Atlas Buildings Hub

Buildings Hub Live: Clean Energy Districts Deliver Energy Prosperity & Productivity
2024-11-12 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Atlas Public Policy is excited to host our seventeenth episode of “Buildings Hub Live,” where we spotlight the changemakers and technologies leading the charge to electrify our built environment.
Join us on Tuesday, November 12 at 4 PM EST as Policy Analyst Stephen Naimoli sits down with Andy Johnson, Executive Director of Clean Energy Districts of Iowa. The pair will discuss progress and developments in the inception and proliferation of clean energy districts nationwide.
What are clean energy districts and how do they function? How did Johnson start up the nation’s first in Iowa? How are state initiatives popping up across the country supporting this effort? Tune in to find out!

Windows of Opportunity: Reduce Costs & Bird Collisions with Energy-Efficient Retrofits
2024-11-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Renew America’s Schools Program is excited to host a webinar in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) about a unique opportunity to improve energy efficiency in your schools while keeping wildlife safe. Register for “Windows of Opportunity: Reduce Costs & Bird Collisions with Energy-Efficient Retrofits” on November 14 from 3:00-4:00PM ET to learn more about how strategic energy efficiency measures can protect bird populations.
Are you considering upgrading your facility doors and windows to be more energy efficient? Incorporating bird-safe measures with energy and cost-saving retrofits creates a dual benefit for the natural environment. Through measures discussed in this webinar, schools and nonprofits can address an issue killing nearly 1 billion birds in the United States annually. Speakers from DOE and FWS will discuss ways that bird-safe windows intersect with energy efficiency goals, toolkits to prevent collisions, and low to no-cost solutions that organizations can employ. School districts, partners, and nonprofits are invited to attend.

Spark the Switch: Overcoming Barriers to Heat Pump Adoption and Electrification
2024-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Despite their energy efficiency and environmental benefits, residential heat pumps are not yet being widely adopted in the United States. Understanding and addressing psychological, social, and economic barriers is crucial to accelerating their adoption and promoting electrification. This webinar will bring together three leading behavioral researchers to explore the heat pump adoption journey—from initial consideration to post-installation support—highlighting key barriers that hinder widespread adoption.
Attendees will gain practical strategies to overcome these barriers, including methods to effectively engage middle actors such as contractors and installers in the decision-making process. The session will also explore innovative approaches to enhance education and satisfaction post-installation, aiming to foster greater uptake of heat pump technology in residential settings.
The webinar will conclude with an interactive discussion on the next steps for social science research to accelerate heat pump adoption and electrification, giving participants and speakers alike an opportunity to provide input that can help guide future funding and program efforts.

Resources and Best Practices for Growing the Green Building Workforce
2024-11-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
As we work to meet climate and energy goals through advanced energy codes and other initiatives at the local, state, and national level, there is great opportunity for the creation and expansion of high-quality clean energy jobs. In this webinar you’ll hear from speakers on various ways to improve training and incorporate building science and energy technologies into curriculum, grow the green building workforce, and prepare workers for in-demand job opportunities.

Green Communities Summit
2024-11-22 09:30 - 15:30 | Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA
Join us at this day-long event where community leaders, clean energy and climate practioners, and committee members gather to discuss innovative energy solutions and celebrate successes in the 15-year history of Green Communities.

The summit will feature presentations on local energy initiatives, policy updates, and opportunities for collaboration. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions about strategies to enhance energy efficiency in their communities and help the commonwealth achieve its 2050 emission reduction goals.

EPC Quarterly Community Poll Briefing: Post-Election Polling on Climate and the Environment
2024-11-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Join the Environmental Polling Consortium for our last community-wide poll briefing on 2024. This briefing is open to the public and will feature important lessons and takeaways for environmental advocates from post-election polling, including presentations on:
-Climate change and energy as issues in the 2024 election, based on exit-style polls and post-election surveys;
-Voters’ priorities for the EPA under Trump, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Network and Seven Letter Insight;
-Voters’ attitudes about solar energy and rooftop solar adoption, courtesy of Data for Progress; and
-Attitudes about clean energy and the economy, including electric vehicles, IRA incentives, and green banking, courtesy of Northwind Climate.
Please register in advance. We will record this session and if you are unable to attend, please register to ensure you receive a follow-up email with the recording and resources shared during the session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Energy Efficiency Policy Forum
2024-12-03 | National Press Club, Washington, DC, United States
As we approach a pivotal moment for energy policy, the 2024 election will determine whether the next administration and the 119th Congress will continue to advance energy efficiency or reverse some of the substantial progress made in recent years. Historic investments through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have set the stage for significant improvements in clean transportation, affordable housing, and industrial innovation. However, with a new administration and Congress on the horizon, the future of these policies hangs in the balance.
The 2024 Energy Efficiency Policy Forum will convene experts and leaders from across government, industry, and advocacy to assess the current landscape of federal energy efficiency policies, explore ways to strengthen and expand these efforts, and discuss how to address potential challenges ahead. In the face of uncertainty, we will chart a path forward—whether that means building on existing achievements, defending against policy rollbacks, or seizing new opportunities to lower consumer energy costs, boost U.S. competitiveness, and combat the climate crisis.
The forum will feature keynote addresses by government leaders as well as sessions focusing on:

