1. business and industrial
2. energy
3. renewable energy

11 T H A N N U A L
DINNER AND GALA
January 29, 2015 / Chicago Hilton and Towers
7:00–9:00 pm / Grand Ballroom
(2ND FLOOR)
Welcome to the 2015
Inspiring Efficiency Awards
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance welcomes you to the 11th Annual Inspiring
Efficiency Awards Dinner and Ceremony.
It is our honor to recognize Midwestern leaders who deliver groundbreaking
advancements in energy efficiency across five categories: Education, Impact,
Innovation, Leadership and Marketing. MEEA also recognizes one leader through
the Chairman’s Award which honors an organization or individual that has provided
exemplary leadership and support to MEEA throughout our history.
This is the 11th year for the Inspiring Efficiency Awards and we, again, received
a record number of applications. All of these nominees demonstrate the continued
growth of energy efficiency in the Midwest and the passion of those working in
our field. With so many great programs, we’ve included a brief overview of all the
nominees so that you can see the variety of programs that are promoting energy
efficiency and advancing our industry.
We are truly invigorated by the contributions of the 2015 Inspiring Efficiency Award
winners and all of the individuals and organizations that were nominated. From
engaging educational programs that have encouraged energy savings in smaller
towns to strong leadership in major cities, this group recognized tonight has shown
dedication and enthusiasm for advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest.
We want to thank the Inspiring Efficiency Awards review committee, who spent hours
reviewing applications and had the difficult task of selecting the winners from so
many highly qualified applicants. We also want to thank our Table Sponsors for their
support.
The depth and breadth of all the winners and nominees from this year and the past
11 years, only further demonstrate the success and contribution of the Midwest in
the energy efficiency marketplace. Thank you for joining us in recognizing their
successes!
Jeanine Penticoff
Board Chairman
MEEA
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Stacey Paradis
Interim Executive Director
MEEA
I NS PI R I N G E FFI C I E N C Y AWA R DS
Program
Welcome & Introduction
2015 Inspiring Efficiency Awards for Education
2015 Inspiring Efficiency Award for Impact
Dinner
2015 Inspiring Efficiency Awards for Innovation
2015 Inspiring Efficiency Award for Marketing
Dessert
2015 Inspiring Efficiency Awards for Leadership
2015 Inspiring Efficiency Chairman’s Award
Dinner Entertainment
Big City Jazz Trio
Emcee
Bill Angelos
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
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The Inspiring Efficiency EDUCATION Award is presented for development and
implementation of a local campaign, program, strategy or idea to increase
knowledge and action on energy efficiency.
2015 Winner
Nicor Gas, What’s in the Box?
Energy Efficiency Campaign
Nicor Gas’ energy efficiency program created an educational campaign called
“What’s in the Box?” to educate homeowners on the operation of their natural gas
furnace and the benefits of upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace. The campaign
included an animation graphics video, an online quiz and a digital infographic in
addition to digital ads and bill inserts with the same messaging. The campaign ran
from September 2013 to January 2014. The “What’s in the Box?” campaign was
unique due to its ability to educate and entertain on the seemingly mundane topic of
furnaces. It educated customers directly, while providing trade allies with tools to help
their own businesses.
Accepted by
Kevin Kirby
Vice President of Energy Efficiency, AGL Resources
Nicor Gas
Presented by
Jon Williams
Manager, Energy Efficiency & Demand Response
AEP Ohio
2
The Inspiring Efficiency IMPACT Award is presented for significant contribution to
market transformation, either through the implementation of a specific program or a
policy change that has resulted in reduced energy consumption and/or increased
market penetration of energy-efficient products.
2015 Winner
Retrofit Chicago – City of Chicago
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has identified energy efficiency as a priority for strengthening
Chicago – helping Chicago be the most affordable, competitive, attractive, livable,
and sustainable city of the 21st century. This vision is reflected in the Sustainable
Chicago 2015 Action Agenda, which includes seven key themes, one of which is
Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy. Based on these overall goals, Retrofit Chicago
was launched in 2012 as a key program providing a voluntary, cross-sector
approach to drive energy efficiency improvements and associated cost savings, job
creation, and greenhouse gas reductions in Chicago’s commercial, residential and
municipal sectors. The success of Retrofit Chicago is based on extensive partnership
with supporting organizations, a commitment to ambitious goals to drive energy
efficiency impact and use of a data-driven approach to customize program elements.
Accepted by
Karen Weigert
Chief Sustainability Officer
City of Chicago
Presented by
Adam Cooper
Research Manager
Institute for Electric Innovation
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The Inspiring Efficiency IMPACT Award is presented for significant contribution to
market transformation, either through the implementation of a specific program or a
policy change that has resulted in reduced energy consumption and/or increased
market penetration of energy-efficient products.
2015 Winner
Illinois Energy Now: Efficient Living Public Housing Authority
Program
Begun in 2010, the Illinois Public Housing Authority Efficient Living Program (ILPHA)
is dedicated to helping public housing authorities (PHA) throughout the state
achieve electric and natural gas savings in their properties. This initiative provides
grants for energy efficiency upgrades that realize savings in both energy costs and
consumption. The mission is to encourage public housing authorities, their residents,
design professionals and building contractors to incorporate energy efficiency
practices and renewable energy systems into their daily housing operations. Since
most PHA buildings nationwide were constructed over 30 years ago, great potential
exists for retrofitting and updating these buildings to increase energy performance
and indoor comfort. ILPHA is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Illinois Energy Now program and is funded by the
Illinois Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards (EEPS) which includes the six investment
owned utility companies of Ameren Electric and Gas, ComEd, Nicor Gas, North
Shore and Peoples Gas as well as PHAs in the municipal or cooperative districts
covered by the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund. ILPHA is an applied research program
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-School of Architecture and is
working collaboratively with the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois
at Chicago.
Accepted by
Kate Brown
Program Director
IL PHA Efficient Living
Marion Lunn
Assistant Deputy Director
IL DCEO
Antonio R. Riley
Regional Administrator
HUD Region 5
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Presented by
Michael Brandt
Manager, Energy Efficiency Planning
& Measurement
Commonwealth Edison Company
The Inspiring Efficiency INNOVATION Award is presented for developing and
implementing of a new innovative program, idea or policy in the Midwest.
2015 Winner
AEP Ohio’s Continuous Energy Improvement Program (CEI)
CEI helps participants apply principles and practices of continuous improvement to
implement strategic energy management that may help reduce your energy bill by 5%
to 15% with little to no capital investment. Plus, AEP Ohio provides a total incentive of
$0.02 per kWh saved.
AEP Ohio’s CEI program provides the tools, coaching, structure and resources
necessary to achieve energy savings by engaging your employees and through
operations and maintenance changes.
Accepted by
Jon Williams
Manager, Energy Efficiency & Demand Response
AEP Ohio
Presented by
Kevin DeMaster
Manager, Utility Programs
Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Cooling Solutions
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The Inspiring Efficiency INNOVATION Award is presented for developing and
implementing of a new innovative program, idea or policy in the Midwest.
2015 Winner
DTE Energy / Energy Efficiency / DTE Insight
DTE Energy is the first utility in the nation to offer an interactive real-time tool for
customers that links customer’s iPhones and Android phones to data collected by their
advanced meters by offering DTE Insight. DTE Insight was launched in July 2014 for
all residential electric customers with an advanced meter. The goal of the DTE Insight
pilot program is to establish a deemed behavioral energy savings measure in 2015.
The goal for 2014 was to build the mobile app and acquire 10,000 customers to
collect the baseline EM&V data. Initial research estimates the target market at 10%
of the Electric Customer base or approximately 200,000 residential customers.
DTE Insight also supports DTE Energy’s commitment to the Michigan community. In
partnership with DTE Energy, all software and hardware to support the program was
from Michigan based businesses.
Accepted by
Joel Miller
Sr. Strategist / DTE Insight Business Owner
DTE Energy / Energy Efficiency
Presented by
Tina Yoder
Manager, Energy Efficiency
MidAmerican Energy
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The Inspiring Efficiency MARKETING Award is presented for engaging in or
supporting a marketing campaign, program, strategy or idea to increase the adoption
of energy efficient products and/or best practices in the Midwest.
