March 16–20, 2026, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. ET
Virtual
Kick off your winter learning with a series of engaging online trainings hosted by Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) staff and subject matter experts. These sessions provide essential workforce development opportunities for federal energy and water managers and the broader energy management community.
Schedule
Select a session to learn more and register.
Monday, March 16
Optimizing Federal Facilities: Building the Business Case for Energy Performance Contracts
Monday, March 16, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
This session will share strategies for building a convincing business case, showing that energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service contracts (UESCs) are a strategic investment, can align with mission requirements, and how to effectively communicate return on investment (ROI). Discussions will include approaches for creating a clear business justification for an energy and water project using data and analysis-based tools to develop a compelling case to secure management buy-in. As government agencies face both increasing demands for efficiency and workforce shortages, leveraging all available resources, funding and staff, is more critical than ever. Session will also discuss how agencies can still pursue energy performance contracts (EPCs) with limited agency resources, including how financials work with bundling, encourage capital contributions (power of leveraging), and how to incorporate budget replacements/repairs into EPCs.
Accelerating the Path to Award—Lessons Learned from Energy Performance Contracting Experts
Monday, March 16, 2026, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Federal agencies continue to face pressure to implement energy and infrastructure improvements quickly, but the time it takes to move an energy performance contract (UESC or ESPC) from concept to award can often stretch far longer than expected. This webinar brings together a diverse panel of experts from federal agencies, utilities, and energy service companies (ESCOs) to share proven strategies for streamlining the acquisition process without compromising project quality, competition, or compliance. Through real-world insights and candid discussion, panelists will highlight what’s working—and what’s not—when it comes to reducing cycle times and achieving faster project awards.
Repowering Stranded On-Site Assets with Energy Performance Contracts
Monday, March 16, 2026, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
Across the federal portfolio, many on-site energy generation systems are sitting idle or underperforming due to equipment age, deferred maintenance, or outdated controls. These “stranded assets” represent lost value and missed opportunities to boost energy reliability and cut utility costs. With grid capacity tightening and demand charges rising, optimizing on-site generation has never been more critical. Through an ESPC or UESC, agencies can restore or repower these assets without using appropriated funds. By leveraging third-party financing to fund diagnostics, repairs, and system optimization—paid back through verified savings—agencies can recover lost generation capacity, enhance resilience, and strengthen fiscal stability. This webinar will feature a real-world ESPC case study, with representatives from the federal agency and ESCO who are partnering to restore an on-site generation system along with other energy conservation measures (ECMs) as part of a comprehensive project.
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Tuesday, March 17
How AI Will Change the Way You Look at Your Data Center
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
Most federal agencies are trying artificial intelligence (AI), but their data centers are not designed or equipped for training or inference workloads. This training will help energy and facility managers, as well as data center operators, think critically about serving AI workloads in their facilities and identify the necessary retrofits and operational changes if they decide to proceed. The training will include a checklist of considerations for operators thinking of integrating AI or machine learning (ML), as well as basic and some intermediate content on using efficiency to create capacity for high-density computing, such as AI/ML (e.g., investing in liquid cooling to future-proof federal data centers for these higher demands).
Fundamentals of Advanced Nuclear Technology for Secure Onsite Energy Generation
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
This foundational, 101-level training introduces the basics of advanced nuclear technologies, differentiating traditional, utility-scale nuclear reactors from small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors, also known as advanced nuclear technologies. This session covers the current market status and technology readiness levels of advanced reactor technologies, as well as key siting, licensing, and regulatory considerations for future adoption. This training focuses on technology fundamentals, providing a high-level overview so that federal agencies are aware of the current opportunity space and technical barriers to deployment.
Getting Started with Demand Flexibility
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
As electricity demand grows and federal facilities face increasing pressure to operate more efficiently and reliably, demand flexibility offers a practical pathway to reduce costs and enhance reliability across sites. In this training, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of demand flexibility and guided through how agencies can start their demand flexibility journey. Real-world perspectives from federal agencies will illustrate approaches to assessing opportunities and planning for demand flexibility implementation at their sites. The training will also highlight how FEMP can support sites in integrating demand flexibility into routine operations.
