Networking Breakfast + Exhibitor Showcase

Breakout 2 Sessions

Prioritizing Affordable Multifamily Housing in the Energy Transition (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ballroom 3

An equitable and just transition towards building electrification requires prioritizing and addressing barriers to electrification for low-income communities at the outset. This also includes prioritizing the production and preservation of affordable, climate-friendly homes across the country. Today, 26 million low-income homes reliant on fossil fuels face energy insecurity, lacking the resources for more efficient and healthier appliances such as heat pumps and induction stoves. This session will explore how upgrading low-income multifamily subsidized and unsubsidized housing can reduce existing energy burdens across the market. Participants will workshop creative solutions, rooted in the nuances of several housing ownership models and financing regulations that govern them, to determine potential solutions to existing market challenges.

Speakers:

Srinidhi Sampath Kumar, RMI

Krista Egger, Enterprise Community Partners

Lauren Westmoreland, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

Breathing Life into Old Buildings: Addressing Existing Buildings to Cut Carbon and Prioritize Occupants (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ballroom 4

There are nearly 6 million existing buildings in the U.S. alone, which is why existing buildings present one of our greatest opportunities to decarbonize the built environment. Leading cities and commercial real estate investors across North America recognize this and are advancing tools to meet aggressive decarbonization goals. Tools like virtual audits and machine learning to comply with benchmarking/disclosure requirements and building performance standards will be discussed along with deep retrofits that help reposition assets and technology solutions like heat pumps and far-infrared heating panels that can be installed without significant electrical upgrades. Panelists will share case studies from affordable housing and office buildings in major real estate markets, as well as examples of jurisdictions that are pioneering the way towards rapid decarbonization of the existing building stock.

Moderator: Lori Borowiak, NYSERDA

Speakers:

David Ramslie, Open Technologies | Madi Kennedy, Introba

Steve Joern, Willdan

Neel Bavishi, DIALOG

How to Avoid the Potholes: Developing Roadmaps to Plan for Net Zero (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: St. Croix 1

Federal, state, and local governments are establishing ambitious goals to mandate net zero carbon buildings for new construction and in some cases, for existing government buildings as well. In this session, panelists will explore the challenges governments are facing as they work towards meeting their goals, the practical solutions and tools being implemented to advance decarbonization, and hose these “lead by example” policies may help facilitate broader market adoption. Learn from the individuals working to implement these goals at the federal and state levels and from organizations creating the policy tools to help governments equitably decarbonize our built environment.

Moderator: Ben Rabe, New Buildings Institute

Speakers:

Kent Peterson, P2S Inc

Ryan Colker, International Code Council | Teron McGrew, McGrew & Associates

Richard Graves, Center for Sustainable Building Research | Michelle Gransee,  MN Department of Commerce, Energy Division

The Carbon Tug-of-War: Balancing Embodied and Operational Carbon in Buildings (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Deer/Elk Lake

When it comes to the environmental impact of buildings, it’s not just about operational carbon – it’s also about the embodied carbon. Balancing these two factors can be a complex and sometimes conflicting task. Case studies of operating buildings will explore the balance of embodied and operational carbon in building design and construction. Presenters will share tools and resources available for assessing the environmental performance of different materials and systems, and provide practical tips for making informed decisions about which materials and technologies to use on your next project.

Moderator: Bill Sisson, World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Speakers:

Karla Butterfield, Steven Winter Associates, Inc.

Gwen Fuertes, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Jason Fierko, EwingCole | Bill Smarzewski, EwingCole

Using Dollars for Electrification Makes Cents: Innovations in Financing Low Carbon, Net Zero, and All-Electric Projects (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Trees

Innovative financing is a key component to bring high efficiency, low carbon projects to fruition. In this session, speakers will share case studies of low carbon and carbon neutral buildings and the financing programs, mechanisms, and strategies employed to ensure their financial viability. Case studies will include both commercial and multifamily buildings located in multiple states including Minnesota, Michigan, and Maryland.

Moderator: Jill Sherman, Edlen & Co

Speakers:

Jim Kumon, Heirloom Properties

Tricia Baker, PACE Equity

Michele Pitale, Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate | Shawn Rash, Ally Energy Solution

Networking Break + Exhibitor Showcase

Breakout 3 Sessions

Enhancing the Building Electrical System for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ballroom 3

In this session, participants play the role of a facility persona to explore the electrical and digital infrastructure components and software necessary to accelerate grid-enabled building (GEB) adoption. The exercise challenges participants to envision the electrical foundation of zero energy buildings and demonstrates that although the technology exists today, there are opportunities for development of standards and best practices.

