Energy Solutions

Staff

Sam Cohen, President

Mr. Cohen founded Energy Solutions in 1995 with an initial focus on providing utility, government and commercial clients with Demand Side Management (DSM) program design, marketing, and implementation assistance. His mission for the company was – and is – to create large-scale environmental benefits by implementing market-based solutions that leverage key market actors. With this vision in mind, Sam has grown this company from a one-person company started in his house to a comprehensive energy services firm with 75 mission-driven professionals.

While Sam’s current role is to guide the strategic direction and growth of Energy Solutions, it was his vision, attention to clients’ needs and understanding of the DSM market that built this foundation for growth. In 1998 Sam was instrumental in the initial program design, launch, implementation, and ongoing enhancements to the Upstream distributor incentive program model that has outperformed downstream models on average by 900 percent in the HVAC market. Energy Solutions’ was the primary implementation consultant for Pacific Gas and Electric’s 1998-2000 Express Efficiency program, which was then adopted – and is still implemented – statewide in California by all four investor owned utilities. Sam helped develop some of the early small commercial direct install programs and then trained two non-profits that continue to provide these services. In addition to programmatic breakthroughs, Sam has led Energy Solutions to be a recognized thought leader and service provider for public agency energy projects, codes and standards enhancements, emerging technology demonstrations and commercialization, and information systems for the energy industry. Under Sam’s direction, Energy Solutions is currently growing new practices that support emerging industry trends, including demand response, vehicle-to-grid integration and intelligent system commissioning.

As Energy Solutions has scaled, the company’s mission and Sam’s vision for company culture have remained. Recently, Sam purchased a new building in downtown Oakland to support the company’s current and ongoing growth. Energy Solutions’ staff are designing and implementing deep retrofits to make the building a showcase of emerging technologies that integrate efficiency and demand response. Additionally, Sam – and Energy Solutions – was featured in a June 2012 newsletter article from ZweigWhite titled, Maintaining Firm Culture – Ongoing Effort. The article discussed the challenges architectural and engineering firms face in maintaining company culture through growth and expansion; and what owners like Sam have done to maintain a positive working environment.

Prior to starting Energy Solutions, Mr. Cohen was an Associate at Barakat & Chamberlain, where he specialized in DSM program design and implementation. Mr. Cohen also managed the company’s technology database and was the firm’s specialist in lighting, motors, and adjustable speed drives. Before that, Mr. Cohen was a Senior Research Associate at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he worked on evaluating energy savings and economics of retrofitting single-family homes, incorporating environmental externalities into utility planning, and DSM bidding.

Mr. Cohen received his Masters Degree from the Energy and Resources Group at U.C. Berkeley, and his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, also from U.C. Berkeley. Mr. Cohen received the 2002 Program Design Innovator Award from the Association of Energy Engineers Bay Area Chapter.

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Chris Burmester (PhD), Vice President

Dr. Burmester directs and manages Energy Solutions’ Information Systems Group and has been active in the energy resources and computer and information sciences fields for the past 20 years. Energy Solutions’ IS group provides software design and engineering support for a variety of high impact Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy programs including the California Solar Initiative (CSI), California and Nevada Statewide Upstream Distributor Incentive Programs (providing incentives to stock and distribute high efficiency technologies), California Green Business Certification Program, and the California Business and Consumer Electronics Program (providing incentives to consumer electronics retailers to stock high efficiency electronic devices). Prior to working at Energy Solutions, Chris was Director at ConceptLabs, Inc., a technology incubation company, and Director/Owner of Formation, a software design and contracting firm serving a wide variety of clients including PG&E, Electric Power Research Institute, Charles Schwab, Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard, and Cisco Systems. Dr. Burmester holds multiple degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, including BS and MS degrees in Materials Science and Engineering and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering with minor emphasis in Computer Science and Energy Resources. He is the author of over 40 scientific publications and has received awards from the University of California, Materials Research Society, US Department of Energy, Cray Research, and MasPar Computer.

