Business and Finance

This session will explore the use of systems thinking to accelerate decarbonization in homes and organizations. Through a case study of a single family property being redeveloped as a Passive House infill project, we will illustrate how the design and construction process can leverage the developer’s needs and available incentives. This session is appropriate for the emerging professional in building science as well as the experienced practitioner who wants to level up their impact.

What was once a vision by the Green Justice Coalition (GJC) to support environmental justice communities by making them resilient and removing fossil fuels in their neighborhoods is becoming reality. The goal is simple: How can you provide a decarbonized heating and cooling system on a resilient virtual microgrid without taxing the residents? Chinatown Power Inc., along with the GJC are set to make that vision a reality.

The global implications of climate change require immediate local action, with a major priority being to have a well-trained green workforce to meet the growing labor needs. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Boston, alongside various community partners, piloted the Bridges to Green Jobs program in early 2021 to make clean energy industry jobs accessible to Black and Brown residents.

On October 22, 2022 we held the inaugural Touch A Trade event in Kent, CT. The goal of this event was to introduce pre-teen and teenage children to various trades via hands-on experiences. This first event attracted nearly 500 participants, exceeding projected attendance and demonstrating the value of similar future events. This session will focus on our planning process, outcomes, and feedback from presenters and visitors alike, and appraise the value of the Touch a Trade event as a viable workforce development strategy to be scaled in other communities.

Many classroom environments are unhealthy and uncomfortable, creating poor learning environments with high absenteeism. Older, unventilated classrooms can be economically decarbonized with improved air quality and comfort. This session will present the conversion of a junior high school classroom, featuring a "rolling" room-by-room installation process using a community's local HVAC installation labor with one day of classroom downtime.

While recent state legislation across the region has codified ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in statute, these bills have had a clear lack of funding to address the massive capital investment needed. The tide may now be turning, however, with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the implementation of significant state-level incentives, such as those laid out in Massachusetts' new energy efficiency triennial plan. This session will review the emerging funding landscape and identify effective strategies to leverage and stack these various incentives.

Imagine your utility told you they wanted to invest in state-of-the-art technology for your home or business. No taking on debt, and no matter if you're a renter. Your obligation? Paying a monthly tariff on your electric bill no greater than the resulting energy savings. The tariff would extend only until the utility recovers its investment, and if you move, would simply transfer to the next occupant.