In recent years, increasing levels of distributed generation have led to challenging questions about how utilities charge customers for the electricity they use. To date, this has largely been a debate between utilities and distributed solar industry and advocates, but the potential impact on energy efficiency is enormous. The session will take a close look at proposed reforms in electric rate design, show how they could change the economics of consumer investments in residential energy efficiency, and recommend what works best for the modern energy consumer. A key topic will be the trend among utilities to increase fixed fees, also known as customer service charges, to levels that impair consumer control over energy costs and disrupt energy efficiency. Also spotlighted will be legislation passed in Connecticut that established a pro-consumer definition of the fixed fee and how that approach might translate to other states in the region. Overall, this session will present a concrete vision for how grid reform can accelerate, not impede, progress on making our buildings highly-energy efficient.

Solar policies continue to evolve at breakneck pace, making it challenging to keep on top of all of the latest. Which types of proposals are likely to catch on and drive the industry as it progresses towards maturity? How will solar policies interact with pushes for grid modernization? This session will provide a quick update on the latest in the states with major changes and then a discussion on what three engaged solar policy experts consider the most interesting developments we’ll see in the next year or two (good or bad). We’ll also discuss lessons learned in the last couple years. Come listen in as three of the brightest in the industry push back and engage on the most interesting issues in solar.

Energy storage technologies are receiving a great deal of attention and investment. This second of two sessions will take a closer look at energy storage applications, business models, case examples, and project development considerations in the Northeast region and nationally. What technologies are being deployed now, under what business models, and what circumstances make sense technically and economically for your project? We will describe energy storage applications for grid support, peak shifting and load leveling, renewable energy integration, microgrids and resilience, and aggregations for demand response. We will consider how energy storage might apply to your projects, clients and communities, and explore value streams and business models for energy storage deployment including third party ownership and power purchase agreements.

Energy storage technologies such as batteries, flywheels and thermal storage are poised to reshape our energy systems at the scales of the grid, communities, buildings and vehicles, and the relationships between these categories. This first of two sessions will provide an overview of energy storage technologies, applications and markets in the Northeast region and nationally. It will highlight the research from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources energy storage study underway. Is the energy storage tipping point truly in sight? What market applications are favorable for which sets of technologies? What impact will storage have on renewable energy deployment? How might electric vehicles mobilize opportunities for energy storage in the built environment? Please join us as we cut through the hype for a lively discussion of developments in this dynamic field.

While few argue about the importance of resilience in an age of climate change (with more intense storms, rising sea levels, more frequent drought, and worsening heat waves), there remains little focus on resilient design in building codes, zoning bylaws, and voluntary building rating systems, such as Passive House, Living Building Challenge, and LEED. In this interactive session, the presenters will lead a discussion about how to make resilient design more of a mainstream focus. They will report on inherent resilience aspects of Passive House, recent changes to the Living Building Challenge that address resilience, and new LEED pilot credits.

Every building is tied to a series of infrastructure systems through government, wires, cables, energy, and humans. In this session an architect examines the "meta-infrastructure" that buildings nestle into.

Cities play critical roles in achieving our climate goals, and proactive approaches toward energy efficiency and clean energy drive economic development, revitalization, and local job growth. This session will provide a detailed look at the efficiency and clean energy plans in some of NYC’s neighboring cities – Philadelphia, Yonkers, and Albany– and discuss lessons learned from efforts to advance energy solutions. Such participation in city-to-city networks and city-state partnerships are particularly effective ways to unleash innovative solutions.

Mass transit in and into NYC serves 15.1 million people, yet people still drive their cars into the City. The nation’s largest mass transit system helps reduce carbon dramatically in the City, and a new congestion pricing proposal is supported in NYC, but ignored in Albany. Learn from two experts about where we are and where we need to go to move people in and out of NYC.

NYC uses about a billion gallons of water per day, and the system that delivers it to our tap is both vast and frail, as is the system to dispose of and reuse our water. Water costs many owners more than energy, and sometimes property taxes. Learn about the system, NYCDEP incentives to reduce usage, successful retrofit projects, and the current and future state of NYC’s sewer system.