Podcasts about Energy efficiency

Are you justifying the cost of training or watching it drain from your bottom line? When budgets tighten, training is often the first to go. But for those leading in building automation, that is a costly mistake. Our latest episode explores how to make a compelling business case for training. From direct costs to hidden efficiency losses, you'll hear how to frame training as an investment with measurable ROI, not an overhead line item. Topics Covered: Why undertrained technicians lead to slippage, burnout, and rework How to calculate the payback period on training investments The true cost of travel and practical alternatives Aligning training with your project backlog for maximum impact How training directly influences efficiency and retention Make your workforce your competitive edge. This episode gives you the framework to start.

Movies love to show architects creating away at a drafting table or sitting picturesquely at a cafe, sketchbook in hand. It's romantic, this vision of a endlessly creative mind conjuring beautiful buildings from some eternal, internal well.  But *SPOILER ALERT* no one uses a drafting table anymore (except throwbacks and nostalgia lovers). In fact, I do all my sketching on a tablet. But there is another thing we do all the time...We spend A LOT of time answering questions. At this week's open office hours I answered questions about: How to tune your remodel to a house built and expanded over eras. Ways to upgrade a fireplace facade. When to call an engineer. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2208Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course, Ready to Remodel.

Welcome to The Zenergy Podcast! Today, Karan speaks with Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. They dive deep into what first drew Jeff into the world of public service and energy as well as how he ended up working in the Department of Transportation and, ultimately, the DOE. They discuss learnings he's had over his career, specifically on the public communication front, and Jeff speaks about his proudest moment in government: Constructing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge on time and on budget. Karan and Jeff also look into how different levels of government can work more efficiently together to get projects done faster. If you enjoy today's episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and letting us know in the comments. As always, thank you for being here. Credits:Editing/Graphics: Desta Wondirad, Wondir Studios

Undersized chilled water plants aren't just inconvenient—they're a daily operational headache for many facilities teams. If you've ever battled poor tenant comfort, rising energy bills, or emergency equipment failures, this episode is for you. This week, we're diving deep into how to recognize and respond to chilled water systems that can't keep up with building load. Whether you're managing an aging plant, dealing with building expansions, or planning long-term upgrades, this episode lays out a layered strategy roadmap. We explore: What really causes chilled water plants to underperform Immediate control tweaks that make a measurable difference Tactical load management for temporary relief Medium-term retrofit and supplemental cooling solutions Capital planning strategies to future-proof system capacity These aren't just ideas—they're battle-tested solutions for real-world HVAC challenges.  

In this conversation, Dylan Silver interviews Pablo Arce, the founder of Efficient Developments, who discusses the need for sustainable and energy-efficient homes. Pablo shares insights on the challenges of traditional construction methods, the benefits of using steel over wood, and the importance of technology in building homes that are resilient to climate change. He emphasizes the need for a shift in the construction industry to meet the demands of modern homeowners, particularly younger generations seeking affordable and sustainable living options. The discussion also touches on the role of solar energy and community living in enhancing the quality of life for families.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

In this episode of People in Power, we hear from Mark Groves, vice-president of program development and innovations at the Northwest Lineman College. Mark, also a member of the International Lineman Hall of Fame, discusses with California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney his background as a lineman; what he looks for in lineman candidates; the rewards and challenges of this work, including its physicality and effects on family life; what it's like working storms; what you can learn from the old-timers; and nearly sinking a boat while on the job, while grizzled fisherman watch and place bets.

Air handlers in critical spaces are not your everyday systems. When it comes to operating rooms and clean rooms, standard HVAC playbooks don't cut it. If you're working in these environments—or supporting teams who do—understanding the deeper logic behind sequences of operation is essential. This episode is your go-to resource for elevating your knowledge around critical environment control strategies. Here's what you'll explore: How air handlers are adapted for high-stakes applications The role of pressurization and airflow tracking in contamination control Key compliance frameworks every tech and operator should know Alarm strategies that actually support uptime and safety Tactics for troubleshooting issues before they impact operations Don't leave critical space performance to chance.

In this episode, Leo Wehdeking interviews Jeff Bentley, a seasoned real estate professional with over 50 years of experience. Jeff shares insights into his approach to real estate, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and building relationships with clients. He discusses the challenges of affordability in the housing market and his vision for innovative building solutions that address these issues. Jeff also highlights the significance of listening to clients and treating them like family, which has been key to his success in the industry.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

It's Thursday, and that means it's time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today, she breaks down the latest poll numbers in the New Orleans mayor's race. After a decade of haggling, disposing, redesigning and modifying, the state's Public Service Commission finally approved an energy efficiency program on August 20.  So far, it has the support of utility companies, advocacy groups and PSC commissioners.Alaina DiLaura, policy coordinator for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, joins us to explain the program and how it will save money for residents.The New Orleans Saints had their first game of the 2025 season, ending months of speculation and what-ifs. The Saints lost SCORE against Y. But fans are still optimistic about new head coach Kellen Moore's first season.Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate Saints columnist Jeff Duncan joins us for his take on the start of the season—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

News from the rural farming sector. Applications for the The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority open on 18 September, not close on that date as is stated in the Rural News.