2015 Winner
Nicor Gas, energySMART, Customer Journey Marketing Strategy
Nicor Gas’ Customer Journey marketing strategy combined customer journey
mapping with best practices in outreach, marketing and communications to make
energy efficiency easy to understand and participate in at a mass market level.
Implementation of the strategy included:
• Customer journey-mapping to understand customer interactions and experiences
during participation;
• Implementation of a new communications, marketing and outreach strategy based
on the lessons learned from customer journey-mapping;
• Development and execution of the Customer Stories campaign (developed, written,
designed and directed completely in-house by the Nicor Gas energy efficiency
marketing team). The campaign drove awareness and participation through trusted
messengers-the real customers, as learned during customer journey mapping.
Accepted by
Beth Reese
President
Nicor Gas
Presented by
Nick Mark
Manager, Conservation & Renewable Energy Policy
CenterPoint Energy
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The Inspiring Efficiency LEADERSHIP Award is presented to the organization or
individual who has served as a strong leader in support of energy efficiency in their
city, state, region, company or community
2015 Winner
Carol Stemrich, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Focus on
Energy Program
Celebrating her 33rd year with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin,
Carol Stemrich is recognized as one of Wisconsin’s most influential stakeholders
in furthering energy efficiency in her state and beyond. Early in her career Ms.
Stemrich was responsible for overseeing the state’s utility energy conservation plans,
specifically assessing the socio-economic and consumer impacts of various utility
rate changes and utility driven programming. In 1999, Ms. Stemrich’s experience
in the regulatory environment prepared her to lead the largest transition in energy
efficiency policy Wisconsin had ever seen. Focus on Energy was established as
Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy resource program
with the passing of Wisconsin Act 9. She served as the subject matter expert and
sounding board as Wisconsin lawmakers later drafted Act 141. Once this legislation
passed, she supported the transition from the Department of Administration to the
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Carol’s vision turned Act 141’s multifaceted
statues into policy and an administrative road map that has made Focus on Energy
one of the most recognized and admired energy efficiency programs in the country.
Her leadership, resolve and persistence during this time of resurgence have cultivated
the current Focus on Energy program, which continues to perform to best-in-class
standards.
Accepted by
Carol Stemrich
Presented by
Sam Mueller
VP, Engineering
Nexant, Inc.
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The Inspiring Efficiency LEADERSHIP Award is presented to the organization or
individual who has served as a strong leader in support of energy efficiency in their
city, state, region, company or community
2015 Winner
Jim Jerozal, Managing Director, Energy Efficiency, Nicor Gas
Jim Jerozal is the Managing Director of Energy Efficiency at Nicor Gas and has
been responsible for developing and implementing strategies, plans and budgets
associated with all Nicor Gas energy efficiency (EE) offerings since the launch of
the “Rider 29” portfolio on May 1, 2010. In this role, he has overall responsibility
for developing the company’s mandated three-year Energy Efficiency Plans (EEPs),
developing the energy efficiency organization, selecting and contracting with vendors
and other support organizations required to implement the program, managing the
delivery of goals, and reporting results to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Under
Jim’s direction, in the most recent program year, Nicor Gas’ portfolio delivered
37 million net therms, more savings than any other gas portfolio in the country.
Jim’s leadership has demonstrated a commitment to fostering new technologies
and collaboration with other utilities and regional/national energy efficiency
organizations.
Jim has served on the Illinois Statewide Climate Change Task Force, and has held
leadership roles and participated on various American Gas Association committees.
Currently, Jim is the Chair of the Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council where he
has served for four years, prior to that he served four years as the Corporate Council
Vice-chair. His professional involvement mirrors his personal commitment to energy
efficiency in his home and community. He holds a B.S. in Bioengineering from
Syracuse University in 1988. Jim and his wife reside in Geneva, IL and have two
children.
Accepted by
Jim Jerozal
Presented by
Randy Gunn
Managing Director
Navigant Consulting
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The Inspiring Efficiency CHAIRMAN’S Award is presented to the organization or
individual who has provided exemplary leadership and support to MEEA throughout
the organization’s history.
2015 Winner
Tim Melloch
Tim joined ComEd in 1982 as a technical staff engineer at Byron Nuclear Generating
Station. In 1988, he moved on to serve as a large customer account manager. Since
1990, he has used his experience as an engineer and customer account manager to
help ComEd customers become wiser energy consumers.
In 2008, ComEd launched what became one of the country’s largest and most cost
effective energy efficiency portfolios. In the sixth year of energy efficiency program
implementation, Tim’s team managed a portfolio valued at $150 million annually.
Since inception of the program, ComEd customers have reduced their energy
consumption by approximately 8.5 million MWh and have saved over $800 million
on their electric bills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized ComEd
for six consecutive years for its work in the energy efficiency field, and in 2014
awarded ComEd an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award
for the second consecutive year.
Tim was also an active external spokesperson for ComEd and the energy efficiency
industry including his role as the ComEd Energy Doctor. In this capacity, he used the
Energy Doctor persona to help customers become more energy efficient. Tim retired in
August of 2014 after more than 32 years with ComEd.
Tim is recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers as a Certified Energy
Manager. He served on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance on two different occasions, (2010–2011, 2012–2014), where he served
as Program Committee Chair and most recently as Chairman of the Board. He also
served on the Board of Directors for the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) in
2013–2014. Tim’s long-standing support and involvement with MEEA and promotion
of energy efficiency was a key component of MEEA’s growth over the last six years.
Accepted by
Tim Melloch
Presented by
Jeanine Penticoff, Director, Energy Efficiency & Renewables
Alliant Energy
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Thanks to everyone who took the time to apply and was nominated.
Education Nominees
Efficiency Smart Super Energy Heroes Summer Camps
The summer camp’s goal was to provide a free, weeklong summer camp for 300 students
entering fourth through sixth grade (30 students per camp, 10 camps total). The robust
camp curriculum is designed to teach students about the environmental and economic
impacts of energy through fun and engaging hands-on science projects and activities.
By the end of the camp, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of energy,
conservation and how these concepts relate to everyday life as well as identify ways
to save energy at home, at school and in their community. Another goal was to reduce
energy usage in the students’ homes by 51,000 kWh as well as future demand for electric
energy through the installation of energy efficiency kits provided to students.
Program Contact
Mani James
Efficiency Smart
[email protected]
EnergySmarts Publications, a DTE Energy energy efficiency
publication series
The goal behind the EnergySmarts Publications concept is to provide a forum for customers
to learn about energy efficiency, renewable energy and other important elements
associated with the creation, supply and delivery of energy in an interesting, intriguing
and entertaining format that will engage customers and pique their interest. Two separate
magazine series are published targeting selected Residential Customers (100,000) three
times per year, and Small Business customers (60,000) twice per year, utilizing DTE
Energy’s proprietary segmentation models. The concept was initially conceived for a
residential readership, but after receiving strong positive customer feedback and consistent
elevated satisfaction among the readership as compared to those not receiving the
publication, the concept was expanded to serve the small business community with their
own custom edition.
Program Contact
Raymond Plummer
DTE Energy
[email protected]
KSBA’s School Energy Managers Project (SEMP)
The Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) in partnership with the Commonwealth of
Kentucky created and implemented the School Energy Managers Project (SEMP) in March
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2010, with the support initially of $5.05 million of ARRA funds available through April
2012. In March 2103 SEMP was awarded a $700,000 grant from the Kentucky Energy
and Environment Cabinet and in July 2013 SEMP was awarded $1.45 from Louisville Gas
and Electric and Kentucky Utilities Companies to continue support of local school district
energy and facility managers. SEMP coordinates the development and sustainment of a
state-wide energy management infrastructure that focuses 173 public school districts on
fostering intelligent energy choices in new and existing buildings through implementation
of energy efficiency projects. SEMP provides partial funding and support for school districts
to employ energy managers to assemble information, access technical resources and
formulate and implement energy management plans.