Equitable and Efficient Housing. Panelists will discuss their successes and challenges in implementing new building efficiency programs, how programs can be improved, and energy efficiency’s role in alleviating rising household costs.
Industrial Competitiveness and Adequate Power. Panelists will examine the needs of industrial firms as they seek to transform their operations to reduce energy costs and decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and carbon-intensive processes. We will examine how the federal government can facilitate or hinder this transition.
Transportation Reauthorization. Every five years, Congress must reauthorize hundreds of billions of dollars in federal surface transportation programs for highways, intercity rail, and public transit. We will explore opportunities to improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and our nation’s critical freight systems, including a state perspective.

Financing Your Road to Reduction with the Collective Clean Energy Fund and RENEW Energy Partners
2024-12-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
You are invited to join the Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and RENEW Energy Partners (RENEW) for a how-to guide on leveraging the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund at your facilities, accelerating key decarbonization and resiliency projects for your business.
This session will demonstrate how CCEF’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) program can make your project financially viable, taking you through the qualifications needed to apply for the opportunity. We’ll also introduce how RENEW can complement CCEF financing by managing the entire project lifecycle—from planning through implementation. Join us to discover how this partnership allows organizations like yours to remain focused on core operations, while RENEW ensures a seamless process and measurable carbon reductions.
Key Takeaways:
– Learn how to work with CCEF to access the GGRF for affordable financing.
– Explore how RENEW’s comprehensive services streamline project management and optimize energy and emissions outcomes.
– Discover the collaboration between RENEW and CCEF, through case studies.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be a leader in deploying the GGRF at your facilities. Advance your efforts toward reducing emissions and breaking down financial barriers!

Buildings Hub Live: Taking Stock of Buildings Policies in 2024
2024-12-17 13:30 - 14:00 | Virtual
Atlas Public Policy is excited to host our eighteenth episode of “Buildings Hub Live,” where we spotlight the changemakers and technologies leading the charge to electrify our built environment. Join us on Tuesday, December 17 at 1:30 PM EST as we sit down with Rose Stephens-Booker, Managing Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, and Tony Sirna, Buildings Senior Policy Lead at Evergreen Action, to discuss the key federal and state building decarbonization policy moments of 2024.
What major developments came out of Congress and the executive branch in 2024? What regulatory themes arose from state legislatures? And how could these evolutions carry into 2025? Tune in to find out!

Known Unknowns: Key Energy-Efficiency Trends in the New Year
2025-01-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
Hear from some of our industry’s top strategic thinkers as they look ahead to 2025 and what may impact the residential energy-efficiency landscape. From trends to technologies, innovations, and everything in between, you’re sure to take something away from this look ahead.

The Start of the 119th Congress: What You Need to Know
2025-01-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
The Republican-led Congress plans to hit the ground running in January with a packed policy agenda and some new faces in key roles. This webinar will provide a comprehensive look at the start of the new Congress, including top legislative priorities, potential changes to tax and spending policy, and regulatory shifts. Gain insights into the new committee leadership, outlook for major nominations in the Senate, and timeline for key bills.

Assessing Energy Affordability Impacts and Other Key Metrics (Alongside Benefit-Cost Analyses) to Inform DER Investment Decisions
2025-01-14 13:00 - 2025-01-16 15:00 | Virtual
Many states and utilities are looking for ways to address energy affordability when deciding whether and how utilities should invest in or support distributed energy resources (DERs). This multi-day course will describe how conducting a distributional equity analysis (DEA) can be used in conjunction with benefit-cost analyses (BCA) of DERs to provide a broader decision framework that considers key metrics – such as rate and bill impacts, participation, health and safety – and their impacts on underserved (e.g., low income) customers relative to all other customers. This training is geared towards evaluation practitioners, utilities, and stakeholders.
The course will rely largely on the US DOE guidance titled: Distributional Equity Analysis for Energy Efficiency and Other Distributed Energy Resources: A Practical Guide (May 2024).
The training will describe the difference between DEA and BCA, where BCA looks at whether a proposed investment will provide net benefits for all customers on average, while a DEA considers the distribution of costs and benefits for customers with different characteristics, such as low income populations, relative to other customers. Instructors will walk through the seven stages of conducting a DEA, share definitions of priority populations from across the country; describe examples of distributional equity metrics; provide an overview of geospatial tools that can be used to support DEAs; and provide data sources and opportunities to streamline the analysis. The course will also cover example applications of DER to two states, Washington and Illinois, and will illustrate how to combine DEA results with BCA results to inform decision-making.
After this course, students will be able to

