After a summer of record heat waves, I’m sure we’re all grateful for air conditioning. And we know, it’s not just about comfort or productivity, but with extreme heat, being able to cool buildings keeps people safe. Yet, it comes at a cost: air conditioning today is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and demand is set to triple by 2050.

Maybe you’re thinking that heat pumps are the answer and will come to the rescue? They’re certainly an important part of the solution, but until electric heat pumps are plugged into a grid that is fully powered by clean energy, efficiency matters a great deal. Enter Mojave HVAC. Their liquid desiccant technology can cut the energy needed for cooling commercial spaces by 30-50%. For today’s conversation, I’m joined by Mojave Founder & CEO Phil Farese. We spoke about Phil’s past and how he learned about the economics of energy efficiency, Mojave’s business model, technology, and its potential role in keeping us cool without overheating the planet. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• [03:01] Phil’s background & what led him to founding Mojave HVAC
• [05:07] Mojave & the problem that they’re solving
• [07:24] The limitations of heat pumps 
• [10:36] Focusing on efficiency & using less energy for our HVAC needs
• [13:53] How Mojave’s technology was developed & where the business is at 
• [16:04] Mohave’s target market & how sales are progressing 
• [17:21] Other insights on Mohave’s product 
• [18:21] The overall opportunity for business & impact
• [19:42] Emissions savings through technology adoption
• [20:25] Drivers of demand for Mohave’s product
• [22:26] The pros & cons of the liquid desiccants debate
• [25:37] Mohave’s next milestone & the biggest challenges
• [26:41] Blind spots in addressing climate change & buildings
• [29:27] Today’s climate innovation ecosystem & how it needs to improve

Resources Mentioned

• Mojave HVAC

Connect with Phil Farese

• Connect with Phil on LinkedIn

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