Fall 2011

Energy Sessions and Tours at New Partners Conference in San Diego

The Local Government Commission’s 11th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference returns to California in February 2012. The San Diego conference will feature several sessions and tours on energy and climate change, as well as many others on green building, green jobs and the green economy.

Energy/climate sessions include:

• Models and tools to reduce climate impacts
• Reducing energy and climate impacts in smaller communities
• Climate adaptation best practices for coastal communities
• Energy retrofits in existing buildings (Energy Upgrade California)
• Planning for solar energy

Two of the 13 optional tours of local projects have an energy/climate focus. The first, "From Net-Zero Buildings to Net-Positive Neighborhoods," is a light rail tour of two innovative smart-growth developments that incorporate high levels of green building and affordable housing.

The other tour, "Explore the Implications of a Rising San Diego Bay by Boat," will highlight the diverse communities and coastal resources at risk from sea-level rise, and the San Diego Bay Climate Adaptation Project’s innovative collaboration to proactively manage these risks.

The multi-disciplinary New Partners for Smart Growth Conference will include over 100 plenaries, breakouts, workshops and trainings, and will feature cutting-edge policies and programs, projects, best practices, as well as strategies and implementation tools that address the challenges of implementing smart growth development principles. Other conference features include:

• 13 tours of local model projects
• Several coordinated networking opportunities
• Accreditation for AICP planners, Landscape Architects, and attorneys working on related land use issues
• 'Advancing Equity through Planning: Challenges and Opportunities' — an optional workshop on February 1st
• Spanish translation for several conference sessions
• On-site Internet Café
• Limited number of need-based scholarships available

Visit www.NewPartners.org for more details on the conference program, tours, special events and opportunities, featured speakers, hotel information, and local attractions.