2021 Forum Program

Access to the Forum recordings are no longer available.

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

10:00 AM-5:00 PM

5:00 PM-6:30 PM

Welcome Reception 

Let’s celebrate! For many attendees, this is the first time we have had the opportunity to be together again. Please join old and new friends to kick off the 2021 Getting to Zero Forum.

Thursday, October 28, 2021

8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Networking Breakfast & Exhibitor Showcase

9:00 AM-10:15 AM

Opening Plenary Session

How Bold Goals Made the Empire State a Leader in the Climate Fight (1.25 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

New York is home to nearly 20 million people and the third largest state economy in the United States. It’s also leading in the fight against climate change with bold goals to reduce carbon emissions by 85% by 2050. We welcome Gil Quiniones, President and CEO at NYPA, and Doreen Harris, President and CEO, at NYSERDA, to open the 2021 Getting to Zero Forum and share about the State’s comprehensive plans to make building operations and materials carbon neutral, ramp up demand flexibility, green the grid, and decarbonize the customer. This is a no regrets approach that calls on all New Yorkers to do their part to curb the worst impacts of a warming planet and super-charge a new clean energy economy for the Empire State.

Special Guest: Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderator: Victor Olgyay, RMI

Speakers:

Ralph DiNola, New Buildings Institute

Doreen Harris, NYSERDA

Gil C. Quiniones, New York Power Authority

10:15 AM-10:45 AM

Networking Break & Exhibitor Showcase

10:45 AM-12:15 PM

Breakout 1 Sessions

Decarbonizing New York’s Built Environment (1.5 AIA LU |HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

New York State’s Climate Act looks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 85% by 2050 across all sectors. With direct (onsite) emissions from buildings contributing ~30% of GHG emissions statewide – and additional emissions from the generation of electricity used in buildings and the embodied carbon associated with building construction – two Roadmaps are being developed to reduce demand-side GHG emissions in New York’s building stock: the Carbon Neutral Buildings Roadmap and the Building Electrification Roadmap. The first half of this session will be focused on presenting key findings from the two draft roadmaps, followed by a moderated discussion of industry actors exploring the implications of building decarbonization policy recommendations and other market development priorities centered on cost reduction, innovation, grid flexibility, equity, and societal benefits.

Moderator: Greg Hale, NYSERDA

Speakers:
Vanessa Ulmer, NYSERDA

John Lee, NYSERDA

Bret Garwood, Home Leasing

Donna De Costanzo, Natural Resources Defense Council

Molly Dee-Ramasamy, Jaros, Baum & Bolles

Transforming Traditional Project Delivery to Achieve Equitable Building Decarbonization (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Juilliard Complex

Our built environment sits at a cross section of the health, wellness, and equitable support of our communities. The technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of carbon neutral new construction is well-established, however the feasibility and knowledge of decarbonization the existing building stock continues to be a challenge. Often, those most in need of an upgrade are those the most vulnerable to the negative health impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution.  How are we able to design policies and programs to ensure our investments are prioritized for frontline communities of color and our most vulnerable populations. This session will discuss the language, tools, and approaches that disrupt traditional construction methods to achieve decarbonized buildings with a high standard of indoor health for occupants.

Moderator: Kathryn Wright, Urban Sustainability Directors Network

Speakers:
Lori Ferriss, Goody Clancy | Nakita Reed, Quinn Evans
Saving Buildings to Save the Climate – How to Leverage our Built Heritage to Meet Climate Goals

Amanda Markovic, GBBN Architecture | Derrick Tillman, Bridging the Gap Development, LLC
Transform Traditional Delivery to Reach Socially Just Outcomes

Alice Sung, Greenbank Associates
Indicators for Equitable Building Decarbonization towards Zero Carbon

Transforming the Market: Different Pathways and Programs to Zero (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Lyceum Complex

Utility and other incentive programs play a big role in providing the carrot for the market to transform to zero. In order to effectively transform the market at scale, programs must be developed, stakeholders must be continually engaged, and program elements evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure program success. This session will discuss multi-state programmatic efforts to incentivize and drive high performance buildings to scale. Panelists from around the country will share experiences working to scale up market-based decarbonization of buildings. Learn from all three programs as they discuss from the value proposition, outreach strategies to connect with utility customers and design teams are leading market transformation.

