Business Symposium Sessions
The 2024 Business Symposium offers nine breakout sessions across three session times, plus special events including the EV Ride & Drive and LLLC Escape Room.
EV Ride & Drive |
LLLC Escape Room
Breakout Sessions 1
Breakout Sessions 2
Breakout Sessions 3
EV Ride & Drive | LLLC Escape Room | 9:00 a.m.
Are you considering an electric vehicle (EV)? Curious how it rides? Get behind the wheel with the EV Ride & Drive at Symposium! Test-drive the latest models and experience the benefits for yourself.
• There are eight vehicles to choose from — you’ll select the model you wish to drive at your test drive check-in.
• Timeslots are for 20 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• The Ride & Drive follows a looped route starting at the Symposium entrance.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
Visit the sign-up table outside the main entrance to the right (look for a tent) to check-in or sign up for a timeslot and witness the future of transportation firsthand! To learn more about EVs, including available incentives, rebates and tax credits, visit: Ameren.com/Illinois/residential/electric-vehicles or visit our exhibitor booth by the Ameren Hub.
Get hands-on with Luminaire-Level Lighting Controls!
Pay a visit to the LLLC Escape Room for a hands-on demonstration of Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC)! Presented by Fernhill Shopworks, this experiential learning activity allows you to explore a variety of lighting control technologies and the myriad benefits of LLLCs.
YOUR TASK
You’ll have 10 minutes to configure an LLLC system to meet the requirements of a frustrated facility manager who wants their money back. Do you have what it takes to escape the room?
Visit us on the second floor to claim your timeslot! Come put your hands on real equipment and ask questions of the experts.
Breakout Session 1 | 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Location: Sapphire Room
So you’ve upgraded your old lighting fixtures to LEDs — a great first step toward energy savings. But once LEDs are in place, what comes next?
Luminaire-Level Lighting Controls (LLLCs) are high-quality, networked lighting control systems that allow for granular control at the fixture level, taking energy savings to the next level. Let’s explore the benefits of LLLCs in balancing the visual environment, enhancing space flexibility and boosting user satisfaction — all while achieving significant energy savings and improving maintenance cycles.
- Learn about the latest in LED lighting, intelligent building systems and networked control strategies, including programming and commissioning of today’s systems.
- Hear from trusted energy professionals about the different use cases for lighting controls and the best applications to fit your facility’s energy needs.
- Get details of the available financial incentives and training programs to help you make the most of your LLLC system journey.
Speakers:
Evergreen Energy Partners Evergreen Energy Partners Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Dan Kuhl
Angela Pilant
Moderator
Sid Daller
Location: Diamond Room
Large institutions such as universities, hospitals and correctional facilities have unique energy needs — they require lots of it! When it comes to energy efficiency, there is always more to do.
Whether investing in energy-efficient equipment upgrades or optimizing the performance of existing systems, your organization can achieve significant long-term energy savings while improving the health, safety and comfort of building occupants. Best of all, the savings from improved energy performance can be reinvested in other areas of your business operations.
In this session, you will:
- Learn about new technologies and energy-saving approaches for large facilities, including energy savings in chilled water production systems.
- Dive into energy benchmarking, infrastructure assessment and upgrades, and other approaches to sustainability in hospitals and other large facilities.
- Discover how Retro Commissioning can fine-tune your buildings by identifying equipment in need of adjustment and other opportunities for operational improvements.
Speakers:
Sylvia Mcivor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Karl Helmink
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Tom Johnson
Carle Health
Anthony Corso
Carle Health
Moderator
Rod Rhoads
GDS Associates – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program
Location: Emerald Room
We all know that energy efficiency can lead to long-term cost savings, but it’s not always feasible to get a project off the ground. Large energy efficiency projects often require a significant financial investment — in addition to time and staffing resources — so new sources of funding are always welcome.
Here’s the good news: help is available! In this session, you’ll learn about various federal and state resources to help make energy efficiency more affordable, as well as how to apply or request assistance.
Among the topics we will cover:
- The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, a tool to assist commercial property owners with financing for energy efficiency projects and other improvements.
