Topic: Zero Energy Buildings

Speaker: Dr. James Mathias, Associate Professor, SIU – Carbondale

As an Associate Professor with SIU Carbondale for nearly twenty years, Dr. James Mathias specializes in energy conservation and management as well as experimental testing of fluid dynamics and analytical and experimental testing of thermodynamic cycles. In addition, Dr. Mathias creates the curriculum for all Graduate Level Energy Management courses.

James will be presenting on the topic of “Zero Energy Buildings” – buildings that combine energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to consume only as much energy as can be produced onsite through renewable resources over a specified time period; with a particular focus on a residential example.

Don’t miss out on this forward looking approach to buildings and their related energy use, possible lessons learned to be applied to any building type.

February 2021 – Energy Efficient Solar House

Topic: 2021 Changes/Updates to the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program

Speaker: Larry Erwin & Terry Tebbe, Energy Advisors, Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program

Larry Erwin has been the Ameren Illinois’ Energy Efficiency Advisor in the southern quadrant of Illinois for the last seven years. Larry works with all type, size and stripes of Ameren Illinois large/commercial customer; in successfully planning, incentivizing and implementing Energy Efficiency projects.
Terry Tebbe spent 10 years with the Ameren Illinois’/Missouri’s (respectively) Retail incentive programs. Over the last three years he has worked within Southern Illinois’ as the SBDI Energy Advisor; working with small and medium commercial lighting; and more recently, refrigeration projects.

January 2021 – Ameren Illinois Business Programs Update

Topic: National Clean Cities Coalitions and Alternative Fuels Opportunities

Speaker: Kevin Herdler, Executive Director, St. Louis Clean Cities Coalition

Kevin Herdler has been involved with the Clean Cities program since its inception in 1993. He began by supporting the creation Atlanta’s Clean City Program, then in 1998 working with St. Louis Regional Clean Cities Program. Kevin has over 40 years of automotive sector experience, as an automotive and diesel technician and fleet director. Kevin is also a certified trainer in light and heavy duty CNG, biodiesel, and first responder training.
Kevin presented on the St. Louis’ Regional Clean Cities Program, which is a voluntary initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the use of vehicles that operate with fuels other than petroleum-based gasoline and diesel to improve air quality, reduce dependence on imported oil and improve the domestic economy.

December 2020 – St Louis Clean Cities Coalition

Topic:  Energy Data Analytics, related software

Speaker: Ron Ingram, Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program

Ron is the Leidos Energy Advisor Manager for the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency program. He has over 30 years of experience in the electrical and automated controls industry working closely with many major companies providing sales, design and programming of metering and monitoring systems, SCADA and automated controls systems. These experiences have provided an excellent working knowledge of the challenges faced by commercial and industrial facilities as related to energy management and efficiency. In this presentation, Ron will review the benefits associated with energy data analytics software, from metering to decision making.

November 2020 – Let Data Drive Your Energy Efficiency Decisions

Topic: SIU –Carbondale Community Outreach on Energy Efficiency

Speaker: Adam Holbrook, SIU Carbondale, Applied Research Consultants
Adam Holbrook is currently a graduate student at SIU Edwardsville studying Computer Science. Adam has a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology from SIU Carbondale and was previously a Research Assistant at the University’s neurosciences lab and an Associate Consultant with SIU Carbondale’s Applied Research Consultants group. Adam will be presenting his and SIU Carbondale’s current effort increasing understanding and visibility of energy efficiency throughout the Southern Illinois and Metro East communities. This effort includes an interactive website and a training program for young engineering students to educate and aid local businesses in energy efficiency.

October 2020 – Energy Illinois

Topic: Discussion on CEJA (Clean Energy Jobs Act)
Speaker: Christina Krost, Southern Illinois Outreach Coordinator, Faith in Place (in partnership with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition)
Christina Krost is the Southern Illinois Outreach Coordinator with Faith in Place –which describes itself as an organization of “diverse people of all faiths sharing the commitment to care for the Earth”. Faith in Place is a participant with the Clean Jobs Coalition, which is made up of “environmental justice” groups, faith-based institutions, consumer watchdogs, public health entities, student activists, clean technology businesses, entrepreneurs and labor voices. The coalition works with community and civic leaders to advance clean energy jobs across Illinois. This objective is reflected in, and associated with, Illinois State legislative discussions on a CEJA, as a successor to FEJA (Future Energy Jobs Act) currently in place.

September 2020 – Clean Energy Jobs Act

Topic: The Global Drive for Efficiency (Motors)

Speaker: Tom Ellegood, Sales Engineer @ Illinois Electric Works

Tom Ellegood brings a deep understanding of motor systems to our March meeting. Tom currently holds the title of Sales
Engineer at Illinois Electric Works and had been in the role for the past 6+ years. Prior to that, he was a Senior Sales
Engineer with Baldor Electric for over 9 years, and a Senior Sales Engineer at Toshiba for over 7 years. Tom earned his
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Presentation Link:

March 2020 – The Global Drive for Efficiency (Motors)

Topic: Compressed Air Systems

Speaker: Tyler Ostmann, Aftermarket Product Manager

Tyler Ostmann has been working with John Henry Foster for 8.5 years.  He started with JHF straight out of college where he earned a business degree from Missouri State University. Tyler started his career with JHF working and training as an inside sales rep.  After the first year he joined the compressed air and tool team as a service coordinator and quickly moved to into aftermarket sales. Tyler is currently the aftermarket product manager and also actively training/transitioning into the role of 5-200hp product manager for compressed air systems.

Presentation Link:

February 2020 Compressed Air JHF

Topic: Ameren Illinois Electrification Overview

Speaker: Michael Abba, Director of Smart Grid Integration & System Improvement, Ameren Illinois

Michael S. Abba is Director of Smart Grid Integration and System Improvement at Ameren Illinois. He has been involved with Ameren’s smart grid and innovation initiatives for the past ten years, and before that held various engineering, operations, and supervisory positions at Ameren Illinois since 1990. Michael is currently responsible for supporting Ameren Illinois’ new technology and innovation strategies, including efficient electrification, voltage optimization, distribution automation, and distributed energy resource integration. Michael holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and an MBA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Presentation Link:

January 2020 – Ameren Illinois Electrification Overview

Topic: Lighting Controls and Code Implications

Speaker: Mike Schaeffer, Schaeffer Marketing Group

Mike presented on lighting controls and their impacts on code requirements. Michael J. Schaeffer, P.E., is chairman and founder of Schaeffer Marketing Group, Inc., a manufacturers rep agency based in St Louis since 1976. The firm has been deeply involved in lighting energy projects through distributors since the early 80’s. They represents several leading lighting and control mfrs in the St Louis trade market. They have been an Ameren Trade Ally on both sides of the River since inception and won several merit awards. Mike holds a BS in EngMgt from MS&T, a MBA from Washington Univ and is licensed in MO and IL.

November 2019 – Lighting Controls and Code Considerations