Opinion Dynamics

For our fellow Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) members—ICYMI—last week, Jordan Folks participated in the online webinar ‘Warming Up to Winter Demand Response.’ This past January, SECC surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,083 consumers. The survey explored consumer interest in winter demand response, potential challenges when participating, preferences for program notifications, and more. The 30-minute webinar covered key findings and featured speakers Jordan Folks (Opinion Dynamics) and Alex Zhou from Oracle Energy and Water sharing insights from evaluations of two winter demand response programs. Members can view the webinar online at: https://lnkd.in/e7cU8EGB Interested in becoming a member? You can find information here> https://lnkd.in/ePbSxQBt?

Exciting Opportunity: Join Us as Our Director of Data Management! We're looking for a dynamic leader who will foster a data-driven culture, oversee our data infrastructure, and manage data collection, governance, and security while collaborating across functions to execute a comprehensive data strategy. Energy industry experience is a must. Our ideal candidate will have experience managing data for program research and evaluation related to Energy Efficiency, Demand Flexibility, Electrification, Decarbonization, Rates and Pricing, Distributed Energy Resources, and Workforce Development. If this sounds exciting to you, apply today! https://lnkd.in/eKkU5ydr #werehiring #datamanagement #careers

? Join us at DISTRIBUTECH, the country's largest transmission & distribution event! ?? Explore innovations in electricity delivery automation, energy efficiency, and demand response. Dive into distributed energy resource management, renewable energy, smart cities, and transportation electrification. Discover advancements in resiliency, reliability, advanced metering, and T&D system operations. Uncover the latest in communication technologies, cybersecurity, and sustainability. See our experts at the following sessions! Agenda online at www.distributech.com MON 3/24 | 9:00 am – 5 pm SECC’s 2025 Consumer Symposium A unique event focusing on residential customers' relationships with electrification, the smart grid, renewables, smart home tech, & related utility programs & services. Through engaging sessions with industry thought leaders, Symposium attendees will gain actionable insights to meet the evolving expectations of today's consumers.? Join Jordan Folks at 1:30 pm as he moderates “Smart Energy Snapshots: Quick Conversations About Today’s Energy Consumers.” Jordan will also share research and relevant insights on topics ranging from Spanish-speaking households to winter DR and AI. WED 3/26 | 10 am | Room C2 Oncor investigates commercial fleet and managed charging in Dallas. Most EV load management programs focus on residential customers, but charging at commercial facilities and fleets can significantly strain the grid. Managing this demand offers the chance to address key challenges like the cost of grid upgrades and delays in charger energization. However, non-residential customers face unique barriers to load management due to varying needs, abilities, and motivations. Opinion Dynamics is working with Oncor to explore strategies to manage the increased demand from commercial and fleet EV adoption. The presentation will share insights from the study, highlighting challenges, successes, and best practices to help scale effective managed charging for non-residential segments. With speakers: Hilary Polis, Opinion Dynamics, and Jennifer Deaton, Oncor Electric Delivery Company THU 3/27 | 11 am | Room C2 Orange and Rockland demonstrates new applications of EV managed charging to enhance grid flexibility. Orange and Rockland is launching a pilot for commercial and residential EV managed charging, led by WeaveGrid, with evaluation by Opinion Dynamics and funding from NYSERDA. The pilot, will explore new applications of managed charging to enhance grid flexibility. Unlike most existing programs focused on residential customers and peak load reduction, this project will optimize for both distribution system protection and bulk system impacts. It will also explore opportunities to manage EV charging for fleet customers and residential customers. Attendees will gain insights on expanding and evaluating new applications of managed charging. With speakers: Hilary Polis, Opinion Dynamics, James Vasquez, Orange and Rockland, & Kyle Garton, WeaveGrid

Welcome to the team Erika Ireland! Erika received her undergraduate degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and has a master’s from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts. Along with her strong academic experience, she has multiple years of applied experience in social sciences research, specifically in monitoring, verification, and evaluation. She has a background in survey research and training in quantitative and qualitative data analysis using a range of software platforms. Erika comes to Opinion Dynamics from the international development space, where she was most recently working on large-scale survey research to inform how local governments develop their climate change resiliency strategies. Prior to that, Erika worked as a graduate research assistant conducting impact evaluations and supporting monitoring and verification activities at various international development organizations. Erika thrives in a consulting environment, is a strong communicator and writer, and has experience and passion for the work we do every day. We know she will be a fantastic addition to the company!?

