The University of Illinois System’s Office of the Vice President of Economic Development and Innovation announced today the transfer of EnergySense Resilience Center to provide better alignment with the unit’s mission and goals. EnergySense was formerly known as Smart Energy Design Assistance Center and was housed in the department of landscape architecture within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Fine and Applied Arts. The transfer is effective July 1.
“I’m elated that EnergySense has grown and had great impact for a number of years as part of the Urbana-Champaign environment, and is now joining our VPEDI team,” U of I System Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jay Walsh said. “Because we are the Illinois Innovation Network’s administrative agent, EnergySense will now have the opportunity to integrate with IIN’s 15 hubs and extend its reach into all corners of the state as a unit focused on economic development and community impact.”
The mission of EnergySense is to empower organizations with practical solutions for climate, energy and sustainability. This team works in partnership with state agencies, local governments, community colleges, and schools and businesses, and it has significant experience delivering community-focused social impact programs in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, climate, outreach, education, and community and stakeholder engagement. EnergySense is a self-supporting unit through competitively awarded grants and service contracts.
“IIN has worked with the EnergySense team for years and we are thrilled to work even more closely with them as a unit of the U of I System,” IIN Executive Director Jeannette Tamayo said. “EnergySense led IIN’s work with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in developing the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act programs. Working side-by-side with this team of experts will enable us all to better respond to numerous opportunities, including the use of artificial intelligence in energy systems and its impact on economic development.”
The transition from the department of landscape architecture to VPEDI and the close alignment with IIN presents a strategic growth opportunity for EnergySense. This unit transfer also aligns with the system’s economic development mission and its directive to ensure that innovations grow beyond the university. This timely additional capacity will strengthen IIN through new types of collaborative initiatives that bring together Illinois’ public universities.
“We are excited about joining VPEDI and IIN,” EnergySense Associate Director Todd Rusk said. “This move strengthens our ability to strategically grow as an organization and to maintain our successful delivery of programs and services.”
Prior to this transition, EnergySense operated as SEDAC, which was founded in 2004 by its former executive director, Brian Deal. Over the years, the unit has grown and diversified its funding sources and services. This diversification and the current move to VPEDI prompted a new name to better reflect the organization’s services and future direction. The team has provided technical assistance to more than 2,800 public- and private-sector entities, helping them save millions of dollars in energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce pollution. The team also has delivered hundreds of sustainability education events for industry professionals through workshops and webinars.
“Through the vision and leadership of Brian Deal, what began as a faculty research project grew into a powerhouse collaborative of energy experts providing timely guidance and consequential benefits to public and private stakeholders in Illinois,” said David Hays, Brenton H. and Jean B. Wadsworth Head of the department of landscape architecture. “To meet increasing demand for assistance statewide and new opportunities for research and program development, relocation to VPEDI is an ideal step forward and a significant recognition of the measurable impacts the group has had to this point. In its new home, EnergySense will benefit from a vast array of university system resources and IIN partnerships, bolstering its ability to support vibrant, sustainable futures for communities and organizations in our region.”