Speakers:

Pete Horton, Legrand

Melanie Colburn, USGBC

Bruce Nordman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Kim Trenbath, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Home is Where the Carbon Isn’t: Healthy, Affordable, and Low-Carbon Housing (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ballroom 4

In this session, panelists will present innovative solutions that address both the current housing shortage and the need to rapidly decarbonize our building stock. Case studies include net zero manufactured homes that cost 50% less than the regional average and eliminate 60% of greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of material waste, an Ecovillage in Mount Hope, CA that delivers residents affordable, zero energy homes, and a sustainable lifestyle, and finally, a unique, holistic home retrofit program for low-income residents in Philadelphia that puts occupant health and safety at the center of retrofit process.

Moderator: Yami Newell, Elevate

Speakers:

Alon Abramson, Philadelphia Energy Authority | Ashita Gona, RMI

Shanti Pless, NREL

Ladan Ghobad, ENERlite Consulting

Head Down to Electric Avenue: Stories from City Building Electrification Programs (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: St. Croix 1

State and local governments across the nation have adopted policies that require or encourage the transition from fossil fuels to all-electric homes and buildings. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act make significant investments and measures to help households electrify their vehicles and heating systems and convert to renewable energy. Now more than ever, states and cities need guidance on policies and programs that help educate homeowners and have a significant impact on how quickly buildings can decarbonize. In this session, speakers will highlight programs and policies implemented in jurisdictions to support an equitable transition to decarbonizing buildings and guide others through barriers and opportunities.

Moderator: Val Stori, Great Plains Institute

Speakers:

Anica Landreneau, HOK | Casey Studhalter, DC Department of Energy and Environment

Mac Prather, City of Denver, Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency

Luke Hollenkamp, City of Minneapolis

Code Breakers: How to Reduce Embodied Carbon in Building Codes (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Deer/Elk Lake

Building codes and policies play a critical role in shaping the environmental performance of our buildings. But how can we use these policies to reduce embodied carbon and make our buildings more sustainable? In this session, presenters will share how they developed state and federal policies to reduce embodied carbon through national building codes, California’s green code, and Minnesota’s B3 building guidelines. Additionally, they will discuss the history, community engagement, evolution, successes, and best practices of the policies that can lead to the maximum reduction in embodied carbon.

Moderator: Michael Malinowski, AIA California

Speakers:

Ida Clair, Department of General Services, Division of the State Architect | Anish Tilak, RMI

Webly Bowles, New Buildings Institute

Patrick Smith, Center for Sustainable Building Research | Becky Alexander, LHB

Smart Money for Smart Buildings: Private, Public, and Federal Funding for Clean Energy (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Trees

With the rollout of major initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and New York’s Two Million Climate Friendly Homes, building decarbonization is moving into high gear. This session will discuss the incentives, strategies, and investments that will not only catalyze decarbonization but place underserved communities at the front of this movement. Speakers will explore the sweeping changes to the 179D tax incentive within the IRA, strategies for financing affordable housing, and how finance agencies can catalyze and scale decarbonization retrofits through direct injections of capital, grassroots training, and targeted investments in vulnerable geographic areas.

Moderator: Danielle Arigoni, National Housing Trust

Speakers:

Greg Hale, NYSERDA

Danielle Donnelly, Community Preservation Corporation | Samantha Pearce, NYS Homes and Community Renewal

Jacob Goldman, Energy Tax Savers, Inc.

Luncheon Plenary Session

Spark Tank: A Game-Changing Technology Pitch Competition

Are you ready to vote on the most promising new technologies to decarbonize the built environment? In this dynamic pitch session sponsored by EPRI, startup companies affiliated with Incubatenergy Labs and Breakthrough Energy Ventures will make the case for why their new technology is a game-changer that will revolutionize the industry. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask critical questions in a lighting-round Q&A, and then cast your vote for the most compelling pitch. The companies will be available for deeper discussion in the exhibit hall and the winner will be announced at the Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase.  

