Center for Energy and Environment

Looking for an exciting leadership opportunity in the clean energy field? Our friends at New Buildings Institute are searching for their next CEO.

Air source heat pumps are more efficient than other heating and cooling systems, but nearly 80% of midwestern homeowners surveyed knew little to nothing about them. Why haven’t past messaging strategies worked, and how can we better communicate about heat pumps to homeowners? CEE recently teamed up with Behavioural Insights Team to conduct a mixed-methods research project to identify barriers and motivations around heat pump adoption. Read our findings in the full report: https://hubs.ly/Q02ZKrm50

Minneapolis business owners: Don't miss your opportunity to receive up to $20,000 for energy efficiency upgrades! 2024 funding is still available for a limited time. ⏲️ CEE has partnered with the City of Minneapolis to offer Green Cost Share grant funding for Minneapolis businesses. Grants can cover 20-40% of the cost (up to $20,000) of eligible lighting, HVAC, or refrigeration upgrades on top of regular utility rebates when projects are completed with CEE’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop. Sign up for a free consultation today to find out how much you could earn: https://hubs.ly/Q02ZyJc80

As we work to bring more efficiency into our state’s expanding cannabis industry, we're excited to be a sponsor of the Northern Lights Podcast from Minnesota Cannabis College. Every week, the Northern Lights crew gathers insights from a wide range of industry players that will help you stay informed about progress in the Minnesota cannabis industry: https://hubs.ly/Q02ZHYNh0 Learn more about how CEE’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop can help newly licensed growers with Xcel Energy electric service save up to 75% on LED lighting with efficiency-based rebates: https://hubs.ly/Q02ZJgV70

Help us move the needle toward a carbon neutral future! 🌎 CEE is seeking qualified vendors to provide market insight and social research data collection and analysis support for our market transformation portfolio. RFQ responses are due Dec. 11, 2024, by 5 p.m. CST. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02Zs4ZQ0

As energy efficiency becomes a priority in commercial buildings, facility teams and engineers are increasingly turning toward solutions like dual fuel heat pump rooftop units (RTUs) equipped with energy recovery ventilators (ERVs). But misconceptions about ERVs, from how they perform in Minnesota’s cold climates to their maintenance needs, can make some hesitant to take the leap. In our newest blog post, CEE's Daniel Raherimanjato (pictured, left) dispels some of the myths surrounding ERVs in commercial buildings: https://hubs.ly/Q02ZdmFw0

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Tyson Borom, Refrigeration/HVAC Consultant 🌟 Tyson Borom, who joined CEE’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop team in 2018, plays a pivotal role in One-Stop's refrigeration program. By guiding small businesses through the process of upgrading their equipment, Tyson is able to help them achieve greater energy efficiency and lower energy bills. “When resources are limited, it can be really hard to get the help you need to bring more efficiency to your business,” he said. “Those cases where I can help step-by-step and make an overwhelming process easier to understand and navigate are fulfilling.” Learn more about Tyson: https://hubs.ly/Q02ZmMkZ0

Last week, CEE's team spirit was soaring as high as our pipe cleaner towers (okay, some of them) during the annual all-staff meeting! Team members from near and far gathered for a half-day retreat to strengthen connections, celebrate accomplishments, and collectively envision CEE's future. Staff from CEE's communities department led the group through a variety of activities designed to help folks from different teams get to know one another, including a group competition to build the tallest pipe cleaner tower and a massive rock paper scissors tournament. Attendees also got to learn more about the vital work their fellow teams are doing through a Pecha Kucha exercise, in which several staff were each given one slide and roughly 30 seconds to share an initiative or accomplishment from their departments. We want to give a big thanks to all staff, who made this year's retreat a memorable success. 🎉

Join a fast-growing clean energy nonprofit and make a real, measurable impact every day! CEE is now hiring for several positions. 💡🌱 Named a 2024 Top 200 Workplace in Minnesota by 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 today: https://hubs.ly/Q02YqTf90

Business owners and operators in Xcel Energy Minnesota territory: You’ve finalized your plowing contract, you’ve stocked up on sidewalk salt, but is your HVAC system ready for winter? ❄️ CEE’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop offers free assessments and rebates for rooftop units (RTUs), water heaters, boilers, and more. Plus, we’ll replace your manual and programmable thermostats with ecobee3 lite smart thermostats at no charge. Get your business in great shape for the Minnesota winter by signing up for your free HVAC assessment today: https://hubs.ly/Q02Y7Pr-0