Seven exceptional leaders from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors will receive the Champions of Energy Efficiency in Buildings Award today from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The Champions are recognized for their accomplishments advancing energy efficiency in the buildings sector. An ACEEE Board of Directors committee selected the winners, nominated by peers, for their impact, innovation, and leadership. The awards will be presented at the 24th biennial Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.
“This year’s winners are doing standout work driving progress in homes and buildings,” said Mitchell Simpson, chair of the awards committee and deputy director of the Arkansas Energy Office. “Across technology, policies, and programs, they are accelerating efficiency improvements that make a real impact on people’s lives. These individuals inspire the committee, and we are very pleased to recognize their considerable achievements.”
The 2026 winners in this year’s five categories are:
| Adam Hinge, Managing Director at Sustainable Energy Partnerships (Lifetime Achievement): For transformative leadership in building performance and energy efficiency policy at the local, national, and global scale; mentoring a generation of leaders; and using technical expertise, humor, and persistence to diffuse tension, bridge divides, and make meaningful progress for the field. | |
| Steve Schiller, Principal at Steven Schiller Consulting (Lifetime Achievement): For a lifetime of contributions to energy efficiency through advances in program implementation and evaluation, policy design and implementation, partnerships and collaboration, and mentoring and training, and his commitment to equity, inclusion, and volunteering to support our communities. | |
| Kathleen Belkhayat, Senior Program Manager-Commercial Energy Performance Management at Energy Trust of Oregon (Implementation and Deployment): For the design and implementation of a model strategic energy management program delivering durable energy savings while transforming how organizations manage energy and supporting development of programs across the country. | |
| Mark Heizer, Mechanical and Energy Code Programs Chief, State of Oregon - Building Codes Division (Energy Policy): For excellence in building energy code development including a novel first-stage heat pump provision that contributed to a 25% improvement in Oregon’s residential energy code and is fuel-neutral, builder-friendly, and replicable nationally. | |
| Dr. Subhrajit Chakraborty, Thermal System and Controls Integration Engineer at Glydways Inc. (Research and Development): For leadership and innovation as a young professional in R&D, including demonstration of multifunction heat pumps and other technologies to support the pathway to electrification by bridging fundamental heat transfer physics with macro-scale energy policy. | |
| Linda Waters, Independent Researcher (Research and Development): For excellence in R&D as a young professional focusing on solutions to deliver affordable, energy-efficient, and decarbonized buildings to communities in the aftermath of natural disasters. | |
| Evan Kamei, Director, Building Electrification, at Energy Solutions (Young Professional): For leadership in program design and implementation of successful statewide electrification initiatives that are transforming the market, addressing energy inequities, and being replicated in other states and regions. |
In addition, ACEEE on Monday presented the 2026 Harry Misuriello Award to Cassandra Johnson for her work implementing the buildings section of the Columbus Climate Action Plan for the City of Columbus, Ohio. Established in honor of Harry Misuriello, who led ACEEE’s work to advance the development of strong energy codes from 2008 to 2020, the award recognizes an early-career professional working to improve buildings’ energy efficiency.
