CalCEF Innovations
5 Third St. Suite 1125
San Francisco, CA 94103
P: 415 957 0167  F: 415 957 0177
general info: info@calcef.org

New Business Models for Energy Efficiency

Along with the UC Davis EEC, CalCEF is exploring how to play a catalytic role in bringing together efficiency service providers with scale financing (e.g. via partnerships with commercial banks, project financiers and others) and a deep knowledge of the regulatory and utility landscape influencing efficiency improvements. Customer acquisition costs are a major hurdle to achieving cost-effectiveness, and new partnerships between utilities and efficiency providers might achieve economies of scale. Partnerships with solar PV installers – a combination increasingly emphasized by state policy – could be additive to achieving efficiency goals, and increased attention to workforce development might enable more effective outreach and service delivery.

Bob Hinkle is the founder of Metrus Energy and pioneered the creation of the Efficiency Services Agreement structure that the company will utilize to finance and implement energy efficiency projects at large commercial and industrial facilities. Bob is also currently serving as Entrepreneur in Residence for the California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) focusing on the identification of new business models for energy efficiency. Previously, he was Vice President of Energy Efficiency at MMA Renewable Ventures and was responsible for directing the company’s overall energy efficiency financing business as well as identifying, developing, and negotiating investment opportunities. Bob was also responsible for managing relationships with energy service providers, electric utilities, and large-scale commercial and industrial energy users. He has more than 15 years of experience in the energy industry and worked for 10 years at Nexant (formerly part of Bechtel Corporation) with responsibility for developing and managing over $150 million of energy efficiency programs and projects for utilities, energy end-users, and international donor agencies. He has extensive experience in evaluating the financial viability of energy efficiency investments and programs in the U.S. and abroad. Bob has a Masters degree in International Business from the Fletcher School, Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College.

Steven R. Schiller, P.E. has thirty years of experience implementing domestic and international energy and environmental policies, as well as developing energy project and program. This is combined with organizational, recruitment / team building, research management, and leadership experience as a senior manager or president of four California energy companies and Board Director of energy / climate non-profits. He is currently an independent consultant in California.

In the mid-eighties, Steve started Schiller Associates, Inc., an energy engineering and management firm, which was acquired by Nexant, Inc. With Nexant, Steve was a Senior Vice President.  Prior to launching Schiller Associates, Steve was a staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

His energy experience includes conventional and distributed power, renewables, and demand side management projects – including being a power project developer in California. Through the University of California he currently provides support for the CEC’s PIER program. Steve is also an internationally recognized evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V) expert having been responsible for many of the guidelines used in the energy efficiency industry.

He also has ten years of experience with a broad range of climate mitigation issues. Activities include being a political appointee to California Climate Registry Board, appointee to an UNFCCC CDM Board Panel (the sole American on any of the Boards or Panels), and related policy and technical advisor to US EPA, the University of California, the CEC, and the Energy Foundation.

Steve has developed and implemented programs in about a dozen states and half a dozen countries.   California work includes 25 years of consulting to the CEC, DGS and CPUC, publically and investor owed utilities, county and local government agencies, the University of California and California State University, as well as a wide range of private companies.

Steve holds a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is a registered Mechanical Engineer in California.