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Wednesday, March 18
Onsite Swiss Army Knife: Battery Energy Storage as a Resource for Survivability and Flexibility
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
Battery storage is a versatile onsite energy resource that can support an array of facility goals, such as reducing energy costs, protecting against utility outages, and facilitating load growth. This webinar will investigate two use cases in particular—survivability and flexibility—and demonstrate the role batteries play in both. Survivability will be discussed in the context of two microgrid case studies, one at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and the other at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma, California. Flexibility will be discussed in the context of pilot-scale demonstrations for this emerging use case that has particular value for large loads on an increasingly capacity constrained grid.
Introduction to Natural Gas Infrastructure Resilience
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Natural gas is an affordable and reliable energy source. Federal facilities rely on natural gas for space and water heating, cooking, backup power generation, and even district heating. Understanding the state of your natural gas system, including both on-site infrastructure condition and utility infrastructure, is key to identifying the most impactful energy resilience solutions to ensure mission continuity. This training will provide an overview of natural gas infrastructure for facility resilience planning, including natural gas backup systems and demand flexibility systems that may result in energy cost savings and increased energy security.
Foundations of Cybersecurity and Cyber Challenges for Federal Energy Managers
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
Cybersecurity is everyone’s job, but not everyone is a cybersecurity expert. With energy infrastructure and facility management becoming increasingly connected to the internet, there are more cybersecurity risks to manage than ever before. This training will provide an overview of cybersecurity fundamentals for energy managers, focusing on identifying key concepts and how they apply to common technologies and systems seen at federal facilities. It will help energy managers, facility managers, contract staff, and management to better understand the importance of cybersecurity and how they can support cybersecurity risk management efforts at their agency. This training will use real-world project examples to demonstrate how FEMP resources can help agencies navigate complex cybersecurity requirements, reduce workload on staff, and minimize project delays.
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Thursday, March 19
Energy Audit 101
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
An overview of state-of-the-art energy audit pathways for meeting Energy Act of 2020 (EA 2020) compliance and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 432) comprehensive energy and water evaluation requirements, from remote analysis to onsite facility walkthrough and investment grade audit. Includes tools and processes, such as AuditBEM, that can be used to support EISA 432 and EA 2020 requirements.
Operations and Maintenance: Best Practices and Tools
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
This training will cover FEMP best practices, tools, and resources available to help agencies in improving operations and maintenance (O&M) delivery in facilities. Attendees will learn about the importance and benefits of O&M in federal sector, different types of O&M approaches, and various FEMP tools and resources that can support an agency’s goal of reducing energy, realizing cost savings, and improving resilience through O&M actions.
Fleet Energy Efficiency 101
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
This introductory training provides federal fleet managers and staff with a foundational understanding of how to improve fleet energy efficiency while meeting mission needs and complying with federal requirements. Participants will gain familiarity with fleet requirements, planning practices, and tools that support cost-effective, data-driven fleet management. Whether you are new to federal fleet operations or looking to refresh your knowledge, this session equips you with practical approaches to optimize vehicle use, reduce energy consumption, and support agency goals.
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Friday, March 20
Energy Is Everywhere: A Look Inside the Federal Workplace for Energy Savings
Friday, March 20, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
Every federal workplace is full of energy-consuming products. But do you know how to ensure that you are requesting, purchasing, and installing energy-efficient products that can save you money? This training will provide an overview of the many products covered by ENERGY STAR® and FEMP designation and are mandated for federal acquisition. The training will translate the technical side of energy efficiency and acquisition into simple terms that you can use when requesting and buying things for your workplace. Topics will include identifying the products and equipment that use energy and subject to the efficient procurement requirements; understanding the required energy efficiency levels; identifying which products are compliant; and communicating with contracting officers as part of an acquisition team.
Mastering AFFECT Grants
Friday, March 20, 2026, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
FEMP provides direct funding to federal agencies through the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) grant program. This session will share effective strategies and insights gained prior AFFECT grant cycles, encompassing each stage from the initial application and selection processes through fund distribution and grant closure. Additionally, the session will address established systems and procedures, as well as providing updates on currently available opportunities.
Best Practices to Perform a Facility Site Walk
Friday, March 20, 2026, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
This session will train participants on how to organize and perform a facility site walk focused on identifying energy conservation measures. Participants will also learn about typical instruments and tools used on a site walk, as well as strategies to implement energy conservation measures once the site walk is complete.