The Net Zero Accelerator, led by Colin Mangham of the US Green Building Council California, has supported over 100 companies since 2019 in developing net-zero technologies for buildings. Through a unique six-month program, it facilitates real-world pilots in actual structures, resulting in more than 60 projects across California and beyond. Mangham emphasizes biomimicry and business model innovation to scale sustainable solutions.
Since its launch in 2019, the Net Zero Accelerator has guided over 100 companies through a six-month program focused exclusively on net-zero innovation for the built environment. Unlike typical accelerators, it integrates real technology pilots into existing buildings with committed partners, then measures outcomes to provide founders and investors with proven data. This approach has sparked more than 60 pilots in California and other locations, addressing barriers to scaling decarbonization efforts.
Colin Mangham, Chief Experience Officer at the US Green Building Council California, brings expertise from serving as Chief Marketing Officer at four growth-stage companies, co-founding Morpho Energy to deploy solar on commercial rooftops, and certification in biomimicry. Drawing from nature, he advises entrepreneurs using beavers as a model: “This thing that you’re creating, it should also create better living environments for the people and the neighboring organisms all around you.” This systems thinking extends to business strategies, promoting resilience as a service and outcome-based contracts over traditional models.
Case studies highlight the program's impact. ByFusion converts unrecyclable plastic into construction blocks with 83% lower emissions than concrete alternatives. Its Boise pilot succeeded by coordinating stakeholders including the City of Boise, Dow Reynolds Consumer Products, and the Hefty Renew program, overdelivering on processing 80 tons versus an estimated 72 tons. Similarly, ePAVE's reflective pavement coating faced an initial application issue with Hudson Pacific Properties but evolved into a stronger partnership by framing the product as precision technology requiring careful installation.
Mangham stresses that progress hinges on business model shifts, tying rewards to performance and minimizing disruption. He identifies water conservation as an underappreciated area, linked to the water-energy-carbon nexus, where reducing use cuts energy for heating and transport. Across political lines, he notes common ground: “The economics of the solution, the ROI, the lack of disruption, the speed to market, the replicability, the job creation—all these different things are the things that red and blue can agree on.” The accelerator continues with its 2025 cohort exploring wildfire resilience, digital twins, and circular construction.