Atlas Buildings Hub

Leveraging the Most Effective Messages on Appliance Standards
2024-05-29 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) and The American Council at an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) are delighted to invite you to a webinar unveiling new audience and messaging research to enhance our collective communications and advocacy efforts for strong energy efficiency standards. Please join us for a presentation and Q&A session where we will walk through the key takeaways from recent audience and messaging research and testing, including messages that move specific audiences to action. We will also offer actionable recommendations for how our allies and like-minded organizations can employ the research findings in our communications and advocacy plans to influence the narrative and policy around efficiency standards.

Power demand is skyrocketing. What should utilities do about it?
2024-05-29 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The U.S. is in the midst of a major electricity growth spurt — and power grids aren’t ready to handle it. New data centers and factories are pushing near-term power demand growth way beyond forecasts, and electric vehicles and building electrification will add even more strain in years to come.
A number of utilities are asking regulators to approve the construction of new fossil-gas power plants to meet rising demand, but they threaten to derail the country’s fight against climate change. Cleaner, cheaper alternatives are readily available.
Join Canary Media and expert guests for a live online discussion on the challenge posed by fast-rising electricity demand and what utilities should be doing about it.

Navigating Organizational Funding for Home Energy Upgrade Programs in Justice 40 Communities
2024-05-21 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The federal government is releasing historic amounts of funding to advance home energy upgrades in the United States right now, with many specifically dedicated to delivering energy savings, comfort, and health benefits to Justice 40 communities. Many of these funding opportunities come with difficult applications and complicated requirements due within short timelines.
Join us for a three-hour workshop to hear actionable advice on the nuts and bolts of applying for Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law grants, prizes, and technical assistance. Participants will hear from municipal staff and community leaders about their experiences applying for federal grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000,000. Industry experts will detail best practices for finding federal opportunities that match participant priorities and completing a successful application. The workshop will culminate in a breakout room session where participants will work through a sample funding opportunity notice, creating a sample project plan and drafting an outline to complete a successful federal grant application.
This is the first workshop in a series organized by EPA and R2E2 and designed to support community-based organizations, small businesses, and local governments in creating equitable efficiency and electrification home upgrade programs.

Getting Cashback for Clean Energy: Direct Pay Tax Credits for Nonprofits
2024-05-21 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The DOE Renew America’s Nonprofits Program is hosting a webinar Tuesday, May 21 at 1PM ET highlighting a new funding opportunity: Elective Pay (also called “direct pay”). As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, nonprofits are now eligible to receive direct cash payments equal to the full value of tax credits for qualifying clean energy or transportation projects.
Hospitals, housing providers, religious institutions, and other community-based organizations are invited to learn more about eligible technologies and how tax-exempt entities can take advantage of tax credits worth up to 70% of the project cost.
Speakers include:
* Alex Kate Halvey, AAAS Fellow, DOE Office of Policy
* Daniel Bresette, President, Environmental and Energy Study Institute
* Ben Evans, Federal Legislative Director, U.S. Green Building Council

Public Workshop: Zero-Emission Space and Water Heater Standards
2024-05-14 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) staff invite you to participate in a virtual public workshop to provide input on the development of zero greenhouse gas emission standards for space and water heaters. These standards seek to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new space and water heaters sold in the state to help meet California’s climate goals and federal air quality standards. At this workshop, staff will solicit input on an updated draft regulatory proposal. Staff will request feedback on zero-emission technology types, costs, and adoption rates to include in the modeling work to estimate emission reduction and cost impacts for the regulatory proposal. Staff will also solicit input on suggestions for alternative regulatory concepts for inclusion in the Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment that will be prepared for this regulatory action. In addition, this workshop will also serve as a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meeting to solicit input on the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) to be prepared for the proposed project.

This workshop is one in a series of workshops and focused meetings with interested parties that CARB will be hosting to inform the rulemaking process for zero-emission space and water heater standards.

