Energy Crossroads

In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons the Executive Director Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES), where she is committed to fulfilling the organization's mission to educate and inspire every Texan to adopt solar energy as part of a clean energy future. 

Listen as Pete discusses the benefits of solar, policy opportunities to increase solar adoption, and the continued need for education about this renewable energy source. She also shares details about her exciting career journey in sustainability…a reminder to those pursuing this field, that the career trajectory is not always a straight line.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Felisa Conner, President & CEO of Frazier Revitalization, an organization focused on addressing affordable housing renovation and development, family and youth programming, and resident empowerment.

Listen as Felisa illustrates how energy efficiency can improve the quality life and help to create generational wealth, and we discuss how previous practices have negatively impacted the ability of certain communities to achieve advancements in sustainability.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Dr. Adele Houghton, President of Biositu, LLC, where she works at the intersection of buildings, public health, and climate. 

Healthcare facilities are critical infrastructure in our communities. During a disaster, it is important for all facets of the Emergency Management Cycle to operate at optimal levels. Listen as Dr. Houghton discusses the evolution of Climate Resilience for Healthcare Toolkits which help to ensure that hospitals and healthcare facilities can remain functional during disasters. 

For more information, check out this episode’s additional resources:

Health Care | U.S. Climate Resilience ToolkitArchitectural Epidemiology_Architecture as a Mechanism for Designing a Healthier, More Sustainable, and Resilient World

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Jonathan Kraatz, the Executive Director for the U.S. Green Building Council Texas Chapter, plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable building practices and promoting green initiatives across Texas with a focus on leadership and advocacy and industry engagement.      

Listen as Jonathan discusses how green certifications are supporting efforts to build more resilient, sustainable buildings and cities.  We also discuss exciting sustainable construction and environmental stewardship  developments on the horizon, and actions each of us can take to start making more of this a reality. 

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Nisha Desai, the Founder & CEO of Intention, a startup company creating a climate impact investment platform for retail investors. Nisha is also the managing partner of the Intention Climate Fund, a microfund investing in pre-seed and seed stage climate tech startups across the US.

Listen as Nisha discusses her career journey in the clean energy space, and the upside and innovations related to climate impact investments. The information shared in this episode will excite passionate investors, and should spark interest in passive investors that are considering values-aligned investment strategies.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Dr. Erick C. Jones Jr., an assistant professor in Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Jones investigates how organizations can allocate their limited resources to maximize desired outcomes sustainably, efficiently, and resiliently

Dr. Jones leads the Sustainable and Equitable Allocation of Resources, or SEAR, Lab where he leads teams working on research surrounding energy, supply chains, transportation, climate change, and more

Listen as Dr. Jones discusses the research being conducted by the SEAR Lab and shares his expertise on energy transition and resiliency, and considerations for equitable allocations to ensure that all communities can benefit.

Welcome to Energy Crossroads, where we talk Texas clean energy. We are on a mission to learn more about how clean energy impacts a wide variety of industries. We will explore conversations with industry leaders around clean energy trends and related technology, finance, the built environment, and policy opportunities impacting your organization.

This podcast is powered by HARC, an independent, environmental research nonprofit that applies science to drive energy, air, water, and resilience solutions for a sustainable and equitable future. This series is underwritten by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.

In this episode, Amanda Tullos, founder of GreeNexus Consulting, discusses her mission to create sustainable, regenerative buildings. A licensed architect with numerous certifications, Amanda has overseen over 150 LEED-certified projects and 15 million square feet of sustainable spaces. She highlights the Living Building Challenge’s role in driving market transformation and shares solutions to real-world challenges in green building practices. You don’t want to miss this insightful conversation, tune in now.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts. We want to hear from you. Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Randy Plumlee, Energy Code Program Manager for the South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER), the newest regional energy efficiency organization which aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced building systems and energy efficient products and services in Texas and Oklahoma. He’s a native Texan but loves to travel and see new places. Give him a Paloma, a pool, and family and he’ll want for nothing more. (You have to love his bio!!!)

Listen as Randy shares his expertise to provide an ‘energy codes 101’ for commercial and residential conservation. Following these codes are not just a check-the-box exercise, they serve as drivers to continue to advance energy conservation, resiliency, and sustainability.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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Welcome to Energy Crossroads, where we talk Texas clean energy.  This podcast is powered by HARC, an independent research hub analysis on energy, air, and water issues to people seeking scientific answers, and is underwritten by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), and our sponsor, the Mitchell Foundation. 

This special episode of Energy Crossroads, is a crossover with the podcast, ESG Decoded. In this conversation Marina Badoian-Kriticos and Emma Cox, Executive Vice President of Commercial at ClimeCo, break down key elements of a Just Transition and highlight public projects and corporate strategies that incorporate these elements.

The role of federal initiatives like Justice40 in driving equitable climate investments How community engagement and transparency are vital for inclusive energy transitions Measurement frameworks for tracking progress towards a Just Transition Federally funded projects in Texas that are leading the way in integrating equity into clean energy initiatives

Are you interested in additional insights about advancing social equity and environmental goals in the energy sector? Check out the following resources:

Episode Resources: 

·      HARC Website: https://harcresearch.org/

·       ESG Decoded Podcast: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Rives Taylor, FAIA, LEED Fellow, and Gensler’s Global Design Resilience Co-Leader & Principal. He is a recognized global expert in resilient, high-performance, and sustainable design and has been a faculty member of both Rice University and the University of Houston for 30 years. Rives has authored more than 150 articles for diverse publications like ULI’s Urban Land, WIRED, Fast Company, and Texas Architect and has been an invited speaker at symposiums on five continents. He founded the Houston Chapter of the USGBC and recently received the Center for Houston’s Future’s Impact Award. A member of the prestigious AIA Fellowship, Rives holds a B.A. in Architecture from Rice University and a Master's from MIT.

Due to climate change, once in a generation weather events are now becoming regular occurrences. When extreme natural events happen, it is imperative for businesses and communities to be able to bounce back and function adequately. The emphasis of this episode is how we can build better and recover faster. Learn about engineering and infrastructure advancements that can better withstand extreme nature conditions and keep our businesses and households up and running.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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