Join Erin Kempster at AESP’s Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ, next week!! Erin will co-present session 8D, Standards that Prioritize People and Planet. States and cities are advancing bold climate goals, but success requires a holistic approach to solution development that centers on the human element. In this session, Erin will offer insights from Opinion Dynamics’ work on clean heat standards: breaking down the considerations that practitioners can bear in mind when designing these frameworks. Join us to learn how equity-driven policies can create meaningful climate solutions! Learn more about the event and agenda at https://aesp.org/annual/ #AESPAnnual #AESP2025 #Conference

Join us at this year’s ACEEE Hot Water and Hot Air Forums in Portland! The forums bring together seasoned experts and new voices to discuss strategies for transforming the two biggest uses of energy in buildings. You can check out where to catch our staff at the following sessions below, and the full agenda is available online at: https://lnkd.in/eMpdgZZ7 Wednesday, March 5 11:00 – 12:30 p.m. Session 5C. Appliance NOx Emission Rules – A Bay Area (California) Perspective: The first of two sessions dedicated to updates and perspectives on the development of zero-emissions equipment standards for residential HVAC and water heating. These standards, establishing zero NOx and/or zero GHG emissions for equipment, represent one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction policies that states or regions can pursue. However, these standards also have considerable consumer, market, and system impacts that must be well understood and addressed to ensure successful implementation. This session will examine this potential and its impacts through the Bay Area Air District rulemaking process. Wait - Who Installs water heaters? State of the California Water Heater Market. Presented by Jayden Wilson Thursday, March 6 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Session 8A. Affordability: Lessons from Clean TECH California: The TECH Clean California program has incentivized over 40,000 residential heat pump systems for space and water heating. This session will share perspectives on the customer and contractor experience, energy and cost impacts, and how this data can inform future electrification programs throughout the country, What can 8,000+ heat pump installs tell you about customer satisfaction, customer bills, and grid impacts? Insights from participant surveys, meter-based energy impacts, and machine learning analysis of TECH Clean California Heat Pump Data. With co-presenter Jen Loomis, PhD 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Session 10A. Assessing Workforce Needs: Growing a workforce with the skills to perform building decarbonization jobs is necessary to improve our building stock's energy efficiency and resiliency. This session will provide insights into what actions and market approaches have been successful in supporting the development of a clean energy workforce. Taking the Guesswork Out of Workforce Investment. Presented by Erin Kempster 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Session 11A. Space Heating Up-front and Operational Costs: This session focuses on the costs associated with heat pumps and electrification. Presenters will share data behind heat pump upgrade costs, solutions to address cost barriers, and program designs to address affordability. The Answer is Finally Here: How Much Does a Heat Pump Upgrade Versus a Gas Like-for-Like Replacement Actually Cost? Presented by Malena Hernández Arregoitia

Welcome to the team Molly Shea! Molly recently received her M.S. in Economics from the University of Maine. Before completing her master's, Molly graduated as a double major with B.S. degrees in Ecology and Environmental Sciences and Economics. Molly joins us with a lot of exciting and relevant social science experience. Throughout her time at the University of Maine, she contributed to a number of research projects where she gained experience in survey design, survey programming and testing, sampling, data cleaning, data analysis (Excel, R, STATA), and reporting. As a member of the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship in One Health and the Environment, she led research on PFAS contamination in Maine, where she designed, fielded, and analyzed an online survey with fishing license holders. Molly also has experience conducting advanced surveys and analysis techniques and meeting with clients to understand their needs and design research plans accordingly. Molly’s strong research background and passion for conducting impactful work will make her a valuable addition to the company, and we are so excited to have her join our team!

Warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with peace and joy! See you in 2025!

Join our team! We seek a Lead Engineer (preferably mechanical or electrical) with solid experience designing and managing evaluation and research projects. A technical leader who can provide strategic guidance on complex projects and hands-on support to project teams, who has a strong background in building science, and who ideally has experience in the California markets. As part of the team, you will play a crucial role in working with project managers to plan portfolio and sector-level evaluation approaches, make methodological decisions, provide quality control reviews, develop analytical outputs, and mentor junior staff. If you’re ready to join a dynamic team, check out our role and apply today! Apply online at https://lnkd.in/eiPNCkqz #Hiring #Engineer #JobOpening #Careers #JoinOurTeam

The distributed energy resources (DERs) landscape is evolving rapidly as shifting energy markets, regulations, and technologies create new opportunities for integration and monetization.?We invite you to dive deeper into our Demand Flexibility expertise and get to know our staff as they touch on key DER topics. Learn more about our work in this space though curated content that focuses on technological advancements, cost reductions, and market incentives which are enhancing DERs ability to provide grid services and customer value, while regulatory support and decarbonization policies further position DERs as critical to achieving climate goals. Get to know more about our staff and see where you can catch them at next week’s PLMA Fall Conference at https://lnkd.in/eYi_PJFR #DistributedEnergyResources #EnergyMarkets #DemandFlexibility #EnergyExpertise