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Ted Pope, Vice President

Mr. Pope co-directs Energy Solutions’ portfolio of activities, including market research, program design and implementation, regulatory compliance, and efficiency standards intervention support to utility, local government, and non-profit clients. Mr. Pope oversees Energy Solutions’ business and consumer electronics utility program support activities and Energy Solutions’ administration of the national Cool Roof Rating Council. He also supervises the company’s appliance standards consulting practice, providing analytical and strategic support for the establishment of state and federal appliance standards. Mr. Pope oversaw the implementation of utility-funded HeatWise and LightWash commercial clothes washer and condensing water heater rebate programs. Mr. Pope has consulted on a variety of residential, emerging technology, and local government energy efficiency programs initiatives. Prior to coming to Energy Solutions, he developed and/or managed the residential clothes washer, refrigerator, lighting fixture, emerging technologies, and geothermal heat pump programs for PG&E. He has taken leadership roles in facilitating several regional and national collaborative program-planning activities. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Pope managed a water heater rebate program at Seattle City Light and earned an EPRI Innovator award for leadership of the ground breaking EPRI clothes washer research project known as THELMA. While at Seattle City Light, he also helped develop the performance specifications and authored the technical support documentation for Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s widely adopted national efficient washer program. Prior to Seattle City Light, Mr. Pope worked at the Washington State Energy Office where he prepared program evaluations and provided technical support to Northwest utilities for residential appliance program development. Mr. Pope earned a Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University with an emphasis in engineering.

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Terrance Pang, Senior Director

Terrance Pang currently manages Energy Solutions’ Emerging Technologies practice and oversees the Upstream HVAC, Motors, Lighting, Food Service/Refrigeration and Water Heating program, where he applies his extensive knowledge of market structure and innovative technologies. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Terrance spent 25 years working on utility energy efficiency programs at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Having begun his career completing residential, commercial and industrial energy surveys, and continuing efficiency project development as an Account Executive to major customers for PG&E, Terrance developed a broad, realistic sense of what can be accomplished in the marketplace with a healthy appreciation for customer barriers. At PG&E, he managed multiple programs with combined budgets of up to $80 million annually, and developed an extensive network of market contacts. Mr. Pang provided oversight of PG&E staff and consultants with contracts for achieving energy efficiency in commercial, industrial and federal sectors via the Power Saving Partners and PowerPAct® Programs. These Programs leveraged the work of ESCOs and other large firms engaged in the business of large scale turn-key energy efficiency work. His awards include an “Exemplary Award” from ACEEE in 2003 for implementing the Upstream Lighting Program and an award from the U. S. DOE/EPA Energy Star® Program in 2005 for serving on the Board of Directors for the National PEARL Program. Terrance received his Bachelors Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in the interdisciplinary Environmental Science Program.

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Luther Kopf, Information Systems Director

Mr. Kopf works with the design and implementation of energy efficiency programs and custom software applications. He is currently managing the development of the PG&E Vendor Rebates online tool. This tool enables vendors to electronically submit rebate applications and streamlines processing effort and payment timelines. He also manages the development and deployment of the Green Business Certification online software application and the Business Consumer Electronics online software application. During his time at Energy Solutions Mr. Kopf has been involved in the California Solar Initiative (CSI) managing the integration and functional specification portion of the online application processing system. He also managed the Federal and State E5K lighting program, providing design assistance and spectrally enhanced lighting expertise. He managed the development of the California Instant Rebate System which is an online application that manages rebate processing from data entry to payment. The system is used by the Statewide Upstream Motors and Air Conditioning Program, as well as the PG&E Commercial Lighting and Residential HVAC Programs. Mr. Kopf was involved in the creation and development of the nationwide Appliance Standards Awareness Program (ASAP) and the online system to support state specific product eligibility. Prior to that, he was involved in both the implementation of the lighting component of the LightWash program and the development of new Appliance Efficiency Regulations for the California Energy Commission. Before joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Kopf served as a Project Manager for Community Energy Services Corporation. He worked mainly with the Smart Lights Program, which helps small businesses upgrade to more energy efficient lighting. His main responsibilities within the Smart Lights program included the supervision of projects and contractor relationships. In addition, he provided lighting audits, data mining, and in-house database management. Mr. Kopf also brings 3 years of hi-tech process consulting experience at Andersen Consulting/Accenture where his clients included Microsoft, E*Trade, and Sun Microsystems. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering, graduating Cum Laude from the University of Arizona.

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James B. Hanna, Technical Director

Mr. Hanna joined Energy Solutions in 2008 and works on a variety of projects, specializing in HVAC, Variable Refrigerant Flow Ductless, chiller, and motor technologies, web based rebate applications, Distributor and Manufacturer (Upstream) rebate programs, and strategic and business development plans. He has developed regulatory workpapers (e.g. market assessments, impacts, and engineering calculations) for numerous technologies. Recently, Mr. Hanna spearheaded the development of the nation’s first upstream prescriptive rebates for VRFs and water-cooled chillers. His diverse experience in the field of energy efficiency includes over 32 years at PG&E. Mr. Hanna helped expand PG&E’s innovative Refrigerant Charge/ Air Flow and duct testing/ duct sealing operation and maintenance rebate programs. He designed and was responsible for all aspects of implementing a motor and HVAC rebate program at PG&E, in which he devised effective communication strategies to successfully engage CEOs and General Managers to increase program participation.

