Recorded live at Greenbuild in Los Angeles, this episode of Digital Builder features a wide-ranging conversation with Ben Stapleton, Executive Director of USGBC California, on what it takes to rebuild communities after catastrophic wildfires — and how climate resilience, education, and coordination can shape better outcomes long term. Using the 2025 Southern California wildfires as a starting point, host Eric Thomas and Ben explore the realities of recovery, from trauma and displacement to supply chain constraints, insurance challenges, and the opportunity to rebuild more sustainable, all-electric, and fire-resilient homes at scale. The discussion expands beyond wildfire to examine how climate change is reshaping communities — and what builders, owners, and local leaders can do now to prepare for what’s ahead. On this episode, we discuss: Why rebuilding after large-scale natural disasters often takes 5 to 10 years, even in regions with strong resourcesHow education, coordination, and shared standards can dramatically improve recovery outcomesThe role of home hardening, landscape design, and material choices in reducing wildfire riskWhere resilience and sustainability overlap — and why rebuilding is an opportunity to address bothThe challenges homeowners and contractors face, including supply chain limits, labor shortages, and rising costsWhy insurance, electrification, and contractor education are critical — and where gaps remainHow community-level tools like shared marketplaces and digital twins can support collaboration and cost reductionWhy people, not technology alone, remain the most important tool in building climate resilience This episode is especially relevant for professionals working in construction, sustainability, planning, and housing — as well as anyone navigating rebuilding, preparedness, or long-term climate risk in their own community. Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.
