Registration Open

Convention Foyer

Networking Breakfast + Exhibitor Showcase

Outside Symphony Ballroom

Exhibits open.  

Breakout 1 (Concurrent Sessions)

Breakout 1.1
From Policy to Action: Essentials of Building Performance Standards

Room: Carolina D & E

This session will provide a foundational knowledge of Building Performance Standards (BPS), explain the different stages of passing and implementing equitable BPS policy and explore how to access the BPS technical assistance network. The session’s panel of expert speakers from federal, municipal, and private sectors will provide examples of state and regional policy, describe effective strategies, how to leverage partnerships, and highlight opportunities to drive change.

Moderator:

Ben Rabe, New Buildings Institute

Speakers:

Katie Bergfeld , D.C. Department of Energy and Environment
Kimberly Cheslak, PNNL
Billierae Engelman, U.S. Department of Energy
Sharon Jaye, Denver Office of Climate Action
Poppy Storm, 2050 Institute

Breakout 1.2
Navigating the Journey to Net-Zero: Overcoming Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

Room: Mecklenburg 3

Join us for an insightful session delving into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by public and private building owners on their journey to net-zero. Explore the financing and policy measures that can persuade owners and developers to embrace sustainability and energy efficiency. Learn the tools and strategies needed to support the transition to net-zero like measuring and mitigating carbon footprints and embracing circular design principles in new construction to achieve our net-zero goals.

Moderator:

Tim Thiel, Covestro

Speakers:

Mark Bacon, Leyton
Luke Lanciano, The Tower Companies
Peter Nelson, Salt Lake City Corporation
Vicki Worden, Green Building Initiative

Breakout 1.3
Building for Tomorrow: Practical Strategies for Reducing Embodied Carbon and Sustainable Design

Room: Mecklenburg 3

In this session, speakers will showcase practical strategies for implementing embodied carbon reduction plans, from material selection to using infographics that demystify embodied carbon to engaging owners, design teams, and contractors throughout building design and construction processes. Learn how cost-effective applications and interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to innovative solutions that address net-positive carbon, water efficiency, biophilic design, equity, and occupant health.

Moderator:

Remy Moorhead, Buck Moorhead Architect

Speakers:

William Abrahamson, Grimm + Parker Architects
Nicole Laky, King County Metro
Brian Meinrath, Atelier Ten
Baha Sadreddin, Microsoft
Amy Upton, Grimm + Parker Architects
Sarah Wood, Jacobs

Breakout 1.4
Building Decarbonization in Action: Case Studies on Emission Reduction and Innovation in Educational and Municipal Buildings

Room: Carolina A

Delve into the details of three dynamic public buildings projects. The modernization of the Silvio J. Mollo Federal Building showcases a holistic approach to reducing emissions and exemplifies existing building reuse. The City of San Diego’s ambitious goal of achieving zero emissions in municipal facilities by 2035 sparked a collaborative effort to prioritize reduction, leverage funding, and promote equity and resiliency. Hawaii’s Department of Education used passive design strategies and photovoltaic-powered units to create comfortable classrooms, foster equitable access to education, and reduce energy expenses statewide.

Moderator:

Emma Riccardi, New Buildings Institute

Speakers:

Steve Gross, Interface Engineering
Lindsey Hawes, City of San Diego, Sustainability & Mobility Department
Nikita Jathan, Atelier Ten
Ryan Ornberg, Krueck Sexton Partners
Pauline Souza, WRNS Studio

Breakout 1.5
Building a Sustainable Future in Residential Development: Offsite Construction and Equitable Decarbonization

Room: Carolina C

Explore the transformative potential of offsite construction and equitable decarbonization strategies in the residential building sector. Participants will delve into the environmental benefits of offsite construction, including reduced material usage, enhanced building performance, and contributions to decarbonization and material circularity. Explore real-world case studies and practical complexities faced by developers, contractors, consultants, and tenants in implementing sustainable changes. Engage in discussions on stakeholder engagement, policy effectiveness, and tools to move the market towards a more sustainable and equitable housing landscape. 

Moderator:  

Lauren Baldwin, RE Tech Advisors

Speakers:

Pamela Brookstein, Elevate Energy
Geffen Oren, Arup
Joseph Sollod, International Codes Council
Carolyn Sarno Goldthwaite, ClearlyEnergy

Networking Break + Exhibitor Showcase

Outside Symphony Ballroom

Exhibits open.  

Breakout 2 (Concurrent Sessions)

Breakout 2.1
Building Resilient Communities: Equitable Strategies for Heat Mitigation, Cooling Policy, and Inclusive Implementation

Room: Carolina D & E

Extreme heat threatens our collective resilience and individual well-being, disproportionately impacting low-income neighborhoods and BIPOC communities. Heat-absorbing infrastructure and limited green space increase temperatures which exacerbates health and equity disparities. In response, cities are exploring equitable ways to mitigate heat and reduce energy consumption. In this session, learn how to effectively engage local stakeholder groups, leverage federal funding, and use industry tools like third-party ratings to build healthier, more resilient cities. 

Moderator:

Liepa Braciulyte, New Buildings Institute 

Speakers:

Laila Atalla, RMI
Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome, NC Council of Churches
Megan Kemp, Healthy Air and Water Colorado
Sarah Schneider, Cool Roof Rating Council
Bahareh van Boekhold, ILLUME Advising

Breakout 2.2
Plug In, Turn On, Scale Up: Accelerating Electrification Retrofit

Room: Mecklenburg 2 

Decarbonizing existing residential building stock requires strategies to overcome adoption barriers, a successful action plan, and the effective use of available resources. This panel of experts will provide guidance from the field on common challenges and how to identify solutions tailored to regional needs. Hear case studies and lessons learned about local electrification initiatives and gain insight on how to understand resident motivation, maintain customer satisfaction, manage successful transitions from fossil fuel heating to full electrification.

Moderator:

David Cohan, IMT 

Speakers:

Mark Brescia, Consolidated Edison
Tracy Fuentes, PNNL
Julie Liu, Carta Electric Homes
Paul Torcellini , NREL
Greg Walker, Houser Walker Architecture

Breakout 2.3
A Comprehensive Exploration of Whole Life Decarbonization 

Room: Mecklenburg 3

This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of key strategies and tools to reduce embodied and operational carbon in multifamily and single-family residential buildings through real-life examples. Discover how you can calculate emissions during different phases of a building’s lifecycle and how thoughtful material selection and collaboration throughout the design phase can reduce embodied carbon.  

Speakers: 

Laurel Chadzynski, Dyer Brown & Associates 
Greg Hale, Regen Development Company
Remy Moorhead, Buck Moorhead Architect 
Michael Orbank, STO Building Group 
Hannah Rusnac, Holst Architecture 

Breakout 2.4
The New Triple Bottom Line:  Environment, Economics, Equity

Room: Carolina A

The session explores the intersection of policy and practice in advancing equity, sustainability, and net-zero energy projects for K-12 schools, commercial buildings, and industrial buildings. It features insights from industry experts to help navigate federal policies and the regulatory landscape to secure funding, reduce energy waste, and promote renewable energy integration. The session aims to empower participants to leverage industry tools, policy, and no-cost/low-cost energy efficiency opportunities using practical strategies and tactics to achieve net-zero energy and reduce energy costs.  

Moderator: 

Angie Ostaszewski, New Buildings Institute 

Speakers:

Phoebe Beierle, USGBC
Clair Hessmer, CLEAResult 
David Huber, CLEAResult
Kate Mosley, U.S. Department of Energy 
Shuang Zhao, University of Alabama 

Breakout 2.5
Empowering Clean Energy Futures through Education, Training, and Carbon Commitments

Room: Carolina C

This session emphasizes the need for education and innovative training across all stages to break down silos between practitioners and prepare the built environment workforce for designing, constructing, and operating next-generation zero-emissions buildings. It highlights the innovative internship program offered by the Energy Trust of Oregon to support industry alignment, reduce regional emissions, and create career opportunities. It explores how the Wildan Clean Energy Academy (WCEA) aligns its training programs with market needs, blending academic certification with on-the-job training for students, and delves into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Science Education programs that support professionals at all learning levels to prepare future designers and upskill current practitioners.  

Moderator: 

ML Vidas, Energy Trust of Oregon

Speakers:

Antuan Cannon, Willdan Energy Solutions
Naomi Cole, Konstrukt/Energy Trust of Oregon, New Buildings Program
Jaime Van Mourik, U.S. Department of Energy 
Georg Reichard, Virginia Tech 

Networking Break + Exhibitor Showcase

Outside Symphony Ballroom

Exhibits open.  

Lunch Plenary

From Innovation to Deployment: Breakthrough Technologies to Scale Building Decarbonization

Room: Symphony Ballroom

Get ready to hear about promising new technologies to decarbonize the built environment! In this dynamic pitch session sponsored by Breakthrough Energy, startup companies affiliated with Breakthrough Energy Ventures will present case studies of office and multi-family residential retrofit and new builds using climate tech innovation. The partner interventions will include lessons learned, challenges, opportunities, and strategies to drive further real estate sector decarbonization based on actual deployments. Audience members are invited to ask critical questions. The companies will be available for deeper discussion in the exhibit hall.

Sponsored by Breakthrough Energy.

