Sponsored Article: Register for the 2019 Better Buildings Summit to Reach New Heights in Energy Efficiency Leadership and Innovation

It’s all about being present for the future.

From July 10 to 11, the 2019 Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit will once again provide the industry’s best stage for exploring emerging technologies and sharing innovative strategies in energy and water efficiency. Over the course of two days in Arlington, VA (D.C. metro area), efficiency experts and market leaders will host one-of-a-kind interactive sessions, while offering attendees the opportunity to network with their industry peers and exchange ideas and best practices for energy efficiency, resiliency and workforce development.

In fact, since 2016, more than 2,500 professionals from public, private and industrial sector organizations have attended the Summit to share best practices and cultivate strategies on how to make their best even better.  It makes sense. Partners and the Better Buildings Initiative represents more than 12 billion square feet, 3,200 industrial facilities, 32 Fortune 100 companies, 13% of total commercial building space, 12% of the U.S. manufacturing footprint, and $8.4 billion in energy savings to date.

The 2019 Summit promises to be the best yet.  Scheduled to appear are no less than 120 authorities on energy efficiency leading more than 60 scheduled sessions. Summit attendees will discover what’s next in emerging technologies, the latest trends in resiliency planning and what leaders are doing for workforce development.

Here’s what to expect…

Keynote Plenaries will offer insights that will not only inform but enlighten. On Wednesday, representatives from the industrial, local government, and hospitality sectors will share new ways to align efficiency goals with company leadership, and drive sustainability buy-in within an organization. Speakers include Danielle Azoulay–Head of CSR and Sustainability for L’Oréal USA, Chris Castro–Director of Sustainability and Resilience for the City of Orlando and Randy Gaines—SVP of Operations and New Project Development for Hilton Worldwide.

In Thursday’s session, DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Daniel Simmons will moderate a conversation on emerging technologies with leadership from three National Labs. Experts include Assistant Secretary Simmons, Dr. Craig Blue of Oak Ridge National Lab, Dr. Martin Keller from the National Renewable Energy Lab and Dr. Jud Virden of the Pacific Northwest National Lab.

Breakout sessions will cover an even wider range of tracks including Manufacturing, Multifamily, Emerging Technologies, Building Resilience, Workforce Development, Data Management, Communications, and Renewables & Zero Energy. Workshops will range from “Getting Your Money’s Worth: Making Sure Retrofits Reach Expected Savings” to “Grid Modernization: The Role of Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings” to “Developing a Staff Culture of Sustainability.” This year, back by popular demand, also includes “Energy EfficienSHE: Women’s Perspectives in Sustainability,” and “How (and Where) to Tell Your Energy Efficiency Story.” The sessions are all hosted by top efficiency experts from partners including Whole Foods, Los Angeles Unified School District, General Motors, Sabey Data Centers, Starbucks, as well as many other agencies and institutions.

Beyond the sessions, it’s networking, networking, networking. Sector Dinners and Sector Meet-ups are back this year on Tuesday night July 9 and Wednesday morning July 10, respectively. Also returning is Ask-an-Expert, giving a chance to chat one-on-one with technical experts from DOE’s National Labs.  And, lastly, session breaks have been extended to allow for more catching-up time with peers, as well as making new connections with some of the biggest names in the industry.

Tours of cool buildings. On Tuesday July 9, there will be sixteen building tours spread across the D.C. metro area in just about every sector.  Attendees can get the inside story on the brand-new Amazon HQ2 site, take a deep dive into the U.S. Capitol, go behind the scenes of an advanced biotech facility, discover what energy-saving measures are in fashion at the Volvo Group Engine/Transmission Plant and much more.

Finally, congratulations to the 2019 class of Goal Achievers. The Summit is also an opportunity to celebrate and learn from the achievements of Better Buildings, Better Plants partners who have reduced their portfolio-wide energy and/or water use by 20-25% in ten years or less, as well as Financial Allies that have met their goals for funds extended for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

So, what are you waiting for? Register for the 2019 Better Buildings Summit. To get the latest Summit updates, subscribe here. For a great rate on site at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City and transportation options to and from, get all your travel information here.