The world of the grid is rapidly changing — with evolution of the grid as we know it, new roles and concerns for utilities, the emergence of microgrids, and new approaches to providing power to communities. We will hear a variety of perspectives on this increasingly complex realm, and begin to envision a more diverse and complex future for grid-connected projects.

Most of us take the electrical grid for granted. But it is perhaps the most complex technological achievement in human history. After more than a century of relative stability, the grid is changing fast. Our conference plenary will explore the technology and policy solutions evolving to enable a more reliable, resilient, environmentally responsible and affordable electricity grid.

As architects, engineers, and municipal planners, how can we rethink the built environment to install more urban food production and distribution in the city? An urban permaculture will frame the session, discussing practices such as: green roofs, pink houses, vertical growing walls, a farm-in-a-box and vertical farms. We will mix short presentations with facilitated conversation about how we, as urban practitioners, can shape the built environment to include urban food.

With net metering and clean energy policy being challenged across the country, the solar community needs to develop more sustainable solutions that reflect the real cost and benefit impacts that distributed energy resources have on the grid and society. This session will address efforts to create a better economic model for distributed generation throughout the Northeast. Among the issues discussed will be efforts to create value based rate structures to encourage solar, storage, security, smarts, and savings on the electrical grid.

Intrigued by the plenary speakers and their visions for the future? The plenary speakers will dig deeper into the conversation in this session and focus on answering your questions about our emerging energy future.

As low energy, super insulated enclosures become more prevalent, some industry leaders question the continued relevance of passive solar design. Should we use the sun to help meet our heating needs, or have newer design tools, construction techniques and materials rendered passive solar strategies obsolete? This session's speaker believes that solar optimized design remains important and will show how an integrated approach to solar design can and should support optimal performance and occupant comfort.

With the drop in envelope loads and the rise in efficient heat pumps (even in cold climates), quite a few homes are moving away from fossil fuels towards electric HVAC. One recurring question is: what to do about water heating? This session covers various options - simple electric tanks, tankless electric heaters, solar thermal, heat pump water heaters, etc. - and presents real cost and energy data from several research & evaluation projects.