Program Overview


View the Preliminary Main Conference Program

CampusEnergy2026 Main Conference Program

Wednesday, February 18-Thursday, February 19

With so many critical issues facing campus energy systems, we’ve expanded our educational program to make CampusEnergy2026 our largest and most comprehensive yet.

Attendees can choose from up to six concurrent sessions covering a wide variety of timely, high-impact topics—all led by industry experts ready to share practical experience, proven strategies, and forward-looking solutions.

With a program this comprehensive, you can't go to every session. That's why all registrants will have access to recordings of the sessions they missed so you can immerse yourself in a wealth of information. 

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Preconference Workshops

This year, IDEA is expanding its preconference workshop offerings to three full-day, deep-dive sessions, each focused on a single topic. These workshops bring together experts from across the industry and provide ample opportunity for meaningful dialogue and discussion.

Thermal Distribution & Operations Workshop

Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

The Thermal Distribution & Operations Workshop is a full-day, immersive program designed for campus and district energy professionals who manage, operate, design, or plan the systems that keep colleges, universities, and communities running. Built around candid discussions, technical expertise, and operator-to-operator knowledge-sharing, this workshop brings together utilities directors, engineers, policymakers, and industry partners to tackle today’s most pressing distribution and operations challenges.

Through interactive panels, technical deep-dives, and future-focused discussions, participants will explore safety best practices, material advancements, operational strategies, workforce development, regulatory pressures, and emerging low-carbon technologies. Whether you manage day-to-day operations or steer long-term planning, this workshop provides practical tools, actionable insights, and unmatched peer-to-peer learning for maintaining resilient, efficient, and future-ready systems.

View Thermal Distribution & Operations Program

Thermal Energy Networks Workshop

Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) are rapidly emerging as one of the most scalable, resilient, and community-beneficial pathways for campus and district decarbonization. This full-day workshop brings together leading campuses, engineers, researchers, and industry practitioners to explore the next generation of thermal network planning, design, modeling, and implementation.

Through case studies, master planning insights, and breakthrough technology sessions, participants will learn how TENs reduce emissions, improve campus energy performance, unlock new cooling capacity, and deliver powerful co-benefits like water savings, air-quality improvements, and long-term grid flexibility.

From foundational design concepts to advanced ambient-loop strategies, borefield modeling, GIS-driven phasing, and statewide research collaborations, this workshop provides a comprehensive look at what it takes to plan, build, and scale next-generation thermal networks.

Designed for campus utilities, planners, engineers, and municipal partners, this workshop provides a comprehensive and practical look at the state of TENs—where the sector is headed, what tools are available, and how institutions are successfully planning, phasing, funding, and operating the thermal networks of the future.

View Thermal Energy Networks Program

District Energy & Data Centers Workshop

Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
 
Data centers are exploding in scale, reshaping energy demand and pushing electric grids to their limits. At the same time, campuses and cities are seeking reliable, low-carbon thermal and power solutions. This workshop brings these worlds together.
Join industry leaders, campus innovators, utilities, engineers, and policymakers for a deep dive into how district energy, geothermal systems, AI computing, and advanced thermal exchange can unlock smarter, more resilient models for data center growth.
Through real case studies and forward-looking technical sessions, you’ll learn how next-generation data centers are:
✅ Reusing waste heat to support campus and community energy systems
✅ Leveraging geothermal exchange to cut cooling energy in half
✅ Integrating with microgrids, distributed generation, and TES
✅ Preparing for the massive thermal and electrical demands of AI and HPC
✅ Partnering with tribal nations, municipalities, and universities
✅ Navigating policy, incentives, and financial strategies that accelerate deployment
From heat reuse policy to geothermal innovation, from AI edge data centers to futureproofing infrastructure, this workshop offers a comprehensive, practical view of how data centers and district energy systems can grow together—not compete for resources.
Designed for campus utilities, energy planners, data center developers, technology firms, regulators, and engineering teams, this workshop will leave you with fresh insights, new connections, and an actionable roadmap for the rapidly evolving intersection of data centers and district energy.

View District Energy & Data Centers Program