The manufacturing landscape is shifting as energy costs and environmental responsibility become as important as speed and quality. Brother's Blue Technology leads this change, optimising machine design to minimise waste in time, resources, energy, and space. Peter Smith of Whitehouse Machine Tools, Brother's UK distributor, says it marks a paradigm shift in machine tool investment evaluation. MTDCNC spoke to Peter to find out more… Do your machine tools reduce energy consumption—benefitting manufacturers' bottom line and the environment? “The Speedio series of machining centres from Brother certainly do. They use patented motor technology to capture and redeploy power, and they use less air, a dual benefit of Brother's Blue Technology approach.” The Blue Technology Philosophy: Eliminating Manufacturing Waste Brother's Blue Technology eliminates waste throughout manufacturing, focusing on efficiency across the entire machine cycle. It emphasises the importance of how efficiently a machine produces, recognising modern competitiveness depends on this. The foundation of Blue Technology lies in Brother's ‘low-mass, high acceleration' design philosophy, which Smith describes as fundamental to achieving superior efficiency. “The machines use Sanyo Denki drives—the world's fastest reacting servo motors. They have a very special design with IPM interior permanent magnet technology that essentially harness energy like you would get from an F1 car. It's beautiful, really, the way that it works. So the acceleration and deceleration characteristics of the machine mean that the motors are creating lots of energy, but then they can harness that energy and redistribute it back into the machine.” This energy regeneration technology marks a breakthrough in machine tool efficiency. During typical machining processes, the electrical energy produced during spindle and axis deceleration is usually converted into heat and lost. Brother's IPM (Interior Permanent Magnet) servo motors recover this energy and redirect it back into the machine system to establish a regenerative cycle Real-World Energy Performance: The 80% Reduction Achievement Smith's most compelling evidence for Blue Technology's effectiveness comes from extensive real-world field testing conducted with wireless energy and air monitoring equipment measuring actual consumption. “Using the wireless monitoring technology on a customers 40 taper 5 axes, we've run the same program/parameters on a Brother, 5-axes. Running the same parts on both machines, the Brother actually achieved almost 90% energy saving.” This extraordinary 90% energy reduction translates into substantial financial benefits. Smith calculates the economic impact with precision: “If you take an average energy tariff in the UK, the Brother over the other machine doing the same job saves between £5,500 to £6,000 per shift per year. So, if we're operating a double shift, over a year, electricity savings will be £11,000 to £12,000. Over a five-year period, which is generally how people finance machines, manufacturers will save £55,000+.” “These savings compound across multiple machines. For manufacturers operating five machines on double shifts, the annual energy savings rise to £275,000 over a typical five-year financing period. In an era of volatile energy prices, these reductions provide both immediate cost benefits and long-term economic stability.” Brother's own documentation supports this data, with official testing demonstrating 80% energy reductions in a variety of cutting applications compared to typical BT40 spindle machines. This performance stems from multiple on machine technological innovations working in collaboration, rather than any single efficiency improvement. The Four Pillars of Blue Technology Efficiency Brother's Blue Technology reduces waste in four areas, improving efficiency. The first focuses on eliminating time waste with high-acceleration / deceleration servo systems, optimised dynamics and rapid tool change times (0.7 seconds). Smith notes: “It's not about the rapid rate. It's about acceleration rates. Most machining centres operate around 0.6 to 0.8G axes acceleration, Brother Speedio' are much faster at up to 2.2G.” These performance characteristics deliver healthy cycle time reductions, between 20% and 70% depending on the application, compared to 40 taper technologies. The second pillar targets resource waste through efficient coolant systems, LED lighting, and reduced compressed air consumption. Brother's mechanical tool change system exemplifies this approach, requiring minimal pneumatic assistance compared to traditional alternatives. “The whole tool change is mechanical using a linear cam mechanism. Air is only used briefly to clean the spindle taper. That's a huge saving when you look at air consumption,” Smith notes. Energy waste elimination forms the third pillar, incorporating IPM servo motor technology, energy regeneration systems, and optimised control algorithms. The fourth pillar addresses space waste through compact machine designs that deliver equivalent or superior capability within significantly smaller footprints. Advanced Motor Technology: The Heart of Energy Efficiency Brother's energy efficiency is founded on IPM motor technology. Smith states: “IPM interior permanent magnet servos respond quickly to rotation and stop, enabling efficient cutting with less power. Unlike normal induction motors, it starts instantly and efficiently.” IPM motors incorporate permanent magnets embedded within the rotor, providing superior efficiency and responsiveness compared to induction alternatives. This design enables rapid acceleration and deceleration whilst minimising energy waste during speed transitions. The energy regeneration capability represents perhaps the most innovative aspect of Brother's motor technology. During deceleration cycles, the IPM motors function as generators, converting kinetic energy back into electrical energy. This recovered power is redistributed throughout the machine system, reducing overall grid consumption. The technology effectively transforms what was previously waste heat into useful energy, creating a regenerative cycle that compounds efficiency gains throughout extended operation periods. Brother's dedication to motor efficiency covers all machine axes. The Sanyo Denki servo drives for the linear axes offer quick response, ensuring energy efficiency benefits both positioning and cutting. Control System Integration Brother's D00 control system plays a crucial role in Blue Technology implementation, incorporating specific features designed to minimise energy waste during non-productive periods. Smith highlights the system's comprehensive approach: “A variety of functions such as auto coolant off, auto machine lights off, and auto power-off are installed to ensure power saving.” The control system's 1000-block look-ahead, sub-micron control capability enables optimised toolpath execution that minimises unnecessary acceleration and deceleration cycles. By analysing upcoming machining operations, the system can optimise spindle speeds and feed rates to maintain efficiency. The D00 control incorporates an energy monitoring application that enables real-time visualisation of power consumption, helping operators identify opportunities for further efficiency improvements. This transparency allows manufacturers to understand exactly how their machining strategies impact energy costs. Compressed Air Efficiency: The Often-Overlooked Savings While electrical energy consumption receives primary attention, compressed air efficiency represents another significant cost reduction opportunity. Smith emphasises this often-overlooked benefit: “It doesn't use a great deal of it, but the bit that it does use is obviously critical.” Brother's mechanical tool change system exemplifies the compressed air efficiency approach. Unlike traditional tool changing systems that require significant air consumption for each operation, Brother's mechanical system requires only minimal air for chip clearing. The mechanical approach reduces air use during tool changes. While conventional systems need compressed air to stop the spindle quickly, Brother's system keeps it moving, eliminating this energy waste. For manufacturers operating multiple machines, compressed air savings can represent thousands of pounds annually. The efficiency gains also reduce compressor sizing requirements for new installations, providing capital cost savings beyond operational benefits. The Hidden Economics The total cost of ownership analysis shows advantages of Blue Technology adoption. Beyond energy savings, manufacturers see reduced maintenance. The mechanical tool change system wears less than pneumatic options, and IPM motors' efficiency decreases heat and bearing stress. Factory costs compound the economic benefits of Brother's compact designs. Smith calculates that Brother machines typically require 25 to 30% less floor space than equivalent BT40 systems. In high-value manufacturing, this can save thousands. The reliability benefits further enhance the total cost of ownership (TCO). “Brother machines are built for lights-out three-shift running. So our advice is run them flat out.” Environmental Responsibility Brother's Blue Technology addresses rising corporate environmental standards by reducing CO2, supporting sustainability goals, and offering cost savings. Smith recognises the growing importance of environmental performance: “Companies' efforts to promote energy saving bring a variety of values for their business operations. Amid global calls for carbon neutrality, promoting energy saving and contributing to decarbonisation will lead to an increase in corporate value.” For manufacturers pursuing environmental certifications or carbon trading schemes, the measurable efficiency improvements provided by Blue Technology offer valuable documentation. Overcoming Traditional Thinking Despite the compelling economic and environmental benefits, Smith acknowledges market perception of BBT30 Blue Technology, due to historical misconceptions and early adoption of 40 taper technologies, needs to be more open minded. “Engineers typically operate on personal experience or that or their peers and the UK market was an early adopter of 40 taper technology from manufacturers like Bridgeport & Cincinnati. Brother BBT30 Blue Technology has advanced so far in the last decade in efficiency and cutting capability, 40 taper users who have become uncompetitive now have the opportunity to regain a competitive edge with Brother” Smith continues: “We get too carried away with brand loyalty. Not one machine tool manufacturer has all the answers, furthermore buyers become fixated on a deal rather than TCO. WMT CNC & Brother are developing a method of predicting TCO for machine investments so buyers can take a long-term investment decision at the point of purchase. The journey to market transformation requires manufacturers to assess machine tool investments through thorough economic analysis rather than relying on past preferences. Smith's approach stresses empirical testing: “Supply us with your ISO programme. We'll run it, and we'll give you our honest opinion about whether a BBT30 taper Brother could improve the ROI.”  

