MECHtalk Conference Series
Retrofit First: Decarbonizing Existing Buildings
When:
June 11, 2026 | 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Where:
San Francisco Exploratorium
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111
About:
As cities and states strengthen climate targets, the largest emissions opportunity lies not in new construction—but in the buildings we already operate. ProspectSV, Ambient, and DMG invite you to MECHtalk in SF which will make the case for upgrading rather than replacing, demonstrating how integrated retrofit strategies can deliver carbon reduction, operational resilience, and financial performance.
Through real-world case studies across multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use projects, speakers will address:
Electrification and high-performance mechanical systems
Envelope and load-reduction strategies
Financial modeling and capital stack innovation
Policy drivers and compliance pathways
Owner/operator decision-making and performance outcomes
Who should join?
Architects, planners and integrated design leaders
Mechanical, electrical, and energy experts
Construction professionals
Real Estate developers and owners
Facilities and Operations leaders
Public Sector agency representatives
Technology innovators and manufacturers
Capital providers and sustainability investors
Program Overview:
What Electric Tech Means for the Silicon Valley in California
Peter Rumsey, PE, FASRAE, CEM, Decarbonization Strategies
Accelerating a Water Reuse Revolution in Real Estate
Aaron Tartakovsky, Co-founder and CEO, Epic Cleantec
Regency Ballroom: Restoring an Iconic Space
David Masenten, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Chief Sustainability Officer, ELS Architects
Matthew Dehghani, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Alter Engineers
Nature Conservation and Real Estate: One Framework for Success
Jim Gaither, General Partner, Hanover Page Mill Associates, LLC
The Operational Edge: Managing Building Assets for the Agentic Era
Andre Duurvoort, Senior Director of Sustainable Operations, JLL
Agenda:
9:00 - 9:25 Keynote speaker - Peter Rumsey, Decarbonization Solutions
9:25 - 9:45 Spotlight: Technology - Aaron Tartakovsky, Epic Cleantec
Moderated by Holly Montrose, Ambient
9:45 - 10:05 Regency Ballroom - David Masenten, ELS Architecture + Matthew Dehghani, Alter Engineers
Moderated by Holly Montrose, Ambient
10:05 - 10:20 Video and break
10:20 - 10:40 Spotlight: Finance - Jim Gaither, Hanover Page Mill Associates, LLC
Moderated by Suzanne Brown, ebc
10:40 - 11:00 Spotlight: Operations - Andre Duurvoort, JLL
Moderated by Suzanne Brown, ebc
11:00 - 11:30 Open Discussion
11:30 - 1:00 Lunch and networking
Moderators:
Holly Montrose, Senior Vice President, Ambient Enterprises
Suzanne Brown, Managing Principal, Equity Community Builders
Participants will leave with practical frameworks, replicable strategies, and candid lessons from project teams who have delivered measurable results.
This session qualifies for 3hr Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD) credits. Lunch provided.