Building Upgrades That Pay

Reframe

Dr. Timothy Unruh represents Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), a group of companies that take on performance risk and guarantee savings.

In this episode of Reframe, show host Jeff Nichols interviews the Executive Director of NAESCO, Dr. Timothy Unruh—a seasoned leader in the energy efficiency industry, particularly in energy savings and Performance Contracting. Tim shares insights from his decades-long career, discusses the evolution of the energy services industry, and reflects on the leadership and policy decisions that have shaped ESCO’s (Energy Service Companies) contribution to energy efficiency work across the public sector.

Tune in to hear Tim recount his early days at the US Department of Energy (DOE), where he led the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). At DOE, he was instrumental in driving Performance Contracting adoption within federal agencies, helping to secure financing and structure contracts that enabled energy improvements without upfront public spending. He emphasizes the importance of risk transfer and guaranteed savings and underscores the power and importance of partnerships between the government and private sector players in executing large-scale energy efficiency projects.

It’s Not About The Lights

Jeff and Tim discuss how performance contracting expands access to energy upgrades, particularly for institutions that lack capital funding. Tim explains how incentives can be aligned by having Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) guarantee savings, assume performance risk, and incentivize long-term system performance.

As Executive Director of NAESCO (National Association of Energy Service Companies), Tim advocates for standardization, transparency, and growth of the ESCO market. He shares his views on emerging trends, such as the integration of resiliency, decarbonization, and data-driven measurement and verification into performance contracts. Tim also discusses the importance of workforce development and how the industry must attract younger, mission-driven professionals to maintain momentum. He reflects on the leadership qualities needed in this space: adaptability, clarity of vision, and the ability to collaborate across sectors.

As Tim tells it, the industry is evolving to include resilience, decarbonization, and data transparency as standard goals, and leadership in this sector will require vision, adaptability, and cross-sector collaboration. What started with just a few experts has expanded to a broader base of expertise that is helping to draft the laws and policies that are driving performance contracting adoption.

In addition, workforce recruitment and development will continue to be a growing challenge and opportunity, especially with climate urgency rising. And despite the noise, Tim stresses how the federal government is critical in policy support and market development for energy efficiency. The interview wraps with Tim’s advice to future leaders.

• Follow Jeff Nichols on LinkedIn
• Follow Dr. Timothy Unruh on LinkedIn
• Learn more about NAESCO’s accreditation process

Connect With Us

If you have questions or feedback for the Reframe team, email [email protected]. You can also follow the podcast through your preferred app to stay updated on future episodes.

Reframe is hosted by Jeff Nichols and presented by Pilotlight.ai