Using LIHEAP and WAP to Expand Low-Income Solar Access
2024-05-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Low- and moderate-income households make up fewer than 20% of solar adopters, despite representing over 40% of U.S. households. Federal assistance programs—like the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)—can address this solar access gap through a variety of pathways for low-income households. Just last year, WAP and LIHEAP issued guidance to support the inclusion of solar. The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have published new resources to help integrate solar into these services for low-income households, including a decision guide, implementation toolkit, case studies, and more: http://www.energy.gov/scep/wap/solar-resources-wap-and-liheap
A new report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), “Solar Pathways in Federal Energy Assistance Programs: Expanding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP),” chronicles NREL’s efforts to document successful implementation pathways through analyzing LIHEAP and WAP annual plans, surveying LIHEAP grant recipients and WAP Grantees about obstacles to solar implementation, and conducting interviews and workshops with program administrators. Read it here: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/88519.pdf In this webinar hosted by the Clean Energy States Alliance, report authors will discuss their findings and explore effective ways that WAP and LIHEAP state agencies can bring solar to their clients.
Speakers:
– Juliana Williams, Energy Markets and Policy Specialist, NREL
– Jenna Harmon, Researcher, Decision Support Analysis, NREL
– Matt Ohloff, Clean Energy States Alliance (moderator)

Your Guide to an Equitable Energy Transition
2024-05-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join Enterprise, Housing Partnership Network, and RMI on Thursday, May 9th for a deep dive into our new digital resource, the Affordable Housing Decarbonization Hub. We’ll introduce each of the partners involved in creating this resource, guide you through navigating the site, and offer opportunities to provide feedback to help us grow the Hub to empower your decarbonization journey.

2024 National Energy Codes Conference
2024-05-06 - 2024-05-08 | Sacramento, CA
Welcome to the 2024 National Energy Codes Conference! This year’s event will be in Sacramento, California. Join us for another engaging set of topics, educational sessions, and networking opportunities.
Event Details

Pre-conference Workshops: Monday, May 6
Full Conference: Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7 & 8
Holiday Inn Sacramento
Sacramento, CA

Who Should Attend
Energy code users and participants of all types! Building officials, builders, state energy offices, trade associations, energy efficiency organizations, architects, engineers, policymakers, manufacturers, utilities, code administrators, educators, researchers and more!

Buildings Hub Live: Electrifying Buildings in Cold Climates
2024-05-01 09:30 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Atlas Public Policy is hosting its fourteenth episode of “Buildings Hub Live,” where we spotlight the changemakers and technologies leading the charge to electrify our built environment. Join us Wednesday, May 1 at 9:30am EST for a discussion on progress and developments in electrifying buildings in cold climates with Marnese Jackson, Executive Director of the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, and Michael Stoddard, Executive Director of Efficiency Maine.
Just over one-third of buildings in the United States are in cold climates. It is often thought that electric heating technologies like air-source heat pumps can’t perform in these climates, but technologies have improved and deployment is soaring in some famously cold regions. The Midwest and Northeast are the two coldest contiguous regions nationwide, and also rely most on piped gas, propane, or fuel oil for space heating.
So how are practitioners in these places helping customers electrify their buildings and save money on their energy bills? What role do federal, state, and local governments play? RSVP today to find out!

2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard: Are Cities Living up to their Climate Commitments?
2024-04-30 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
As the primary drivers of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, cities are facing an urgent need to quickly take actions that will reduce their carbon footprint. Many have set ambitious targets to lower GHG emissions, increase renewable energy, electrify the buildings and transportation sectors, and to do so while advancing racial and social equity. But are cities’ leaders doing their part to meet these goals?
Join us and find out as we reveal city rankings from the 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard. We’ll also discuss emerging trends in clean energy plans, policies, and programs across the country. Attendees will hear from officials in several leading cities about what they are already doing, and planning, to reduce energy use and GHG emissions, while simultaneously advancing racial and social equity.

Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Infrastructure
2024-04-26 13:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Schools are invited to watch the White House’s first-ever Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Infrastructure on April 26th, highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to providing communities equitable access to energy efficient, climate resilient, and healthy school facilities that are conducive to learning. This summit will highlight the pressing need for sustainable 21st-century school infrastructure and the impact that facility conditions have on student and teacher health and learning outcomes.
The event will also provide deeper insight into the tools and existing commitments offered by the federal government to invest in school sustainability and infrastructure. Students, educators, administrators, parents, and other school stakeholders are invited to tune in to the opening plenary and panels on April 26th from 1 – 3:30 p.m. ET.

