Draft Class Plan - For Faculty Review Only –
Community Energy Innovations: Cambridge Multifamily Pilot Design
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | School of Architecture + Planning
11.S948 Spring 2013 3-1-8 F (1:00-4:00) 9-451 First class Feb 8, 2013
Instructors: Harvey Michaels and Lawrence Susskind, TA Brendan McEwen
As of : February 7; subject to revision
Phase 1: Foundational development: (Weeks 1- 6) Development of related planning and
technology concepts and skills, meeting stakeholders, exploring the State of the Art, reflection
on opportunities and strategies for breakthroughs.
In this phase, the teams and class will critically examine current knowledge, understanding and ideas. Through
readings, including the “Terms of Reference” developed by student researchers this fall, students will identify key
questions related to designing a successful program. Core and related faculty will discuss their experiences, and
stakeholders will present their objectives and concerns.

It is anticipated that, in small groups, class members will accompany multifamily energy auditors on a site visit.

Notably, each team will manage contact with related specialists. We are fortunate to have a strong panel of
experts available to the class. Teams may arrange for specialists to address the class, or as needed create
supplemental meetings or travel to their facilities.

Assignment: In this segment, individual class members will present short papers and 1-2 slide ppt on a
foundation topic of their choice, to support the goals of the Practicum.
Week 1 – Feb 8: Introduction, Project description, Consideration of Practicum Goals
(Michaels/Susskind*).

Segment 1 : Michaels lead: The need for the project. Anticipated process. Class member role
and benefits from participating. Introductions – discussion of background and interests.
Discussion: Political and Economic Setting.

Segment 2: Susskind lead: Consideration of Goals, Nature of Practica – specific and general.
Consensus and community agenda – brief talk by Ryan Cook.

Segment 3: If time – if snow isn’t too bad: Michaels lead. Transparency agenda – brief talk by
Alexis Howland.
Assigned readings for week 2:

Ryan Cook paper

Engaging as Partners in Energy Efficiency: Multifamily Housing and Utilities - Center for
Neighborhood Technology and ACEEE/Mackres, 2012
https://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/11/sp13/11.S948/courseMaterial/topics/topic4/readings/CNT_ACE
EE_MF_and_Utilities/CNT_ACEEE_MF_and_Utilities.pdf
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
1
Week 2 – Feb 15: Utility/Community Multifamily Programs – Current state and perspectives
(Michaels/Susskind*)

Segment 1: Guests: Northeast Energy Efficiency Project: Ed Londergan, Manager of the Regional
Multi-family Retrofit Leadership Group, and Carolyn Sarno, Assistant Director for Community
Programs

Segment 2: Discussion: Susskind lead: Relating our work to the expertise and experiences of
others.
Assigned readings for week 3:

Adi Nochur paper

MA Multifamily Retrofit Efficiency Potential Study, Cadmus et. al. 2012
https://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/11/sp13/11.S948/courseMaterial/topics/topic4/readings/MA_RR_LI__Multifamily_Po---Appendix_17MAY2012/MA_RR_LI_-_Multifamily_Po---Appendix_17MAY2012.pdf
Arranged: supplemental tutorial meetings.
Week 3 – Feb 22 – State of the Art: Financing and Technology (Michaels/McEwen)

Segment 1: Possible Guests: Radiator Labs, Blasnik (Nest), Glicksman, CSG, Seidman

Segment 2: Multifamily Foundation research: Discussion led by McEwen, Nochur, Cook,
Howland

Segment 3: Discussion of groups - Schedule participation in audits.
Assignment: Foundation papers – topics March 10, due March 20 , ppt in class March 22
Assigned reading for week 4:

Multifamily Program Design Foundations - Terms of Reference, Reflection on Strategies, MIT
EESP , 2012
https://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/11/sp13/11.S948/courseMaterial/topics/topic4/readings/DRAFT__MIT_Community_Ene---dge_TOR_Feb_6_2013/DRAFT_-_MIT_Community_Ene--dge_TOR_Feb_6_2013.pdf
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
2
Week 4 – March 1 – Program Models – w/MIT Energy Conf- larger venue with open
invitation(Michaels/McEwen)

Segment 1: Guests: NStar, Solarize MA, Green Retrofit Initiative New Ecology/Tohn

Segment 2: Discussion: How do these instruct us about MF efficiency program design?
Assigned readings for week 5:

Alexis Howland paper

Multifamily and Energy Disclosure, Institute for Market Transformation, 2013
https://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/11/sp13/11.S948/courseMaterial/topics/topic4/readings/MA_RR_L
I_-_Multifamily_Po---Appendix_17MAY2012/MA_RR_LI_-_Multifamily_Po--Appendix_17MAY2012.pdf
Group finalization:

