Keane On Clean: From Solarize To Energize
Brian F. Keane, SmartPower

Brian F. Keane is a no-nonsense leader to all of us on how we can make clean energy and energy efficiency part of our daily life, saving money, making money, and weaning our communities off fossil fuels in the process. Keane will walk us through the cost-benefit trade-offs of exciting new technologies, the surprising findings from successful Solarize campaigns across the US, and introduces you to revolutionary clean-energy opportunities on the horizon, making the ins and outs of renewable energy easily accessible. Featuring compelling, real-life stories that bring clean-energy problems and solutions from 30,000 feet to street level, Brian will walk us through that last mile from awareness to adoption. By discussing the challenges that clean energy faces, he will also lay out time-tested strategies to overcome them. A renewable energy future isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for the economy.  ​ Presentation

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  1. Know Your Numbers:  The value of Benchmarking: You can’t manage what you don’t measure! This session is chock full of great examples of why benchmarking with ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager Software is a solid building block for your energy efficiency strategy.  Hear from the EPA Region 1 ENERGY STAR contact, Linda Darveau, on how to compare your town buildings with others in New Hampshire to gauge whether you are doing all you can to save energy and money.  Venu Rao of the Hollis Energy Committee will share how his town has used Portfolio Manager to identify low hanging fruit, measure progress, apply for grants, and right size renewable energy projects. A representative from Eversource, the new Regional Public Utility, will discuss their new Customer Engagement Platform that will make using Portfolio Manager easier than ever. ​ Speakers: Linda Darveau, US EPA - Presentation; Venu Rao, Hollis Energy Committee - Presentation; Kate Peters, Eversource - Presentation
  2. ​Renewable and Energy Efficiency Projects – RFP to Implementation: This session will provide the attendee with some useful concepts about how municipalities can embark upon contracting out projects for energy efficiency and renewable energy.  It will focus on how the owner can best position itself for a successful outcome.  It will also outline how to avoid some of the potential pitfalls when undertaking an effort like this for the first time.​ Presentation: Speakers: Kevin O’Maley, City of Manchester; Jeff Haydock, ecoCFO. 
  3. Funding Projects in a Market-Driven World: With dynamic energy costs, never enough grants and rebates available, and so many buildings in need of energy-efficiency upgrades and renewable-energy projects, it is time to leverage and activate private investment solutions. This presentation will introduce energy-finance programs administered by the NH Community Development Finance Authority and The Jordan Institute and provide project scenarios to illustrate how they operate and how to navigate them. Presentation: Speakers: Laura Richardson, The Jordan Institute & Joe Harrison, NH Community Development Finance Authority.
  1. Strategic Energy Action Toolkit for Local Energy Groups: Wish your energy committee could make more of an impact in your community? You already can! This workshop makes the case that energy committees can be more successful by taking the time to think strategically and prioritize their efforts. We will introduce a set of tools currently being developed by New Hampshire's own Local Energy Work Group that can help energy committees quickly and strategically identify priorities and hit the ground running. Just a little bit of planning can make all the difference. The Local Energy Work Group will be offering in depth trainings later in the year. This session will help you determine whether attending a training makes sense for your committee. Presentation: Speakers: Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities; Leigh Cameron, New England Grassroots Environment Fund; Ron Bolt, Littleton Energy Conservation Committee.
  2. Successful Community Engagement Strategies: Join notable local and state leaders in this interactive session about how to achieve your goals through successful engagement of local and state officials. Learn about important engagement tactics, diplomacy, and messaging strategies. You will hear case studies and perspectives directly from decision-makers. This session is meant to be a dialogue, and you will leave better equipped to successfully advance your energy project or policy goals regardless of your starting point, region, or available resource base.
    Facilitator: Roger Stephenson, Union of Concerned Scientists. Speakers: Roger Stephenson, Union of Concerned Scientists; Jim O Brien, The Nature Conservancy; Ken Grossman, former NH State Representative. 
  3. Before & After the Storm: Communities, Energy & Resilience: Over the past decade, the frequency and intensity of extreme storm events has contributing to more extended power outages and flooding that has washed out and inundated critical infrastructure.  As a result, communities across New Hampshire are experiencing environmental, social and economic impacts that affect their operations and budgets as well as and the health and well-being of their residents. This session will focus on how these storms are affecting energy infrastructure and assets and explore how communities can work with utilities, state agencies, and on their own to reduce their vulnerability to disruption, improve their response during extreme events, and bring their community back on line quickly and safely and prepare themselves for the next storm.
    Facilitator: Chris Skoglund, NH Department of Environmental Services. Speakers: Ian Rohrbacher, Rochester Water Treatment Facility - Presentation; Justin Kates, Nashua Department of Emergency Management - Presentation; John P. O’Connor, Supervisor, Eversource Operation Planning & Emergency Preparedness  - Presentation.
