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NESEA held our annual quality building and renewable energy conference and trade show, Building Energy 2000: "Buildings, People and the Planet." at Yale University and the Omni New Haven Hotel March 15-18,2000.  Building Energy 2000 offered a forum for dialogue, professional training and public outreach on renewable generation and building efficiency market initiatives in the northeast. At Building Energy 2000, regional initiatives were considered in the context of our national strategy for achieving global greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Building Energy 2000 offered the media, architects, engineers, builders, contractors, policy makers, business people, utility executives, insurers, investors, educators, students and concerned citizens a forum for bringing sustainable building and renewable energy closer to popular acceptance. Building Energy 2000 will combined NESEA's Quality Building and RENEW 2000 conferences.

QBC CONFERENCE TRACKS:

QBC 1: Practical High-Performance Techniques -Keeping abreast of rapid advances in building materials and techniques is an on going challenge. From exploring the next generation of sustainable manufactured homes to environmental Landscape Techniques and Heating system Design this tracks looked at practical ways to build sustainability into any project.

QBC 2: Sustainable Processes and Resources -More and more, today's customers want greener, healthier building materials for the home and the office. Participants learned what products are available off-the-shelf, what needs to be evaluated in the design phase and the role of residential and commercial codes in sustainable construction.

RENEW 1: The Renewable Marketplace -Whether climate change is real or not, the global market for renewable technologies is heating up. Advancing technology, utility restructuring and the market demands of a growing global population plus world emission reduction targets and the recognition of the financial performance attributes of renewables will accelerate the trend toward clean energy.

Renew and QBC Bridge Track: From Today to Tomorrow: Participants explored the emerging National Solar roof program and learned about successful Renewable Homes and looked at Clean Energy Generation and Sustainable Building Techniques where they meet; The Solar Electric Building. Themes such as distributed generation, Fuel Cells and integrating Daylighting and Artificial Lighting in Commercial projects were explored.

WHAT IS QBC: Formalized in 1983, NESEA's Quality Building Council embodies NESEA's root achievements in better building design and construction. The QBC brings together leading researchers and practitioners exploring innovative, cost-effective, energy and resource efficient construction technologies while helping its members create and manage more productive, successful businesses. The QBC is recognized for addressing challenges to building professionals ranging from indoor air quality to low bid competition. The QBC is a leader in energy efficient, occupant healthy and environmentally-friendly construction. QBC membership includes architects, builders and remodelers as well as contractors, engineers, trades people, building code and government officials, land-use planners and landscape architects. Participants share data and observations on what works, what doesn't and why! QBC conferences, workshops and the QBC Dinner introduce you to like-minded professionals in the building trades and send you home with fresh ideas.

WHAT IS RENEW: The RENEW Conference/Trade show brings together a broad coalition of energy professionals, policy makers, regulators and environmentalists to focus on accelerating the economic development, production and use of renewables. RENEW encompasses: wind, biomass, hydro, hydrogen, fuel cells, solar electricity (grid and non-grid connected) and solar thermal as well as passive solar for heating, daylighting and natural ventilation. RENEW presents an up to date forum on the industry's domestic and global market activities, how renewables strengthen investment portfolios and how renewable performance attributes can serve to minimize personal and insurance industry financial risk and property loss from weather related events. Renewables create healthier human and natural environments. They create jobs; both at home in New England, across the United States and for people in the developing world. RENEW 2000 will be a watershed event.

The HISTORY Of Building Energy:

Building Energy began in 1996 as a natural forum for sharing the multi-disciplinary objectives of NESEA's QBC and RENEW programs. That year, this winning combination was topped off with the International Energy Agency's 1st International Solar Electric Building Conference. As a result, Building Energy '96 witnessed a gathering of the world solar community with the advanced building and renewable energy industries, placing NESEA firmly on the global energy map. Building Energy 97: Ensuring a Sustainable Future" was no different. NESEA reached out to the world's financial and insurance community with the evolving recognition that renewables, advanced construction and sustainable design offer not only environmental and human benefits, but strategies to minimize weather related risk and maximize economic growth. Building Energy 2000: Buildings, People and the Planet followed in the footsteps of these ground breaking events and showed how the northeast can lead the world in reducing greenhouse gases while strengthening our economy and enhancing our quality of life.

Products and services for the design, construction and operation of environmentally sustainable buildings and communities were on display during the two-day general conference. Exhibits demonstrated the latest technologies from across the country. The exhibit area was also the site of daily refreshment breaks and an evening reception. This year's exhibitor reception  featured a friendly contest among product users, hosted by Terry Brennan and Jim Vann, highlighting favorite tools and building materials. 

The QBC Design Competition recognizes and publicizes the efforts of builders and designers who incorporate sustainable, repeatable energy and resource conservation systems into buildings. In each category, prizes are available for new construction and remodel projects. Award-winning projects will be presented and discussed at NESEA's Building Energy 2000 Conference. For a full description of categories, judging criteria and submission requirements, contact Jonathan Tauer, NESEA at (413)774-6051, ext. 20.or via email at jtauer@nesea.org

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