Program
The conference schedule, made easy.
Click on the schedules below to enlarge.
Scroll down to view detailed schedule with speaker and session information
Click below to view the conference schedule for each day.
Click between the 3 different room tracks on Sept. 13th to view each of the breakout schedules.
Zero Energy Accelerator Course: Introduction
With International Living Future Institute (ILFI) & Southern California Edison (SCE)
This 3-hour introductory course is designed for those interested in learning more about the movement towards Zero Energy design, engineering and construction with the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Join ILFI’s Zero Energy Director Andrew Lee to explore best practices for projects pursuing ZNE performance — showing project case studies and strategies to achieve ILFI’s Zero Energy Certification and Living Building Challenge Energy Petal certification — as well as highlight key incentives and other resource offerings from Southern California Edison to support leading projects.
Speaker:
Andrew Lee – Director, Zero Energy, International Living Future Institute (ILFI)
The Living Building Challenge: Creating A Regenerative Future
With the Living Building Challenge: Los Angeles Collaborative
What does a regenerative future for LA look like? How can you become a part of this movement?
The Living Building Challenge Los Angeles Collaborative is a network of deeply passionate and highly motivated sustainability professionals working towards a regenerative future. Our mission is to encourage the creation of Living Buildings, Sites, Communities in Los Angeles while inspiring, educating, and motivating transformative change. Join us for an interactive session to learn about the various Sub-Committees and how to be a part of the Collaborative. Learn about our past and upcoming events to advance the Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Water, and Net Zero Waste goals in the Los Angeles region.
The second half of this workshop will be a presentation by Integral Group, highlighting one of their most advanced NZE projects, the RRC.
The RRC was once an abandoned historic building which had been damaged in a fire and has been transformed into a net zero, LEED Platinum learning center which is educating the next generation of change makers. This project serves as an example of the importance of reusing existing buildings as it relates to embodied carbon and also the opportunities around us to transform existing spaces into new purposes. The project team worked together to implement smart, cost effective, simple design decisions which included passive design elements, re-using many of the buildings existing elements and on-site PV. These strategies work together to reduce the overall energy consumption of the building while also serve as an education opportunity for the students at the college.
Speakers:
Avideh Haghighi – Architect & Sustainability Strategist, ZGF
Kanika Sharma – Energy Analyst & Project Manager, Verdical Group
Sofia Siegel – Project Manager, Verdical Group
Gary Lai – Principal, AHBE Landscape Architects, Inc.
Justin Di Palo – Mechanical Engineer, Syska Hennessy Group
Will Vicent – Energy Codes & Standards, Customer Programs & Services, Southern California Edison
Aline Goganian – Office Coordinator, Natural Resources Defense Council
Sandra Rhee – Project Engineer, Hathaway Dinwiddie
Andy Reilman – Manging Principal, Integral Group
Nika Parsa – Associate Principal, Integral Group
Zero Energy Accelerator Course: Advanced (Commercial & Multifamily)
With International Living Future Institute (ILFI) & Southern California Edison (SCE)
This 3-hour advanced course is designed for those interested in learning more about technical applications for Zero Energy design, engineering and construction in the commercial and multifamily marketplace with the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Join ILFI’s Zero Energy Director Andrew Lee to explore commercial and multi-family project case studies, energy efficiency and renewable applications for the local climate zone, as well as best practices for projects pursuing the Living Building Challenge and Zero Energy Building Certification with ILFI. In addition, SCE program staff will outline relevant incentives and resources for commercial and multifamily Zero Energy projects.
Speaker:
Andrew Lee – Director, Zero Energy, International Living Future Institute (ILFI)
Zero Net Energy: Beyond the Property Line
With New Buildings Institute
As climate impacts intensify, so are efforts to ensure that the carbon-reduction benefits of zero net energy and low-carbon buildings are realized. Moving on from project-by-project approaches, ZNE policy and program strategies in California are expanding beyond the property line to evaluate the opportunities of ZNE at scale—districts, neighborhoods and even ZNE cities. But, large-scale developments raise thorny issues such as how to ensure effective grid integration of ZNE smart building systems and distributed energy resources (DERs). This three-hour workshop brings together leading experts on this topic including a proposed grid optimal building rating and resiliency metrics. Our presenters will share on these aspects as well as the State’s new goals around ZNE at scale, and Santa Monica’s new ZNE requirements and achievements at different project sizes and numbers.
