Michael Colgrove, left, and Becca Yates of NEEA, right, present Fred Gordon with the 2023 NEEA Chairperson’s Award
Fred Gordon, Energy Trust’s longtime director of planning and evaluation, was honored this week at Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s annual Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards.
Gordon received the Chairperson’s Award, which recognizes individual dedication and commitment to advancing energy efficiency. In presenting the award, Energy Trust’s Michael Colgrove, who also serves as chair of NEEA’s board, called Gordon a leader in the development of market transformation, highlighting his work in the mid-1990s to develop refrigerators that were 30% more efficient than federal standards.
“Fred’s collaborative spirit played a crucial role in uniting utilities, manufacturers, regions and stakeholders across the country…” said Colgrove. “This groundbreaking experiment resulted in the launch of market transformation as a demonstrable concept.”
Gordon has been a board member and advisor to NEEA since it formed in 1996. He served on various NEEA committees that advanced emerging technologies, including commercial lighting and the introduction of NEEA’s natural gas efficiency activities.
In accepting the award, Gordon said market transformation brings people together for the common good.
“You’re meeting in the middle, and you’re getting things done, and that’s beautiful to me,” said Gordon. “I’m grateful for this chance to work with NEEA in many ways over decades and for this award, which I really appreciate, and to all the people at NEEA… who work together to bring things together in the middle in a really amazing and unique way.”
Gordon, who is retiring next year, joined Energy Trust when it opened its doors in 2002 and helped form its close ties with NEEA. Over the years, he helped establish Energy Trust’s rigorous processes for evaluating and verifying savings and guided its market research and offer development work.
Within Energy Trust, he is known for his knack for anticipating industry change and as a mentor to many just starting their careers in energy efficiency.
NEEA’s awards recognize exemplary individuals and teams leading innovative and collaborative efforts of the industry.
Gordon was also nominated for the Tom Eckman Leadership in Energy Efficiency Lifetime Achievement Award along with Steve Lacey, Energy Trust’s former operations director who retired this summer.
Also nominated was Energy Trust’s Amanda Zuniga for the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Rising Star Award. Energy Trust’s Community Partner Funding offer was nominated for the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Innovative Collaboration Award. That nomination was shared with 22 community-based organizations across the state that deliver these incentives to customers.
Energy Trust’s Customer Awareness and Participation Survey and Report Working Group was also nominated for the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Innovative Collaboration Award. That group was Ryan Crews, Matt Getchell, Andy Griguhn, Mana Haeri, Marshall Johnson, Alex Novie, Dan Rubado, Sloan Schang and Amanda Zuniga, along with Rebecca Descombes from Energy Trust’s Diversity Advisory Council.
And Dan Rubado from Energy Trust was nominated as part of NEEA’s Residential Building Stock Assessment Work Group for the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Innovative Collaboration Award.