BOSTON, Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Threshold Group and EFI have partnered to create an opportunity for utilities and energy providers to effortlessly provide low-cost, professional installation of smart thermostats and other IOT devices to their customers. 

Utilizing the EFI energy marketplace and Threshold's nationwide network of well-trained technicians, utilities and energy providers can incentivize customers to choose energy-efficient products such as smart thermostats and ensure they get installed quickly and professionally.

A key component of this program is its ability to efficiently support demand response programs. When it is critical to get a device operational as soon as possible – EFI and Threshold can provide a seamless ordering, scheduling and installation process. Threshold technicians also focus on customer service and education to ensure consumers become comfortable with the features of the thermostat or other smart device as well as the benefits of a Demand Response or Time Of Use program.

EFI recently conducted a survey that indicated one of the main reasons customers hesitate to purchase a smart home or thermostat product is because of concerns regarding installation. Although smart thermostats are discounted by EFI and are often instantly rebated by the utility or energy provider, the cost of installation discourages customers from the purchase of these products. Or even worse, the customer acquires the thermostat and never installs it.

With this partnership, EFI and Threshold can work with its partners to earmark existing budget, rebates and incentives to provide a value proposition that motivates customers to purchase a smart thermostat or other device while mitigating the installation concern with a free or significantly reduced professional installation.

CLICK HERE to read the full press release.

Advanced Energy is a non-profit planning, technical and engineering services firm whose vision is to ensure that energy is clean, affordable, reliable, efficient and safe for all people. We work with electric utilities, state, federal and local governments, manufacturers and a wide variety of public and private partners.

Position Overview

This position will provide advanced engineering services and expertise in the energy field to utilities, large commercial businesses, industrial manufacturers, federal and state agencies, and other customers. The position will support multiple projects and project teams primarily in the commercial and industrial market. Our projects focus on developing and delivering programs that can deliver economic benefit to consumers and increase customer satisfaction and engagement.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Knowledge of systems in industrial, commercial and agricultural facilities such as motors and drives, compressed air, chillers, refrigeration, lighting, boilers, heating and air conditioning, and process technologies
• Understanding of measures to achieve energy efficiency, demand response, demand reduction, electrification and carbon neutrality
• Familiarity with compliance and implementation of ISO 50001 and/or ISO 14000 standards
• Minimum seven years relevant experience which may include:
  • Working for a large business or manufacturer on environmental sustainability or strategic energy management
  • Consulting with large business or manufacturing customers to conduct energy assessments, utility bill analysis or strategic energy management program
  • Leading training and technical assistance for ISO 50001 and 50001 Ready based energy management for cohort groups and/or individual organizations
  • Providing engineering calculations, energy modeling, measurement and verification, and technical design for utility programs with outputs for energy, demand and carbon reduction impacts.
• Preference for candidates with relevant certifications in strategic energy management such as Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Professional Energy Manager (PEM), ISO 50001 Lead Auditor, SEP Performance Verifier (SEP PV) or ISO 50001 Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems (50001 CP EnMS)
• Preference for candidates with significant experience using, applying, implementing, and teaching the Department of Energy 50001 Ready navigator tool

This position can be performed remotely with occasional site visits to Advanced Energy. This position may require some travel local to North Carolina and nationally to interface with customers, study participants or attend conferences, expected 30% of the time.

CLICK HERE to read the full job opportunity or to apply.

Advanced Energy is a non-profit planning, technical and engineering services firm whose vision is to ensure that energy is clean, affordable, reliable, efficient and safe for all people. We work with electric utilities, state, federal and local governments, manufacturers and a wide variety of public and private partners.

Position Overview

This position will provide advanced engineering services and expertise in the energy field to utilities, builders, federal and state agencies, and other customers. The position will support multiple projects and project teams across our market areas. Our projects focus on developing and delivering programs for utilities that can deliver economic benefit to consumers and increase customer satisfaction and engagement.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Knowledge of electric utility industry and the application of building technologies as a grid resource.
• Knowledge of building science principles and energy systems including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
• Relevant experience working for an energy utility provider or as a program administrator or consultant for energy utility including:
  • Designing and conducting research such as field studies, pilot programs or demonstration projects with advanced technologies.
  • Providing engineering calculations, energy modeling, measurement and verification, and technical design for utility programs with outputs for energy, demand and carbon reduction impacts.
  • Working with building trades, trade allies or technology manufacturers.
• Preference for candidates with relevant certifications on data analysis or measurement and verification such as CMVP.

This position may require some travel to interface with customers, study participants or attend conferences, expected 10% of the time.

CLICK HERE to read the full job opportunity or to apply.

Quartz article featuring Uplight's new product called Plus

Cell phones. Data plans. Movie and music streaming. Home energy bill?

The subscription craze has finally reached electric utilities in the US. At least three companies are testing a new billing model that charges users a flat monthly rate regardless of how much electricity they consume. Utilities are hoping it ushers in the era of a more efficient, greener grid.

How electricity bills work

For more than a century, electricity bills came in one flavor: pay per kilowatt-hour. Initially, that price was fixed. But in the 1970s, US utilities began to experiment with dynamic pricing models, in which the cost per kilowatt-hour varied throughout the day depending on demand, similar to surge pricing on a ride-share app. In theory, dynamic pricing allows utilities to avoid switching on high-cost “peaker” plants, typically fueled by natural gas, and promotes energy and cost efficiency across the system.

CLICK HERE to read the full article.