Most noteworthy was Mr. Hanna’s leadership to manage PG&E’s, and the nation’s, first paperless web-based rebate application, which dramatically altered motor and HVAC stocking practices in PG&E’s territory. Mr. Hanna was also responsible for developing: regulatory filings, technical work papers, marketing strategies, rebate applications, and marketing materials measurement and evaluation, engineering methodologies, forecasting strategies, as well as for engaging market actors and internal clients for PG&E’s very successful $60 million Express Efficiency Rebate Program. Prior to that, Mr. Hanna designed, developed, tested, and implemented ‘real-time’ performance analysis testing (PAT) tools for air compressors, motors, and package air conditioners. He also created a new data interface software between data logger and Air Master+ and persuaded the Department of Energy to add data interface software into Air Master+. Mr. Hanna has conducted scores of commercial and industrial energy audits, and was a start-up engineer at PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

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Alex Alzugaray, Director

Mr. Alzugaray currently supervises multiple efforts serving the commercial market sector. Efforts focus on providing additional technical understanding, implementation coordination, and incentive application assistance in small to large retail and office facilities. Mr. Alzugaray’s experience is in advanced lighting and evaporative cooling technology end-uses with program models ranging from direct install to upstream design. He currently oversees technical aspect of the CEC funded Energy Technology Assistance Program that promotes bi-level parking lot and parking garage lighting and wireless HVAC and lighting controls. Mr. Alzugaray provides goal tracking and database management services as well as technical and regulatory filing support for 3rd party and utility run programs. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Alzugaray was responsible for marketing, customer service, and project management support at the PG&E Energy Efficiency Resource Center. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies and Planning and also received a Certificate of Energy Management from Sonoma State University.

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Alex Chase, Director

Mr. Chase manages Energy Solutions’ policy and research projects that focus on appliance efficiency standards and consumer electronics. He manages a Codes and Standards team that provides comprehensive technical, economic, market, political, and infrastructure information for energy policy decisions at a state, national, and international level. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Chase was a Sustainable Energy Fellow at the Rocky Mountain Institute, and a researcher at Baxter International. In both positions, his applied research showcased innovative ways in which the healthcare industry can improve resource efficiency while enhancing the healing and/or working environments. Mr. Chase has also served as a student representative to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in The Hague, Netherlands, and conducted field research on Alaskan Brown bears in Katmai National Park. Mr. Chase received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University and his Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering and Science (with an energy focus) from Stanford University.

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Daniel Cornejo, Director

Mr. Cornejo directs our Southern California and Nevada consulting practices. He is currently supervising an Upstream HVAC and LED Lighting Program. From 2007-2009, Mr. Cornejo managed NV Energy’s Upstream HVAC and Motors Programs. Mr. Cornejo also previously assisted San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) with 2006 program planning recommendations and trade ally outreach for the 2005 Express Efficiency Program. He was involved in all program aspects for the highly successful $13 million California Statewide Upstream Motors and HVAC program with Southern California Edison, SDG&E and Pacific Gas and Electric in 2004-5.

Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Cornejo was the Director of Engineering for Point Power Systems, where he managed the evaluation, selection, pricing, and sourcing of windmill package systems for US applications. He was the company’s technical lead and advised the founders on product and renewable industry trends. Mr. Cornejo received his Masters Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University, and his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami.

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Annette (Ann) Guy, Director

Ms. Guy specializes in local government projects and programs, including energy efficiency and renewable energy project development and energy project financing.  Her management of the firm’s local government practice includes developing and managing regional and statewide energy efficiency programs targeting the local government sector, managing the firm’s strategic consulting work related to federal economic stimulus funds, and overseeing renewable energy feasibility studies and project development.

From 2010 – 2012, Ms. Guy is directing a 2-year, $5.9 million California statewide program to implement advanced energy efficiency technologies in public facilities and to develop workforce capabilities in the area of energy and energy efficiency.  From 2004 – 2008, Ms. Guy managed the technical implementation of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Energy Watch program, which worked with local government agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area to reduce energy use in their own facilities through efficiency upgrades and energy efficient design.  The program also assisted with energy elements in General Plans, developed climate action plans for greenhouse gas reductions, and provided support for other policy measures.

Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Ms. Guy managed and developed renewable energy, green building, and water conservation projects for Brown, Vence & Associates (now HDR|BVA).  Prior to that, Ms. Guy worked at the City of San Jose, where she managed a pilot project to purchase retail power for major City electrical accounts.  Ms. Guy’s previous experience included working for the Association of Bay Area Governments to develop a regional power purchasing pool for member agencies and working at the United Nations Environment Program where she coordinated a management initiative to integrate the five environmental subdivisions of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Division.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley.

