Tag: energy efficiency forum

2024 Energy Efficiency Forum Recap

The Commonwealth’s energy efficiency community gathered on October 2nd and 3rd for the VAEEC’s annual Energy Efficiency Forum. Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, award winners, and attendees for making this event a great success!

Day one was fully virtual in an effort to make the event more accessible and to provide a diverse array of speakers from across the country. It consisted of a keynote address and four breakout sessions:

Keynote Address: Congresswoman Jennifer McLellan offered some insight into the energy efficiency wins from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We appreciate her ongoing support of our organization and recognition of the foundational importance of energy efficiency. 

Our Manager of Research and Strategic Partnerships (and resident federal funding lead), Rebecca Hui, then gave a few more updates on state programs facilitated by the IRA and led the audience through a live poll to get feedback on Virginia Energy’s proposed One Stop Shop program. The link is live through October 8th, so please participate if you were not able to attend the event. 

 

As in previous years, we held concurrent breakout sessions. 

Data Center Demand – How Do We Respond? The panelists in this session discussed energy efficiency, electrification, and demand response solutions to the rising energy demand from Virginia’s data center industry. Over 70% of the world’s internet traffic runs through the state, making data centers a huge economic driver – but also a massive energy consumer. The expert panelists helped separate fact from fiction on this hot topic. Speakers included Richard Anderson (Siemens), Haneepha Degarmo (Voltus), Keith Dennis (Beneficial Electrification League), Robert Lazaro (Northern Virginia Regional Commission), and John Morrill (Fairfax County, Moderator). 

Best Practices for Workforce Success: Workforce development is a key tenet of many programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This year’s panel gave updates on the VAEEC’s workforce initiative, as well as discussed opportunities for registered apprenticeships, on the job training, and success stories from other states. VAEEC Workforce Development Director, Erika Reel, moderated the panel, which included Roxana Ayala (ACEEE), Sherie Fulcher (Southern Air), and Dan Taylor (BlueGreen Alliance).

 Inclusive Decarbonization : Decarbonization plays a critical role in stabilizing our climate, but how do we ensure that it is available to all? The panelists discussed insights and opportunities for decarbonization plans that center equity and uplift disadvantaged communities. Speakers included Erin Cosgrove (NEEP), McKenna Dunbar (Sierra Club, Moderator), Maggie Kelley Riggins (SEEA), and Jamal Lewis (Rewiring America). 

How Are We Talking About Energy Efficiency? This unique, interactive session walked speakers and participants through the process of planning and executing a green building plan for the city of Fiction, VA. Using the framework of federal grants and real-world processes, our panelists discussed how to overcome many of the communication barriers between different stakeholders to getting a project across the finish line. The session was moderated by Rebecca Hui, and speakers included Andrew McKinley (VIA design architects), Michele Mitch-Peterson (Siemens), Dawn Oleksy (City of Richmond), and Blair St. Ledger-Olson. 

 

Attendees gathered in person for day two at the University of Richmond Jepson Alumni Center in Richmond. The day began with an opening presentation from Executive Director, Chelsea Harnish. Attendees were provided with updates and a brief overview of the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency industry, as well as a second round of live polling. This poll is also open for seven days, so please sound off! 

The day also included a keynote address, a plenary panel, the ninth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards ceremony, and an on-site reception.

Keynote Address: Long-time energy efficiency ally and former SCC commissioner Angela Navarro served as our keynote speaker. Her address gave crucial context to the state’s legislative and regulatory landscape. 

“It’s no secret that energy efficiency policy in Virginia has a long and somewhat frustrating history… but there is so much momentum today.”  

Multifamily Multiverse – Navigating the Funding Maze Beyond Weatherization: After a break for networking and snacks, attendees came back together for the plenary session focused on the complexities of serving and funding multifamily housing. There are dozens of state and federal programs focused on low-income and multifamily housing, and navigating the processes can be daunting. Our expert panelists took a deep dive into the opportunities, challenges, and new programs on the horizon, tying it all together with a case study from Piedmont Housing Alliance. Speakers included KC Bleile (VEIC), Stephen Evanko (Dominion Due Diligence Group), Phil Cunningham (Virginia Housing), Sunshine Mathon (Piedmont Housing Alliance), and Rebecca Hui as the moderator. The panelists, along with the audience, answered a last round of poll questions focused on multifamily challenges. 

Energizing Efficiency Campaign & Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards Ceremony: Next, we had the honor of hosting our ninth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards ceremony. We started off by highlighting the submissions to our Energizing Efficiency Campaign. From these submissions, three were chosen by the VAEEC’s Education & Events Committee to receive a 2024 Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Award for their incredible energy efficiency contributions. For information on each winning project or program, visit our 2024 Awards page. 