Program Contact
Ron Willhite
KSBA
[email protected]
Lansing Board of Water & Light—Recycle Rama event
The Lansing Board of Water & Light’s (LBWL) primary goal was to achieve kWh savings
and to raise its residential electric customers’ awareness of Hometown Energy Savers®, the
utility’s energy optimization portfolio of programs. Specifically, LBWL wanted to provide an
opportunity for customers to receive an incentive for turning in older, working dehumidifiers
and room air conditioners for recycling. At the time these appliances weren’t accepted by
LBWL’s refrigerator and freezer recycling contractor unless the customer was also recycling
a refrigerator or freezer.
Program Contact
Trista Gregorski
Lansing Board of Water & Light
[email protected]
The Michigan Commercial & Industrial Energy Conference,
MCIEC
The MCIEC offers energy efficiency education to all commercial and industrial customers
in Michigan, with the overarching goal of increasing awareness of program availability.
The 2014 MCIEC was the first event in the region to bring customers from all utilities in
the state to one location for a collaborative event. Given the extensive geographical reach
of our audience, we hold two conferences to accommodate both the upper and lower
peninsulas of Michigan. Conference attendees selected their educational path from eight
breakout sessions, all geared toward energy efficiency technology, industry advances and
the creation of a personal energy-saving plan. In addition, a panel of utility representatives
fielded questions from participants in an open forum. This was the first panel discussion of
its kind in Michigan—both for the conference and for customers in general.
Program Contact
Stephanie Rockafellow
CLEAResult
[email protected]
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QA Graphics
QA Graphics worked collaboratively with the Drake Community Library staff to create a
completely customizable Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard which was installed as
a touch screen kiosk towards the entrance of the library. The dashboard is designed to
show real time energy use, savings and more. The two goals for this program included
educating the public about energy efficiencies of the new library that would serve around
10,000 residents along with attaining LEED certification for the building.
Program Contact
QA Graphics
[email protected]
Resource Action Programs (RAP)
Resource Action Programs (RAP) worked with Lincoln Electric System (LES) to develop a
program called “Energy Detective” in Lincoln area schools. The program was initially a
joint partnership between LES and the Nebraska Energy Office and has served 11,129
students over the last four years. In 2013, the program was redesigned by RAP to more
closely align with Nebraska ELA, Science and Math standards for 6th grade, and is now
a sole initiative of LES. Over 100 Lincoln area teachers conducted the program within
26 schools in the 2012-2013 school year, with nearly 3,000 students becoming Energy
Detectives. In the 2013–2014 school year, another 3,000 more students will become
Energy Detectives, benefitting from new LED-technology in the form of an LED light
bulb and Night Light that last 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Since program
inception, LES has innovated new measures within the kit each year to ensure that the
community is made aware of the latest technologies and receives the highest possible
savings.
Program Contact
James Heier
Resource Action Programs
[email protected]
Think! Energy Michigan Collaboration (National Energy
Foundation, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy)
National Energy Foundation (NEF), the implementation partner of the Think! Energy
Michigan Collaboration, has a strong history of successful energy efficiency programs
in the Midwest with utility partners. Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, the major utility
partners of the Collaboration, have worked together with NEF since 2010 to implement
one of the strongest energy education efforts ever to take place in Michigan. Thanks to
the sponsorships by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, students receive energy-efficient
devices to install at home including CFLs, LEDs, shower heads, aerators, shower timers,
thermometers and more. The kits allow the students to truly make a difference in their
daily energy use. After students take home and install their devices with members of their
families, they fill out a Home Energy Worksheet that allows NEF to calculate measured
savings and report back to the sponsoring organizations. Think! Energy encourages
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students and their families to “think!” about energy, “talk!” about energy and “take
action!” about their energy use for the future.
Program Contact
Mac Scott
National Energy Foundation
[email protected]
Impact Nominees
AEP Ohio’s Data Center Program
The AEP Ohio Data Center program was part of the AEP Ohio 2012–2014 Action Plan
with a total goal of 18 GWh savings delivered. The program was derived from the custom
offering in AEP Ohio’s program portfolio to bring a focused offering to a high-potential
customer segment, by combining targeted marketing and energy efficiency measures with
a highly-involved, dedicated team with experience identifying savings in data centers.
The program set out to focus on new and existing data centers of all sizes; from large
enterprise facilities to smaller corporate server rooms down to local schools and small
hospitals with localized data closets. Initially, over 160 companies were identified as
potential data center participants and early goals for the program were set at 18 GWh
and 45 participants over the programs first 3 years.
Program Contact
Michelle Cross
AEP Ohio
[email protected]
Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® All Electric Homes (AEH) Program
The Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® All Electric Homes (AEH) is a residential energy
efficiency program focused on the whole-house approach for homeowners and multifamily
units. With a savings of over 12,610 MWh achieved from June 1, 2013– May 31, 2014,
AEH reached nearly 108% of goal using only 80% of the budget. The program emerged
from an Illinois Power Agency request to create an all-electric residential energy efficiency
program that targeted high consumption users. Targeting existing single and multifamily
residential homes with high consumption resistance heating and air-conditioning, the
program engaged participation from 1,174 units. Reaching out to homes previously
retrofitted through the Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy shell measures programs not only
helped advance to program goals, but also encouraged a deeper commitment to energy
efficiency.
Program Contact
Keith Goerss
Ameren Illinois
[email protected]
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Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® Small Business Direct Install
(SBDI) Program
The ActOnEnergy Small Business Direct Install (SBDI) Program met the original intent of
helping Ameren Illinois Small Business customers overcome common barriers to efficiency
– specifically high equipment and installation costs and excessive paperwork. The target
market for this program is DS-2 small business customers throughout the Ameren Illinois
service territory. The DS-2 rate class is defined as those customers with a peak demand
<150 kW, which accounts for over 110,000 customers. Typical customers in this rate class
include places of worship, small box retail, office building tenants, restaurants, banks,
etc. The program met initial budgetary and savings goals in the timeframe projected.
The program savings acquisition goal was 17,921, 000 net kWh for the period June 1,
2013– May 31, 2014 (PY6). A total of 2,162 projects were completed in PY6, delivering
20,134,032 net kWh energy savings.
Program Contact
Keith Goerss
Ameren Illinois
[email protected]
City of Minneapolis
Minneapolis has adopted targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions 15% by
2015, 30% by 2025, and 80% or more by 2050. In 2010, energy use in commercial
and industrial buildings accounted for over 44% of Minneapolis’ community-wide
emissions. The city believes that policies focused on addressing energy efficiency and
greenhouse gas emissions in these buildings are critical to achieving the City’s goals. The
target market is large commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and above and public
buildings 25,000 square feet and above. The total number of buildings the ordinance will
impact when fully implemented will be over 600. Large commercial buildings represent
a disproportionate amount of the total square footage of commercial buildings in
Minneapolis, meaning this ordinance will impact over 75% of the total commercial square
footage in the city.
Program Contact
Brendon Slotterback
City of Minneapolis
[email protected]
Commonwealth Edison Smart Ideas® Small Business Energy
Savings (SBES) Geo-targeted Campaigns
The goal of the ComEd Program Small Business Energy Savings (SBES) geo-targeted
campaigns was to engage towns with low program participation through a multi-faceted
marketing and outreach strategy that encourages word-of-mouth promotions to achieve a
large amount of kWh savings in a short timeframe. Eligible ComEd customers were those
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small businesses in the selected towns who qualified for SBES. SBES staff developed the
Campaign strategies in the fall of 2012 as a focused attempt to reach rural customers.
Focusing upon areas with distinct population centers and a previous low rate of small
business participation, specific zip codes were targeted for 6–10 weeks. Four areas, with
multiple cities/towns in each were targeted.
Program Contact
Sharon Madigan
Commonwealth Edison
[email protected]
Dayton Power and Light (DP&L)
The University of Dayton Building Energy Center (UD-BEC) has been a pioneer in
developing models that combine energy usage, weather and publicly accessible building
data to identify customers with high energy use intensities. UD-BEC combines electrical
usage with gas usage to develop a combined energy index. They then analyze this energy
index to profile high intensity energy users. With the help of UD-BEC’s expertise and the
results of the model, DP&L and Vectren’s targeted marketing becomes much more effective.
