Thoughts on Building Energy 15 in Boston

Wednesday, March 4th: I’m speaking today, and I chose to not wear the suit I brought.IMG_5518

Not a big deal, but that decision encapsulates my impression of Building Energy 2015. This is a conference full of serious people, and seriously fun, engaging, interesting people, most of whom are directly designing, building and operating the vast majority of our building stock.  I mean the real buildings.  Not just the glamour-gusses that appear in magazines, but the workhorses.  I am referring to the homes, dentist offices, nfp offices on a shoestring, and those projects that directly support communities; the beautiful, useful and important buildings.

It’s not that a suit would be overkill or out-of-place, it’s that it does not matter. This conference is not about appearances. It is about “does it work?” and “how does it work” and “give me the process and data” and “teach me” and “how do I do this in my work”.  And even “I doubt that…can you show me?”

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Bill Reed – list of stages…we are not even on the list, yet.

I don’t think I have ever attended a conference that is so focused on learning from experiences and so committed to sharing new insights and methods. Or one that has been so welcoming.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Greenbuild as well – but the U.S. Green Building Council is an entirely different animal that has committed itself (and rightly so) to advocacy to accelerate market change.  There is a drive that is exciting and supporting, but it often comes across as aggressive.  In the work to maintain the LEED rating systems as prominent tools for greening buildings and neighborhoods, the USGBC has focused more on perceptions and marketing.  The result is that Greenbuild has a frenetic sort of energy focused around awards and who is the best and who is a LEED Fellow and how many countries have Green Building Councils and what state has the most LEED square footage.  Again, this is all good, but a different kind of spirit. And a suit can matter at Greenbuild.

And let’s not even try to compare the AIA conferences, where architects talk to other architects and maybe now and then to lawyers.  The cynical side of me wants to avoid AIA conferences, only because the time is far and away gone when talking among ourselves is enough to support the exceptional future of the building industry.  The AIA convention is by architects for architects. We need to be talking with many, many others.

So back to NESEA.  Building Energy 15 has a sort of study group feel to it.  Or a volunteer stint for Habitat, or maybe a hike with friends.

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John Abrams

Success comes by supporting each other’s work and efforts.  The mix of attendees is more on the builder side and HERS raters, etc. with a decent and growing segment of architects, researchers, facility managers and building owners, as well as product reps and service provides of all types.  There are many speakers and attendees with 25+ years of hands on experience in building.  The conversations can’t help but constantly cross siloes.  BE15 is about these conversations, collaborations, and real building science in practice.  And it is a bit about flannel shirts, knit shawls and watch caps, (in winter in Boston) and boots…and every once in a while, a suit.

On Wednesday, I felt more comfortable in my boots, business casual attire and home-made vest, and my presentation felt entertaining and useful, AND it incited some great conversations. Next time at Building Energy, I may not even pack a suit.

Jodi

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2 comments

  • Christian Nielsen-Palacios

    Nice! I had to miss BE15 this year.

    • Yeah – I was so sorry about that as I thought the carpooling with you and Jim would have been most excellent. Maybe next year?
      Please let me know how I can improve my site, and what topics would be of interest. I’m learning as I go!
      Jodi

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