Maria Ellingson

Ms. Maria Ellingson is a skilled senior program manager specializing in energy and environmental initiatives, communications and outreach campaigns, and local-level leadership in energy efficiency policies and practices. Her primary areas of focus are in developing and communicating relevant messaging to policy-makers, lenders, realtors, builders, and the general public about the importance of energy efficiency.

Maria leads projects by convening multiple public and private stakeholders to implement energy efficiency initiatives. She also works with the Industrial team at the Alliance to promote participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies program to reduce energy intensity in domestic corporations.

She recently worked with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, and the United States Department of State and other stakeholders to develop a Compendium of Best Practices to share local-level energy efficiency and renewable energy successes with policy-makers in the U.S. and emerging economies.

Prior to joining the Alliance, from 1998 – 2001, Maria worked for the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) in Colorado, promoting energy ratings (residential audits) and energy efficient mortgages to builders, realtors, lenders and energy raters. From 2001 – 2005 she served as director of efficiency programs for Energy Outreach Colorado, overseeing grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of low-income housing. Maria served on the board of directors for the Colorado Renewable Energy Society from 2001 – 2003.

She holds two bachelor degrees from Michigan State University: One in Resource Development and another in Communications. Maria works and lives in Toledo, Ohio.