Speakers:
Webly Bowles – Project Manager, New Buildings Institute
David Jacot – Director of Efficiency Solutions, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Rory Cox – Senior Analyst, California Public Utilities Commission
Drew L. Johnstone – Sustainability Analyst, Energy & Green Building, Office of Sustainability & the Environment, City of Santa Monica
Celia Hoag – Senior Engineer, DNV GL
The Challenges of Retrofitting & Monitoring ZNE Buildings
With IBEW-NECA
In this workshop, IBEW/NECA discuss lessons learned during the NetZero Plus building retrofit and continued monitoring. The challenges of retrofit include meeting construction timelines, reducing costly delays, meeting current building codes and the city’s ability to understand NetZero. The interaction between existing and emerging technologies involve solar, battery storage, lighting, and heating/air. The challenges of monitoring the retrofit building may include the equipment not operating properly and prioritizing adjustments needed to maintain Net Zero. Additionally, many banks are not internally prepared for this emerging NetZero building concept. This includes the financial cost and property appraisals. The goal of this workshop is to bring knowledge from experience in order to assist others with navigating the challenge of transitioning to NetZero, while determining the best company route for setting goals with company priorities in mind.
Speakers:
Jim Willson – Chapter Manager, Los Angeles County Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
David Nott – Apprentice Coordinator, Los Angeles County Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
Dan Cohee – Vice President, PDE Total Energy Solutions
Joel Barton – Business Manager, IBEW Local 11
Registration & Breakfast
Enjoy a light breakfast provided by a generous sponsorship from San Diego Gas & Electric. Network, reconnect with your fellow NZ18 attendees.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Join Verdical Group Founder & Principal, Drew Shula, and premier sponsor Southern California Edison in the Auditorium to kick off your day at the nation’s largest net zero building conference!
Morning Keynote Address: Jason F. McLennan
Jason F. McLennan – CEO, McLennan Design
The Net Zero Plus Facility Renovation
The Net Zero Plus Electrical Training Institute serves as the flagship building performance model for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) organizations. This “living laboratory” with solar panels, a microgrid, EV charging stations and a sophisticated building automation system dashboard boasts net positive energy performance while also serving as the educational hub for over 1,500 electricians annually.
Speakers:
Jim Willson– Chapter Manager, LA NECA
Diana Limon – Training Director, Net Zero Plus Electrical Training Institute
Kanika Sharma – Energy Analyst & Project Manager, Verdical Group
Tyler Lazarian – Field Superintendent, Electric Service & Supply Co.
Morning Break
Network, reconnect, and enjoy refreshments with your fellow NZ18 attendees.
Southern California Utility Leadership Panel
Southern California’s leading utility providers come together to discuss their most exciting new initiatives and interact with audience members in a brief Q&A session.
Speakers:
Jill Anderson – Vice President, Customer Programs & Services, Southern California Edison (SCE)
Sharon Tomkins – Vice President, Customer Solutions, Communications and Environmental Strategy, SoCalGas
Reiko A. Kerr – Senior Assistant General Manager, Power System Engineering, Planning, and Technical Services, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Janice Berman – Director, Grid Innovations, Pacific Gas & Electric
Moderator:
Nurit Katz – Chief Sustainability Officer, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Midday Keynote Address: Senator Kevin de León
Kevin de León – President, California State Senate
Lunch & Passive House California Icebox Challenge
Enjoy a delicious lunch, thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Southern California Gas Co. Network, reconnect, and enjoy lunch with your fellow NZ18 attendees. Don’t miss the grand unveiling ceremony of Passive House California‘s Icebox Challenge held from 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm outside the venue next to the main entrance!
Net Zero 2018 Transit Panel
This panel will discuss the future of transportation efficiency, equity, and technology in a rapidly changing world. Moderated by the Mayor of Culver City, with perspectives provided by major changemakers in the transit space including Uber, Metro, Renu Ventures, BYD, and LADOT, join a discussion on the future of urban mobility and impact on carbon emissions and climate change.
