Monday, September 20

Session One: A Tale of Three Communities

Many communities are moving towards a future of low-carbon buildings, but the path is full of twists and turns. How are communities identifying their destination, developing a road map, and staying on course despite potential off-ramps? Can new federal resources help? In this interactive session, three different communities will share how they've navigated the intersection of energy efficiency and decarbonization, while also trying to reach equity and economic goals.

  • Moderator
    • Cammy Peterson, Director of Clean Energy, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
  • Panelist

 

Session Two: Lessons from the Pandemic: Reimagining Schools

COVID-19 was an opportunity to examine public buildings, including schools, through the lens of a new health-sensitive world. This conversation will cover a variety of topics, including caring for unoccupied schools, preparing them for return to use, and creating schools that are healthy, resilient, efficient, multi-purpose hubs of our communities.

  • Host
  • Experts
    • Ken Wertz, Executive Director, Massachusetts Facilities Administrators Association (MFAA)
    • Erika Eitland, Director of Human Experience Lab, Perkin & Will

 

Session Three: View from D.C.

In this conversation, two federal leaders reflect on the ways that partnerships with state and local communities are driving the Biden Administration's climate and energy goals.

  • Moderator
  • Experts
    • Maggie Molina, Branch Chief, State and Local Climate and Energy Program, EPA
    • Anna Garcia, Director of the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office, Department of Energy

 

Tuesday, September 21

Session Four: Putting "Hard to Reach" Housing at the Center

Low- and moderate-income housing, especially multifamily housing, is often categorized as "hard to reach.” But well-designed and implemented programs can achieve environmental and health goals, and new program models can do so while also delivering equitable benefits to these households. This panel will explore ways to design programs to ensure outcomes, including those that address hardships for historically marginalized communities.

 

Session Five: States Sprinting Ahead

In this conversation, two state energy leaders discuss how they are successfully leveraging federal and other partnerships to advance energy efficiency, workforce development, equitable rebuilding, and decarbonization goals.

  • Moderator
    • Marion Gold, Former Commissioner of the Rhode Island Public Utilities
  • Panelist

 

Session Six: The Elephant on the Block: Existing Building Performance

Emissions from existing buildings remain one of the greatest impediments to achieving climate goals. One step towards addressing this challenge is assessing, disclosing, and regulating building energy usage through building performance policies and programs. To ensure successful implementation, policymakers must understand metrics, technical feasibility, political roadblocks, and necessary resources. Using Philadelphia as a case study, panelists will discuss the tactics to developing and implementing a suite of building performance policies and programs and how to work together to get the job done.

  • Moderator
    • Alon Abramson, Director of Residential Programs, Philadelphia Energy Authority
  • Panelists

 

Lunch Session: Demystifying Green Hydrogen

Grab your lunch, refill your water bottle, and join us for a lunchtime conversation on green hydrogen. Speakers will demystify this buzzword and share their thoughts on this topic.

 

Wednesday, September 22

Breakfast Session: Demystifying Microgrids

Start your day off right with breakfast and a chat about community microgrids - their potential, challenges, and examples of where they are transforming communities.

  • Host
    • Jared Leader, Senior Manager, Research and Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)
  • Panelist

Session Seven: Shifting Focus: Designing EE Programs That Support Changing Goals

For decades, energy efficiency programs across the nation have been successful in driving down energy use. Can this framework also drive down carbon and advance equitable outcomes? This session will highlight ways that energy efficiency programs are shifting to support grid management, climate, and equity goals. This panel will examine key necessary changes and identify roles for both program administrators and policymakers.

  • Moderator
  • Panelist
    • Rachel Gold, Director, Utilities Program, ACEEE
    • Nathan Phelps, Regulatory Director, Vote Solar
    • Jen Meissner, Director, Performance Management, NYSERDA

 

Session Eight: Energy Efficiency and Air Regulators: Opportunities for Alliance

Energy efficiency and air quality regulation have traditionally been in separate worlds: different departments, different approaches, and different outcomes. But reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings needs all hands on deck. In this session, two practitioners discuss opportunities for collaboration to accelerate the transformation of our built environment.

  • Host
    • Rich Sedano, President, The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
  • Expert

 

Session Nine: Show Me the Money: Funding Pathways

Retrofitting our homes and buildings to meet climate goals and create healthy, resilient places for people to live and work carries a steep price tag. Where do we find the funds and how can investments promote an economic transition that is both low-carbon and equitable? This panel will explore current working models and innovative models that warrant a closer look.

 

Interested in registering? Visit the NEEP Summit Sessions 2021 page to learn how.

 

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