Ductless cold climate heat pumps for multifamily applications
2024-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Approximately 25% of multifamily units in buildings with four units or fewer and more than 40% of units in larger multifamily buildings (MFB) in Minnesota are heated with electric resistance heat (MN Energy Efficiency Potential Study, 2018). This is particularly prevalent in lower-income buildings whose occupants can least afford high heating costs. Technological advances in cold climate air source heat pump (ccASHP) technology offer an opportunity to reduce heating energy use and occupant energy costs in this underserved housing sector. However, retrofit applications of ccASHPs to MFBs is distinctly different from that in single-family homes, and it is crucial to effectively recognize and address these differences for ccASHPs to meet their truly large savings potential in MFBs.
Hear key findings from Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) on a field study of a sample of ccASHPs in four Minnesota multifamily buildings, where CEE installed, monitored and evaluated the performance of these ccASHPs over at least one full heating season. The presentation will cover the detailed performance data to unpack the trade-offs of different ccASHP applications and approaches, installation best practices, the importance and impact of good controls, and interactions with existing and supplemental heating sources.

The Intersection of Energy Codes and Electrical Codes on the Road to Decarbonization
2024-04-18 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
As the U.S. housing stock electrifies and decarbonizes in the coming decades, hundreds of millions of new electric loads will be added to new and existing dwellings. The cost and burden of this transition will depend, in part, on the need to upgrade the nation’s electrical infrastructure. The National Electric Code (NEC) is used nationally to calculate electrical loads and size service infrastructure and has been identified as an obstacle in addressing existing dwellings. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) has led an effort funded by the US DOE to review the existing electrical code for barriers to household electrification, which led to an analysis by LBNL of sub-metering data to support proposed changes to the code. This session will address NEC requirements around solar PV, home batteries, and Energy Management systems. Speakers will summarize the barriers identified in the current electrical code, present an overview of project data analysis, and review proposed code changes.
Continuing education credits (AIA and ICC) will be offered for most of the live events. Instructions for requesting certificates of completion will be provided during each webinar.
Learn more about the BECP Energy Code Webinar Series: https://www.energycodes.gov/becp-energy-code-webinar-series

Healthy Homes Fair
2024-04-06 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | DC Armory, Washington DC
The Healthy Homes Fair is a free expo and interactive experience for homeowners, renters, home renovation professionals and career seekers to learn about the products and services needed to improve our health, increase comfort, and reduce emissions from the homes of the DC region.

Decarbonizing Residential Space Heating in Cold Climates
2024-04-03 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Decarbonizing home heating can be challenging in the coldest U.S. regions. Electric heat pumps can operate in very low temperatures, but with reduced performance and the potential for increasing winter peak electricity demand. Hybrid systems with biofuel backups for the coldest days could help economically yet wouldn’t achieve full decarbonization. How can clean heating be achieved in the most extreme winters without straining household budgets?
Join this webinar to hear the results of a new ACEEE report examining the future costs of decarbonized heating in the coldest areas of the country. Report authors and outside experts will discuss the impacts of several possible technologies, including common heat pumps, furnace and boiler options, the use of low-carbon backup fuels stored in small tanks, and adoption of air-to-water heat pumps.

Maximizing Municipal Energy Strategies
2024-04-03 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The U.S. Department of Energy State and Community Programs (SCEP) office is launching a new educational webinar series focused on Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) in the non-federal sector. The next webinar in this series, “Maximizing Municipal Energy Strategies” is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th 11:00 am PDT and will feature an interview with Lindsay Hawes, Municipal Energy Program Manager at City of San Diego. Lindsay will share how she is navigating the challenges of implementing a new ESPC strategy that promises to address the modernization needs and decarbonization efforts of municipal government.
Attendees will also learn how eProject eXpress (ePX) makes it easy for project owners and their ESCOs to manage project documents, track data, and report on project achievements. All municipal stakeholders, including leadership, sustainability, finance, legal and facility staff are welcome!

Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit
2024-04-02 08:00 - 2024-04-04 17:00 (America/New_York) | Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit will be April 2-4, 2024 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. Join us for engaging and interactive sessions, as well as opportunities to network with your fellow industry peers and experts. Stay tuned for information about plenaries, special events, and more.

