Posts Categorized: Policy Fellows

  • Election Rhetoric vs. Reality: Pennsylvania’s Clean Energy Vision

    by Sam Randall

    While driving home from a recent camping trip, I was listening to a podcast titled “A Closer Look At Pennsylvania, The Swingiest of Swing States” and I drove past a perfect, almost comedic example of the swing state election messages the podcasters spoke of: a billboard with an ad for Kamala Harris on the front and an ad for Donald Trump on the back.
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  • Green and yellow block images with hiking boots and light bulb in center block

    Carrying Our Weight: Shared Wisdom for Backpacking & Energy Efficiency

    by Sam Randall

    Right around the time I made the exciting professional move from grad school to begin my fellowship with E4TheFuture, I was simultaneously embarking on a personal journey to break into the next level of outdoor exploration and learn how to become an overnight backpacker.

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  • Colorful rendition of people linking arms flanked by hearts as they view a ground-mounted solar installation with green grass and a sun and cloud sky

    The Human Element: Bringing Trauma Informed Practices to Clean Energy Policy

    by Sam Randall

    While attending this year’s National Home Performance Conference (NHPC ’24), I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a fascinating breakout session that focused on a topic near and dear to me – trauma informed practices.

    Facilitated by Habitat for Humanity staff, “Person-Centered, Trauma Informed Home Repair Programming and Approaches” was a highlight of my NPHC ’24 experience.

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  • Faces of youth on colorful backgrounds represent Youth Apprenticeship Week

    Youth Apprenticeship Week: Energy Efficiency Workforce Development

    by Aileen Villa

    Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 2024 Home Performance Conference (HPC) for the second time since entering the energy efficiency industry. This year, I engaged with several sessions in HPC ‘24’s Workforce Development Track. I gained insight from sessions thoughtfully titled “Registered Apprenticeships: Building Career Pathways in Energy Efficiency” and “Youth in Home Performance: What it Takes to Attract and Retain Young People,” among others.

    Listening to the folks navigating apprenticeship and training programs in energy was very rewarding. I’m happy to share a bit about some organizations spearheading this important work.

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  • historic "Rosie the Riveter" shows her muscle for energy efficiency with fiberglass insulation and a blueprint background

    Empowering Change: Advocating for Diversity in the Energy Efficiency Industry

    by Sam Randall

    This year’s National Women’s History Month theme celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” As the National Women’s History Alliance explains, this theme discusses how “for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.”

    This plea resonates with me. Below, I offer thoughts on the intersection of gender and the energy efficiency field, concluding with a call to action to recognize those who advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in your network!

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  • Two staff and one visitor at union recruitment booth at career fair

    Workforce Advancements in Energy Efficiency: Heat and Frost Union Apprenticeships

    by Aileen Villa

    Concentrated efforts in transitioning to clean energy from fossil-fuel-based systems are increasing rapidly. As we make this transition and work toward more advancements in clean energy, building up the energy efficiency workforce is a top priority.

    As a newcomer to the energy efficiency industry (coming up on my one-year anniversary of entering the field soon!) with a background in labor justice, I was very drawn to workforce development initiatives across the sector.

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  • Spotlight: Josh Kriesberg, Policy Fellow

    Josh KriesbergJosh Kriesberg began as a policy fellow at E4TheFuture in July 2016 within weeks after completing his B.A. at Syracuse University. His assignments comprise policy initiatives and research projects including the National Energy Efficiency Registry (NEER) and database management.

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  • Spotlight: Emily Duff, Policy Fellow

    Emily DuffEmily Duff began as a policy fellow at E4TheFuture in July 2016. After just a week of training she was soon immersed in a half dozen policy initiatives and research projects including the National Energy Efficiency Registry (NEER). She also assists with social media outreach.

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