- An overview of federal programs and tax credits, state programs and workforce initiatives for commercial and industrial customers.
- Available resources to leverage stacking financial incentives for energy efficiency projects.
Speakers:
Anna Maria Kowalik
Illinois Energy Conservation Authority
Molly Graham
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Moderator
Libby Stevenson
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Breakout Session 2 | 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Location: Sapphire Room
Industrial and manufacturing businesses offer tremendous potential for energy savings due to their energy-intensive operations. But industrial energy efficiency projects are neither cheap nor easy — which is why external support is so critical.
From technical assistance and market analysis to federal grant funding, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offers a wide range of resources to support energy efficiency and onsite generation projects at manufacturing facilities. In some cases, grant funding could cover up to half the cost of your next energy efficiency project — and can be leveraged alongside existing incentives from the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program.
In this session:
- Find out how to receive a no-cost industrial energy assessment through the DOE’s Industrial Assessments Centers.
- Learn how to access up to $300,000 per project in grant funding through the DOE’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center Implementation Grants Program.
- Get details on the Midwest Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Program, which provides resources and best practices to increase the adoption of onsite clean energy technologies.
Speakers:
Rupesh Devapati
Midwest Industrial Assessment Center
Saad Alsamraee
Midwest Industrial Assessment Center
Ben Campbell
Energy Resources Center
Moderator
Tom Tyler
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
- Hear testimonials from other business customers about the benefits of energy efficiency in small buildings.
- Learn more about the customer journey — how customers, Program Ally contractors and Energy Advisors work together on projects from beginning to end.
- Get details of the Small Business Direct Install (SBDI) Program — and how both small and large customers can qualify for incentives.
Speakers:
Albert Callaway
ACES Lighting
Jamie Harding
SC2 Supply Chain Services and Solutions
Moderator
Gretchen Primeau
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Location: Emerald Room
From parks and schools to local government buildings and beyond, public sector facilities use a great deal of energy — yet much of it is wasted. Problems such as outdated lighting, building settlement, leaky steam traps and more could be draining your budget, making energy efficiency an essential cost-saving measure for communities large and small.
The Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program is here to help with financial incentives to help your organization make the necessary upgrades.
In this session, you will:
- Learn about recent incentive changes and how you can take advantage of the latest advances in energy efficiency — without breaking the bank.
- Hear from other communities and public sector facilities that have prioritized energy efficiency and discover energy-saving measures that could work for you too!
- Connect with our Energy Advisors and ask them anything! They’ll walk you through the measures applicable to your facility and answer any questions you have.
Speakers:
Mark Bollmann
City of Carbondale
Joseph Haskell
East St. Louis School District #189
Keith Senior
West Washington County CUSD #10
Moderator
Jack Johns
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Breakout Session 3 | 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Location: Sapphire Room
Are you ready to take energy savings to the next level? Building automation and energy management systems provide a wealth of sophisticated data and realtime insights into building performance — so you can make informed decisions about your energy usage.
From HVAC and demand-controlled ventilation systems to advanced rooftop controls, lighting and beyond, you’ll be able to measure, monitor and fine-tune your system while generating data that will help improve operational efficiency and occupant comfort.
In this session, you will:
- Learn about typical automation strategies and better understand how your operation could benefit from automation solutions.
- Get the scoop on applicable Program incentives and what to expect regarding the customer journey.
- Hear testimonials from a variety of customers about recent automation projects and outcomes.
Speakers:
Mark Mathis
Community Unity School District
#3, Fulton County
Thomas M. Loos
Ruyle Mechanical Services
Jessica Loos
Ruyle Mechanical Services
Moderator
Chad Whitehead
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Location: Diamond Room
Buildings can settle and shift over time, creating gaps and cracks around doors, windows and vents that leak cooled or heated air from inside. This causes your HVAC system to work harder to maintain a consistent indoor temperature — and leads to higher energy costs.
That’s where weatherization comes in. By sealing your building envelope, you can yield significant energy savings and dramatically improve occupant comfort.