News from the rural farming sector. Applications for the The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority open on 18 September, not close on that date as is stated in the Rural News.

Is there a collaboration problem in retrofit within the social housing sector? That was the premise for this conversation with Rafe Bertram, an architect and retrofit expert—appearing in a personal capacity—who was very surprised when I posed the question because he's found collaboration to be a strength in the sector, at least in London.In the end it led to a conversation about what he's learned from the experiences he's had working on retrofits in the social housing sector, in his community, and even doing big flashy Apple stores.The most interesting bit though is the strategy he's using to reduce the cost of retrofit, with his theory of reactive planning. It's an approach that takes a systematic integrated asset management approach and adds strategic opportunism into the mix in a way that enables him to piggyback essential works, like roof replacement, and use them as a catalyst for getting into a building to do the sustainability stuff that's usually a lower priority.Notes from the showRafe Bertram on LinkedinRetrofit Kentish Town The Good Homes Alliance websiteRafe's finance report for the Good Homes Alliance — “The Green Shift – The existing financial incentives for higher environmental performance of new homes” (October 2023) More links to articles about green building, favourable finance, and better valuations:Homebuyers pay a ‘green premium' of up to £40,000 for the most energy efficient properties (September 2021)—Lloyds Banking GroupHalifax includes EPC ratings in maximum lending calculationsHalifax to use EPC rating in affordability calculationsOctopus reducing interest rates for finance capital: 4 criteria = 1.25% discount, 6+ criteria = 2.00% discount**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Yes, there are 150-million reasons to listen to the episode. Because Wisconsin has $150 million dollars in federal funding to help make our homes warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, healthier, more efficient. All the things. A look at two little-known programs that survived the big Federal cuts and are ready to be used by you. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Dylan Crye, Home Energy Rebates Program Manager, Focus on Energy Joe Pater, Dir. Office of Energy Innovation, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Resources for You: Focus on Energy Watts Up Wisconsin - Focus on Energy podcast Home Energy Rebates Help Wisconsinites Save Big    

Jo Cox, chief executive officer of ImServ, discusses how smart tracking of energy use works for businesses, how AI can help collect and manage energy data and the myths around smart meters.   IMServ is a data collection and energy metering firm. Cox, who was appointed as the group's CEO in 2024, discusses the importance of understanding baseline energy usage to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprints. 

Today it's all about windows and doors...we welcome Chris Perez of American Vision Windows to talk about how to improve the window and door situation in your home, a critical component of your home and the value of making sure both are as energy efficient as possible. 

Today it's all about windows and doors...we welcome Chris Perez of American Vision Windows to talk about how to improve the window and door situation in your home, a critical component of your home and the value of making sure both are as energy efficient as possible.  Dean tackles listener questions about asbestos in the attic of an old house and how that might affect the sale of the house, and whether or not you can place another layer of insulation over it, where to find motorized sliders to put over a kitchen sink with a box window, how to fix a damaged 'weep strip' on a common stucco wall, and how to find the source of a water leak that seems to have originated in a bathroom, but has no obvious sign of source. 

How many alarms in your BAS require action? If your alarm console feels like chaos, you're not alone. This episode explores how a structured alarm strategy improves operations in large facilities. It focuses on reducing noise, building trust in the system, and ensuring alarms drive the right actions. This episode helps you align your alarms with what matters so your team can respond with clarity and confidence. In this episode, we explore: What alarms should be and how to distinguish them from notifications The impact of alarm flooding, nuisance alarms, and poor prioritization How to develop a clear alarm philosophy and define actionable thresholds Tactics to standardize, suppress, and escalate alarms effectively The connection between alarms, energy efficiency, and predictive maintenance The right alarm strategy keeps your team focused, your systems efficient, and your tenants comfortable.

How can energy-efficient light bulbs, bricks, and buildings cut costs and improve energy security? In this episode of The Development Podcast, , we discover that energy efficiency doesn't just save money—it also drives growth and creates jobs. In 2022 alone, energy efficiency became the largest employer in the energy sector—supporting nearly 11 million jobs—from manufacturing and construction to installation and training. So, what needs to happen for the world to reap the rewards of becoming more energy efficient? Join us as we hear from: Jas Singh, Lead Energy Specialist, World Bank Group, Melanie Slade, Senior Programme Manager, Energy Efficiency in Emerging Economies at the International Energy Agency (IEA), and Nitik Arya, Sauga Bricks Pvt Ltd, India. Timestamps[00:00] Welcome: Wasted energy and why we should become more energy efficient[02:27] Cooler air: The story of a brick manufacturer in India[07:23] How much progress has the world made on energy efficiency[10:48] Air cooling systems [13:32] The invisible powerhouse of economic growth [19:40] Technological developments and the future of energy efficiencyABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

The latest episode of People in Power features a conversation with Arne Olson, a principal at Energy and Environmental Economics, or E3. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on Aug. 22 at NewsData's 2025 Western Energy Summit in Boise, Idaho. CEM Managing Editor Jason Fordney and Associate and Southwest Editor Abigail Sawyer discussed a broad range of topics with Arne, including resource-adequacy concerns in the West; future loss of load; generation adequacy in the Northwest; Western markets versus Eastern RTOs; lithium-ion batteries; and other interesting items.

