BuildingEnergy Boston 2019 Conference Sessions

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 8:30am to 10:00am
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Carbon Drawdown Now! Turning Buildings into Carbon Sinks

With our BuildingEnergy Boston 2019 theme of “Know-How” in mind, we are pleased to announce this year's keynote session, presented by Chris Magwood of the Endeavour Centre in Peterborough,... Full Description

8:30 am to 10:00 am Harbor 1 and 2

Single Family

Multifamily

Commercial

Design & Construction Process

Beyond Energy*

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 10:30am to 12:00pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Developing Leadership Effectiveness: The Superpower for Excellence in Design

Leadership effectiveness is keystone to an organization’s success, but not always a skillset supported in the education of design professionals. Developing your leadership capabilities begins with self-... Full Description

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Marina 2

Business Practice

Connecting the Dots: Aligning Policy, Programs and Funding

Over the past decade, state and municipal jurisdictions have adopted increasingly ambitious climate action plans and goals for the reduction of building energy consumption. However, the devil is in the... Full Description

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Marina 1

Multifamily

Resiliency

Codes

Policy

Finance

CANCELLED - Real-World Lessons in the Design and Application of Variable-Refrigerant Volume (VRF) Systems

This session is CANCELLED - with our apologies.

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Harbor 2

Tools of the Trade for Building Diagnostics

How do you go about diagnosing a sick, leaky, dripping, humid, dry, or uncomfortable building? Join Kohta Ueno for an overview of the tools that he commonly uses in his diagnostic work on building... Full Description

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Harbor 1

Building Envelope

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Getting Schooled in Passive House (Tale of Two Schools)

The New England climate put high performance building to the test for the construction of two Passive House schools in Southern Maine: new construction of the Maine Coast Waldorf High School in Freeport,... Full Description

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Harbor 2

Building Envelope

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Institutional

New Construction

Retrofit

Design & Construction Process

Standards in Action**

Affordable Multi-Family Housing Net Zero AND Passive House? Challenges, Opportunities, Mistakes and Solutions

If high end clients can’t “afford” Passive House or Net Zero Energy Certification, how can non-profit housing developers possibly afford both? Twin Pines Housing is taking on that challenge with a 29-unit... Full Description

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Harbor 3

Multifamily

Standards in Action**

The Cannabis Cultivation Conundrum: Lessons and Insights from the Design Studio to the Growroom

With a growing growing industry and a fresh round of local energy regulation, we will provide new insights into actual design and just how much energy real cannabis production facilities are consuming. Sam... Full Description

10:30 am to 12:00 pm Marina 3

Commercial

Design & Construction Process

Resiliency

Codes

Policy

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 12:15pm to 1:15pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
The Transmogrification of HVAC in Today’s High Performance Buildings

This session will provide attendees insight into the disruptive technology that is changing the HVAC industry in North America. The commercial HVAC industry is slow to adopt new technology, and engineers... Full Description

12:15 pm to 1:15 pm Harbor 3

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Diversity Caucus and Focus Group

For people of color, indigenous people, LGBTQIA, people with disabilities, and women

Calling all people of color/indigenous people, queer, trans and gender non-binary individuals (lgbtqia),... Full Description

12:15 pm to 1:15 pm Marina 4

Business Practice

Policy

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Healthy for People and Planet: Why Smart Material Choices Are Essential for High Performing Buildings

Whether net zero, Passive House, or other certification is your objective, incorporating a healthy materials strategy is as essential as figuring out how you will design the building envelope and mechanical... Full Description

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Harbor 3

Building Envelope

Single Family

Multifamily

Commercial

Design & Construction Process

Beyond Energy*

The Race Toward Decarbonization

Many states in the Northeast have aggressive long-term carbon reduction goals, but are we on track to get there? While energy efficiency has been critical to minimize load growth and in some cases turn the... Full Description

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Marina 3

Building Envelope

Single Family

Multifamily

Beyond Energy*

Cities

Standards in Action**

Codes

Policy

Capital Improvement Plan: From Concept to Implementation

Planning for big goals, like becoming a Net Zero community, while attending to the smallest details of managing a diverse building portfolio, is hard. This session will explore how the City of Cambridge, MA... Full Description