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Peter Borocz, Senior Software Engineer

Mr. Borocz is a member of the Information Systems Team. He manages several Energy Solutions software development and maintenance programs and actively contributes to the development of the firm’s risk management program. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Borocz worked in the financial services sector, holding software development positions at TibCo and Cogency as well as IS/IT management positions at Barclays Global Investors (now Blackrock), Fisher Investments and AXA Rosenberg. Mr. Borocz holds an MS in Engineering & Economics Systems from Stanford University and a BS in Mathematical Economics from Santa Clara University.

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Eric Evenson, Senior Software Engineer

Eric Evenson joined the Energy Solutions team full time as of August 2010. Previous to this Eric, as a consultant, worked with Energy Solutions to design and develop the online California Instant Incentive System, then to maintain and extend the system for Business and Consumer Electronics and the PG&E Vendor Rebate System. He will continue to work on the online rebate systems, as well as expand into other projects. Prior to working for Energy Solutions Eric’s clients included NASA, Boeing, UCSF and PowerLight Corporation.

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Eric Walstad, Senior Software Engineer

Eric Walstad is a member of the Information Systems team. He joined Energy Solutions in January, 2012 after eight years of working for the company as a contractor. Mr. Walstad helped bring the Upstream Rebates software application to fruition and has been involved in work on the ABAG, CRRC and Green Business programs. As a contractor, Mr. Walstad’s clients included EnergySoft, Schiller/Nexant, NORESCO and Powerlight/Sunpower. Mr. Walstad received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Planning with a concentration in Energy Management and Design from Sonoma State University.

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Tim O’Keefe, Senior Information Systems Manager

Mr. O’Keefe currently provides project management and technical architecture services to the California Solar Initiative’s application management and data reporting tools. Mr. O’Keefe began developing content-driven web applications in 1999 for clients including PG&E, Hewlett Packard, EMC, and Charles Schwab. He has also provided engineering services in both sustainable transportation systems and water supply seismic upgrade projects, and led field operations in energy efficiency and recycling programs. Mr. O’Keefe holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, and Music.

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Marla Parker, Senior Information Systems Manager

Ms. Parker works on the design and implementation of the Business and Consumer Electronics Incentives System. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Ms. Parker worked at Sun Microsystems for over 20 years as a software developer, senior engineering manager, and as the Community Manager for java.net, an online community of developers and hosted software development projects. While at Sun Microsystems, Ms. Parker worked with developers around the world on a number of Open Standards and Open Source projects. Prior to Sun Microsystems, she worked for Advanced Micro Devices and a small CAD/CAE company. Ms. Parker has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

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Greg Barker, LC, Senior Engineer

Mr. Barker implements energy efficiency programs for Energy Solutions, focusing on lighting and HVAC technologies. He is currently managing activity on PG&E’s upstream and midstream lighting rebate programs. He coordinates a suite of programs targeting manufacturers and distributors who sell lighting products in the general fluorescent and LED markets. Mr. Barker also provides technical support and auditing skills to the large commercial market segment through the. Mr. Barker manages a Wireless HVAC Controls demonstration project for PG&E’s Emerging Technologies group. He previously worked on the LightWash Program for commercial coin laundromats, managing, marketing, and providing technical support for the lighting and water heater rebate programs. Mr. Barker earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, with coursework in semiconductor technologies, electronics design and energy efficiency.

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Jun Furuta, Senior Engineer

Mr. Furuta manages the design and specification of custom software applications and supports the development of new energy efficiency programs. Recently, he developed a work paper on variable refrigerant flow systems for Southern California Edison using building energy modeling tools that resulted in the one of the first utility incentive programs for VRFs in the country. He serves as a corresponding member on the ASHRAE TC8.7 VRF committee. Past work paper and program design work for SCE includes ductless mini and multi-splits and packaged AC units. Currently, he is finishing the specification for the residential online buyers guide for SCE and is working on additional VRF energy models for Bonneville Power Administration and packaged AC part load performance modeling for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Mr. Furuta has also performed building audits to assess the feasibility of wireless HVAC controls for the Energy Technology Assistance Program (ETAP). Previously, he was the project manager for the development of the PG&E Vendor Rebate System, an expansion of the existing California Instant Rebate System, an online tool which expedites the submission, processing, and payment of electronic rebate applications. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Furuta implemented a program tracking database for Green Building in Alameda County at StopWaste.Org. At West Office Exhibition Design, he designed and managed the development of interactive exhibits for history museums and science centers. Before that, Mr. Furuta was a Product Manager at Berkeley Process Control, Inc., a high-end machine controls company. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of California at Berkeley.

