I Am District Energy

At IDEA2026, district energy professionals from around the globe share ideas and insights, as well as recognize the accomplishments of their peers. The Norman R. Taylor Award is named for a former president and executive director who made major contributions to the organization and was known for treating people with dignity and humility. It honors IDEA’s “Person of the Year”: an individual whose career has had an undeniable impact on the industry. The 2026 honoree is Bruce Ander, Former President read more

By Rob Thornton, President & CEO, International District Energy Association (IDEA) As new technologies emerge and the energy landscape evolves to meet the demands of data centers, aging infrastructure, and electrification, district energy is uniquely positioned to lead—and CampusEnergy2026 proved it. This year’s conference delivered our second-highest attendance ever, welcoming nearly 900 returning participants and 430 first-time attendees—a clear signal of continued momentum read more

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