2023 Session Details
The 2023 Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit features plenaries, sector meet-ups, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and engaging and informative sessions based on feedback from our partners. View the full slate of sessions below.
Tuesday, April 11
- Better Climate Challenge and Low Carbon Pilot Workshop (Invite Only)
- Federal Grants Forum for States and Communities: Strategies for Successfully Accessing Energy Project Funds
- Improving Accessibility: Environmental Product Declarations and Life Cycle Assessments
- SCIP Accelerator Meet-Up (Invite Only)
For more details about workshops, click here; for building tours, click here.
- Connecting the Market to DOE’s Research, Development and Deployment Activities
- Building Performance Standards: Leveraging Federal Technical Assistance and Resources for Policy Design and Program Implementation
- Navigating Key DOE Tools for your State and Community Energy Decarbonization Projects
For more details about workshops, click here; for building tours, click here.
Commercial Sector Meet-up
Join partners from the commercial real estate, hospitality, healthcare, higher education, utilities, retail, food service, and grocery sectors for an interactive meet-up. Discover best practices from partners across a variety of commercial spaces and recognize Better Building partner achievements. We will highlight new sector resources, Better Buildings opportunities, and break into sub-sectors to discuss specific topics unique to those areas.
Industrial Sector Meet-up
The industrial sector meet-up is an opportunity for Better Plants partners and stakeholders to come together and discuss energy efficiency and decarbonization challenges and solutions. Program manager John O'Neill will provide an update on new tools, resources, and trainings, and highlight partner achievements. Anne Hampson will moderate a discussion about the work happening across the Department of Energy and the federal government to support decarbonization in the manufacturing sector. Come join us!
K-12 Schools Sector Meet-up
This meet-up is open to K-12 facility partners, as well as supporting administrators, architects, engineers, and other building professionals. This forum is designed to help participants address the energy challenges of educational buildings and leverage best practices to transform them into modern resilient campuses.
Local Government Sector Meet-up
The local government meet-up is an opportunity for local government partners and stakeholders to connect with peers and share challenges and successes around energy efficiency and decarbonization.
Multifamily Sector Meet-up
Connect with your multifamily housing peers at the Multifamily Meet-up! We’ll hear from HUD leadership on policies and programs impacting the multifamily sector, as well as an update on the progress of the Better Buildings Multifamily sector. The second half of this session will be focused on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and feature a panel of experts that will explore the IRA’s implications for multifamily affordable housing organizations, as well as explore steps partners can take today to prepare for the release of funds.
State Government Sector Meet-up
The meet-up provides an opportunity to network with state colleagues from across the nation. State representatives are invited to share and discuss strategies to advance energy and climate goals.
- A Key to Success: Happy Designers and Contractors
- Emissions Reduction Planning: A Framework for Action
- On the Hunt for Energy Savings: X Marks the Spot
- The Green Proving Ground Program: Innovative Technologies for the Net-Zero Carbon Transition
- Right Onsite: Integrating Onsite Energy in Buildings and Plants
- Sealing the Deal: Improving Building Envelope Performance
- Pitching to your CFO: Making the Internal Case for External Financing
- Not Just a Drop in the Bucket: Prioritizing Water Efficiency
- Made in the Shade: Passive Design for Multifamily Buildings
- Challenge the Champions
A Key to Success: Happy Designers and Contractors
Speakers: Paul Hutton, Cuningham Group; Patty Lloyd, Leopardo; Stet Sanborn, Smith Group; Kiersten Washle, CMTA Consulting Engineers
From routine maintenance to major renovations, designers and contractors play a critical role in helping owners achieve carbon reduction goals. Join this session to hear from a panel of designers and contractors discuss the business case for effective decarbonization strategies
Emissions Reduction Planning: A Framework for Action
Speakers: David Ocamb, Trane Technologies; Hannah Kramer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL); Ben Myers, BXP; Paulomi Nandy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Gordon Smith, Ingersoll Rand
In this panel discussion, Better Climate Challenge commercial and industrial partners discuss how to apply DOE’s Framework for Emissions Reduction Planning. Panelists will share their expertise bridging the gap between high-level targets and facility-level action to help your organization create a tangible, portfolio-wide, decarbonization plan.
