Ivy Energy has been making waves in the clean energy industry with its revolutionary Virtual Grid software, which has now garnered the prestigious Gold Edison Award in the Critical Human Infrastructure, Grid Optimization category. The esteemed Edison Awards recognize the very best in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design, and innovation, and Ivy Energy's groundbreaking work in enabling mass clean energy adoption in multi-unit buildings certainly fits the bill.
The Journey to Gold:
The road to the Edison Awards began back in September 2022 when Ivy’s VP of Marketing submitted Ivy’s nomination. From there, it was submitted to the Edison Award’s Steering Committee along with 6,000 other companies vying for a Gold. The final ballot was determined by an independent judging panel comprising over 3,000 senior business executives and academics from various fields, including product development, design, engineering, science, marketing, and education, as well as past winners. In February 2023, Ivy was informed that they were selected as a finalist and invited to the award ceremony at Thomas Edison's estate in Fort Myers, Florida, on April 20th.
A Memorable Experience:
The Edison Awards festivities kicked off with Day 1 featuring a tour of the Edison Ford Estate, which provided an insightful look into the lives and innovations of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The welcome reception was held at the Edison Winter Estates, offering an exceptional networking opportunity for Ivy’s CEO Dover Janis and VP of Marketing Austin Young, as they mingled and connected with many incredible innovators from various fields.
On Day 2, the event was enriched by several remarkable keynote speakers, including Patrick Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, and 2023 Edison Achievement Award Honoree. The 2023 Lewis Latimer Fellows were introduced, showcasing the talent of exceptional Black innovators participating in this one-year fellowship designed to unlock the potential of exponentially-advancing technologies and encourage the fusion of arts, culture, and technology. Many other leaders in their respective fields spoke and shared ideas and frameworks for success, providing an excellent opportunity for the Ivy team to learn valuable insights.
The day's events culminated in an opening reception, allowing attendees to unwind with a cocktail, sample decadent hors d'oeuvres, and continue networking with the extraordinary individuals they had met throughout the day.
A Night to Remember, The Awards Ceremony:
The highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony, where the 2023 Edison Awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze Winners were announced. The prestigious Edison Achievement Award was presented to Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, and Sir Jonathan Ive, Co-Founder of LoveFrom and former Chief Design Officer at Apple Inc. Ivy Energy's groundbreaking Virtual Grid software was honored with the Gold Edison Award in the Grid Optimization category, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey.
The ceremony was hosted by Katie Linendoll, a TV personality and consumer technology expert, who captivated the audience with her engaging style as the Master of Ceremonies. The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Jon Cropper, Founder of Futurlogic Advanced Concepts and Co-founder of the Lewis Latimer Fellowship; Patrick Gelsinger, CEO of Intel and 2023 Edison Achievement Award Honoree; Sir Jonathan Ive, designer of the iPhone, iPad, iMac, and many of Apple's most popular devices, as well as Co-Founder of LoveFrom; and Wendell Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Corning Incorporated.
These esteemed speakers shared their insights, experiences, and wisdom, inspiring the audience and elevating the event's impact. Their presence underscored the importance of innovation, collaboration, and the pursuit of excellence in driving positive change in the world.
A Bright Future Ahead:
Ivy Energy's journey to the top has been fueled by its commitment to innovation and sustainability, as well as a relentless pursuit of excellence in creating a better future for shared communities. Ivy’s Virtual Grid software has revolutionized how multi-unit buildings can adopt clean energy sources, efficiently removing scope 3 emissions, enhancing grid reliability, and reducing peak demand.
Ivy Energy's CEO & Co-Founder, Dover Janis, expressed his enthusiasm about the achievement, stating, "We are incredibly honored to receive this prestigious Edison Gold Award. This recognition attests to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who are committed to developing innovative and sustainable solutions that benefit everyone." He also emphasized the company's focus on breaking new ground, simplifying complex processes, challenging the status quo, and consistently exploring ways to drive positive change in the world through software and new thinking.
With the Edison Gold Award now under its belt, Ivy Energy is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of clean energy innovation. The company's trailblazing Virtual Grid software is just the beginning, as Ivy Energy seeks to empower shared communities in their pursuit of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.
To learn more about Ivy Energy and their innovative Virtual Grid software, visit https://www.ivy-energy.com/.
To learn more about all of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners of the 2023 Edison Awards, visit https://edisonawards.com/2023-winners-dev/
Pioneering the Future of Multi-Tenant Solar Energy Management
2024 was a trailblazing year for Ivy Energy, where we shattered barriers, redefined possibilities, and delivered innovative solutions to address the multi-tenant solar split incentive challenge. By driving product advancements, forging impactful partnerships, and scaling operational processes, we empowered multi-tenant properties to embrace clean energy with confidence.