Packaging and Marketing Comprehensive Home Energy Upgrades: Results of a Nationwide Study
2024-04-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Comprehensive home energy upgrades can be expensive for most homeowners, but a new report finds that targeting the right audience, with the right messages, and offering attractive upgrade packages with appealing financing can significantly shift behavior. State energy offices putting energy efficiency programs into place can use this information with their marketing partners and contractor networks to maximize uptake and increase efficiency and comfort for homeowners.
Join us for a webinar to learn about the results of this nationwide survey asking 1,500 homeowners to reflect on scenarios in which they would invest (or not invest) in comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades. Attendees will hear insights from experts in both the marketing and residential energy efficiency fields who will discuss the potential impacts of the research.

Energy Exchange 2024
2024-03-26 - 2024-03-28 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Energy Exchange represents the largest agency driven training event and tradeshow for the for the federal energy and water management community. Energy Exchange brings experts together from federal, state and local governments, utilities, and the private sector to identify new and emerging technologies and leverage lessons learned to combat the climate crisis..
Hosted by the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program, this event helps ensure that the federal energy and water community is not only aware of the technical, operational, and institutional practices and solutions to meet the ambitious climate goals – but also equipped to implement strategies and take action. This training event plays a critical role in connecting the federal community with the knowledge and resources necessary to achieve net-zero emissions in federal operations.

Energy Code Enforcement Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities
2024-03-21 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
With fewer building department staff, longer distances to travel between job sites, and less opportunity for workforce education and training, energy code enforcement can present unique challenges in rural communities. This webinar will highlight some of these specific challenges faced by code officials and others in the field and describe existing solutions and new opportunities to help improve code enforcement and compliance.

Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Home Energy Rebates Public Hearing
2024-03-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has scheduled a public input session for the Home Efficiency and Electrification Rebate Programs through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This law included funding opportunities for states to implement two energy efficiency rebate programs: Home Efficiency Rebates (Sections 50121) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (Section 50122). The funding for these programs will be awarded through the State Energy Offices, such as DOER.
DOER plans to submit an application for both programs this spring. DOER anticipates receiving $73,233,910 and $72,809,130 for each program, respectively. DOER aims to deploy HER and HEAR in such a way as to enhance equitable outcomes while building upon the Commonwealth’s existing efforts in building energy efficiency and electrification. In anticipation of our application, DOER will hold a public input session to present a straw proposal for program design and solicit community input on its proposed deployment plans.
Energy Rebates Public Input Session
Monday, March 18 at 1-2 pm
Zoom
Please register for the Public Input Session here. The Public Input Session will be recorded and available on our website after the 18th. The agenda for the Input Session will include an overview of the straw proposal and time for verbal public comment. The straw proposal will be posted on our website and circulated to this distribution list before the Public Input Session for review.
In addition to verbal comments during the meeting, DOER appreciates the submission of written comments no later than Monday April 1, 2024 to:
Christina Moroney-Ebarb at christina.moroney-ebarb@mass.gov.
The input from this public session and the written public comment will inform the design of DOER’s rebate program application. In addition, to solicit input on the program design, DOER anticipates there will be future opportunities for engagement and community feedback throughout the duration of the DOER rebate program.

2024 State Energy Conference of North Carolina
2024-03-12 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | McKimmon Center, Raleigh, NC
The State Energy Conference provides actionable insight into the business of energy, connecting technical innovation, diverse resources and industry opportunity to help drive North Carolina’s regional energy economy forward with national impact. The 2024 State Energy Conference will be held in person at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC. Come to network, learn best practices, hear about successful case studies, engage in important energy discussions and more.

2024 Hot Water Forum & Hot Air Forum
2024-03-12 - 2024-03-14 | Hilton Atlanta, 255 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States
The 2024 Hot Water Forum (HWF) is the premier technical conference dedicated to efficiently producing, distributing, using, and reusing hot water. Since its inception in 2008, this two-day conference has brought together seasoned experts and newcomers to exchange knowledge, foster innovation, and help drive market transformation.
In addition, ACEEE presents the second Hot Air Forum (HAF), focusing on decarbonizing space heating in buildings of all kinds through heat pumps. Both conferences will explore how these industries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve grid resilience, and center equity.
The HAF will kick off the event in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 12 to 13, then transition to the HWF, March 13 to 14. The events will overlap on the 13th, a full day of collaborative sessions covering the intersections between space and water heating.
Previous HWF/HAF gatherings have attracted diverse attendees, including equipment and component manufacturers; water, gas, and electric utility professionals; and local, state, and federal agency representatives. Energy efficiency program planners, operators, evaluators, electricians, plumbers, installers, policymakers, representatives from NGOs, engineers, consultants, and other experts have found value in the sessions and great networking at the events.
These two conferences have separate sponsorships, with a 50% discount on the second sponsorship for companies supporting both events. Please get in touch with Alan Raymond for more information.
Join us in shaping the future of hot water and space-heating efficiency at the 2024 HWF and HAF conferences.

