Mary Blackmon of ADECA’s Energy Division wins national award
Mary Blackmon of ADECA’s Energy Division was recently recognized nationally for her work to help governments and school systems use energy efficiency to achieve savings in their always-stretched budgets.
The Energy Services Coalition presented Mary with the 2017 Public Sector Champion Award at the group’s 6th Annual Market Transformation Conference on Aug. 10 and 11 in Henderson, Nev.
Mary was nominated for the award based on her work promoting and furthering performance contracting in Alabama, making more entities aware of what it is, what it does, and how it leads to energy savings.
“I am very excited, flattered and humbled,” Mary said. “There are so many states doing this, so it was an honor just to be considered.”
Performance contracting helps entities – generally varying levels of government and schools – to make energy upgrades to buildings without having to come up with additional funds for new equipment. The Energy Services Coalition says it “enables building owners to use future energy savings to pay for up-front costs of energy-saving projects, eliminating the need to dip into capital budgets.”
The equipment upgrades include more energy-efficient lighting, heating and air conditioner systems, insulation and building automation that helps control things such as lighting and temperature.
“The Performance Contracting program has taken great strides since Mary has taken over,” said Karl Frost, chief of the Energy Division’s Energy Efficiency Unit. “We are immensely proud of her and the work she has put forth to make it happen.”
(L to R) Maureen Neighbors, Energy Division Chief, Mary Blackmon, Karl Frost.
The coalition is a national nonprofit organization composed of a network of experts from a wide range of organizations working together at the state and local level to increase energy efficiency and building upgrades through energy savings performance contracting.
Mary currently serves on the coalition’s board of directors as the vice-president, public sector.
Blackmon with her award, pictured here with ESC President Tom Walther.