Center for Energy and Environment

Business owners in Xcel Energy Minnesota territory: Help your furnace work smarter, not harder, this winter! ❄️ As an Xcel Energy commercial customer, your business may qualify for FREE ecobee3 lite smart thermostats installed by CEE's One-Stop Efficiency Shop. With smart thermostats, you can: ▪️ Set preferences based on your operating hours, helping to reduce energy waste ▪️ Control your HVAC system from anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, bringing peace of mind that your system is running smoothly when you’re away ▪️ Earn annual bill credits from Xcel Energy for each thermostat installed Ready to make your free upgrade? Sign up here: https://hubs.ly/Q02VThB60

NOW HIRING: We're seeking an RTU Channel Manager to join our growing Market Transformation team! ⚡ The Market Transformation team is responsible for accelerating the adoption of energy efficiency and decarbonization technologies. As RTU Channel Manager, you will be responsible for developing and delivering training, building relationships, and tracking the market for efficient commercial HVAC technologies. Learn more about the position and apply today: https://hubs.ly/Q02VLnF60

In today’s digital age, data centers have emerged as the backbone of the modern life, powering everything from social media and cloud computing to telemedicine. However, the rapid growth of data processing and storage presents significant challenges in terms of energy demand and grid integration. 🖥️⚡ Hear from CEE's Alyssa Eilers on the promising sustainability opportunities for the data center industry, the power grid, and ratepayers at this critical juncture: https://hubs.ly/Q02VLmP20

Will you be at the 2024 MN Energy Expo in Minneapolis next week? 💡 Don’t miss CEE’s Leah Guenter and Grant Baumgardner! In their session, "Next Gen Rooftop Units: Energy Efficiency Performance and Potential," Leah and Grant will walk through real-world case studies of Next Gen RTUs on commercial buildings, including models of the energy and bill impacts. They’ll also provide an overview of the market landscape for Next Gen RTUs, and next steps for implementation of these efficient technologies. Learn more and register: https://hubs.ly/Q02Vk_Y50

Congrats, grads! 🎓👏 On Friday, Oct. 18, we celebrated the 17 newest graduates of the Green Construction Training Program. After completing three weeks of paid training, the group received certificates of completion during a ceremony at Saint Paul College. CEE staff will help guide each grad through their next steps, with some going on to complete an intensive hands-on training before the paid internship and others seeking additional specialized training. 🛠️ Green Construction Training is funded by Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul, and administered by CEE in partnership with Saint Paul College-A Community and Technical College. The program, which is designed to strengthen the fast-growing clean energy workforce, provides participants with education on building science and hands-on training in residential insulation and HVAC. Participants have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials with National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Learn more about the program: https://hubs.ly/Q02VjhPY0

🌟 STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Leah Guenter, Next Gen RTU Initiative Manager 🌟 Having obtained a bachelor’s degree in structural engineering, Leah was working as an owner’s representative in construction when she found CEE in early 2024. “I realized I wanted to take all of the specialized knowledge I had gained and use it in a way where I could give back to my community,” she said. As next gen RTU initiative manager at CEE, Leah focuses on advancing the adoption of energy efficient commercial HVAC technologies: specifically, the next gen RTU. Next gen RTUs use heat pumps and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) to heat and cool commercial buildings, reducing energy use by 20 percent compared to standard RTUs. “I’d had a lot of experience installing commercial HVAC in my previous work, and I knew they weren’t very efficient,” she said. “When I found this position and saw that heat pump RTUs were the focus, I was excited, because it’s not something that is very prevalent in new construction and we have a real opportunity to change that.” Learn more about Leah in our newest staff spotlight: https://hubs.ly/Q02VkmK90

Help us build a brighter future! We’re now hiring for several positions. 💡🌱 For nearly 40 years, CEE has collaborated with utilities, governments, nonprofits, and businesses to deliver actionable research and innovative programs that reduce energy waste and harmful emissions. Named a 2024 Top 200 Workplace in Minnesota by the Star Tribune, CEE champions open door communications, respect for diverse backgrounds and points of view, and work-life balance. View our open positions and submit your application: https://buff.ly/40cauC6

Calling single-family homeowners with heated floors (or in-floor radiant heat): CEE is seeking participants for a new study to help advance efficiency in home energy systems. ⚡ Funded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) grant program, the study will examine the cost, demand, and carbon savings of thermal energy storage systems paired with energy efficient heat pumps. Why apply? ▪️ CEE will install a new heat pump and thermal storage system for your home, which will perform at higher efficiency than traditional systems. ▪️ You will receive a rebate to reduce the installation costs of eligible equipment. You'll also be provided with technical support from our staff, ensuring your system is optimized to meet your home's needs. ▪️ You will play a pivotal role in helping researchers identify new opportunities to advance energy efficiency and reduce carbon dependency. Ready to find out if you're eligible? Apply here: https://hubs.ly/Q02TTFgy0 Have questions? Please contact Lindsay Genty at lgenty@mncee.org.

CEE’s Audrey Partridge, policy director, and Alyssa Eilers, manager of legislative affairs, recently presented Minnesota State Representative Patty Acomb with a brand-new honor: CEE’s Heat Pump Champion award! 🏆 The award recognizes legislators who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the adoption of heat pumps in Minnesota. Rep. Acomb was chosen, alongside Senator Jennifer McEwen, for authoring the heat pump rebate bill in 2023. The bill will provide additional rebates on top of the incentives offered by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provides homeowners up to $4,000 if they install both a heat pump and insulation. The bill also dedicated $2.8 million to contractor training and energy advisor services to assist homeowners with rebates and project management of their heat pump. Thank you for bringing us closer to a carbon-neutral future, Rep. Acomb!

Bloomington business owners: Looking to become more energy efficient, but thinking the equipment upgrades you need are out of reach? Think again! 💡 The City of Bloomington, MN and CEE are partnering to help you reduce energy use through new rebates, which cover 20% of eligible lighting, HVAC, or refrigeration project costs up to $2,500. How it works: 1️⃣ Contact CEE to schedule a free, no obligation energy assessment. 2️⃣ Experts from our One-Stop Efficiency Shop will conduct a site visit to analyze your efficiency needs and provide recommendations on upgraded equipment and estimated energy savings. 3️⃣ The CEE team will complete and submit all City and utility rebate paperwork for you. Rebates are available on a first come, first served basis while City funding lasts. Projects must be completed by Nov. 30, 2025, to qualify. Visit https://hubs.ly/Q02TKMdV0 to schedule your One-Stop Efficiency Shop visit today.