On the Hunt for Energy Savings: X Marks the Spot
Speakers: Katie Dimmer, Charter Steel; Richie Stever, University of Maryland Medical Center; Austin Wallace, American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Join this session to learn how energy-intensive facilities engage cross-functional teams through Energy Treasure Hunts to discover and reduce sources of wasted energy.
The Green Proving Ground Program: Innovative Technologies for the Net-Zero Carbon Transition
Speakers: Evan Petrack, The Tower Companies; Douglas Rheinheimer, Paramount Pictures; Elizabeth Taveras, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services; Jeffrey Wanner, Boston Government Services (BGS)
The Department of Energy and the U.S. General Services Administration collaborate with federal, state and local governments, industry, and utility partners to evaluate innovative, American-made building technologies in real-world settings. Hear directly from the communities that are piloting promising technology solutions to support decarbonization goals.
Right Onsite: Integrating Onsite Energy in Buildings and Plants
Speakers: Bob Bechtold, HARBEC; Abby Campbell Singer, Siemens; Michael Yambrach, Montgomery County, MD
Hear from Better Buildings, Better Plants partners who are using onsite technologies – solar, storage, combined heat and power, and wind -- to configure multi-technology microgrids to meet decarbonization goals. Technical assistance, tools, and resources to help large energy users explore a broader range of onsite energy technology options will also be shared.
Sealing the Deal: Improving Building Envelope Performance
Speakers: Sam Beall, Duncan Wisniewski Architecture; Wendell Brase, University of California, Irvine; Kathy Beyer, Evernorth; Mahabir Bhandari, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Charlie Willner, Evernorth
Building envelope improvements are key to reducing overall energy use and easing a building’s transition to electrification. Learn how partners are overcoming challenges and working toward energy goals by improving their building envelope performance.
Pitching to your CFO: Making the Internal Case for External Financing
Speakers: Nick Perugini, Solaris Energy Inc.; Michele Pitale, Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate (SRE); John Rhow, Redaptive
Join the Better Buildings Financial Allies to learn how to present externally funded decarbonization project ideas to your organization's internal decision makers and investment committees. This session will cover how to frame ideas for an internal audience in a way that makes them resilient, replicable, and financeable.
Not Just a Drop in the Bucket: Prioritizing Water Efficiency
Speakers: Rishabh Bahel, Nestlé; Jonah Schein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Jackie Slocombe, Mercy Housing, Inc.
It is increasingly important to address water scarcity and the related energy required to transport, treat, and heat water resources. Join this interactive session to explore how partners have made water efficiency a top priority in their facilities.
Made in the Shade: Passive Design for Multifamily Buildings
Speakers: Ryan Cassidy, Riseboro Community Partnership; Mark Ginsberg, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects; Katrin Klingenberg, Passive House Institute US
This session highlights the benefits of low-tech strategies which rely on building architecture and design to decrease energy usage in multifamily buildings. Panelists will detail best practices for integrating exterior shade structures and discuss key elements involved in successful passive solar design.
Challenge the Champions
Speakers: Mani Balakrishnan, Zebra Technologies Corporation; Scot Blommel, Whirlpool Corporation; Casey Dupuie, Steelcase, Inc.; Alyssa Miller, Sugar Creek Packing Co.; David Reid, Celanese Corporation; Don Scarsella, Owens Corning; Wharton Paul Smith IV, Celanese Corporation; Blair Sturm, Saint-Gobain Corporation
Join this interactive session to participate in Challenge the Champions, a Family Feud-style game that encourages experienced energy management professionals to compete with newcomers in the field.
