Ryan Montoni is a sustainability and high-performance buildings expert with nearly two decades of experience operating at the intersection of environmental science, engineering, and institutional real estate. His work spans sustainable design, building and material science, electrification planning, decarbonization strategy, ESG program development, energy modeling, and commissioning, with a particular focus on translating technical building performance into scalable portfolio-level outcomes.

Ryan currently provides advisory support through Signal 7, a platform he founded for select advisory work with product manufacturers on material transparency, product disclosures, and related sustainability issues. His work sits at the intersection of product engineering, sustainability frameworks, and supply chains, helping manufacturers evaluate product composition, identify potential chemical risks, and develop practical solutions that align performance requirements with evolving disclosure standards. His work helps bridge the gap between ambitious sustainability goals and the real-world constraints of product design and construction.

Over the course of his career, Ryan has played a key role in advancing sustainability initiatives across both the consulting and investment sides of the built environment. Most recently, he held senior leadership roles focused on enterprise-scale ESG and decarbonization programs for large real estate portfolios, helping institutional investors navigate evolving regulatory requirements, carbon reduction targets, and stakeholder expectations. He has also advised leading owners and operators on energy efficiency, green building certifications, and compliance with building performance standards, supporting the optimization of asset value through sustainability. At AEW Capital Management, he focused on environmental impact and portfolio-wide ESG strategy, bridging technical implementation with investment performance and risk management.

Earlier in his career, Ryan held technical and project leadership roles at New Ecology Inc, The Green Engineer, and Doo Consulting, where he developed deep expertise in high-performance building design, energy analysis, and sustainable development across a wide range of asset types. Ryan holds multiple industry-leading credentials, including LEED AP, CEM, CPHC, and GRESB AP, reflecting his technical depth across building systems, energy management, and ESG reporting frameworks. He brings a rare combination of engineering rigor, product-level insight, and portfolio-scale strategy.

Ryan will be advising GNFZ on the technical development of our net zero certification platform and program and its applicability for both existing buildings and new construction.