Smart Energy Summit addresses demand for energy management solutions and proptech
Parks Associates research into multifamily smart spaces shows nearly 75% of multifamily property managers and owners are very concerned about residents wasting energy. The firm will host leading energy players at its 14th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, February 13-15 at the Omni Austin Downtown Hotel in Austin, TX, to examine the emerging opportunities for energy management. The event will address advanced tech that can deliver energy saving and efficiency solutions for consumers and businesses during the sessions Future of Vehicles: EVs, Charging, and Consumers and Energy as a Service and New Business Models.
Smart Energy Summit, sponsored by CSA - Connectivity Standards Alliance, Rapid Response Monitoring, Schneider Electric, Austin Energy, Questline Digital, and Copper, focuses on the impact of direct consumer participation in energy markets and strategies to increase consumer engagement in energy management solutions.
The firm reports that EV owners are much more likely to have smart home solutions at home, including two times more likely to have a smart thermostat and video doorbell compared to the general population.
“Energy management solutions, including smart thermostats, smart outlets, smart lights, and connected HVAC systems, will become standard in the future as companies work to employ energy-efficient tactics,” said Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, VP, Marketing, Parks Associates. “Industry leaders will highlight the new bidirectional utility business models emerging, along with opportunities and challenges as distribution and creation of energy evolve.”
Interactive panel sessions Future of Vehicles: EVs, Charging, and Consumers and Energy as a Service and New Business Models are on February 14 and feature the following executives:
- Gerrianna Cohen, Demand Response Strategy Manager, Con Edison
- Cosmin Dumitrescu, Director of Product, Fermata Energy
- Bethany Farchione, Marketing Director, Questline Digital
- Geoff Ferrell, VP, VPP and C&I Project Business, sonnen
- Scott Hammond, Member Programs Manager, Central Electric Power Cooperative
- Max Parness, Senior Manager - Grid Services, Toyota
- Sadia Raveendran, Senior Director, Industry Solutions, AutoGrid
- Kevin Schwain, Senior Director, Electric Vehicles, EnergyHub
- Donald McPhail, GM, Residential Business Line, Uplight
About Smart Energy Summit
The 17th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer addresses the rising demand for energy, accelerated by the growth of data centers and AI, and its impact on energy management, renewable adoption, and grid modernization. Organized by Parks Associates and co-located with DISTRIBUTECH, Smart Energy Summit brings together leaders from energy, smart home, and technology industries to explore strategies and partnerships critical to the energy transition.
Smart Energy Summit takes place February 3-4, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center. It will focus on integrating smart energy solutions, leveraging AI and IoT for home energy management, and tackling challenges in demand response and grid orchestration. Supported by Parks Associates’ consumer and industry research, the event provides key insights into market trends and the path forward for utilities, technology providers, and consumer brands.
Follow #SmartEnergy26 on Parks Associates’ LinkedIn. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.smartenergysmt.com.
