California Center for Sustainable Energy

As Ecos’ Senior Research Fellow, Chris Calwell explores new research opportunities for Ecos, as well as speaking publicly about sufficiency and progressive efficiency as they relate to changing society’s course of consumption and stabilizing the global climate.

Calwell co-founded Ecos after serving seven years in the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Energy Program. Internationally recognized for his ability to successfully make the technical, economic and political arguments for setting stringent product efficiency specifications for voluntary programs and mandatory government standards, Calwell’s areas of expertise include external and internal AC- DC power supplies, battery chargers, computers, servers, televisions, set-top boxes, monitors, residential lighting (fluorescent and general-service incandescent), ceiling fans, swimming pools, heat pump water heaters and automotive tires.

Along with three peers, he was honored by ACEEE as a Champion of Energy Efficiency for his pioneering research and policy efforts in external power supply efficiency. He has served on the editorial board of OnEarth since 1995 and on Home Energy’s board from 1995 to 2006. In addition, he is a founding member of the Southwest Colorado Renewable Energy Society.

Calwell holds a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies from Trinity University and a master’s degree in science from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California at Berkeley.

Calwell will be participating at the CSSE Clean Energy Conference on the session: "Zero Energy Homes."