AEE and Costco Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Energy Efficiency and Employee Development

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is proud to announce a three-year strategic partnership with Costco Wholesale, one of the world’s largest and most operationally efficient retailers. The agreement underscores both organizations’ shared commitment to advancing energy expertise, empowering skilled workforces, and accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Costco, headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, has long been recognized as a leader in corporate sustainability and energy stewardship. With more than 890 warehouses worldwide, Costco has made energy efficiency and decarbonization central pillars of its operations. The company’s Sustainability Technologies and Refrigeration (STAR) program governs energy and refrigeration upgrades across its global warehouse network, encompassing LED lighting transitions, high-efficiency HVAC systems, solar installations, and the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. Costco has committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 39% by 2030 and achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2035. To meet these ambitious goals, Costco has made the internal development of skilled, knowledgeable energy professionals a strategic imperative, which directly aligns with AEE’s core mission.

AEE, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serves more than 18,500 members across 144 countries and holds over 32,000 active certifications globally. Through its globally recognized training programs, certifications like the flagship Certified Energy Manager® (CEM®), conferences, technical journals, and webinars, AEE equips energy professionals with the knowledge and credentials needed to drive meaningful change in the built environment, industrial sector, and beyond.

Key Components of the Partnership Include:

• Employee Training & Development: Costco will leverage AEE’s industry-leading private corporate training programs to upskill its workforce in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.
• Event Sponsorship: Costco will sponsor the CWEEL Breakfast & Keynote at AEE events, highlighting its commitment to women in energy and leadership.
• Thought Leadership: Costco will participate in AEE webinars and podcasts, sharing insights on corporate energy strategies and sustainable retail operations.

“Costco is exactly the kind of forward-thinking organization that AEE was built to serve,” said Bill Kent, CEM, Executive Director of the Association of Energy Engineers. “Their commitment to energy efficiency is beyond aspirational. It is operational, measurable, and deeply embedded in how they run their business. We are thrilled to partner with Costco to help build the internal expertise their team needs to continue leading by example. By equipping Costco’s employees with training, certifications, and access to the AEE global community, we’re helping drive real results on the ground: warehouse by warehouse, professional by professional. This is exactly what a meaningful industry partnership looks like.”

“At Costco, we believe that our path to a sustainable future runs directly through our people,” said Shay Reed, CEM, AGMM Energy, Costco Wholesale. “Our energy and sustainability commitments are ambitious, and executing on them requires a workforce that is deeply trained, credentialed, and connected to the latest developments in the field. The multi-year Strategic Partnership with AEE helps us meet long-term objectives for a sustainable energy future by leveraging AEE’s expertise to prioritize energy efficiency and provide critical training, like the CEM course, to our internal team and key supply chain partners. We’re proud to partner with an organization that shares our belief that skilled people are the engine of sustainable progress, and we look forward to the impact this partnership will have for our employees, our operations, and the communities we serve.”

About AEE
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability. Through certifications, training, and global conferences, AEE empowers professionals to implement innovative energy solutions.

About Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates an international chain of membership warehouses, offering high-quality products at competitive prices. Committed to environmental stewardship, Costco has implemented numerous energy-saving initiatives, reducing its carbon footprint while maintaining operational excellence.