Targeted customers are informed of the opportunity to receive a free, on-site energy saving
assessment, performed by UD-BEC staff and graduate students. This service is marketed
as the Building Energy Performance Program, a partnership between DP&L, Vectren, and
UD. Participants in the Building Energy Performance program receive a comprehensive
report of the electric and gas savings opportunities for their facility, as well as identification
and quantification of the utility rebate incentives available to help offset the cost of their
upgrades.
Program Contact
Julie Birchfield
Dayton Power & Light
[email protected]
Focus on Energy: Chain Stores and Franchises Program
The Chain Stores and Franchises Program was launched in 2012, as part of the Focus on
Energy Targeted Markets portfolio realignment. The Chain Stores and Franchises Program
targets retail, food sales (grocery, convenience stores) and food service (quick service/full
service restaurants) chain stores. The program participants are franchiser- and franchiseeowned stores with 5 or more branded locations in the State of Wisconsin. This design
maximizes economies of scale to drive significant energy savings for the Focus on Energy
portfolio.
Program Contact
Matthew Matenaer
Franklin Energy
[email protected]
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Focus on Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Resource
Program
This program works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective
energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus on Energy information, resources
and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed,
and its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs,
promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control Wisconsin’s
growing demand for electricity and natural gas. Focus on Energy operates on a calendar
program year, and is available to approximately 4.5 million residential and business
customers of its 108 participating utilities.
Program Contact
Chad Bulman
CB&I
[email protected]
Focus on Energy: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®
Program
The primary goal of the market transformation (moving the program from a consultant
based to contractor/Trade Ally based model) was to increase conversions and energy
savings for Focus on Energy participating utility companies. The program originated in
2001; the new market-based Trade Ally business model was implemented January 2012
in Madison, WI. 9.6 percent more homes participated in 2013 compared to the old
structure’s best year in 2011. It is important to us, Focus on Energy, to arm the Trade Allies
with knowledge and tools that give them the support they need to excel at their craft and
provide homeowners with a positive experience to feel comfortable in making energy
saving improvements.
Program Contact
Carter Dedolph
Conservation Services Group
[email protected]
Illinois Energy Now: Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Public Sector
Energy Efficiency Program
Illinois Energy Now is an energy efficiency program administered by the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that provides millions of
dollars in rebates to public facilities that make large-scale equipment improvements to
their electric and natural gas systems. DCEO supports the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Public Sector Energy Efficiency Program, as part of its Illinois Energy Now Public Sector
Aggregation Program. The goal of the program is to achieve significant energy and cost
savings within the public sector through energy efficiency building improvements. This
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goal is accomplished by providing funding and technical expertise to public agencies
to implement projects that reduce energy consumption, save money and meet local
sustainability goals by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Program Contact
Jeffrey Walter
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
[email protected]
Michigan Electric Cooperative Association
As a strategy to meet the requirements of Act 295 in the most cost-effective manner, the
Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA) formed a unique Energy Optimization
Collaborative group (EO Collaborative) with eight of its nine co-op members and
four municipalities to address their individual compliance obligations while achieving
economies and advantages of working together, pooling talent, sharing costs and
achieving results. MECA is a non-profit association that provides professional services to 9
member cooperatives in Michigan. MECA provides publishing services via the Michigan
Country Lines Magazine, safety training, energy efficiency program development &
planning, tracking, independent 3rd party evaluation services, as well as regulatory
compliance and reporting and legislative issues and assistance for PA-295 while working
closely with the Michigan Public Service Commission, Michigan’s State Senators, and State
Representatives.
Program Contact
Art Thayer
Michigan Electric Cooperative Association
[email protected]
Nicor Gas—energySMART
Nicor Gas launched its energy efficiency program in June of 2011, serving as the first
natural gas savings program of its kind in its territory. In just three years, the program
grew to over 14 different offerings for homeowners and business customers that included
energy assessments, free energy-saving products, incentives for the new construction, and
rebates for energy efficiency rebates and improvements. The program also incorporated
community outreach and engagement initiatives, an emerging technology program, and
staffing grants to help businesses create jobs to implement energy efficiency projects.
Through collaboration with community partners, continuous improvement and innovation,
energySMART helped more than 600,000 customers and provided lasting benefits
throughout northern Illinois by creating jobs, increasing productivity, expanding business
opportunities and helping communities meet their environmental goals.
Program Contact
Meena Beyers
Nicor Gas
[email protected]
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NTC’s Trickle Up! Program
The Trickle Up! Program was developed by NTC in Minneapolis, MN. It is an exciting
customer engagement system that generates measurable reduction in home energy
usage through an innovative technology system, focused on a link between school
and household. This system engages entire families, changing their usage behavior,
empowering them to become the driving force behind the resulting energy savings. Our
breakthrough innovations to reduce BTU usage are our live theatre programs. NTC’s live
shows, tied to themed websites, make ordering kits fun, easy and compelling.
NTC gets the students excited about energy efficiency and encourages them to call upon
their parents to order EE kits on our website, which is themed to the in-school program.
Each kit contains conservation information and free tools such as CFLs, energy-efficient
showerheads, aerators and smart strips. Once ordered, we track installation and measure
the savings.
Program Contact
Frank Maciel
NTC
[email protected]
Urban Innovations, Ltd.
The primary objective of the 2014 EDF Climate Corps Fellowship at Urban Innovations
(UI) – in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund – was to develop an
integrated strategy/ energy master plan for identifying/ analyzing energy efficiency and
management opportunities to be pursued for cost savings and GHG emissions reductions.
The projects/ initiatives identified were evaluated by financial returns, energy reduction
potential and environmental impact. Working as part of a larger Featured Project, UI
sponsored an EDF fellow/MBA student to create a Sustainable Capital and Operational
Investment Evaluation Tool that standardized the process for evaluating capital decisions
as to their life-cycle economic impacts taking into account energy and other environmental
impacts. UI also worked with the EDF team to develop tenant improvement efficiency
standards and protocols for evaluating efficiency projects using ICP standards. On larger
scale, the intent of this program/partnership was also to position UI’s commercial portfolio
as a replicable model for energy efficient investment in Class B buildings in Chicago as
well as nationally.
Program Contact
Alfrieda Green
Urban Innovations, Ltd.
[email protected]
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Innovation Nominees
AEP Ohio Energy Efficiency/Peak Demand Reduction (EE/PDR)
AEP Ohio is in the midst of implementing its second three-year Energy Efficiency/Peak
Demand Reduction (EE/PDR) Action Plan in compliance with Ohio Senate Bill (SB) 221.
For 2014, this plan involves 17 Consumer and Business programs planned to produce
total annual savings of 591.1 GWh. For the purposes of maximizing the benefits to
program performance through the program evaluation process, beginning in 2010, AEP
Ohio developed and executed a strategy to provide a forum and agenda that brings the
evaluation contractor together with the various program implementation contractors, as
well as with AEP internal program and evaluation staff, to present, review, discuss and
debate the evaluation findings and recommendations, with a focus on actionable items to
support continuous improvement in program implementation.
Program Contact
Linda Ecker
AEP Ohio
[email protected]
AEP Ohio, Lime Energy—Express Program
The Express Program serves the majority of AEP OH’s roughly 77,000 customer small
business community. The purpose of the Express program is to engage this hard-to-reach
market by demonstrating that many of these businesses can benefit from participating in
an energy efficiency program. In the current cycle of the Express Program, 2012 – 2014,
the goal is to reduce energy consumption by 31,400 MWh through common efficiency
measures such as lighting and refrigeration retrofits and upgrades. Eligible customers
include small business that are non-national or chain accounts. The Small Business Direct
Install (SBDI) Program is a unique implementation delivery model utilized by utilities
that enables “undeserved” customers to participate in energy cost savings mechanisms
through energy conversation measure incentives. Lime Energy’s comprehensive, integrated
approach guarantees the highest level of participation, customer excellence and delivered
MWh to meet utility established goals.