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Harbor 2

Institutional

Retrofit

Energy Production & Storage

Resiliency

Standards in Action**

Policy

When the Grid Goes Down: Saving Lives with Your Building's Envelope and Backup Power

Storms, wildfires, heat waves, cyber-terrorism: For many reasons, there is growing interest in ensuring that our buildings will keep occupants safe and provide a reasonable level of functionality during... Full Description

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Marina 2

Building Envelope

Multifamily

Institutional

New Construction

Health & Comfort

Resiliency

The Art + Science of Cost-Effective High-Performance Buildings: How Data Informs Outcomes

Creating high-performance buildings requires a balance of art and science. Design decisions can no longer be guided by aesthetics and intuition alone; they require careful study to achieve desired outcomes... Full Description

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Marina 1

Building Envelope

Health & Comfort

Beyond Energy*

Air Source Heat Pumps: Measured Performance and Best Practices

A cast of experienced building energy geeks discuss measured performance of air source heat pumps and best practices for installation. With so many ASHP systems going into new buildings, we keep learning... Full Description

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Harbor 1

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Single Family

Multifamily

Commercial

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Biophilia Is in Every Building We Cherish: Re-Discovering Biophilic Design

Join us in a biophilic exploration of well-known buildings (focusing on the Boston area), to illuminate the natural influences that can be strengthened in design and operation of all buildings. Our session... Full Description

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Marina 2

Health & Comfort

Beyond Energy*

Cities

Quebec City's Eco-District: Low-Energy, Affordable, Sustainable and Cost-Effective

This session will discuss 3 successful case studies from Quebec City with collaborative approaches: a 13-story cross-laminated timber frame eco-condo project and an energy efficient affordable townhouse... Full Description

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Marina 3

Building Envelope

Multifamily

Institutional

Beyond Energy*

Resiliency

Cities

Next Gen Passive House: New Technologies, Strategies and Processes

The Passive House standard is a critical tool for reducing our carbon footprint, yet it remains largely underutilized. Our panelists have each developed strategies, over the course of their long,... Full Description

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Marina 1

Building Envelope

New Construction

Design & Construction Process

Business Practice

Resiliency

Standards in Action**

Pull Back the Curtain! What Is Really Happening in Your Boiler Room?

New Ecology, Inc. installed low-cost monitoring equipment in over 100 buildings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in fall 2016. Over two years later, there is a wealth of information to share! The initial... Full Description

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Harbor 3

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Multifamily

New Construction

Retrofit

Cost and Energy Optimization for Net Zero Multifamily

An owner/developer and Net Zero consultant will present lessons learned from two Net Zero projects in Rotterdam, NY. They'll describe how an integrated process and extensive energy modeling allowed the team... Full Description

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Harbor 2

Building Envelope

Multifamily

New Construction

Design & Construction Process

Standards in Action**

Deep Energy Retrofit with Tenants in Place

Retrofitting existing buildings with occupants in place will be key to meeting our emissions reductions targets. This session will explore how a project team planned and executed a retrofit to target net-... Full Description

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Harbor 1

Multifamily

Commercial

Retrofit

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Friday, March 15, 2019 - 8:30am to 9:30am
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Carbon Drawdown Now! Prefabricated, Carbon-Storing Building Components Built Before Your Eyes

Making “drawdown buildings” - buildings that store more carbon than they emit - may be much less complicated than you think. Come watch a demonstration of a prefabricated building panel being assembled live... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Burroughs

Single Family

Multifamily

Commercial

Beyond Energy*

Balancing Energy and IAQ: Case Study of a LEED Home Retrofit

For too long, the green residential buildings conversation has focused on new construction. Existing homes deserve their day in the sun. This occupied retrofit case study illustrates how homeowners... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Harbor 2

Single Family

Retrofit

Health & Comfort

Beyond Energy*

Standards in Action**

A Commercially Viable Net Zero Office Building: Technology, Beauty and Meaning

The Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) is designing and building a Net Zero Energy office building to demonstrate that Net Zero Energy is achievable for the same cost as a conventional developer office building... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Harbor 3