Define what equity means to themselves and their organizations.
Compare and contrast the differences between DEA and BCA.
Describe examples of distributional equity metrics.
Explain how DEAs can be used to inform a variety of decisions to advance energy equity goals.

NREL Data on Home Energy Savings Potential for States and Communities
2025-01-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
As home energy rebate programs roll out across the country, learn how publicly available ResStock™ analysis datasets can help to understand the potential state- and community-level impacts of efficiency measures eligible for these programs.

New York City Case Study: Understanding the Relationship between Policy and Actual Building Energy and Emissions Data
2025-01-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
Speakers: Duncan Prahl, City College of New York (CUNY)
Description: This webinar will present new research from the City College of New York (CUNY) evaluating the relationships between New York City (NYC) laws enacted over the past 15 years related to energy codes and benchmarking, building audits, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caps and actual building energy use and permit data. The team will highlight and share findings from a robust analysis comparing NYC energy code cycles and compliance pathways to predicted and actual building energy consumption and GHG emissions. In addition, CUNY will share lessons learned about the data exploration process and recommendations for jurisdictions on how to best collect data related to buildings, energy use, and GHG emissions.

Accounting for Federal Tax Incentives and Other Transfers in Benefit-Cost Analysis of DERs
2025-01-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
This training course will describe how “transfers” – i.e., when an impact on one party is exactly offset by an inverse impact on another party – can be identified and accounted for in benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for distributed energy resources (DERs). The guidance builds on the National Standard Practice Manual for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources (NSPM) and expands upon some of the guidance provided therein.
Tax incentives for installing or otherwise implementing energy technologies are one example of an impact that might be considered a transfer. With the recent significant increases in federal tax incentives for installing clean DERs, it is critical that they be properly characterized and accounted for in BCAs. Other examples of transfers that will be addressed are treatment of utility performance incentives, market price effects and host customer incentives.
The course will present key questions to consider in determining whether an impact is a transfer or not and will explain how the determination depends upon the scope of the BCA test being applied, i.e., whether it is the Utility Cost Test (UCT), the Total Resource Cost Test (TRC), the Societal Cost Test (SCT), or a Jurisdiction-Specific Test (JST).
At the conclusion of this course, attendees will:
• Describe what constitutes a transfer in the context of Benefit-Cost Analysis for Distributed Energy Resources.
• Identify and classify impacts as transfers or non-transfers in various BCA scenarios for DERs.
• Evaluate the role of transfers in different BCA tests (Utility Cost Test, Total Resource Cost Test, Societal Cost Test, and Jurisdiction-Specific Test) and explain how the scope of the test affects the characterization of transfers.

Building Commissioning: Turning Good Intentions into Great Operations
2025-01-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
On January 22nd from 11am PT | 2pm ET, join the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program and the Renew America’s Schools Program to learn about the importance of commissioning new systems to ensure that they function properly. Commissioning is the key to making sure that schools get what they paid for before project turnover and while equipment is still within the warranty period. Learn from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory experts about the steps of proper commissioning: documentation, verification procedures, functional performance tests, validation, and training. This webinar will share resources that schools can rely on when planning for commissioning. Attendees will also hear from IDEA Public Schools (Texas) about how they instituted a new policy to engage an independent third-party commissioning agent (CxA) and found significant improvements.

Large Building Energy Reporting 101 for Building Owners in MA
2025-01-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Starting on 03/30/2024, owners of buildings in Massachusetts over 20,000 square feet will be required to disclose energy usage publicly. Gas, electric, and steam utilities are responsible for providing the information for their customers and building owners are responsible for providing any additional energy usage or building information.
This webinar is designed to provide owners with information about how to comply with the law.