Emcees:

Nishant Bagadia, Breakthrough Energy
Brian Mayers, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Pitching Companies: 

Duncan Bruce, Blue Frontier
Morgan German, Microsoft
Alex Goodwin, enVerid
TJ Harris, CarbonCure Technologies
Pawan Mulchadani, Siemens
Rowan Parris, Turner Construction
Deepinder Singh, 75F
Scott Thomsen, LuxWall

Networking Break + Exhibitor Showcase

Outside Symphony Ballroom

Exhibits open.

Breakout 3 (Concurrent Sessions)

Breakout 3.1
Future-Driven: Electric Vehicle Integration and Building Energy Codes for Zero Energy Communities

Room: Carolina D & E

How can we ensure that utility and energy regulations serve people and their communities while preparing buildings for the future? In this session, learn about the role of state legislators and grassroots advocates in shaping equitable energy policy, learn how to implement cost-effective EV-ready parking in multifamily buildings and workplaces, and gain an understanding of the current regulatory landscape. Walk away with educational resources and technical support for adopting stretch codes and building performance standards to achieve market transformation. 

Moderator:

Torin Spencer, Electrification Coalition

Speakers:

Tegan Molloy, New Buildings Institute
Rick Tonielli, ComEd 
Lindsay Wiginton, Dunsky Energy 

Breakout 3.2
How to Overcome Barriers to Decarbonization with Innovative Building Design and Emerging Technologies

Room: Mecklenburg 2

Building electrification reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves system efficiency, providing a critical pathway toward economywide decarbonization. However, increasingly frequent heat, smoke, and storm events, alongside decreasing grid dependability, create additional barriers to decarbonization. Emerging technologies and new approaches to building design can help resilient buildings overcome these barriers, promote the widespread adoption of clean energy technologies, and ultimately support better health and safety for building occupants. 

Moderator:

Alexi Miller, New Buildings Institute 

Speakers:

Mark Frankel, Ecotope 
David Kaneda, IDeAs Consulting 
Colin Lee, AESC
Michael Sontag, Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3) 

Breakout 3.3
Driving Down Carbon: National Trends and Strategies for Tackling Embodied Carbon

Room: Mecklenburg 3

Operational carbon in buildings has been decreasing for decades. The next step forward is to tackle embodied carbon with the same vigor. The Inflation Reduction Act and the billions of dollars earmarked for low embodied carbon material procurement will undergird these efforts. This dynamic session will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes look at emerging national trends addressing embodied carbon, how this is being implemented at the federal level, and how this impacts manufacturers and construction. 

Moderator:

Efrie Escott, Schneider Electric 

Speakers:

Holly Elwood, EPA 
Graham Higgins, Nuveen Green Capital
Josh Jacobs, WAP Sustainability
Amie Lewis, New Buildings Institute

Breakout 3.4
Beyond Design: Sustaining Net Zero Building Performance through Operational Excellence

Room: Carolina A

Design and implementation are pillars for achieving net zero building performance. In this session, panelists will make the case to place equal, or greater, importance on the operational tools, analytics, skills, and knowledge required to maintain net zero performance. This discussion will pull back the curtain on high-efficiency heat pump systems, a building’s decarbonization potential, and the smart building infrastructure needed to access and control all forms of building performance data. 

Moderator:

Breana Wheeler, BREEAM USA (BRE) 

Speakers:

Jennifer Fortenberry, Schneider Electric
Brian Haines, FM:Systems
Dean Stanberry, IFMA
Craig Stevenson, AUROS Group
Donny Walker, Newcomb & Boyd

Breakout 3.5
Meaningful Equity in Decarbonization: Empowering Frontline Communities for Climate Justice

Room: Carolina C

People who live in frontline communities, mostly BIPOC and low-income communities, experience the first and worst negative impacts of climate change. However, climate policies have rarely been centered on their needs. This session will explore key measures to ensure that building decarbonization supports climate justice like engaging community stakeholders, pairing zero-emissions standards for space and water heaters with locally-focused policies, and connecting frontline communities with economic opportunities. 

Moderator:

Maggie Kelley Riggins, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance 

Speakers:

Matt Casale, Building Decarbonization Coalition
Marnese Jackson, Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
Megan Leary, Emerald Cities Collaborative 
Leah Louis-Prescott, RMI 
Rajiv Ravulapati, Institute for Market Transformation 

Networking Reception + Exhibitor Showcase

Outside Symphony Ballroom

Join us to celebrate the growing building decarbonization movement.

Exhibits open.

Dine Around Dinners in Charlotte

Meet in the Convention Foyer by 5:25 PM to meet your Dine Around captain. Groups will depart no later than 5:35 PM.

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 experience some of Charlotte’s stellar culinary options. Sign up and choose from Capishe: Real Italian Kitchen, Tupelo Honey, MOA Korean BBQ, or The Market at 7th Street.

Dine Around Dinner groups will walk to restaurant locations. If you need assistance arranging for alternate transportation to the restaurant, please contact us at gettingtozeroforum@newbuildings.org.