Following opening remarks from the Deputy Secretary of Energy, Better Buildings and Better Plants leaders from the industrial, local
government, financial, multifamily, and commercial sectors will discuss the key issues, emerging trends, and
challenges impacting their work and the market at large. For more information, click here.
- Community Strategies for Successfully Accessing Federal Funds for Energy Projects
- Purchasing Renewable Energy: Best Practices and Strategies
- Actions from the Field: Low Carbon Pilot Leads to Real Progress
- Provide Transparency to Residents and Incentivize Energy Efficiency with Home Energy Score™
- Charged Up with DOE: Resources on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure
- The Future Is Now: Experts Reflect on Emerging Technologies
- Energy Efficient-She
- Best of the Betters: 2023 Better Project Winners
- Bridging the Gap: Intermediate Steps to Electrification and Decarbonization
- Waste Not, Watt Not: Trends in Industrial Energy Efficiency
Community Strategies for Successfully Accessing Federal Funds for Energy Projects
Speakers: Dina Colarossi, Dallas, City of (TX); Ian Lahiff, Orlando, FL; Christopher Nafe, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Billions of dollars in federal grants are awarded each year for programs and projects that benefit the public sector. However, communities often cite challenges accessing these funds. Hear from partners who have successfully navigated the federal grant application process for energy infrastructure projects.
Purchasing Renewable Energy: Best Practices and Strategies
Speakers: Ahmad Abbas, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Nicholas Harbeck, Johnson Controls; James Henry, Iron Mountain Data Centers; Jeff Hoover, East Penn Manufacturing Co.; Dean Roberts, General Motors
Interest in purchasing renewable electricity to reduce carbon emissions is of great interest to organizations across the economy, but challenges for procurement remain. Join this session to hear from representatives in different sectors as they share best practices and strategies to purchase cost-effective renewable electricity.
Actions from the Field: Low Carbon Pilot Leads to Real Progress
Speakers: Christos Chrysiliou, Los Angeles Unified School District, CA; Marco Gonzalez, Waupaca Foundry, Inc.; Michael Jones, Intertape Polymer Group Inc.; Joe Snider, IHG Hotels & Resorts
Hear Low Carbon Pilot partners discuss key takeaways and best practices for the development and implementation of building-specific decarbonization plans. This session also covers how organizations can integrate resources created throughout the program into a business strategy.
Provide Transparency to Residents and Incentivize Energy Efficiency with Home Energy Score™
Speakers: Emily Alvarez, StopWaste; Pete Backhaus, Gainesville, FL; David Heslam, Earth Advantage; Reuven Sussman, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Join this session to hear how state and local governments across the country use Home Energy Score™ to drive demand for energy efficiency, promote transparency in rentals and home sales, and add value to their programs and policies.
Charged Up with DOE: Resources on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure
Speakers: Tom Abram, Introba; Carrie Giles, ICF; Alleyn Harned, Virginia Clean Cities; Mahanth Joishy, Madison, WI
Fleets across the nation are making the switch to Electric Vehicles. Learn from DOE and National Lab experts about tools and technical assistance resources for understanding clean vehicle technology options and meeting decarbonization goals. Attendees will also hear a real-world case study from a Better Climate Challenge partner.
The Future Is Now: Experts Reflect on Emerging Technologies
Speakers: Paul Torcellini, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Hear from experts as they validate a wide array of technologies, including Very High Efficient HVAC systems and Germicidal Ultraviolet, that are on the horizon and have the potential for significant energy and emissions savings. Attendees will also learn about the current state of these technologies and deployments, including challenges, and future opportunities.
Energy Efficient-She
Speakers: Amanda Holloway, Mayo Clinic; Amy Kaspar, The Wendy's Company; Rochelle Samuel, Saint-Gobain Corporation; Cherise Seals, NORESCO
Female leaders in energy and sustainability industries share their perspectives on successfully accelerating energy efficiency, addressing climate change, and encouraging workplace diversity. This session will also cover the challenges and opportunities women face as leaders in the energy space.
