Philip Scarbro

Philip Scarbro has worked for EFI since 1986. During the first five years, he also worked with Framingham, Massachusetts-based People's Energy Resource Cooperative, one of the founding organizations of Energy Federation, Inc. (EFI), in a one-room office where the two organizations shared space, staff, and resources. During EFI's initial years, Mr. Scarbro facilitated the installation and management of the organization's first computer network, accounting system, and advanced the use of software in support of energy efficiency programs, including developing the first order processing platform used to support mail-in orders for energy-efficient light bulbs from retail customers. He also organized the organization's alternative energy home shows, worked with EFI staff to develop a display used at Boston's Museum of Science, established a retail showroom of energy efficiency products within EFI's offices, coordinated buying cooperatives for wood, oil, and seeds, administered a regional utility-sponsored energy audit program serving Boston Edison customers, and managed Massachusetts' Home Energy Assistance Team low-interest loan program for energy conservation-related home improvements.

In 1994, Mr. Scarbro moved EFI into the Internet age, registering the efi.org domain and developing the organization's first website. In 1999, in support of the numerous gas and electric utility-sponsored print catalogs of energy efficiency-related products, Philip developed EFI's first website through which utility customers could learn about products and place orders. In 2000, he registered energyfederation.org as the organization's eCommerce domain, through which 158 online stores were ultimately deployed. In 2004, he established a Consumer Division at EFI in support of online product offers and in support of those offers, introducing to EFI live chat and email support for end-users. Mr. Scarbro subsequently established EFI's first Facebook page, first Twitter account (twitter.com/efi_org), first e-newsletter, first blog, and he initiated the development and management of EFI's first online incentive processing programs for the ARRA-funded (2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) appliance rebate programs for the states of New Mexico and Tennessee. Philip has also pioneered the creation of a new program model allowing utility-sponsored instant rebates that could be extended to customers placing an order through a third-party online store.

Today Philip also oversees EFI's mission-related grants, working with a subcommittee on EFI's Board of Directors to review grant requests and recommend awards, through which approximately $400,000 has been given to support mission-related projects. He plays an integral role in EFI's business development activities, including preparing proposals, reviewing and selecting the energy efficiency products to be offered through EFI's programs, and guiding the development of future enhancements to be incorporated into EFI's online platforms. In addition, he is responsible for numerous sustainability initiatives at EFI, helping EFI address its own climate footprint and measure the impact of the programs the organization runs.

Prior to his work with EFI Mr. Scarbro was a research assistant with Abt Associates Survey Research Group (1983 to 1986), a research and consulting firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for which he worked on contracts for Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Health, and others. Philip has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts (1982), a Masters degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts (1996), and has completed course work relating to Climate Change through the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He has been a member of the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) since 2010, is a past member of EFI's Board of Directors, and past member and president of the Boston Chapter of Amigos de las Americas.