The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes a historic $3.5 billion investment in the Weatherization Assistance Program to reduce energy burdens, improve housing quality and create jobs. Join MEEA and panelists from the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, U.S.

Over the last two years the focus of building owners and operators has, rightfully so, been on health and safety concerns. Join us for a webinar to learn more about how energy efficiency can help with your health and safety goals while saving money and improving occupant comforts.

How does the language you use affect the ways your business is seen by customers and communities? Conscious communications and asset-framing language can help create trust and build more authentic, respectful relationships. This webinar will provide you with language strategies and style guides to equip you with the tools you need to update your communications.

What are some actionable energy efficiency policies and program strategies that can advance state energy plan objectives? How are current and ongoing state energy planning efforts incorporating energy efficiency? Join MEEA for a webinar featuring speakers that will discuss efficiency strategies in the building, transportation and industrial sectors.

MEEA will be hosting a webinar providing federal policy updates on Thursday, November 18 from 3 - 4 p.m. CDT. The event will feature speakers from the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Alliance to Save Energy, the Building Performance Association and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. Topics discussed will include the infrastructure and reconciliation bills, Main Street Efficiency Act, HOPE for HOMES Act and appliance standards.

MEEA’s policy team will join panelists from Synapse Energy Economics to discuss their recent analysis of consequences resulting from policies that constrain utility-run energy efficiency programs in the Midwest. Discover EE’s clear value to the region with a closer look into the missed opportunities for cost savings and other societal benefits in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Off-site construction (i.e. prefabricated, volumetric or factory-built construction) offers significant advantages to the residential construction industry through building high-quality housing at an affordable price, saving time on the construction process and creating better-performing buildings. Despite these benefits, specific barriers prevent the expansion of this construction type.

Cities and states setting climate goals are looking to building policies like energy codes to increase energy efficiency in buildings. Setting those policies is only one piece of the climate change mitigation solution; compliance is key to actually achieving energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Stretch codes can help municipalities or states ensure that newly constructed buildings are more energy efficient than base or model energy codes. This session will explain stretch code benefits and considerations, adoption process options, typical policy elements included and strategies for implementation like utility involvement. Whether you have never heard of a stretch code or just want to learn more, this session is important to anyone involved in improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

Due to the economic impacts from the pandemic, a growing number of individuals – some of them, perhaps, for the first time – are experiencing hardship when it comes to utility bill payment. These consumers may fall outside of the traditional eligibility requirements and, therefore, can be unaware of the available assistance programs that their utility provider offers. How are utilities and related organizations bridging this gap as we transition out of pandemic procedures?

Moderated by: E’Lois Thomas, SEEL, LLC