Best of the Betters: 2023 Better Project Winners
Join this session to hear about the exciting, innovative, and impactful projects that Better Buildings and Better Plants partners have implemented, and get some new ideas for your own facility.
Bridging the Gap: Intermediate Steps to Electrification and Decarbonization
Speakers: Denise Everson, ThinkBox; Mark Ginsberg, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects; Jackie Montesdeoca, Elevate Energy
The multifamily sector is on the cusp of accessing new technologies and funding streams to accelerate the pace of decarbonization. Join this session to learn about cost-efficient upgrades multifamily housing providers can make in the short term, like envelope improvements and system adjustments, to enhance the impacts of cost-intensive upgrades in the future.
Waste Not, Watt Not: Trends in Industrial Energy Efficiency
Speakers: Kalie Miera, 3M; Sharon Nolen, Eastman Chemical Company; Edwin Willhite, Schneider Electric
Energy efficiency is a foundational strategy to decarbonize industrial facilities – and it's often the most cost-effective. Learn from industrial partners that are saving money and lowering their emissions by prioritizing energy efficiency projects.
- Using Energy Management Systems to Organize and Drive Decarbonization
- Gotta Catch 'Em All: Capturing Fugitive Emissions
- Heat Pumps: From Basics to Advanced
- Tapping into the Power of Utility-Scale and Onsite Solar
- Exceeding Expectations: Winning Strategies to Meet and Exceed Your Local BPS
- Best of the Betters: 2022 Better Practice Winners
- Cut Through the Clutter: Workshop Your Climate Comms
- Streamlining Green Building Career Pathways: Best Practices for Trainers and Employers
- The Fuel Truth: Adopting Renewable Fuels
Using Energy Management Systems to Organize and Drive Decarbonization
Speakers: Michelle Croal, Ford Motor Company; Andrew Hejnar, 3M; Abigale Morgan, West Fraser; Solomon Quansah, Ford Motor Company
Join this session to hear panelists discuss their experience leveraging DOE program resources to accelerate their efforts in implementing energy and decarbonization management systems consistent with ISO 50001.
Gotta Catch 'Em All: Capturing Fugitive Emissions
Speakers: Ryan McEnany, Pace University; Michael Myer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); Amber Sells, Elevance Health, Inc.; Aer Teale, Lineage Logistics
Identifying and managing fugitive emissions is increasingly important as organizations navigate the clean energy transition. Join this session to learn how partners implement fugitive emissions tracking (including emissions from refrigerants), cost assessment strategies, and proactive management plans to comply with new and forthcoming regulations.
Heat Pumps: From Basics to Advanced
Speakers: Christos Chrysiliou, Los Angeles Unified School District, CA; Jeremy Scharfenberg, Columbia Association; Paul Torcellini, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
This session outlines heat pump technology from basic to advanced functions and provides insights from DOE experts on the latest technological advances. Join to learn from partners who are deploying heat pumps in their building portfolio.
Tapping into the Power of Utility-Scale and Onsite Solar
Speakers: Zach Lammers, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD; Erik Schmidt, Chattanooga, TN
In 2022, the EIA expects 46.1 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to be added to the U.S. power grid. Despite substantial market growth, barriers to PV adoption continue to pose challenges for the public sector seeking greater PV utilization. Learn from cities, state governments, and K-12 Schools who are upgrading to utility-scale and distributed onsite solar through strategic partnerships and unique financing mechanisms.
Exceeding Expectations: Winning Strategies to Meet and Exceed Your Local BPS
Speakers: Aiden Callan, Boston, MA; Christina McPike, WinnCompanies; Mark Stewart, State of Maryland
This session will take a deep dive into Building Performance Standards policy adoption and implementation at the jurisdictional level. Hear from jurisdictions and building owners actively engaging with Building Performance Standards as they highlight best practices, useful federal technical assistance resources, and important adoption and implementation considerations.