Speakers:
Thomas Small – Mayor, Culver City, California
Megan Prichard – General Manager, Uber
Corinne Ralph – Head of Transit Operations, Los Angeles Department of Transportation
Boris von Bormann – Founder & Managing Partner, Renu Ventures
James Holtz – Regional Head of Sales, Southern California, BYD
Net Zero for the Public Good: The City of Santa Monica and the Living Building Challenge
The city of Santa Monica is building the first Living Building Challenge in Southern California. It will also be one of the first municipally owned Living Building Challenge projects, and likely the most densely populated building to earn the Certification. These reasons create unique challenges for the design team, but also as provide an exciting opportunity to advocate for better design as a Public Good. Through this project, the design team has advocated for greener building codes, greater transparency in the public process, innovative precedents for design build projects, and a better understanding of how material selection impacts environmental justice.
This session will focus on a case study of the challenges and opportunities presented by a municipal Living Building Challenge project. The City of Santa Monica will introduce the project and its unique design features, as well discuss the impact that the public review process plays in creating a more transparent approach to the design and construction process.
Speakers:
Jessie Buckmaster – Sustainability Manager, Hathaway Dinwiddie
Joel Cesare – Capital Improvement Project Manager, City of Santa Monica
Julian Parsley – Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineering
Mariam Mojdehi – Project Architect, Frederick Fisher & Partners
Afternoon Break
Network, reconnect, and enjoy refreshments with your fellow NZ18 attendees.
On the Path to Net Zero - Reducing the Embodied Carbon of Buildings
Buildings – construction and operation – comprise one of the largest consumers of energy and sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions from buildings consists of the embodied carbon of materials and emissions from operations.
This presentation will describe the approaches and best practices employed by two building product manufacturers to reduce embodied carbon and how specifiers and building owners can take advantage of these insights.
In the first case, the manufacturer was able to attain Carbon Neutral product verification based on the PAS 2060 standard. In the second case, the manufacturer pursued and ultimately achieved Reduced Carbon Footprint recognition, built around a Wind Farm Power Purchase Agreement.
Specification of Carbon Neutral or Reduced Carbon Footprint products is an important step towards a Net Zero future.
Speakers:
Gale Tedhams – Director of Sustainability, Owens Corning
Robb-Davon Butler – Regional Sales Director, Interface
Keith Killpack – Manager, Life Cycle Assessment Services, SCS Global Services
Danny Gleiberman – Manager, Product Compliance and Government Affairs, Sloan Valve Company
All Systems Go: Toward Zero Energy, Water, and Waste in Buildings
The drive towards zero energy buildings is imperative, but what about water and materials? Leading organizations are trending towards zero energy, water, and waste in building design and operations.
This panel session will discuss how LEED and other rating systems help project teams design for net zero water, waste, and energy; identify synergies and disconnects between these goals; hear from global leaders implementing these strategies on real projects; and explore “zero” performance during operations.
Panelists include USGBC, Google, and teams working on multiple net zero goals for companies like Salesforce. We’ll share lessons learned in pursuing goals for zero waste on construction projects, tips for meeting design targets to reduce water and energy use, and case studies for achieving high performance with the help of ‘renewable water’. The session will inspire and prepare attendees to target multiple zeros and pursue leadership certifications that benchmark and verify performance.
Speakers:
Lauren Sparandara – REWS Sustainability Program Manager, Google, Inc.
Emma Hughes – Project Manager, LEED, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Piper Kujac – Director, Project Management, Urban Fabrick
Afternoon Keynote Address: Mahesh Ramanujam
Mahesh Ramanujam – President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council
NZ18 Evening Reception & Raffle
Party Time! Join us for drinks, snacks, networking, the Reception Raffle, and free tours of our revolutionary net positive venue.
Lunch & Passive House California Icebox Challenge
Enjoy a delicious lunch, thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Southern California Gas Co. Network, reconnect, and enjoy lunch with your fellow NZ18 attendees. Don’t miss the grand unveiling ceremony of Passive House California‘s Icebox Challenge held from 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm outside the venue next to the main entrance!