Moderator: Donovan Gordon, NYSERDA

Speakers:
Michael Stoddard, Efficiency Maine Trust
Scaling Up Decarbonization of Heating: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Successful Programs

Elin Shepard, Energy Trust of Oregon | Forest Tanier-Gesner, PAE Consulting Engineers
Driving and Sustaining Innovation on the Path to Net Zero

Jennifer Green, Burlington Electric Department
The Role of Carrots and Sticks in Achieving NZE in Burlington, Vermont

The Carbon Value of Demand Flexibility (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Odets

The NY-based electricity grid is required to be 70% renewable based by 2030 and demand flexibility in buildings is an essential part of the solution. This session will share techno-economic analysis that spells out the four reasons why demand flexibility–the ability to shift building energy use based on different signals (cost or carbon primarily)–is key. RMI and WattTime recently completed the analyses which quantifies the carbon value of demand flexibility. Top findings include: demand flexibility could reduce emissions by 10% in the 2030 timeframe, can contribute 45% carbon reduction in a clean grid, and could cut demand by ~40% over a several hour period, reducing the need for dirty and expensive peaker plants, which negatively impact health.

Moderator: Sangeeta Ranade, New York Power Authority

Speakers:
Brett Bridgeland, RMI

Henry Richardson, WattTime

Michael Reed, NYSERDA

Breakout Strategies for Decarbonizing the Multifamily Sector (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ziegfeld

Successful low-carbon and net-zero projects require and integrated approach to incorporating technologies and design strategies. This session will highlight the application of several design methods and technologies that seek to significantly reduce (and decarbonize) residential building loads. From a large multifamily passive house project in New York City, to the role central heat pumps play in decarbonizing hot water loads, to insights from a design team on how to put all the pieces together, this session will focus on how designers are leveraging design strategies and technologies to improve building performance by reducing and decarbonizing key residential energy loads.

Moderator: Jonathan Heller, Ecotope

Speakers:
Ryan Lobello, Handel Architects | Greg Maccarone, Cosentini Associates
Sendero Verde – America’s Largest Passive House Complex and a Model for Sustainable Affordable Housing

Jonathan Heller, Ecotope
Decarbonizing Multifamily Buildings at Scale with Central Heat Pump Water Heaters

Rosanna Lerma, EDesignC, Inc.
Multifamily=Net Zero

Finance and Development Programming Block, Part 1: Innovative Approaches to Net Zero Cost and Financing (1.5 AIA LU CEUs pending)
Room: O’Neill

A first look at financing zero energy and carbon neutral projects can seem expensive, but innovative examples are emerging that manage costs and deliver stellar spaces. This session will feature financing models that are delivering cost-effective projects including a deep dive into the costs of building a new Living Building on a system-by-system basis that will offer real-world feedback for other projects. In addition, presenters will share a unique bundling of high performance envelope with solar and battery storage that provides payback and profits for zero carbon homes with all of the energy upgrades wrapped into a 30-year loan. Finally, a look at new options for energy savings performance contract structures and financing that will open the doors for deeper energy retrofits, as well as new operational models that promise to take building energy reduction further.

Moderator: Danielle Donnelly, Community Preservation Corporation

Speakers:
Marc Brune, PAE Consulting Engineers | Jill Sherman, Edlen & Co.
Making it Pencil: Developer-Led Models for a Living Building

Timothy Unruh, NAESCO
Don’t Forget the Importance of Finance and Contract Structure!

Beau Engman, PACE Equity
Innovation to Provide Low Cost PACE Capital for Low Carbon Buildings

12:45 pm-2:00 pm

Luncheon Plenary Session

The Business of Getting to Zero (1.25 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

Survey after survey cite “Building the Business Case” as a critical need to advanced net zero buildings. Businesses are setting carbon reduction goals for their own buildings and operations, but more than ever are extending that aim all the way down the supply chain. This plenary session digs in on the Business of Getting to Zero and the need for low-carbon practices to span across industries. Speakers representing leadership from manufacturing, development and finance will share how decarbonization commitments are changing the way they do business, what that means for employees and customers, and why measuring outcomes matters.

Moderator: Patrick O’Shei, NYSERDA

Speakers:

Donny Simmons, Trane Technologies

Jonathan Flaherty, Tishman Speyer

2:00 pm-2:30 pm

Networking Break & Exhibitor Showcase

2:30 pm-4:00 pm

Breakout 2 Sessions

Ensuring Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities in New York’s Drive to Carbon Neutral Buildings (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

Getting to zero will require deeper engagement with disadvantaged community stakeholders than has typically been the case for energy efficiency programs. This session will highlight work underway in New York to transform stakeholder engagement efforts to ensure at least 35% of all benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. This session will review the equitable benefits framework being developed by the State’s Climate Justice Working Group, the new Regional Clean Energy Hubs and statewide Energy Equity Collaborative, as well as several innovative and groundbreaking case studies in which Environmental Justice communities are directly shaping New York’s clean energy future. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide NYSERDA feedback on existing avenues for public engagement and equity in the decarbonization transition underway.

Moderator: Zach Zill, NYSERDA

Speakers:
Summer Sandoval, UPROSE

Sonal Jessel, WE ACT

Samantha Pearce, NYS Homes and Community Renewal

Eric Walker, NYSERDA

Breaking the Cost Barrier Through Data and Design (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Juilliard Complex

In pursuing high performance, there are many potential financial pitfalls including improper investments that tip the balance away from achieving both energy and construction cost goals. For example, rules of thumb for HVAC system sizing when you have a high performance envelope can make low-energy targets seem out of reach. However, using data to question and inform optimal design decisions will achieve true high performance without driving up construction cost and extend benefits beyond energy savings to indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort and access to daylight. In this session, experts will engage attendees in a game that simulates the design decisions encountered on actual projects and guide them to solutions using real world experiences and case studies to showcase each scenario. In the game, teams compete to achieve high performance goals, while breaking the cost barrier.

Facilitators:
Jose Rodriguez, Thornton Tomasetti

Carolyn Day, Perkins Eastman

Jana Silsby, DLR Group

Jacob Knowles, BR+A Consulting Engineers

Embodied Carbon Block Programming, Part 1: Solving for the 11% of Embodied Carbon in Buildings (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Lyceum Complex

To drive change quickly and move the market, we need to demonstrate the economic benefits of low-embodied carbon materials. This session will demonstrate the business case for cost-effective materials that are widely available today. Presenters will share solutions-based information about the options for cutting the carbon footprint of steel, timber and cement; explore our ability to effectively consider, compare and evaluate comprehensive environmental impact- all carbon, and beyond carbon – as critical to achieving buildings that are “net zero” and more sustainable in a holistic way; and steps to select low carbon or carbon storing materials, how to balance carbon reduction goals and cost, and how to implement all this knowledge on their projects. Attendees will have the opportunity engage with presenters on this important topic.

Moderator: Pallavi Mantha, Arup

Speakers:
Matt Jungclaus, University of Colorado Boulder
The Economics of Embodied Carbon: Driving Change Quickly

Victoria Herrero-Garcia, Ambient Energy | Greg Kingsley, KL&A Engineers and Builders
Getting the Fish to See Water

Anna Lasso, Building Transparency | Jeffrey Zeman, TrueNorth Collective
Uncovering Hidden Carbon: The Role of Embedded Carbon in Net Zero Calculations

Busting Barriers to Net Zero in Multifamily Housing (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Odets

To achieve our net zero and zero emission goals within the residential building sector, numerous hurdles must be overcome. This session will focus on a number of these hurdles, including barriers specific to affordable housing, achieving decarbonization through building renovation, and how to sustain net zero operations in multi-tenant buildings. Taken together, this session will provide key insights into how specific barriers were addressed and look to developing policies and practices that can scale for maximum impact.

Moderator: Arlis Reynolds, Opinion Dynamics

Speakers:
Katie Ackerly, David Baker Architects
When Zero Emissions and Affordable Housing Collide

Peter Turnbull, Peter Turnbull and Associates LLC | Ram Narayanamurthy, Electric Power Research Institute
Real World Lessons for Taking Multifamily Decarbonization to Scale: Action Plans Based on What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Needed

Marta Schantz, Urban Land Institute
It Can Be Done: Multi-Tenant Net Zero Landlord-Tenant Collaboration

Local Governments Leading the Way on Climate Policy (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ziegfeld

Too often, examples of climate actions and solutions are from major global cities. While the progress these pioneers make is important, the actions and solutions may not be directly relatable to medium- and small-local governments in terms of staff capacity, budget, and social and economic contexts. Many exemplary and early-adoption cities have made progress even if on their own have not been able to push markets to fully meet the carbon reduction goals stated by global and U.S. climate leaders. However, each local government, no matter where, is an opportunity to increase market pressure and accelerate climate action adoption, such as net zero buildings. Hear from a number of jurisdictions working to achieve building efficiency goals through scaled policy options providing proof-of-concept that decarbonization is possible for everyone, everywhere.

