CalBEM 2025 Agenda & Details

Magnolia Ballroom at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel

CalBEM is an in-person event. Only the Working Group breakout sessions may be attended remotely.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided throughout the event.

Day 1: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

All times are Pacific.

7:30amRegistration and Breakfast
8:15amIntroductions and Opening Remarks
8:30amKeynote: Achieving Building Decarbonization Through Large Scale Data Analytics

Dr. Eric Fournier
Research Director, California Center for Sustainable Communities, Institute of the Environment & Sustainability at UCLA

Eric Fournier is the research director at the California Center for Sustainable Communities (CCSC) – a research center housed within UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Over the past decade, he has led work on grant-funded research projects for a variety of state agencies (CEC, CARB, CPUC, SGC, LADWP, etc.) focused on building decarbonization and distributed energy resources adoption.

In his keynote address, Eric will discuss several emerging challenges related to the implementation of California’s decarbonization initiatives whose solutions implicate the marriage of large-scale building energy datasets with advanced building energy modeling techniques.
9:30am
Co-Chair Presentation
Working Group Co-Chairs will share 2025 accomplishments, CalBEM project updates, and highlight topics in each breakout session.

10:00amBreak & Networking
10:30amConversation Catalysts
Four 15 minute presentations with Q&A to seed conversations and Breakout Session discussion.

Growing the Pipeline for Building Performance Simulation in the Age of AI
Dr. Kyle Konis, University of Southern California

Towards BEMGPT: Fine-Tuning Large Language Models for Building Energy Modeling Education and Training
Dr. Liang Zhang, University of Arizona

2025 California Building Energy Compliance Software Update
Nikhil Kapur, California Energy Commission

From Data to Action: Equitable Home Energy Labeling at Scale
Mudit Saxena, XeroHome
12:00pm
Lunch

12:45pmPower Talks
5 minute “lightning” presentations

Capturing the Value of BEM Data for Policy and Programs
Ben Lalor, NORESCO

Laboratory Demonstration of Advanced R744 Heat Pump for Simultaneous Heating and Cooling
Rongxin Yin, LBNL

CalBEM QA/QC Data Visualization Project
Greg Collins, ZeroEnvy

Education Roadmap for IBPSA-USA
Michael Sawford, A2 Efficiency

Front Door to MIDAS: A New Tool to Explore Utility Rates in CA
Matt Zebiak, 2050 Partners

Performance Trade-off Method for Life Cycle Equivalency
Jon McHugh, McHugh Energy
1:15pmBreak
1:30pm
Working Group Breakout Session #1
Three breakout sessions are run in parallel, led by the Working Group Co-Chairs. These sessions are interactive discussions, please be ready to engage via video/audio if attending remotely.

3:00pm
Break & Networking

3:30pm
Special Topic Presentation: 2028 Title 24, Part 6 LSC Factor Updates
Fangxing Liu, E3

4:15pmCalifornia Prototypes Development Update
Rahul Athalye, NORESCO
4:45pmBEM Bingo
An interactive game to get everyone out of their seats
5:15pm
Reception & Closing Remarks
Grab a beverage and enjoy connecting!
Please note mocktails will be provided. There will also be a cash+card bar available.

6:30pmAttendees Disperse for Organized Dinners* (optional)
Sign up for a meal at a local Sacramento restaurant and continue discussing all things modeling!

*Please note that dinner sign-ups are intended to encourage attendee socialization, but the meal cost is not covered by SCE hosts.

Day 2: Thursday, November 20, 2025

All times are Pacific.

