Episode
Theresa Lehman Returns: Net-Zero Schools, LEED v5 & Greening the Midwest.
- Published
- Feb 25, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2474
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-green-building-matters-podcast-with-charlie-cichetti-559336/episodes/theresa-lehman-returns-net-zero-schools-leed-v5-greening-the-midwest/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-green-building-matters-podcast-with-charlie-cichetti-559336/theresa-lehman-returns-net-zero-schools-leed-v5-greening-the-midwest.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
📣 The Green Impact Report Quick take: LEED Fellow Theresa Lehman is back on the podcast! Since her first episode in 2021, she's doubled down on big-impact projects — like delivering one of the largest net-zero middle schools in the U.S. and advising on next-gen data center sustainability. If you're navigating LEED v5, IRA funding, or how to scale sustainability within a large firm — this episode is your roadmap. 🙋♂️ Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Theresa Lehman is one of the original LEED Fellows and a driving force in the Green Building movement across the Midwest. She grew up on a small farm in Wisconsin, studied construction management, and quickly became one of the first professionals to pilot LEED v2 in the region. Now at Miron Construction, she leads sustainability strategy across a $1.7B company and delivers award-winning schools, data centers, and manufacturing projects that set new benchmarks for health, energy, and carbon outcomes. 🌱 Breaking Ground on Better Building In this episode, Theresa Lehman revolutionizes traditional construction approaches: 📌 Key Insight #1: Scaling LEED from Pilot to Powerhouse The Challenge: Construction industry waste and zero awareness of sustainable practices in the late 90s. The Solution: Theresa piloted LEED v2 on one of Wisconsin's first green government buildings, then joined the team that created the LEED exams and training workshops. ROI: Helped normalize LEED in commercial construction and advanced its national adoption. 📌 Key Insight #2: Schools as Engines of Health and Growth The Challenge: Traditional school buildings ignored occupant wellness and long-term community ROI. The Solution: Projects like Lake Mills Elementary (LEED v4 pilot) prioritized daylight, air quality, and biophilic design. ROI: 75% drop…