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Upcoming CARD Webinars

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*Sign up for the below upcoming webinars* and be the first to hear the results from recently completed *Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) projects.* The researchers who conducted the study will present their findings, discuss implications, and answer your questions.

*Who Should Attend these Webinars?* These webinars are designed for *utilities, policymakers, program administrators, building owners, and facility operators* looking for the tools and direction required to increase energy efficiency and decarbonize buildings.

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Multisector

Decarbonize the Cold-Climate Grid: The Utility Case for Community Geothermal

"Frontier Energy, Inc. "


Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 11a.m. to 12 noon CT

*Register: *[link removed] [ [link removed] ]

As building electrification accelerates in Minnesota, managing winter heating peaks while meeting ambitious conservation targets is becoming one of the utility sector's greatest challenges.

*Community-scale geothermal systems* offer a highly efficient path forward. By leveraging local waste heat and shared thermal resources, these systems can help your programs achieve deep energy savings while mitigating cold-climate grid stress.

Join our upcoming webinar, *Minnesota Community Geothermal Systems: A Path to Decarbonization*, where Frontier Energy will present the findings of a newly released study. We'll explore two scalable models—utilizing *ice rink refrigeration waste heat* and *wastewater effluent*—and how they can fit into your energy conservation portfolio.

*Why you should attend:*


* *Target High-Value Thermal Anchors:* See how utilizing existing infrastructure like ice arenas and wastewater reclamation plants lowers upfront capital barriers and maximizes system efficiency.
* *Flatten Peak Demand:* Learn how load aggregation and system diversity reduce peak demand and improve overall system utilization.
* *Analyze Real-World Savings:* Review data-driven load profiles demonstrating fossil fuel reductions of *20,000 to 24,000 MMBtu annually* and over *600 tons of CO₂ reductions per project*.
* *Explore Innovative Utility Models:* Discuss how pilot projects, supportive policies, and *innovative utility ownership models* can overcome high capital costs to accelerate deployment.

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Residential

Mapping Electrical Barriers: Efficient Fuel Switching in Income Qualified Homes

"Slipstream, Inc. "


Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 11a.m. to 12 noon CT

*Register:* [link removed]

Learn about high level findings and recommendations in the project factsheet [ [link removed] ].

Attend this webinar to review a *market study* conducted by Slipstream Inc. that identifies building, technology, and market *barriers and opportunities that influence the adoption of efficient fuel-switching technologies (EFS)*, such as air source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, *among Minnesota's income-qualified (IQ) single-family households*.

The objectives of the study were to: 


* Characterize the existing literature, policy landscape, and incentive environment shaping EFS for IQ households in Minnesota.
* Document the HVAC replacement journey of IQ homeowners, including how interactions with HVAC contractors influence decision-making and technology adoption.
* Assess the electrical readiness of IQ homes for EFS by characterizing existing electrical panel capacity, evaluating available capacity for electrification measures, and identifying factors associated with panel upgrade needs. Slipstream conducted a statewide survey of 291 low-to-moderate income (up to 150% of AMI) single-family households across Minnesota.

* Estimate the costs for electrical upgrades and how electricians approach electrical upgrades for EFS.
* Understand the barriers and opportunities for trade contractors to adopt supportive model and where utilities could provide support.

*Attend to learn* about the study methodology, results, and *recommendations to overcome the wide range of barriers to residential EFS*, including electrical infrastructure limitations and upgrade costs, contractor knowledge, fragmented program offerings, and low homeowner awareness, *through energy conservation and optimization (ECO) program design.*

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Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) projects aim to uncover new technologies and strategies to maximize energy savings, enhance energy conservation programs, and document CO2 reductions. The results from CARD research provides timely information to improve energy-efficiency programs related to Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) [ [link removed] ] portfolios. For more information or to learn more about other CARD research projects, visit the Applied Research and Development webpage [ [link removed] ] or email ECO Research Director Lindsay Anderson <[email protected]> or ECO Research Planner Catherine Fair <[email protected]>.








*Minnesota Department of Commerce | Energy Division
*85 7th Place East, Suite 292 | St. Paul, MN 55101*
*Email: [email protected]
Local: 651-539-1886 | Greater MN: 1-800-657-3710

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