A Year of Growth and Market Expansion
Ivy has grown its active project pipeline 450% compared to 2023, with a line of sight to clear +600% in active projects by the end of the year. Our tech-enabled solutions empower more communities than ever. With $18M in Series A funding (Read more) and the strategic acquisition of Glow Energy (Read more), we are poised for unprecedented growth and impact. This investment enables us to enhance our technology, streamline operations, and expand our reach into new markets nationwide.
Entering new markets with increased resources allows us to address diverse energy challenges and deliver tailored solutions to property owners and tenants. Additionally, the launch of our consulting arm provides expert guidance for our clients and partners to save money and enhance ROI while navigating intricate solar investments.
Meaningful Operational Updates
At Ivy, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating digital tools that empower our clients and their tenants:
- PropTech Integrations: Partnered with RealPage, Entrata, and Yardi to automate rent roll syncing, move-in/move-out updates, and direct charge posting to resident ledgers. These integrations reduce monthly processing time by up to 2 hours per property while enhancing data accuracy and operational efficiency.
- NEM Credit Delay Optimization: The Utility Coordination team adopted the CPUC informal complaint process to reduce delays in NEM activation after PV solar system commissioning. This improvement cut the average resolution time for delayed NEM credits from 123 days in 2023 to 49 days in 2024, allowing property owners to see Net Operating Income over two months sooner on average.
Platform Advancements that Lead the Industry
Our engineering team broke new ground, ensuring our platform stays ahead of the curve:
- Migrated to a new infrastructure processing system for faster processing and further automation improvements across operational features.
- Introduced IvyDual in response to regulatory requirements in California, which allows us to enter new markets where consolidated billing is not viable.
- Achieved SOC 2 Compliance, reaffirming our commitment to data security. (Read more)
- Built initial public API for Conservice integration and new utility data access pathways, strengthening our platform’s versatility and reliability.
Empowering Positive Experiences with CX
At Ivy Energy, our customers rely on us as true partners in their clean energy journey, helping them achieve long-term NOI growth while providing exceptional support for property owners and tenants. We consistently deliver this experience by simplifying complex utility processes and offering our white-glove service that ensures our clients feel supported, informed, and empowered to succeed. This year, Ivy’s Customer Experience Team launched two significant platforms:
- Ivy Implementation Portal: A step-by-step, transparent portal that simplifies solar implementation for our clients and partners across multiple organizations. (Watch a walkthrough of the new portal here.)
- Resident Help Center: Educate tenants about the solar program with helpful resources and offer direct support online or by phone. (Explore the Help Center)
Shaping the Future Through Thought Leadership
In 2024, Ivy Energy reinforced its position as an industry leader; our Virtual Grid 3.0 impressed the judges and earned first place in Solar Power World’s “Best in Show” award for large-scale solar innovation. (Read more)
Leadership team members Alex Dogan, Tanya Kuhn, and Sean Nam were celebrated in San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Technology 2024 for their contributions to advancing sustainable energy. (Read more) Ivy was also featured in Alt Energy Magazine (Read more), San Diego Business Journal (Read more), and on Solar Academy. (Read more)
Logan Carter showcased Ivy’s groundbreaking innovations in a main stage speech at Cretech NY (Watch here), an engaging appearance on the IMN Podcast (Listen here), and a deep-dive interview with Chris Moreno, also known as “Mr. PropTech.” (Watch here) Ivy’s policy team further expanded its influence by authoring a Model VNEM Whitepaper, a critical guide to enabling multi-tenant solar models nationwide. (Read the Whitepaper).
Measurable Environmental Impact
This year, Ivy Energy amplified its environmental contributions, with contracted units in implementation set to offset an astounding 109 million pounds of CO2. Meanwhile, active units have already offset 9 million pounds of CO2, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to reducing carbon emissions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we celebrate 2024’s successes, we are always looking to the future. In 2025, we’ll continue to push boundaries, deliver innovations that empower our clients, improve tenant experiences, and lead the multi-tenant housing sector toward a sustainable future.
A Message from Dover Janis, CEO of Ivy Energy
“2024 was a year of progress and adaptation. While utility-caused delays challenged our growing pipeline, our focus on agile problem-solving reduced their impact and kept the market moving forward. This is a testament not only to the dedication and focus of our team but also to the strong macro-level foundation that the onsite energy business model provides for real estate owners, even in the face of monopoly-driven resistance. With a large and expanding customer base and hundreds of projects, we have continued to validate the transformative potential of clean energy solutions for shared communities. I’m incredibly proud of our team—now among the most mature, knowledgeable, and experienced in the industry—as we trail blaze the path forward. The market is primed to grow and drive transformative change in local communities. I’m deeply grateful to our partners and customers, whom we have the privilege of serving every day as we continue to lead the way.”
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