Smart Energy Voices Smart Energy Decisions

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil sat down with Marshall Duer-Balkind, Director of Policy Programs at the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), to talk about building performance standards (BPS) and their implications for the energy transition. He also gives an overview of IMT's mission and work, focusing on their efforts to improve the efficiency and performance of buildings through policy development and equitable decarbonization.
Duer-Balkind delves into the specifics of BPS policies and the need for long-term planning by building owners and tenants to meet their requirements, emphasizing that "doing nothing ain't free." He discusses how building performance standards intersect with other market trends such as climate change mitigation, financial considerations, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements, as well as the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to achieve sustainability goals.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

BPS policies, and their implications to owners and tenants (04:29)

How BPS policies intersect with other market trends (20:30)

The importance of long-term planning (27:46)


Click here for detailed show notes

Resources & People Mentioned:

DOE Better Buildings

Better Climate Alliance


Connect with Marshall Duer-Balkind
On LinkedIn

Marshall Duer-Balkind is the Director of Policy Programs at IMT, where he works to develop and implement policies for driving high-performance buildings, grounded in community priorities and technical quality.
Marshall is an international expert in policies and technologies to improve the energy and carbon performance of buildings and communities, with over a dozen years of experience in the for-profit, government, and non-profit sectors. Prior to starting his current role with IMT in April 2023, he worked as a consultant at the deep green engineering firm Introba, where he managed cutting-edge decarbonization plans and policies for over 20 cities and 15 institutions across North America. He has also worked for the District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), where he built and ran one of the first benchmarking and disclosure programs in the U.S., supported the groundbreaking Clean Energy DC plan, and evaluation, measurement, & verification of the DC Sustainable Energy Utility’s energy savings and other performance targets. Prior to that, he was one of IMT’s first “City Advisors” embedded in a local government. 
Marshall is a key contributor to the first building performance standard programs in both the U.S. and Canada, as Co-Chair of Washington, D.C.’s Building Energy Performance Standards Task Force, and a member of the City of Vancouver’s Carbon Pollution Limits Technical Advisory Committee. Marshall holds a Master’s of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of the Environment and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Computer Science from Oberlin College. He is proudly born and raised in Washington, D.C.

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In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil welcomes Sharon L. Nolen, Program Manager & Fellow, Global Natural Resource Management at Eastman Chemical, for a dive into Eastman's journey toward decarbonization, emphasizing the pivotal role of energy efficiency in their strategy. Sharon highlights Eastman Chemical's commitment to sustainability, focusing on mitigating climate change, mainstreaming circularity and caring for society.
Sharon outlines Eastman Chemical's goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy usage by 2030, providing examples of energy efficiency projects across analytics, utility systems, distribution, and manufacturing processes, emphasizing their cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability benefits. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

Eastman Chemical’s decarbonization journey (02:21)

Energy efficiency initiatives (04:45)

Goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (07:28)

Technological innovations in decarbonization (09:24)


Click here for detailed show notes

Resources & People Mentioned:

DOE Better Plants Program


ENERGY STAR® Industrial Partner Program


Connect with Sharon L. Nolen
On LinkedIn

Sharon L. Nolen is an Eastman Fellow and leads Eastman’s Global Natural Resource Management program as well as one of the company’s three Sustainability Subcouncils. She represents Eastman in the DOE Better Plants Program and the ENERGY STAR® Industrial Partner Program and serves on the Industrial Advisory Board for the National Alliance for Water Innovation. Nolen was recently selected by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to lead the Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee (ITIAC), which is charged with helping to decarbonize America's industrial sector.
Sharon is a frequently invited speaker at national and international energy conferences. She has been published in Chemical Engineering Progress and Chemical Processing and authored a chapter in the book, “Energy Management and Efficiency for the Process Industries.” She was named the 2019 International Energy Manager of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers and received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Energy and Sustainability Award in 2020.  Sharon is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager.

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In this episode, we join experts during the opening session of the Net Zero Forum Spring for important updates on hourly carbon-free energy matching. The session, titled "What's Old, New, and Next for Hourly Carbon-Free Matching Products" and presented by Constellation, sheds light on the changing landscape of clean energy and the importance of hourly 24/7 carbon-free energy as a new industry standard. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

Defining hourly carbon-free matching (5:06)

Policy tailwinds and the future of clean energy procurement (7:15)

Customer perspectives and the evolution of the energy market (10:35)

The future of granular certificates and energy trading (16:00)


Click here for detailed show notes.

