What we do
Increasing people's agency over the energy systems that determine the health, safety, and affordability of their homes requires working from three different angles.
We mobilize homeowners and renters
Learn about the Healthy Homes Fair, the Demonstrations Homes, the Neighbors' Stories, our engagement of tenants in multifamily buildings, and the expert electrification coaching through our partners at Go Electric DMV.
We create an enabling environment among professionals
Learn about the up-skilling through the Healthy Homes Academy, our partnerships with professional associations in the DC region, the realtor-led Real Estate Agents Leading Electrification membership program, the Electrify DMV Network and more.
We drive systemic change
Learn about our policy-forward technical leadership on community power through our technical studies, expert testimony, task-force leadership, DER Showcase, our participation in microgrid and VPP pilots, and, at times, induction cooking competitions between political candidates.
We mobilize homeowners and renters
Consumer-facing, hands-on and peer-to-peer education, connecting homeowners and renters with professionals and resources.
Healthy Homes Fair
We created the largest consumer-facing home decarbonization event in the country where homeowners, renters, and professionals see, touch, and learn about the latest clean energy products, technologies, services, and incentives available.
Tenant Engagement
We engage renters in low income multifamily buildings about the impact on their wallet, health and communities of the energy efficiency measures implemented through the Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator (AHRA). This program is in partnership with DOEE, DCSEU, and building owners and managers.
Demonstration Homes
We use the power of social imitation to propel communities into taking action on decarbonizing their homes with real homeowners, real contractors, and real appliances. We support homeowners in inviting their neighbors and networks into their homes to experience decarbonized spaces and learn from their journey.
Neighbor Stories
We support homeowners and renters in telling their home and vehicle decarbonization journeys, so that DC region residents, searching for questions online might be informed and inspired by their stories laid out in practical blog posts.
Electrification Coaching
We facilitate one-on-one support of homeowners and renters as they make the switch to electric by providing fiscal sponsorship, communication and outreach support to the Go Electric DMV expert coaches. In partnership with the coaches, over 200 DC region residents are now closer to decarbonized homes.
Tabling About Clean Energy
We help the general public learn about clean energy products by demonstrating their use and benefits at conferences and community events.
Contractor Finder
A contractor finder tool where homeowners and renters can search for contractors by filtering for the decarbonization project they want to tackle next.
Sun Day in DC
We co-created Sun Day in DC which, in September of 2025, led to nearly 400 interactions between solar adopters and their neighbors to inspire homeowners and renters to make their own power through the sun.
We create an enabling environment among professionals
Empowering building renovation professionals and realtors to lead their clients towards better outcomes.
Demonstration Homes for Professionals
On site hands-on demonstrations for building renovations professionals, often in partnership with professional associations.
Electrify DMV Network
Through the Electrify DMV Network, we convene a cross-sector coalition of government leaders, manufacturers, service providers, and industry associations, spanning 24 jurisdictions, to drive coordinated action on residential decarbonization across the DC region.
Real Estate Agents Leading Electrification (REALE)
In partnership with the major brokerages, we designed a membership program to educate realtors and their clients at the critical juncture most consequential decisions on a house’s systems are made: when a house is being put on the market and when it has been bought.
Healthy Homes Academy
Free presentations and hands-on workshops by speakers from across the DC region happening during the Healthy Homes Fair.
We drive systemic change
Policy-forward technical leadership on community power.
Hosting Capacity Study
On behalf of the District Department of Energy and Environment, we analyzed the District’s electrical grid, technical, regulatory, and social challenges, and provided a roadmap for increasing the amount of renewable energy that can flow from our homes to meet the energy needs of the District.
Expert Testimony
We ensure solid data, technical knowledge and US and international best practices are considered in decisions that affect energy affordability, health and safety of DC region residents.
DER Showcase
By demonstrating innovative products and technologies including the many distributed energy resources entering the market, we help professionals and policy-makers accelerate decarbonization and the shift towards community power as a cheaper, faster and more efficient solution to increase energy-affordability, stabilize the grid and allow participation in the energy market.
Speaking up for Consumers
We add the consumer-facing perspective and highlight the importance of home energy to broader conversations about energy.
Learn more >
Staff
Vanessa Bertelli
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Romita Biswas
Technical Lead
Andrea Diaz
Strategic Communications Consultant
Jenefer Rojas
REALE Marketing Strategy Contractor
Ricardo Sheler
Engagement Manager
Board
Donna Sheler
Co-Founder and VP and CFO RJ Electric Works
Eli Hopson
Board Chair and CCO and CAO, CGC
Rachel Leah Gallant
Founder, Gallant Mechanical Services
Natasha Shields
Product Rules CPO
Alan Yu
Advisor, JADE Dialogues
Phil Guire
Realtor Vice President Jeanne, Phil and Meg
Jade Huang
Managing Director at Calvert Research and Management
Scott Aaronson
Founder, Aaronson Resilience Advisors
Matt Bevens
Principal Buena Vista Strategies
Advisors
Sophie Malik
Leadership and Organizational Consultant, Sophie Malik
Linsey Silver
Advisor Data Visualization Designer
Natalie Negrelli
Associate Attorney, Tierney Lawrence Stiles LLC
Cheryl Peirce
Founder, Farallon Bookkeeping, LLC
Mark Kresowik
Senior Policy Director, ACEEE
John Allen
President, Allenbuilt
Bill Eger
Founder and CEO, ETHOS Sustainability
James T. Kim
Realtor
Leslie Talmadge
Marketing Strategy
Elizabeth Vazquez
CEO, We Connect
Max Bye
Website Implementation
Jon Jenkins
Systems and Operations
Zach Ferry
User Experience Researcher