Moderator: Smita Thomas, Energy Shrink, LLC

Speakers:
Kelsey Waidhas, Atlanta Regional Commission | Ayo Aladesanmi, University of Pennsylvania
The Opportunity of Everywhere Else

Jan Keleher, City and County of Denver | Courtney Anderson, City and County of Denver
Denver’s Climate Action Task Force & Net Zero Buildings and Homes

Finance and Development Block Programming, Part 2: Owner Action for Decarbonizing Portfolios (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: O’Neill

To lead the way toward a decarbonized real estate sector, numerous owners and investors have pursued carbon neutral projects and set public net zero goals. This session will surface how analysis was key to overcoming an owner’s hesitation on all-electric heat pump technology and overcoming uncertainties about meeting interior thermal comfort during peak.  Attendees will learn how companies  were able to build internal buy-in to make net zero commitments, development of strategies to meet this goal, and what metrics they plan to use to measure progress. Panelists from leading global real estate firms will provide their perspectives on the market drivers for net zero and value they expect to achieve by achieving net zero.

Moderator: Zach Steinberg, Real Estate Board of New York

Speakers:
Sigal Shemesh, Buro Happold
Taking Fossil Fuels out of the Fossil Park: How to Advocate for Electrification

Monika Henn, Urban Land Institute | Jessica Long, Nuveen
Strategies for Setting and Achieving Net Zero Goals in Global Real Estate Portfolios

Michael Ohlhausen, Hudson Companies
Presentation

4:00 pm-4:30 pm

Networking Break & Exhibitor Showcase

4:30 pm-6:00 pm

Breakout 3 Sessions

Buildings of Excellence for Our Future (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

Over 40 multifamily new construction or deep renovation projects across New York are demonstrating exemplary design, construction and operation to carbon neutral performance through the Buildings of Excellence (BOE) program. These winners of the statewide competition are going beyond developing beautiful and profitable new buildings, they are establishing a carbon neutral legacy in the State of New York and leading the clean energy transition. BOE is awarding financial and technical support administered by NYSERDA during three rounds of awards. With Rounds 1 and 2 announced since 2019 and Round 3 launching soon, the effort is now starting to deliver on environmentally responsible buildings that are good for both business and residents. During this session, BOE honorees will focus in on balancing quality design with decarbonization performance and cost.

Moderator: Sara Bayer, Magnusson Architecture and Planning

Speakers:
Michael Ingui, Baxt Ingui

Julie Chou, Magnusson Architecture and Planning

Chris Lebron, Xenolith Partners LLC

David Bruns, Bruns Realty Group, LLC

Zero Comes in All Sizes (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Juilliard Complex

Net zero buildings provide no room to hide from performance challenges associated with the design, construction, or operations phase of a project. Net zero on a smaller scale can be relatively easily achieved, but how do you build on your successes and utilize lessons learned to achieve a greater scale of net zero and carbon neutrality? This session will feature stories of net-zero buildings at scale including new construction and deep energy retrofit projects on all SUNY campus buildings to drive down the energy demand, promote electrification and provide an applicable toolkit for this portfolio of buildings; reconstruction of the Old Jaffa port, the oldest active port in the world, with a goal to be energy positive; and several examples from Chicago, Minneapolis and Little Rock to highlight key lessons learned from all building phases.

Moderator: Shanta Tucker, Atelier Ten

Speakers:
Lois Vitt Sale, Wight & Company | Chris Ladner, Entegrity Partners
How Not to Screw Up a Net-Zero Building (from people who have)

Yaron Klein, Atarim – Tel Aviv Yafo Municipality
Building Positive Energy Balanced Public Center on the Tel Aviv-Yafo Coastline

William Bishop, Pathfinder Engineers and Architects | Shanta Tucker, Atelier Ten

Embodied Carbon Block Programming, Part 2: Looking Upstream for Low-Embodied Carbon Strategies (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Lyceum Complex

As operational efficiencies continue to advance, embodied carbon becomes more a share of the building carbon footprint with predictions that it will be responsible for half of emissions by 2050. Session leaders in this breakout will share an investigation that compares the life cycle impact of different materials in building applications finding significant opportunities for bio-based materials compared to conventional materials such as steel, aluminum, and concrete. In addition, a look at the potential for mass timber to move beyond business-as-usual sourcing to support climate-smart forestry and provide new pathways to procuring sustainably harvested wood, calculating carbon impacts of forest management, and targeting certain landowner types for equitable economic impact. Finally, participants will discuss how federal, state, and local governments are leveraging their purchasing power to drive down the embodied carbon of building materials and products through encouraging cleaner manufacturing practices and the disclosure of embodied-carbon data.

