The Green Hour

Join us on a journey into the world of living buildings with a spotlight on Georgia Tech's Kendeda Building. Uncover the magic where architecture meets sustainability, as we delve into its groundbreaking design, regenerative features, and the passionate visionaries driving its impact. From energy surplus to eco-friendly materials, tune in to explore how this living marvel is reshaping our understanding of buildings and the environment.

Join us on a captivating journey as we explore the interconnected world of honey bees and their profound impact on our environment. In this episode, we're not only unraveling the crucial role honey bees play in pollination and the ecosystem, but we're also weaving in the inspiring story of Brooke Vacovsky. Through her unexpected love for honey bees, we'll witness how a computer science major's path took a transformative turn during a study abroad experience in Copenhagen. From that moment, her journey led to volunteering at Georgia Tech's beehives and eventually founding her own beekeeping venture, Southeast Beescapes. Brooke's story exemplifies the synergy between passion and environmental stewardship. Tune in to discover how these remarkable creatures shape our world, the challenges they face, and the sustainable practices that can safeguard their future. This episode offers a holistic perspective on honey bees' significance, both as vital contributors to our ecosystem and agricultural landscape.

For a lot of people, their only experience with city zoning is from playing SimCity. While SimCity may have introduced some aspects of zoning, it only scratches the surface of its real-world complexities. In this episode, we delve into the profound impact of zoning on our environment, including its role in promoting urban sprawl and car-dependent lifestyles that contribute to increased carbon emissions. Join us as we uncover the untold environmental consequences of zoning and discuss alternative approaches to create more sustainable and eco-friendly cities. It's time to reimagine the relationship between zoning and the environment for a greener future.

Our guest on The Green Hour today is Nolan Gray, a distinguished expert in zoning and urban planning. I had the pleasure of meeting Nolan at an environmental conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he delivered a compelling talk on zoning and discussed his book titled "Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It," which was published in 2022.

Nolan Gray currently serves as the research director for California YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) and has dedicated the majority of his career to the study of zoning. He brings a wealth of practical experience to the table, having worked as a planner in New York City. Nolan is also an Affiliated Scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he advises state and local policymakers on land-use policy.

With a Ph.D. in urban planning underway at UCLA, Nolan is actively contributing to the academic understanding of urban planning. He is widely recognized for his insightful contributions, with his work appearing in prominent publications such as The Atlantic, Bloomberg CityLab, and The Guardian. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Nolan Gray is a member of the esteemed America's Future 1995 Society, further demonstrating his standing as a respected authority in his field.

Picture a world where clean water flows freely, nourishing every community and quenching every thirst. Unfortunately, the reality is far from this idyllic vision. Across the globe, millions of people face the daily struggle of accessing clean and safe water. It's a crisis that not only affects their health and well-being but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality. In the face of this challenge, there are individuals and organizations tirelessly working to make a difference. One such organization is FreeWater, a trailblazing initiative that aims to transform the way we think about water accessibility and sustainability.Founded by Josh Cliffords, FreeWater is a mission-driven company with a singular goal: to bring clean water to those who need it most. But they're not just another charitable organization. FreeWater is reimagining the concept of giving by providing a tangible product that costs nothing – free water. Their innovative approach challenges the profit-driven model that prevails in the bottled water industry and puts the power back in the hands of the people. By utilizing creative packaging and sustainable materials, FreeWater tackles not only the issue of water scarcity but also the growing problem of plastic waste.In this episode, we embark on a captivating journey into the world of FreeWater. We'll explore the origins of the organization, tracing Josh's transformative experience encountering Nigerian refugees in Rome and the profound impact it had on shaping his mission. We delve into the unique strategies employed by FreeWater, such as leveraging social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to spread their message and engage with a global audience. Additionally, we'll uncover their innovative approach to packaging, sustainability, and building strategic partnerships to maximize their impact.

Imagine a place where world-renowned government officials, heads of state, C-suite executives, and leaders of nonprofits all come together to speak on the world's most pressing issues. It would be the event of the year! Well, I'm not talking in hypotheticals because this event is real, and it is called the Concordia Annual Summit. The Concordia Annual Summit is the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum alongside the UN General Assembly.

Our guest on The Green Hour today is Matthew Swift, Co-founder and CEO of Concordia. Since its inception in 2011, Matthew has grown Concordia into the leading nonpartisan global affairs forum dedicated to forming cross-sector partnerships that address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time. Hosting summits in New York City, Miami, Bogotá, Athens, Madrid, and London, Concordia actively bridges the divide between the business, government, and nonprofit communities.

The speakers at the Concordia Annual Summit are distinguished. Among them are former US President George W. Bush, former US President Bill Clinton, current US President Joe Biden, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ghana, Rwanda, and Liberia have also appeared, as have business legends Warren Buffett, George Soros, and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia. Entertainers Jennifer Lawrence, Jameela Jamil, and Chris Paul have all spoken at the summit. Let's not forget Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump, First Ladies Jill Biden, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton.

With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the Concordia Annual Summit has become the meeting ground of the world's trailblazers in sustainability. Each year, new discussions around sustainability are held with government officials, C-suite executives, and nonprofit leaders.

Picture the last time you received a package - can you even remember what it looked like, or were you more concerned with the contents inside? Most of us see packaging as a shell that protects our items, and we often discard packaging after we take out the contents. You would be surprised to know that packaging contributes a fair amount to global waste each year.

