California Institute for Energy and Environment Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

About BECC 2008

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.

The 2008 BECC 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 Schedule-at-a-Glance (PDF file).

Download the BECC 2008 Conference Program (PDF file).

Download the BECC 2008 One Sheet (PDF file).

    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

Information for Speakers, Poster Presenters, & Roundtable Moderators

Instructions for Speakers (PDF file)
Instructions for Approved Poster Presenters (PDF file)
Instructions for Approved Roundtable Moderators (PDF file)

The deadlines for presentation, poster, and roundtable submissions have passed. If you submitted an abstract recently, you should expect to hear back no later than October 10. If you have not been contacted by that date, please email info@BECCconference.org to inquire.

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 No more scholarships available
Tuesday Poster Reception Only $ 30

*The BECC 2008 PIEE Student Scholarship Application deadline has passed.

Cancellation Policy:

June 2, 2008 – September 5, 2008 Full refund
September 6, 2008 – October 31, 2008 Full refund minus $50 administration fee
After October 31, 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: No longer available

If you have questions about your Hyatt reservations, call 1-800-223-1234 and provide our group name, "BECC Conference".

    Other nearby hotels:
  • The Sheraton – next door, pricey – 916-447-1700
  • Inn Off Capitol Park – short walk, $129 (includes tax and free Internet) – 916-447-8100
  • Quality Inn – short walk, $70 (includes free parking and Internet) – 916-444-3980
  • Best Western Sutter House – 5 blocks to Capitol, $121 (discounts available) – 916-441-1314
  • The Holiday Inn – walking distance, $184 (discounts available) – 916-446-0100
  • Fairfield Inn – 5 miles away, $129 – 919-920-5300
  • Airport Courtyard by Marriott – 2.5 miles away, $179 – 916-923-7472

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.)

2008 BECC Conference Sponsors

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Visit the Sponsorship Details page for more information.

Founding Sponsors:
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) Southern California Gas Company
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Southern California Edison (SCE) U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Sponsors:
BC Hydro Power Smart Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
California Air Resources Board (CARB) California Energy Commission (CEC)
Energy Star Energy Trust of Oregon National Grid

Allies:
11th Hour Project California Department of Conservation (DOC) Clif Bar & Company ICF International Itron
KEMA Opinion Dynamics Corporation (ODC) Positive Energy Seattle City Light

2008 BECC Conference Leadership

Convening Directors
Carl Blumstein, CIEE, University of California
Jim Sweeney, PIEE, Stanford University
Steve Nadel, ACEEE

Conference Chair
Linda Schuck, CIEE, University of California

Co-Chairs
Carrie Armel, PIEE, Stanford University
Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez, ACEEE

Organizing Group
Sharyn Barata, Opinion Dynamics Corporation
Rick Diamond, Lawrence Berkeley Nat’l Lab
Bill Guns, SRI Consulting Business Intelligence
Loren Lutzenhiser, Portland State University
Ed Maibach, George Mason University
Monica Nevius, Consortium for Energy Efficiency
Dan Radack, World Bank
Gene Rodrigues, Southern California Edison
William Ryerson, Population Media Center
Maria Tikoff Vargas, ENERGY STAR, US EPA
Laurie ten Hope, California Energy Commission
Pamela Wellner, CA Public Utility Commission
Ed Vine, CIEE, University of California

Conference Manager
Cara Lee Mahaney-Braithwait, Christensen Associates Energy Consulting

2008 BECC Conference Advisors

Carol Baker, Office of the Speaker, California State Assembly
Obadiah Bartholomy, Renewable Generation Assets, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sylvia Bender, Deputy Director for Electricity Supply Analysis, California Energy Commission
Nicole Biggart, Dean, Graduate School of Management, University of California, Davis
Severin Borenstein, Director, UC Energy Institute
Ralph Cavanagh, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council
Randy Chinn, Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications, California State Senate
Jeanne Clinton, Clean Energy Advisor, California Public Utilities Commission
Michael Closson, Executive Director, Acterra – Action for a Sustainable Earth
Linda Cohen, Associate Dean, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Mark DiCamillo, Senior Vice President, Field Research Corporation
Paul Ehrlich, Director, Center for Population Biology, Stanford University
Mark Gaines, Director of Consumer Programs, Southern California Gas/San Diego Gas & Electric
James Goldstene, Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board
Bill Guns, President and CEO, SRI Consulting- Business Intelligence
Andy Hargadon, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship; Director, Center for Energy Efficiency, UC Davis
Jared Huffman, Assemblymember, 6th District, California State Assembly
Trudi Hughes, Public Affairs, Wal-Mart Stores
Bruce Jennings, Committee on Environmental Quality, California State Senate
Christine Kehoe, State Senator, California State Senate
Willett Kempton, Assoc. Professor, University of Delaware
Martha Krebs, Deputy Director for R&D, California Energy Commission
Skip Laitner, Director, Economic Analysis, ACEEE
Debbie Levin, CEO, Environmental Media Association
Bridgett Luther, Director, California Department of Conservation
Loren Lutzenhiser, Professor, Portland State University
Robert Marley, US Department of Energy
Wally McGuire, Director, Flex Your Power
Noel Perry, President, NextTen
Jane Peters, President, Research Into Action
Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, Chair and Commissioner, California Energy Commission
Roland Risser, Director, Customer Energy Efficiency, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Jim Robbins, Executive Director, Environmental Business Cluster
Gene Rodrigues, Director, Energy Efficiency Division, Southern California Edison
Steve Sanders, Director, CA Communities Climate Action Institute for Local Government
Alan H. Sanstad, Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Wesley Schultz, Professor, Psychology, CSU San Marc
Byron Sher, Professor of Law Emeritus, Stanford; State Senator (retired), CA State Senate
Steve Schiller, CIEE, CA Climate Action Registry
Dan Sperling, Commissioner, CA Air Resources Board
Paul Stern, Director, Human Dimension of Global Change, National Research Council
Tom Turrentine, Director, PHEV Center, UC Davis
Eileen Tutt, Assistant Secretary for Climate Change Activities, CA EPA
Maria Tikoff Vargas, Brand Manage, ENERGY STAR, US EPA
Michael Weedall, Vice-President, Energy Efficiency, Bonneville Power Administration

2007 BECC Conference Website

Visit the 2007 BECC Conference website for information, materials, and presentations from the inagural event.