Best of the Betters: 2022 Better Practice Winners
Join this session to hear about the exciting, innovative, and impactful practices that Better Buildings and Better Plants partners have implemented, and get some new ideas for your own facility.
Cut Through the Clutter: Workshop Your Climate Comms
Speakers: Bryan Cohen, C+C; Jennifer Kim, C+C; Sonnet Pradel, C+C; Nathan Yale, C+C
Join the Better Buildings communications team as they share best practices for external communications followed by an opportunity to workshop your organization's own announcements and troubleshoot public relations challenges. Learn how to cut through the noise of an increasingly crowded media space and ensure your climate achievements get the attention they deserve.
Streamlining Green Building Career Pathways: Best Practices for Trainers and Employers
Speakers: Judie Cooper, The Smithsonian Institute; Joe Sarubbi, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Building strong career pathways provides the relevant training, education, and experience employees need to grow and succeed. This session, presented by partners in the Better Buildings Workforce Accelerator, will cover strategies for employers to strengthen green building career pathways and provide tools to support the workforce and the industry overall.
The Fuel Truth: Adopting Renewable Fuels
Speakers: Catherine Collison, The Chemours Company; Jason Kwiatkowski, DSM North America; Edward Rightor, ITIF
It can be easy to get lost in the world of low-carbon fuels, but this panel discussion will help navigate the landscape. Attendees will learn about different types and sources of low-carbon fuels, accounting practices, and key points to consider when making the switch from fossil fuels.
Thursday, April 13
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Join us for an exciting and fast-paced plenary, Power to the Plenary: Your Summit, Your Vote, to ask our National Lab experts your most pressing questions. For more information, click here.
- It’s GO Time: Inspiring Examples of Beneficial Electrification (and the 411 on funding to help you start yours!)
- Taking Control: Monitoring and Managing Lighting and More
- Millennial Leaders vs. The Climate Crisis
- The Electric Slide: Strategies to Decarbonize Buildings
- Planning for the Future: Climate Risk Assessments & Resilience
- Why Green Leases are a Key to Decarbonization Success
- Scaling Decarbonization Across Portfolios with “Energy-as-a-Service”
- Waste Not: Pursuing Zero Waste
- Multifamily Financial Roundtable: Financing Energy Efficiency and Electrification
- We Conduit: Lessons Learned from the Industrial Electrification Working Group
It’s GO Time: Inspiring Examples of Beneficial Electrification (and the 411 on funding to help you start yours!)
Speakers: Jessica Abralind, District of Columbia; Ravi Malhotra, ICAST
To achieve our national greenhouse gas reduction and Justice40 goals, we must upgrade the country’s nearly 125 million existing buildings to efficiently run on clean energy at a scale and pace we have never seen before. Learn from leaders who are pioneering upgrade programs featuring emerging technologies and discover newly available funding and technical assistance to help you start initiatives of your own. and technical assistance to help you start initiatives of your own.
Taking Control: Monitoring and Managing Lighting and More
Speakers: Michael Myer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); Chris Wolgamott, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)
Managing your building's electrical loads can save energy and extend the life of equipment by reducing runtime. Join this session to explore how controls for lighting and plug loads can improve energy efficiency throughout commercial buildings.
Millennial Leaders vs. The Climate Crisis
Speakers: Adrian Avino, IKEA Retail, U.S.; Katelynn Essig, Foundation Communities; Rochelle Samuel, Saint-Gobain Corporation
A new generation of leaders is stepping up to fix our built environment’s carbon problem. With diverse backgrounds and untraditional styles, millennial experts are finding new ways to navigate the boardroom, integrate sustainable technology into the workplace, and create teams that will build a more resilient future. This session features Better Climate Challenge partners who are exploring opportunities to make global enterprise carbon neutral, validating what is (and isn’t) working in the world of workplace sustainability, and breaking through barriers to change at some of the world’s largest organizations.
