Summer Study 2024: Plenary Highlights

At ACEEE’s 2024 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, speakers at our three plenary sessions outlined the role of energy efficiency in equitable climate action. Advocates, efficiency experts, and government officials discussed strategies for advancing environmental justice, protecting people from extreme temperatures, and facilitating widespread building decarbonization.

Sunday: Energy Justice Now! The Necessity of Urgency and Being Intentional

Sunday's plenary discussion set an inspiring and thought-provoking tone for the week ahead. Tony G. Reames, PhD, an international leader and scholar on energy and environmental justice, delivered a powerful call to action. His talk, "Energy Justice Now! The Necessity of Urgency and Being Intentional," emphasized the immediate and thoughtful measures needed to address persistent energy injustices.

Dr. Reames highlighted the urgent nature of the climate crisis, advocating for intentional policymaking that prioritizes and empowers communities disproportionately affected by energy-related decisions. He underscored the importance of collaboration among government, industry, academia, community, and other stakeholders to tackle energy production and consumption challenges and opportunities.

Dr. Reames’  message aligned with this year’s theme, “Equity and Climate Action: Time to Deliver.” His speech concluded with a rallying cry to use all our efforts to reduce and ultimately end energy poverty, setting a passionate and determined spirit for the discussions and sessions to follow.

The plenary session inspired and deeply engaged attendees, reinforcing the collective commitment to advancing energy justice and achieving equitable climate action.

Monday: Dealing with Extreme Heat and Cold

 Monday's plenary delved into the pressing issue of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change and how their impacts are worsened by energy poverty. This session titled "Dealing with Extreme Heat and Cold” underscored the life-or-death stakes for those who cannot afford to pay their energy bills or repair broken heating and cooling systems.

The panel featured three distinguished speakers: Diana Hernández, Associate Professor at Columbia University; Anne Evens, CEO at Elevate ; and Fenell Doremus, Documentary Producer/Director and Adjunct Professor. Each brought a unique perspective on how extreme heat and cold affect vulnerable populations in Chicago, Arizona, and New York City.

A session highlight was a compelling clip from Doremus's documentary "Cooked," which focused on the 1995 Chicago heat wave disaster. This powerful segment was a stark reminder of economic disparities and energy poverty. The clip highlighted that those who perished during the heat wave were mainly from the predominantly Black and low-income South and West Sides and lacked access to air conditioning, illustrating the devastating impact of unequal access to cooling.

Diana Hernández and Anne Evens added depth to the discussion with insights from their work in New York City, Arizona, and Chicago. They emphasized the need for proactive measures and policies to protect vulnerable communities from the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

This plenary session highlighted the critical importance of addressing energy inequities. It inspired attendees to consider innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to combat the growing threat of extreme heat and cold. The discussion was a call to action, reminding everyone of the urgent need to ensure all communities access safe and reliable energy.           

Tuesday: Transformative Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Policies

At Tuesday night’s plenary session, Katie Bergfeld, CEM, LEED AP BDC, PMP, building performance and enforcement chief at the DC Department of Energy and Environment, outlined the successes and challenges of the first building performance standard (BPS) in the nation, which DC enacted in 2018. DC’s standard will cut citywide energy use by 20% and reduce DC’s climate pollution by 11% to 14%, Bergfeld said. However, given the challenge of decarbonizing multifamily affordable housing, she says deep and sustained community engagement with residents will be critical to success.

Also at the plenary, Merrian Borgeson, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)’s California climate and energy policy director, outlined three big ideas to equitably decarbonize the buildings sector: 1) programs that cover the cost of installing efficient electric equipment for low-income households; 2) public education on the benefits of heat pumps; and 3) zero-emissions appliance standards that phase-out fuel-fired space and water heating to improve air quality and cut climate pollution.

Dallas Burtraw, Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future, and Richard Cowart, Principal at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), shared two other policies already impacting carbon pricing and clean heat standards. Carbon pricing, adopted in California, makes polluters pay for greenhouse gases and provides funds that can be reinvested in efficiency. Meanwhile, clean heat standards actively engage gas utilities and providers of delivered fuels in decarbonizing heating, such as making homes more efficient or installing heat pumps. Look for these standards in Colorado, Vermont (enacted), Massachusetts, and Maryland (pending).