prior to joining Parkhill, a 650-person interdisciplinary firm as ‘Sustainability Lead’, he held the position of ‘Director of Sustainability’ at Studio8 Architects, where he managed the firm’s extensive green building consulting portfolio (LEED/WELL/Fitwel/AEGB/Green Globes), while also guiding the firm’s in-house projects, AIA 2030 and JUST label efforts. Umesh has managed over 150 green building certification projects and has directed sustainability efforts on award-winning developments, including multiple LEED Platinum and Gold projects. Umesh is a USGBC Mentor, is an Advisor for the GNFZ (Global Network for Zero) led by past USGBC President &amp;amp;amp; CEO Mahesh Ramanujam, has served as a judge on the prestigious Austin Green Awards, and proudly serves on the USGBC Central TX Regional Council. Technically proficient in various green rating systems &amp;amp;amp; versions, he has presented extensively on LEED and other sustainable design topics at local and national conferences. He is based in Austin, TX.  🌱&amp;amp;nbsp;Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Umesh Atre revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: 🔍&amp;amp;nbsp;Key Insight #1: Retrofitting Existing Buildings with New Purpose  The Challenge: Demolishing outdated buildings instead of reusing them. The Solution: Umesh helped convert an old high school and a mall into flagship community college campuses in Austin. ROI: Saved embodied carbon, cut waste, and created sustainable, functional spaces for learning  🔍&amp;amp;nbsp;Key Insight #2: Building a Metrics-Driven Design Culture  The Challenge: Lack of data-driven sustainability strategies in project design. The Solution: Umesh spearheaded a building performance team at Parkhill to embed energy modeling, daylighting, and embodied carbon analysis into every project. ROI: Quantifiable performance improvements that elevate sustainable design outcomes across disciplines  🔍&amp;amp;nbsp;Key Insight #3: Pioneering Sustainable Infrastructure Standards  The Challenge: Infrastructure often lags behind buildings in green innovation. The Solution: Parkhill, under Umesh’s leadership, adopted Envision and SE 2050 frameworks to decarbonize infrastructure projects. ROI: Scaled sustainability impact beyond buildings to bridges, roadways, and civic infrastructure  🎙️&amp;amp;nbsp;Sustainable Soundbite  I see becoming a LEED Fellow not as the end of a journey, but as a restart—with greater responsibility to give back and push the movement forward.” – Umesh Atre  Your Green Building Action Plan Transform your next project with these steps:  This Week: Assess one existing building for reuse potential. This Quarter: Embed energy and daylight modeling into all project proposals. This Year: Join a sustainability rating system or professional community (LEED, WELL, Envision, etc.) to expand your impact.  🔗&amp;amp;nbsp;Connect &amp;amp;amp; Learn More 🌿 Access full episode resources: https://gbes.com/podcast/ 🗒 Read the transcript  here 🔗&amp;amp;nbsp; Connect with Umesh Atre: 👩🏻‍💻 Websites: Parkhill  studio8architects.com LinkedIn  💚 Join the Green Building Movement: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe ♻️&amp;amp;nbsp;Want More Green Building Insights? Get sustainability tips 2x a week. 👉 Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.greenbuilding.news/subscribe Green Building Matters, Inc © 2026 | Good Green Fun. &amp;amp;nbsp; </description>
  <author_name>The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti</author_name>
  <author_url>http://gbespodcast.libsyn.com/website</author_url>
  <html>&lt;iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39801945/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</html>
  <thumbnail_url>https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/197695085</thumbnail_url>
</oembed>