The Electric Slide: Strategies to Decarbonize Buildings
Speakers: Jeremy Scharfenberg, Columbia Association; David Traxler, Jacobs; Kiersten Washle, CMTA Consulting Engineers
The pace of electrification for an organization relies upon many factors including innovation, strategic planning, and high level support and buy-in. This session will focus on highlights from the Better Climate Challenge Electrification Working Group and showcase partners who have successfully identified and implemented decarbonization-related strategies.
Planning for the Future: Climate Risk Assessments & Resilience
Speakers: Agila Kumar, Marriott International; Giuliana Kunkel, MetLife Investment Management; Gary Mullaney, Kaiser Permanente
In the event of a disaster or extreme weather event, the benefits of energy-efficient buildings extend far beyond cost savings. Buildings designed to efficiently store or consume energy and buildings that produce energy onsite offer greater protection to the people and operations they house. Join this session to learn how to build climate resilience at the facility, portfolio, and community level by engaging stakeholders, prioritizing energy efficiency, and implementing climate risk assessments.
Why Green Leases are a Key to Decarbonization Success
Speakers: Libby Langenderfer, Physicians Realty Trust; Casey Mason, Sabey Data Centers; Marla Thalheimer, Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)
Whether you’re worried about accessing whole building utility data, engaging owners and tenants in carbon reduction goals, or complying with city and state performance standards, Green Leasing offers answers. Attend this session to learn how Green Lease Leaders are utilizing green leases as solutions to these challenges, making progress on their net zero targets, ESG goals, and obtaining regulatory compliance.
Scaling Decarbonization Across Portfolios with “Energy-as-a-Service”
Speakers: Arun Gupta, Skyven Technologies; Kate Heidinger, Allumia; Michael Wurzbacher, SparkFund
Learn from Financial Allies and their Better Building partners on how "energy-as-a-service" and efficiency financing are unlocking decarbonization potential across sectors and projects. Join the conversation to discuss innovative ways to engage small-to-large businesses in this market offering.
Waste Not: Pursuing Zero Waste
Speakers: Matt Esper, MGM Resorts International; Beth Keel, Credit Human; Luis Quinones, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC; Maria Sison-Roces, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
What does it take to get to zero waste? Learn from partners that have established strategies and pathways to reach ambitious zero-waste goals, including waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery.
Multifamily Financial Roundtable: Financing Energy Efficiency and Electrification
Speakers: Josh Earn, National Housing Trust; Joe Evans, The Kresge Foundation; Adam Kent, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); Sadie McKeown, Community Preservation and Development Corporation
Explore financing solutions for lowering energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of multifamily properties. Topics will include traditional financing, green financing products, Inflation Reduction Act funding, and the role of philanthropy in building decarbonization investments.
We Conduit: Lessons Learned from the Industrial Electrification Working Group
Speakers: Bert Hill, Volvo Group North America; Charles Jelen, Trane Technologies; Bilal Mohammad, Saint-Gobain Corporation; Kiran Thirumaran, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
The Better Climate Challenge Working Group on Industrial Electrification continues to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with replacing onsite combustion processes with electrified alternatives. Join this session to hear about their progress and learn about new DOE resources to help facilities transition away from fossil fuels.
- The Future is Bright: PV Solutions and Creative Applications
- Ask-a-Goal Achiever
- Energy Management Information Systems: Finding the Right Fit
- Best Practice Climate Action Planning for State and Local Governments
- Leading the Market: Decarbonization Finance Innovations
- Every Breath You Take: Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
- Centering Equity and Community Engagement in Climate and Clean Energy Planning
- Multifamily Heat Pump Operations and Maintenance 101
- Choose Your Own Solution: Can You Decarbonize This Industrial Facility?