Program Contact
Alexander J Castro
Lime Energy
[email protected]
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Bruner Corporation / Licking Heights School District
While reviewing the energy efficiency report concerning 5 school buildings that make up
the Licking Heights school district in Licking County, Ohio, the new school superintendent
noticed a significant difference between two nearly identical elementary schools. The
school hired a commissioning firm to evaluate the school buildings’ overall performance.
Once duct leakage was identified as the key problem, several HVAC contractors were
invited to submit proposals for solving the problem. Finally, one contractor, suggesting the
use of the aeroseal duct sealing technology, was asked to present to the school board’s
building committee detailed information and auxiliary research about the new technology.
A pilot project involved a small section of the entire system proved successful and the
aeroseal approach was approved for further use. Licking Heights projects 42% reduction
in annual energy costs from the duct sealing due to reduced fan capacity, chiller energy
and boiler energy reduction.
Program Contact
Brad Brenner
Bruner Corporation
[email protected]
DesignLights Consortium Qualified Products List
NEEP launched the DesignLights Consortium Qualified Products List (DLC QPL) in 2009.
It is now seen as a robust, searchable and sortable database of qualified products that
have met rigorous testing and technical requirements. Starting a program from scratch
to benefit a fairly unknown technology, against pressure to rush Solid State Lighting (SSL)
technology to market, was a difficult undertaking but NEEP and the DLC stepped in to fill
a void with a much needed resource. The program holds to a strict standard of quality
and professionalism, which draws energy efficiency programs toward the QPL. As the QPL
continues to evolve and be adjusted to the ever-changing lighting market, NEEP and the
DLC are often sought after as expert resources in commercial SSL lighting solutions. Today,
the ever-growing DLC QPL database (www.designlights.org) is home to over 55,000
products in 37 product application categories, from over 800 manufacturers. The QPL is
used by DLC’s 72 member utility programs covering 30 U.S. States and five Canadian
provinces.
Program Contact
Fritzi Pieper/Lisa Cascio
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
[email protected] or [email protected]
Focus On Energy—Multifamily Energy Savings Program
The Focus on Energy Common Area Lighting Package (CALP) originated in response to
feedback from Trade Allies on the Focus on Energy Small Business Program model. Trade
Allies found that providing customers with set options on technology upgrades and a
low-barrier co-pay provided an easy sell. The Multifamily Program adopted this model
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and created CALP to respond to this feedback. Over the course of 9 months in 2013, the
Common Area Lighting Package offering was initiated. The Program team spent the first 5
months generating Trade Ally awareness and participation. Initial savings were lower than
anticipated due to the offering’s slow start and 4-5 month window of activity by a small
number of Trade Allies. In 2014, we approached the offering having a full 12 months to
complete projects with expanded marketing materials and addressed our lessons learned.
More buildings were able to be completed, increasing savings and costs per kWh. As
a result, Trade Ally participation spiked and goals were exceeded within the first nine
months. Through August of this year, the 160 participating buildings will save 1.8 million
kWh over lifecycle through the CALP installations. There are an additional 100 buildings
that have been preapproved to complete measures before the end of the program year
with new projects still being submitted.
Program Contact
Brody Vance
Franklin Energy
[email protected]
Focus On Energy—Large Energy Users (LEU)
In 2012 the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) and CB&I, the Program
Administrator, for Focus on Energy, reorganized from vertical market-based segments
(industrial, commercial, agriculture, schools) to segments based on customer energy
use that cut-across all market types (small business, mid-size business, large business).
The largest customer size class was titled Large Energy Users (LEU) and is classified as
customers with more than 1MW peak demand, 100,000 therms of gas use per month,
or more than $60,000 of energy use per month. The Large Energy User program is
inclusive of 1,200 Wisconsin businesses, including manufacturers, hospitals, universities
campuses and large commercial facilities. Focus on Energy assigned each eligible account
to one of our experienced Energy Advisors to create a consistent point of contact and
build strong relationships with these targets. Energy Advisors are hired from the various
backgrounds working in the industries served by the large energy user program. The
program emphasized establishing an energy team within each of these accounts and
securing a seat on each of these teams. A unique energy management based-approach
was leveraged; embedding energy advisors into the customer energy management process
to establish a forward-looking planning horizon for both the customer and the program.
Incentive applications and submission procedures are designed to be completed by Energy
Advisors to relieve the customers of this burden and ensure a comprehensive application is
submitted for faster processing.
Program Contact
John Nicol
Leidos
[email protected]
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Illinois Energy Now: Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Public Sector
Energy Efficiency Program
Illinois Energy Now is an energy efficiency program administered by the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that provides millions of
dollars in rebates to public facilities that make large-scale equipment improvements to
their electric and natural gas systems. DCEO supports the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Public Sector Energy Efficiency Program, as part of its Illinois Energy Now Public Sector
Aggregation Program. The goal of the program is to achieve significant energy and cost
savings within the public sector through energy efficiency building improvements. This
goal is accomplished by providing funding and technical expertise to public agencies
to implement projects that reduce energy consumption, save money, and meet local
sustainability goals by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Program Contact
Jeffrey Walter
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
[email protected]
Nicor Gas—Energy-Saving Kit Reachback Campaign
Nicor Gas implemented its first energy-saving kit program in 2013 with a goal to send
out an initial 100,000 kits in the first year with a goal of saving 1,540,590 net therms.
The Nicor Gas Energy Saving Kit Program offers natural gas residential customers free
energy and water-efficiency measures. In an effort to not only increase the realization rates
of Nicor Gas’ energy-saving kits, but also to help more customers experience the benefits
of installing their kits, Nicor Gas implemented the energy-saving kit reachback campaign.
The campaign was an email to the participating customer, sent 6-8 weeks following the
shipment of their energy-saving kit. The email gave customers a simple, one-click way to
engage in a survey by asking the question “Did you install the energy-saving devices in
your kit?” 17% of the respondents who indicated that they had not yet installed stated that
they needed help installing their products. As a result, Nicor Gas worked with an area
trade ally, DRF Total Property Solutions, to visit the customers and install the products in
the kit, as well as hot water pipe insulation and a programmable thermostat. Customers
also received a free inspection of their furnace and water heater to ensure proper working
condition. The result of this effort was an additional savings of approximately 11,000
therms that customers would not have otherwise saved. In addition to harvesting additional
therm savings, Nicor Gas helped more than 200 customers in need by connecting them
with valuable assistance to install their energy-saving products so they too could realize the
benefits of energy efficiency.
Program Contact
Meena Beyers
Nicor Gas
[email protected]
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SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company
In January 2013, SEMCO made an important decision to transition to a self-administered
Energy Optimization (EO) plan in 2014. With a filing deadline on July 1, 2013, SEMCO
had only six months to develop an entire EO Plan for its 290,000 customers. SEMCO
worked with the MPSC to establish energy saving goals focusing on longer life measures
as compared to a plan which relies primarily on low cost, direct install measures.
SEMCO’s EO Plan portfolio is structured to use a mix of programs designed to drive the
installation of a longer lifecycle and more comprehensive suite of measures. The program
was designed to be flexible in its implementation while encouraging customers to make
comprehensive energy efficiency decisions and maximizing customers’ long-term energy
savings.
Program Contact
Kevin Bilyeu
Semco Energy
[email protected]
Urbana-Champaign ENERGY STAR Challenge
The Urbana-Champaign ENERGY STAR Challenge is working to engage building owners
and managers to benchmark, track, and improve their building energy performance in
2014 as compared to a 2013 benchmark with the USEPA’s free ENERGY STAR Portfolio
Manager. High performing buildings will be recognized with awards in early 2015. The
goals are to successfully engage 50 buildings to register for the Challenge, 25 buildings
to submit an energy benchmark, 10 buildings to reduce energy consumption, and 5 new
buildings to achieve ENERGY STAR Certification. The program scope was any commercial
buildings within Champaign County, IL. The target audiences include public sector, private
sector, large footprint buildings and Illinois Green Business Association members.
