ECM Technologies Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Soulier: 3 Things to Know

ECM Technologies has hired Ernst & Young (EY) veteran Andrew Soulier (pictured above) as its first chief sustainability officer (CSO). Here are three things to know about Soulier's expertise and experience, and ECM's focus on HVAC energy efficiency solutions.

1. Business Scope and Scale: ECM Technologies, based in Phoenix, Arizona, specializes in "simple and effective HVAC energy conservation measures." The company has 10 employees listed on LinkedIn as of March 2024, though we don't know an official headcount figure for the company. ECM's focus area involves ThermaClear -- an HVAC solution that protects "the most vital mission critical facilities such as major financial institutions, FEMA & 911 command centers, police & fire facilities, art museums, airports, and libraries," the company asserts. We don't know the company's specific net-zero timeline or goals.

2. Andrew Soulier's Experience and Expertise: Soulier previously was founder and CEO of Net Positive Advisors, a sustainability consulting and strategy firm. Earlier, he focused on various sustainability engagements at Ernst & Young LLP (EY). Soulier is a LEED-Accredited Professional (LEED-AP), Certified Energy Manager and a former IRS Enrolled Agent. Soulier also serves as a volunteer with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

At ECM, Soulier will "oversee all aspects of sustainability for the business, including strategic leadership, market development and stakeholder engagement. He is also responsible for embedding environmental stewardship and leading practice in all aspects of manufacturing, operations and distribution," the company said.

3. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, ECM CEO David Fenton said: “We could not be more thrilled to welcome Andrew to our leadership team. Bringing in a trailblazer of his caliber will help us compound our sustainability efforts and further position ThermaClear as a leading solution to cost-effectively reduce energy and emissions."

ECM Technologies CSO: Why Technology Partners Should Care

Modern HVAC solutions can play a key role in building automation and management solutions. And demand for such solutions appears steady to strong, depending on which market forecast you potentially believe. For instance:

• The global building automation and control system market will reach $168.8 billion by 2031, up from $87.3 billion in 2022, Transparency Market Research forecast. That's a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%, the firm said.
• Spending on building management systems is expected to reach $19.25 billion in 2023, up from $6.65 billion in 2016. That's a 16.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period, according to MarketsAndMarkets. 

The U.S. government also is assisting the market. For instance, the federal government plans to spend $250 million to help federal agencies implement net-zero building projects.

Chief Sustainability Officers, CIOs and Technology Partners: By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.