October 9, 2026
Washington, DC - The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), the leading advocacy and accreditation association representing companies modernizing our nation's building infrastructure, announced four finalists for the NAESCO 2026 Member Award.
The award honors the achievements of and recognizes exemplary projects from member companies that show the full potential of public-private partnerships. Efforts recognized by this award include significant or unique savings, innovative project approaches or technology uses, overcoming significant project obstacles, achieving environmental justice goals, and incorporating community development and outreach, among others.
This year's finalists include:
Energy Systems Group (ESG) for its innovative resiliency solution at Fort Bliss. This project helped the Army's second-largest installation meet Army Directive 2020-03: Installation Energy and Water Security Policy, which required installations to sustain critical missions by maintaining a minimum of 14 days of self-sufficient energy and water supplies during utility outages. After multiple unsuccessful attempts through other contracting approaches, Fort Bliss, New Mexico Gas Company, and ESG collaborated to implement a Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) that delivered a microgrid, new water infrastructure to provide a secure internal water supply with city water as a reliable backup, and a large lighting retrofit that added over 16,000 MMBtu in annual energy savings. The project significantly strengthened Fort Bliss's energy and water resilience, ensuring operational continuity and mission readiness while enhancing the installation's ability to support rapid military deployment operations. For this project, ESG partnered with NAESCO members Bank of America and Envocore.
Johnson Controls for its strategic approach to transforming a performance contracting project into a self-sustaining engine for continuous public infrastructure modernization for the City and County of Honolulu, where verified savings are reinvested to fund future improvements and maximize the value of public dollars. In response to Hawaiʻi's ambitious climate goals, Johnson Controls partnered closely with City staff, serving as an extension of a resource-constrained workforce to coordinate more than 400 improvements across 90+ municipal facilities. By combining innovative financing strategies with guaranteed performance, the program has reduced energy spending by 42%, generated nearly $5 million in annual savings, and created a repeatable model where verified savings fund future infrastructure investments. For this project, Johnson Controls partnered with NAESCO members Acuity Brands, ClearEnergy, ECM Holding Group, Inc., ENVOCORE, Keystone Technologies, Light Efficient Design (RemPhos), Lutron, MaxLite, Rexel, and SATCO.
NORESCO for its collaborative response to urgent infrastructure challenges in the School District of Philadelphia, where aging school buildings and inadequate cooling systems were forcing closures during extreme heat events. Facing a narrow deadline to use ARPA funding, NORESCO worked collaboratively with the district to deliver a $132 million modernization program across eight schools, upgrading critical HVAC, ventilation, and control systems under Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA). The project created healthier, more comfortable learning environments for students and staff while also engaging more than 370 faculty members, students, and surrounding communities through programs focused on energy conservation, STEAM education, green-collar career exploration, and green spaces.
Willdan for its tenacious leadership in bringing energy and infrastructure improvements to two rural school districts through the U.S. Department of Energy's Renew America's Schools program. Working with Warner Public Schools and White River School District, Willdan helped secure nearly $27 million in grant funding for comprehensive modernization projects focused on reducing emissions, energy consumption, and utility/operational costs while improving health, safety, comfort, and sustainability for students, staff, and community. Despite significant delays and challenges related to federal approvals, funding uncertainties, and supply chain requirements, the project team remained steadfast in its commitment to project success, leveraging community stakeholders, local contractors, and Tribal Nations’ support along the way. For this project, Willdan partnered with NAESCO members Musco Lighting and Walker Blue.
The award will be presented at the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) annual meeting, R3 Conference and Innovation Expo, in San Antonio, TX, November 17-19, 2026.
About the R3 Conference and Innovation Expo
The R3 Conference and Innovation Expo is an annual event that spearheads conversations on energy efficiency, resiliency, and affordability in modernizing building infrastructure. With a focus on networking and collaboration, the conference serves as a platform for energy service professionals to forge valuable connections and promote sustainable solutions. The event is open to businesses, organizations, and individuals committed to driving positive change within the industry.
About The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO)
The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) is the leading advocacy and accreditation organization for Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and is dedicated to modernizing America's building infrastructure. NAESCO unites the energy service industry by promoting favorable government policies, sponsoring a rigorous accreditation program, and providing professional training and education. NAESCO champions the interests of ESCOs across the nation.
ESCOs contract with private and public sector energy users to provide cost-effective energy efficiency retrofits across a wide spectrum of client facilities, from college campuses to water treatment plants. ESCOs offer investment-grade financial guarantees that project savings will be realized, reducing the risk of a project's outcomes. Over the last three decades, ESCOs have implemented more than $70 billion in comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit projects.
Learn more about NAESCO, its members, membership benefits, and the accreditation process at www.naesco.org, and follow NAESCO on Twitter (@NaescoNews) and LinkedIn (@naesco).