BuildingEnergy Boston 2024 Attendee FAQs

Where and when is the conference?
BuildingEnergy Boston 2024 will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, March19–20, 2024, at the Westin Boston Seaport District. The address is 425 Summer Street, Boston, MA

How do I get there?
For public transit, take the MBTA Silver Line to the World Trade Center stop, or Bus Number 7, which stops outside the hotel on Summer Street. Paid lot parking is available. If you park in the hotel garage, make sure to pick up a discount ticket when you collect your conference badge (non-valet parking only). For more information, see the hotel website. We are also piloting a carpool coordination platform this year for attendees to arrange sharing rides to and from the event.

What does it cost to attend?
The sooner you register, the less it costs. You may also qualify for special rates for students, emerging professionals, or staff of non-profit organizations and government agencies. See the pricing page for details. To receive member pricing, you must be logged in to your nesea.org account. Learn about becoming a NESEA Member, or for questions about your nesea.org account, see our Membership FAQ page.

Why didn't my registration go through?
The most common reason for an unsuccessful registration is a declined credit card transaction, usually because of a mismatch between the billing address as entered and the one associated with the card. Please double check the address you entered. Another frequent issue is internet browser problems. To fix this, try refreshing the page or using a different browser. If you continue to have difficulty registering, please let us know.

I need to register more than one person from my company. What should I do?
Our online registration system can easily guide you through registering multiple people from your organization. If you need assistance, feel free to contact us.

What is your refund policy?
Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds for conference passes. However, if you cancel your registration by March 1, you may request a credit for a future NESEA event (you may request a credit at any time if you need to cancel for health reasons). If you have any questions or concerns, please email registration@nesea.org.

Where can I stay?
NESEA has reserved a block of rooms for a reduced rate of $259 per night at the Westin. You can book your room when you register, or directly at this link. Carbon offsets are included in the rate.

Do I have to pick which sessions I plan to attend prior to the conference?
No. With a conference pass, you may attend any sessions you wish on the day(s) you are registered for.

Can I get CEUs for attending?
We anticipate offering continuing education credits toward AIA, BPI, BOC, GBCI, MA CSL, NARI, PHIUS, and RESNET certification at this year's conference. All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance to self-report hours to other accrediting organizations.

Are there scholarships available?
Yes, we offer a limited number of scholarships to students and emerging professionals. For more information, please write to Florence MacGregor at fmacgregor@nesea.org.

Will there be food?
Yes! Your conference registration includes lunch on the day(s) you are attending. Coffee and tea will also be available all day to all attendees on the trade show floor.

Is the venue ADA accessible?
Yes. All floors are accessible by elevator.

Will a nursing room be available?
Yes, a nursing room will be available on the Lobby Level. The key to the nursing room will be available at registration.

What happens in the evenings?
Everyone is welcome to join us for an Opening Reception on Monday, a Trade Show Reception on Tuesday (featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and great opportunities to talk with exhibitors and fellow attendees), and a Closing Reception at the conclusion of the conference on Wednesday.

How is NESEA addressing the carbon footprint of the event?

  • Hotel Systems: The Westin, a TripAdvisor GreenLeaders certified hotel, employs high-performance building monitoring and management systems.
  • Waste Management: The Westin practices single-stream recycling, and diverts all organic kitchen waste for anaerobic digestion. This year, with the help of RecyclingWorks, we are also partnering with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine to donate unserved food, and with Save That Stuff to recycle styrofoam and film plastic packaging used by exhibitors.
  • Reduced Meat Consumption: In light of the carbon-intensive processes involved in producing meat, our lunch menus have intentionally reduced meat options.
  • Reducec Plastic Use: NESEA and the Westin are committed to using as little single-use plastic as possible in putting on this event. Please help by bringing a refillable water bottle, and by leaving your conference badge in one of the designated recycling bins when you leave.
  • Carbon Offsets: The average BuildingEnergy Boston attendee will create 850 pounds of CO2 in transit, which TripZero will counteract through Certified Carbon Offsets in the areas of renewable energy, methane reduction and forestry projects.

How can I reach you with questions or concerns?
For registration questions, contact registration@nesea.org (preferred) or (413) 213-5615. For everything else, contact Ben Sachs-Hamilton, Conference Director, at bsachs-hamilton@nesea.org or (413) 213-5525.