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SPEER's 2025 Industry + Policy Workshop: Take Advantage of Early Bird Registration

Early bird registration rates are in effect and the agenda is live – save your spot now and join us at SPEER’s 2025 Industry + Policy Workshop, September 18-19 at the AT&T Hotel & Conference Center in Austin.

We have a fantastic agenda for 2025 packed with engaging and informative sessions!

Panel Highlight: Off the Grid Thinking: Energy Efficiency Reinvented

Featuring:

• Jade Gillespie, Executive Director, Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance
• Matt Jensen, Aquafficiency Program Manager, Cascade Energy 

Energy efficiency isn’t just about lighting upgrades or smart thermostats—it’s also about uncovering the hidden connections and technologies that can reshape how we think about conservation and sustainability. This session dives into the often-overlooked nexus between energy and water savings, revealing how optimizing one can greatly impact the other. We'll also explore geothermal energy as a powerful, nascent and underutilized solution with vast potential for both residential and commercial applications. Join us as we spotlight the surprising intersections and invisible forces driving the next wave of efficiency—where innovation meets integration, and savings go deeper than ever imagined.

2024 Video Recap:

If you need a refresher on last year's sold out event, check out our video recap from the 2024 Industry + Policy Workshop. While 2024 was a huge success, we are excited to set the bar even higher this year in a bigger venue.

Sponsorship opportunities:

Huge shout out to Mitsubishi Electric, WaterFurnace, Daikin, CleanTX, and Blink Energy Services for joining us as sponsors!

Interested in joining these folks? Head over to our event page to browse sponsorship opportunities and find the best fit for your organization. Your sponsorships are incredibly important to us and help continue the sustaining efforts of our organization as we educate and support energy efficiency across the Texas and Oklahoma region. With your support, we are able to further our mission and initiatives!

Register today:

**Early bird pricing closes July 31st. Take advantage of our discounted hotel block and register today!

Now Live: SPEER's 2025 Texas 89th Legislature Wrap-Up

Throughout the 180-day regular session, SPEER tracked over 300 bills, engaged in substantive discussions with policymakers and stakeholders, and provided resources and testimony in support of several important pieces of legislation.

Dive into SPEER's takeaways and look ahead to the 90th Legislature in our 2025 Texas 89th Legislature Wrap-Up.

New SPEER Blog: More Than Efficiency: How ITAC’s Infrastructure Assessments Will Promote Public Health

When we think of public health, images of hospitals, vaccines, or community health programs often come to mind. Rarely do we picture manufacturing plants, HVAC ducts, or lighting systems. But what if the infrastructure inside industrial facilities plays a more critical role in shaping health outcomes than we realize?

Check out our new blog from SPEER intern Vaishnavi Kharade to see how the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at Oklahoma State University (OSU) is poised to demonstrate just that. Through its Infrastructure Assessment and Training Center (ITAC), OSU is helping small and medium-sized manufacturers improve their operational systems—not just for energy savings, but for the health and well-being of the workforce and surrounding communities.

Dive in here.

Coming Soon: Quarterly SPEER Member Virtual Round-Up!

We’re excited to launch our new virtual SPEER Member Round-Up!

Join us for the very first members-only virtual gathering on July 23rd from 10–11 AM CST. With several new members on board, this is a great chance to get acquainted, network in a casual virtual setting, and learn about current projects and collaboration opportunities.

These meetings will be held quarterly moving forward. Mark your calendar and a registration link and calendar invite will be sent soon!

New SPEER Members!

SPEER is excited to welcome our TWO newest members, Lone Star PACE and Knauf Insulation!

We are thrilled to have them on board as we continue our mission to advance energy efficiency in Texas and Oklahoma. Learn more about SPEER membership here.

