SEMINAR 5: Extreme Weather Events and Building Resilience in Home Electrification and Decarbonization
> Extreme Weather Events and Building Resilience in Home Electrification and Decarbonization
Abstract
Climate change is driving a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, cold snaps, floods, hurricanes, etc., significantly impacting the stability and reliability of buildings’ energy systems and infrastructure. This seminar will delve into the intersection of extreme weather events and resilience strategies associated with reducing emissions from homes. Key topics include identifying the vulnerabilities of current home electrification systems to extreme weather events and highlighting the critical need for home resilient design and technologies. The seminar will present innovative solutions and best practices to enhance the durability and adaptability of home energy systems, during and after severe weather events. Through expert presentations and case studies, attendees will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in building resilient home electrification systems capable of withstanding extreme weather events.
Speakers
Max Wei - Staff Scientist at LBNL
Max Wei is a Staff Scientist in the Sustainable Energy & Environmental Systems Department in the Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). His expertise is in energy system modeling for deep decarbonization, residential building modeling, electrification of building heating, and techno-economic analysis of emerging technologies including fuel cells systems and cooling systems with low global-warming (low GWP) refrigerants. His recent work has focused on how to achieve greater climate equity (i.e., access to clean technologies) and heat resilience in underserved communities in California. Dr. Wei has over twenty years of experience in leading research and development projects in both industry and at Berkeley Lab. He has led California Energy Commission projects in statewide decarbonization scenarios for 2050, zero-net energy homes cost modeling, testing and cost-benefit analysis of small air-conditioners and heat pumps with low GWP (A3) refrigerants, and several studies for the U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technologies Office in manufacturing and total cost of ownership modeling for stationary fuel cell systems. He has also contributed to global greenhouse gas savings potential studies in the cooling sector that model the addition of aggressive energy efficiency policies alongside the requirements of the Kigali Amendment's refrigerant transition.
Heather Rosenberg - Resilience Impact & Social Equity Lead at ARUP
Heather Rosenberg serves as ARUP Americas’ Resilience Skills Network Leader and leads the Resilience Planning and Policy team, which provides real world, implementable solutions to design, policy and finance at the nexus of resilience, equity and sustainability. An ecologist by training, Heather brings 25 years of experience leading sustainability and resilience projects in the built environment. Her current work focuses on equitable decarbonization and energy transition through a resilience lens, resilience of public infrastructure and preservation of affordable housing. Before joining Arup, Heather was the founder and president of her own successful resilience strategy consulting practice, Fifth Road. She created the Building Resilience Network, a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to help public, private, and non-profit organizations weave physical, social and economic resilience into core operations. She is a USGBC Ginsberg Fellow, is a former mayoral appointee to the Los Angeles Innovation and Performance Commission and has served on many boards and committees.
Josh Quinnell - Senior Research Scientist at CEE
Josh Quinnell is a Senior Research Scientist at Center for Energy and the Environment in Minneapolis, MN. He has been working on building decarbonization for 7 years. Josh's main research interest is the intersection of building envelope improvements and space heating electrification using heat pump technology and its impacts on future energy systems with a specific focus on decarbonizing residential buildings in cold climates. Prior to joining CEE, Josh worked on thermochemical energy storage at ZAE Bayern in Germany. Josh received his PhD from University of Minnesota in 2012.