Richmond, Virginia (December 13, 2016) — The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) has welcomed a new Chair of the Board of Directors, David Steiner, President and CEO of D+R International Ltd. Steiner takes over at a critical moment for energy efficiency in the Commonwealth, with the industry growing at a rapid clip and the spotlight shifting to state-level energy policies.

“As we look to the future, the VAEEC knows we have a variety of challenges ahead of us to reinforce the power and benefits that energy efficiency can bring to Virginia,” said Steiner. “The VAEEC membership is a wide array of all that makes our Commonwealth function – from business to government, academia to laborers, and residential, commercial and industrial players. We will seek every opportunity to advance Virginia’s most cost-effective energy solution: energy efficiency. The VAEEC invites business, political and community leaders – of all stripes – to join us in leading Virginia forward.”

Steiner has led D+R International since 2010, a company with a 30-year history of supporting innovative program design for energy efficiency adoption. The company focuses on high quality data that brings greater understanding of energy efficiency opportunities and ultimately capture of energy savings. It has pioneered the Market Lift® program that has succeeded in pushing the market to higher efficient products.

David will be replacing Cynthia Adams as the Chair of the VAEEC. “On behalf of the entire VAEEC membership and Board of Directors, I want to express our heartfelt thanks to Cynthia Adams for her untiring leadership and passion in creating this voice for energy efficiency in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Steiner. “No doubt, the VAEEC would not exist without her guiding hand. She has been a stalwart advocate for ensuring that energy efficiency is top of mind with policy makers and program developers when confronting energy and environmental challenges. We look forward to her continued involvement and dedication to the next phase of our mission.”

“VAEEC and really the entire energy efficiency industry in Virginia owe a debt of gratitude to Cynthia,” said Chelsea Harnish, VAEEC’s Executive Director. “Since first conceiving of the idea of VAEEC five years ago, Cynthia has been a tireless champion of the organization and has provided sage counsel, a network of connections, and a reservoir of momentum. We look forward to her continued support as a member of the board and welcome the new leadership to the VAEEC Executive Committee.”

VAEEC will also welcome new executive positions on the board, with David Koogler, Vice President of Member Services & External Affairs for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative entering the role of Vice Chair and John Morrill, Energy Manager for Arlington County stepping in as Secretary. Bill Greenleaf Loan Officer with Virginia Community Capital will remain as Treasurer.

The 2017 VAEEC Board of Directors and Executive Committee:

Chair: David Steiner, D+R International

Vice Chair: David Koogler, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Secretary: John Morrill, Arlington County

Treasurer: Bill Greenleaf, Virginia Community Capital

Cynthia Adams, Pearl Certification

Bill Beachy, Community Housing Partners

Larry Cummings, Trane

Carla Dix, Columbia Gas of Virginia

Andrew Grigsby, Local Energy Alliance Program

Tom Jewell, Dominion Virginia Power

Saifur Rahman, Virginia Tech

Thomas Nicholas, City of Virginia Beach

Marisa Uchin, Oracle/Opower

Read more about the Board of Directors.

The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council is the voice for the energy efficiency industry in the Commonwealth. Our members include Fortune 500 companies, universities, nonprofits, local governments, state agencies, and utilities. The Council’s goal is to ensure that energy efficiency is an integral part to Virginia’s economy and clean energy future. Together, we are creating, implementing, and sharing energy efficiency solutions that keep costs down for residents and businesses, while improving the quality of life in our work and home environments. www.vaeec.org