The building industry is rapidly evolving, and New York City is at the cusp of a market shift. With the first compliance period of Local Law 97 now behind us, the city is accelerating toward a net-zero future. What key trends will shape the next phase of this transformation?
At NYC Next: Shaping Building Decarbonization, experts will explore three key forces shaping the future of buildings: funding for building decarbonization, making resilience central to sustainability, and strengthening grid integration with battery storage.
Join us at NYU on June 2 to gain insights from the people and companies leading the way in transforming NYC’s built environment.
Stay tuned for the full list of speakers and further session details!
Corporate and organizational supporters receive complimentary tickets to the conference. To claim your tickets, email Casey Cady at cc@urbangreencouncil.org.
If you have any trouble registering for the event, please let us know by filling out this form.
Sessions
Opening Remarks
John Mandyck, Urban Green Council
Keynote Conversation
Rory Christian, Chair and CEO, New York State Public Service Commission
On September 30, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul designated Commissioner Rory M. Christian as the Chair and CEO of the Public Service Commission, and he was appointed Commissioner on June 10, 2021.
Rory previously served as the Director of Energy Finance and Sustainability for the New York City Housing Authority, where he oversaw the Authority’s then $500M+ utility portfolio with the aim of reducing annual energy expenditures while achieving city, state and federally mandated greenhouse gas emissions reductions. More recently, he was the Director of New York Clean Energy at Environmental Defense Fund, where he provided strategy management, programming, business development and stakeholder collaboration for the Clean Energy program in New York.
Session 1 • Funding the Future of Decarbonization
Innovative funding solutions are essential to unlocking capital and reducing risk for building decarbonization upgrades. This panel will tackle the deep financing and funding barriers to scaling building decarbonization in New York City.
Session 2 • Built to Last: Resilience in Every Retrofit
Sustainability and resilience are closely linked in the building sector. With more frequent heat waves and extreme storms, New York City’s buildings must be prepared for a changing climate. Decarbonization efforts must integrate resilience to ensure long-term sustainability. This panel will explore how resilience is shaping building design today and how the industry is evolving to meet climate challenges.
Session 3 • Boosting the Grid with Battery Storage
In the coming years, battery storage will be an increasingly important tool for adding capacity to the electrical grid and increasing resilience—allowing buildings to “float” when the grid peaks. As demand for renewable energy grows, battery storage offers a flexible solution to store excess energy, ensuring a reliable and stable power supply. In this session, leading experts will share valuable insights into how battery storage will be integrated into the green building landscape, helping to optimize energy use, support decarbonization, and improve overall grid reliability.
Closing Remarks
Thank you to our sponsors!
