Contact: John Ackerly, President
Alliance for Green Heat
info@forgreenheat.org
March 2, 2026 - The Alliance for Green Heat (AGH), a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting cleaner, more efficient wood and pellet heating, is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Hanson to its Board of Directors.
Hanson brings more than a decade of experience advancing energy efficiency, advanced wood heating technologies, and sustainable forestry policy at the state, regional, and national levels.
Most recently, Hanson served as Senior Program Manager for Residential HVAC at the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, where she led a committee of utility efficiency program administrators from across the United States and Canada. In that role, she managed initiatives to accelerate the adoption of high-performing heating and cooling systems, helped guide updates to electric HVAC specifications in response to new federal standards, and supported strategic electrification and demand response efforts in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Previously, Hanson was Wood Energy Coordinator at the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation. There, she promoted advanced wood heat solutions to residents and businesses, secured federal funding for incentive and technical assistance programs, and helped develop Vermont’s Biomass Renewable Energy Standard rule. Her work strengthened markets for low-grade wood, supported sustainable forest management, and contributed to Vermont’s climate and renewable energy goals.
“Emma brings a rare combination of technical knowledge, policy experience, and on-the-ground program management,” said John Ackerly, President of the Alliance for Green Heat. “Her leadership in both advanced wood heat and high-efficiency HVAC markets will help guide our efforts to ensure that modern wood heating plays a constructive role in a low-carbon future.”
Hanson holds a Master of Science in Agriculture, Food & Environmental Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and French from Tufts University. She lives in Waitsfield, Vermont.
“Modern wood heat is one of the solutions to the climate challenges we’re facing. It works symbiotically with heat pumps to ensure adequate heat in all conditions and its fuel is an essential part of a forest economy that helps to keep forests as forests, essential to climate resilience going forward. I’m thrilled to join the AGH board and help bring these heating solutions together," Hansen said.
For more information about the Alliance for Green Heat, visit www.forgreenheat.org.
