Celine Damide
Username
Celine Damide
Proposer First Name
Celine
Proposer Email
celine.damide@brightcoreenergy.com
Proposer Last Name
Damide
Proposer Company/Organization
Brightcore Energy
Proposer Job Title
Clean Energy Data Analyst
Boston 2023 Areas of Focus
Proposed Session Description
In this moderated panel discussion, you'll hear from a group of diverse speakers that represent various aspects of the built industry. Through the lens of building science, consulting, outdoor spaces, healthy materials, policy, and medical backgrounds, we will explore and unpack how race, geography, and economics intersect in healthy housing. Specifically, through networked geothermal heating and cooling, we will exemplify how this sustainable alternative to burning fossil fuels and other pollutants can help support low-income communities through a more cost-effective utility framework, while increasing the health, comfort, and access to open space for BIPOC communities.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
This session centers on energy equity and how decarbonization and electrification strategies are supporting public health, open space, and affordable and clean energy. Environmental justice communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution from on-site combustion fuels and are in most need of clean, renewable energy. In addition to being renewable, HVAC technologies, such as geothermal, can be the most efficient to reduce energy cost burdens, especially in community configurations. This system will help to keep affordable housing affordable. Lastly, geothermal solutions provide access to additional healthy amenities through minimalizes roof equipment to increase valuable outdoor space that has historically been limited for disadvantaged communities. The session will touch on how thermal energ networks, like geothermal can deliver the maximize benefits for communities.
Learning Objectives
Describe the fundamentals of ground source heat pump HVAC systems and the ability to configure them into district/community systems.
Explain how energy equity, grid electrification, and the health benefits of geothermal tie into public health and access to open space.
Recognize tools and resources available to promote the design of healthy and high-performance buildings.
Identity and engage community stakeholders to advocate for healthier and more affordable clean energy solutions.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Session Format Details
(Intro) Lauren to open with the intersection of health and building energy systems. How disadvantaged communities are being left behind in the electrification transition and what solutions can (Presentation) Dave, technical subject matter expert, will provide a brief overview of how GSHP systems works, networked applications, and their importance in the decarbonization transition. (Moderated discussion)Lauren will moderate a discussion between panelists on the current gaps in electrification from an energy equity, access, and public health perspective. Based on this discussion, how can current solutions be scaled to maximize decarbonization impacts, especially in historically disadvantaged communities. The conversation will lead to how the audience can learn from the current advocacy to identify opportunities for clean heating and cooling in their own communities.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2023
Reviewer 1
Bastante, Silvana
Reviewer 2
Bastante, Silvana
Curator
Roth, Kurt
Proposal #
129
Session #
305
Committee Decision
Accepted
Full Description
In dense urban environments, building heating and cooling emissions are at the forefront of pollution that affects people and the environment. As the largest energy consumer and an emitting portion of buildings, the focus on decarbonizing HVAC systems is crucial. The new Inflation Reduction Act provides significant incentives to make Ground source heat pumps more accessible to owners and developers to adopt. This allows high-performing technologies to become available to low-income communities that have traditionally been shut out from these systems. A solution like geothermal energy can be optimized by scaling to the community/district level. This session will unpack ways in which centers healthy indoor environments, innovative technologies, and community advocacy into action on the road to a more environmentally equitable future.