Briefing: How should we talk about attacks on environmental policy and budget?
2025-01-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Join the Combined Defense Project 3.0 and our partners for the first in a series of briefings to understand practical insights into how to best make your messages resonate with your targeted audience.
This briefing is open to advocates and staff in the climate and environmental space and will feature presentations on:
-The latest polling insights from the Environmental Polling Consortium;
-Pointers on defining and reaching your audience from the Innovation Hub; and
-Results from new research sponsored by the Combined Defense Project 3.0
We will record this session so please register in advance to attend and receive all of the briefing materials.

Exploring the Year's Top Priorities in Climate, Energy, and the Environment
2025-01-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
With every new administration and Congress comes a different set of energy and environmental priorities. Despite shifts in political offices and rhetoric, there are opportunities for policy action toward a healthy environment and thriving economy. Join Resources for the Future (RFF) and leaders from across government, business, philanthropy, and media to discuss the big decisions anticipated in 2025. We’ll explore the priorities of the incoming Trump administration and the 119th Congress, as well as offer expert insights to inform research and policy agendas for the coming year.
Join us on Wednesday, January 29 from 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET to hear from these thought leaders on 2025’s big decisions, including upcoming opportunities and challenges with congressional and federal regulatory activities, and how looming federal court decisions may change decisionmaking into the future
Speakers

Carlos Curbelo, Co-Chair, Climate Solutions Foundation
Roger Martella, Chief Sustainability Officer, GE Vernova
Eliza Barclay, Climate Opinion Editor, the New York Times
Kate Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, California Forward
Kevin Rennert, Fellow and Director of the Federal Climate Policy Initiative, RFF (Moderator)

Preserving Federal Clean Energy Investments
2025-01-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
Please join C2ES, along with other participants from the 22 regional roundtables C2ES has hosted over the last several years, for a strategy session about how we can collaborate to protect crucial federal clean energy investments. During this call, C2ES staff will provide the latest information on the state of the debate in the halls Congress, share details about our ongoing activities, and outline how you and the clean energy communities you’re working in every day can help preserve these investments.
This conversation is intended to bring together past participants from regional roundtable events for a foundational conversation to:
• Bring you up to speed on the latest political developments in the clean energy investment debate; • Outline the topics at the center of the debate, key questions that Congress will be grappling with;
• Share a strategy and key messages that can be utilized to strengthen any existing advocacy that you and others in your community are engaging in; and
• Detail several near-term opportunities to work directly with C2ES as part of our federal advocacy efforts.

Buildings Hub Live: Building Performance Standards Begin to Bloom
2025-01-29 16:00 - 16:30
Atlas Public Policy is excited to host our nineteenth episode of “Buildings Hub Live,” where we spotlight the changemakers and technologies leading the charge to electrify our built environment. Join us on Wednesday, January 29 at 4:00 PM EST as we sit down with Katarina Michalova, Program Manager at the City of St. Louis, and Aidan Callan, BERDO Program Manager at the City of Boston, to discuss nationwide developments and milestones in the implementation of building performance standards (BPS).
Why are BPS’ important? How are various state initiatives supporting their expansion? More broadly, what is the role of local and state policymaking for building decarbonization progress? Tune in to find out!

Canary Live Houston
2025-01-30 18:00 - 22:30 | Greentown Labs, Houston, TX
Canary Media is excited to bring our live event series to Houston! We invite you to join us on Thursday, January 30, 2025, 5:00–9:30 p.m. at Greentown Labs.
Check out the agenda below, designed by Canary’s senior reporter, Julian Spector. Featured guests include David Roberts, Tim Latimer, Claire Hao, Naomi Klinge, and Doug Lewin.
Make sure to reserve your spot by getting a ticket today. Space is extremely limited!
On stage: Conversations with clean energy experts.
Off stage: Drink, eat, and socialize with clean energy leaders, investors, inventors, public leaders, and advocates.

NASEO 2025 Energy Policy Outlook Conferenc
2025-02-04 - 2025-02-07 | The Fairmont, DC, Washington, DC
Join top state and federal energy policymakers, private sector leaders, and other change makers from around the country on February 4-7, 2025 in Washington, D.C. for the NASEO 2025 Energy Policy Outlook Conference. This year’s theme is “America’s Competitive Advantage – Abundant, Affordable, Clean, and Reliable Energy” and will feature in-depth discussions on ways in which state-federal coordination can address various energy system challenges such as rising power demand, reliability concerns, evolving economic and workforce needs, equity, and increasing physical security and cybersecurity threats.

Foundations: Energy (in)Equity Training
2025-02-05 12:30 - 2025-02-06 16:00 | Virtual
Start your year off with a group of energy professionals eager to dissect the inequities in the energy system, the sources of them, and the cycles that perpetuate from them.
Energy (in)Equity Foundations is a training where our facilitators “allow different ways for people to participate and be included. In addition, the live facilitator adjustments and implementation of feedback from participants builds trust amongst attendees and facilitators.” – EiE Alumn
Check it out for yourself and snag a seat!