  1. Utility Efficiency Programs & Identifying the Best Municipal Project: A successful program manager for the utilities and an experienced energy services contractor will explain how to identify and create the right project for your municipality. Hear a summary of the utility programs that are available and the services that they offer. Learn how combining different energy efficiency improvements and financing mechanisms can create a viable project. Understand how to create a well-rounded project that will save the most energy and pass a warrant article. The presenters are well versed in the unique challenges that municipalities encounter when implementing efficiency projects and will share their best strategies for overcoming those challenges. Facilitator:  Rhonda Harmych, TRC Energy Services. Speakers: Meghan Hoye, President, LighTec, Inc.; Mark Toussaint, Eversource. Presentation
  2. The Certified Building Operator Experience: Saving Energy Through Lessons Learned: Founded in 1996 to advance energy-related building operation and maintenance best practices, Building Operator Certification (BOC) is widely recognized as a national standard for professional development in the facilities management  industry.  The certification process—which  consists of roughly eight full days of coursework along with building-specific exercises and an experience requirement —covers topics such as electrical systems, lighting systems, HVAC, indoor air quality, energy benchmarking, and sustainability.  But what happens after the course ends and the building operators return to the field?  Studies show that, on average, participants reduce energy usage in their facilities by 172,000 kWh per year, yielding approximately $12,000 in annual savings.  Furthermore, as a result of their increased proficiencies, 50 percent of BOC graduates have reported increases in job responsibilities and compensation.  To further evidence the benefit of certification for graduates and employers, this panel will explore practical applications of BOC coursework from the perspective of several graduates, helping participants to understand the tangible benefits that can be drawn from the program. Facilitator: Brian Buckley, Policy Research and Analysis Associate, NEEP. Speakers: Richard G. Fortier Sr., Facilities Director, Rollinsford Grade School, Rollinsford, NH; Russell Weeks, Maintenance Crew Chief, Meredith Parks and Recreation; Scott Lindquist, Supervisor Energy/HVAC Services, University of New Hampshire.  Presentation 
  3. Town-Wide Energy Improvements: This session will review a variety of town-wide energy efficiency projects (as opposed to stand-alone building projects) pursued by towns across NH, including the successful fuel reduction policy instituted by the Littleton Police Department, and a special report on LED lighting opportunities for towns, just released by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP). Facilitator: Theresa Swanick, Effingham Energy Committee 
    Speakers: Michael Davey, EEI Inc. Presentation ; Ron Bolt, Littleton Energy Conservation Committee. Presentation; Brian Buckley, NEEP. Presentation
  1. Modern Wood Heating of Municipal and ​School Facilities: Stories from the Field: Modern wood heating systems have seen growth in interest across NH, especially in municipal, school and institutional settings. Wood pellet and wood chip boilers with high efficiency, low emissions and attractive payback economics can now be found in over 100 such facilities statewide. The NH Wood Energy Council, a non-profit education and technical assistance initiative, is working with building owners across the state to evaluate this option. This panel will feature a quick overview of modern wood heating economics and considerations, followed by case studies of three such installations: what attracted the owner to consider a wood chip or wood pellet boiler system, what they installed, how it has performed, and what they learned from their experience that will help audience members avoid others' mistakes should they wish to consider modern wood heating. Plenty of time for open discussion with our panelists. Facilitator: Charlie Niebling, NH Wood Energy Council. Speakers: Rodney Bartlett, Public Works Director, Town of Peterborough NH; Andrew Hungerford, Facilities Director, Dublin School, Dublin NH; Jonathan Burnham, Facilities Director, SAU 53, Pembroke Academy, Pembroke NH.
  2. Rooftop Solar: Removing Barriers & Inspiring Action: Residential scale solar in New Hampshire is on the rise. Between July 2013 and June 2014, 271 granite staters went through the NH Renewable Energy Rebate Program for solar PV. By October 2014 there were already 153 more solar homes in the cue! This session will review recent trends in our state's growing solar market, identify available resources, and reflect on opportunities for continued growth from a variety of perspectives. Join us for a hearty conversation and learn what you can do as an individual, a municipality, or a business to inspire increased adoption of solar in your community. Facilitator: Rick Minard, NH Office of Energy and Planning. Speakers: Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities; Scott Albert, GDS Associates; Jonathan Gregory, ReVision Energy; Jonathan S. Osgood, NH Public Utilities Commission; Richard Labrecque, Eversource Energy. Presentation
  3. Community Solar & Group Net Metering: With the advent of Group Net Metering in NH, the declining cost of solar, and the siting or financial issues that prevent many individuals, businesses or institutions from installing solar systems on their own property, community solar systems are becoming a popular consideration. Navigating the different financing and ownership models, as well as the rules and regulations can be difficult and confusing. This session will cover community solar success stories by looking at models used in surrounding states, as well as opportunities here in NH based upon our final group net metering rules, other relevant policies, and our current funding programs. Speakers: Kate Epsen, NHSEA; Will Kessler, Boston Solar; Eli Emerson, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer - Presentation; Ron Wedeking, Clean Energy Collective - Presentation
Meet the Experts to ask Questions​: Topics Included - Strategic Energy Action Planning; Project Financing; Building Science; Energy Efficiency and Benchmarking; Energy Policies; Group Net Metering; EPA Clean Power Plan and NH’s Role; Utility Core Programs; Grassroots Fundraising; School Energy Improvements.