NESEA's BuildingEnergy10 Conference and Trade Show March 9-11

Boston, MA Some 4,000 renewable energy and green building experts will bring their cutting edge thinking March 9-11 for the BuildingEnergy10 Conference and Tradeshow. BuildingEnergy10 (BE10) is the annual event organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). Now in its 35th year, BuildingEnergy is the oldest and largest regional building energy and renewable energy event in the country, with participants coming from across the northeast - from Maine to Washington, DC.

The conference includes 63 sessions and 20 full- and half-day workshops. The tradeshow floor will feature some 160 exhibitors and the latest technologies, products and services.

The theme of this year's BE10 is "Reduce, Retrofit, and Renew." Betsy Pettit FAIA of Building Science Corp., the conference chair for BE10, says the theme is particularly timely as more of us look for ways - big and small - to reduce our carbon footprint.

"We at NESEA have been talking and thinking about renewable energy and green design for many, many years, long before it was the topic of the day. We're thrilled that sustainability has finally broken through the public consciousness," Pettit said. "Our attendees know that generating truly new ideas in the world of sustainability requires whole systems thinking, a cross-disciplinary approach, and rigorous standards for content and case studies. BE10 is the only conference where you will find architects, designers, planners, builders, policymakers, manufacturers, and installers working together to determine what's possible."

"Boston continues to be at the epicenter of advances in green technology and is nationally recognized as the best city in the nation to grow a clean tech company," said James Hunt, III, chief of environment and energy for the city of Boston. "Advances in the field of sustainability happen when the best and the brightest gather in one place, and mayor Menino and I are pleased that Building Energy10 will bring such leaders together again here in Boston."

NESEA welcomes Dr. Samuel Baldwin as the keynote speaker to BE10 on Wednesday morning, March 10. He is a physicist serving as the chief technology officer and a member of the board of directors for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. For the past 20 years he has been a senior analyst and technical advisor to both Congress and the president. He is the author or coauthor of nine books and monographs, and more than 30 papers and technical reports on physics, energy technology and policy, and other issues.

His keynote kicks off two days of conference sessions ranging from emerging trends in renewable energy to healthy alternatives to traditional building materials to deep energy retrofits of commercial, residential and historic buildings.

"NESEA is the only conference that requires its building case studies to adhere to strict guidelines that include a full year of energy data, reaffirming our commitment to present the best building and energy practices at this conference," Jennifer Marrapese JD MA, interim executive director of NESEA. "We want conference attendees to leave BE10 able to replicate the strategies they learned about during the show. As an organization, we know it is our responsibility to nurture next-generation thinking and spread the wealth. To think and talk about what's worked and what hasn't worked, so we can continue to innovate."

Also at BE10, the winner of NESEA's Zero Net Energy Award and the $10,000 prize will be announced. Entries, which must be received by January 15, 2010, must include a full year's worth of energy data. A jury of green design experts will critique the entries and determine the winner. For more about the Zero Net Energy Award and eligibility requirements: http://www.nesea.org/inspirationawards/zeroenergy.