 

The event concluded with an on-site networking reception. It is always a pleasure to connect with many of our members and others in the industry face-to-face, and this was no exception. 

Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, award winners, and event attendees for making this one of our best events to date. View photos of the event below. Additional event information, including speaker biographies and sponsor features, can be found in the event program.

Best Practices for Workforce Success

Data Center Demand – How Do We Respond?

How Are We Talking About Energy Efficiency?

Inclusive Decarbonization

Multifamily Multiverse

Event attendees will receive recordings for each of the four breakout sessions in the post-event email. Presentation PDFs can be viewed at the links above.

 

2021 Energy Efficiency Forum

View the event program for details

Virginia’s energy efficiency community came together on November 15th and 16th for the VAEEC’s 2021 Energy Efficiency Forum. A big thank you to our sponsors, speakers, awards winners, and attendees for making this event a great success!

Day one primarily consisted of breakout sessions on timely, educational topics. Due to COVID-19 and an effort to make the event accessible to those near and far, this portion of the event was offered over a virtual platform. 

Getting Smarter with Energy Efficiency Technology: Smart technologies have advanced by leaps and bounds. This panel explored how these technologies work together to make communities cleaner, safer, and closer – while increasing energy efficiency. The session was sponsored by Virginia Natural Gas. Speakers included Keven Brough (Google), Phil Markham (Southern Company), and Damian Pitt (Virginia Commonwealth University), and KC Bleile (Viridiant, VAEEC Board) moderated.

Opportunities & Insights for Energy Performance Contracting: This panel discussed the ways Energy Performance Contracts, or EPCs, can address post-COVID needs, case studies, potential legislative solutions for ongoing challenges, and a look at what comes next. The panel was moderated by Chrissy Sherriff (ABM Industries), and speakers included Marc Lipschultz (VA Dept. of Transportation), Nam Nguyen (Virginia Energy), and Barry Wilhelm (Schneider Electric). 

Advancing Virginia’s Energy Efficiency Workforce: As the energy efficiency industry grows year by year, there is a demonstrated need for a trained workforce to fill those jobs. This panel discussed the opportunities and challenges in meeting those needs and highlighted the federal, state, and local programs working to fill the gaps. The session proved to be quite timely as states are beginning to receive massive amounts of federal relief funding through the American Rescue Plan Act. Speakers included Brandi Frazier Bestpitch (Virginia Energy), Matt Kellam (Dominion Energy, Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium), and Kim Strahm (Community Housing Partners), and Carrie Webster (Henrico County) moderated. 

Improving Building Performance Across Sectors: According to the US Department of Energy, over 70% of carbon emissions come from commercial and residential buildings across the US. This panel discusses how energy efficiency can not only address existing building stock, but move the industry into the future. This session was sponsored by VEIC. Speakers included David Nemtzow (Dept. of Energy Building Technologies Office), Christian Placencia (DC Sustainable Energy Utility), and Jennifer Rosenthal (TRC Companies) and was moderated by Liz Beardsley (US Green Building Council, VAEEC Board). 

Attendees gathered in person for day two, which took place at the Dorey Recreation Center in Henrico County. The second day began with an opening presentation from Executive Director, Chelsea Harnish. Attendees were updated on the industry’s accomplishments and updates over the past two years.  

The plenary session, Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Energy Efficiency Sector, was next. Energy efficiency growth is a tale told in numbers – dollars saved, households served, jobs provided. However, when it comes to business and hiring needs, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Panelists discussed the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the energy efficiency industry and how it will help advance our aligned values. Speakers included Willie Fobbs (Dept. of Housing & Community Development), Esi Langston (City of Norfolk), Leigh Anne Ratliff (Trane Technologies, VAEEC Board), and Harrison Wallace (Climate & Equity Foundation). Chelsea Harnish (VAEEC) moderated.

Three Virginia-based projects were recognized next during our sixth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards ceremony. Projects were placed within one of three categories based on the sector served: Academic, Commercial, and Government. For information on each winning project, visit our 2021 Awards page

Finally, after two years of only being able to gather virtually, the event ended with an in-person happy hour at Triple Crossing – Fulton in Richmond. We’ve heard loud and clear that networking is one of the biggest benefits of a VAEEC membership, so we were excited to be able to safely offer this in-person opportunity. It was a pleasure to connect with many of our members face-to-face again.

Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, awards winners, and event attendees for making this one of our best events to date. Click here to view photos of the event. Additional event information, including speaker biographies and sponsor features, can be found in the event program.

Event attendees received recordings for each of the four, virtual breakout sessions in the post-event email. Presentation PDFs can be viewed at the links above.