Introductions: David Porter, EPRI | Abigail Regitsky, Breakthrough Energy

Emcee: David Porter, EPRI

Pitching Companies:
Aeroseal
Brimstone
Gradient
Prescriptive Data
Vantem
Wex Energy

Breakout 4 Sessions

Pushing the 99%: Bringing the Existing Building Stock to Net Zero (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ballroom 3

The existing building stock presents the largest challenge and the largest opportunity to reduce carbon emissions from buildings equitably. Building performance standards (BPS), policies which set mandatory energy or emissions targets for existing buildings, are one of the tools that exist to meet this challenge. In this session, representatives from jurisdictions and technical experts who are helping craft building performance standards for communities will discuss the challenges they face in addition to the tools and resources that exist to help create a BPS that equitably and cost effectively decarbonizes buildings.

Moderator: Mark Lyles, New Buildings Institute

Speakers:

Jeannette LeZaks, Slipstream | Alison Lindburg, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

Brendan Hall, EPA ENERGY STAR

Billierae Engelman, U.S. Department of Energy | Andrea Mengual, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

An Equitable Home Electrification Toolkit for Communities (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Ballroom 4

Join representatives from RMI and Emerald Cities Collaborative to learn about their toolkit for local governments and community partners to co-develop a housing electrification policy roadmap centered in equity. The toolkit offers actionable steps toward policy development and is designed to maximize engagement and co-ownership between municipalities and frontline community groups. Presenters will also share lessons learned from leading ten community teams through this process. Participants will leave with knowledge and resources that can guide their efforts to equitably advance housing electrification.

Facilitators:

Michael Gartman, RMI

Neha Bazaj, Emerald Cities Collaborative

Floy Andrews, Richmond Progressive Alliance

Nourishing Young Minds and Bodies: Decarbonizing Educational Buildings and Kitchens (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: St. Croix 1

Districts are underfunded and suffering from aging and unhealthy infrastructure. This is causing districts to address health, energy, and emissions in a more holistic way. It is often a misconception that healthy, efficient, and decarbonized school infrastructure can come with a premium price tag. The session will feature case studies that debunk perceived barriers to electrification in P-12 schools from the kitchen to the classroom, proving that decarbonization is within reach. Presenters will discuss approaches in multiple settings including a preschool that prioritized ecological stewardship, electrification of school kitchens, as well as a district portfolio level approach to holistically improve school buildings while prioritizing the health, wellness, and productivity of students and staff.

Moderator: Mila Turner, Slipstream

Speakers:

Reilly Loveland Falvey, New Buildings Institute

Teresa Jan, Multistudio | Andy Reilman, Introba

Pauline Souza, WRNS Studio | Christopher Galarza, Forward Dining Solutions LLC

Accelerating Decarbonization of Commercial and Multifamily Buildings: A Holistic Approach (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Deer/Elk Lake

In this session, representatives from NYSERDA will share their multifaceted and strategic approach to building a thriving clean energy market for building owners and developers, architects and engineers, and vendors of clean energy building solutions while supporting policy goals and enabling higher standards. Presenters will lay out the elements of their approach and show how they were deployed in several key market segments including large commercial real estate, education, and multifamily new construction/adaptive reuse, and downtown revitalization efforts. They will also share how the efforts support New York’s policy goals and the enablement of codes and standards that support the broader market.

Speakers:

Patrick O’Shei, NYSERDA

Lori Borowiak, NYSERDA

Sara Bayer, Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC,

Aaron Brondum, Prescriptive Data

Show Me the Money! Investing in Buildings to Further ESG Goals (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Room: Trees

In the face of mounting climate risks and exponentially impactful climate events, reaching net zero carbon is imperative for real estate, and this session will discuss strategies for doing so at the building portfolio level. Speakers will address drivers for decarbonization in the emissions-heavy commercial real estate sector, painting a holistic picture of the current investment landscape for sustainable and net zero initiatives. They will also provide insight on the Urban Land Institute’s Net Zero by 2050 goal, where a portfolio-wide combination of energy efficiency measures, investments in onsite and offsite renewable energy, green power purchasing, renewable energy credits and carbon offsets can help building owners achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner.

Moderator: Alexandra Ramsden, Brightworks Sustainability

Speakers:

Breana Wheeler, BREEAM/BRE Group | Uma Moriarity, CenterSquare Investment Management

Kara Kokernak, Urban Land Institute | Isabelle Ballet, LaSalle Investment Management

Chris Pyke, Arc Skoru

Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase

Join us to celebrate the growing building decarbonization movement at the 2023 Getting to Zero Forum Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase.

Dine Arounds in Minneapolis

Meet new friends or connect with old colleagues at one of our Dine Around Dinners hosted by friends of the Getting to Zero Forum. These organized pay-your-own way dinners offer a chance to experiences some of Minneapolis’ stellar culinary options. Find more information and register.