Messaging for Energy and Environmental Executive Orders
2025-02-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join the Environmental Polling Consortium for a presentation of the results from new message testing showing the most effective ways to respond to Trump’s executive orders on energy and the environment, including:
-Withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement;
-Opening up more public lands and waters for oil and gas drilling, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska;
-Suspending new government permits and leases for wind energy projects;
-Weakening vehicle emissions and efficiency standards; and
-Repealing the government’s environmental justice programs.
This work was conducting with the Sierra Club, GreenLatinos, and other partners. We will record this session and send out the materials to all registrants – if you cannot attend live, you can still register and receive the follow-up materials.

The Power of Partnerships: Collaborating to Strengthen K-12 Energy Infrastructure
2025-02-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
For K-12 school districts, successful energy infrastructure projects often rely on innovative partnerships. The U.S. Department of Energy is excited to host a webinar highlighting different partnership models that can help school districts move forward with making energy improvements that reduce utilities and costs and enhance learning environments. It will provide examples of community-based partnerships, as well as partnerships with energy service companies, universities, state agencies and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Learn how school districts across the country are engaging with these different types of partners to advance their energy goals.
In this webinar speakers will discuss:
1. DOE Opportunities for Energy Improvements in K-12 Schools
2. The Power of Partnerships
3. School Districts & their Partners
4. Resources and Announcements
Co-hosted by the Renew America’s Schools Program, Efficient and Healthy Schools Program, Better Buildings Solution Center, and Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign.

Geothermal Heat Pumps
2025-02-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Join us on February 19th as we explore the world of Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs), a technology that uses the constant temperature of the shallow earth to provide heating and cooling. Because the ground can absorb excess heat during the summer and act as a heat source during the winter, GHPs are extremely efficient—reducing energy consumption up to 44% compared to air source heat pumps and 72% compared to standard HVAC systems.
While more costly to install, GHPs offer greater longevity and stability than air source heat pumps, and the additional costs may be returned in energy savings in just 5-10 years. We’ll discuss which climates and conditions are optimal for GHPs, and how to decide if your property is a good fit. Our panelists will share the basics of geothermal heat pumps along with their many advantages—high efficiency and extreme climate performance to name a few.
Join us for a 45-minute webinar in which we’ll discuss:

What is a geothermal heat pump and how does it work?
How efficient is a geothermal heat pump, as compared to other types of heating and cooling?
What are the benefits of using geothermal energy?
Why would someone invest in geothermal versus an air source heat pump?
What is the cost to install a GHP
How does the energy savings impact payback time?
Are there incentives available?
What is the lifespan of a GHP system?
What are the ideal climates for GHPs?
How can geothermal energy help the grid?
How do I decide if my property is a good candidate for a GHP?
What about larger buildings or multifamily buildings?
What are the different types of GHPs available?
How can I find someone to install a GHP at my home?

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.
LEARN is a San Diego based workforce education and training program that has partnered with Electrify Now to offer free energy efficiency and electrification webinars. Please visit the LEARN website for more information.

2025 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook Webinar
2025-02-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
The thirteenth edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, produced by BloombergNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, will be released on February 20 and available to download for free at bcse.org/factbook. Designed for a broad audience – from energy professionals to public policymakers – the Factbook offers an insightful and in-depth look at economic, market, and investment dynamics and technology trends. Join BCSE and BloombergNEF for a special virtual briefing on the 2025 Factbook findings.

2025 Energy & Tax Policy Briefing
2025-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
President Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office, setting the stage for energy policy to be front and center on the legislative and policy fronts this year. We’ll discuss what’s at stake for energy on Capitol Hill and how that relates to the tax debate in the 119th Congress.

Buildings Hub Live: New Innovations Make Heat Pumps Even More Efficient
2025-02-25 14:30 - 15:00 | Virtual
Atlas Public Policy is excited to host our twentieth episode of “Buildings Hub Live,” where we spotlight the changemakers and technologies leading the charge to electrify our built environment. Join us on Tuesday, February 25 at 2:30 PM EST as we sit down with Jane Melia, CEO of Harvest, and David B. Calabrese, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Daikin U.S., to discuss their companies’ respective heat pump technologies.
What are their innovations and how are they different from other heat pumps on the market? What are the biggest technical challenges facing heat pumps? What misconceptions about heat pumps do policymakers, homeowners, and contractors hold? Tune in to find out!
