CHICAGO (December 16, 2024) – The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) announced winners of the 21st annual Inspiring Efficiency Awards, honoring individuals and programs that delivered groundbreaking advancements in energy efficiency in the Champion, Education, Impact, Innovation and Marketing categories as well as a Chair’s Award winner.
Year after year, the individuals and organizations recognized through the Inspiring Efficiency Awards raise the bar for exemplary engagement of energy efficiency in their communities and of the clean energy economy across the Midwest. Quinn Parker, Encolor, will be honored with the Champion of Energy Equity Award. Parker recently founded The Shared Space Project, a nonprofit organization designed to bring diverse stakeholders together to collaborate on solutions to systemic inequities in energy. The Building Energy Exchange St. Louis will take home the Champion of Community Engagement Award. The organization recently helped St. Louis Public Schools through a grant process to receive over 11 million dollars to invest across 17 schools in historically disadvantaged and predominantly black and brown districts.
“This year’s Inspiring Efficiency Award winners are leading our region with remarkable commitment to making energy efficiency programs accessible to the communities who need them most,” said MEEA Executive Director Paige Knutsen. “Their dedication is exemplified in their outstanding results. MEEA is honored to share their stories of success with the hopes of inspiring more exceptional work in our region.”
Full list of 2025 honorees:
CHAMPION OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Building Energy Exchange St. Louis
CHAMPION OF ENERGY EQUITY: Quinn Parker, Encolor
EDUCATION: Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program
IMPACT: Michigan Farm Energy Program
IMPACT: SEEL Grant Writing Program
INNOVATION: Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative
MARKETING: Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Program
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations to honor our colleagues' commitment, and to the review committee for narrowing down the extremely competitive applications. Winners will be recognized during MEEA’s 2025 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference, taking place January 28-30, 2025. To learn more about the winners, visit meeaconference.org/inspiring-efficiency-awards.
ABOUT THE MIDWEST ENERGY EFFICIENCY ALLIANCE
At MEEA, we leverage our expertise to be the Midwest’s leading resource for our members, allies, policymakers and the broader sector to promote energy efficiency as the essential pathway to achieve a clean, affordable, equitable and sustainable future.
We see energy efficiency as the least cost foundation of the clean energy economy, creating immediate energy savings, providing career pathways, reducing emissions, improving new and existing buildings and boosting Midwest business and industries. MEEA develops connections and engagement opportunities for a diverse group of organizations to collaboratively create practical solutions. MEEA serves as a technical resource, promotes program and policy best practices and highlights emerging technologies, all to maximize energy savings, reduce costs, improve resiliency and lower energy burden.
For press inquiries, please contact Membership & External Relations Director, Jen Rhodes.