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Sherry Hao, Senior Project Manager

Ms. Hao manages and supports energy-efficiency programs including administering the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), a non-profit educational organization which maintains a roof rating system, and PG&E’s Large Commercial and Institutional (LC&I) market sector: the Non-residential Retrofit Program (NRR) and the Non-residential New Construction (NRNC) Program. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Ms. Hao worked at Asian American LEAD, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit youth development organization, where Ms. Hao provided fundraising, design and management of programs. Before AALEAD, Ms. Hao served as the Director of the Campaign to Protect Chinatown, a Boston, M.A. nonprofit affordable housing and environmental justice advocacy organization. Ms. Hao’s technical experience includes working as a design and testing consultant at Gamma Engineering, at Product Genesis as a mechanical engineer on a multidisciplinary product development team, and testing joint replacement products at Howmedica. Ms. Hao received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering with an option in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University.

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Forest Kaser, Senior Project Manager

Mr. Kaser is the staff lead for many of Energy Solutions’ existing local government Block Grant clients, including San Francisco, Oakland, Milpitas, Pleasanton, Santa Cruz, Salinas, and Watsonville. Mr. Kaser’s responsibilities include managing technical subcontractors and internal staff that conduct detailed HVAC, lighting, pumps, and solar PV assessments; reviewing technical reports; presenting results to local government staff; and administering federal performance and financial reporting. Mr Kaser also works closely with local government staff to develop integrated, cost-effective energy and conservation strategies that address client priorities and leverage existing funding opportunities and resources, including low-interest bonds and loans. Previously, Mr. Kaser provided grant application and management services to six Bay Area cities for the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, including identifying and prioritizing potential projects, developing scopes of work, estimating budgets, providing technical analyses of benefits, and ensuring compliance with federal procurement guidelines and administrative procedures. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Kaser conducted basic and applied research on topics including energy-efficient water disinfection, bioremediation, and pesticide drift. Mr. Kaser received Master’s Degrees in Energy and Resources and Microbiology from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Reed College

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Mike McGaraghan, LC, Senior Project Manager

Mr. McGaraghan currently manages a Codes and Standards team that provides technical, economic, and political analysis to help inform the California Energy Commission’s Title 24 building codes enhancement process. Mr. McGaraghan also works on appliance efficiency standards development at both the federal and state level. Prior to his work on codes and standards, he worked extensively with the Association of Bay Area Governments Energy Watch Program, managing the Program’s Direct Install Lighting element which completed 130 retrofit projects at 27 local government agencies and claimed 6.1 GWh in gross energy savings and 1.0 MW of gross peak demand reduction. Mr. McGaraghan also developed the Energy Watch Program’s Energy Assessment Reports for 22 local governments and served as the point person for the Program’s efficiency work with the City of Oakland. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. McGaraghan worked primarily in education, where his four years of teaching experience covered a variety of subjects and age groups. In 2004, Mr. McGaraghan worked in Central America as a supervisor for the non-profit organization Amigos de las Americas, which runs community development projects throughout Latin America. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University.

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Pam Molsick, Senior Project Manager

Ms. Molsick manages and implements activities on a variety of energy efficiency projects including PG&E’s New Efficiency Options (NEO) Program and Energy Solution’s Energy Technology Assistance Program (ETAP). She is the Project Manager for NEO, and is responsible for overseeing innovative lighting design assistance to customers, qualifying LED products for incentive eligibility, project implementation and market transformation of new emerging energy efficiency technologies, such as wireless HVAC controls or Discharge Air Regulation Technique (DART). For ETAP she works with a variety of municipal, institutional and energy efficiency technology entities to implement wireless lighting controls, LED bi-level lighting and DART projects for various cities. In the past she served as an agency lead for 6 cities for the ABAG Energy Watch partnership program. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Ms. Molsick was a Home Performance Consultant for Sustainable Spaces and an integral part of start-up of the company. She conducted research, financial, economic, policy and regulatory analysis for testimony and settlement negotiations in gas and electricity proceedings before the state and federal government and litigation cases at MRW & Associates. She was an environmental scientist specializing in environmental compliance for Brown and Caldwell. She received her Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Renewable Natural Resources from University of California at Davis.

