On June 13, New York Institute of Technology College of Engineering and Computing Sciences gathered tech and sustainability experts to discuss advancements impacting and disrupting the energy sector. The 14th Annual Energy Conference, “Energy & Facilities: Safety, Comfort, Sustainability,” took place at the NYIT de Seversky Mansion in Old Westbury, N.Y.

New York Institute of Technology demonstrated its commitment to building resilient communities throughout the day, with many of the presentations led by renowned alumni and faculty. Three of the seven presenters are graduates of the institution’s Energy Management program, which boasts alumni at Con Edison, National Grid, United Technologies, Johnson Controls, and Siemens, among others. In addition, faculty from the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences and School of Architecture and Design explored data-driven energy models and recommendations for urban development. Kicking off the event, Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., dean, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, welcomed attendees and set the stage for the day’s discussions.

During the conference, experts touched on proposals for sustainable infrastructure, applications for renewable energy sources including biomass, and the development of energy policies and low-carbon technologies to address impending sustainability and climate change issues. Energy-related services are among the fastest-growing professions in the U.S., with nearly seven million Americans employed in energy efficiency and related occupations. Presentations included:

Sustainability, Reliability, and Critical Infrastructure
Peter M. Curtis, president and chief executive officer, PMC Group One, LLC, provided insight on the ways cyber attacks can impede everyday resources and sustainability.

Facility Condition Assessment Process - A Practical Overview
José R. Febres, P.E., D.Eng., technical compliance officer at the International Monetary Fund, shared insights on facility condition assessment, an analysis of deficiencies in a building’s critical systems to help develop improvement strategies.

Energy Audits, Retro-Commissioning, and Local Energy Laws
Murat Bayramoglu, CEM, CBCP, energy efficiency engineer at Vert Energy Group, Inc., discussed New York City’s goals to reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by the year 2030.

NFPA 70E Requirements on Arc Flash Mitigation
Peter Davie, P.E., principal staff engineer at PSEG Long Island, informed attendees about the dangers of arc flash injuries, which account for the majority of hospital admissions from electrical incidents, and explained standard procedures for mitigating arc flash.

The Role of Renewable Natural Gas in the Future Energy Mix
Devinder Mahajan, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Gas Innovation and Technology and professor of chemical and molecular engineering at Stony Brook University, discussed renewable energy policies and the development of low-carbon technologies to address sustainability and climate change issues.

The Impact of Building Envelope on Potential Energy Savings
Ehsan Kamel, Ph.D., director of the Energy and Green Technologies Laboratory at New York Institute of Technology, focused on potential solutions to reduce building energy usage, noting that buildings account for approximately 40 percent of U.S. annual energy consumption.

Dynamic Energy Systems for Architecture and Design (streamed)
Marcella Del Signore, associate professor of Architecture at New York Institute of Technology, explained during a pre-recorded presentation how building exteriors can be transformed with complex shapes and dynamic systems.

Robert N. Amundsen, director of Energy Management at New York Institute of Technology and the conference organizer, delivered closing remarks.

Launched in 2005, the annual conference has gathered experts on climate change, renewable energy, resource management, and many other areas to address some of the world’s most pressing energy issues. Learn more about past conferences.

About New York Institute of Technology

New York Institute of Technology offers 90 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in more than 50 fields of study, including computer science, data, and cybersecurity; biology and biomedical studies; architecture and design; engineering; health professions and medicine; IT and digital technologies; management; communications and marketing; education and counseling; and energy and sustainability. A nonprofit, independent, private, and nonsectarian institute of higher education, New York Institute of Technology welcomes nearly 8,000 students worldwide. The university has campuses in New York City (Manhattan) and Long Island (Old Westbury), New York; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as programs around the world.

New York Institute of Technology embraces its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, give all qualified students access to opportunity, and support research and scholarship that benefit the larger world. More than 107,000 alumni comprise an engaged network of doers, makers, and innovators prepared to change the world, solve 21st-century challenges, and reinvent the future.

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