I Am District Energy


Through candid profiles, career journeys, and reflections from across the district energy ecosystem, I AM District Energy explores what motivates people to do this work, the challenges they’ve faced, and the moments that made it meaningful. These human-interest stories highlight the diversity of paths into district energy, the value of collaboration and mentorship, and the shared sense of purpose driving decarbonization, resilience, and innovation. At its core, this blog is about community—connecting people through stories that remind us the industry’s greatest asset isn’t technology alone, but the people who power it.

And we want to hear from you too! Share this blog on social media and tell us your story and of your experience working in district energy, with the hashtag #IAMDistrictEnergy. 

Latest Post

Bridging Campuses and Cities: David Woodson on What’s Next for District Energy Collaboration

When David Woodson took the stage in Belgium this fall at the 19th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, his address marked both a personal milestone and a defining moment of connection. As the newly elected Chair of the International District Energy Association (IDEA), Woodson now represents district energy leaders on an international stage, bringing to his role a perspective shaped by decades of campus innovation and collaboration.

From Campus Energy to Global Leadership


Before joining the University of Washington (UW), David spent more than two decades at the University of British Columbia, where he helped turn the campus into a “living laboratory” for low-carbon energy and water systems. Rising through roles from Facilities Maintenance Manager to Managing Director of Energy and Water Services, he oversaw operations for millions of square feet of facilities and led major initiatives including the steam-to-hot-water district energy conversion, the Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility, and early smart grid projects. 

Today, as Executive Director of Campus Energy, Utilities and Operations at the University of Washington (UW), David, along with his team, have been spearheading an initiative for the replacement of an aging steam plant with a modern, low-carbon district energy system that captures waste heat from Seattle’s sewer network, uses deep lake water for heating and cooling, and integrates renewable sources. 
 
Together, these systems are designed to advance the goals of Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act and Clean Building Performance Standard while maintaining UW’s focus on stewardship and fiscal responsibility. If approved and implemented, it will completely transform energy use on the UW campus in Seattle. 
 
“Everyone is on your side,” Woodson says of UW’s collaborative culture. “There’s so much pride from students and staff—people want to see it succeed.” That sense of shared purpose has helped drive both emissions reductions and measurable cost savings, demonstrating the strength of collective effort. That experience now informs his leadership as IDEA Chair, where he helps connect campus lessons to a global community of district energy leaders.

Connecting Ideas Across Borders

At the International Symposium, Woodson joined leaders from across Europe, Asia, and North America to discuss the shared challenges of decarbonization and energy resilience. His conversations with peers, including Euroheat & Power’s, Aksana Krasatsenka, underscored a central IDEA principle: innovation flourishes through collaboration. 
 
Conference topics ranged from repurposing data center heat to designing community-scale thermal networks. Each peer exchange underscored the role of IDEA as a bridge—connecting cities, campuses, and companies that are advancing sustainable energy systems and learning from one another along the way.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Beyond systems and infrastructure, Woodson is focused on people. He’s passionate about mentoring students and early-career professionals, encouraging them to exercise initiative. 
 
“Reach out and ask to meet for coffee,” he advises. “Most people are happy to share what they’ve learned.” 

This culture of openness reflects a broader evolution within the field. While district energy once garnered limited public awareness, the sector is now increasingly recognized as central to community sustainability, urban planning, and workforce development. Through his role as IDEA Chair, Woodson aims to amplify this visibility and help connect young professionals to a growing global network of peers.

Looking Ahead

Woodson sees district energy at a pivotal juncture. The increasing demand for heating and cooling—from dense urban districts to power-hungry data centers—is converging with advances in technologies such as geothermal exchange and advanced heat recovery. Together, these forces are redefining what’s possible in local energy systems.
 
“The next few years will be about integration and collaboration,” he says. “Bringing together campuses, cities, and technology partners to share solutions and scale impact.” 
 
That theme will carry forward into CampusEnergy2026, where IDEA members and industry partners, including David, will come together to explore thermal distribution and operations, waste heat utilization, renewable integration, and how to align capital plans with decarbonization goals. For leaders like Woodson, it’s an opportunity to help shape a shared roadmap for lower-carbon thermal energy in campuses and communities worldwide. 

Leading by Example

For Woodson, leadership is about translating complexity into clarity—and helping others see the value of long-term investment in sustainable infrastructure. Whether fine-tuning a heat recovery system or guiding a student toward a career in campus energy, he exemplifies how technical expertise, dedicated teamwork, and community commitment come together to create meaningful change.
 
