Congratulations to the 2024 Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards Winners and Nominees!

The 2024 Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards is NEEA’s annual celebration to recognize the trailblazers driving innovations and collaborations in energy efficiency across the Northwest and beyond. Marking the event’s 10th anniversary, this hybrid ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.mPST.

 

The ceremony will honor the teams, programs and individuals who have demonstrated the most outstanding leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and performance in pursuit of a more efficient Northwest. Congratulations to this year’s honorees: 

The Leadership in Energy Efficiency Rising Star Award:

Andrew Barrington, Avista Utilities

Barrington redefined Avista’s roadmap for achieving greater energy efficiency through an advanced customer engagement program that leverages AI to view home energy usage at the appliance level. His exemplary leadership and initiative have transformed how Avista uses customer data and AI-powered analytics for energy efficiency outreach to benefit high-consumption customers, business owners as well as high energy-burdened customers struggling with their energy bills.


Leadership in Energy Efficiency Innovative Collaboration Award:

Creekside Housing Development Project for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde: Tamara Anderson, NEEA (lead); Ryan Webb, P.E., Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; Jeni Hall and Scott Leonard, Energy Trust of Oregon; Greg Lasher and Casey Phillips TRC (representing Energy Trust)

    The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Energy Trust and NEEA collaborated on the construction of the Creekside rural development property. This project supported the Tribe’s goals of creating comfortable, affordable and resilient homes for Tribal elders and their families. These net zero homes combine energy efficiency and renewable energy features to produce as much energy as they use, and some of those efficiency features also make the homes more resilient and safer in case of wildfires and smoke.


    Tom Eckman Leadership in Energy Efficiency Lifetime Achievement Award:

    Nancy Hirsh, NW Energy Coalition

    For nearly 30 years, Hirsh has been a change agent in advancing comprehensive, innovative and bedrock regulatory and legislative energy efficiency policies and programs in the Northwest. At the Coalition, Hirsh has facilitated a diverse array of organizational, utility, state and interest groups as a cohesive alliance for more than three decades. Her contributions will benefit the Northwest now and into the future as the region looks forward to achieving its energy goals with equity, decarbonization and affordability at the forefront.


    Chairperson's Award:
    Susan Hermenet
    , Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

    Since joining NEEA’s staff in 1999, Hermenet has championed alliance efforts to increase the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices on behalf of Northwest customers. During her tenure at NEEA, she has helped develop and lead several important Market Transformation functions, including portfolio management, cost effectiveness analysis and modeling, value metrics forecasting and reporting, market research and evaluation, data and market analysis, and data management. She has also spearheaded and directed NEEA’s largest regional studies, including the End Use Load Research project, and the 5-year Commercial and Residential Building Stock Assessments.


    We’d also like to extend our congratulations to this year's nominees for their incredible demonstration of leadership in energy efficiency. This year’s nominees include:

    Leadership in Energy Efficiency Rising Star Award:

    • Andrew Barrington, Avista Utilities
    • Maya Cutforth, NEEA
    • Madison Johnson, Ecotope
    • Eric Knowles, Solarc Energy Group
    • Riley Lynch, Seattle & Bellevue 2030 Districts
    • Ruby Moore-Bloom, Clean Energy Transition Institute
    • Taylor Pitts, Puget Sound Energy
    • Charlee Thompson, Northwest Energy Coalition

    Leadership in Energy Efficiency Innovative Collaboration Award:

    • Allison Grinczel, Snohomish County PUD
    • Avista Utilities Energy Insight Tools: Avista Utilities and Bidgely
    • Bayview Tower: Keshmira McVey (lead), Tony Koch and Robert Weber BPA; Ralph Nettles, Seattle Housing Authority; Jon Heller, Madison Johnson and Scott Spielman, Ecotope; Anthony Lambert and Cain White, METUS; Geoff Wickes, NEEA; Patrick Anderson, Brent Kovash, Austin Krank, Dave Morrow and Al Takle, Steffes; Lucie Huang, Seattle City Light; Charlie Rogers, Seattle Office of Housing; Tristan de Frondeville, SkyCentrics
    • Best Buy: Hugh Cherne, Jordan Dotson and Andrea Rydberg
    • Beth Robinweiler, Puget Sound Energy
    • Christopher Dymond, NEEA
    • Creekside Housing Development Project for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde: Tamara Anderson, NEEA (lead); Ryan Webb, P.E., Confederated Tribe of Grand Ronde; Jeni Hall and Scott Leonard, Energy Trust of Oregon; Greg Lasher and Casey Phillips TRC (representing Energy Trust)
    • Holly Braun, Northwest Natural
    • Idaho Power Swan Falls High School Project: Lee Harrison, Axiom; Bryce Parker, Beniton Construction; Jon Breckon, Breckon Land Design; Sheree Willhite, Idaho Power; Brian Smith, J-U-B Engineers; Ron Polintan and Wayne Thowless, LKV Architects; Bill Carter and Kurt Lechtenberg, Musgrove Engineering
    • Jim White, Chelan County PUD
    • Joint Stakeholder Recommendations for Water Heater Standards: Jeff Harris, Emily Rosenbloom, Aaron Winer, Geoff Wickes, NEEA; Meg Waltner, Energy 350; Suzanne Foster Porter, Kannah Consulting; Ben Larson, Larson Energy Research; Vicki Fulbright, Redcliff Writing Hood
    • Lis Saunders, Tacoma Power
    • Nationwide Marketing Group: Kaleb Behm and Frank Sandtner
    • Northwestern Energy Heat Pump Water Heater Program: Whitney Jurenic and Danie Williams Northwestern Energy
    • Residential Building Stock Assessment Work Group: Leona Haley, Avista Utilities; Joan Wang, Bonneville Power Administration; Jodie Albert and Caleb Reimer, Cascade Natural Gas; Debbie DePetris and Trevor Frick, Clark County PUD; Dan Rubado, former employee of Energy Trust; Landon Barber, Idaho Power and Kathy Yi, former employee of Idaho Power; Haixiao Huang, NW Natural; Christian Douglass, Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Laura James, PacifiCorp; Jesse Durst, Puget Sound Energy; Josh Rushton, Regional Technical Forum (Contract Analysts); Jessica Kenyon, Seattle City Light; Sinh Tran, Snohomish County PUD
    • Sheree Willhite, Idaho Power Company
    • Vision Profile Extrusions LLLC Upgrade Team: Ryan Heron (lead), PNW Energy Group and John Petosa, Snohomish County PUD
    • Wendy Gibson, Stillwater Energy

    Tom Eckman Leadership in Energy Efficiency Lifetime Achievement Award:

    • Ralph Cavanagh, formerly with Natural Resources Defense Council
    • Susan Grant Harris, New Buildings Institute
    • Nancy Hirsh, NW Energy Coalition
    • Tom Hovde, Snohomish County PUD
    • Duane Jonlin, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
    • Brent Lee, NAYA Family Center
    • Debbie Menashe, Energy Trust of Oregon
    • Brady Peeks, Northwest Energy Works Inc.
    • Dr. Jane Peters, Jane S. Peters Advising
    • Geoff Wickes, NEEA


    Congratulations again to all the nominees!

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