Energy for the People

Energy for the People (EFTP) is a Certified B Corp, which provides independent energy services, focused on designing and delivering integrated clean energy solutions, such as solar power, energy efficiency, energy storage and smart energy management, including micro-grid and off-grid precincts.
EFTP’s social purpose is to address social disadvantage through the creation of education, training and employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed, and people at risk of homelessness.

Alex Houlston has managed the clean energy aspects of major ($200m+) housing redevelopment and renovation projects, and initiated innovative sustainability and clean energy solutions through his roles in the affordable housing sector, including (client-side) development of the business model and business case for a precinct-scale cogeneration project, within an embedded network, including shared infrastructure across 800 apartments for the Department of Human Services, a zero-emission home retrofit project in partnership with the CSIRO, and a fuel cell trial in the public housing sector.
His passion for innovation, soft and hard project management skills, and personal commitment, has enabled Alex to consistently deliver innovation within conservative organisations, often dealing directly at Executive and Ministerial levels within state and local government, and the private sector. Alex has accumulated an excellent working knowledge of commercial and regulatory constraints to distributed energy through practical experience. Alex also managed the establishment of energy performance contract arrangements across 40 high-rise public housing assets, and is now managing their delivery. Alex has a keen focus on energy projects, which help achieve social justice outcomes.

Tosh Szatow has a bachelor of Economics and Social Science from the University of Sydney, and a Masters Engineering (Sustainable Energy) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. His experience in energy markets is across research, advocacy, consulting and management.

Tosh previously managed the Intelligent Grid Project at CSIRO where he was second author on a 600-page report detailing research into the value proposition for distributed energy in Australia. The report included economic, engineering, social science, policy and regulatory analysis which Tosh synthesised and communicated to Government, industry and community stakeholders over an intensive two-year engagement period. He has led the design and implementation of multi-million dollar research projects, and engagement with senior executives in the property and energy sector on complex energy innovation challenges. He has published research in top-tier academic journals, provided over forty briefings and presentations to public and private audiences on the topic of distributed energy and is a regular contributor to Australia’s most read online news sources for renewable energy – climate spectator and reneweconomy. He is passionate about the creative application of well-grounded knowledge, to deliver social and environmental change at scale.