Hügo Krüger is a YouTube podcaster, writer and civil nuclear engineer with experience across the energy sector.In this in-depth discussion, Hügo Krüger critiques prevailing climate change narratives, likening them to economic and political opportunism, and also touches on topics like the efficacy of nuclear power, Iran's geopolitical situation, and the exaggeration of various global threats. Despite the myriad of issues discussed, Hugo remains optimistic, advocating for skepticism and resilience against widespread fear-mongering.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up00:12 Parenting and Baby Science01:32 Skepticism in Modern Issues03:52 Climate Change Narratives10:13 Global Perspectives on Climate23:15 Health and Nutrition Myths26:41 Skepticism and Rabbit Holes29:53 Exploring Hormesis: The Benefits of Low-Dose Exposure30:34 Radiation and Human Adaptation30:54 Homeopathy and Hormesis: Historical Insights32:08 Radiation Exposure in Everyday Life32:49 Health and Safety Regulations: A New Perspective37:20 The French Nuclear Program: Success and Challenges40:36 Energy Efficiency and Economic Viability48:30 Geopolitical Conflicts: Ukraine and Iran55:41 Optimism for the Future: Overcoming Global Fearshttps://hkrugertjie.substack.com/https://x.com/hkrugertjie=========Slides, summaries, references, and transcripts of my podcasts: https://tomn.substack.com/p/podcast-summarieshttps://linktr.ee/tomanelson1

Ted Flanigan first met Gene Rodrigues in 1998. Ted was Director of Efficiency Solutions at LADWP; Gene the Director of Energy Efficiency at Southern California Edison. For years, Gene was the voice and the face of energy efficiency, his sincere and happy demeanor on local television in the evenings. Ted and Gene begin with a reflection that Ted recounted of Gene's mother making sure that Gene knew that every morning that he had a choice about the day ahead. She made clear that you have the choice to be happy and productive each day.Gene was born in Japan to a U.S. serviceman and a Japanese mother. He grew up in Arizona before getting his law degree. In short order he realized that he wanted his law to be important, to make a difference to our society. He applied that vision to his work in regulatory law at Southern California Edison. He became Director of Efficiency, a role that expanded to include distributed energy resources of all kinds.The conversation shifts to Gene's deep appreciation for the field of efficiency... what he calls a foundational element for every utility to boost reliability and local economic development, to cut consumer costs and increase affordability, while protecting the environment at least cost. Gene stressed that California did it right, aligning good business sense with environmental concerns, and meeting the needs of all stakeholders. Calling it a group effort in California, he saluted leaders, John Bryson, Mike Peevey, Ralph Cavanagh, and Art Rosenfeld. They were successful in defining the role of efficiency. Gene explains that it's not a soft customer service, but part of the make-up of a reliable energy system.Gene left Edison in 2014 to work for the consulting firm ICF, noting that it was a company whose "moral compass was facing due north." When reflecting on his work there in the ICF Clean Energy division, Gene notes that he is most proud of the collaborations that he helped seed and nurture in meetings of cohorts. He found those forums most impactful. The conversation ends with a discussion of Gene's tenure at the U.S. Department of Energy where he served the Biden/Harris administration as Assistant Secretary of Energy in the Office of Electricity. While the DOE's Forrestal Building is stark, formidable, and intimidating, Gene stressed that he found the staff there to be the most committed group he has every worked with. His heart aches for the current administration's policy to decimate the role of these non-political, career servants. So then, asked Ted, "Are you optimistic?" Gene said no, he is not optimistic about the current changes, but he commented that when he was appointed, he was confirmed by a voice vote of unanimous consent, representing both sides of the aisle. Gene said, those on the R side are still there. While they knew that Gene came from a deep green background, importantly, they understood his common sense approach to energy management. And they are still there.

In this episode, our guest is Bruce Nordman, a long-time researcher from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Bruce brings four decades of experience in energy efficiency and introduces his revolutionary vision for transforming how buildings use electricity, drawing strong parallels with the evolution of internet technology. We explore the concept of "nanogrids," price-responsive appliances, and how a decentralized approach to energy, using price signals instead of commands, can reshape both on- and off-grid systems. Bruce highlights the untapped potential of DC power, the role of embedded intelligence in devices, and how smart automation can lead to a more resilient, efficient, and affordable energy future for everyone from California to remote villages in Asia and Africa. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: Facebook @sohailhasnie X (Twitter) @shasnie LinkedIn @shasnie ADB Blog Sohail Hasnie YouTube @energypreneurs Instagram @energypreneurs Tiktok @energypreneurs Spotify Video @energypreneurs

Training is often the first thing cut when budgets tighten. But what if you could show that training delivers measurable ROI? This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast focuses on how to justify training investments using numbers that matter to leadership. You'll learn how to turn training into a proven profit driver. We cover: Why training is undervalued and how to change that What to track before and after training to prove ROI A clear framework to quantify training impact Real-world examples from contractors and facility owner How to position training as a profit engine If you need to defend or grow your training budget, start here.

“Energy efficiency…is doing more, using less. The megawatt not used is the cheapest megawatt and there's so many things, either by using technology, old technology like insulation or digitalization, that allows us to really stretch what we can get out every single megawat, a kilowatt electron that we use. And so that's what we're talking about. If we had the kind of massive adoption that we need, we could get to a big 40% reduction.” Paula Glover on Electric Ladies Podcast With the Energy Star program and other energy efficiency programs under attack and misunderstood, we decided to revisit this enlightening discussion with Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance To Save Energy and Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She also shares insightful career advice. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said energy efficiency should be one of the cornerstones of reducing our carbon emissions to address global warming – and incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment Act were designed to do just that. But now those are being cut or curtailed. How can energy efficiency really make a difference? Listen to this episode. You'll hear about: What the Alliance To Save Energy is and who its members are, the impact they have. What energy efficiency really is – and is not. How you can identify and tap the savings to increase the energy efficiency of your home, business, school or community. What the Roadmap for a Just Energy Transition is and how it works. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “One would be, relationships matter, and you should be feeding into them as much as you want to get out of it. So, it's not about who….Number two, which is that as much as you're looking for a mentor, you should also be a mentor. And that mentorship is not just, I'm at 15 years and so I mentor someone who's at five. But if you really nurture relationship, you could be at 15 years mentoring someone who's at 25 years, right? You have something to contribute….There is so much that we have to contribute at every stage of our career. I think taking the opportunity to do that leads to other opportunities that you may never have known about.” Paula Glover on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