Equitable ‘Net Zero’ for Buildings: Primary Energy Renewables and the All Electric Future
Tall buildings in urban areas are inherently problematic when assessed under the current framework of ‘Net Zero’ energy. Taller buildings with small roof to floor ratios cannot add sufficient on-site generation to off-set energy consumption. Dense, urban environments with poor solar orientation or within the shadow-fall of other buildings add to this challenge. Yet we know that increased building density is inherently more sustainable than urban sprawl. How can we balance these contradictory drivers to increase renewable energy but not sprawl and give urban buildings a fairer shake under a new ‘net zero’ framework?
This presentation shares an alternate framework to ‘Net Zero’ that offers a more equitable assessment of local generation credits not based on total floor area. It includes alternate options for large buildings and those challenged by poor orientation or shadow-fall. The presenter will share additional features of this framework that encourage fuel-switching plus a more regional- and climate-specific design of mechanical systems that enhance and align with renewable energy generation.
Speakers:
Bronwyn Barry – Co-President, Passive House California
Debunking ZNE Myths: The Game Show!
As ZNE is becoming more common, it’s also getting more push back from those who know little about what it truly means. This interactive session will prepare you to refute claims from clients, fellow designers, newspaper editorials, and even your anti-development Aunt Tammy. Yes, even Aunt Tammy. “It’s too expensive!” “It’s ugly!” “No one wants to live in a mud puddle.” This session will give you the tools to counter the myths. Next, test your training as you go head-to-head with fellow zero energy building professionals in this game show setting to debunk common ZNE myths.
Speakers:
Webly Bowles – Project Manager, New Buildings Institute
Celia Hoag – Senior Engineer, DNV GL
Breaking the Myth of Water Scarcity for Living Systems in Urban Architecture
Paul Kephart will present how a multi-disciplinary team of architects, ecologists and landscape designers can take a drop of water and transform it into a well-spring for resilient design in arid urban environments. The importance of fresh water on the planet is increasing exponentially. Prices are increasing, water systems are aging, and availability is decreasing. Designing for Net-Water is no longer a luxury; it is ‘responsible’ design.
Speaker:
Paul Kephart – CEO, Founder, Principal Ecologist, Rana Creek Design
Eco-Water Districts: A Possible Sustainable Water Future for Southern California
By 2050, the population in California is expected to rise to 50 million people while our rainfall is projected to decrease by 10-15% due to climate change. A new model for urban water use must be considered: Eco Water Districts. An Eco Water District would be completely water independent – effectively taking the community off the water grid. Because of Southern California’s penchant for developing purely aesthetic manmade lakes in the late 20th Century, these lakes are prime candidates for Eco Districts. New waste water treatment methods allow urban watersheds to become localized. As Echo Park Lake has proven, these aging lakes can be revitalized into great urban parks that not only provide beauty and recreation but also become part of the urban infrastructure.
Speaker:
Gary Lai – Principal, AHBE Landscape Architects, Inc.
Afternoon Break
Network, reconnect, and enjoy refreshments with your fellow NZ18 attendees.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Road to Net Zero
Startups frequently represent the forefront of technology in our society – a theme that holds true especially for the cleantech and clean energy industries.
This panel will be a discussion on the role of entrepreneurs and startups in achieving net zero in buildings and transportation. The panel will discuss the unique role that clean technology startups play within the green building ecosystem, and how their products and businesses fuel the innovation and shift the market sentiment needed to make net zero a reality. The panel will be comprised of founders and leaders of startups supported by the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) from across a variety of sectors – including renewable energy, water, waste, and transportation.
Speakers:
Sanjay Poojary – President & CEO, Saya Life
Aric Ohana – Co-Founder, Envoy Technologies
Lauren Gropper – Co-Founder & CEO, Repurpose Compostables
Jeff Horowitz – Director of Business Development & Partnerships, NEXT Energy Technologies
Moderator:
Ben Stapleton – Senior Vice President, Operations & Finance, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
2020 & 2030: Net Zero Code in California Panel
Speakers:
Rory Cox – Senior Analyst, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Dan Burgoyne – Sustainability Manager, State of California Department of General Services (DGS)
David Ashuckian – Deputy Director, Energy Efficiency, California Energy Commission (CEC)
Moderator:
Mark Lyles – Project Manager, New Buildings Institute
Afternoon Keynote Address: Mahesh Ramanujam
Mahesh Ramanujam – President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council
NZ18 Evening Reception & Raffle
Party Time! Join us for drinks, snacks, networking, the Reception Raffle, and free tours of our revolutionary net positive venue.
