In this episode of Climate Plus, Lincoln Bleveans speaks with Tim Frick, CEO of Mighty Bytes, about the often-overlooked carbon footprint of our digital activities. They discuss the significant environmental impact of the internet, particularly in light of the rise of AI, and explore how digital agencies can innovate to reduce this footprint. Tim shares insights on the EcoGrader tool, which helps organizations assess and improve their digital sustainability practices. The conversation also touches on the challenges of raising awareness about sustainability in tech and the future of sustainable web design as a standard practice.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞-𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞+ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝?

Check out this episode of Climate+ Podcast, where we engage with Bimal Desai, architect and founder and CEO of property technology innovator GrydSense, to explore the transformative potential of building automation in the quest for sustainable architecture. Bimal delves into the evolution of building management systems, highlighting how traditional approaches often rely on siloed technologies that fail to respond dynamically to real-time occupancy and environmental conditions. He argues that, to effectively address the pressing challenges of climate change, we need a holistic integration of various systems— from lighting and HVAC to environmental monitoring—into a unified platform that enables intelligent, responsive building performance.

Bimal emphasizes the importance of enhancing real-time capabilities within these systems to optimize energy efficiency and user comfort. He shares insights on recent advancements that allow for seamless communication between different building components, reducing fragmentation in management and maximizing operational effectiveness. As buildings evolve to meet the demands of modern occupants, Bimal envisions a future where intelligent infrastructure not only supports sustainability but also prioritizes user experience, ultimately leading to healthier and more adaptive spaces for living and working. 

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲?

In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln engages with Melanie Larkins, a leader in sustainability, to explore the intersection of corporate and human sustainability. They discuss Melanie's journey into the field, the importance of meeting people where they are in sustainability conversations, and the evolving challenges and opportunities within corporate sustainability. The conversation highlights the need for leadership support, the balance between sustainability and business needs, and the critical role of well-being in sustainability work. They also touch on the importance of board involvement and the need for a holistic approach to sustainability that considers human experiences.  Check out the episode!

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬?

In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln interviews Gregg Semler, founder and CEO of InPipe Energy, about innovative approaches to renewable energy generation through existing water pipeline infrastructure. They discuss the potential of hydroelectricity, the importance of understanding water systems, and the interconnectedness of energy and water. The conversation also touches on public awareness of water management, opportunities for InPipe Energy, and the challenges faced in the electric transmission sector. Gregg emphasizes the need for innovation in the water industry and the importance of customer success in driving change.

B𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐬. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞?

In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln speaks with Bear Givhan, co-founder and CEO of Earthview Corporation, about the challenges and innovations in monitoring methane emissions from natural gas production. 

They discuss the natural gas industry's processes, the importance of detecting methane leaks, and the regulatory landscape affecting compliance. Bear shares insights on EarthView's continuous monitoring technology and its potential impact on the oil and gas sector, as well as the global opportunities for methane monitoring. The conversation highlights the need for innovation in a legacy industry and the importance of actionable data for operators.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬?

In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln sits down with Mikhail Davis, the Director of Global Market Sustainability at Interface, a leading global flooring solutions company renowned for its commitment to applied sustainability within a traditionally high greenhouse gas industry. Mikhail shares his insights on the pressing challenges and innovative approaches to decarbonizing the built environment, particularly focusing on legacy structures that pose significant sustainability hurdles. He emphasizes the importance of reducing environmental impact and achieving social responsibility in business practices, offering a glimpse into the transformative journey of Interface in redefining sustainability.

Listeners will discover the evolution of sustainability in the corporate world, illustrated by Mikhail's experiences with Wall Street’s initial skepticism. He recounts the early days when industry leaders grappled with ideas around sustainability, often viewed through a mistaken lens of cost rather than opportunity. Mikhail's perspective highlights the significance of transparency and accountability in sustainability efforts, reminding us that genuine commitment is reflected not just in past achievements, but also in the recognition of ongoing challenges. Join us for an enlightening discussion on how businesses can not only thrive financially but also contribute positively to our planet.

"𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝."

In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln and Paull Young discuss the significant role of big tech in addressing climate change, focusing on GitHub's sustainability initiatives and the potential of AI to accelerate climate action. The conversation ranges from the importance of empowering developers to create greener software and contribute to climate-positive projects to the challenges faced by big tech in reducing their environmental impact while scaling operations to AI in the context of sustainability. 

Paull emphasizes the importance of accessibility to AI tools, the need to balance innovation with sustainability, and the transformative potential of AI in various sectors, particularly in agriculture. He also highlights the necessity of education and training to prepare individuals for the rapidly changing technological landscape, and he advocates for the promotion of green software practices among developers.

Curious?  Check it out!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 -- 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?

In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln talks with Newsha Ajami, PhD at Berkeley Lab, an expert in urban water strategy and sustainable resource management. Ajami highlights the pressing global water challenges exacerbated by climate change, pollution, and a rapidly growing population. She sheds light on the significant disparities in access to clean water, emphasizing that millions across the globe face daily struggles to secure this essential resource.

Ajami advocates for innovative solutions, particularly nature-based strategies and green infrastructure, to tackle the water crisis. She stresses the importance of preserving existing natural systems while also engineering solutions that work harmoniously with nature, thereby addressing the fundamental issues with our current water management practices. 

This thought-provoking dialogue not only raises awareness about the critical state of water resources but also inspires listeners to consider how they can contribute to sustainable water practices in their communities. Tune in to learn more about the intersection of water technology, policy, and climate resilience.

Big legacy nukes, small new nukes, and new and seemingly infinite AI – where do we even start to unpack this extraordinary convergence?

In this episode of Climate+, Lincoln Bleveans talks to Jeremy Shook, a principal consultant at power engineering giant Black & Veatch, about the resurgence of nuclear energy in the context of modern demands, particularly fueled by AI. As data centers begin to require unprecedented levels of electricity, the conversation explores how small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging as innovative solutions to meet these energy needs. Jeremy highlights the significant shifts in the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of understanding the economic drivers and technology options available to clients navigating this new landscape of energy production.

Listeners will gain insight into the convergence of traditional large nuclear power plants with cutting-edge technologies, as Jeremy outlines the commercial industry's roots in naval applications and discusses how these influences shape today's energy strategies. As regulatory mandates push companies toward cleaner energy solutions, the episode provides an informative overview of the opportunities and challenges facing the nuclear sector and the collaboration between various technologies including nuclear, heat pumps, and hydrogen. Tune in to discover how these developments can shape a sustainable energy future amid evolving climate challenges.

In this thought-provoking episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln engages with Mark Chung, CEO of Verdigris, as they explore the future of artificial intelligence and its pivotal role in addressing the complex challenges of climate change. 

Using data center energy management as a jumping-off point, Mark emphasizes that the demand for AI is insatiable, likening it to a new species that cohabits our planet—one that consumes electricity rather than food. As AI continues to evolve, it presents an opportunity to revolutionize how we manage our built environments (like data centers) and mitigate their environmental impact. However, Mark warns that if we fail to navigate this technological advancement carefully, we could jeopardize our own survival.

The conversation takes a deep dive into the intricate relationship between AI, economic prosperity, and sustainable outcomes. Mark suggests that solving the multifaceted problems of our time will require not only technical prowess but also a broader understanding of humanity's place within the ecosystem. He encourages young professionals entering the workforce to cultivate both technical competence and a thoughtful perspective on the ethical implications of technology.