Program Contact
Scott R. Tess
City of Urbana
[email protected]
Veritatis Advisors
The goal was to develop, implement and launch software as a service (SaaS) tool to
enable organizations to evaluate and comply with the requirements of the new global
energy management standard ISO 50001 and the Department of Energy Superior Energy
Performance (SEP) behavioral standards. Strategy implementation approach was used to
affect long-term adoption and cultural change within organizations.
Program Contact
Don Macdonald
Veritatis Advisors
[email protected]
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Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Enhanced Rewards Program
Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Enhanced Rewards Program is a prescriptive rebate program
that helps moderate-income Wisconsin residents purchase and install high-efficiency
heating and cooling equipment. Moderate-income homeowners, defined as earning up
to 80 percent of the Wisconsin median income, typically do not qualify for low-income
programs and yet may not have the financial means or credit resources to purchase high
quality energy-efficient equipment. This program helps this often underserved groups move
beyond the least expensive options and, ideally, embrace energy efficiency as a lifestyle
choice.
Program Contact
Colleen Lies
CLEAResult
[email protected]
Leadership Nominees
Commonwealth Edison Energy Efficiency Program,
George Malek
ComEd’s Energy Efficiency (EE) department was created in the 1980s, when it was part
of the company’s demand side management strategy. Back then, EES informed customers
with energy assessments and evaluations to support actionable energy decisions. In the
late 1990’s, EES expanded, offering turnkey energy efficiency services to our customers,
as a trusted energy partner. When state legislation passed in 2008 (Public Act 95-0481),
ComEd evolved to become a leader in EE portfolio management, leading customers to
better energy decisions and money savings. As such, ComEd has exceeded its EE targets,
year over year. In fact, a recent E-Source survey of over 24 energy efficiency portfolios
administered by utilities ranked ComEd third in overall energy savings. In spite of Illinois’
late entry into the energy efficiency arena, ComEd became a program leader, achieving
the nation’s third largest energy savings, in just six years, despite the Great Recession and
lack of significant local energy efficiency market delivery mechanisms.
Deb Sundin Director of DSM and Renewable Strategy,
Xcel Energy
Deb Sundin is the Director of DSM and Renewable Strategy at Xcel Energy. She has led
Xcel Energy’s energy efficiency, demand response and renewable efforts for over 30
years. Xcel Energy has been highly recognized as a leader in both energy efficiency and
renewable energy nationwide in no small part to Deb’s efforts. Deb was responsible for
launching the original energy efficiency programs for Northern States Power Company,
one of the predecessors to Xcel Energy, in the late 1980s. In 2006 Deb was responsible
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for expanding our portfolio of energy efficiency programs to our service territory in
Colorado effectively quadrupling the amount of savings from 2006 to 2013. She also
expanded our programs to New Mexico and South Dakota. Since 1992 to today Deb’s
leadership has led Xcel Energy to save 10.45 Billion kWh. We estimate that Xcel Energy
has avoided building over 16 250 MW power plants since 1992 under Deb’s leadership.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC)
We’ve been a policy leader over the past two decades and have been heavily involved in
influencing, guiding and monitoring the implementation of $2.5 billion or more in utilityconsumer energy efficiency program investments in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio in
ways that flatten out and reduce electricity demand. We’ve also worked with officials in
South Dakota to explore energy efficiency opportunities there. Today, our team of leading
attorneys, including Robert Kelter, who works across the region, and Josh Mandelbaum
in Iowa, partner closely with our technology and business experts like Curt Volkmann
and John Paul Jewell to push the next generation of energy efficiency advancements. As
energy efficiency enters its next major stage – enabling the rapidly improving technologies
to further the gains already made by technologies like CFLs – ELPC is leading the way.
Working closely with ComEd, ELPC is using a landmark study looking at gains that can
be made through technology and behavior change to guide future policy. Technologies
like smart thermostats and a wide range of mobile applications will enable reinforcement
of behavior change as never before. Smart thinking to incorporate tools like variable
frequency drives in industrial energy efficiency plans will allow for energy gains once
thought unimaginable. From advancing and defending energy efficiency policy, to closely
partnering with businesses, consumers, advocates and utilities to maximize ratepayerfunded energy efficiency, to embracing data and technology, ELPC has spent the last two
decades pushing for the Midwest to be a leader of energy efficiency.
Illinois Green Economy Network
Within the past year, IGEN has driven action towards the implementation of energy
efficiency through the successful execution of over 180 projects throughout Illinois
community colleges and their communities. The Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN)
is a consortium of all 39 Illinois community college districts formed in 2008 working to
grow the green economy of Illinois. IGEN’s unique statewide cooperative approach yields
extraordinary results. IGEN leverages the power of a sustainability network with the deep
community connections of individual colleges to expand deployment of clean energy
technologies, increase employment opportunities, improve environmental and human
health, foster community engagement and accelerate market competitiveness. IGEN’s
mission provides a platform for collaboration among all Illinois community colleges and
their partners to drive growth of the green economy. Through IGEN’s leadership Illinois
community colleges have gone from traditional energy use/ misuse to well designed,
innovative energy solutions that are not only fueling our campuses more efficiently but
acting as living laboratories for our students and community centers for energy literacy.
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Dr. Tom Kurucz, Deputy Superintendent, Lee’s Summit R-7
School District
Dr. Kurucz and the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District continue to provide leadership and
promote a culture of energy efficiency for their school district and community for the benefit
of their nearly 18,000 students and taxpayers in their district. The Lee’s Summit R-7 School
District over the past 5 years has been working towards a comprehensive Building Energy
Management System upgrades and replacement project. The purpose behind this project
was to standardize on a single BAS system across the district, add energy management
controls sequencing, and provide for temperature control standardization. The Lee’s
Summit School District continues to manage energy efficiency for buildings in their 3 high
school system and recently has installed a compressed natural gas fueling station for their
bus fleet and for public use. The R-7 Lease Purchase Initiatives includes transition to school
buses and service vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, purchase of a storage
building and property for additional parking near the current R-7 Transportation Center
and construction of the CNG Public Fill Station. The R-7 project is the largest school district
transition to CNG-powered school buses in the nation.
Mark Barich, Facilities Engineering—
Energy Manager, Summa Health System
Since 1994, Barich has served as the Summa Health System’s energy manager, focusing
his time on optimizing energy consumption by serving as a contact for all utilities,
negotiating energy supply contracts, leading the organization’s continuous commissioning
program and managing building automation systems throughout the portfolio. In his 37
years working for Summa (21 years in his current role) Mark has contributed greatly to
furthering energy efficiency throughout his organization, community and the state of Ohio.
Mark understands the pivotal role of hospitals in the community and has approached his
work with dedication and perseverance. Through his life-long focus, Mark has aggressively
pursued the best opportunities for success while minimizing risk and impact on hospital
operations. Mark has an impressive understanding of the complex world of commodity
supply structure and has worked to leverage project work in order to achieve energy
savings and lower energy costs.
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Marketing Nominees
AEP Ohio (sponsoring utility) and CB&I (program designer and
implementer)
The AEP Ohio Community Energy Savers Program works with selected communities to
develop implementation strategies to encourage community residents and businesses to
participate in and benefit from seven of AEP Ohio’s existing energy efficiency programs.
The program provides an avenue for participating communities to learn more about energy
efficiency and sustainability, while also engaging community residents and businesses
to participate in AEP Ohio efficiency programs. A key element of the program design
is that AEP Ohio analyzes three years of the community’s baseline participation in AEP
Ohio’s energy efficiency programs, and then works with the community to develop
specific growth goals for the community pilot, which varied from 2 times to 17 times the
baseline participation. Communities are incentivized to meet the stretch goals through
direct benefits, such as technical assistance towards development of an “Energy and
Sustainability Roadmap” and financial cash incentives to be used towards an energy
project in their community – for example, lighting projects at their local school ballparks. To
successfully implement this program, AEP Ohio and implementer CB&I provides training,
support, resources, and tools to assist in community and customer engagement efforts.
