This year, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) returned to The Gem State for the 2026 Efficiency Exchange conference in Boise, Idaho.
Idaho’s reputation for natural beauty is certainly earned – the drive out was proof enough – and Boise is a city growing in population, opportunity and demand on the energy grid.
There were workshops, keynotes and booths from partners like CLEAResult, Idaho Power, Energy Trust of Oregon, Seattle City Light and Avista Utilities. Heat pumps galore! Reports from the cutting edge.
Before I left, some of my queer community reached out to check: surely I’d read the stories? Heard quotes from politicians who are too preoccupied with which bathroom I use to do their job on behalf of Idahoans?
But I had a really lovely time. I stayed in a sweet neighborhood, surrounded by families with dogs. Booked an Airbnb with a hot tub (free business hack). The bagel shop around the corner had this killer open-faced chicken salad sandwich. The streets were lively and cute. People said hello to me.
And I never really felt that far from home – the Pacific Northwest shares ecological systems, an eye for adventure and generous people who care about the future.
After four years of telling NEEA’s story – at their conferences, award ceremonies and holiday parties – it felt like a family road trip. Returning to summer camp after a year away.
Two things that jump out every time we’re together: the passion these people share for their field, and how much they all enjoy working together. This year, watching them count wins and loses in preparation for our robot-inundated future, what stood out the most was the conviction of their focus:
They do this work to make an impact on people’s lives.
Lower energy bills, fewer power outages, systems that are more resilient to disaster. Keeping the lights on because people need those lights!
Maybe we’ve yet to see the true collective power, in our society, of people coming together to support one another. But there are pockets where it’s already happening! Against the grain and despite the odds.
Human Centric Media is obsessed with telling these stories because they’re the roots of a better future.
You just have to show up and follow the love.
The key to successful storytelling is curiosity. You can’t skip it.
It’s the bedrock underneath all of the relationships in these photographs. It’s what keeps me safe in a room full of cowboys. Human curiosity will carry us through cynicism and automation. I believe that.
If there’s one thing human beings are better at than machines, it’s caring for one another.
With the first day of EFX 2026 in the books, NEEA’s guests and partners spent the late afternoon celebrating in the sunshine at the Basque Cultural Center down the street. The seafood paella left an IMPRESSION (second only to these smiles). I went back for three portions 🤫
Something nice about curiosity is that it’s hard to fake. Everyone can feel the presence of an open mind. It’s an invitation to connect about ideas, learn something and move forward stronger.
When I first started working with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Human Centric Media was just a budding idea. I knew that the way we treat subjects (thoughtful engagement and curiosity) was different, but the mechanics of why it worked were a bit more cloudy. I was riding on talent and trusting the process.
Being able to build an agency, with a clear methodology and team behind it, alongside partners like the NEEA has been kismet. The same core elements that make the alliance successful (warm rapport and resonant relationships) are what give our stories impact – driving engagement and engendering trust.
Year after year, you notice the way folks show up for each other in little gestures. It builds up over time until everyone is succeeding in it together, and singing its praises.
It’s how movements are made and sustained.
The best thing about quality partnerships is that the results are plain to see.