In this episode of the Real Estate Pros podcast, host Kristen Knapp interviews Steve Lade, founder of LTX Home Builders. Steve shares insights into his family's legacy in home building, the passion that drives their business, and the innovative practices they employ to create high-quality homes. He discusses the importance of customer relationships, especially with first-time buyers and veterans, and how they creatively assist clients in navigating the home buying process. The conversation highlights the values of family, quality, and community in the real estate industry.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

This episode is all about case study in circularity and a group of people turning waste into useful materials for the built environment. Daniel Dinizo and Charmaine Cu-Unjieng of NaturLoop are bringing a new bio-based product to market that transforms waste coconut husk into a material that's something between MDF and a particle board.For us, this presented a chance to talk about how sustainable materials are developed, the challenges of bringing them to market and how responsible businesses can approach supply chain development (the big challenge now). As professionals who work with LCAs, EPDs, and carbon calcs all the time it was refreshing to get into a product that will have an impact that can be accounted for in human terms, as well as the usual economic and environmental terms. They're also fundraising right now, so here's the pitch from Charmaine.NaturLoop at the Final Stage of Pre-Seed Funding"NaturLoop, the Swiss–Philippine climate-tech startup behind Cocoboard, is at the final stage of its pre-seed round. Cocoboard is the first industry-ready fibreboard made entirely from coconut husk waste and natural adhesives—a truly biocircular material. Featured at Interzum Cologne 2025, Cocoboard embodies the shift in construction and furniture toward biocircularity—no longer a trend but the future of materials. Europe's sustainable furniture market is set to more than double to $42.6 bn by 2032, with consumers paying around 10% more for sustainable products. NaturLoop is closing its round soon, inviting strategic investors to co-build a climate-positive business that reduces deforestation and uplifts poor coconut farmers—making the industry more future-proof."Notes from the showCharmaine Cu-Unjieng on LinkedinDaniel Dinizo on Linkedin NaturLoop on Linkedin The NaturLoop websiteA short film about Cocoboard®An investor CTA from CharmaineAn example of Cocoboard in use as a speaker box for a Schwab System**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

On the phone-in: energy efficiency expert Barry Walker takes your questions about heating and cooling. And off the top: more people are out of their homes in Annapolis County, N.S. as the Long Lake wildfire grows. And the Canada Games have wrapped up in St. John's, NL. We hear how Maritimes athletes performed.

Moderator Jamey Cline, Christianson PLLP, Partner Speakers Michael Franko, Fluid Quip Technologies, Managing Director Chris Gerken, ICM, Inc., Principal Scientist

Aug. 22, 2025- Assembly Energy Committee Chair Didi Barrett, a Hudson Valley Democrat, expresses her opposition to the governor's planned cutbacks on subsidies for home energy efficiency programs.

Are you truly in control of your building systems, or dependent on your vendor? Vendor lock-in increases costs, slows down repairs, and limits flexibility. But there's a clear way to reduce risk: internal capability. This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast walks through how to shift control back to your team through targeted training and planning. Key topics include: Common signs and causes of vendor lock-in Financial and operational impacts of relying on one provider How training restores technical and strategic leverage Steps to build and maintain in-house capability When to use vendors and when to manage tasks internally If you want more control and less cost, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Robert Klob discusses the importance of disaster resilient and energy efficient homes, highlighting innovative building materials and strategies that can withstand extreme weather while reducing energy costs. He emphasizes the growing market demand for such homes and the benefits of integrating technology to enhance home value and efficiency.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

August 20, 2025 ~ Angela Wojtowicz, VP Business Planning and Development at DTE Energy discusses their 2025 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest that begins today.

In this groundbreaking episode, I'm joined by Dr. Marcus Weller — visionary entrepreneur, inventor, and CEO of DeepInvent.ai — to explore how AI can accelerate the pace of human innovation for the benefit of all. Deep Invent's AI platform can generate patent-ready ideas in minutes, identify untapped “white space” in any field, and even improve its own architecture. Learn about The Deep Invent for Good contest — $10,000 for the best open-sourced invention to benefit humanity (closes August 21, 2025).Deep Invent for Good — Learn more and enter to win the contest: https://deepInvent.ai (closes August 21, 2025)Follow Dr. Marcus Weller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusweller/We discuss:How AI is moving beyond data analysis to creative inventionWhy embedding human cognitive heuristics into AI changes the gameThe Deep Invent for Good contest — $10,000 for the best open-sourced invention to benefit humanityEthical guardrails to ensure innovations serve people and planetHow to make AI innovation more energy-efficient and sustainable You'll also hear inspiring real-world examples of AI-generated inventions, from augmented reality e-readers to sustainable tech breakthroughs.Time Stamped Chapters:00:00 – Introduction / Welcome to Care More Be Better — today's guest, Dr. Marcus Weller of DeepInvent.ai01:05 – Meet Dr. Marcus Weller - Early curiosity, tinkering with appliances, and the movie Short Circuit03:45 – How AI Becomes a Creative Partner - From data processing to human-like cognitive heuristics07:15 – Identifying “White Space” for Innovation - How Deep Invent maps the innovation landscape and generates new patents10:55 – Beyond “Fail Fast” - Starting with complete context to build the right thing the first time12:50 – Augmented Reality E-Reader Example - An AI-generated invention inspires a career pivot15:05 – What Is Superintelligence? Domain-specific superintelligence for innovation16:40 – AI Agents and Self-Improving Systems - The story of Deep Invent patenting its own architecture19:00 – Deep Invent for Good Contest - How to enter, win $10K, and open-source your idea for humanity22:45 – Examples of Contest Submissions - From cancer therapies to adaptive prosthetics25:05 – Open Source vs. Patenting Your Own Ideas - Why the campaign focuses on shared innovation27:35 – Ethical Guardrails for AI Innovation - Preventing harmful inventions and ensuring benefit to humanity29:55 – AI, Personality, and Human Connection - Training AI with psychometric data for a natural feel34:00 – Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Computing - How Deep Invent optimizes compute use and supports clean tech innovation38:00 – Marcus's Optimistic 10-Year Vision - A radically accelerated positive future40:30 – Inspiring the Next Generation - Marcus's one-minute message to a classroom of 12-year-olds42:00 – Closing Thoughts & Invitation to Participate - Why now is the time to innovate for good44:00 – Outro & Tree-Planting Update BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER Subscribe to our newsletter, and we'll plant a tree in your honor! Subscribe and rate us wherever you listen, and we'll plant another tree Together, we've planted 25,788 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. Follow, subscribe, or join our newsletter to help us keep growing! Follow us on social media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better

The industry is shifting and BACnet Secure Connect (BACnet SC) is becoming the new standard for protecting BAS networks from cyber threats. This episode walks you through what it is, why it matters, and how to prepare for the transition while keeping operations running smoothly. We'll explore: • How BACnet SC strengthens cybersecurity for BAS networks • The key differences from BACnet over IP • Practical considerations before implementation • Real-world migration strategies and lessons learned • The future of BACnet SC in smart buildings Discover how BACnet SC can help secure your BAS network and set the foundation for future-ready building operations.

