The U.S. Green Building California (USGBC California or USGBC-CA) announced its 24th annual California Green Building Conference, an impact-focused event that is the largest and longest-running gathering of leading advocates across California's public and private sectors. The event will take place for the first time in San Francisco on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the iconic Fort Mason Center in the Gateway Pavilion, a sustainably renovated historic structure. Registration for the Conference is open.
 
The Conference is a dynamic platform, with sessions, table talks, Collective Impact™ case studies, company fast-pitches from the Net Zero Accelerator, and over 70 exhibitors and community organizations all coalescing to form what has become the West Coast's premier green building experience.
 
“We look forward to welcoming sustainability leaders and the green-curious from across California and beyond to gather, meet someone new, learn from one another, and continue to inspire each other at this moment, resolved to take collaborative action in addressing the climate crisis. We are picking ourselves up and are ready to rebuild the L.A. region with intentionality; we are heading into another very hot and dry summer; and California has just risen to the 4th largest economy… the world is watching how we move forward,” says Ben Stapleton, Executive Director, USGBC California. “Innovation in design and engineering, green building policy, community engagement, and education are just some of the tools we can wield, and when we do it together, we are powerful."

Three keynote speakers are announced:

• 10:15am:  Dr. Ruth Thomas-Squance, PhD, MPH, is Co-Executive Director at the Build Healthy Places Network a national center positioning cross-sector partnerships from community development, public health and healthcare sectors to lead and leverage community-centered investments across the country to address the drivers of health and advance racial equity.
• 12:45pm:  Fireside Chat between CA Senator Scott Wiener and USGBC-CA’s Ben Stapleton. Representing San Francisco and northern San Mateo County, Senator Wiener focuses extensively on housing, transportation, civil rights, criminal justice reform, clean energy, and alleviating poverty. He recently introduced SB 607, to improve the clarity and efficiency of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes.
• 4:15pm:  Chef Rachelle Boucher is the Senior Lead for Culinary Experiences and Events for the Building Decarbonization Coalition, whose mission is to bring people and organizations together to advance the transition to a clean energy future. As an appliance industry insider and top national voice for kitchen electrification, she leads “the BDC’s” Chefluencer Program, training a diverse community of chefs and culinarians to bring the wonders of today’s electric kitchens to life through interactive events, culinary storytelling and delicious cooking.

Additional featured speakers include: architect Bill Leddy, FAIA, whose company led the Gateway Pavilion’s renovation; San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman; and leadership from the U.S. Green Building Council.
 
The Conference design provides a rich and diverse learning and networking experience for all attendees. Fourteen Table Talks offer the opportunity to discuss a topic as a group; eleven case studies are presented for the Collective Impact™ Series with brief moderated discussions at the end; the Net Zero Accelerator cohort of companies fast-pitch their innovations; and 20 panel sessions provide the event’s foundation across five tracks: Climate Action & Decarbonization, Rebuilding & Recovery, Equity & Healthy Buildings, Nature-based Solutions, and Water Innovation. 
 
The Bay Area’s long-running, well-respected ‘Water Conservation Showcase’ presents this year as a dedicated track of four sessions and the Water Innovation Pavilion, which will house six or more companies and organizations.
 
"What began as a single day of collaboration and insight over 20 years ago has evolved. The Water Conservation Showcase was built by and for industry professionals committed to advancing water stewardship,” says Charles Bohlig, Manager of Water Conservation, East Bay Municipal Utility District and a Water Conservation Showcase founder. “This year, what was the Water Conservation Showcase introduces a dedicated track of sessions at the new Water Innovation Pavilion with the USGBC California — where industry leaders, innovators, and practitioners will chart the next chapter in water sustainability — a testament to the collective vision, leadership, and commitment of our community to shape a more resilient water future”.
 
The full agenda is posted on the main page. Select topic highlights within the five tracks include:

• Pathways to portfolio level decarbonization
• Preparing your community for the next wildfire
• Scaling water & energy solutions (pilot results / residential)
• Materials showcases: Cement & Concrete Ready Mix; Wood Products
• Sequestering carbon, agriculture, & natural resources
• Case study: A story of equity, resilience and the journey to LEED
• Carbon capture by design: Turning sites into climate solutions
• Potential of biogenic carbon

 
Finally, USGBC California will present the annual Civic Leadership and Green Product Awards recipients at the Conference (announcement will be released the morning of May 22nd). These awards honor the work and solutions impacting the drivers of climate change, and their recognition is essential to the collective mission of a healthy, happy, and sustainable environment for everyone to thrive.
 
 “I have attended many conferences, and I can't express how much I loved [this conference] and the high value my colleagues saw in [it],” states Kathleen Hetrick, Associate Principal, BuroHappold. “The great networking (both new and seasoned friends), progressive and relevant sessions, community art, diversity of attendees/speakers, and great exhibitors... so fabulous and inspiring!”
 
 USGBC California is grateful for the significant support for the California Green Building Conference: Assa Abloy, CalPortland, CALSTART, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), Energy Code Ace, Glumac, Green Building Initiative, Hathaway Dinwiddie, Rockwool, Sunbelt Rentals, and Trane. cNaught serves as carbon offsets sponsor, and Trellis Group serves as a media sponsor.
 
To learn more about the Conference, click here. To contribute in any way or to inquire about sponsorship, email carrie@usgbc-ca.org.