Program Contact
Sherry Hubbard
AEP Ohio
[email protected]
Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy’s Small Business Energy Assessment program provides customers with a
free comprehensive facility assessment plan and direct installation of energy efficiency
measures for instant savings. The program also refers customers to other applicable Alliant
Energy efficiency programs that small businesses can take advantage of, such as the
lighting direct installation program as well as insulation and building sealing rebates. The
program marketing plan is primarily designed to cost effectively meet these goals and
support the seamless delivery of the program. Additional goals include increasing customer
awareness of the small business energy efficiency programs, improving the customer
experience and educating small business owners on the benefits of energy efficiency. The
geo-targeted campaigns have proven to effectively generate program participation and
savings, while also allowing for an efficient program delivery model with assessors focused
on serving one geographic area at a time.
Program Contact
Bonnie Donnolly
Alliant Energy
[email protected]
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Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® Business Program
The Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® Business Program offers cash incentives to all sizes of
business customers, including non---profit organizations and private schools. In the spring
of 2013, our staff realized that many of the largest industrial customers were not taking full
advantage of cash incentives to implement energy-saving projects at their facilities. Within
this segment of 450 customers, we were able to identify a number of opportunities in
which a significant amount of energy savings could be achieved. While these opportunities
had, their own inherent challenges, it was clear that there was tremendous upside. In
order to reach and involve this segment of customers, an overarching marketing strategy
was developed for use during Program Year Six (June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014). The
Industrial Customer Engagement strategy, or ICE, focused on three primary goals. To
increase customer awareness of the program through outreach events, to provide the
practical and necessary resources in order to overcome challenges and to build customer
participation through targeted incentive offerings.
Program Contact
Keith Goerss
Ameren Illinois
[email protected]
Columbia Gas of Ohio
In February 2008, Columbia Gas of Ohio formed a DSM stakeholder group to help
develop a comprehensive DSM portfolio for its residential natural gas customers. The
DSM stakeholder group included representatives from the Office of the Ohio Consumers’
Counsel (OCC), the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), building trades, state
and local government, business and industry and energy conservation service providers.
Michael Blasnik and Associates was selected to design the residential DSM programs.
The goal of the DSM portfolio was to achieve cumulative natural gas customer usage
reductions in a cost-effective manner, while maintaining or improving the comfort, health
and safety of customers and the durability of their premises. The original marketing
strategy was to target high use customers to improve cost-effectiveness and to reach
customers who were replacing existing heating equipment and may need air sealing and
insulation.
Program Contact
Paul Racher
Columbia Gas of Ohio
[email protected]
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Commonwealth Edison Fridge and Freezer Recycling
(FFR) program
One of the key elements of ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Home® energy efficiency
program is the Fridge and Freezer Recycling (FFR) program. Now in its seventh year, FFR
is designed to remove old, working refrigerators and freezers from the power grid and
recycle these units in an environmentally responsible manner. As part of the FFR program,
ComEd picks up old, working fridges and freezers free of charge and sends customers a
monetary incentive for participating. PACO Cross Cultural Marketing, a Chicago-based
advertising agency, developed and presented the spring campaign concept, “Simple
Solution,” to ComEd’s FFR management team for consideration. The spring campaign was
an evolution of previous program year efforts and, since its original inception, expanded
from the greater Chicagoland area to also include the Rockford market. This expanded
coverage allowed for the FFR program to be better promoted throughout ComEd’s entire
service territory. PACO led the efforts to define the overall parameters of the campaign
deliverables and provided oversight of the creative production and placement of all media.
ComEd was involved in all steps of the process, providing direction and guidance to
maintain focus on FFR goals.
Program Contact
Mike Butkus
Commonwealth Edison
[email protected]
Commonwealth Edison Smart Ideas for Your Home (SIFYH)
ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Home® programs offer savings incentives on energy
efficient products and services as well as money-saving energy awareness tips and links to
convenient online resources for ComEd customers. The primary goal for the Smart Ideas for
Your Home (SIFYH) Campaign was to improve the awareness of ComEd’s energy-efficiency
program. In order to help improve customer knowledge of ComEd’s energy-efficiency
programs, PACO Cross Cultural Marketing, a Chicago-based advertising agency, created
a campaign that would overtly highlight the connection between ComEd (Smart Ideas)
and energy efficiency—“The Power of Energy Efficiency.” PACO produced a multimedia
campaign which consisted of TV, radio, out-of-home, digital pre-roll video, digital display
and cinema tactics that focused on informing customers about the energy efficiency
programs ComEd offers and how these programs can help the customer save money on
their electric bill.
Program Contact
Latoya Crowe
Commonwealth Edison
[email protected]
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Consumers Energy Smart Energy™ Challenge
The SEC is a community-based outreach pilot designed to promote energy efficiency and
Consumers Energy’s Smart Energy Program. The SEC program engages customers in the
Grand Rapids area through the SEC website, local events, and local organizations. The
SEC journey leads customers through energy efficiency/ Smart Energy information and
eventually to their Smart Energy Portal. Customers will be given the opportunity to earn
catalog coins by participating in online activities. The coins can be redeemed for rewards
like gift cards and energy efficiency products. In addition to coin redemption they can also
allocate energy points to the participating organization(s) of their choice.
Program Contact
Kevin Duffy
ICF International
[email protected]
Dayton Power and Light Company
Our customer-driven strategy focuses on providing them value while inspiring them
to become more energy efficient and savvy customers. All energy savings generated
through this campaign contribute to DP&L’s efforts to comply with Ohio’s energy usage
reduction mandates. Through focus groups, our ad agency, Chernoff Newman, determined
the campaign would be most effective through combining humor and the idea of a
sportscaster. This information allowed us to use an over-the-top sports hero theme and
create a branded campaign around “Champions of Energy Savings.” The campaign ran
concurrently with special rebate promotions. To reach our business customers, we offered
limited time bonus rebate promotions. Each promotion period focused on a different type
of business equipment, such as lighting, air compressors and motors or HVAC. For our
residential customers, we offered deep discounts in residential lighting for a limited time,
at select area retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and Sam’s Club. Our goal was to
capitalize on the combination of these special promotions and the advertising campaign to
drive program participation.
Program Contact
Kara McMillen
Dayton Power and Light
[email protected]
Focus on Energy Lighting Incentive Catalog
The Focus on Energy Lighting Incentive Catalog concept was developed in response to
an overwhelming need to revise and improve paper based program applications. The
Lighting Incentive Catalog is primarily used by Trade Allies, who are defined as registered
contractors with the Focus on Energy program. In most cases, Trade Allies complete
and submit program applications on behalf of the customer. Given the potential energy
savings to be gained from the target customer market, addressing the application pain
point for Trade Allies was priority one. Design and execution of the Lighting Incentive
Catalog was a collaborative effort between Focus on Energy program administration
and implementation staff. The team relied on expertise from technical experts, engineers,
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marketing, program managers, program coordinators, Trade Allies, customers and utilities.
The first step in development was identifying all the potential technologies to be included
and take the existing groups and categories and organize them in a more granular
fashion. The creative team developed a color-coded layout that allowed users to easily find
the technologies they were interested in applying for. The team conducted focus groups to
gather feedback on the concept, layout and usability which were ultimately incorporated
into the final catalog design.
Program Contact
Katie Mueller
Franklin Energy
[email protected]
Michigan Commercial & Industrial Energy Conference, MCIEC
Marketing for our April 2014 Michigan Commercial & Industrial Energy Conference,
MCIEC, began in December 2013. Our target markets were the commercial and industrial
industries. Our goal number of participants was 300 total. The campaign originated with
Efficiency UNITED as a way to bring knowledge and energy efficiency to both contractors
and customers at once. We contacted previous customers and participants of Efficiency
UNITED conferences, hand delivered invitations and worked with each utility and utility
group to promote the conference to their customers and participating contractors. We also
used direct mail, email, television and radio as marketing tools.