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Erika Walther, CEM, LEED™ A.P., Senior Project Manager

Erika Walther has worked for over ten years on a wide range of energy and water efficiency programs at Energy Solutions. She is currently conducting research and analysis on various water saving technologies for possible inclusion in California’s building code, Title 24. As part of Energy Solutions’ Emerging Technologies practice, Ms. Walther currently supports PG&E, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Energy with an LED demonstration project assessing the performance of MR16s and PAR30s. She also recently managed the evaluation of several advanced (e.g., wireless) lighting control technologies for their demand response and energy efficiency capabilities. From 2006-2008, she managed the Energy Efficiency Policy element of the ABAG Energy Watch program, providing customized policy assistance to participating agencies. She also provided energy efficiency technical consulting services to over a dozen local governments. For four years, Ms. Walther worked with the Regional Water Authority, which represents nearly 20 water suppliers, providing program administration for the RWA’s Landscape Irrigation System Incentive Grant Program. She also designed and implemented the Water-wise Landscape Rebate Program for Stanford University’s Utilities Division. From 2002-2005, Ms. Walther supported and later managed the LightWash program, a $4 million integrated energy/water rebate program that was implemented in partnership with many of California’s largest water utilities. Prior to coming to Energy Solutions, Ms. Walther conducted research at U.C. Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory assessing the efficiency and performance of solar thermal and solar electric technologies. Ms. Walther is a Certified Energy Manager (C.E.M.) and a LEED™ Accredited Professional with the U.S. Green Building Council. She received her Master of Arts Degree from the Energy and Resources Group at U.C. Berkeley and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara.

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Kitty Wang, PE, Senior Project Manager

Ms. Wang currently manages the Advanced Lighting program in Southern California at Energy Solutions. She is also a lead author for the residential buyer’s guide for Southern California Edison and primary municipal government liason for the Energy Technology Assistance Program. Ms. Wang has worked with a variety of electric utilities and governments, including Duke Energy, Hawaiian Electric Company, Kansas City Power & Light, PG&E, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and State of Hawaii. Prior to joining Energy Solutions in 2011, Ms. Wang was a Principal at Rocky Mountain Institute, where she led projects in the areas of utility resource planning, demand-side management (DSM) programs, building energy efficiency, distributed generation economics, and electric vehicles. Ms. Wang’s prior employers also include Utility Engineering, where she was a field mechanical engineer, Econergy International Corporation, and American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Ms. Wang holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering also from Stanford University. She is a registered professional mechanical engineer in the State of California.

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Ed Pike, PE, Senior Project Manager

Mr. Pike is the Energy Solutions lead for transportation projects such as electric drive vehicle technology and policy analysis and CalGreen electric vehicle readiness building codes and standards.

He was previously (2007-2012) a senior researcher and electric drive program lead for the International Council on Clean Transportation. His research included developing and managing the development of electric drive vehicle models. These include a model of the cost, time and benefits of transition to electric drive vehicles under different policy scenarios, a global power plant emissions model, and an assessment of potential electric vehicle Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits. He also developed policy recommendations on clean transportation and electric drive vehicles for agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, and China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. In addition, he published papers on transportation topics such as energy efficient tires, roadway congestion charging, and a report and comment letters on California cap and trade implementation under the California Global Warming Solutions Act.

He began his career at the US Environmental Protection Agency (1992-2007). He participated in the negotiation of seven federal Clean Air Act rules, and helped state and local agencies develop and implement permitting programs leading to the issuance of over 700 operating permits. He also issued or reviewed construction permits for over 3000 MW of new electric power plants, and his work leading a US EPA team reviewing Bay Area Air Quality Management District refinery permits was recognized with two US EPA awards. He is a licensed California professional civil engineer.

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Claire Dooley, Information Systems Manager III

Ms. Dooley joined Energy Solution in February 2011, and works on the Business and Consumer Electronics Program implementation, which provides incentives for retailers to stock and distribute high efficiency technologies. She also supports the PG&E Vendor Rebates online tool development. Prior to her current position, Claire worked as a Technology Consultant at Deloitte, implementing global software solutions for various high-tech clients. Claire graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, during which time she worked as a Project Manager Intern at Raytheon, a Manufacturing Operations Engineer for Alcon Labs, and an Account Manager Intern at PG&E.

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Jana Kopyciok, Information Systems Manager III

Jana Kopyciok joined Energy Solutions in February 2013 as a member of the Information Systems (IS) group. She splits her time between managing the development and implementation of data management solutions for the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, the Demand Response Enabling Technology Incentive Program (DRETIP), and the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). For the RPS program, Ms. Kopyciok facilitates the implementation of a database system and public website that will enable regulators, industry stakeholders and the general public to track RPS compliance and measure program progress. For the DRETIP, Ms. Kopyciok manages the development of a database system that will track participation in PG&E’s automated demand response programs and create reports on program participation and demand reduction during event days. For SGIP, Ms. Kopyciok facilitates the coordination of five stakeholder utilities for the integration into a single statewide database system.
Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Ms. Kopyciok worked as a Program Manager for various public energy programs in the San Diego Gas & Electric territory, most recently for the SGIP. She also has extensive experience conducting economic and policy research on energy and telecommunication issues in Latin America. Ms. Kopyciok received a B.A. and M.A. degree in Latin American Studies and Macroeconomics from the University of Cologne in Germany.

