Buckner named Energy Innovator of the Year
Published 10:30 am Saturday, January 7, 2017
- Randy Buckner earned the Energy Innovator of the Year award. CONTRIBUTED
HUNTSVILLE – The Association of Energy Engineers named Randy Buckner with Avion Solutions Inc. as “Energy Innovator of the Year.”
Buckner accepted the award at the 39th World Energy Engineering Congress at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. in December.
With its International Awards Program, the Association of Energy Engineers acknowledges the important achievements that individuals, organizations, agencies and corporations are completing in the energy field.
“This award is conferred to individuals and organizations that have achieved national and international prominence in promoting the practices and principles of energy engineering and energy management,” AEE Executive Director Albert Thumann said.
In just three years, Buckner has transitioned from a newcomer in the energy field to a professional energy engineer in the Huntsville community. He works as Director of Research and Development at Avion.
“Buckner is instrumental in virtually every aspect of the evolving energy market. His passion has changed the landscape for Avion Solutions Inc. and the City of Huntsville and surrounding community,” Thumann said.
His personal outreach includes hosting plant tours to school-age groups and volunteering on school advisory boards where he can contribute directly to high school students aspiring to be energy engineers.
Even his home is a renewable energy research project. Buckner lives on a farm where he has converted it into a renewable energy center supplying extra power to the grid.
He supported a wind tunnel setup in a barn for the 2015 Switchblade Competitions, sponsored by Alabama Center for Clean and Sustainable Energy. Sponsors were U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Center, Alabama sustainable energy and Avion.
Buckner continues to energize his community by leading the Better Buildings Challenge at many Huntsville facilities, including the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and Huntsville City Schools campuses. His skills and experience has saved Avion Solutions more than 50 percent of their annual energy bill.
For more information about Avion Solutions Inc., visit avionsolutions.com.