Moderator: Rebecca Esau, RMI

Speakers:
Jacob Dunn, ZGF Architects | David Diaz, Ecotrust
Looking Upstream: Transforming Mass Timber Supply Chain and Carbon Accounting

Stephanie Carlisle, Carbon Leadership Forum
From Pilot to Policy: Scaling Actions to Reduce Embodied Carbon

Bill Sisson, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Decarbonizing the 40%: Leverage System Collaboration to Transform the Built Environment

Key Technologies Enabling Building-Grid Optimization (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Odets

Buildings are central to today’s electricity grid, but building-grid interactions are changing fast. It is increasingly important to consider when, not just how much, energy buildings use. This session examines selected key technologies enabling buildings to be more flexible, efficient, and intelligent about how they use and generate electricity. Panelists will consider the grid support implications of passive design strategies such as enhanced envelopes, active building systems such as HVAC and thermal energy storage, and distributed energy resources such as electric vehicles.

Moderator: Alexi Miller, New Buildings Institute

Speakers:
Mark MacCracken, Trane Technologies
Electrification, Heat Pumps, and Thermal Energy Storage: A Step Towards Decarbonizing and Grid-Friendly Buildings

Walter Schaefer, DNV | Praga Meyyeppan, DNV
Don’t Miss the (Electric) Bus: Analytical Load Modeling for Strategic Electrification and Decarbonization

Lisa White, PHIUS
Passive Building is the Capacitor for the Renewable Grid

Game Changing Technologies for a Better World (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ziegfeld

New technologies promise to dramatically change the carbon footprint of buildings with the application of products that optimize energy use for maximum savings. This session will focus in three critical technologies that are game changers in the press to decarbonize the built environments. Water heating accounts for up to one-third of the energy used in buildings, but heat pump water heaters have the potential to cut that dramatically with 2-4 times the efficiency of conventional products. HVAC system efficiency could benefit from better applications of geothermal heat pump systems, but cost barriers are keeping market share low driving engineers to look at hybrid systems or other integrations of air-source heat pumps and thermal storage. Finally, attendees will consider system integrations of shading and lighting that could super charge the effectiveness of both products for better energy savings.

Moderator: Artorius Reyes, ASHRAE NYC/Trane Technologies

Speakers:
Kevin Clark, Rheem

Cathy Higgins, New Buildings Institute

Micah Zender, Melink Zero | Steve Hamstra, Melink Zero

It CAN Be Done! Decarbonizing the World One Existing Multifamily Building at a Time (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: O’Neill

Per ACEEE, “low-income households pay 7.2 percent of household income on utilities – more than three times the amount that higher income households pay” (ACEEE, 2016). Additionally, low-income families are more likely to rent, with no agency to affect the energy efficiency of their homes, and are more likely to experience long-term negative health effects due to lower indoor and outdoor air quality from fossil fuel-based systems. This is the inequity of the climate crisis with communities at risk of being left behind as we begin the crucial shift toward a low carbon future. This session will examine considerations related to electrification for multifamily housing. Centered on three case studies that have made the switch from natural gas to electricity, presenters will outline perceived versus actual challenges, post-upgrade utility bills, and the innovative incentive programs that made these deep retrofits possible.

Speakers:
Meghan Duff, Association for Energy Affordability

Sarah Hill, Association for Energy Affordability

Christina McPike, Winn Companies

6:00 pm-7:30 pm

Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase

Join us to celebrate the growing zero energy and zero carbon movement at the 2021 Getting to Zero Forum Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase. Connect with industry colleagues and visit more than 20 different exhibitors.

 

Friday, October 29, 2021

8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Networking Breakfast & Exhibitor Showcase

9:00 am-10:30 am

Breakout 4 Sessions

Economics of Driving Scale in Decarbonizing Technologies and Building Methods (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

The Climate Act’s bold ambitions call for serious scaling of efficiency measures and electrification in all New York’s buildings. While models can show sometimes challenging incremental costs for measures needed to decarbonize homes and workplaces, we have learned that energy models are not particularly innovative. However, people are. This session will examine real-life cost information on the readily available solutions that will drive lower expense and better outcomes with each efficiency/electrification upgrade to the State’s existing building stock and new construction projects. We will also take a deep dive into the strategies for optimizing the value of often overlooked co-benefits such as better health and comfort, higher productivity, improved resiliency and more.