ODOE released a draft of the Oregon Energy Strategy on Aug. 14, 2025, and opened a public comment period through Sept. 22, 2025. So, what is the Energy Strategy and why should you take the time to comment? We dive into an overview of the report and the five pathways outlined that represent the direction Oregon needs to go to meet the state's energy goals. As you will hear from our guests, the Energy Strategy is not a plan, but rather a strategy that can be used by policy makers, agencies, and Oregonians alike to help make decisions on Oregon's long-term energy future. Use the timestamps below to skip to the part of the discussion that most interests you. 0:1:40 - Purpose and Approach 0:10:06 - What are policy recommendations? 0:14:37 - Why should I comment? 0:23:40 - Pathway 1 (Energy Efficiency) 0:27:46 - Pathway 2 (Electrification) 0:35:08 - Pathway 3 (Clean Electricity) 0:37:53 - Pathway 4 (Low-carbon Fuels) 0:40:57 - Pathway 5 (Resilience) 0:43:33 - Conclusion Guests: Jessica Reichers, ODOE Technology and Policy Manager, and Edith Bayer, ODOE Energy Policy Team Lead. Grounded music by PaulYudin Additional Resources • View the Draft Oregon Energy Strategy: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/DRAFT-Oregon-Energy-Strategy.pdf • View a summary of the draft strategy: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/DRAFT-Summary-Oregon-Energy-Strategy.pdf • Submit a comment through Sept. 22, 2025: https://odoe.powerappsportals.us/en-US/energy-strategy/ • Energy Wallet Analysis: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Data-and-Reports/Documents/OES-EJEquity-Approach-11-6-2024.pdf

Sally Godber, a Director at WARM consultancy explains why reducing the risks on her own Passivhaus project was so important, what that entailed and how it enabled her to deliver a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient home on budget. Check out the show notes for more information.

In this episode we are exploring the relationship between financial institutions and the built environment in relation to sustainability, building performance and mitigating climate change with Ian Bhullar and Ronnell Reffell from UK Finance, the UK financial sector's membership organisation.The episode itself was prompted by a report that UK Finance published in relation to the incoming UK Government's own Warm Homes Plan: Greening Homes, Creating Growth: Unlocking demand for green home finance. Its recommendations will be familiar to anyone who has been working in the green building sector but it's notable because these arguments and demands are being presented by the banks and lenders.For us this presented an opportunity to find out what the finance sector is actually thinking about how to address the demands of the built environment in relation to climate change and the financial risk that comes with it. Most importantly, they're serious about the matter—this is not ESG-style fluff, they know they need to draw in expertise from built environment professional and they want to know what people like you think.Notes from the showIan Bhullar on LinkedinRonnell Reffell on Linkedin The UK Finance website The report itself—Greening Homes, Creating Growth: Unlocking demand for green home finance**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem thanked Indiana Governor Mike Braun for expanding detention beds and dubbed the added space the “Speedway slammer.”  A series of lawsuits have been filed in Marion County court against drug manufacturer Eli Lilly. Republicans from the Indianapolis City-County Council are proposing new ideas to combat youth violence.  Indianapolis announced Wednesday it replaced and upgraded HVAC systems at a senior living center, using federal funds meant to improve energy efficiency. Vice President JD Vance met with Governor Mike Braun Thursday to discuss redrawing Indiana's congressional district lines to benefit Republicans. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. WFYI News Now is produced by Drew Daudelin, Zach Bundy and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

Ed chats with Jason Walsh, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA).Jason and his organization recently made headlines for opposing the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act—President Trump's sweeping piece of legislation passed this summer that rolls back many of the clean energy tax credits introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act. While a lot of the climate world focused on the emissions impacts, BGA came out swinging over what they saw as a quiet gutting of labour standards, domestic manufacturing momentum, and the link between public investment and good jobs.Jason and Ed discuss:How the bill reshapes the clean energy landscape Whether it really neuters domestic content rules Politics of climate and labour in an increasingly polarized U.S. And what political durability looks like for climate policy heading into 2026About Our Guest:Jason Walsh is the Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA). Named one of the Washington D.C.'s 500 Most Influential People by the Washingtonian, Walsh has more than twenty-five years of experience at state and federal levels in policy development and advocacy in a range of issue areas—including climate, clean energy, and economic and workforce development—and as a coalition organizer and manager.Walsh previously served in the Obama administration, as the Director of the Office of Strategic Programs in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and as a Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Domestic Policy Council, where he led Obama administration's efforts to align and scale up federal investments in workers and communities impacted by the shift away from coal in the power sector.Send us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email)Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts ___Energy vs Climate Podcastwww.energyvsclimate.com Contact us at info@energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

Connect with Dave:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidriess/https://www.wunderpower.com/Click to text the show! Email Jonathan with comments or suggestions:podcast@thesourcecre.comOr visit the webpage:www.thesourcecre.com*Some or all of the show notes may have been generated using AI tools.

California Energy Markets Associate Editor Abigail Sawyer and Dan O'Brien, senior modeling analyst for Energy Innovation, discuss the implications of the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other federal policy shifts on the Western energy landscape. Will the earlier end of tax credits for renewable energy make a difference, or have renewables already won in the marketplace? How will new demands around sourcing solar panels and raw materials from China affect development and costs for U.S. energy consumers? Will the nation be able to meet the increasing demand for power or be stymied by these shifts in policy? Dan brings his knowledge about these questions. He offers insight about how the legislation will affect energy costs in different states and how some states might push back against new policies as  the nation's energy future transforms.

Andy Mitchell, Managing Director of 21 Degrees, explains what factors influence human comfort and how we have tried to make our homes more comfortable through the years. Embracing building physics has been a turning point and while we have the knowledge and skills to create healthy and comfortable homes today, it's still not the default approach. So Andy outlines the options available to get yourself into a better home. Check out the show notes for more information.

