New Ecology at Conferences
New Ecology staff have been busy! Here are some highlights from some of the conferences and events we have attended:
NESEA Building Energy Boston 2025: many members of the New Ecology team were there to celebrate NESEA’s 50th Year!
Senior Energy Engineer Neil Donnelly and Energy Engineer Charlie Simek presented a data-driven, iterative commissioning approach for CO2 heat pump water heater pilots. This session demonstrated continuous improvement through diagnostics and collaboration to overcome initial performance challenges and ensure scalability, sharing practical lessons learned from multifamily projects, applicable to other complex building systems.
Refrigerants: Rethinking their Role in Electrification panel: Maciej Konieczny (back), Tom Secondo (left), Neil Donnelly (right), J.D. Rancourt (not pictured)
Director of Green Building Technology Maciej Konieczny chaired a panel discussion which included Senior Energy Engineer Neil Donnelly (with research by Senior Energy Modeling Analyst Ching-Wen Hsiao and Energy Modeler Miary Rasoanaivo) which explored the environmental and safety implications of various refrigerant choices, the cost considerations, and the role of innovative HVAC technologies in minimizing refrigerant usage while maximizing energy efficiency. The panel talked about actionable strategies for navigating these regulatory shifts, enabling them to design and implement safe, sustainable, and cost-effective HVAC systems that align with a low-carbon future. View a recording of this session.
Ashley Wisse speaking on the Working Smarter Not Harder: The Power of Teamwork in Multifamily PH Projects panel
Director of Green Building Services Ashley Wisse was on a panel session focused on optimizing collaboration within Passive House (PH) project teams by showcasing the diverse perspectives of five experts, offering practical lessons and tools to improve efficiency and achieve certification. It delved into role clarity, collaborative strategies, and the complexities of multifamily PH projects. View a recording of this session.
Director of Green Building Services Paul Eddowes was on a panel session detailing the successful transformation of an abandoned industrial site into a Phius-certified, mixed-use community for low-income families, emphasizing replicable development strategies, complex stakeholder management, and creative funding solutions. It explored the project's performance data, community impact, and the lessons learned from its phased construction.
Principal Director of Decarbonization Marty Josten presented at the 2025 National Home Performance Conference in New Orleans in a session called Deep Energy Retrofits: Lessons Learned in Multifamily. Marty and Relay Network members showcased a series of geographically diverse Deep Energy Retrofit projects in multifamily housing.
Justin Iovenitti (left) and Corey Crews-Williams (right) present Decarbonizing Affordable Housing: Achievements Through Energize Delaware's Multifamily Program
At the 2025 Green Building United Symposium, Energy Engineer Corey Crews-Williams and Senior Energy Engineer Justin Iovenitti presented on New Ecology’s work through the Energize Delaware Affordable Multifamily Housing Program. Their session walked through the audit-to-installation process for multifamily buildings, highlighting how deep energy assessments—paired with stakeholder engagement and program support—enable meaningful upgrades in underserved housing. Using a case study of a Wilmington rowhome, they illustrated how bundled measures like heat pumps, insulation, and ventilation improvements can drive decarbonization, reduce energy burden, and support resident health.