Conservation Services Group (CSG) today announces Paul I. Berkowitz as director of national residential products and markets. In this newly created position, he is responsible for the design and development of energy efficiency services and fostering innovative partnerships and program directions.

Berkowitz brings more than 20 years of energy policy, technical expertise and management skills to CSG. His vast knowledge in all aspects of the business, from residential energy efficiency programs, to appliance recycling, to policy development and regulatory issues, will make him a strong player on the CSG team, according to Stephen Cowell, CEO of CSG.

Most recently, Berkowitz was employed by D&R International Ltd., an energy and environmental consulting firm in Silver Spring, Md. There, he led support and strategic planning and directions for D&R's portion of the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program. Berkowitz also developed and facilitated successful partnerships and created new and innovative program directions with his clients the DOE and EPA, in addition to ENERGY STAR partners. Prior to joining D&R, Berkowitz was Director of Energy Efficiency Services for Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. (WECC), a non-profit consulting firm where he designed, directed and assisted with the implementation of the ENERGY STAR appliance and lighting program. During his 11 years with the firm, Berkowitz also spearheaded community projects in Wis. and Iowa, worked with energy efficiency collaboratives in New England and N.J., and implemented process evaluations of water efficiency and residential retrofit programs. There, Berkowitz also developed a large number of program designs for energy-efficiency efforts targeted to residences and small commercial facilities. Before joining WECC, Berkowitz spent four years with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in several senior level "program design" positions. He began his career in the Wisconsin Department of Commerce as a program and planning analyst implementing the nation's first weatherization code targeting multifamily properties.

An avid environmentalist and advocate of renewable energy, Berkowitz has worked on a variety of special projects for the Arizona Solar Energy Commission. Additionally,
Berkowitz has designed and built several solar greenhouses in Arizona and has installed many solar thermal and water systems.

Cowell said, "Not only does Paul bring extensive industry knowledge and management skills to the table, he is an environmentalist who cares about having a positive impact on society. We are very excited to have Paul join us and we are confident that he will help support CSG's large-scale efficiency programs throughout the country as well as strengthen our broader entrepreneurial and environmental mission."

Berkowitz received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin. He also holds a master's in environmental planning (solar technology and energy policy analysis) from Arizona State University and completed Ph.D. coursework in Energy Policy Analysis. Over the years, his papers have appeared in numerous consumer and trade publications and he is a regular speaker at industry events. A native of Long Island, N.Y., Berkowitz currently resides in Madison, Wis.

Conservation Services Group, now in its 20th year, is a non-profit organization based in Westborough, Mass. The company provides energy saving strategies, products, services and technologies to consumers and businesses nationwide.