Program Contact
Stephanie Rockafellow
CLEAResult
[email protected]
Urbana-Champaign ENERGY STAR Challenge
The Urbana-Champaign ENERGY STAR Challenge is working to engage building owners
and managers to benchmark, track, and improve their building energy performance in
2014 as compared to a 2013 benchmark with the USEPA’s free ENERGY STAR Portfolio
Manager. High performing buildings will be recognized with awards in early 2015. The
goals are to successfully engage 50 buildings to register for the Challenge, 25 buildings
to submit an energy benchmark, 10 buildings to reduce energy consumption, and 5 new
buildings to achieve ENERGY STAR Certification. The program scope was any commercial
buildings within Champaign County, IL. The target audiences include public sector,
private sector, large footprint buildings and Illinois Green Business Association members.
The Urbana-Champaign ENERGY STAR Challenge is utilizing an email marketing
service, Urbana Public Television, flyers, press releases, Mass Transit District bus board
advertisements, direct mail, cold calls and personal appeals to promote the Challenge. The
utility company hosts conference calls for the Challenge Partners.
Program Contact
Scott R. Tess
City of Urbana
[email protected]
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Xcel Energy—Energy Efficient Showerhead Program
The Minnesota Energy Efficient Showerhead Program has been in Xcel Energy’s energyefficiency portfolio since 2000. Customers receive an offer from Xcel Energy to receive
an energy-efficient showerhead at no cost to them. Highly cost-effective and flexible, the
program has always been a solid and reliable performer for the department. However, two
of the program’s components---installation rate risks and high printing/postage costs---have
prevented a good program from being great. So over the past year, a cross-functional
team, including program management, corporate communications, and the program’s
third-party implementer, Energy Federation, Inc. (EFI), put their collective heads together
to breathe new life into the program. The result was a significant increase in program
effectiveness. The enhancements made in the past year to the Energy Efficient Showerhead
program significantly increased program participation and exceeded goals in all respects:
cost-effectiveness, response benchmarks, gas/electric savings, and participation and
customer satisfaction.
Program Contact
Josh Fields
Xcel Energy
[email protected]
2 0 1 5 I NS PIRING EFFICIE N C Y AWARDS
33
Thanks to the 2015 Inspiring
Efficiency Awards Review Committee
MEEA would like to thank all of our members and Board Members who spent hours
promoting the 2015 Inspiring Efficiency Awards and reviewing the nominations. We
had over 60 applications this year in the five categories. There was great diversity
among the applications from across the Midwest representing a wide variety of
industries. The Inspiring Efficiency Awards represent the best in the Midwest and all of
the great work you are doing.
Please join us in thanking our members for their time and service:
Sherry Hubbard, AEP Ohio
David Tabata, AEP Ohio
Jeanine Penticoff, Alliant Energy
Donna Sykora, Alliant Energy
Cathy Milostan, Argonne National Lab
John Freitag, Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives
Laura Kimes, CLEAResult
Julie Birchfield, Dayton Power & Light
Lyle Garrison, Dayton Power & Light
Adam Cooper, Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation
John Von Harz, ESI
Lynn Adamson, Indiana Michigan Power
Marc Collins, Itron
Joe Plummer, Minnesota Department of Commerce
Llona Weiss, Missouri Department of Economic Development
Kevin DeMaster, Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating Solutions
Rick Morgan, Morgan Marketing Partners
Matt Haakenstad, Navigant
Julianne Meurice, Navigant
Rob Neuman, Navigant
LeAndra MacDonald, Nexant
Kelly Mulder, Nexant
Christina Pagnusat, Nexant
Clay Schroeder, Nexant
Sue Hanson, Tetra Tech
Carrie Koenig, Tetra Tech
34
The Inspiring Efficiency Awards recognize organizations and
individuals for the efforts to increase energy efficiency awareness
and practices in the Midwest region. MEEA extends a sincere
thank you to the Inspiring Efficiency Awards sponsors and
patrons who made this event possible:
AEP Ohio
Alliant Energy
Ameren Illinois
CLEAResult
ComEd
DTE Energy
Duke Energy
Illinois Public Housing Authority
MidAmerican Energy
Nicor Gas
Xcel Energy
2 0 1 5 I NS PIRING EFFICIE N C Y AWARDS
35
IEA Past Winners
Chairman’s Award
2014: Alecia Ward
2014: Wendy Jaehn
2014: Jay Wrobel
2013: Sam Sirkin
2012: Commonwealth Edison
2011: David Eijadi
2010: Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity
(DCEO)
2009: Janet Streff
2010: Smart Energy Design Assistance
Center (SEDAC)
2009: Interstate Power & Light Company
2008: Schools for Energy Efficiency
2006: Missouri Botanical Gardens
EarthWays Center
2005: University of Illinois Energy
Resources Center
2004: Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Residential Programs
2008: Sara Ward
Impact
2006: Mary O’Toole
2005: David Leishman
2014: Commonwealth Edison and Nicor
Gas, New Construction Services
2004: Val Jensen
2014: Columbia Gas of Ohio
2013: Xcel Energy
Education
2012: Association of Illinois Electric
Cooperatives
2014: AEP Ohio
2011: Commonwealth Edison
2014: Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education
Program (KEEP)
2010: Interstate Power & Light Company,
an Alliant Energy Company
2013: AEP Ohio
2009: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
2013: Xcel Energy, BOMA Greater
Minneapolis, and BOMA St. Paul
2008: MiraCit Development Corporation
2012: Advanced Technology
Environmental and Energy Center
(ATEEC)
2011: Energy Center of Wisconsin
2010: Commonwealth Edison and
Chicago Urban League
2010: Commonwealth Edison and US
EPA ENERGY STAR Change the
World
36
2006: Aliant Energy- Wisconsin Power &
Light Co.
2005: MidAmerican Design Assistance
2004: The Compressed Air Challenge
Innovation
2014: Focus On Energy
2013: Ohio Development Services
Agency
2012: Ohio Hospital Association
2012: Energy Innovation Corridor (Xcel
Energy & Centerpoint Energy)
2011: DTE Energy
2010: Janine Migden-Ostrander, Ohio
Consumers’ Counsel
2010: Tom Casten, Recycled Energy
Development
2011: Missouri Department of Natural
Resources
2009: Governor Jim Doyle, Wisconsin
2010: Ameren Illinois Utilities, Watts
Solution Program
2008: State of Illinois
2010: Ameren Illinois Utilities, LED
Refrigerated Case Project
2006: Diane Munns, Iowa Utilities Board
2009: Keyser Visual, Inc. and Florida
Plastics International, Inc.
2008: George Bialecki, Jr., Alternative
Energy Builders (AEB)
2006: District Energy St. Paul
2006: The Cleveland Green Building
Coalition
2005: Center for Technology Transfer,
Inc.
2004: Community Energy Cooperative’s
Energy-Smart Pricing Plan
2008: State of Minnesota
2008: City of Ann Arbor, Michigan
2006: Robert L. Cowles, Wisconsin State
Senate
2005: Governor Jennifer Granholm,
State of Michigan
2004: Governor Tim Pawlenty, State of
Minnesota
Marketing
2014: The Honorable Toni Preckwinkle,
Cook County (IL) Board President
2013: Nicor Gas
2012: DTE Energy
Leadership
2012: AEP Ohio
2014: Ameren Illinois ActOn Energy
Business Program
2011: Prairie Power
2013: Commissioner Cheryl Roberto,
Public Utilities Commission of
Ohio
2012: Jennifer Easler, Iowa Office of
Consumers’ Advocate
2011: Commissioner Monica Martinez,
Michigan Public Service
Commission
2 0 1 5 I NS PIRING EFFICIE N C Y AWARDS
2011: Xcel Energy
2010: Interstate Power & Light Company,
an Alliant Energy Company
2010: R.L. Just & Associates, P.C.
Architect
2009: Wisconsin Focus on Energy
2008: Rochester Public Utilities
2006: MidAmerican Energy
2005: Interstate Power & Light Co.
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PRESENTED BY
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
20 N Wacker Drive Ste 1301
Chicago, IL 60606
Printed on paper containing 10% recycled post-consumer content.