- Risky Business: Adopting New Technologies with Confidence
The Future is Bright: PV Solutions and Creative Applications
Speakers: Tom Abram, Introba; Adrian Avino, IKEA Retail U.S.; Thomas Grant, The Wendy's Company; Giuliana Kunkel, MetLife Investment Management;
Make the business case for implementing solar solutions as a part of your organization’s decarbonization plan. Hear various strategies from partners including unique renewable energy applications and considerations for end-of-life disposal.
Ask-a-Goal Achiever
Speakers: Tracy Fialli, Raytheon; James Henry, Iron Mountain Data Centers; Bert Hill, Volvo Group North America; Ian Lahiff, Orlando, FL; David Reid, Celanese Corporation
Partners that have achieved their Better Buildings or Better Plants goals stand out as leaders and good examples across multiple sectors. Join this session to converse with these partners in a round-robin session aimed at understanding the strategies and resources they leveraged to reach targets and gain Goal Achiever status.
Energy Management Information Systems: Finding the Right Fit
Speakers: Hannah Kramer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL); Becca Rushin, Jamestown; Jesse Warren, University of Virginia
Energy Management and Information Systems (EMIS) use real-time data to evaluate building operations to help save energy and improve comfort with a rapid payback. Join this session to hear success stories from partners that have implemented EMIS solutions in their buildings.
Best Practice Climate Action Planning for State and Local Governments
Speakers: Susan Alvarez, Dallas, City of TX; Erin Ferrell, Portland, ME; David St. Jean, State of Maryland
States and local governments are preparing for climate change by taking a comprehensive approach to climate action planning. In this session, explore best practices communities use to create inventories of existing emissions, define reduction targets, and develop implementation strategies for renewable energy integration.
Leading the Market: Decarbonization Finance Innovations
Speakers: Geoffrey Culm, Bank of America; Peter Ludwig, Connecticut Green Bank
This session will showcase innovative developments and successful case studies in decarbonization finance. Innovative Financial Allies will share their innovative product offerings and forecast the future needs of the industry.
Every Breath You Take: Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
Speakers: Ethan Heil, University of Virginia; Maddie Koolbeck, Slipstream; Jessica Granderson, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL); Thomas C. Smith, 3Flow
Paying attention to indoor air quality is vital as Americans, on average, spend over 90% of their time indoors. Learn about best practices in monitoring, measuring, and improving indoor air quality and related energy use from various sectors to prioritize both occupant health and productivity.
Centering Equity and Community Engagement in Climate and Clean Energy Planning
Speakers: Alyssia Chinda, State of Colorado; Alexandra Harry, Catholic University of America; Sumedha Rao, Louisville, KY
Placing equity at the center of climate and clean energy planning can build lasting relationships with local communities. Join this session to learn how market leaders respond effectively to community needs, increase access to quality services, and create diverse and inclusive workplace environments.
Multifamily Heat Pump Operations and Maintenance 101
Speakers: Dom Lempereur, BlocPower; Ravi Malhotra, ICAST; Becky Schaaf
Multifamily organizations that upgrade their air conditioning and water heating systems to heat pumps must be able to train staff to operate and maintain the technology to ensure the systems maximize efficiency and comfort. This session highlights operations and maintenance approaches that reduce energy consumption and operating costs to extend the life of the equipment and building.
Choose Your Own Solution: Can You Decarbonize This Industrial Facility?
Step into the role of plant manager at the “Widgets, Inc.” factory in Anytown, USA. In this session attendees will share ideas to ensure this imaginary plant meets its carbon reduction goal and will work to identify which steps put the plant on the right track — a fun way to understand real world possibilities.
Risky Business: Adopting New Technologies with Confidence
Speakers: Michael Boyko, Dynamic Water Technologies; Shankar Earni, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL); Brett Rasmussen, Nissan North America; Katlyn Stepansky, Cleveland Cliffs Inc.
Learn how industrial partners are prioritizing innovative technologies at their facilities and using strategies to minimize risks associated with technology adoption. In addition, find out how DOE’s Industrial Technology Validation program supports industrial organizations and technology vendors to advance markets for pre-commercial technology.
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