Breakfast and Registration

VERGE Welcome

Presented by: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

The Power of a Billion-Member Platform

How Facebook activates a billion-member platform to reduce energy consumption while providing leadership and transparency in data center design and sustainability. Read more…

Presented by: Bill Weihl Manager of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, Facebook

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Special Announcement: Building Efficiency, Reinvented

One Great Idea: How the Social Web Transforms Real Estate

Data and web-based tools unlock energy efficiency opportunities for real estate stakeholders. Read more…

Presented by: Riggs Kubiak CEO, Honest Buildings

One Great Idea: Pecan Street Project

Texas demonstration project uncovering what's possible for consumer applications through the convergence of smart grid, EVs, mobile devices and cloud computing. Read more…

Presented by: Brewster McCracken President & CEO, Pecan Street, Inc.

One Great Idea: Big Data Made Concrete

A visual presentation of real-world big data applications. Read more…

Presented by: Kathrin Winkler Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, EMC Corporation, Board Member, The Green Grid

One Great Idea: From Smart Grid to Smart City

Convergence of smart city technologies is ushering in a new era of convenience, sustainability and innovation-driven economic development. Read more…

Presented by:

Future of Energy Innovation

How policy drivers, smart grid opportunities and strategic partnerships are transforming global energy and transportation markets. Read more…

Presented by: Lee Burrows Managing Director, VantagePoint Capital Partners; Steve Malnight VP, Customer Energy Solutions, Pacific Gas & Electric

In conversation with:

Drivers of Change: An Audience Experience

An interactive workshop to better understand the opportunities created by future change in the built environment, energy, urbanization and sustainability. Read more…

Presented by: Chris Luebkeman Director, Global Foresight & Innovation, Arup

Building a Smarter Supply Chain

Tools and business strategies to create visibility in logistics management, transportation and supply chain management. How are companies leveraging technologies to reduce risk and control operational costs while improving performance and developing competitive advantage in global supply chains? Read more…

Presented by: Elizabeth Fretheim Director, Business Strategy & Sustainability, Walmart; Irv Grossman VP, Supply Chain Operations, Chainalytics

In conversation with: John Davies VP, Senior Analyst, GreenBiz Group

Innovative Financing for Clean Energy Projects

Reduced incentives and diminished government support for renewable energy is creating a remarkable new crop of financial solutions and alternative financing mechanisms for clean energy projects. Read more…

Presented by: Alfred Griffin Director, Alternative Energy Banking Group, Citi; Dan Adler President, California Clean Energy Fund; Jeff Byron Vice Chairman, Cleantech Open National Board; Bob Hinkle President & CEO, Metrus Energy, Inc.

In conversation with: Greg Neichin Executive Vice President, Cleantech Group

Case Study: San Francisco PUC Building

A deep dive into the newly unveiled 13-floor, $190-million San Francisco Public Utilities Commission headquarters. Read more…

Presented by: Masoud Vafaei Program Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; Shelby Campbell Project Director, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; Michael Rossetto Senior Associate, KMD Architects

In conversation with: Jim Sinopoli Managing Principal, Smart Buildings LLC

Technologies for Sustainable Mobility

Advanced communication technologies, mobile apps and disruptive start-ups are creating opportunities for ride-sharing, car-sharing, and cost-effective ways to support public transport and connected vehicles. Read more…

Presented by: Michael Smith General Manager & CTO, NextBus; Nick Pudar VP, Planning and Business Development, OnStar; Thilo Koslowski VP, Distinguished Analyst, Gartner Inc.

In conversation with: Ben Holland Director, Deployment Policy and Strategy, Securing America's Future Energy

Platforms for Accelerating Energy Efficiency

Best practices in how new technologies, information-sharing and data transparency are maximizing energy efficiency in buildings. Read more…

Presented by: David Bartlett Vice President of Industry Solutions, IBM ; Domenic Armano Director, Energy, First Fuel Software; Scott Harmon CEO, Noesis; Sonal Kemkar Senior Program Manager, White House Council on Environmental Quality; Michael Murray CEO, Lucid

In conversation with: Casey Talon Research Analyst, IDC Energy Insights

Preparing Cities for Electric Vehicles

Deep dive into the role of cities in driving EV adoption. What will it take to commercialize EV infrastructures and develop appropriate incentives? How can data transparency spur growth of the EV market? Read more…

Presented by: Sam Ori Director of Policy, Electrification Coalition; Richard Steinberg CEO, DriveNow; Tom Turrentine Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis; Bob Hayden Manager, Transportation & Clean Vehicle Programs, City of San Francisco

In conversation with: Ben Holland Director, Deployment Policy and Strategy, Securing America's Future Energy

