Stanford Energy Seminar | Energy Efficiency Past, Present and Future: The Resource That Keeps On Giving | Andrew McAllister, California Energy Commission

The Stanford Energy Seminar has been a mainstay of energy engagement at Stanford for nearly 20 years and is one of the flagship programs of the Precourt Institute for Energy. We aim to bring a wide variety of perspectives to the Stanford community – academics, entrepreneurs, utilities, non-profits, and more. 

Talk Abstract

California has pioneered energy efficiency for more than six decades, transforming it into a professionalized practice and global model. After 20+ years of flat electricity demand, load growth is returning—driven by electrification, digitalization, and new industries—making efficiency more essential than ever.
Today’s efficiency goes beyond traditional savings. It now includes grid-interactive strategies that use digital communications, advanced controls, automation, and aggregation to align demand with system needs. By making buildings and devices dynamic participants in the grid, efficiency strengthens reliability, integrates renewables, and accelerates decarbonization, and even puts downward pressure on electric rates. 
This talk will trace the evolution of efficiency, highlight California’s leadership, and show how this ever-renewable resource continues to shape a sustainable energy future.

Speaker Bio 

Andrew McAllister was first appointed to the California Energy Commission in 2012, and in 2022 was reappointed by Governor Newsom to a third term. Commissioner McAllister leads the areas of building decarbonization, energy efficiency and load flexibility. He has worked on the clean energy transition for more than three decades, in numerous countries partnering with counterparts ranging from tiny remote communities to large utilities. Commissioner McAllister has served in numerous leadership roles including at the Western Interstate Energy Board, the National Association of State energy Officials, the Smart Electric Power Alliance, and Camp Kesem at UC Davis. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, and B.A. from Dartmouth College. He served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer.

Anyone with an interest in energy is welcome to join! You can enjoy seminars in the following ways:

• Attend live. The auditorium may change quarter by quarter, so check each seminar event to confirm the location. Explore the current quarter's schedule.
• Watch live in a browser livestream if available. Check each seminar event for its unique livestream URL.
• Watch recordings of past seminars
  • Available on the Past Energy Seminars page and the Energy Seminars playlist of the Stanford Energy YouTube channel
• (For students) Take the seminar as a 1-unit class (CEE 301/ENERGY 301/MS&E 494)

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