October 4, 2023
Contact: Jeaneen Zappa, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey
412-693-0319 or jzappa@eeaofnj.org
Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey Announces their Energy Efficiency Day Champions
October 4, 2023 – The Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey (EEA-NJ) marked today’s National Energy Efficiency Day celebration by announcing their 2023 Energy Efficiency Champions. These annual awards recognize one member business and one public servant for their outstanding work advancing energy efficiency policy and creating impact that supports the mission and vision of EEA-NJ.
“Whether they’re in the private sector or public servants, our 2023 Energy Efficiency Champions exemplify the leadership needed to create a clean, just, and resilient energy economy for New Jersey and beyond,” said EEA-NJ Executive Director, Jeaneen Zappa. She added, “Driving broader adoption of energy efficiency approaches can unlock decarbonization potential and support tens of thousands of jobs across the Garden State. From distributed energy resources to managing load and stabilizing the grid, energy efficiency is more relevant than ever before.”
Daikin is EEA-NJ’s 2023 Member Champion
Daikin U.S.A. (www.northamerica-daikin.com) is a leading innovator and worldwide manufacturer and distributor of advanced, high-quality air conditioning and heating solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Throughout 2023, Daikin leadership and employees remained consistently engaged in EEA-NJ’s policy work, sharing their expertise with decision-makers across New Jersey and shaping EEA-NJ’s formal comments and filings on issues as diverse as building performance energy standards and multi-family buildings. Leveraging their large Northeast presence, Daikin USA offered their Jersey City training facility up for legislative learnings and supported a Heat Pump Lunch & Learn in Trenton. In addition to speaking at the EEA-NJ/KEEA Policy Conference, Daikin team members are helping to pull together an HVAC contractor network for the state.
Daikin Energy Efficiency Market Transformation Manager Vince Fuentez shared this statement on being named EEA-NJ’s 2023 Member Champion:
“We are thankful and honored to receive this award from EEA-NJ. As trailblazers in sustainability technology, we take on the profound responsibility of spearheading the journey toward global decarbonization and electrification. We look forward to continuing our partnership with EEA-NJ in our shared mission to achieve decarbonization and helping to make society a better place for all.”
Board of Public Utility President Joseph Fiordaliso is EEA-NJ’s 2023 Public Servant Champion (posthumously)
President Joseph Fiordaliso began serving on the Board of Public Utilities in December 2005, and was renominated in 2011 and again in 2013. Fiordaliso was elevated to the chairmanship by Murphy when he took office in 2018. As a cabinet member, President Fiordaliso was a key ally of Gov. Phil Murphy on clean energy issues. In July, Fiordaliso backed a measure to reduce the state’s dependency on natural gas and move toward expanded electrification over the next twelve years. President Fiordaliso passed away suddenly in early September.
President Christine Guhl-Sadovy shared this statement in honor of EEA-NJ’s 2022 Public Servant Champion:
“I am honored to accept the Energy Efficiency Public Service champion Award on behalf of Joe Fiordaliso. Throughout his career as a teacher, his nearly two decades with the Board, and the last six as President, every single thing that Joe accomplished was guided by the conviction that there is no higher calling in life than doing whatever we can to ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a safe, sustainable planet. He literally pioneered our state’s transition to a clean energy economy that set the stage for the work we’re doing now and that established New Jersey as a global leader in both renewable innovation and climate mitigation. Joe was fond of saying ‘the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use’ because he knew that energy efficiency is key to fighting the devastating impacts of climate change. I would like to thank the Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey and the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance for this recognition.”
About the Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey:
The Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey (EEA-NJ) is a 501(c)6 trade organization representing the interests of the energy efficiency industry in New Jersey. EEA-NJ’s mission is to champion energy efficiency as the foundation of a clean, just, and resilient energy economy. They envision a world in which energy efficiency anchors all efforts to meet our ongoing energy needs, improve health and comfort, promote energy equity, and protect our climate.
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