Smart Energy, Smart Buildings

Smart building technologies deliver bottom-line benefits in reducing utility bills and improving in operations & maintenance efficiencies, while helping achieve sustainability goals. But implementing large-scale, smart building systems remains a cross-functional challenge. Read more…

Presented by: Peter Scarpelli VP, Global Director of Energy & Sustainability, CBRE; Susan Rochford VP, Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, Legrand; Harry Hobbs Area Director of Engineering, InterContinental Hotels; Carlos Santamaria VP, Engineering Services, Glenborough LLC

In conversation with: Darlene Pope Founder & Principal, CoR Advisors

New Ecosystem of Innovation

From new partnerships to incubation to sustainability-related reporting requirements, there is a new ecosystem driving innovation in the clean energy and green economy. A panel of private and public sector experts will discuss this new ecosystem and its impact on the bottom line. Read more…

Presented by: Cheryl Martin Deputy Director for Commercialization, ARPA-E, U.S. Department of Energy; John Argo CFO, Functional Advantage; Ricardo Angel Managing Director, GE Energy-Ventures

In conversation with: Joan Michelson Creator, Executive Producer , Green Connections

Integrating Renewables and Onsite Generation

A view of the changing economics for onsite generation and renewable technologies. Hear eBay's plans to power its Utah data center operations through upwards of six million watts of power generated by Bloom Energy fuel cells. Read more…

Presented by: Dean Nelson VP, Global Foundation Services, eBay; Peter Gross VP, Mission Critical Systems, Bloom Energy

In conversation with: Paul Baier Vice President of Sustainability Consulting, Groom Energy

Future of Energy: Peer-to-Peer Energy Networks

A new paradigm shift where distributed energy generation and M2M communications & software enable microgrid configurations for buildings or campuses. This enables peer-to-peer or "transactive energy" to deliver grid resiliency and better performance. Read more…

Presented by: Bruce Nordman Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Laura Manz Senior Vice President, Viridity Energy; Craig Lewis Executive Director, Clean Coalition; Caroline Judy Assistant Director , County of Alameda General Services Agency

In conversation with: Christine Hertzog Managing Director, Smart Grid Library

Building a Meta City

Explosive innovation, mobile computing and rich sources of data promise dynamic changes in the way a city functions. What does tomorrow's hybrid digital-physical environment look like? How will the future of computing offer ever-richer experiences in how we live, work and play in cities? Read more…

Presented by: David Merkoski Chief Design Officer, Greenstart; Ignazio Moresco Principal UX Design Lead, Microsoft; Scott Nazarian Creative Director, frog

VERGE Gurus

Industry experts facilitate roundtable discussions on: Sustainable Mobility, Big Data, Net-zero Buildings, Disruptive Technology for Supply Chains, Future of Energy Policy, User Engagement & the Internet of Things, and more. Read more…

Breakfast and Registration

Welcome and Introductions

One Great Idea: CityStates

How cities are vital to the future of sustainability Read more…

Presented by: Mark Lee Executive Director, SustainAbility

The City as a Startup

How revitalization in major downtown areas achieves community-focused sustainability goals, maximizing economic development and inspiring other cities to do the same. Read more…

Presented by: Tony Hsieh CEO, Zappos

One Great Idea: Unleashing Capital for Clean Energy

Presented by: Dan Reicher Executive Director, Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, Stanford University

One Great Idea: Peer-to-Peer Bike Share

How creating a “liquid marketplace” for sharing bikes will change the future of collaborative consumption. Read more…

Presented by: Will Dennis CEO & Co-Founder, Liquid

The City as a Platform

How open data and innovation strategies build resiliency and help cities achieve sustainability goals. Read more…

Presented by: Melanie Nutter Director, Department of the Environment, City of San Francisco; Rohit Aggarwala Special Advisor to the Chair, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group; Kerrie Romanow Director of Environmental Services, City of San Jose

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

One Great Idea: Picking Up the PACE

How innovative clean-energy financing can change the world. Read more…

Presented by: Clay Nesler Vice President of Global Energy and Sustainability, Johnson Controls

One Great Idea: Attracting Business at the Speed of Light

How unique public-private partnerships, that do not rely on public funding, can modernize the necessary communications infrastructure to attract world class businesses and reinvigorate communities. Read more…

Presented by: Patrick Kennedy CEO, OSIsoft

VERGE and the Built Environment

How design technologies and creative urban development is reshaping the built environment in sustainable cities. Read more…

Presented by: William McDonough Founder and Principal, MBDC and William McDonough + Partners; Mike Sangiacomo President & CEO, Recology Inc.; Tom Darden CEO, Cherokee

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Electrifying Fleets

Case studies and best practices for deploying corporate and municipal electric vehicle fleets. How next-generation technologies, new business opportunities and data-sharing help drive electric fleet adoption. Read more…

