AESP's John Hargrove talks to Paul Schueller, founder and CEO of Franklin Energy, a leading implementer of energy efficiency, DERs, and demand response programs. Franklin Energy sets an example through its initiatives to increase workplace diversity, subcontractor diversity and programs that target ethnic or lower income communities.

Susan and Ann discuss how utilities need to stay current by building strong bonds with consumers to make it more difficult for them to be lured away by competitors, maintain current modes of digital communications with customers and model themselves after Amazon.

- How does innovation become more relevant than interesting?

- What are the game changers for energy efficiency in the next 3,5, 10 years?

- How can someone just starting out in this field get up to speed quickly?

-- The significance of a 100% women-owned company in the energy industry

-- Why is the customer more important than either the message or the message delivery?

- Why is mentoring so important and what does it mean?

Mark's top takeaways:

- The financial impact of the growth of EE

- Where is EE going next and what is the impact of electrification

- The most rewarding aspects of working in EE

Justin's three takeaways:

- Beneficial electrification is here

- The status quo has to change with experienced people leading the charge, and new professionals sharing their perspective

- When you buy a device that is powered by fossil fuel, you are making a long term commitment away from electrification

- The clean energy industries create three times as many jobs as the other fossil fuels combined, this is a fast growing industry

- Energy efficiency accounts for 2.2 million jobs in the US

- The certificate of excellence in DSM program management provides excellent training and create opportunities for individuals in the market

- As toilets and shower heads become more efficient, more people are paying attention

- Conservation efforts are not pushed as aggressively as a regulatory agency would push efficiency

- Utilities should pay attention to water efficiency — particularly those that have insufficient supply of water

- PEPCO is doing a pilot program to see if there are energy efficiencies to be found in running a smart home

- Leveraging smart speakers to give customers ability to track account balance, weather with respect to energy. “Alexa, what’s my energy usage”

- The smart speaker channel is the fastest growing technology in history

- Europe tends to use incentives to promote renewable more than energy efficiency, but it is a more energy efficient aware part of the country

- In the US the primary driver for energy efficiency is economics; we get the environmental benefits; but in the rest of the world the driver is concern about emissions

- Gasoline and electricity is taxed highly in Europe, but electric vehicles are cheaper in Europe