The December Innovator Summit at the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design in Atlanta brought together a diverse mix of thought leaders, innovators, and participants eager to explore the future of building technology and sustainability. The summit, themed “Smarter Buildings & Energy,” featured an agenda packed with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and hands-on activities designed to foster collaboration and ignite innovative ideas.
The event was hosted by Engage VC, one of Catalyst’s strategic partners. Engage fosters a collaborative environment where startups and enterprises converge, enabling new ideas and relationships to flourish and driving sustainable growth in the innovation landscape.
One of the stars of the summit was the Kendeda Building itself. This remarkable facility is the first in the Southeast to earn the prestigious Living Building Challenge certification, the world’s most comprehensive green building achievement. In essence, the Kendeda Building gives more back to the environment than it takes.
Attendees came from several of the most influential companies in the Southeast and the world, including Engage VC corporate partners Georgia-Pacific, Invesco, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, UPS, Chick-fil-A, Cox Enterprises, and Wellstar Health System.
City leadership from Atlanta was also represented, with Chief Sustainability Officer Chandra Farley and Commissioner of Enterprise Asset Management Chris Davis in attendance.
Interior of the Kendeda Building, the first building in Georgia and 28th in the world to earn Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification.
Panel Discussions and Workshops
The summit began with welcome remarks from Bill Nussey, a partner at Engage and author of “Freeing Energy,” who set the tone for a day of innovation and collaboration. Shan Arora, director of the Kendeda Building, followed with an introduction highlighting the building’s role as a model for sustainable design.
The Future of Building Tech
Moderated by Lucas Toffoli, Principal at RMI, this panel featured Connor Offutt, CEO of Aetos, and Daniel Betts, CEO & Co-Founder of Blue Frontier, who shared insights into groundbreaking technologies shaping the future of energy-efficient and adaptive buildings. Discussions emphasized the importance of leveraging innovation to create sustainable infrastructure.
Grid-Interactive Buildings
This panel, led by Robin Lanier, Managing Director, New Ventures, Southern Ventures, and Gareth Evans, CEO of VECKTA, delved into the emerging concept of buildings that can interact dynamically with power grids.
A Catalyst by Wellstar portfolio company, VECKTA empowers organizations such as Wellstar, a strategic partner, to implement renewable energy and onsite storage solutions that seek to optimize energy use and reduce carbon footprints.
Panel with Bill Nussey, Robin Lanier and Gareth Evans.
Energy Efficiency Breakout
This breakout session featured a deeper dive into solutions for energy conservation, with input from Manik Suri, CEO of GlacierGrid, and Daniel Betts. Attendees engaged in collaborative discussions to address real-world challenges and explore innovative approaches to reducing energy consumption.
Onsite Energy Workshop
In this interactive workshop, Gareth Evans and Bill Nussey guided participants through strategies for implementing onsite energy solutions. The session emphasized practical steps for achieving energy independence and leveraging advanced tools to optimize energy management.
Gareth Evans and Bill Nussey lead the onsite energy workshop.
Fireside Chat: Humanizing Buildings
The event also included a fireside chat with Colin Cook, Director of Corporate Properties, Americas, at Invesco, which touched on the emotional and cultural impact of building design. The discussion explored how smarter buildings can enhance human experiences while aligning with sustainability and operational goals.
Startup Showcases
The summit spotlighted innovative startups in the Engage portfolio that are redefining the intersection of technology and sustainability. Among them, three stood out:
VECKTA
By investing in decentralized, clean energy, organizations can ensure safe, reliable, and affordable supply. VECKTA simplifies the process by:
· Helping users assess facility portfolios,
· Building robust business cases,
· Calculating costs, savings, payback periods, and emissions reductions.
Blue Frontier
Blue Frontier is transforming the 150-year-old air conditioning industry with its groundbreaking liquid-desiccant-enhanced Dedicated Outdoor Air System (LD-DOAS). This technology:
· Removes moisture from the air and charges during off-peak hours to minimize energy costs.
· Cools and dehumidifies air with significantly reduced energy use.
· Enhances indoor air quality, boosting occupant health, cognitive function, and overall comfort.
Glacier Grid
Focused on the food service and retail sectors, Glacier Grid integrates sensors, switches, and smart thermostats to optimize HVAC and refrigeration systems. Their solutions:
· Reduce energy costs,
· Enhance efficiency, and
· Drive sustainability in industries where operational efficiency is paramount.
These startups demonstrated practical applications of cutting-edge technologies, inspiring attendees with their forward-thinking approaches.
Closing Thoughts
The December Innovator Summit showcased the immense potential of technology and collaboration in addressing the challenges of sustainability and energy efficiency. From visionary panels to hands-on workshops, the event underscored the importance of collective action in creating smarter, greener buildings. As participants continue their work inspired by the summit, the innovations discussed here are poised to make a lasting impact on the environment.
