SAN FRANCISCO, CA– The U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA) has announced that its 24th annual California Green Building Conference will take place in San Francisco for the first time, bringing the state’s largest and longest-running green building event to the Bay Area’s iconic Fort Mason Center on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
Highlighting the importance of sustainability, innovation, and community resilience, the event will feature more than 70 exhibitors and partners, 20 sessions, live case studies, Table Talks, and a host of special programming. A major addition to this year’s conference is the integration of the widely respected Water Conservation Showcase as a full session track and the centerpiece Water Innovation Pavilion.
“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,” said Ben Stapleton, Executive Director of 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.”
This year’s keynote speakers include thought leaders from across public health, politics, and sustainability:
-
10:15 a.m.: Dr. Ruth Thomas-Squance, Co-Executive Director at the Build Healthy Places Network, will open with a keynote exploring the intersection of health equity and built environments.
-
12:45 p.m.: California Senator Scott Wiener joins USGBC-CA’s Ben Stapleton for a fireside chat. Wiener, a strong advocate for housing, clean energy, and CEQA reform, will discuss legislative pathways for sustainable development.
-
4:15 p.m.: Chef Rachelle Boucher, Senior Lead for Culinary Experiences at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, will close the day with an interactive presentation on kitchen electrification and the “Chefluencer Program.”
The Water Conservation Showcase—long held in the Bay Area—will take on a new role at this year’s conference, offering a four-session track and a dedicated Water Innovation Pavilion featuring groundbreaking technologies and policy innovations.
“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,” said Charles Bohlig, Manager of Water Conservation at East Bay MUD and a Showcase founder.
Attendees can look forward to:
-
Five thematic tracks: Climate Action & Decarbonization, Rebuilding & Recovery, Equity & Healthy Buildings, Nature-based Solutions, and Water Innovation.
-
Collective Impact™ case studies with moderated discussions.
-
Fourteen Table Talks, giving participants the opportunity to dig deep into pressing issues in smaller group settings.
-
Net Zero Accelerator fast pitches from emerging clean tech companies.
Topic highlights from the conference agenda include:
-
“Pathways to Portfolio-Level Decarbonization”
-
“Preparing Your Community for the Next Wildfire”
-
“Carbon Capture by Design”
-
“Sequestering Carbon through Agriculture”
-
“A Story of Equity, Resilience, and the Journey to LEED”
The conference will also feature award presentations recognizing standout contributors to civic sustainability and innovative green products. Winners of the Civic Leadership and Green Product Awards will be announced the morning of May 22.
“I can’t express how much I loved [this conference] and the high value my colleagues saw in [it],” said Kathleen Hetrick, Associate Principal at BuroHappold. “The great networking, progressive and relevant sessions, diversity of attendees and speakers… so fabulous and inspiring!”
This year’s conference is supported by sponsors including Assa Abloy, CalPortland, CALSTART, East Bay MUD, Energy Code Ace, Glumac, Rockwool, and Trane. cNaught serves as the official carbon offsets sponsor, and Trellis Group supports as media sponsor.
Registration is open for professionals, advocates, and anyone eager to be part of shaping a cleaner, healthier California. For more information or to inquire about sponsorship, visit usgbc-ca.org or email [email protected].
