March 25th, 2010
Why I Hated The NESEA Building Energy Conference
TOPICS: BOSTON, Local Events
BOSTON -
Two weeks week, I went to the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) yearly conference called Building Energy Conference 2010.
Honestly, in terms of the trade show, I’ve seen it all. I walked through the show floor in about 30 minutes stopping occasionally to talk to people I know.
My highlight was talking with Peter Troast of Energy Circle who is working on some really cool projects with home energy efficiency. In my perspective, his site is hands down the best store focusing on home energy efficiency, and no he didn’t pay me to say this. The blend of content, education, reviewed products, and strong branding make it second to none. I can’t wait to see how it develops.
Other then Peter, I didn’t really see any innovation, a lot of solar thermal, solar PV, industry associations, yadda yadda yadda. I don’t want to sound like a negative Nancy, but I think I’m just sad that a conference that has so much history and has traditionally been on the forefront of the renewable energy movement is slipping behind. But, we all know that if I thought it was a real problem, I’d do something about it.
Brian Hayden, one of our industry insiders, spent more going to the event and workshops, and he’s going to get you a better overview of what he learned at the workshops.
Here are my two main issues with NESEA Building Energy Conference 2010:
1) Too Old: I don’t have a problem with old people in the general sense, or in business, gray hairs are needed. However, there is SO MUCH INTEREST in these subject from young professionals and college students, especially in Boston, it blows my mind that more of them weren’t there.
2) No New Media: Here’s the real kicker, everyone at NESEA claims to be very forward thinking, but they use the most basic, most expensive and lease effective means of marketing and communication. Instead of leveraging social media to make it easy for friends to share information with their friends and communities they know will be interested in attending the event, NESEA reverts to mailing people PHYSICAL information to their homes.
If you went to NESEA, I’m really curious: what did you think about the event? If you didn’t like it, how do you think it can be improved?
I’m going to be collecting the top 5 ideas and presenting them NESEA leadership for the next conference.
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About Chris Williams
My name is Chris Williams I’m 24, I’ve been working in clean technology for 3 years. I’m from Maine, it’s an awesome state, but I live in Boston now. I started Green Light Distrikt in the fall of 2009 to record my journey in cleantech. Jack of all trades cleantech enthusiast. I believe that sales, marketing and branding are the key to cleantech investment. Currently, I work with Nexamp and have worked with HeatSpring Learning Institute, Big Belly Solar, the NEXUS Green Building Resource Center. I'm an IGSHPA Accredited Geothermal Installer and have my NABCEP Entry Level Solar Certificate. Connect with me @topherwilliams or through @GreenLDistrikt
Tags: be10, energy circle, NESEA, peter troast
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Innovation was present at our firms booth where the Green Ray AC module was on display for its first public unveiling and many gray hairs as well as the young checked it out and asked great questions and got into thoughtful discussions on PV. Across the way Solectria Renewables showed their newest products , Solar Design Associates explained their newest very innovative projects with great visuals. Direct Power and Eco Fasten displayed new mount products. There were many more firms and organizations with new ideas and products featured. 1/2 hour sinmply walking down the exhibitor aisles is not enough – you need to network and engage folks.
From the perspective of a gray hair who has exhibited at this conference for many years BE 10 was a success given the economy. Please don’t judge the NESEA outreach by their mailings – talk to the planning committee members and the staff who engaged every media outlet to attract the young. Many of us gave Exhibitor Hall passes to students and many showed up on Thursday. The sessions were as always prescient and informative.
As a building science professional, I’ve attended many energy and green conferences. NESEA is by far the best when it comes to technical sessions and imparting new technologies and methods in the industry. I myself have been a speaker twice and am far from having any gray hairs yet. I feel constant encouragement and support from mentors who try, through this conference, to pass on the knowledge to the next generation of building scientists. As far as young people in attendance; most of the conversations I have at our booth are young people seeking internships or advice on what courses to focus on.
NESEA does most of their advertising and updates electronically, but I don’t think any one conference can escape the need for “physical” media. I’m sure any ideas you have on outreach would be welcomed by the planning committee. NESEA has done more for me in the way of technical knowledge, new ideas, networking and bringing together old school and new school thinking than any other conference I’ve attended. I hope you’ll give it another chance and attend more sessions.
There’s some healthy discussion about this posts going on over at Renewable Energy World. Check it out: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/03/why-i-hated-the-nesea-building-energy-conference
Erica,
Thank you so much for your comments. I disclosed on renewableenergyworld.com that my goal in using provocative language was to get the attention of people so we can improve the conference.
Without a doubt I love the conference, I’ve been doing to it since I was 16. And I agree, the workshops for building professionals are second to none.
Without question, there were some young people, but not that amount that there should be….particularly considering that my generation is the most interested in these topics of any generation and we’re about to be purchasing homes, working in management roles and having to make decisions.
I’m not saying its horrible, just that it can improved and needs to be adopting.
Heres the main challenge. In the past, NESEA has targeted a niche crowd, now the branding, messaging, and education needs to be target to the MASSES.
Chris,
Thanks you for the highlights. I agree those are innovations but I would categorize them as incremental ones and not huge paradigm shifting innovations that are currently happening in the Boston area. Please correct me if I’m wrong, I’m pretty slow so its very possible that I’ve missed something.
Both of you, thank you for your comments and as you both love NESEA so much, please help me make it better!
Chris
Hi,
This year was my first NESEA experience and I loved it. I am currently a college student and also working in the multi-family retrofitting field. There has hardly ever been a time where i felt that there were young people, like myself, in the field UNTIL
I went to NESEA. I was very surprised and inspired to see the younger generations really into building science and energy efficiency. There were many younger people that are implementing new strategies, technologies and bringing new ideas to the table to enhance the quality and accuracy of our field. They did an excellent job representing many companies from the Northeast and what direction our field is taking.
The “oldies” you speak of really should be thanked because they are the ones that are taking a hands on approach to training the new generations and giving us confidence to succeed in the building science world. Without these oldies, i personally, would not have the education and confidence I have today not to mention, i would have not attended NESEA.
In my opinion, if you would like to have the younger generations attend, you should reduce the price and get involved with more colleges. Please keep in mind that people are willing to travel for conference such as this, so even colleges in Buffalo should be included. If you get involved with college departments, they could possibly provide financial incentives or class credits for attending NESEA, sort of like how the BPI credits are. This would get the younger people into the conference and they would realize that energy efficiency and building science is a very approachable field that can lead to a successful career.
My excitement for building science, energy efficiency and the future came from seeing the younger generations positive outlook and successes. Seeing a 28 year old woman speak on doing a 11,000 apartment retrofit in NYC is beyond inspiring. Just knowing that there are “experts” in the field that are probably 5 years older than I am is incredible and without NESEA, i would have never known this.
Bernice,
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m glad you liked NESEA this year, I had a blast too! First, thank you for your comments on how to make it better, I will be forwarding all ideas to the Exec. Director of NESEA in April.
Regarding your comment. I agree there were young people there, but in my opinion simply not enough, especially for being in Boston. Honestly, when I have potluck at my house there are more people working in RE at my house. Yes, this is because of the crowd of people I put myself around but on the same note, when I ask my friends whom I would consider the ‘rising stars’ of the industry in Boston, people from Alteris, Wakonda, CSG, First Wind, if they’ve heard of NESEA……only 1/2 said yes. This is bad. Not that NESEA is bad, only that it can improve. Do you know what I mean?
Some of it may be that the industry is construction based, and this industry tends to be ‘agist’ if you will but I really don’t care about that.
Chris
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