Students will identify with either:
o
the Mapping/Building Technology Group OR
o
The Program Design, Financing & Community Based Marketing Group
Week 5 – March 8 – Transparency, Mapping (Michaels/McEwen)

Segment 1: Possible Guests: Wegowise, NSL, Sarma, Reinhart, Ferriera, Goldstein

Segment 2: Discussion: How do these instruct us about MF efficiency program design?
Assigned reading for week 6:

“High-Hanging” Fruit, Community Based Social Marketing for Energy Efficiency, ACEEE 2012
https://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/11/sp13/11.S948/courseMaterial/topics/topic4/readings/highhanging-fruit-cbsm/high-hanging-fruit-cbsm.pdf
Assignment Due: Draft 1-2 page description of group deliverables & work plan for the semester. 2-5
slide ppt.
Meet with your group (perhaps twice). Develop a draft plan of what your group will produce this
semester and illustrate the work steps your group will take to be ready to present these ideas on
April 26th (and develop a final report by May 15th). This work should include:
1. A description of the deliverables for your group. These could include a prototype energy map,
an actionable design for an energy efficiency financing vehicle, a community based marketing
plan for the City and its partners to implement, and/or any other tool that supports energy
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
3
efficiency markets for multifamily buildings. In a paragraph or two, describe each deliverable in
some detail, outlining important elements each.
2. A 2-3 sentence justification for each deliverable, outlining your theory for why these tools will
be important to help achieve deep & scalable efficiency.
3. Outline the functionality that the tool will require once actually implemented in a future pilot.
(For example, what functions would an online energy map require? What functions would a
financing tool have to fulfill?).
4. Use a Gantt Chart (or another project management tool, if you would prefer) to illustrate how
your group will produce the deliverables over the course of the term.
Don’t get stressed, but do put some intensive thought and hours into thinking through your deliverables
for the term, and your plan for producing them.
Send your teams’ workplan to Harvey, Brendan and Larry by 8am March 8. Be prepared to present your
workplan to the group for 5-10 minutes March 8. After March 8, instructors will review the draft
deliverables, and provide comment.
An updated work-plan for the term will be due March 22nd. We also expect students to illustrate
meaningful engagement in producing the deliverables by that time.
Week 6 – March 15 –
Community-based Planning and Marketing (Michaels/Susskind*)

Segment 1 –Possible Guests: Cambridge (Shaw/Rasmussen), Mackres, Jay , Lanou(?)

Segment 2: Susskind lecture/discussion – Approach to developing broad and effective support.
Assignment: Foundation reports due March 20 , ppt in class March 22
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
4
Phase 2: Strategy development: (Weeks 7-10) Development of hypotheses, analysis and initial
discussion with stakeholders and experts, consensus-building, refinement, reflection on broader
societal opportunities in policy and planning.
In this phase, the teams and class will screen and refine strategies for achieving efficiency that exceed the typical
norms of programs to date. Teams will meet with relevant stakeholders and appropriate faculty and outside
experts to consider their views, and respond to issues raised with refinements in approach.
These classes will include strategy workshops, where the teams will present their ideas, approach, and issues for
discussion. Each week, the teams will refine the strategy based on input and reflection, and the workshops will
progress from an internal review; to stakeholders and experts, to project sponsors. As well, the classes will
examine requirements for a plan regarding discussion of issues, design, scope, analysis, and model documents.
Assignment: In weeks 8-10, teams will offer progressively refined short papers of their approach, as well as group
ppt presentations.
Week 7 - March 22: Transition to Strategy (Michaels/Susskind*)

Segment 1: Efficiency Plan elements. Possible guests: Finlayson, Coleman

Segment 2: Class Member Foundation Presentations; 4 segments –talks followed by discussion.
Assignment: Final Workplan
Revised workplan. Be prepared to present to the group on your progress and revised plan for 5-10
minutes.
March 29 – Spring Break – No Class
Week 8 – Apr 5 – Internal Strategy Workshop - (Michaels/Susskind)

Segment 1: Groups deliver 2 page summaries in advance. Groups present options in ppt,
questions, goals for semester work.

Segment 2: Appraisal and reflection, consideration of approach to practicum goals, client
Requirements for Program Planning
Assignment: First Draft Strategy Papers and Presentations due.
As a group, develop a 3-7 page Draft Strategy Paper Summary, outlining your proposals for a pilot
multifamily energy efficiency program in Cambridge. Each groups will present on their proposals
for 10-15 minutes.
Week 9 – Apr 12 –Strategy workshop and discussion of plan format with clients (Michaels)

Segment 1: Groups deliver revised presentations on Strategies. Guests: NStar, Cambridge –
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
5

Segment 2: Discussion of report and plan outline, Consider implications of input. Consider
process, budget and assessment of potential impacts in Cambridge and at Scale
Week 10 – April 19 : Workshop with Key stakeholders (property owners, tenants, etc.), and finalize
strategy (Michaels/Susskind*)

Segment 1: Presentation and roundtable discussion with stakeholder guests: Landlord rep,
tenant rep, interested faculty.