District energy may not always be in the spotlight, but under leaders like David Woodson, its influence—connecting campuses and communities, advancing climate goals, and shaping a more resilient energy future—is unmistakable. His work is a reminder that the transition to low-carbon thermal energy won’t be driven by headlines alone, but by practitioners who are building or rebuilding the systems that keep our communities running.

Previous Posts

  • Around the world, the district energy industry is growing and rapidly evolving, integrating emerging technologies to support and accelerate the energy transition toward lower-carbon solutions. In most cities, the energy consumed to heat and cool buildings makes up more than 51% of primary energy use, making it imperative that thermal energy systems become lower-carbon and more sustainable. In recent years, the industry has attracted a new wave of talented younger people seeking to merge their professional read more

  • At Con Edison, leadership goes beyond titles or team structures. Instead, it centers on responsibility—uplifting others, serving the community, and leading with purpose, no matter your role. These principles form the foundation of the Dick Morgan Leadership Program, a homegrown initiative that has quietly transformed how hundreds of employees view themselves and their place in the company's future. “The program got me out of my shell, infused confidence within me, and silenced my self-doubt,” said read more

  • At IDEA2025, district energy professionals from around the world shared ideas and insights and recognized the accomplishments of their peers. They also honored the recipients of the 2025 John Gray Scholarship. Established in 2009, the scholarship is named for a former IDEA president and board member whose passion for welcoming new members and first-time attendees at conferences has become ingrained in IDEA's culture. If you've attended an IDEA conference, you've likely noticed the apple read more

  • At IDEA2025, district energy professionals from around the globe shared ideas, insights and recognized the accomplishments of their peers. The Norman R. Taylor Award, honoring IDEA’s “Person of the Year,” is named for a former president and executive director of the organization who made major contributions to IDEA as it stands today and was known for treating people with dignity and humility. This award is presented to an individual whose career accomplishments have had an undeniable read more

  • In a webinar hosted by the Urban Green Council, Con Edison President Matt Ketschke laid out an ambitious roadmap for how district steam can help New York City reach city- and state-wide energy goals. Read on to learn more about IDEA member company Con Edison’s plans to help ensure NYC’s renewable energy future based on that conversation. On the busy streets of Manhattan, beneath the towering skyscrapers and labyrinth of subway lines, an unsung hero has been heating and cooling the city that never read more

  • IDEA’s 116th Annual Conference & Trade Show is being held in Minneapolis in early June. Cordia Energy is a leader in the integration and innovation of district energy systems in cities across the United States. District energy has been critical infrastructure in downtown Minneapolis for over 50 years. Their team will be presenting and giving a tour of some of their facilities at IDEA2025. Read on for a pre-conference preview. In cities across North America, decarbonization and energy resilience read more

  • This post is part of the I AM District Energy blog. Visit and bookmark the page and introduce yourself to the people behind the systems and the impact they have on our industry and our planet. As cities and campuses race to decarbonize, and digital demand continues to climb, the energy world is facing a convergence of pressures: reliability, sustainability, scalability, and cost. For both district energy and the data center industry, these challenges are not new, but the solutions read more

  • The future of energy is shifting in many dimensions. From rapidly rising demand to aging infrastructure, energy systems around the world are moving to adapt scalable solutions that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. District energy is uniquely poised to meet these demands head-on, with a track record of steady evolution and innovation. Read on for our members' thoughts. District energy systems have been providing heating, cooling and energy for cities in some form since the read more

  • Augusta National Golf Course is famous for hosting The Masters every year; Albatros at Le Golf National is where the world watched Scottie Scheffler take home the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But despite the lack of presence of a PGA legend or an Olympic champion, what was formerly known as Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota, has also been in the spotlight over the last few months, but not for the reasons one may assume. Thanks to the partnership between master developer read more

  • Carrying on a Legacy: The Inaugural Class of the Patti Wilson Leadership Program In 2024, the IDEA community and many others lost someone that served as a guiding light, an anchor and an example to everyone she met—Patti Wilson. In the spirit of continuing her legacy, IDEA, the Wilson family and her long-time employer, Affiliated Engineers, established the Patti Wilson Leadership Program. The first class of the program was announced at IDEA’s CampusEnergy2025 conference in February, with read more