2026 ASES Technical Divisions Leadership Election Ballot

Solar Thermal Division Chair Nominee:  Henry Vandermark
Statement: The solar thermal division is home to those knowledgeable and interested in solar thermal technologies and their applications. My goal as chair is to increase professional membership and solar thermal content at ASES conferences, webinars, Solar Today, and ASES Solar Tours. While we are not a trade organization, we need industry members and design professionals to help us educate ourselves about best practices and innovations. I encourage participation from groups ranging from research, development and current applications that are solving huge thermal energy needs. The division should be both a home of experts and a place to learn from them.
Bio: Henry brings the hands-on experience of a wide range of solar thermal systems. Described as “a visionary,” Henry founded Solar Wave Energy in 1978. Over the last 30 years, he has been involved in all aspects of the design, installation, and service of solar thermal systems – including overseeing site-built and factory-built collectors and systems and servicing most of the many types of solar hot water systems used in the Northeast. Henry brings the detailed analysis of these mechanical system operations from years of installation and system assessment. He bought his first datalogger back in 1978 and has been looking at sensors ever since. He has taught conference workshops, trade school classes, and programs for teachers. Henry has been honored with the “Cambridge First Day” award given by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the City of Cambridge for his work preserving the environment – and the Distinguished Service Award from the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. He continues to consult on solar thermal designs for building applications.

Sustainability Division Chair Nominee:  Qiuhua (Lisa) Duan
Statement: Solar-powered futures must be sustainable, equitable, and measurable. As Sustainability Chair, I will strengthen ASES’s climate leadership by embedding lifecycle thinking, justice-centered engagement, and transparent metrics across our programs. My research in building-integrated photovoltaics and community thermal resilience informs practical strategies that connect technology with people: decarbonize buildings, strengthen grids, and serve communities. I will convene cross-sector partners, support student leaders, and curate evidence-based guidance on circular materials, embodied carbon, and resilience planning. Together, we will track progress, celebrate solutions, and elevate diverse voices so that ASES remains the trusted home for rigorous and actionable sustainability for all.
Bio: Dr. Qiuhua Duan is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama. Her research is centered on the development of sustainable and intelligent buildings, with a specific emphasis on achieving energy-efficient building envelopes.

Energy Economics Division Chair Nominee: Daniel Simon
Statement: Solar energy has developed from a niche product to the largest source of new energy generation in the US and around the world. Although solar energy is currently facing policy headwinds in the US, it is being adopted at an accelerating rate around the world. This is a direct result of policies in multiple countries that promoted solar installation which incentivized rapid growth of solar manufacturing which enabled learning curve and scale efficiencies to reduce the cost of solar exponentially, and that spurred yet more growth. If solar costs continue to decline relative to other energy sources, this cycle of growth and learning/scale will proceed. Our current challenge is to identify ways to accelerate the adoption of solar in the US and around the world. In general this will require eliminating barriers to installing solar and continued education about the economic benefits of solar to the broader public.
Bio: Daniel Simon has been a member of ASES for twenty years and attends ASES annual conferences most years. He has served as Vice Chair of the Clean Energy and Water Division for many years (until that was folded into the Sustainability Division a few years ago) and most recently as Vice Chair of the Photovoltaics Division. Daniel has been fascinated with solar energy since he was a young boy and seeks ways to speed the transition to a low-carbon economy. He has studied engineering in undergrad (mechanical), physics in grad school (optical design), and business post-graduate (MBA). Daniel is an inventor, entrepreneur, and most recently an angel investor (past ~18 months). He works for the Helen Brach Foundation, which is focused primarily on helping respond to the immediate needs of individuals, but believes his interest in ASES has helped ensure grant support for the fine work of this organization in recent years.