Resources & People Mentioned:

Smart Energy Decisions Kicks Off 2024 with Net Zero Forum Spring

Hourly Carbon-Free Energy Matching | Constellation

Constellation

LevelTen Energy

Microsoft

ComEd

FedCenter - EO 14057

ICE

Regulatory Assistance Project

EPRI

Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP) - CRS


Connect with Brian Megali
On LinkedIn

Brian Megali leads the Clean Energy Policy team in the Public Policy group at Constellation. His team is responsible for providing power sector forecasting and analysis of existing and proposed environmental policies, climate change policies, market design initiatives, and policies designed to promote low- and emissions-free energy resources. Brian’s team also coordinates advocacy efforts at the state, regional, and federal levels.

Connect with Katie Soroye
On LinkedIn

Katie Soroye is VP of Granular Procurement Solutions at LevelTen Energy, the industry’s leading provider of renewable transaction infrastructure. She leads the business strategy and development behind LevelTen’s granular certificate solutions, designed to accelerate clean energy transactions and decarbonize at scale. A self-proclaimed energy nerd, Katie has worked in the energy industry for more than 15 years, including leadership roles at an investor-owned utility, B Corporation, and early-stage start-ups. Outside of work, Katie enjoys lots of R&R (reading and running) in Seattle.

Connect with Chuck Hanna
On LinkedIn

Chuck Hanna is the Vice President of National Accounts and Solutions Sales at Constellation. In this role, he leads a team of sales professionals in providing comprehensive energy solutions to commercial and industrial retail customers across the nation including two-thirds of the Fortune 100. This includes leadership and management of associations where Constellation is the endorsed energy supplier.

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If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com.

We’re celebrating the 100th episode of Smart Energy Voices with a showcase of women leaders who are driving sustainability in the energy sector. As recorded at the recent Net Zero Forum Spring,  2024 WISE (Women in Smart Energy) winners Renée Yarmy, Eryn Beddoes and Leigh Pearson discuss advancing net-zero efforts, workforce development, the value of mentorship, improving gender diversity in STEM and energy, and their personal motivations.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

Innovative projects and sustainability goals [02:09]

A closer look at WISE winners' contributions [07:16]

Challenges/opportunities for women in energy and sustainability sectors [16:41]

Gender diversity and collaboration in the energy transition [29:27]


Click here for detailed show notes

Resources & People Mentioned:

2024 WISE Award Winners

ConnexFM

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022 | Department of Energy

Red Deer Polytechnic


Connect with Renée Yarmy
On LinkedIn

Connect with Eryn Beddoes
On LinkedIn

Connect with Leigh Pearson
On LinkedIn

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If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Debra Chanil welcomes back Becky Wacker, the Director of Energy Services Sales at Trane Commercial. In Episode 88, they dug into the challenges and opportunities that commercial building operators face today in light of their decarbonization efforts.
In this new episode, Becky discusses how to seize decarbonization as an organizational opportunity and provides a framework for navigating complexity and prioritizing where to turn decarbonization into a competitive advantage. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

Regulatory push for decarbonization (2:42)

Impact of decarbonization in different areas of an organization (6:46)

Breaking down silos within organizations (10:23)

Cost savings and improved operational efficiency (13:05)


Click here for detailed show notes

Resources & People Mentioned:

Nielsen IQ 2022 Study about Sustainability

Sustainable Brands 2021 Study about Sustainable Behaviors


Connect with Becky Wacker
On LinkedIn

Becky Wacker is the Director of Sales for Energy Services at Trane by Trane Technologies, leading acquisition and implementation of complex facility programs and projects. She has 15 years of experience helping customers leverage their buildings to better meet their organizational goals, with a particular passion for decarbonization and efficiency. 
Becky received her Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota while winning two Division I National Championships with the Women’s Ice Hockey team. She sits on the board for Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM) and National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), and can often be found in a sports venue playing, watching, or coaching in her spare time. 

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If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Debra Chanil speaks with Brittney Boyd, founder and CEO of the Energy Equity Group (EEG). Brittney shares her personal journey, from growing up in a low-income neighborhood to becoming an influential figure in the clean energy industry, and delves deeper into the mission and goals of the Energy Equity Group.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

Energy Equity Group’s mission and goals (07:41)

Role of corporate partnerships (09:28)

Importance of authenticity and integrity (13:23)

Corporate responsibility and additionality (15:55)


Click here for detailed show notes
Resources & People Mentioned:

Energy Equity Group

Sadie Bronk

Energy Bees


Connect with Brittney Boyd
On LinkedIn

Brittney Boyd is the CEO and Founder of The Energy Equitable Group (EEG), offering authentic and meaningful environmental justice services to corporations committed to an equitable and just transition to clean energy. She holds an associate degree in business administration and has over 15 years in the sales industry and 11 years in enterprise partnership management.
Brittney Boyd's educational foundation is rooted in her studies at Temple University's Fox School of Business. She excelled in the workforce, showcasing exceptional communication skills, adaptability, and a data-driven approach in both B2B and B2C sales environments. She led multiple successful sales partnership teams across various regions for AT&T Telecommunications, a Fortune 10 company.

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Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio
If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com.