2023 Getting to Zero Forum
Call for Speakers

The 2023 Call for Speakers is now closed!

The Getting to Zero Forum, co-hosted by New Buildings Institute and RMI, is the premier event dedicated to building decarbonization. The upcoming 2023 Forum will take place May 10-12, 2023, live in Minneapolis and virtual. To learn more about the event, visit our About the Forum page.

Thank you for submitting to speak at our event! We will be in touch about your submission.

 

Proposal next steps:

  1. Submissions are now closed!
  2. Submissions will be reviewed by a group of independent program advisors.
  3. Submitters can be expect to be notified of the status of their proposals in December 2022.
  4. If your submission is accepted, speakers should expect to attend the event in person.

 

Questions? Contact Leada Fuller-Marashi at [email protected].

Session Types

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

Panel Sessions: Panels will include approximately three (3) individual presentations on a related theme including case studies, technology applications, research findings, etc. to tackle challenges that will disrupt the status quo or offer breakthroughs in cost-effective, repeatable solutions. Panels will be facilitated by a moderator 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:

  • Peak load management
  • Buildings as grid assets
  • Microgrids
  • Time-of-use and locationally-specific carbon emissions
  • Renewables, storage, and EV charging

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

Design Innovation and Building Performance:

  • Prefabricated construction
  • Feasibility for decarbonizing affordable housing
  • Best practices in building systems controls
  • Strategies highlighting co-benefits of resiliency, health, and productivity as decision drivers
  • Operating to net zero goals/occupant engagement (including metering/monitoring)
  • Building envelope improvement through Passive House and other strategies
  • Addressing unique climates
  • Scaling existing building retrofits
  • Real life examples of mistakes made and lessons learned

Electrification:

  • Equitable electrification
  • Electrification code and policy trends, particularly for existing buildings
  • The building/vehicle nexus
  • High priority building types and end uses
  • Grid implications of electrification
  • 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 for embodied carbon
  • Measuring and reporting at building, portfolio, corporate, and community levels

Finance and Development:

  • Value propositions for tenants, owners, and developers
  • Encouraging developer and homebuyer interest with unique funding models: incentives, rating agency approaches, interest rates, etc.
  • Transforming portfolios to zero carbon
  • Public sector and private sector financing strategies and pathways

Market Development:

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