In this episode of Around the Desk, Sean Emory, Founder & CIO of Avory & Co., sits down with Anthony Power, co-founder of Power Mining Analysis and a leading voice in the mining world, to break down how the economics of Bitcoin mining are evolving and why many are shifting toward high-performance compute (HPC) infrastructure.This isn't just about mining anymore, it's about building the digital infrastructure stack of the future.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Bitcoin Mining and Power Mining Analysis04:56 Current State of Bitcoin Mining10:14 Challenges and Adaptations in Mining14:43 The Shift to High-Performance Computing (HPC)19:14 Future of Bitcoin Mining and HPC24:26 Funding and Infrastructure for HPC29:05 Emerging Players in Mining Technology37:39 Conclusion and Future OutlookWhether you're long, short, or just curious about the future of mining infrastructure — this one goes deep.—Hosted by:Sean Emory — Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Avory & Co.https://www.avory.xyzGuest:Anthony Power — Co-founder of Power Mining AnalysisContributing Writer at Compass MiningFollow Avory & Co or Sean Emory

We're joined by our new friends from Building Atlas, Nick Taylor and Olga Khroustaleva, who join us for a conversation about commercial retrofit—the non-residential kind. They've got a data driven business Building Atlas that helps commercial asset owners to plan pragmatic retrofit pathways for commercial real estate.This isn't just important because of how much energy the non-residential sector consumes, it's also because 70% of non-residential building assets are on course to become stranded assets because of their EPC rating and MEES regulation.They are simplifying a complex problem into something that's comprehensible—aggregating experience (and data) to give broad brush stroke direction that's useful. They've also published a paper about retrofit strategy for commercial buildings: The Beauty in Boring Buildings: The Business Case for Retrofit Beyond Flagship Assets.Notes from the showNick Taylor on LinkedIn Olga Khroustaleva on LinkedIn The Building Atlas website Their recent paper — The Beauty in Boring Buildings: The Business Case for Retrofit Beyond Flagship AssetsUK Government MEES guidance — Non-domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this podcast, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Follow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page (we still don't have a proper website)Jeff and Dan about Zero Ambitions Partners (the consultancy) for help with positioning and communications strategy, customer/user research and engagement strategy, carbon calculations and EPDs – we're up to all sortsSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd Alter's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCCheck out Her Retrofit Space, the renovation and retrofit platform for women**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

For decades, fusion energy has been the promise that never arrives—always twenty years away. Despite billions poured into tokamaks, inertial confinement, and plasma reactors, the finish line keeps moving. But what if the answer was never in extreme heat... but in solid metal at room temperature?In this explosive episode, we sit down with NASA researcher Lawrence Forsley to explore lattice confined fusion—a revolutionary approach that produces nuclear fusion inside metal lattices using just five volts. No reactors, no plasma, no fire. It's a direct descendant of the infamous 1989 "cold fusion" press conference by Fleischmann and Pons, which the scientific establishment mocked and buried for decades. But now, the experiments are more precise, the physics more refined, and the implications more profound. Because if fusion at room temperature is real, everything changes—energy, propulsion, even our understanding of stars.PATREON https://www.patreon.com/c/demystifysciPARADIGM DRIFThttps://demystifysci.com/paradigm-drift-show00:00 Go! Introduction to Lattice Confined Fusion 00:05:59 – Why Fusion Is Always 10 Years Away 00:12:02 – Plasma Instability and Centrifugal Mirrors 00:17:31 – Tritium, Lithium, and Fusion Fuel Supply 00:20:15 – Lessons from Flight and Semiconductors 00:23:14 – Skepticism and Investment Bias in New Tech 00:26:12 – The Long Road to Transistors 00:28:12 – Fusion Weapons and Strategic Research 00:31:39 – Tokamaks and Magnetic Confinement 00:35:40 – Energy Efficiency and Charge Screens 00:39:24 – Superconductors vs. Neutron Radiation 00:43:00 – Cold Neutrons and Fusion Possibilities 00:45:02 – Cold Fusion: Controversy and Skepticism 00:46:24 – Early Experiments and Anomalous Heat 00:49:32 – Tritium Without Neutrons? 00:52:45 – The Cold Fusion Press Conference Fallout 00:57:00 – Explosions, Risks, and Lab Disasters 01:02:40 – Advances in Lattice Confinement 01:06:36 – Fusion in the Cosmos and the Lab 01:09:08 – Webb Telescope and Electron Screening 01:12:00 – Three Types of Electron Screening 01:15:37 – Experimental Techniques in Screening 01:20:05 – Does This Require New Physics? 01:24:51 – Replication Problems in Nuclear Research 01:30:01 – The People Who Shaped the Field 01:33:35 – Richard Garwin and IBM Experiments 01:38:07 – Outdated Tech and Compatibility Nightmares 01:42:00 – Early Atomic Bomb Experiments 01:43:09 – John Heisinger and Cross-Section Studies 01:46:39 – Stellar Fusion and Resonance Phenomena 01:51:31 – Fusion and the Supernova Lifecycle 01:54:57 – Condensed Matter in Proto-Stars 01:55:00 – Magnetic Fields and Star Formation 02:00:00 – The Mystery of Earthly Tritium 02:05:00 – Gamma Rays in Fusion Reactions 02:10:00 – Cold Fusion Funding and Credibility 02:15:00 – Publishing Roadblocks and Ethics 02:17:54 – Fraud in Fusion Research 02:20:15 – New LCF Materials and Neutron Output 02:27:21 – Technetium-99 and Medical Applications 02:33:57 – Future of Fusion Energy Systems 02:40:30 – LCF Networking and NASA Collaborators 02:43:00 – Fusion Architecture and Expert Input 02:46:00 – Building Mental Models of Fusion 02:49:00 – Gamma Rays, Stars, and Spectra#fusion , #coldfusion, #nuclearfusion, #nasascience, #futureofenergy, #astrophysics, #plasmaphysics, #tritium, #quantumphysics , #tokamak, #spaceexploration , #deeptech #philosophypodcast , #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast ABOUS US: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. All music by Shilo DeLay

