2008 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference

Register to attend BECC 2008! | Make reservations at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento
Now available for download: Preliminary 2008 BECC Conference Program (PDF file)

About the BECC Conference

The 2008 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference is the second annual conference focused on understanding the nature of individual and organizational behavior and decision making and using that knowledge to accelerate our transition to an energy-efficient and low carbon economy. The 2008 BECC Conference builds on the overwhelming success of the first BECC Conference in 2007, during which over 500 participants discussed successful policy and program strategies, shared important research findings, and built dynamic new networks and collaborations.

The 2008 BECC Conference will bring together a diverse group of policymakers, social scientists, program implementers, media, and energy experts to explore the practical application of social and behavioral insights to address our climate challenges. We will review recent behavioral research, discuss current and emerging policy issues, share effective program/communication strategies, and encourage collaboration across government, utility, business, and research sectors. Our goal is to achieve viable solutions for meeting long-term energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by improving the design, adoption, and continued effectiveness of policies, programs, technologies, and individual/organizational actions.

Convening Organizations

The 2008 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference is convened by the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE), University of California Office of the President; the Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency (PIEE), Stanford University; and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Who should attend the 2008 BECC Conference?

The 2008 BECC Conference would be of interest to:

Policy makers from federal, state, and local governments, regulatory agencies, and legislatures
Researchers from universities/organizations (anthropology, psychology, sociology, policy, economics, energy)
Program implementers from utilities, agencies, and community organizations
Influencers from media, communications, business, and nonprofit groups
International and other participants involved/interested in behavior, energy and climate change

2008 BECC Conference Program

Download the BECC 2008 Preliminary Schedule-at-a-Glance. (PDF file)

Download the Preliminary 2008 BECC Conference Program as of August 19, 2008. (PDF file)

Download the BECC 2008 Flyer (PDF file) to post where potentially interested people might see it.

Key Conference Themes – Applying behavioral insights to achieve viable climate solutions by:

Accelerating technology options – design, commercialization, adoption, and appropriate use
Making policies and programs more effective and economical
Producing climate-positive decisions and actions by individuals and organizations
Improve the assumptions and analytic models on which policies and programs are based

A partial list of topic areas:

Behavior and technology – design, adoption, and use
Motivating individual and collective action
Behavior and policy – design and regulation
Insights from anthropology, sociology, psychology, and public health research and interventions
Increasing program participation and effectiveness
Incorporating behavior in energy potential studies
Segmentation and strategic targeting
Global perspectives
Media, messages, and messengers
Behavior in organizations – business, governments, and communities
Leveraging the Internet and new media
Impacts of changing lifestyles on energy use
Social norms and networks
Economic models and behavior metrics
Social marketing and other behavior change strategies
Attitudes, opinions, and "public will"

The program will include a mix of sessions:

Invited/organized by conference committee:
- Plenary speakers and panels
- Topic session speakers
- Networking sessions and opportunities
Selected competitively from submitted proposals:
- Topic session presentations
- Poster session displays
- Roundtable discussion leaders

Call for 2008 BECC Conference Posters & Roundtable Proposals

We invite you to contribute to the conference by submitting proposals for 1) a poster or 2) a roundtable discussion topic you would like to lead. All abstracts must be 250 words or less and submitted online by September 25, 2008. Visit the Call for 2008 BECC Conference Posters & Roundtable Proposals page for more details.

Note: The deadline for submitting presentation abstracts has passed. We received more than 250 abstracts. If you submitted an abstract, you will hear back by June 30. We will continue to accept abstracts for posters and roundtable topics through September 25.

2008 BECC Conference Registration

Registration Rates:

Early Bird Special Discount	$395	June 2, 2008 – September 5, 2008
Discounted Registration	$495	September 6, 2008 – October 15, 2008
Full Fee	$550	After October 15, 2008
Student Rate	$395	Any time
Student w/ Scholarship*	$ 95	Pre-approval required
Tuesday Poster Reception Only	$ 30

*The Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency is providing $300 registration fee scholarships for selected students, reducing their rate to only $95. A short application and signature of an advisor are required. Download the BECC 2008 PIEE Student Scholarship Application and contact tammy.goodall@stanford.edu with any questions.

Cancellation Policy:

June 2, 2008 – September 5, 2008	Full refund
September 6, 2008 – October 15, 2008	Full refund minus $50 administration fee
After October 15, 2008	NO refund, however, we allow substitutions

Questions? Contact us at 1-888-332-8258 (8:00 am – 5:00 pm CT).

Send an email to info@BECCconference.org with "add to email list" in the subject line to receive future 2008 BECC Conference announcements.

Location & Hotel Information

Location: The 2008 BECC Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Sacramento, just steps away from the California State Capitol Building, with easy access to numerous restaurants and cultural/historical attractions.

Hyatt Regency Sacramento
1209 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Special Conference Room Rate: $149/night

Hotel reservations may be made online at Hyatt Registration or by calling 1-800-223-1234 and providing our group name "BECC Conference".

Room reservations at a discounted conference rate of $149/night will be accepted on a space available basis until October 30, 2008. Reservation requests received after this date will be based on the hotel's room availability and may be at a higher rate, so please make your reservation early!

Contact Us

By email: info@BECCconference.org

By phone: 1-888-332-8258 (8:00 am – 5:00 pm CT. If you leave a message during non-business hours, please be sure to mention that you are calling about the BECC Conference.)