One-to-four unit homes present special challenges to energy-efficiency upgrades. Many of these homes were built from 1890—1960 and lack insulation, leak air, and waste energy and water. This panel... Full Description

Beloved institutional buildings: These storied landmarks of architectural significance have a unique relationship to students, faculty, alumni, and the general public. We will explore the complex... Full Description

Since 2013 the Passive House Institute US has seen a significant increase in the design, construction and certification of multifamily passive buildings. Many first multifamily passive buildings,... Full Description

Can a community get more renewable electricity for all of its residents at a competitive price? Massachusetts communities have the option to choose an electricity supplier for their residents and... Full Description

We know how to design and construct net-zero and living buildings that are healthy, responsible, beautiful, durable and financially prudent. So why aren’t clients demanding this? How can we... Full Description

High performance buildings products improve energy efficiency to create more sustainable buildings. However, the materials used to make these products can also create adverse effects, such as... Full Description

The obstacles to a high performing building are legend, but those barriers can now be surmounted. A new performance-based procurement process, developed and successfully executed at NREL, targeted... Full Description

What are the real-world loads and efficiencies of domestic hot water (DHW) systems in multifamily buildings? New Ecology, Inc. has tested many DHW systems using data loggers and Btu meters, and... Full Description

Solarize campaigns are helping communities across New England transition to renewable energy, but whatever happened to “efficiency first”? The same collective approach can work for deploying other... Full Description

Our speakers are building enclosure consultants steeped in wall moisture solutions through data-rich research, computer simulations, lab testing, live performance monitoring – as well as a myriad... Full Description

In an increasing market for multifamily, energy-efficient and high-performance building shells, efficient ventilation strategies become paramount in maintaining health and comfort without... Full Description

Systems Thinking invites us to observe and propose the "boundary conditions" that will ultimately define every project's design goals. By extending that conversation to include our responsibility... Full Description

Experience, technology, new architectural approaches, and many other factors are advancing toward Zero Energy Buildings being more affordable, especially in a residential setting. In addition, tax... Full Description

Energy storage systems can provide multiple benefits and related revenue streams to residential and commercial ratepayers but business, finance, and ownership models are still emerging. But while... Full Description

Most firms claim to practice integrative design, but that’s not reliably the case! With LEED’s new “IP” credit and increased demand for NZ buildings, it’s time to get real. Transforming the design... Full Description

This session offers a thought-provoking comparison of the construction and performance of three high-performance homes completed in Vermont in 2015-2016: all two story, one with a basement, one... Full Description

This session offers a three-part consideration of healthy materials. Part 1 investigates why built environment professionals should and do care about this growing topic of concern, and explores... Full Description

New this year, Lightning Rounds pack as much information into one session as possible. You’ll hear succinct, to-the-point, and practical presentations on a variety of data-focused topics,... Full Description

When compared with conventional, code-built homes, the builders of high performance homes are at a disadvantage right out of the gate.

Existing buildings have a unique story to tell, and we as designers and engineers must tune our design process to "hear" how our buildings actually perform. On-site monitoring of dynamic... Full Description

Our poorly ventilated homes and buildings are making us stupid, sick, and tired—at a cost that is staggering. Improvement of today’s ventilation standards can increase human productivity with a... Full Description

College campuses are leading the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy at the community level. This session will combine design, technology, and policy with real-life case studies of... Full Description

How do we make affordable housing both healthier for residents and more energy efficient? This panel will document successful healthy housing and energy efficiency strategies that LISC and its... Full Description

Since the emergence of Bitcoin in 2008, awareness and conversations are expanding concerning the internet-like transformation of our economic, business, and legal systems. With an entirely new... Full Description

Recent research revealed that an estimated $11M in energy cost is wasted annually due to open vents at the tops of tall buildings. The vents are code-mandated but are left open, allowing tall... Full Description

An inspirational educational session illustrating the methodologies nature uses to optimize. Through storytelling, discussions with the audience, and use of prezi as background, we will learn... Full Description

Your building is only as efficient as the operators and inhabitants. Even the most sophisticated and efficient building systems can be undermined by poor training and behavioral biases. New... Full Description

Traditional clean-energy and energy-efficiency incentive programs wait for people to apply. But what if building permitting, which funnels construction in every city and town, were connected to... Full Description

In just a few years we have seen energy-efficient construction taken more seriously and among a larger circle of practitioners than ever before.