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Heidi Hauenstein, Project Manager II

Heidi Hauenstein is a core member of ES’ Local Government and Renewable Energy Team. Heidi has conducted solar photovoltaic (PV) feasibility studies at more than 40 sites, and has developed preliminary PV designs for rooftop, parking shade structures, and ground mounted systems. In 2009, Heidi commenced work on a proposal to add a solar-ready requirement to California’s Buildings Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24), making her extremely qualified to analyze the structural readiness of SANBAG’s facilities for PV. The new code language, which the California Energy Commission is scheduled to adopt on May 9, 2012, would require all new nonresidential buildings in California with three-or fewer floors to be designed with an allocated un-shaded and unobstructed solar zone. Heidi has completed the technical, economic, and market impact analyses that are necessary for the language to be adopted, and has worked with industry stakeholder to address concerns and garner support for the proposal. Heidi provides project management support to 15 public agencies who are implementing energy efficiency retrofits through ETAP. Ms. Hauenstein also served as the lead for ETAP’s workforce development and training program, which offered free trainings for HVAC and lighting installation contractors and free energy efficiency workshops for local government staff. Since Joining ES, Heidi has been a part of structuring and facilitating 25 workshops for State and local government agencies.

Ms. Hauenstein supports the Bay Area Climate Collaborative Next Generation Streetlighting Initiative, a regional effort to procure LED streetlights and streetlight controls. In this role, she collaborated on drafting an initial survey to gauge interest in participating and identify potential projects to include in the joint RFP. She also led an outreach effort to manufacturers, distributors, and sales representatives to identify potential benefits and barriers to a successful procurement. Prior to joining ES in June 2009, Ms. Hauenstein was a fellow at Rocky Mountain Institute where she promoted vehicle efficiency through the use of lightweight materials and intelligent whole-systems design. She also authored of the City of Hayward’s Climate Action Plan. Heidi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University.

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Jeff Johnston, Project Manager II

Mr. Johnston joined Energy Solutions in August of 2009. Mr. Johnston manages SCE’s Upstream HVAC Program and acts as a distributor liaison for NV Energy’s Upstream HVAC & Motors program and SCE’s Upstream HVAC Program. Before joining the Energy Solutions’ team, Jeff was an Assistant Project Manager on the proposed Newhall Ranch, a 22,000 home master-planned community in Los Angeles County, CA. Mr. Johnston received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Southern California and a Master of Planning degree from the University of Southern California.

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Teddy Kisch, LC, LEED AP, Project Manager II

Mr. Kisch joined Energy Solutions in 2009. He serves as the technical lead for plug load programs at Energy Solutions, providing market and technical analysis to assist in the design and implementation of utility incentive programs. In this capacity, Mr. Kisch serves as the technical products lead for the Business and Consumer Electronics (BCE) program, an energy efficiency program designed to influence retailer stocking decisions by incentivizing retailers to stock highly efficient electronics.

Mr. Kisch also serves as a technical lead for energy efficient lighting as part of Energy Solutions’ Emerging Technology practice, and has authored a number of emerging technology studies on advanced LED fixtures and lighting controls. His past project lighting experience includes serving as a technical lead for the statewide ETAP program and PG&E’s New Efficiency Options (NEO) programs.

Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Kisch interned at Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3), where he focused on the role of emerging technologies in meeting California’s aggressive energy efficiency goals. Mr. Kisch graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, and received his Master’s Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University with a concentration in Atmosphere/Energy. Prior to his graduate degree, Mr. Kisch worked with Green World Solutions performing GPS/GIS based water audits for large commercial and public agency clients. He has worked on environmental and resource projects throughout the world, including projects in Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, and the Dominican Republic.

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Bijit Kundu, Project Manager II

Mr. Kundu joined Energy Solutions in May 2010 and currently works on the Codes and Standards team that provides technical and policy support to Pacific Gas and Electric in Federal appliance efficiency standards development. Mr. Kundu has over nine years of professional experience in environmental and energy consulting and technology development. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Kundu worked in Washington, D.C. in support of the ENERGY STAR program for labeled products, a federal government program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result from energy consumed by commercial and residential products. While working on the ENERGY STAR program, he provided implementation, product development, project management, technical, evaluation, and communications support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to this work, he provided technical and advisory support to a number of federal governmental agencies, including providing rulemaking support to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; providing strategic planning and program management to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; reviewing human health, environmental, and ecological risk assessments for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and contributing to environmental impact statements for the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Kundu holds a Master’s of Science degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

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Joey Lande, Project Manager II

Mr. Lande joined the Energy Solutions in July, 2007. Since that time, he has worked on a wide range of projects including Nonresidential New Construction, New Efficiency Options, C10 Contractor Outreach, Upstream HVAC and Motors and the Federspiel Control DART Demonstration. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Mr. Lande worked as an intern at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, a non-profit environmental think-tank organization. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his Masters of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from the Central European University.