Presented by: Anna Walters Transportation Specialist, Google; David Head Fleet Manager, County of Sonoma; Bob Nalbandian Fleet Manager, Frito Lay; David West Chief Marketing Officer, VIA Motors

In conversation with: Paul Stith Executive Director, Chief EV Officer, SUM - PROJECT Green OnRamp

The Promise of Demand Response

Is demand response is a “killer app” for energy reduction? Companies are increasingly involved in demand response events, what are the opportunities? Read more…

Presented by: Robert Wilkins Vice President Public Affairs, Danfoss; Kyle McNamara Managing Principal, Enterprise Solutions, Verizon; Ken Abreu Principal Regulatory Analyst, PG&E

In conversation with: Kevin Evans VP & GM Grid Integrated Resources, Johnson Controls

Sustainable Civic Hacking

Learn how developers, designers and governments can work together leveraging civic technology to build more engaged, collaborative communities. Read more…

Presented by: Steve Spiker Director of Research & Technology, Urban Strategies Council; Jack Madans Program Coordinator, Code for America

In conversation with: Luke Fretwell Founder, GovFresh

Sensors, Appliances and the coming Internet of Things

With billions of devices automatically collecting and transmitting data, opportunities abound for next-generation buildings and facilities in real-time energy monitoring and control. Read more…

Presented by: Michael Finegan West Area M2M, Manager, Solutions Engineering, Sprint Nextel; Melissa O'Mara VP, High Performance Green Buildings, Schneider Electric; Rich Green SVP, Engineering , Enlighted, Inc.; John Bradford Chief Innovations Officer, Interface, Inc.

In conversation with: Michael Ellis Partner, GreenOrder

VERGE Accelerate: Where is the Money in Cleanetch?

VERGE Accelerate: Investors are now looking for nimble, innovative startups offering IT and data-intensive business ideas, how can entrepreneurs position themselves to succeed? Read more…

Presented by: Josh Green President of National Venture Capital Assocation, MDV; Mitch Lowe Founder / Managing Partner , Greenstart; Rodrigo Prudencio Partner, Nth Power

In conversation with: Katie Fehrenbacher Senior Writer, Greentech Editor, GigaOm

Policies & Partnerships Required to Drive Innovation

Opportunities and challenges for efficiencies and economic growth created through public-private partnerships (P3). What is the key to “unlocking” the financing required to drive sustainability initiatives at scale? Read more…

Presented by: Melanie Nutter Director, Department of the Environment, City of San Francisco; Martha Amram CEO, WattzOn; Arvin Vohra Director of Finance, Enlighted, Inc.; Brad Copithorne Energy and Financial Policy Specialist, EDF

In conversation with: Rafael Reyes Executive Director, Bay Area Climate Collaborative

The Power of Data to Drive Sustainability

As populations grow more urbanized, the stress on aging infrastructure and the need for additional capital investment will fundamentally challenge how cities offer efficient services as part of a sustainable future. Read more…

Presented by: Patrick Kennedy CEO, OSIsoft

In conversation with: Peter Asmus Principal Research Analyst, Navigant Research

Data Access & Radical Energy Efficiency

Opportunities abound for building owners and property managers to reduce energy costs with open access to data. What are innovative ways to engage the market through public-private partnerships? What are new tools for practitioners in achieving the full potential of reducing energy consumption? Read more…

Presented by: Laurie Actman Deputy Director, Energy Efficient Building Hub; Ian Kalin Director of Open Data, Socrata; Marla Thalheimer Director of Sustainability, Liberty Property Trust

Enabling Next Generation Buildings

Trends in technology are changing dynamics of building efficiency: the Internet of Things, Big Data, community, social media and more. What are the influencers that drive the current wave of innovation in building efficiency? Read more…

Presented by: Laura Farnham VP Building Technology & Services, Johnson Controls; Mike Zimmerman CEO, BuildingIQ; Rob Bernard Chief Environmental Strategist, Microsoft

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Accelerate: Pitch Competition

VERGE Accelerate: A heart-pumping, crowd-sourced pitch battle featuring startups in digital transportation, smart energy systems and collaborative consumption.
Presenters include: Michael Keating, CEO, Scoot Read more…

Platforms for Disruptive Transportation

Pioneers in sustainable mobility -- from the Zipcar for electric scooters to tech-enabled ride-sharing and a cutting-edge electric motorcycle -- talk about disruptive business models and the future of transportation. Read more…

Presented by: Daniel Kim Founder & President, Lit Motors Corporation; Sunil Paul Founding Partner, Spring Ventures; Michael Keating CEO, Scoot Networks

In conversation with: Miguel Helft Senior Writer, Fortune

VERGE 25 Awards

VERGE 25 Award winners will be announced. Read more…