2019 Women in Building Services: Stephanie Zeppieri, Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc.

Name: Stephanie Zeppieri

Title: Manager, Sales Support

Company Name: Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc.

How many years have you been in your current field? 7 years

List up to three CRE organizations that you are currently a member of: 

• U.S. Green Building Council 

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months?
I played a significant role advancing a Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) for an energy efficiency project for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including three New York City campuses, valued at approximately $100 million. This project is in the Investment Grade Audit (IGA)/development phase, with construction anticipated to begin by Q4 2019. The project will help the VA save approximately $3 million dollars annually in energy bill reductions by implementing upgrades to the boiler and chiller  plants, lighting and direct digital controls, replacement of steam traps, air  handling units, leaking steam and condensate piping, pipe insulation, retro-commissioning, and other energy efficiency improvements. 

What trend(s) do you predict to dominate your industry in 2019?
We will see a range of organizations, including colleges and universities, government agencies, and healthcare facilities, invest in sustainability and resiliency efforts. Resiliency will be particularly critical for healthcare facilities and organizations with campus-like settings, as they’re realizing the importance of having a plan in place to stay up and running in the event of a system failure. As a result of these growing needs, we’re seeing a greater embrace of onsite power, including solar increasingly in conjunction with battery storage.

Which of your philanthropic endeavors are you most proud of?
Educating students on renewable energy is the best way to build sustainability for the future. For that reason, Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses’ employees host presentations for elementary,  middle and high school students about the company’s work. As part of these presentations, we also talk about the different jobs available within the industry so that students can start thinking about their future, and the range of options and opportunities in renewable energy. I have a personal dedication to the support and availability of local addiction treatment centers, as funding to these facilities is critical to offering someone another chance at life. 

What does it mean to you to be a team player? 
To be a team player, you need to support peers, junior employees and upper management. A team player will support others by offering to help in an enthusiastic and optimistic fashion. Team players are on time, reliable,  and hold themselves accountable for responsibilities and commitments. Team players often understand the bigger picture and realize how even the small accomplishments help support it.