Building Envelope

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Commercial

New Construction

Design & Construction Process

Resiliency

Timber's Role in Modern Urbanization

Due to their high strength, dimensional stability and positive environmental performance, mass timber building products are quickly becoming materials of choice for sustainably-minded designers. This... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Marina 1

Multifamily

Commercial

Institutional

New Construction

Design & Construction Process

Resiliency

Codes

Energy Storage Behind the Meter in Massachusetts: New Incentives, Programs and Economics

The session will present new information on the cost effectiveness of behind-the-meter energy storage; new incentives for installing storage, including rebates, performance incentives and zero-interest... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Marina 3

Multifamily

Commercial

Institutional

Energy Production & Storage

Policy

Finance

In Pursuit of Performance: A Multifamily Retrocommissioning Case Study

Achieving strong building energy performance requires a virtuous cycle: Design, Measure, Analyze, Adjust, Measure Again. We explore what this means in practice through the experience at a senior housing... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Marina 4

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Multifamily

Airtight, Cellulose-Insulated Assemblies: Simple Advice from the Woods of Maine

What is the secret to designing and building foam-free, airtight and vapor-open assemblies that are super high performing? Jesper Kruse will provide a deep dive look into the Passive House wall and roof... Full Description

8:30 am to 9:30 am Harbor 1

Building Envelope

Single Family

Multifamily

New Construction

Retrofit

Design & Construction Process

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Friday, March 15, 2019 - 10:00am to 11:30am
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Air Infiltration Reduction Testing: 5 Case Studies for Proven Energy Savings

In their quest for deeper energy savings, many projects expand building enclosure energy conservation measures (ECMs) opportunities beyond HVAC and lighting systems energy savings. The Air Infiltration... Full Description

10:00 am to 11:30 am Harbor 2

Building Envelope

Multifamily

Commercial

New Construction

Retrofit

Design & Construction Process

Cities as Clean Energy Leaders, Innovators and Practitioners

Cities and towns are leading the way on climate. This session will introduce participants to exciting clean energy work that cities and towns in Massachusetts and beyond are accomplishing to advance climate... Full Description

10:00 am to 11:30 am Harbor 3

Energy Production & Storage

Cities

Policy

The Building Science of Prefabricated / Off-Site Construction

It's been claimed that off-site construction can result in more tightly built, energy efficient buildings that cost less. What is the field experience developed using prefab components and systems? When and... Full Description

10:00 am to 11:30 am Harbor 1

Building Envelope

Design & Construction Process

Smart Retrofits: Pathway to a Low-Carbon World

Our fastest path to a low carbon world is using the billions of buildings which already exist. Smart, rapid, affordable retrofits to improve energy performance are essential, but doing so has a carbon cost... Full Description

10:00 am to 11:30 am Marina 1

Retrofit

Beyond Energy*

Cities

How Can Public Policy Promote Multifamily Passive House Projects?

The affordable multifamily housing market is leading the expansion of Passive House in larger scale construction, supported by public policy and influenced by competitive state financing. This panel of... Full Description

10:00 am to 11:30 am Marina 3

Multifamily

New Construction

Standards in Action**

Codes

Policy

Finance

Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel Case Study: Diverting Food Waste for Energy Production

The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel’s comprehensive program for diverting waste from disposal includes recycling in both common spaces... Full Description

10:00 am to 11:30 am Marina 4

Commercial

Institutional

Energy Production & Storage

Beyond Energy*

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Friday, March 15, 2019 - 11:45am to 12:45pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Carbon Klatsch

Klatsch (noun) - a casual gathering of people, especially for refreshments and informal conversation

As a community, we have a gut feeling for R values, air tightness, energy metrics, and so on, but... Full Description

11:45 am to 12:45 pm Harbor 3

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Friday, March 15, 2019 - 11:45am to 1:15pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Detailing Continuity Building Enclosure Systems (Window and MEP Flashing Solutions)

Detailed review of proper window and door and MEP flashing solutions. Watch or participate in a hands-on demonstration of flashing tapes and liquid flashing alternatives.

