Energy Resources Integration (ERI) is pleased to announce the promotion of Gretchen Schimelpfenig, PE, to Expert Engineer, recognizing her deep technical expertise, leadership, and growing impact across ERI’s work in climate and decarbonization planning, emerging technologies, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Since joining ERI in 2022, Gretchen has become a trusted technical resource to both our clients and our engineering team. Her work combines hands-on engineering expertise with a broader understanding of how emerging technologies, energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization strategies can be translated into practical solutions for facilities and organizations.
At ERI, the Expert Engineer role recognizes more than technical experience. Expert Engineers demonstrate deep subject matter expertise while leading complex projects, mentoring and developing other engineers, building relationships with industry leaders, developing new projects and opportunities, publishing technical research, and representing ERI and our work within the broader energy industry.
Gretchen exemplifies each of these qualities.
She serves as one of ERI’s subject matter experts in climate and decarbonization planning and has established herself as a nationally recognized expert in controlled environment agriculture. As Executive Director of the Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium at Cornell University, Gretchen works alongside researchers, growers, manufacturers, utilities, and other industry leaders to advance energy-efficient technologies and practices for greenhouses and indoor agriculture.
Her recent work at ERI includes leading emerging technology studies involving smart controls for CEA facilities, Facility Management and Power Systems (FMPS), wastewater energy transfer (WET), and new drop-in variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology designed to replace conventional rooftop units. She has also contributed to greenhouse root-zone heating technology development, codes and standards initiatives, and community-scale climate and decarbonization planning, including ERI’s work with the City of Pinole.
The results of this work extend well beyond research. Gretchen’s work with ERI’s CEA clients has helped identify and implement energy strategies and advanced technologies that reduce energy consumption, improve operational performance, and achieve sustainability goals, while delivering millions of dollars in cost savings and utility incentives over the past several years.
Her impact within ERI is equally important. Gretchen regularly shares her expertise with other engineers, supports project teams in solving difficult technical problems, and helps expand the knowledge and capabilities of the company as a whole. She has also taken an active role in improving ERI’s internal operations and developing more effective ways for our team to collaborate and deliver our work.
“Gretchen has become a valued resource to our clients as well as within the ERI team,” said Eric Noller, PE, Founder and Principal of ERI. “She helps our clients identify energy and sustainability solutions and develop practical strategies for decarbonization and other long-term goals. Internally, she is always willing to share her knowledge and help our engineers build expertise in key areas, while also supporting initiatives that make ERI stronger and more effective as a company.”
Gretchen also regularly represents ERI at conferences and industry events, sharing findings from our work and contributing to the broader conversation around emerging technologies, energy efficiency, decarbonization, and sustainable building systems. Through technical presentations, published research, industry collaboration, and her work with GLASE, she continues to strengthen connections between applied engineering, research, utilities, technology providers, and the customers ultimately putting these solutions into practice.
We congratulate Gretchen on her well-earned promotion and look forward to her continued leadership as an Expert Engineer at ERI.
