Celebrating AEE’s 2025 Achievements and Looking Ahead to an Impactful 2026

The Association of Energy Engineers is proud to reflect on a year of meaningful progress in 2025, made possible by the dedication of our members, certified professionals, students, and volunteers. We extend a special and heartfelt thanks to each of you. Your commitment, expertise, and passion continue to strengthen our global community and drive our mission forward. Supported by a team of 35 full‑time staff, AEE continued to grow its global footprint and now engages professionals across 144 countries. This year brought several important membership developments, including the expansion of corporate membership, the launch of Academic Membership, and the introduction of the Educational Training Provider category. Our community‑building efforts also expanded through the launch of the Member of the Month program (MOTM) and the continued success of the AEE Mentorship Program, which supported 52 mentor-mentee pairs across 31 countries, including both 2025 Hall of Fame inductees.

Professional development remained a central focus throughout 2025. AEE delivered 38 member webinars to more than 31,000 participants and presented close to 300 training classes that reached 4,300 professionals. The tenth edition of the Energy Management Handbook, edited by Albert Williams, was released this year, further strengthening the resources available to the global energy community. AEE also advanced the Home Energy Professional Certifications in collaboration with the DOE National Lab of the Rockies to launch the first certification exam that incorporates computer simulation for performance‑based assessment. Updates to the Certified Energy Manager program introduced a new section on decarbonization and greenhouse gas accounting, reflecting the industry’s evolving needs. Strategic partnerships, including new agreements with Trane and other organizations, further expanded AEE’s ability to support energy professionals worldwide.

AEE continued to play an active role on the global stage by hosting and attending key events throughout the year. Highlights included AEE Europe in Paris, the IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Brussels, AEE East in Cleveland, AEE World in Atlanta, NYC Climate Week, and participation in COP 30 in Belém, Brazil. These engagements reinforced AEE’s leadership in energy efficiency, sustainability, and workforce development.

Looking ahead to 2026, AEE remains deeply committed to its values and vision as we support energy professionals navigating an evolving industry landscape. The organization will continue investing in people, technology, and development, with a strong emphasis on partnerships, workforce development, and capacity building. The AEE Foundation will expand its scholarship support in 2026, offering three Al Thumann Scholarships of $7,500 each, along with two Ruth Whitlock Scholarships of $4,000 each for the top women applicants in the United States and internationally. AEE will also introduce AEE Connect, a new platform designed to strengthen member communities and enhance peer collaboration.

Global engagement will continue through a robust 2026 event calendar that includes a trade mission to Ecuador and Peru in February, AEE West in Bellevue in March, iEner in Málaga in June, the IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Montreal in June, AEE World in Orlando in September, NYC Climate Week in September, AEE Africa in Cape Town in October, and participation in COP 31 in Antalya, Turkey in November. With the World Cup coming to our hometown of Atlanta, 2026 promises to be a year filled with energy, momentum, and expanded global connection. AEE looks forward to building on the achievements of 2025 and continuing to empower the professionals who are shaping the future of energy.