In this session, you will:
- Learn about the benefits of weatherization and available incentives for weather stripping, air sealing around exterior penetrations, duct sealing and insulation, and other measures.
- Hear from customers, both large and small, about their experience before and after completing a weatherization project.
- Find out how to get started with an Ameren Illinois Energy Advisor or Program Ally.
Speakers:
Ursula Bongiovanni
Tridan International
Dwjuan Robinson
East St. Louis School District #189
Brandace Cloud
Macoupin Art Collective
Moderator
Colin Santel
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Moderator
Shane Perry
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
Location: Emerald Room
Nonprofits and diverse-owned businesses face unique challenges every day — and often have not had equitable access to economic and energy efficiency opportunities. The Market Development Initiative (MDI) was established to address this need and infuse equity throughout the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program.
MDI works to cultivate new opportunities and support nonprofits and diverse-owned businesses in a variety of ways — partnering with community organizations and engaging customers who have not previously benefited from energy efficiency.
In this session, you will:
- Get details on MDI’s copay assistance for nonprofits and diverse-owned businesses and hear directly from customers about the impact of this support.
- Learn about staffing support grants and resource grants available through MDI to support business operations and energy efficiency initiatives.
- Find out more about MDI’s workforce development services, diverse vendor procurement services and other opportunities to work with the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program.
Speakers:
Bishop James A. Wills Sr.
Love Fellowship Christian Church
Teresa Collins
Senior Services Plus, Inc.
Moderator
Alex Deeb
Leidos, Inc. – An Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program Contractor
By switching to heat supplied through electricity, not only will you save every month on energy costs, but you also have the convenience and reliability of the Ameren Illinois electric delivery system.
Advantage of Switching From Propane to Electric:
• Affordable: Unlike propane and oil heating, electric heating costs remain stable over the years. Electricity is currently a cheaper option for heating and is predicted to remain so for many years.
• Safe and Reliable: With no burning materials, combustible gases or noxious fumes, electric heating is the safest possible heating solution for your home. Efficient electric appliances typically involve heat pumps or induction technology which have become increasingly more reliable versus early versions of those technologies.
• Convenient: The Ameren Illinois electric system is already connected to your home to deliver electricity in a reliable manner. You never need to worry about running low on fuel, scheduling tank refills or maintaining storage tanks.
Improve the heating and cooling efficiency of your home by switching from propane to electric heating options like an air source heat pump. Air source heat pumps offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one integrated system. In the summer, air source heat pumps are air conditioners that pump heat out of your home. In the winter, they reverse, becoming heaters that pump heat into your home.
Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps:
• Reduced Heating Costs: An ENERGY STAR® certified air source heat pump provides heating for approximately one third the cost of traditional electric baseboard heating, depending on where you live, and approximately half the cost of oil or propane heat. An air source heat pump is so efficient that it can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.
• Reduced Cooling Costs: During the summer months, a central air source heat pump automatically becomes a central air conditioner. With ENERGY STAR products, you’ll also have reduced cooling bills due to highly efficient operation.
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An air source heat pump is good for your home and good for the planet. On average, ENERGY STAR certified models avoid more than 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of their lifespan compared to standard systems.
• Less Infrastructure: Air source heat pumps offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one integrated system.
Through the Home Efficiency Income Qualified (HEIQ) Initiative, eligible Ameren Illinois customers receive a FREE Home Energy Assessment to learn where your home is losing energy and discover ways to incorporate energy-efficient home improvements like LED lightbulbs, advanced power strips and heat pumps, all at no cost to you!
Benefits of a FREE Home Energy Assessment:
• Energy Usage: Understand how much energy your home is using and what appliances and products are using the most energy.
• Health and Safety: Uncover hidden problems that could be wasting energy and making your home unsafe, like poorly insulated walls and improper ventilation.
• Savings: Identify incentives to help determine budgeting for projects.
• Free Energy-Saving Products: During the Home Energy Assessment, receive FREE installation of energy-efficient products in your home. Propane appliances (furnaces, water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers) may be eligible for free replacement with electric appliances (heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, or heat pump clothes dryers).