According to a nationally representative survey, the Weatherization Assistance Program initially deferred 19% of audited homes in 2023 due to repair issues. If repaired, these homes could benefit from significant energy savings, improve residents’ health, and lower utility bills.
Join us for a webinar exploring the exciting and important work of weatherization readiness. Attendees will hear the results of a new ACEEE survey and analysis, as well as a discussion on potential energy savings and repair strategies for delivering energy efficiency benefits to income-eligible households. We will also highlight key challenges facing weatherization programs, using New York’s Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Fund as a case study.
Speakers
Jasmine Mah, Senior Research Analyst, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Jasmine researches policies, programs, and funding sources that simultaneously improve human health and energy efficiency. She also collaborates with researchers across different programs, including the utilities, buildings, state policy, and local policy teams. Prior to joining ACEEE, Jasmine worked for the National Center for Sustainable Transportation. She has a Master of Science in environment and development from the University of Leeds, and a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from UC Davis.
Samantha Pearce, Vice President of Sustainability, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)
Samantha oversees various Sustainability programs with over $200 million in funding annually, including New York State’s Weatherization Assistance Program, the Clean Energy Initiative program, and the Climate Friendly Homes Fund. Samantha developed HCR’s sustainability design standards to ensure alignment with the New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. She has over ten years of experience supporting homeowners and housing providers to reduce utility and operations costs by deploying on-site training, data analysis, and technical field support. Samantha is a LEED Accredited Professional (AP), Associate AIA member, and has a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering.
Vas Darmograi, Lead Analyst, New York Strategy and Product Success, National Grid
Vas is responsible for strategy, planning, and design of low-to-moderate income residential gas and electric energy-efficiency programs in the one-to-four-unit housing for low- and moderate-income households in New York. His goal is to deliver solutions to vulnerable customers to enable their participation in energy efficiency programs, reduce energy use, and reduce their utility bills. Vas manages National Grid’s weatherization program in Long Island, LED delivery program to food pantries and other community-based organizations in Upstate New York, and pre-weatherization program across the state.
Ariel Maiorano D'Lima, Lead Analyst, Low-Moderate Income Programs, National Grid
Ariel manages strategy and implementation for programs that make energy more affordable for residents of Massachusetts and New York. Over the last decade, she’s also worked on renewable energy incentive programs, local climate adaptation planning, and as a youth worker with high school students. All these experiences have nurtured a passion for the human impacts of policy decisions.
Moderator: Reuven Sussman, Director – Behavior, Health, and Human Dimensions Program, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Reuven directs research on energy efficiency behavior change and health programs. He directs BEAR (Behavior, Energy, Action and Research) Hub, co-chairs the BECC (Behavior, Energy and Climate Change) conference and has authored academic papers and book chapters on the psychology of climate change, behavioral interventions to encourage energy efficiency, and the psychological determinants of pro-environmental behavior. Reuven has been an advisor for organizations, including the G20, that implement energy efficiency behavior change programs, and has testified before the California legislature and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He has served as an expert reviewer for academic journals and large-scale government grant opportunities. Reuven is an adjunct professor and member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Victoria (Canada) and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Environmental Psychology and Journal of Social Psychology.