On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop speaks with Rory Aronson, CEO of FarmBot, about how his open-source hardware project is transforming home gardening into a more automated and accessible practice. Rory explains how FarmBot works—essentially as a CNC machine for your garden—covering its evolution from Arduino-based electronics to custom boards, the challenges of integrating hardware and software, and the role of closed-loop feedback systems to prevent errors. They explore solarpunk visions of distributed food systems, discuss the importance of “useful source” documentation in open-source hardware, and imagine a future where growing food is as easy as running a dishwasher. For more on Rory and FarmBot, check out farm.bot and the open-source resources at docs.farm.bot.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Rory explains FarmBot as a CNC machine for gardens, using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, automating planting, watering, and weeding.05:00 Discussion on the hardware stack evolution, open-source electronics roots, and moving to custom boards for better integration.10:00 Stewart shares his Raspberry Pi experiments, Rory breaks down the software layers from cloud apps to firmware, emphasizing complexity.15:00 Conversation shifts to closed-loop feedback with rotary encoders, avoiding 3D printer-style “spaghetti” errors in outdoor environments.20:00 Rory explores open-source challenges, highlighting “useful source” documentation and hardware accessibility for modifications.25:00 Solarpunk vision emerges: distributed food systems, automation enabling home-grown fresh food without expert knowledge.30:00 Raised bed setup, energy efficiency, and FarmBot as a home appliance concept for urban and suburban gardens.35:00 Small-scale versus industrial farming, niche commercial uses like seedling automation, and user creativity with custom tools.40:00 AI potential with vision systems, LLMs for garden planning, and enhancing FarmBot intelligence for real-time adaptation.45:00 Sensors, soil monitoring, image analysis for plant health, and empowering users to integrate FarmBot into smart homes.50:00 Rory describes community innovations, auxiliary hardware, and open documentation supporting experimentation.55:00 Final reflections on solarpunk futures, automation as empowerment, and how to access FarmBot's resources online.Key InsightsRory Aronson shares how FarmBot began as a DIY project built on Arduino and Raspberry Pi, leveraging the open-source 3D printing ecosystem to prototype quickly. Over time, they transitioned to custom circuit boards to meet the specific demands of automating gardening tasks like seed planting, watering, and weeding, highlighting the tradeoffs between speed to market and long-term hardware optimization.The conversation unpacks the complexity of FarmBot's “stack,” which integrates cloud-based software, a web app, a message broker, a Raspberry Pi running a custom OS, and firmware on both Arduino and auxiliary chips for real-time feedback. This layered approach is crucial for precision in an unpredictable outdoor environment where mechanical errors could damage growing plants.Aronson emphasizes that being open source isn't enough; to be genuinely useful, projects must provide extensive, accessible documentation and export files in open, affordable formats. Without this, open source risks being a hollow promise for most users, especially in hardware where barriers to modification are higher.They explore the solarpunk potential of FarmBot, imagining a future where growing food at home is as effortless as using a washing machine. By turning gardening into an automated process, FarmBot enables people to produce fresh vegetables without needing expertise, offering resilience against industrial food systems reliant on monoculture and long supply chains.Aronson points out that while FarmBot isn't designed for industrial agriculture, its modularity allows it to support niche commercial use cases, like automating seedling production in cleanroom environments. This adaptability reflects the broader vision of empowering both individuals and small operations with accessible automation tools.The episode highlights user creativity enabled by FarmBot's open hardware, including custom tools like side-mounted mirrors for alternative camera angles and pneumatic grippers for harvesting. These community-driven innovations showcase the platform's flexibility and the value of encouraging experimentation.Finally, Aronson sees great potential for integrating AI, particularly vision systems and multimodal LLMs, to make FarmBot smarter—detecting pests, diagnosing plant health, and even planning gardens tailored to user goals like nutrient needs or event timelines, moving closer to a truly intelligent gardening companion.

We're in the midst of summer and we know that power outages can happen more frequently during this season due to higher temperatures and an increased demand for electricity. A couple years ago we sat down with Ram Rajagopal, an expert in the future of electrical power. He shared a few ways our existing system of massive power plants is slowly but surely giving way to a much leaner, decentralized system of small-scale power generation. Ram refers to this as a move from an “infrastructure-centric” model to a “human-centric” grid — one that will be much smarter, more inclusive and better able to adapt to the needs of individual users. It's a topic that impacts all of us and we hope you'll tune in again for a refresher on how the electric grid works and how it's evolving.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.Episode Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Ram RajagopalConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Ram Rajagopal, a professor of engineering at Stanford University.(00:03:47) What is Powernet?Outline of Powernet—a decentralized, user-focused power grid vision.(00:05:34) Behind-the-Meter IntelligenceAiming to align supply and demand by understanding consumer needs.(00:07:58) Smart Dimmers & Data PrivacyBalancing energy efficiency with privacy concerns in home automation.(00:10:05) Aggregators & Local ControlFuture energy sharing may rely on local devices and trusted middlemen.(00:11:50) Human Motivation & Energy BehaviorWhy both ethics and cost will drive user participation in energy decisions.(00:14:02) Teaching Energy AwarenessA program teaching middle-schoolers to analyze home energy use.(00:16:17) Automating Energy UseBehavioral and systems changes to help align wellness with grid needs.(00:18:58) Grid Shift: Renewables & StorageHow evolving the grid demands real-time monitoring and local resilience.(00:19:57) Sensors & Operational SafetyThe sensing technology that ensures transformers and lines stay within limits.(00:21:27) Smart Dairy: Cooling Cows with AIHow smart fans and storage reduced a dairy farm's energy output.(00:23:28) Building Trust with FarmersThe collaborative process behind deploying the grid tech at the farm.(00:25:01) Smart Ventilation at ScaleScaling the ventilation tech tested on farms to improve public health spaces.(00:26:06) Equity in the Human-Centered GridHow price signals risk overburdening the most vulnerable communities.(00:28:22) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

Sponsors:• ◦ Visit Buildertrend to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account• ◦ Marvin Windows and Doors• ◦ Sub-Zero Wolf Cove Showroom PhoenixConnect with Alfonso Nieves:https://www.foxblocks.com/Connect with Brad Leavitt:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Houzz | Pinterest | YouTube

Today's Follower Friday Podcast comes from Dallas, TX.  In front of 20+ Texas City Managers. Mike Nemer, Host and Rich Prinz, VP of Sales for Mantis Innovation. We discussed how to get started and take that first step. (which everyone knows is the hardest) During the podcast, Rich Prinz emphasized … The post Energy Efficiency Classes: Standards and Best Practices for City Managers appeared first on eRENEWABLE.