Moderator: Lori Borowiak, NYSERDA

Speakers:
Abdulla Darrat, Renewal Construction Services LLC

Matt Brown, NYSERDA

Advanced Building Construction for State Retrofit Programs (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs pending)
Room: Juilliard Complex

The US buildings sector faces a confluence of critical challenges. Advanced building construction (ABC)—solutions combining energy-efficient decarbonization and industrialized construction—can help address these synergistically. RMI and its partners, with the support of the US Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office, have established the ABC Collaborative to bring together and catalyze constructive relationships among incumbent and emergent buildings sector actors to accelerate the uptake and scaling of ABC solutions while supporting—and leveraging—modernization of the US construction industry. NYSERDA’s RetrofitNY and RMI’s REALIZE programs are already developing and deploying ABC solutions and streamlined delivery models for existing affordable housing in several states. Join us for this session where we will explore and discuss how state stakeholders can work to implement similar high-performance retrofit programs that can help renew vital affordable housing while meeting decarbonization goals and providing additional benefits to residents and the economy.

Moderator: Martha Campbell, RMI

Speakers:
Lucas Toffoli, RMI

Maddie Koewler, National Association of State Energy Officials

James Geppner, NYSERDA

Developing the Plan for a Decarb Transition (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Lyceum Complex

Companies, institutions, and governments around the world are establishing aggressive net zero carbon goals for their building portfolios yet developers and owners are struggling to create strategic decarbonization plans that demonstrate how net zero goals will be achieved. Owners need better tools for creating strategic decarbonization plans. Too many project decisions are made with a limited understanding of future carbon opportunities, risks, and technologies. This session will highlight a holistic suite of policy, financing, and technological solutions presented in a decision-making framework to achieve large scale successful building portfolio, campus, and large infrastructure decarbonization projects. Examples from the University of Virginia will focus on replicable, cost-effective measures that support a zero emissions campus.

Moderator: Kevin Carbonnier, New Buildings Institute

Speakers:
Narada Golden, WSP
Looking Back from the Future: A Strategic Framework for Creating Long-Term Decarbonization Plans

Ethan Heil, University of Virginia
Towards a Zero Carbon Campus

Shreshth Nagpal, Elementa Engineering
Urban Energy Analytics for Cost-Effective Decarbonization Planning 

Don’t Get Burned: Implementing Electrification Strategies (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Odets

Meeting 2050 building decarbonization goals across the nation will require structural change and transformational policies. This session will highlight a series of lessons learned from states and jurisdictions adopting electrification policies. Attendees will learn about models from around the country including Washington’s building decarbonization policy framework for meeting 2030 and 2050 targets and Vancouver’s ultra-green building code. In addition, speakers will share about the electrification mandates of Brookline, Massachusetts, which were driven by organizers  with serious consideration was given to the societal effects of the transition to electric buildings, especially on vulnerable populations and the workforce central to this transition. Together, these three unique approaches to electrification, along with other stories of jurisdictional electrification will discuss how to effectively transition an entire building stock.

Moderator: Clay Nesler, World Resources Institute

Speakers:
Poppy Storm, 2050 Institute
A Systems Approach to State Building Decarbonization

Sneha Ayyagari, RMI | Lisa Cunningham, Warner + Cunningham, Inc
Accelerating the Adoption of Leading-Edge Municipal Electrification Policies

Laurie Kerr, LK Policy Lab
All Roads Lead to Low Carbon

Massachusetts’ Market Transformation Journey to Net Zero Buildings (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ziegfeld

In an environment where policymakers at the state and local level in Massachusetts are promoting zero energy and low carbon buildings, owners, designers and utility program implementers are gaining key experiences that, if shared, can help transform the market.  Perceptions about cost premiums are still one of the main barriers to setting next zero goals for new construction and renovation projects. While managing costs is more challenging in existing buildings, there are proven methods for attaining “cash flow positive from day one” in new construction. This session looks at the cost-value calculus in the context of Massachusetts’ more aggressive state climate change goals and some cities’ and towns’ stringent carbon reduction requirements that are driving interest and action on net zero. Speakers will dive in on the work of efficiency programs administrators, design teams, owners, and policymakers to make those aspirations real and what’s more, to transform the market to make net zero buildings the norm. A panel discussion will ferret out valuable lessons learned. Attendees will learn about effective approaches for setting early performance targets, aligning incentives and other financial and technical support with the design and construction process, and understanding the full financial picture that makes net zero a worthy investment.

