Summary   In this conversation, Leslie Showers, the executive director of the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) in the USA, discusses the ICA Greenrise Restoration Project, a sustainable renovation of a historic building aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting community health. She shares insights on the challenges of renovating an old building, navigating city regulations, and the importance of creative financing for sustainable projects. The discussion also highlights the collaborative efforts in the Carbon Free Building Demonstration Collaborative, focusing on sharing knowledge and resources to help other organizations pursue sustainability initiatives. Takeaways   ICA is focused on community-driven sustainability initiatives. The ICA Greenrise Restoration Project aims to demonstrate urban sustainability. 70% of carbon emissions come from buildings, highlighting the need for retrofits. The project is being executed in phases due to the building's size and age. Challenges include protecting the historic terracotta facade during renovations. Creative financing is essential for nonprofit sustainability projects. Collaborative approaches can enhance funding opportunities for nonprofits. Low hanging fruit for energy savings includes switching to LED lighting. Success stories from the collaborative show the impact of sustainable practices. Building relationships with local representatives is crucial for securing funding.   Keywords   sustainability, community development, ICA, carbon emissions, building renovation, nonprofit, energy efficiency, climate action, funding, collaborative Chapters   00:00 Introduction to ICA and Leslie Showers 01:58 Sustainable Renovation Goals and Motivations 05:04 Project Scope and Sustainability Measures 07:17 Challenges in Renovating Historic Buildings 12:35 Navigating Code Compliance and City Regulations 14:53 Creative Financing for Sustainable Projects 18:27 Collaborative Funding Approaches for Nonprofits 22:49 The Carbon Free Building Demonstration Collaborative 26:45 Low Hanging Fruit in Energy Efficiency 28:09 Success Stories from the Collaborative 31:24 Motivations for Sustainable Retrofits 33:48 Scaling Initiatives and Replicability