AESP Spring Conference: Blending Networking and Education

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Abe Kruger

This years Association of Energy Services Professionals’ (AESP) Spring Conference & Expo was held in Atlanta, GA. The theme was “What’s New in Program Marketing & Implementation.”

AESP was founded in 1989 as a not-for-profit member- based association “dedicated to improving the delivery and implementation of energy efficiency, energy management and distributed renewable resources.” AESP provides professional development programs, a network of energy practitioners, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and experience. AESP members work in the energy services industry and represent electric and natural gas utilities, public benefits associations, regulatory and non-profit entities, vendors, manufacturers and consulting firms. Continue reading →

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Report from the Annual ENERGY STAR Utility Sponsors Meeting

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Abe Kruger

Last week was the annual ENERGY STAR Utility Sponsors Meeting. Attendees included representatives from the EPA, DOE, gas and electric utilities, program implementers, and other ENERGY STAR sponsors. I represented GoodCents and our utility partners. This year it was held in Baltimore, MD and consisted of 2 days of meetings with spirited discussion. The third day was an optional site visit to the Overlook Clipper Mill, a community of ENERGY STAR and LEED for Homes certified townhomes and duplexes. The topic on everyone’s mind was the new ENERGY STAR Version 3 specifications and how the market will respond. Continue reading →

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LEED Green Associate Prep Class Announced!

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Abe Kruger

On May 20th I’ll be conducting a LEED Green Associate prep class with Anj McClain. The course is hosted by green|spaces in Chattanooga, TN. Anj and I taught the class back in February with very positive feedback from attendees. Students will learn about the LEED rating systems developed by the US. Green Building Council. The one day class will explore green building techniques and LEED core concepts. The class will also provide study strategies for taking and passing the LEED GA exam. Each student will be provided with a study guide and practice exam.

More information about the course is available here: LEED Green Associate Flyer

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Still Unanswered Questions from the HPwES Meeting

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Abe Kruger

Wednesday, April 13th was the annual Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) Stakeholders Meeting in Washington, DC. Attendees included representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DOE), utility companies, program implementers, and program sponsors. I was attending on behalf of GoodCents. GoodCents develops and manages utility-sponsored mass-market demand response and energy efficiency programs for residential and small business customers. I assist them with ENERGY STAR new homes, HPwES, and home energy retrofit (both mass-market and low income weatherization) programs.

The goal of the meeting was to discuss the transition of the program from the EPA to DOE and what the future holds for the program. Or at least that was the goal. Many questions remain unanswered, but the various stakeholders provided valuable feedback. Continue reading →

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The Nature of this Blog

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Abe Kruger

The purpose of this blog is to provide me with an outlet to share my experiences within the green building community. In 2009 I founded Kruger Sustainability Group (KSG) to provide green building training, consulting and curriculum development for colleges, companies, utilities, and nonprofits. KSG is committed to strengthening and expanding the green building community through education and outreach. KSG partners with organizations to empower builders, contractors and homeowners to green their homes and work places. As a small business owner, and a consultant at that, I tend to wear many hats and provide a wide range of services.

I often find myself working on a project or learning of a new initiative that is worthy of sharing. To date my efforts have been limited to the standard social media outlets of Facebook and LinkedIn.  Here I hope to explore topics in greater depth and foster feedback from the broader community. I have slowly assembled a list of topics to help me get started, but I really don’t know where this journey will take me.

In the coming weeks and months I hope to cover

  • Tips on greening a rental property (i.e. I just moved into a new apartment)
  • Review of the NatureMill electronic composter
  • ENERGY STAR Version 3 updates
  • Cool roofs

These are just the topics I have been stewing on lately!

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