EFFICIENCY MAINE RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Efficiency Maine held its Annual Energy Symposium January 27, 2017 in Freeport to discuss the role of energy efficiency and other distributed energy resources in modernizing the electric grid and to celebrate Maine’s top performers in delivering energy efficiency. Ms. Laney Brown, Vice President of Grid Modernization Strategy at Modern Grid Partners, offered the keynote address. Efficiency Maine also presented the Philip C. Hastings Award to Hannaford Supermarkets for outstanding leadership in energy efficiency.

The event celebrated Efficiency Maine’s trade allies. These contractors and vendors of high-efficiency equipment and services are instrumental in helping Mainers access lower energy bills and emissions reductions through energy efficiency. They are the drivers of the growing energy efficiency industry in Maine. Efficiency Maine recognized several of these businesses for their outstanding performance in delivering energy efficiency upgrades to Maine businesses and homeowners. Thirty businesses and organizations (listed below) were recognized this year for their leadership in energy efficiency in Efficiency Maine Business Programs, Residential Programs, marketing strategies, and innovation in the marketplace.

The businesses working in the energy efficiency sector collaborated with Efficiency Maine to achieve remarkable energy savings in the last fiscal year. Michael Stoddard, the Executive Director of Efficiency Maine, recapped the highlights from the past year, including:

• Avoiding than $300 million in unnecessary energy costs for Maine ratepayers
• Leveraging $80.9 million of incremental private investment with $43.7 million of program investment
• Expanding low-income initiatives
• Supporting 8,283 projects to install air sealing, insulation, ductless heat pumps, and heating systems through the Home Energy Savings Program
• Expanding thermal efficiency measures for the commercial and industrial sector, including efficiency measures for all natural gas territories
• Reaching peak summer demand reduction on the grid of 28.4 MW
• Expanding combined heat and power and custom energy-saving opportunities for the commercial and industrial sector
• Avoiding 119,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions

Hannaford Supermarkets was named this year’s recipient of Efficiency Maine’s Philip C. Hastings Award. The Hastings Award is presented to an individual or organization that exemplifies the spirit of the late Phil Hastings, the Founding Director of Efficiency Maine. Mr. Hastings is remembered for his extraordinary patience, sharp intelligence, and dedication to energy efficiency. To honor his memory, the Philip C. Hastings Award recognizes an individual or organization whose exemplary efforts have furthered Maine’s energy efficiency goals.

Hannaford Supermarkets was honored for its leadership in energy efficiency; Hannaford is a national leader in its industry as well as a model of energy efficient and sustainable operations for businesses across Maine. Hannaford has invested in dozens of energy efficiency projects including lighting, refrigeration, and custom process improvements that have significantly reduced energy and water expenditures. In fact, efficiency projects installed at Hannaford supermarkets since 2012 have saved more than 4,069,277 kWh annually. In 2016, Hannaford Supermarkets continued to demonstrate its leadership in energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives by installing five high-speed electric vehicle charging stations.

In her keynote address, Ms. Brown told the audience of 175 contractors and vendors about grid modernization progress in New York, Massachusetts, and California. Before joining Modern Grid Partners, Ms. Brown led Iberdrola USA’s Future Utility initiative including its innovative demonstration projects. She also represented Iberdrola in the landmark smart-grid regulatory initiative, called “Reforming the Energy Vision,” in New York. Ms. Brown has been recognized as a “Top National Smart Grid Professional” by IntelligentUtility Magazine, and a “Smart Grid Pioneer” by Smart Grid Today.

The keynote was followed by a panel comprising Mr. Jamie Howland, Director of Climate and Energy Analysis at the Acadia Center, Ms. Mei Shibata, CEO of Essense Partners, and Mr. Gabe Arnold, Market Strategies Program Manager at the DesignLights Consortium, that continued the discussion of evolving distributed energy opportunities nationally and in Maine.  The panelists discussed shaving peak demand with smart home appliances, energy efficiency marketing strategies for the intelligent grid, and the ever-expanding potential of lighting controls and apps.

Efficiency Maine is an independent trust dedicated to promoting the efficient and cost-effective use of energy in order to save money for Maine residents and businesses, grow the economy, and create jobs. For more information, visit www.EfficiencyMaine.com or call 1-866-376-2463.

Efficiency Maine recognizes these businesses and organizations for outstanding contributions to energy efficiency in Maine.
 
Efficiency Maine Business Programs
BellSimons Co., Biddeford, ME
Camille’s Electric, Biddeford, ME
Gilman Electric Supply Co. – Portland, ME
Mechanical Services, Inc., Portland, ME
Rexel – Biddeford, ME
Rockingham Electrical Supply Co.- Portland, ME
Trask Decrow Machinery, Scarborough, ME
Wesco International, Portland, ME

 
Efficiency Maine Residential Programs
Augusta Natural Gas, Augusta, ME
The Breathable Home, Augusta, ME
Central Maine Heat Pumps, Benton, ME
Charlie Burnham Energy Service, Freeport, ME
Dave’s World, Dover-Foxcroft, ME
Dead River Company, South Portland, ME
Downeast Energy, Brunswick, ME
Dunnett, Inc., Bangor, ME
Evergreen Home Performance, Rockland, ME
General Electric, Boston, MA
Home Energy Answers, Albion, ME
The Heat Doctor, Portland, ME
MAC Heat Pumps, Bangor, ME
Penobscot Home Performance, Brewer, ME
Pine State Services, South Portland, ME
Royal River Heat Pumps, Freeport, ME
Valley Home Services, Patten, ME
Wayside Food Programs, Portland, ME
 
Marketing
AAA Energy Service Co., Pittsfield, ME
Greater Portland Sustainability Council—Greenfest, Portland, ME
 
Innovation
City of Bangor
Town of York

 
Philip C. Hastings Award
Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME