GREENFIELD, MA. - March 18, 2009 - The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Building Energy Conference and Trade Show, held March 10-12 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, solidified its position as the place to be for green building and renewable energy professionals to learn more about designing and building more sustainable and energy efficient buildings.

Conference highlights included an announcement by Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, of the findings and recommendations of Governor Deval Patrick’s Zero Net Energy Building Task Force and presentation of a $10,000 prize to the winner of NESEA’s Zero Net Energy Building contest.

During the Plenary Session, Bowles announced the findings and recommendations of Governor Patrick's Zero Net Energy Task Force, a Task Force whose formation the Governor announced at last year's Building Energy Conference. The recommendations, when implemented, will reduce the amount of energy buildings (commercial, residential, and state-owned) use as well as reduce their carbon emissions. These reductions can be achieved through initiatives that include the establishment of energy performance standards for new construction (ultimately for all buildings); record keeping of buildings’ energy consumption; lowering or removing financial and regulatory barriers; and development of education and training programs in the building sector.

"NESEA was pleased to host Secretary Bowles as he presented the findings and recommendations of the Governor's Zero Net Energy Building Task Force. The support of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is a boost for the economy as well as for energy reduction in the state. The work NESEA has done over the past 34 years is coming to fruition with the Task Force," stated David Barclay, NESEA's Executive Director.

Meeting NESEA’s challenge of building a zero net energy home were David Pill and Hillary Maharam of Charlotte, VT. The $10,000 Zero Net Energy Building Award was presented to Pill and Maharam for their 2,800 square foot, single family residence that houses a family of four. Over the 12 months from January 2008 to January 2009, their home actually exported 16kWh of electricity into the grid.

Pill and Maharam designed the house that was built over a 12-month period from September 2006 to August 2007. The energy consultant was Andrew Shapiro of Energy Balance. A Bergey 10kW wind turbine generated energy on site, producing 6,286 kWh over the course of the year. The house featured super insulated passive solar design, thermal bridge mitigation, an air sealed envelope, high efficiency windows, and a ground source heat pump, as well as lighting and appliances with the highest efficiency ratings and a polished concrete slab for thermal mass with hydronic tubing.

Barclay said, "It was exciting to present David Pill the Zero Net Energy Building Award. Pill and his family's dedication to energy efficiency is inspiring and proves that it can be done."

The keynote speaker of the Plenary Session, Marc Rosenbaum, PE, LEED(R) AP, founder of Energysmiths, presented "Deep Energy Retrofits: Less (Energy) is More (Better)" providing details for ways to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings.

At the free Public Forum, "What's Right and What's Wrong with LEED," there was an intense discussion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system to rate green and energy efficient building by a standing room only crowd of over 400 people. Moderated by Nadav Malin of BuildingGreen, Inc., the forum saw audience members asking tough questions to the 5 expert panelists which included Henry Gifford, founder of Gifford Fuel Savings, Inc.; the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED Technical Vice President Brendan Owens; Steven Winter Associates' Maureen Mahle; IBACOS' Duncan Prahl; and energy modeler Maria Karpman of Karpman Consulting.

"The purpose of the LEED system is to help people design and build healthy buildings," stated Brendan Owens. "It's a tool.  LEED for new construction is an assessment of potential for a building to perform.  We have LEED for existing buildings to verify delivery on that potential and we've instituted a requirement for the next version of LEED to provide energy and water consumption data as a minimum program requirement." 

"The success of BuildingEnerg09 is due to the dedication of the conference’s Planning Committee and NESEA staff," stated Barclay. "The results of their hard work are reflected in the quality of speakers who presented and the exhibitors at the Trade Show, the number of attendees who came, and the overall organization of the Conference. Despite the status of the economy, the Trade Show floor was crowded both days showing a continued strong interest in sustainability, energy efficient buildings and ways to incorporate renewable energy to power buildings and homes."

The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust was the Title Sponsor of this year's BuildingEnergy09 while New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) was the Platinum level sponsor. TRC Solutions debuted as the Trade Show Reception Sponsor. Additional sponsors included: American Solar Energy Society, BuildingGreen, Cape Light Compact, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Efficiency Maine, Integrity Windows and Doors, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, National Grid, NSTAR Electric and Gas.

Media Partners included: Alternative Energy Retailer, ASHRAE Journal, Banker & Tradesman, CSRwire, E-The Environmental Magazine, eco-structure, enerG Magazine, Environmental Design + Construction, Green Builder, Green Living Journal, High Performing Buildings, High-Profile Monthly, Home Energy, Indoor Environment Connections, metrogreenbusiness.com, New England Home, New England Real Estate Journal, New Jersey & Co., New York House, RenewableEnergyWorld.com, Smart HomeOwner, Solar Industry, and Sustainable Facility.

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) advances the practical application and adoption of sustainable and low-carbon energy practices in the Northeast United States. NESEA accomplishes this through a number of ongoing programs and annual events including: the Building Energy Conference and Trade Show, professional education workshops, K-12 Education programs, the Green Buildings Open House Tour, and the Sustainable Green Pages, a Directory of energy professional in the Northeast.

For more information about NESEA please visitwww.nesea.org or call 413-774-6051.

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)

About NESEA

NESEA is the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (www.NESEA.org), Founded in 1974, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is today the region’s leading membership organization promoting sustainable energy practices in the built environment. We as professionals in the fields of renewable energy and building embrace whole systems thinking as the path to sustainability, and we accomplish this by focusing on three core elements:

• Creating and supporting a diverse, multidisciplinary network
• Promoting sustainable energy solutions for the built environment
• Rigorously vetting solutions through our network of professionals - no greenwashing here.

Headquartered in Greenfield, MA, NESEA operates primarily in the six New England states plus New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, but we increasingly reach out to share ideas nationally and internationally.

About BuildingEnergy

BuildingEnergy is NESEA's annual building science and renewable energy conference and trade show. Held in Boston annually in March, BuildingEnergy is the is the most established, most cross-disciplinary renewable energy and high-performance building conference and trade show in the northeast. It attracts professionals from every part of the building and energy industry.

Learn more about this year's exciting BuildingEnergy line-up at www.nesea.org/buildingenergy

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