Lunch & Passive House California Icebox Challenge
Enjoy a delicious lunch, thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Southern California Gas Co. Network, reconnect, and enjoy lunch with your fellow NZ18 attendees. Don’t miss the grand unveiling ceremony of Passive House California‘s Icebox Challenge held from 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm outside the venue next to the main entrance!
Net Zero 2018 Waste Panel
Speakers:
Bill Stonecypher – Manager, Solid Waste Management & University Recycling Program, Loyola Marymount University
Denise Braun – Principal, All About Waste
Nadereh Afsharmanesh – Vice President of Sustainability, Earth Friendly Products
Maya Henderson – Sustainability Manager, Kilroy Realty Corporation
Moderator:
Stephanie Barger – Development, Market Transformation & Development, Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI), TRUE Zero Waste Program
Cheaper and Safer: How ZNE Profits Both Affordable and Luxury Housing Developers and Residents
This talk brings together two of the pioneers and ongoing leaders in the affordable NZE movement. Sean Armstrong and Robert Fortunato’s presentation will explode myths with facts from the field—ZNE is less expensive, safer and more luxurious. In this engaging presentation, they will illustrate how developers and contractors have adopted profitable business strategies, sharing lessons from homes to high rises.
Speakers:
Robert Fortunato – President, ForStrategy Consulting, Inc.
Sean Armstrong – Partner, Redwood Energy
FireSide Chat on Distributed Renewables: Creating Value for your Portfolio
This session, a fireside chat with Drew Torbin and Sara Neff, will discuss how institutional property owners and users of energy are creating additional value by installing onsite solar and storage at their properties. Sara and Drew will discuss the benefits landlords, tenants and users of energy are seeing by procuring their energy onsite. They will deep dive further into what it takes to actually get steel in the ground – covering topics such as contract negotiation and construction, and discussing the many pitfalls to avoid.
Speakers:
Maya Henderson – Sustainability Manager, Kilroy Realty Corporation
Drew Torbin – CEO, BlackBear Energy, Inc.
Afternoon Break
Network, reconnect, and enjoy refreshments with your fellow NZ18 attendees.
Sunnylands: When Zero is Just the Start
In 2015, the Annenberg Foundation at Sunnylands proceeded with an expansion on the historic Rancho Mirage estate. Seven aspirational goals were set, including Net Zero Water and Energy in one of the most extreme climates in country. Rather than ending at net zero, this project aspired to, “Start at Zero” and have positive impact. Learn how to create: exceptional human experiences, “default off” for low EUI, renewable energy planning, water balance planning, cleaning the water, carbon neutral, zero waste, using red-list complaint materials. Challenges were: Energy demands for sensitive archive collections, desert drought conditions, intense sun, worsening water and soil quality, extensive landscape on a limited water budget, regulatory barriers, cost constraints and many other challenges associated with small buildings, tight budget and large aspirations.
Speakers:
Patrick Thibaudeau – Vice President, Sustainability, Hammel Green and Abrahamson
Leighton Deer – Senior Mechanical Project Engineer
Lance O’Donnell – Owner, o2 Architecture
Moderator:
Lisa Fay Matthiessen – National Sustainable Design Director, Hammel Green and Abrahamson
ZE School Changes School District Design Goals
Discovery Elementary School is the first elementary school designed in the 21st century for Arlington Public Schools in Virginia. The new school is two floors, 97,600 square feet, and built for an occupancy of 630 students. The AIA COTE Award winning school has a 16.4 EUI with a 500 kilowatt PV system. Discovery’s budget matched the last school constructed and had a sustainability goal of LEED Silver. The evolution of Discovery into the largest Zero Energy school in the U.S. demonstrates that exceptional outcomes can occur when the design team and owner share a common vision to design a school that provides a better environment for student education and a building that can be part of the education process.
Speakers:
Tony Hans – National Director for Sustainable Projects, CMTA
Brian Turner – Electrical Engineer, CMTA
Afternoon Keynote Address: Mahesh Ramanujam
Mahesh Ramanujam – President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council
NZ18 Evening Reception & Raffle
Party Time! Join us for drinks, snacks, networking, the Reception Raffle, and free tours of our revolutionary net positive venue.