Christine Thomson
Username
Christine Thomson
Proposer First Name
Christine
Proposer Email
cthomson@migcom.com
Proposer Last Name
Thomson
Proposer Company/Organization
MIG, Inc.
Proposer Phone
(617) 784-0274
Boston 2022 Areas of Focus
Proposer Job Title
Urban Planner / Senior Project Manager
Proposer Additional Info
When practicing in Boston, I was a member of NESEA and Chair of the 2006 BuildingEnergy Conference. I am currently practicing in California, but follow the fantastic work that the organization does. Currently a member of the Sustainable Community Design Leaders peer network assembled by BuildingGreen.
Proposed Session Description
The EcoBlock is a model of an advanced energy community that equitably and radically reduces carbon emissions while building community and enhancing resilience. The objective of this funded demonstration project is to build and validate a pilot system that is truly replicable - one that builders, utilities, policy makers and planners can apply to future projects around the world. Carbon emissions are rapidly reduced by conducing water and energy retrofits of existing homes and small businesses, leveraging economies of scale of block-level retrofits, switching fossil-fueled appliances and equipment to electric, and coupling energy efficiency upgrades with a renewable energy microgrid. Neighbors come together to share ownership of solar generation and battery storage for a safer, more secure and more resilient community, one that each individual could not afford on her/her own.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
The focus of the project is working with a low to moderate income existing neighborhood block.
Learning Objectives
Learn about the importance of addressing existing buildings, transportation and communities to reduce GHG emissions.
Meet the collaborative team that includes engineers, city staff, urban planners, academics, utilities, lawyers, etc.
Hear about California's funding of this project and other leading energy transformation projects. Specifically how this project is changing the regulations for microgrids.
Learn about the specific performance gains and lessons learned from this research project
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
Phase I of the project will be presented at the EcoCity World Summit in Feb 2022. This presentation would focus on Phase II - the current work demonstrating the concept through completion of the grant in 2023.
Session Format
Collaborative problem-solving session
Session Format Details
2 presenters introducing the project and focusing on lessons learned. 20-minute presentation followed by Q&A format.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2022
Comments about your speaker roster
We have a large and diverse team, so could substitute speaker for greater diversity or to fit a topical area - e.g. community organizer, city leader, academic researcher.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
Please see the project web page: https://ecoblock.berkeley.edu/
Reviewer 1
Greenbaum, Scott
Proposal #
110
Committee Decision
Rejected
Presenters
Full Description
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in existing neighborhoods. Partnerships focused on retrofitting the existing residential fabric of cities.