Working Toward Climate-Positive Architecture with Allison Bernett

The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

With an extensive background in sustainable architecture, Allison Bernett worked to reverse climate change and improve quality of life through innovative design. Allison Bernett pursued a diverse career spanning architecture, sustainable design, and biology, reflecting her belief that the most effective solutions to the climate crisis emerge from integrating the natural and built environments.

Her expertise includes regenerative design, design for manufacturing and assembly, whole life carbon analysis, building performance simulation, and health and wellness strategies. As the founder of Vireo Design & Strategy, she leveraged this expertise to develop climate-positive solutions for her clients.

Previously, Allison worked as the Sustainability Manager at the modular housing company Assembly OSM, where she guided designs through Passive House and WELL compliance. She also contributed to pioneering sustainability projects and research at Terrapin Bright Green, such as Factory as a Forest. Allison is a published author on early design building simulation and a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC). She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and biology from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.Arch degree from Cornell University.

Through design and technology informed by the natural world, She believes that we can and must transform the built environment to support ecosystems, reverse climate change, and foster thriving communities.

Show Highlights

• Advocated for Passive House design at Assembly OSM

• Developed ecological performance metrics for factories to integrate biological principles into factory design, enhancing sustainability and ecological impact.

• Allison started Vireo Design & Strategy to focus on diverse projects aimed at achieving a climate-positive future.

• Focuses on driving towards a climate positive future by going beyond net-zero to regenerative design,

• Emphasizes the importance of Passive House principles

• Highlights the significance of WELL certification for creating healthful spaces

• Stresses the need to consider both energy/carbon and human factors in design

"Be open to new opportunities that may not seem like a perfect fit with your plan... especially in the sustainable design field. It's evolving so fast, so rapidly. There are new jobs and new roles and new specialties and needs coming out every year."

Get the episode transcript here!

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