Commercial

The Path to Greener HVAC Refrigerants

Transitioning to Low Global Warming Potential Refrigerants is outlined as a key strategy for New York State to achieve its long-term climate goals. During this session, you’ll gain a better understanding of existing state (focus on NY) and Federal initiatives, regulations, and history impacting the use of refrigerants in heat pumps and other HVAC equipment, the existing equipment and refrigerant options available today, and the challenges facing New York City and its workforce in adopting this technology.

Engineering Design Considerations for Energy and Carbon Reduction Recommendations

To comply with NYC Local Law 97, buildings will need guidance on how to implement capital measures that effectively reduce carbon emissions. However, even detailed energy studies can have unrealistic recommendations if engineering design considerations are neglected. Meanwhile, design engineers tend to focus more on system sufficiency instead of efficiency. Practitioners are tasked with narrowing this knowledge gap and identifying crucial details that could make or break a building’s ability to implement recommendations.

Achieving Resource Efficient Decarbonization in Cold Climates

The session will describe the Empire Building Challenge (EBC) process and Resource Efficient Electrification, expanding on the recent BuildingEnergy Magazine article on the same topic. We will update our learnings based on the work conducted by Cohort 1 of the Empire Building Challenge, and we'll be able to announce Cohort 2, as well as examining the work conducted with that group of real estate owners and MEP engineers. We're excited to continue updating the NESEA community on these efforts.

Breaking Ground on Geothermal and Thermal Energy Networks: A Pathway for Urban Areas

Current pathways to carbon emission reductions are primarily driven through electrification of heating via heat pumps. Types of heat pump technology that are underutilized in the NYC area are ground source heat pumps (GSHP)/geothermal energy and other thermal networks. Heating and cooling from geothermal energy and other thermal networks are not novel technologies and have been used in urban areas in North America and Western Europe for some time. However, these systems are still facing barriers to adoption.

Thermal Bridging '22 What to Know and What to Do

Thermal Bridging can lead to problematic condensation, increased energy usage, reduced occupant comfort, and even noncompliance with energy codes. However, we have the tools to address this challenge. In this session, we will review the three types of structural thermal bridging, briefly cover foundation and slab edge insulation placement and detailing, summarize the conductive thermal requirements of the Energy Codes and, most importantly, identify strategies to calculate the impact on code compliance of structural thermal bridging conditions and mitigated details.

Collaborating for Community Decarbonization

How can the residents of “Energy Town, USA” meet their carbon emissions reduction goal in a way that lifts up their entire community? Working interactively and collaboratively in small breakout groups, participants in this workshop will develop innovative solutions to this challenge. As facilitators, NEEP staff will guide each group with best practices and deep knowledge from their own work in various communities across the Northeast. Context points from real towns will be shared regarding building stock, homebuyer markets, economic parameters, and more.

KEYNOTE - Small But Mighty: The Untapped Potential of Mid-Size Buildings

While regulations and policy discussions often focus on large buildings, much of New York City’s building stock is made up of mid-size commercial and residential buildings, both of which have a unique set of needs when it comes to electrification and decarbonization. This year’s keynote will focus on how to put the right tools and resources in the hands of building owners and contractors, enabling them to be real drivers of change in the market.

Capital Planning and Electrification in the Time of Local Law 97

Capital planning has always been an integral part of a building owner’s strategy, but with NYC’s Local Law 97, state and city carbon reduction goals, gas moratoriums, and a shift towards electrification, it is more important than ever to have a long-term strategy based on the specifics of a building, property, or portfolio. This session will provide an overview of different integrated solution options and technologies for both commercial and residential buildings, including geothermal, thermal storage with energy sharing, and VRF.

Decarbonizing Office Spaces: Case Studies and Interactive Discussion

In commercial buildings, tenants account for more than 50% of energy use. With the recent enactment of Local Law 97, tenant energy contribution becomes even more critical, as commercial landlords will not be able to comply with emission caps if tenants are not engaged. This session will highlight how two tenants collaborated with their building owner to implement advanced energy solutions and reduce building energy consumption.

Delicate Balance: Weighing Embodied vs. Operational Carbon in High-Performance Design

Embodied Carbon (EC) will account for nearly half the global carbon emissions from new construction in the next 30 years. The urgency with which industry professionals, real estate developers, product manufacturers, and property owners must work together to reduce EC in their projects and product selections is mounting. Though sometimes in conflict, EC and Operational Carbon (OC) must be addressed holistically, rather than solving for one at the expense of the other.
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