The Future of Indoor Air: Policy Solutions for Clean and Healthy Buildings
2024-03-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
When strategizing health and climate goals in the building sector, the US has a blind spot: indoor air. Despite being one of the country’s top five major health risks, indoor air pollution is currently overlooked and unregulated. Burning fossil fuels in buildings releases additional health-harming pollutants that exacerbate climate change. A recent report from RMI summarizes how indoor air quality guidelines are a critical first step to effectively address indoor air pollutants, and how they can inform policy measures to mitigate risk.
RMI will host a virtual panel discussion on March 6th, 2024 at 11am ET, summarizing their recent report and convening industry experts to illuminate why now is the ideal time to improve indoor air and what policy solutions are available to deploy. They’ll also answer key questions about indoor air pollution and building performance, including those from audience members.

Illuminating Impact: Integrated Lighting Campaign Gives Back to the Community
2024-02-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
DOE’s Integrated Lighting Campaign (ILC) recognizes innovative lighting control projects that push the envelope in terms of energy savings, novel capabilities, and non-energy benefits. Join this webinar to learn how two recognized participants upgraded their facilities and brought benefits back to their communities.

Addressing Existing Buildings: Building Performance Standards and Implementation Support Tools
2024-02-15 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
There is a great opportunity to make an impact by addressing the energy use and performance of existing buildings. In this webinar, speakers will discuss the use of Building Performance Standards (BPS) and outline best practices, tools, and financial incentives that can be leveraged to support BPS implementation.

Tracking and Tackling: Reducing Commercial Tenant and Scope 3 Emissions
2024-02-13 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Commercial organizations are increasingly accounting for tenant and scope 3 emissions, but reducing these emissions and tracking progress toward a target remains a challenge. Join this webinar to hear from Better Buildings leaders and industry experts about their experiences in defining and reducing these emissions.

Buildings Hub Live: Education's Electrification
2024-02-09 13:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Atlas Public Policy is excited to host our thirteenth episode of “Buildings Hub Live,” where we spotlight the changemakers and technologies leading the charge to electrify our built environment. Join us on Friday, February 9 at 1:30 PM EST as we sit down with Sara Ross, Co-Founder of UndauntedK12, and Ryan Kmetz, Energy Program Manager at the Maryland Energy Administration, to discuss progress and developments in the electrification of K-12 public school buildings. Why is building electrification important for student health and performance? How is recent federal funding accelerating the electrification of public schools? How are various state initiatives supporting this effort? Tune in to find out!

The New Cool: The Transition to Low-GWP and Natural Refrigerants
2024-02-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) released into the atmosphere pose a significant global warming impact, prompting regulatory measures from the EPA to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs by 85% by 2036. This webinar will prepare building owners and facility managers to comply with regulations by explaining how the HFC phasedown affects technologies in commercial buildings. In addition, participants will learn how industry leaders are complying with the phasedown by transitioning to natural and low-GWP refrigerants.

2024 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference
2024-01-30 12:00 - 2024-02-01 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Marriot Magnificent Mile, 540 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
The Midwest Energy Solutions Conference unites the region’s leaders and innovators in energy efficiency for three days of insightful panels and unparalleled networking. This annual conference is about celebrating the industry’s accomplishments, while looking ahead at the changing policy landscape and latest technological breakthroughs.

Join us in Chicago for MES 2024 and find out why MES is the region’s premier energy efficiency event.
What past attendees say about MES:

“My best networking all year long!”
“I’ve met many of my current clients at MES.”
“The speakers are great…networking is outstanding.”
“I will make definite new sales from contacts I made there.”
“The most diverse energy-related conference I have ever attended.”

Learn more about accommodations, sponsorship and pre-conference events at www.meeaconference.org.
