Decarbonization in Focus: What Data Centers Reveal for Wisconsin’s Built Environment

Decarbonizing buildings is critical to meeting climate goals. The built environment is responsible for over 40% of global carbon emissions and nearly one-third in the U.S. (USGBC, 2023). Operational carbon from building energy use is now central to climate strategies and asset valuation. State and local jurisdictions are increasingly requiring carbon reductions through codes and building performance standards, while companies—from developers to tenants—are tracking emissions as part of ESG commitments.  

LEED v5 raises the bar with stronger requirements for energy performance and whole-building life-cycle assessment, helping projects align with market expectations and regulatory trends. Join USGBC Wisconsin for a Transformation Forum exploring practical tools, resources and strategies to cut emissions, boost market value, and position your portfolio for an ultra-low-carbon future. 

Hyperscale data center development is accelerating across Wisconsin, bringing significant resource and infrastructure demands that are reshaping utility planning, exposing system constraints, and accelerating conversations around carbon reduction, resilience, and grid capacity. This forum will examine the intersection of digital infrastructure growth and building decarbonization and what it means for the commercial real estate industry.  

Grounded in the priorities of LEED v5, we will explore three key dimensions: understanding the impacts of data centers on resources and communities; examining how leading developers and operators are working to reduce those impacts through design, operations, and procurement strategies; and identifying best practices that can be applied across the broader built environment.  

While data centers operate at a different scale, the challenges they surface — resource intensity, operational carbon, and infrastructure limitations — are shared across all building types. This discussion will connect data center innovation and accountability to scalable strategies that improve performance, reduce emissions, and advance decarbonization across Wisconsin’s building sector. 

The City of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration Office team members will be joining this conversation, and Director of Environmental Sustainability, Erick Shambarger will be part of the Decarbonization in Focus Panel Discussion.

Register Here.