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Christine Riker, LEED AP, Project Manager II

Ms. Riker is the fieldwork lead for Energy Solution’s solar photovoltaic practice. Through her training in photovoltaic system design, she oversees initial site assessments and drafts system designs for solar feasibility studies. Christine Riker also supervises and provides management support for PG&E’s Office, Warehouse, Etc (OWE) target market sector. She manages over 50 OWE projects within the Non Residential New Construction Rebate Program and provides energy efficiency design recommendations for those projects. In addition, she supervises and provides project management for 30 OWE projects within the PG&E Non Residential Retrofit Rebate Program. Ms. Riker was the contract manager for the LC&I Lead Development Project providing oversight and project direction. During Ms. Riker’s time at Energy Solutions, she has worked on enhancing compliance with Title 20: California’s Appliance Energy Code as well as leading a LED Emerging Technology Demonstration Project. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Ms. Riker attended Stanford University and completed her Masters of Science Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, with a concentration in Atmosphere & Energy. She also participated in an internship at the National Renewable Energy Lab with the Center for Transportation Technologies and Systems. Ms. Riker received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics and Physics from Albion College.

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Celina Stratton, Project Manager II

Ms. Stratton joined Energy Solutions in September 2009. Ms. Stratton acts as a distributor liaison for Southern California Edison’s Upstream HVAC Program; conducting outreach, training, and application support for participating HVAC distributors. Ms. Stratton is also on Energy Solutions’ local government team, providing support and analysis for climate action planning, energy efficiency retrofit projects, and block grant funding. Prior to joining Energy Solutions, Celina helped businesses identify and pursue strategies to increase sustainability as a sustainability consultant, supported nonprofits with grant writing and fund development consulting, and was a Project Manager at the nonprofit, Energy Coalition. Celina received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Earth Sciences from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning Degree from the University of California Irvine. Celina is a LEED Accredited Professional and is active with The Ecology Center and the Orange County Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

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Linda Brandon, Art Director / Graphic Designer

For the past ten years Ms. Brandon has been designing collateral material for Energy Solutions. She brings 27 years of expertise producing corporate communication, advertising design and marketing projects for corporate clients. She has designed direct mail pieces, print advertisements, program applications, brochures, and other marketing materials for energy efficiency programs. Prior to becoming a design consultant, Ms. Brandon was Senior Designer and Art Director for 19 years at Lawrence Bender & Associates, a nationally recognized design firm. She conducted classes in Communication Design for 10 years, including lectures at The University of California at Santa Cruz, San Jose State University, and Foothill College. Ms. Brandon has produced a wide range of projects for a variety of clients. Her work has included logo design, corporate identity programs, book design, catalogues, brochures, magazines, packages, print advertising, exhibit graphics, annual reports posters, and web sites. Clients include Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, San Diego Gas & Electric, The California Energy Commission, Energy Management Consultants Inc., Cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Stockton, Santa Cruz, Cetus Corp., Intel Corp., Dataquest Inc., Priam Corp., LSI Logic Corp., Bekins Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Corp., Tandem Computers Corp., Convergent Technologies Corp., Baker International Corp., Chemtrack Corp., California Microwave Corp., Restoration Hardware Inc.,Williams-Sonoma Inc. and Charles Schwabs & Co. Inc. Ms. Brandon’s work has won design awards from the Western Art Directors Shows, San Francisco Art Directors Shows, San Francisco Society of Illustrators Shows, Los Angeles Art Directors Shows, New York Art Directors Shows, San Francisco Gold Medal Show, Public Relations Society of America, Communication Arts, American Institute of Graphic Arts: Books, Graphics Print Ads, Cover Competition, and California Shows, Print Magazine Regional Design Annuals, ARC: USA Annual Report Competition (Bronze medal), Mead Show: 30 Best Annual Reports, Dimensional Illustrators Show (Bronze medals), Kudos from Hooper International Design Competition, Potlatch Northwest Paper Award of Excellence, Murphy Award for Advertising (Gold medal), and Printing Industries of America Awards, Financial World Merit Award. Her work has appeared in advertising books and publications including Annual Report Trends, Print Casebooks, An Intro To Design, Annual Report Design, and Diagraphics II-V International Creators. Linda Brandon received a B.A. in Art from San Jose State University and teaching accreditation from the University of California at Berkeley.