BuildingEnergy Boston 2026 Community and Sponsored Events

Opening Reception

Made possible by Mitsubishi. Kick off BuildingEnergy Boston 2026 and meet fellow attendees at our casual opening reception. Light appetizers will be provided. Cash bar.

Trade Show Open

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Lifetime Member Breakfast

Invitation only. This annual event provides NESEA Lifetime Members with a dedicated space to relax, network, and enjoy breakfast before a busy day at the conference. Lifetime Members will have the opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new members of our community during this informal gathering. Drop in for a minute or stay for the hour!

Keynote - In for the Long Run: The Cost of Pausing

Climate change is not on pause, even as recent federal actions have slowed or halted many mitigation initiatives already underway. Organizations are navigating real delays, shifts in funding and canceled programs, but the imperative remains unchanged: long-term climate science and sustainability goals must remain a priority.

Trade Show Break

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Scope vs. Carbon: Stories of Decarbonizing Multi-Family Buildings

Sponsored by MassCEC. Three projects tell the story of aligning carbon reduction in multi-family retrofits with owners' existing project goals. How do projects of varying scope find opportunities to decarbonize?

Lunch

Enjoy lunch while networking at the Trade Show. 

Note: Lunch is only included for Full and One-Day Pass holders.

BE the Future Scholarship Lunch

Invitation only. This annual networking lunch brings together recipients of NESEA's BE the Future scholarship and supporters of the program. Included in each scholarship is a NESEA Membership, a pass to a BuildingEnergy Pro Tour, and a pass to BuildingEnergy Boston. This lunch offers an opportunity for recipients to meet one another and to make connections with professionals and practitioners serving as NESEA ambassadors.

Decarbonizing with Daikin Altherma: Air-to-Water Heat Pump for Heating, Cooling, and Domestic Hot Water

Sponsored by Daikin. Homes and businesses in the Northeast are ready for a single system that can replace a boiler, air conditioner, and domestic hot water heater. Tried and tested for many years in Europe and around the world, Altherma is coming to NESEA BuildingEnergy Boston 2026. Learn about all the types of air-to-water heat pumps and applications for Daikin Altherma.

Trade Show Break

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Constructing and Connecting All-Electric Buildings

Sponsored by Mass Save. Buildings of the future are here – and they are electric. Learn about the incentives and resources available through the Sponsors of Mass Save to build all-electric buildings.

Trade Show Break

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Studio for High Performance Design and Construction Open House

The Studio for High-Performance Design and Construction is hosting a "Pro Tour" of our projects and programs right here at BuildingEnergy Boston 2026!

Day 1 Keynote Follow-Up Discussion

Join the presenters from the morning's keynote for a further exploration of the topics discussed earlier, in a more open discussion format.

Trade Show Reception

Made possible by Daikin, DXS and HTS. All conference attendees are invited to mingle on the trade show floor during this reception that includes a cash bar and light snacks. Celebrate the first day of the conference, catch up with friends, and make new connections while learning about products and services important to the success of the industry.

Unofficial After-Party

Want to keep the celebration going? Head over to Lucky's Lounge, at 355 Congress St!

Please note that we do not have space reserved at Lucky's, and this is not an official conference event.

Other nearby options include:

• The Birch Bar (in the hotel lobby)
• M.J. O'Connor's (just off the lobby)
• Trillium Brewing (50 Thomson Pl.)

Board Game Night

Join conference chair Clay Tilton to connect through gaming! Games will be provided, or feel free to bring your own.

Trade Show Open

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

BuildingEnergy Access Breakfast

Registration required (free, but limited space).

Join us for this networking breakfast to meet participants in BuildingEnergy Access, NESEA's new initiative to support the work of WMBEs (women- and minority-owned business enterprises) by connecting them with the resources of the NESEA community. 

Keynote - Unstoppable: Inner Resilience and Generational Leadership

In an era when even the wisest voices are often lost behind closed doors — speaking only to the already convinced, rather than reaching the neighbors who see the world differently — how do we find the courage to lead forward together?

Trade Show Break

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Lessons from Experience: Air-to-Water Application & Design for New England & Beyond

Sponsored by SpacePak. In this session, SpacePak will share insights from over 15 years of experience driving the adoption of air-to-water heat pumps in North America. Drawing from thousands of installations across a wide range of climates and buildings, we'll explore system design, application, and common use cases for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. The session will include the opportunity for extended live Q&A where attendees can bring design questions, project challenges, and application ideas for open technical dialogue. Attendees of all levels of experience and familiarity with air-to-water heat pumps are welcome to participate.

Lunch

Enjoy lunch while networking at the Trade Show. 

Note: Lunch is only included for Full and One-Day Pass holders.

Emerging Professional Member Lunch

NESEA Emerging Professional Members are invited to a lunch and networking gathering during the conference. This informal meetup is an opportunity to connect with other early-career professionals in the NESEA community, share experiences, and build new relationships. Lunch is provided and RSVP is required. Contact kschendel@nesea.org to sign up, or if you have any questions.

Diversity and Inclusion Meet Up

Details TBD

Designing for Decarbonization: Lessons from Boston’s First LEED Platinum School

Sponsored by USGBC. Josiah Quincy Upper School (JQUS) is a powerful example of what’s possible when project teams refuse to slow down in the face of complexity. As Boston Public Schools' first LEED Platinum school, JQUS demonstrates bold leadership in electrification and healthy, high-performance design.

Trade Show Break

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Multifamily Passive House Air Sealing Case Studies: Historic & New Buildings

Sponsored by Aeroseal. Building envelope air sealing is a critical pillar of achieving Passive House certification for multifamily buildings – whether for historic renovation or new construction projects. This session will use case studies of Phius certified multifamily projects – 135+ year old historic renovations and new construction projects – to answer key air sealing questions. How can you simplify Passive House building envelope and compartmentalization air sealing and be guaranteed you will achieve your air tightness requirement? And just how old can a building be and still achieve the Phius REVIVE certification for Passive House renovation projects? Key learnings from both the design and construction phases will be discussed. These questions and others will be answered with plenty of time for attendee questions and discussion so that they can take helpful insights back to their businesses and organizations.

Trade Show Break

Join us for coffee and tea while you check out the exhibitors at the Trade Show.

Day 2 Keynote Follow-Up Discussion

Join the presenters from the morning's keynote for a further exploration of the topics discussed earlier, in a more open discussion format.

Introducing the Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan Air-to-Water Heat Pump

Sponsored by Mitsubishi. This session will provide a high-level overview of the function and applications of the new Ecodan air-to-water heat pump product. If you attended the pre-conference webinar on this topic, this will be a great chance to ask questions and dive into additional details.

Closing Reception

Made possible by MassCEC. Join us for the conference's closing reception, celebrating the close of two days of connecting around the conference's theme, Don't Stop us Now. We'll also raise a glass to mark the moment as this year's conference co-chairs, Greg Smith and Clay Tilton, pass the torch to the 2027 co-chairs, Asher Greenberg and Nicole Schuster.