Segment 2: Consider implications, develop final strategy decisions.
Assignment: Final revision to strategy presentations and summaries.
Phase 3: Final Plan Development: (Weeks 11- 13): Selecting design, Symposium, Response to
Issues, Reflection on societal significance, Final document
This project seeks to develop new energy planning tools, new approaches to community marketing and
engagement, and new utility efficiency inventive and program designs, including a full analysis of projected 10 year
energy, peak demand, and carbon impacts within the pilot zone, as well as projected costs and economic/social
benefits from the perspectives of NStar, Cambridge, participating landlords and tenants.
The final plan and analysis will be published as a general multifamily proposal, and also with a detailed project plan
for formal consideration by the sponsors for a pilot project to potentially be conducted next Fall. Final classes will
include reflection on our response to comments, especially from sponsors, as well as:

Development of final draft, including group synthesis, key points, and articulation for the Executive
Summary.

Delivery of final draft to project sponsors, with a meeting with sponsors to review in the final class.

Reflection on the opportunities for supportive concepts, policies, and regulations to increasingly
expanding the opportunities for energy efficiency.
Week 11 – Apr 26 : Symposium (larger venue- probably Media Lab multipurpose room) Expanded time
– includes lunch (Michaels/Susskind)
Initial drafts for Guests: DOE, Cambridge Mayor, NStar VP, all stakeholders, interested faculty and
students.

Segment 1: Presentations by Class Members with questions.

Segment 2: Roundtable discussions on key issues and opportunities for improvement.
Anticipated attendees:
Sponsors:
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
6

William Stacks, Multifamily Program director, NStar Electric and Gas; Tilak Subrahmanian, Efficiency
Program Director; Penni Conner, SVP; Frank Gundal, Commercial programs

Megan Shaw, Cambridge Energy Alliance, Suzanne Rasmussen, Planning Director, City of Cambridge, and
Henrietta Davis, Mayor; City of Cambridge.

David Lee, Manager of Residential Efficiency Program Innovation, US Dept of Energy; and Elena Alschuler,
Fellow, Energy Data Initiative
Programs:

Eric Mackres, Manager of Community Efficiency, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Ed Londergan, Manager of the Regional Multi-family Retrofit Leadership Group, Northeast Energy
Efficiency Project, and Carolyn Sarno, Assistant Director for Community Programs

Meg Lusardi Director, Green Communities Program, MA Dept. of Energy Resources, and Ian Finlayson and
Pat Coleman, leaders of benchmarking initiatives.

Kaat Vander Straeten – Solarize Massachusetts Program Coordinator
Efficiency Service Providers:

Conservation Services Group: Mark Dyan, Senior VP

Next Step Living, Gabe Shapiro, Community Program Manager

New Ecology, Ed Connolly, President, and Shiva Prakash Green Retrofit Initiative Manager

Ellen Tohn, Independent Efficiency and Environmental Planner

Michael Blasnik, Independent Efficiency Scientist
Assignment: Students to interview key stakeholders for their specific issues; develop rough drafts of
final report prior to May 3 class.
Week 12 – May 3: Reflection and Synthesis (Michaels/Susskind*)

Segment 1: Group response to comments, especially from sponsors. Plans for final draft.

Segment 2: Discussion of Synthesis, key points, and articulation for Executive Summary
Assignment: Final drafts by May 8 to clients.
Week 13 – May 10 : Final Class (Michaels/Susskind)

Segment 1: Response of key clients – guests from NStar and Cambridge.

Segment 2: Course Concluding thoughts
Assignment: Final group reports due May 15.
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
7
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
8
Week 14 –May 17 NO CLASS
Assessment Meeting: Michaels/Susskind
Class members will be graded based on multiple factors including:
Individual:
 Effective participation - As a seminar, class members are key contributors, as evidenced by
preparation, thoughtful contribution, and regular attendance. - 30%
 Foundation topic presentation – In the first half of the class, each member will research and
provide brief oral and written report on a foundational topic of current significance to efficiency
enablement. - 20%
Team:
 Effective participation in Plan Development and Workshops–Class members work as teams to
prepare quality, innovative, and well-analyzed strategies and plans – 20%
 Final project – As teams, class members will prepare the final project plan, with an effective and
well-articulated presentation of their segment of the plan, with attention to originality,
feasibility, and scalability. - 30%
Community Energy Innovations Practicum Class Plan– as of February 7, 2013
9