In this episode, we are joined by Cory Connors, Director of Sustainable Packaging for Orora Packaging Solutions and Host of the Sustainable Packaging Podcast. Cory has dedicated his life to finding solutions to the global issue of packaging waste.

Not only does Cory excel in his role as the Director of Sustainable Packaging, but he has also made a significant impact through his popular TikTok channel (89,000 followers and 2.5m likes) and his own podcast, "The Sustainable Packaging Podcast." With over 100 episodes and a wide range of influential guests, Cory's podcast has become a go-to resource for anyone interested in sustainability and packaging.

Prepare to be enlightened as we explore the essence of sustainable packaging, the power of innovative design, and the crucial role of consumer education. Together, we will uncover the advantages of embracing sustainable packaging practices and the impact they can have on the business realm. Looking into the future, we catch a glimpse of the upcoming trends and developments that will shape the future of packaging. Join the conversation as we leave you with a powerful realization: packaging is more than just a means to protect and deliver products—it is a gateway to a sustainable future.

Follow Cory on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@corygated?lang=en

Follow Cory's Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sustainable-packaging/id1566653160

It's easy to overlook the beauty and craftsmanship that architecture offers. But what if we could shift our perspective and reconnect with the spaces that surround us?

In this episode, we are joined by Blake Jackson, the Global Director of Sustainability for NORR, a renowned architecture, engineering, and design firm. Blake's journey in architecture began in the rural town of Chatsworth, GA, where his passion for shaping spaces took root. Blake has cultivated an impressive career spanning over 22 years in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Currently serving as the Global Director of Sustainability for NORR, a prestigious integrated firm with over 800 professionals in architecture, interior design, planning, and engineering, Blake's expertise influences projects across 14 locations worldwide, including the US, UK, UAE, and Canada. With a focus on 12 major building sectors, Blake spearheads NORR's commitment to sustainable design and practices.

Beyond his role at NORR, Blake is also dedicated to sharing his knowledge and shaping the next generation of architects as a professor. His contributions extend to various advisory boards, including the esteemed University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Interior Design Program. Blake's passion for advocacy has led him to serve as the Vice President of Advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects from 2016 to 2018. He is also an invited lecturer at prestigious universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and Clemson.

Blake's remarkable contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2015, he was recognized as one of the "40 under 40" by the Building Design and Construction Magazine, acknowledging his outstanding achievements and impact in the industry. Furthermore, in 2021, Blake was honored as a LEED Fellow by the US Green Building Council, solidifying his expertise and leadership in sustainable architecture.

Have you ever been to a large stadium or arena for an athletic event and wondered what happens to all of the food left under the seats? If not, look at how much food is left under the seats next time you are at a game. The amount will astonish you and make you wonder if it is a human problem or an infrastructure issue in the arena. Bin placement in arenas is very strategic, as is educational material(s) explaining where items should go. No longer does it only matter about picking up the trash, but what is more important is where that trash goes. One arena has become the prototype for managing waste and prioritizing sustainability. State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, not only believes in environmental sustainability, it is woven into their DNA and every decision they make.

Our guest on The Green Hour today is Sofi Armenakian, Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. Sofi is a trailblazer for sustainability in the sports and entertainment industries. She was the first in the NBA to hold a director-level sustainability title, and she led the arena to become the first arena in the world to achieve TRUE platinum zero waste certification. Under her leadership, State Farm Arena has become a case study for sustainability in large arenas. In 2022 alone, the arena diverted 2.5 million pounds of waste from landfills, composted 734,000 pounds of food and organic material, reused or donated 610,000 pounds of materials like food, electronics, clothing, crates, and pallets, and reduced annual waste by 160,000 pounds by eliminating paper tickets, individual condiment packets, and disposable service ware.

Sofi's path to where she is today is everything but ordinary - being born in Armenia, growing up in Germany, and moving to the US without knowing any English. She overcame the language barrier and is now trilingual (Armenian, German, and English). State Farm Arena is a sustainability success story, but as you will hear, so is Sofi's life, which is the embodiment of the American Dream.

When I say the word ‘mining,’ where does your mind go? Do you think of heavy machinery digging into the ground? Or think of specific mining like coal mining? Or maybe you think of crypto mining which an entirely different ballgame. One aspect of mining that most people are unaware of is the ESG data collection on mine sites.

Mining companies have to comply with specific ESG standards, so entire teams are designated for the tracking, gathering, and reporting of ESG data. The current method of tracking and gathering this data is inefficient and non-scalable. The method involves an individual writing the findings in a field notebook, translating that data into a spreadsheet, and creating a report for senior management. Multiple steps and people involved when there should be only one person and system.

Our guest on The Green Hour today solved this very problem by creating a Software-as-a-Service platform for ESG data collection in the mining industry. Trevor Jones is the CEO and founder of Lynx Global Intelligence, a company bridging the gap between ESG, technology, and mining. With Lynx’s platform, people on the mine sites can ditch the field notebooks and spreadsheets, replacing them with an intuitive software solution. Lynx’s platform provides real-time capabilities, allows forward planning and responsiveness, and brings cost and time savings. Now, instead of using multiple platforms to achieve ESG data collection and reporting, you only need one. Check out Lynx's website - https://www.lynxglobalintelligence.com/