Marc Porat
Chairman & CEO, CalStar Cement

Marc Porat has founded and led technology and materials companies since 1983. Since 2002, he has created three companies focused on the built environment, concentrating on sustainable construction materials and methods to help reduce climate change. Marc is also Chairman and CEO of Global Homes, a provider of low-cost, zero-energy sustainable homes. He is also Chairman & CEO of CalStar Cement, a manufacturer of cement that replaces Portland cement responsible for emitting 9% of fossil-fuel CO2 worldwide. Prior to focusing his energies on the built environment, Marc initiated and led several notable ventures in information technology including Perfect Commerce (1998), General Magic (1991), and Private Satellite Network (1983). Early in his career, Marc was a senior economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and then Director of the Program on Communication and Society for the Aspen Institute, where he has remained an active member and participant for over 30 years. Marc graduated from Columbia College, and earned a double Masters and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.

Speech Abstract

Climate change is one of the most important millennial challenges. It threatens the global economy, with a potential for causing trillions of
dollars of damage. It threatens national security. It threatens the biosphere. Structures and infrastructure -- the built environment -- are
responsible for consuming over 50% of all the energy in most countries and producing well over 50% of the CO2. Everything in the built environment can and is being reinvented. We will hear how a group of
Silicon Valley companies are rising to the challenge, attacking energy consumption and CO2 with modern materials and methods. One company is taking 95% of the CO2 out of cement. Another company has reinvented
drywall, and has new thermally efficient windows. Another company has designed homes that operate with zero energy.