Upcoming Events & Webinars

Webinar: Understanding Stone Wool in Interior and Exterior Applications: Solutions for Thermal, Fire, and Sound Control

Join us for an in-depth exploration of stone wool (mineral wool) insulation—an innovative material delivering superior thermal performance, fire resistance, moisture control, and acoustic benefits. As energy codes and performance expectations rise, stone wool is being used more strategically across both interior and exterior assemblies. This session will provide valuable insights for architects, specifiers, engineers, contractors, and sustainability professionals.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understand Stone Wool Basics: Learn how stone wool is made, how it differs from fiberglass and foam, and what makes it a high-performance insulation material. 
• Explore Code-Compliant Applications: Discover how stone wool aligns with IBC Chapter 26 updates and NFPA 285 fire testing requirements for modern assemblies. 
• Design for Performance: See how stone wool improves thermal efficiency, enhances sound control, and contributes to sustainable building practices across commercial and roofing applications. 

Credits: 1 ICC CEU/1 AIA/CES Learning Unit (HSW and SD) 1 GBCI CE Hour

When: July 1st, 2025, 10:30 AM

Register here.

CELC Webinar: Increasing Efficiency & Reducing Peak Demand Through Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies

Discover innovative solutions from the Smart Surfaces Coalition and partners that improve energy efficiency and reduce peak demand through strategies outside the traditional building envelope.

Webinar Objectives:

• Highlight emerging technologies and surface treatments that reduce heat and energy demand at the community level.
• Share case studies from coalition partners demonstrating measurable impact.
• Explore policy, funding, and partnership opportunities to scale non-traditional energy efficiency solutions.

CELC webinars are intended to extend the conversation about public sector energy management best practices through education, training, and discussion. Webinars are open to anyone interested in public energy management in Texas, Oklahoma, and beyond.

When: July 10 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Register today!

CELC Virtual Coffee Hour: Energizing Connections

Join SPEER’s Senior Manager of Government and Community Engagement as she leads our monthly coffee hour. These open discussions include individuals from local governments and the higher education community focused on sharing insights and exploring ways to expand exciting energy efficiency in our communities.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to the shared goal of creating sustainable and energy-efficient environments. Learn more on our event page and see our current CELC members.



Interested in brewing ideas together over a virtual cup of coffee? Join CELC at this link – then we will send you the meeting invite series. If you can’t make it this time, no worries – there’s always next month!

When: July 11 @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Webinar: Integrated Building Systems - Advancing Design, Air Quality, and Performance

Buildings have evolved from simple shelters to complex systems requiring integration of energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainability goals. This session outlines the progression of building design and highlights the growing role of indoor air quality programs. It will present a practical methodology for managing design, installation, testing, and operations in today’s increasingly interconnected building environment.

Condensed Learning Objectives:

• Outline the evolution of building design and usage, highlighting key historical changes and their ongoing influence.
• Explain the drivers behind energy conservation and indoor air quality programs, including occupant needs, contaminants, and control strategies.
• Describe an effective methodology for managing design, construction, performance verification, and operation in today’s complex building systems.

Speaker:

• Gerald J. Kettler, PE, CCP, CIAQM, TBE, BEAP, REM, CEM – Managing Principal, CEO, LEED Fellow, Facility Performance Associates

When: July 17 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Register here.

Noteworthy

SECO Issues RFP for Program Management, Administration and Implementation

The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) published a Request for Proposals (RFP No. 907-25-1902KW) to secure services for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebates Comprehensive Program Management, Administration and Implementation. Responses to this proposal are due July 10.

Please note that the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole House (HOMES) rebate program and the Home Electrification and Application Rebate (HEAR) program authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act will be designed with this RFP. SECO retains the option to extend the services to include program implementation.



IMPORTANT: The rebate program has not yet been launched, and there are currently no approved contractors for these programs. We strongly advise against entering into any agreements associated with the HOMES and HEAR rebate programs until they are formally launched and a list of approved contractors is made available.

Need to Catch Up?



Missed our latest policy newsletter or recent Local Government, Oklahoma, or Energy Code newsletters? Browse past issues of our newsletters and subscribe to other distribution lists here. 

What We're Reading

‘Shoulder season’ reliability a growing concern in ERCOT, other ISOs: Aurora Energy Research - Utility Dive

ICF sees 25% load growth by 2030, up to 40% price increase - Utility Dive

World Energy Investment 2025: Executive Summary - IEA

Texas lawmakers create committee to coordinate energy conservation, as grid faces growing demand - KXAN

Daikin powers Texas with 1 MW solar plant - Transformers Magazine

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