2024 Getting to Zero Forum
Call for Speakers

The 2024 Call for Speakers is now closed.

Thank you to everyone who applied! We are reviewing submissions and will announce selected speakers in early 2024.

 

The Getting to Zero Forum, co-hosted by New Buildings Institute and RMI, is the premier event dedicated to building decarbonization. The upcoming 2024 Forum will take place May 21-23 in Charlotte, North Carolina. To learn more about the event, visit our About the Forum page.

How to submit:

  1. Review the submission guide prior to starting work on your submission.
  2. When you are ready to submit, you can do so using our submission platform.
  3. You can make changes to your submission until the deadline of November 2, 2023.

Submissions will be reviewed by a group of independent program advisors. Submitters can expect to be notified of the status of their proposals in February or March 2024.

 

View Submission Guide

 

Questions? Contact us at comms@newbuildings.org.

Session Types

This year’s program will feature several different presentation types and submitters should choose the style of presentation. Session types include:

Panel Presentation: Panels presentations will be combined to create a full panel session. Panel sessions will include approximately three (3) individual panel presentations on a related theme to tackle challenges that will disrupt the status quo or offer breakthroughs in cost-effective, replicable solutions. Panels will be facilitated by a moderator identified by NBI and concluded with 10-15 minutes of Q&A.

Solutions Lab: Experimental learning environments on specialized topics. Built to explore issues in greater depth, these information-intensive sessions are aimed to provide tactical knowledge of how-to’s and actionable steps. Attendees should leave with a list of tools, resources, and/or action plans in hand. For a solutions lab, you must have a full 90-minute session to propose.

Charrette: Facilitators will introduce the theme and set up problem statements for discussion. Grouped participants will be assigned one problem statement for discussion and interactive solution-finding. For a charrette session, you must have a full 90-minute session to propose.

Topic Areas

Building-Grid Integration:

  • Building demand flexibility
  • Buildings as grid assets
  • Microgrids
  • Grid signals and controls
  • Managed and bi-directional EV charging
  • Grid implications of electrification

Codes and Policy:

  • Existing building performance standards
  • Code and policy roadmaps to zero carbon buildings
  • Equity centered policy development practices and outcomes
  • Local, state, regional, and federal level policies

Electrification:

  • Equitable electrification
  • Leading technologies and trends, particularly for existing buildings
  • The building/vehicle nexus
  • High priority building types and end uses
  • Health and air quality and appliance regulations

Embodied Carbon:

  • Cutting embodied carbon in products – strategies, tools, datasets, and product alternatives and efficiencies
  • Building embodied carbon reduction strategies – reuse, product selection, construction, end-of-life, and whole carbon accounting
  • Accounting and disclosing carbon emissions through the life-cycle
  • Voluntary and regulatory policies and programs for embodied carbon
  • Measuring and reporting at building, portfolio, corporate, and community levels

Funding and Financing:

  • Value propositions for tenants, owners, and developers
  • Encouraging developer and homebuyer interest with unique funding models: incentives, rating agency approaches, interest rates, etc.
  • Leveraging public sector and private sector funding opportunities and navigating complexities

Tackling Existing Buildings:

  • Success strategies for decarbonizing affordable housing
  • Strategies highlighting co-benefits of resiliency, health, and productivity as decision drivers
  • Scaling existing building retrofits
  • Solutions for unique or challenging climates
  • Real life examples of mistakes made and lessons learned

Transforming the Market:

  • Ensuring an equitable transition for low-income households
  • Increasing market share by scaling technologies and manufacturing while controlling costs
  • Innovative and community-centered programs driving speed and scale
  • Workforce development and training
  • Transitioning portfolios to carbon neutral