Per the norm, the NESEA Building Energy 2013 conference was superb! Professional, insightful, educational and above all, for me, inspirational. Whether catching up with colleagues or keenly listening to the exceptional session speakers, there was a clear undercurrent of passion. I did not anticipate how uplifting this would be. I was moved to hear and feel the deep commitment and desire that was evidenced in the words and energy put forth by so many. I feel fortunate to be involved in an industry that is has both science and art applications that, when infused with passion, becomes an answer for smart, healthier and greener living. Because we can ~ we must sustain, conserve and preserve the infinite and beautiful tomorrow’s to come.
It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces! At one point a group of us were gathered that captured great breadth and depth of the interdisciplinary field of enthused practictioners:
Mark Newey, Director of Green Building and Training, CET
John Majercak, Executive Director, CET
Peter Wingate, WAP Director, Community Action
Todd Holland, Energy Efficiency Project Engineer, Williams College
Gary Hartwell, Project Manager, Smith College
Andrew Webster, Architect, Coldham and Hartman
John Walsh, Supervisor – Residential C&LM, WMECO
Tom Rossmassler – Executive Director, Energia
And then there were the classes that were so constructive:
Airtightness Performance of Whole Buildings: Design, Construction and Verification Testing (a service offered by CHP!) ~ take away….. to have a successful and passing air barrier intermittent and final performance verification testing is an absolute! Design it, test it, fix it now; not later when a building envelope disaster manifests!
Efficiency, Durability or History: Pick Two? ~ take away…. history matters and historic buildings need to retain aesthetic and cultural value along with energy efficiency. A balanced approach and respect is required. New is not always best. Support the National Trust for Historical Preservation!
At the end, I was tired and full of heady science matters, best practices and emerging technologies. Most importantly, I was filled with gratitude for being in such good hands.
And so, happily, Cozy Home Performance donated $500 to NESEA. They deserve every bit and so much more.
Thanks for reading! Sincerely, Mark
