ACEEE presents 2022 'Champions of Energy Efficiency in Buildings' awards

Today in Washington, D.C., five distinguished experts from government and the private sector received the Champions of Energy Efficiency in Buildings Award, as presented by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

The awards, presented at the 22nd biennial Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings conference, recognize accomplishment in improving buildings’ energy efficiency. An ACEEE board of directors committee selected the winners, nominated by peers, for their impact, innovation, and leadership in reducing energy waste and spurring sustainability.

“The candidates for this year’s awards were outstanding,” said Mitchell Simpson, chair of the awards committee and director of the Arkansas Energy Office. “Without exception, each candidate had clearly generated an impressive body of work, championed innovation, embodied leadership, and demonstrated a commitment to equitable impact. The committee was quite pleased to be a part of honoring such dedicated professionals who represent excellence in energy.”

Per an ACEEE press release, the 2022 award winners in this year’s five categories are as follows:

Reid Hart, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (research and development) - For tackling complex challenges with the deep analytical expertise, warm communication style, deft negotiating skills, and persistence required to build consensus and move technical innovations from the lab to deployment through significant advances in codes and incentive programs.

Bing Liu, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (implementation and deployment) - For her thought leadership, drive, and determination to implement advances in energy efficiency and decarbonization through robust building codes and standards, and for her enthusiastic and inspirational mentorship of the next generation of building scientists and engineers.

Clay Nesler, The Nesler Group (lifetime achievement) - For his tireless and indispensable efforts to bring practitioners’ voices and expertise into policy development, create accessible tools for local action, and elevate the role of buildings’ energy efficiency as a critical solution to the global climate challenge.

Wally Nixon, Arkansas Public Service Commission (energy policy) - For his years of sustained work as a visionary and connector at the forefront of energy policy, leading Arkansas to its position as a leader for energy efficiency in the Southeast and a national model for innovative utility policies and programs.

Lauren Salz, Sealed (young professional) - For her leadership and creativity in pioneering a new business model to make home retrofits easier and more affordable, demonstrating the value that clean energy innovations and women entrepreneurs can deliver to investors, and inspiring the private-sector movement to reduce emissions and curb climate change.

This year's Champions award winners join a select group of efficiency leaders recognized by ACEEE at the group's annual Summer Study conferences for their extraordinary contributions and leadership.