Moderator: Melissa Baker, USGBC

Speakers:
Kimberly Cullinane, Eversource

Denise Rouleau, National Grid

Meredith Elbaum, Built Environment Plus

Julia Nugent, HMFH Architects

The Perfect Envelope: Integrated Window-Wall Technologies (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: O’Neill

Windows are essential elements of building envelopes connecting occupants with the outdoors, views, daylight, air, and warmth from sunlight. But traditional windows are poor energy performers – constituting only 10% of the surface area of a typical home and accounting for 30–40% of the heat loss in winter and often adding to cooling peaks and discomfort in summer. Advanced window technology is a critical part of creating an optimal envelope that delivers the low-energy demand needed as buildings are decarbonized. This panel will share opportunities for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions that enable the integrate of solar products into facades; technical breakthroughs that have made vacuum insulating glass technology cost-effective and ripe for mass adoption; and innovative market transformation approaches that will accelerate availability and market share of “thin triple” products.

Moderator: Rohini Srivastava, ACEEE

Speakers:
Elaine Miller, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance | Robert Hart, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Innovative Market Pathways to Accelerate Adoption of High-Performance Insulating Windows

Nicholas Bagatelos, Bagatelos Architectural Glass Systems
Vacuum Insulating Glass can Save $20B of Annual Energy Costs that go “Out the Window” Every Year

Kyle Sword, NSG Pilkington | Veeral Hardeev, Ubiquitous Energy, Inc
Energy Efficient Glazing Alternatives – From Upgrading Existing Windows to Power Generating Glazing

10:30 am-11:00 am

Networking Break & Exhibitor Showcase

11:00 am-12:30 pm

Breakout 5 Sessions

Busting the Myth of “Difficult” Building Types (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Juilliard Complex

Some building types present greater challenges for achieving zero energy and carbon neutrality than others. For example, historic buildings, those with unique process loads like commercial kitchens or laboratories, or buildings with unpredictable occupancy patterns all present challenges that may not be able to be solved with a one size fits all solution. This session will discuss energy efficient and grid-friendly electrification strategies for three specific and unique building types including a NYC tall buildings with specific attention to the electrification of systems while minimizing the impact on the grid; a historic hotel net zero retrofit that adhered to passive house standards while maintaining the historic landmark status and aesthetic of the building’s exterior; and an examination of all-electric design solutions for this high process load laboratories.

Moderator: Anne Shellum, Sidewalk Labs

Speakers:
Kate Doherty, Steven Winter Associates
Pirelli: Checking Into a Historic Existing Buildings Hotel

Megan Gunther, Affiliated Engineers, Inc
Overcoming the Hurdles of Laboratory Electrification

Daniel Nall, Daniel Nall Consultant, LLC | Scott Frank, Jaros, Baum & Bolles
Electrification Strategies for Tall Buildings in New York City

The Crossroads of Health, Wellness and Building Decarbonization (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Lyceum Complex

The buildings industry has been grappling with trade-offs between energy efficiency and indoor air quality for more than 100 years and leading to problematic unintended consequences when focus shifts too heavily in either direction. Early 20th century tuberculosis sanatoriums placed emphasis on almost unlimited amounts of fresh air ventilation often at the expense of both energy use and comfort. Energy conservation driven design and construction practices from the 1970’s drastically reduced ventilation and led to wave of “sick buildings” in the 1980s. As the world emerges from this latest pandemic the buildings industry is at a crossroads with an opportunity to reset expectations regarding safety and health while simultaneously decarbonizing. Achieving this more integrative goal requires a more inclusive conversation. This unique session convenes a conversation at the nexus of decarbonization and health. This moderated panel of leading experts in building health and wellness and experts focused on building decarbonization will identify untapped opportunities to create low-carbon buildings where inhabitants can thrive.

Moderator: Rasha Hasaneen, Trane

Speakers:
Roger Platt, USGBC/Green Business Certification, Inc.

Fiona Cousins, Arup

Matthew Trowbridge, International WELL Building Institute

Better Codes, Better Buildings (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Odets

Energy codes and policies are one of the biggest opportunities for cities and states to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the built environment. This session will cover three successful approaches to energy codes that provide pathways to achieve electrification, deep energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Attendees will engage with speakers on the use of energy targets as a critical step in the design and delivery of zero energy and high-performance buildings. Building on this metric, discussion will cover the options available to jurisdictions to incorporate electrification into their building policies, legislative hurdles that are being put in the way of electrification, and how local governments are selecting and implementing policies.

Moderator: Gina Bocra, New York City Department of Buildings

Speakers:
Mark Lyles, New Buildings Institute
Building Performance Targets: Incorporating Energy Targets into Codes

Kim Cheslak, New Buildings Institute
Electrification of Codes and Building Performance Standards

Rahul Athalye, NORESCO | Bing Liu, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Achieving Deep Energy Savings through Codes: Washington State’s Ambitious Energy Code Technical Roadmap

Equitable Carbon Neutral Communities (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ziegfeld

The COVID pandemic and ensuing economic crisis has added an additional layer to the already challenging work of achieving carbon neutrality. Cities must now not only create scalable approaches to eliminating greenhouse gases and sequestering carbon, but they must also simultaneously generate more economic opportunities for local communities than ever before. This session will showcase innovative approaches to advancing climate positive communities with a spotlight on traditionally underserved communities through data analysis, tools, and policy. This work will be discussed through the lens of three case studies working to address the shared challenges of sustainability, resilience, and inclusion.

Moderator: Ellen Honigstock, Urban Green Council

Speakers:
David Johnson, SERA Architects
Restoring Culture and Climate – Growing Equitable Climate Positive Communities

Johanna Partin, Building Decarbonization Coalition
Centering Equity and Justice in Decarbonizing Communities

Zachary Berzolla, MIT Sustainable Design Lab
Developing Community-Specific Emissions Reduction Plans Using Urban Building Energy Modeling

Amir Rezaei, CannonDesign | Alex Wilson, Resilient Design Institute
Flipping the Net Zero Policy on its Head: Using Thermal Resilience to Advocate for Community Justice and Net Zero Energy

Microgrid Mastery: Seeking Win-Win Solutions (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: O’Neill

Microgrids are fast gaining more attention in the buildings space due to their potential to provide resiliency, grid support, cost savings, emissions reductions, and other benefits. This expert panel will define several different types of microgrids and consider the varying impacts of different microgrid goals and design concepts. Building from real-world project experience, the presenters will provide lessons learned and recommendations to help attendees build microgrids that benefit everyone involved: developers, building occupants, building owners, electricity grid operators, and the planet.

Moderator: David Kaneda, IDeAs Consulting

Speakers:
Stephen Chapes, IDeAs Consulting
Different Flavors of Microgrids

Rushil Desai, Integral Group | James Perakis, Integral Group
A Study of Microgrids – Design for Cost vs Design for Resilience

Josh Keeling, Cadeo
The Role of Demand Flexibility in Microgrid Design and Operation

12:45 pm-3:00 pm

Lunch and Closing Plenary Session

Solar Decathlon 2021 Design Challenge
Room: Westside Ballroom

Introduced by Janet Joseph, two winning teams of the 2021 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge will present their designs. Students from the University of Oregon will share a holistic design approach for a net zero school that merges sustainable technologies with Montessori learning pedagogy. A student from the Illinois Institute of Technology will share a design for a net zero retail building that also serves as a community center and gathering space.

Moderator: Janet Joseph, NYSERDA

Speakers:
Kyle White, University of Oregon
Jared Levie, University of Oregon
Heather Pecho, Illinois Institute of Technology

Ensuring Equity: A Clean Energy Future for All (1.75 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Westside Ballroom

Historically, low-income neighborhoods have not had a voice in energy policy or program development, nor have they received an equal share of benefits. More and more, goals are being centered on ensuring that clean energy investment be directed toward disadvantaged households, which often have a higher energy burden. Likewise, workforce development programs for better-wage clean energy jobs are prioritizing recruitment of more diverse representation in labor. But, we have a long way to go. This panel of experts in workforce development, equity programs and affordable housing will discuss the work ahead to ensure an equitable transition to decarbonizing our homes and workplaces.

Moderator: Steve King, Global Sustainable Solutions LLC

Speakers:
Jacqueline Patterson, The Chisholm Legacy Project

Sadie McKeown, Community Preservation Corporation

Janet Joseph, NYSERDA