The U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program funded research on how community leaders and builders can integrate land use, transportation, urban design features, and certain building energy technologies to produce energy-efficient development projects in California. Researchers modeled these technologies and design features for two development sites in Chula Vista, California, and assessed their impact on the environment and the existing electric and natural gas utility infrastructure. Additionally, researchers examined market and institutional barriers that prevent municipalities and the development industry from adopting these types of communities.

Join us for this web conference to hear the research findings. We’ll discuss how suggested integrated use of these technologies and features can reduce aggregate energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of a large-scale development project by as much as 45 percent and 33 percent, respectively, when compared to a Title 24–compliant project.

To achieve these gains, a fundamental market transformation is necessary, and state agencies and utilities must take leadership roles in facilitating the transformation.

We’ll also share how additional research could improve modeling tools, further evaluate the carbon reduction potential of various technologies and design features, and resolve economic and policy barriers impeding this form of development in California.

Speakers:

David Weightman, Energy Commission Specialist, California Energy Commission
Doug Newman, President, Sustainable Community Development Consultants; Director, National Energy Center for Sustainable Communities (NECSC)
Marek Czachorski, Independent Consultant; Former Lead Building Modeler, Gas Technology Institute
Denny Stone, Independent Consultant; Former Chief Economic Officer, City of Chula Vista
Jason Lally, Director of the Decision Lab, PlaceMatters
Doug Walker, President, Placeways
Nick Lee, Chief Development Officer, Sustainable Community Development Consultants; Former Project Manager, McMillin Development Company

You will learn:

• Where to find valuable practitioner design and policy reference guides derived from the research
• Which modeling tools were used to evaluate the energy efficiency and emissions performance of alternative building technologies and urban design features
• What the most important barriers and potential solutions are to energy-efficient development in the United States
• How the municipality and private development companies have used the research results to advance sustainable development in the City of Chula Vista

Who should attend:

Professionals in the development and building industry, including urban and regional planners, architects, engineers, modeling experts, and community development officials.

For more information about attending this web conference, please contact Customer Service or call 1-800-376-8723 option 6.