New this year, Lightning Rounds pack as much information into one session as possible. You’ll hear succinct, to-the-point, and practical presentations on a variety of data-focused topics, including: Extracting Value from Data: How energy management can help save millions of dollars a year by bringing down energy bill costs significantly while improving productivity.

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has radically reworked its Net Zero Energy Building certification to be significantly more straightforward and user friendly, at the same time as improving energy performance data and case study information.

Experience, technology, new architectural approaches, and many other factors are advancing toward Zero Energy Buildings being more affordable, especially in a residential setting. In addition, tax incentives, renewable energy credits, and solar financing can potentially swing a Zero Energy project from “in the red” to “in the black.”

This session offers a basic "how to" about high performance housing development and a critical look at the impact that high performance infill housing development can have on an entire neighborhood. Declan Keefe, Strategic Director of Placetailor, an architecture, construction and development company, will use their development projects in the Fort Hill neighborhood of Boston as a case study to explore how high performance speculative housing can be done and the impacts that it can have beyond just the building itself.

What are the real-world loads and efficiencies of domestic hot water (DHW) systems in multifamily buildings? New Ecology, Inc. has tested many DHW systems using data loggers and Btu meters, and used these data to inform the design of new and upgraded DHW systems. Testing has determined tenant usage patterns, system efficiencies and issues with controls and system components.

Your building is only as efficient as the operators and inhabitants. Even the most sophisticated and efficient building systems can be undermined by poor training and behavioral biases. New knowledge about these biases has led to proven, people-centered strategies with high savings to investment ratios.

One-to-four unit homes present special challenges to energy-efficiency upgrades. Many of these homes were built from 1890—1960 and lack insulation, leak air, and waste energy and water. This panel will share data and solutions to improve the energy- and water- efficiency of these homes, discuss cost-benefit analyses of planned improvements, describe options for testing results of completed upgrades, and explore how to pay for this work.

Recent research revealed that an estimated $11M in energy cost is wasted annually due to open vents at the tops of tall buildings. The vents are code-mandated but are left open, allowing tall buildings to become chimneys in winter. A NYSERDA study report published by Urban Green Council quantified the energy impact and recommended retrofits to halt the airflow escaping from elevator and stairwell shaft vents.

How do we make affordable housing both healthier for residents and more energy efficient? This panel will document successful healthy housing and energy efficiency strategies that LISC and its partners have used to achieve results in New York City and Massachusetts.