7:30amBreakfast
8:15amWelcome and Recap of Day 1 Progress and Goals for Day 2
8:20amPanel + Q&A: Leveraging Real-World Data and Energy Modeling to Put Building Performance Standards Into Practice

Moderator: Gabriel Taylor, California Energy Commission

Panelists:
Harshika Bisht, City of Boston
Dr. Ladan Ghobad, ENERlite Consulting Inc.
JoAnna Saunders, California Energy Commission
Heather Rosenberg, Arup
9:20 am
Plenary: Affordability and Equity in California’s Energy Future

Mike Sokol
Director, Efficiency Division, California Energy Commission

Michael J. Sokol is the Director of the Efficiency Division at the California Energy Commission (CEC). The division develops and administers programs, policies, and regulations to achieve California’s energy and water efficiency goals. Over the past decade, Michael has provided leadership and program management across multiple divisions in the organization advancing decarbonization of California’s energy and buildings sectors.
 
His presentation will provide an update on California’s clean energy transition, with particular emphasis on progress, challenges, and opportunities facing residential and commercial buildings. Affordability and equity both remain central priorities for California’s building decarbonization strategy, with energy efficiency taking center stage as a key solution that can advance both affordability and equity along with emissions reduction.

10:05am
Break & Networking

10:30am
Working Group Breakout Session #2
Three breakout sessions are run in parallel, led by the Working Group Co-Chairs. These sessions are interactive discussions, please be ready to engage via video/audio if attending remotely.

12:00pm
Lunch

12:45pmPower Talks
5 minute “lightning” presentations

Lab Testing of PCM in Envelope Replicated in Compliance Modeling
Liam Buckley, IES-VE

Energy Modeling for Reach Codes Measure Development and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Shannenia Sumawan, TRC

Compliance, Conservation and Code: Using BEM for Market Transformation
Luke Morton, California Association of Building Energy Consultants

How Energy Code Ace is Supporting Electrification
Nick Brown, Build Smart Group

Air Source Heat Pumps: Indirect Coverage and Right Sizing while Maintaining Thermal Comfort
Afshin Faramarzi, TRC

CBECC GitHub Migration – Project Update
Rob Guglielmetti, Noresco

Using Video Game Graphics and Scanning Technology to Capture Building Geometry
Russell King, Coded Energy
1:30pm
Special Topic Presentation: The Future of HPWH Equipment Modeling
Neal Kruis, Big Ladder Software
featuring an update from Jim Lutz

2:15pmBreak
2:30pmPresent the Award of Recognition & the Foundational Step Forward Award
3:00pm
Updated Working Group Action Plans: Presentation and Q&A
Working Group Co-Chairs will present plans for 2025 and solicit feedback

3:45pmClosing Remarks
4:00pmAdjourn
The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, Sacramento CA

Key Logistics

Arrival & Departure

  • CalBEM starts bright and early at 8am on Wednesday 11/19, arrive the night before to be ready to join the conversation.
  • CalBEM ends at 4pm on Thursday 11/20.

Where to Stay?

  • Stay on-premises at the Kimpton Sawyer
    • Our room block deadline has passed. However, if you would like a room, email info@calbem.org as there may still be a room available at a discounted rate of $330/night.
  • There are many hotels in Downtown Sacramento within a 15 minute walk from the Kimpton Sawyer.

How to Get to the Kimpton Sawyer

  • By Train: Take Amtrak to the Sacramento Valley Station. Exit and walk ~5min to the Kimpton Hotel (walking directions linked here).
  • By Plane: The Sacramento Airport (SMF) is just 11 miles from the Kimpton Sawyer (a 20 minute drive without traffic). Quickest option from the airport is a taxi or rideshare. Buses also run every 20 to 40 minutes from Terminal A. You will take the 42A, get off at the Golden 1 Center stop, and walk a block to the Kimpton Sawyer.
  • By Car: From 1-5, take the “J” Street Exit (Exit 519B) and the hotel is at the corner of “J” Street and 5th Street.

Parking

  • Please note that parking is not covered by our hosts. Valet parking is available at the Kimpton Sawyer for $25 per day (the overnight is only available to hotel guests, and is $40 plus tax, and oversized vehicles are $45 plus tax). Other options include:
    • Parking garages nearby:  Link to map
      • Downtown Commons Central Parking
      • Downtown Plaza – East Garage

Additional questions? Email info@calbem.org