Sponsored by:

... Full Description

11:45 am to 1:15 pm Burroughs

Building Envelope

New Construction

Retrofit

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Friday, March 15, 2019 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
Pump It Up: Retrofitting Homes through Weatherization, PV, and Heat Pumps

Come hear the results of a variety of innovative pilot programs in several states delivering deep energy savings to homeowners through access to renewable energy, heat pumps, and weatherization, while... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Marina 4

Single Family

Retrofit

Energy Production & Storage

Finance

Solar Access for the Underserved

Throughout the country, we have seen rapid growth in the residential solar space supported by a wide range of industry players and solar offerings. However, growth has been slow in our low and moderate-... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Marina 2

Multifamily

Commercial

Energy Production & Storage

Cities

Finance

Local Wood in Practice: A Conversation across the Material Stream

Building professionals have an essential role to play in forest conservation; they hold the power to shape forested landscapes through the materials they consume on behalf of their clients. Informed... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Harbor 2

Design & Construction Process

Beyond Energy*

Cities

Dealing with Dust in the Wind: New EPA Guidance for Home Air Cleaners

After an extensive review of current epidemiological literature, the US EPA guidance for air cleaners in the home was updated and reissued in July 2018. The revised guidance includes major changes in... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Marina 1

Single Family

Multifamily

Health & Comfort

Clean Energy and Resiliency for Small Towns

Small towns confront different challenges than do larger, more urban communities, often in terms of density, resources, infrastructure, and connectivity to funding, outreach, and technical assistance. This... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Harbor 3

Retrofit

Energy Production & Storage

Resiliency

Cities

Policy

Large Scale Passive House: What’s Working

We have much to learn from the successes and challenges faced by the first generation of large Passive House projects. This session will examine new construction and retrofits of mid-size and larger... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Harbor 1

Building Envelope

Mechanical Systems & Lighting

Standards in Action**

Smart Homes and Sustainability: Putting Data into Practice

Navigating the smart-home hype is a challenge, particularly when trying to decide what smart-home technologies can make meaningful contributions to sustainability. This session will help practitioners... Full Description

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Marina 3

Building Envelope

Single Family

Multifamily

Retrofit

Standards in Action**

Policy

* Beyond Energy (water, carbon, materials, etc.)
** Standards in Action (e.g., LBC, Net Zero, PH)Friday, March 15, 2019 - 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Session Title Time Speakers Room Areas of Focus
A Common Sense Approach to Red List Free Materials

Material transparency and optimization is a hot topic in the green building industry, but it can be difficult to know how to get involved in these market transformation efforts. This session will share how... Full Description

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Harbor 3

Institutional

New Construction

Health & Comfort

Design & Construction Process

Beyond Energy*

Standards in Action**

How Big Is Small? Compact Presentations of More Life in Less Space

Small is BIG for sustainability. High utility in modest space using fewer resources. Six dynamic & compact presentations: Why small? + How small? + Plan Solutions + Shared space + Urban challenges +... Full Description

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Harbor 2

Single Family

Multifamily

New Construction

Design & Construction Process

Cities

Carbon Free Boston

The City of Boston has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050.  Buildings have a key role to play as they currently account for 75% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers in the Institute for... Full Description

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Harbor 1

Beyond Energy*

Cities

Policy

The Power of Partnerships: How to Achieve Affordable, Net-Zero Urban Homeownership

Net-Zero is not that hard – but squeezing in ownership at 80% of median income is challenging and important. This presentation will lay out a planning, design, and financial platform, based on the Green... Full Description

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Marina 1

Multifamily

Design & Construction Process

Cities

Policy

Finance

Resilience Gaps and Clean Energy Solutions at State-Owned Medical and Residential Care Facilities

In 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources contracted with Arup to conduct an Energy Resilience Assessment of 12 state-owned care facilities which house difficult-to-relocate residents who... Full Description

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Marina 3

Institutional

Resiliency