Podcasts about energy star partner

Click here if you would like to listen to or download individual interviews from our April 14, 2024 program. This week, the award-winning For the People gets to celebrate some other very deserving award winners. We'll connect with with the manager of energy efficiency programs at Eversource, whose EnergizeCT initiative just captured its 9th national ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award. So listen and find out how that translates into even more potential energy savings for consumers.

This week, the award-winning For the People gets to celebrate some other very deserving award winners in their own right. First up, we'll chat with reps from two of the dozens of agencies that have joined growing All In Movement here in Connecticut: NVP - the Naugatuck Valley Project and TEAM Inc. who were just recognized with the 2024 Citizen Planner Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association. Then we'll connect with with the manager of energy efficiency programs at Eversource, whose EnergizeCT initiative just captured its ninth national ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. And we'll close inviting you to get help from - and to help support Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, which offers victims of domestic violence and sexual assault free, confidential services in a safe, caring environment; while striving to raise awareness through community education and outreach. 

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  Jeff Stewart is a Senior Energy Manager – Existing Buildings and is responsible for energy audits, LEED O+M engineering, ENERGY STAR benchmarking and certification, and city/state benchmarking ordinances. He has extensive experience in the commercial HVAC industry and ten (10) years of experience working on projects seeking LEED certification.    Prior to working for SIG, Jeff worked for an Atlanta-based HVAC design engineering firm using AutoCAD to design and model commercial HVAC systems for single office and high-rise office buildings, including the Delta Dental building and First Data Center in Atlanta, GA.    Jeff has experience working with many different building types, including office buildings, tenant spaces, data centers, multifamily properties, convention centers, and sports stadiums. In 2021, Jeff and the SIG ENERGY STAR team completed 510 ENERGY STAR labels consisting of over 148M GSF. He has been instrumental in SIG being awarded the EPA's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award every year since 2016.   Show Highlights   Applying a holistic approach to the green building movement by focusing on both design and impact. The Green Sports Alliance connects great sustainable standards.  Hear tips about that and Geocaching. Tips for someone trying to apply LEED for existing buildings to something besides an office building from an energy store portfolio manager expert.  LEED is a platform for benchmarking how you're building, how your structure operates, and impacts the world around it regardless of what the building is being used for.  Benchmark your energy and water data to make improvements from that to achieve your desired certification. Mix and match credits to ensure you are operating at peak efficiency to get LEED certification for your project.  Understanding the big push for mixed use developments for your clients.    “I would say it's considered a long game [your green building career]. If you're about to make a decision or buy something or move somewhere, consider a few things that would happen in the long term. If you move to Atlanta, do you plan to stay in Atlanta for five years or is this a temporary approach? Think about two or three things that could impact in the long term and that can help you make a better decision in the short term.” -Jeffrey Stewart   Get the episode transcript here!!   Show Resource and Information Geocaching On the Market Podcast LinkedIn Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes.  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!   Copyright © 2023 GBES

Atlanta Division President Jonathan White with Meritage Homes joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss reasons to buy new construction now. White joins host Carol Morgan to chat about can't-miss incentives as well as current and upcoming communities on the All About Real Estate segment. With close to 20 years of experience in the homebuilding industry, White has worked in land acquisition and development, roadway design and as division president for multiple companies. White has held the title of division president at Meritage Homes for five years and currently resides in Atlanta with his beautiful wife and their three children. White said, “It's been a long run, but the last 20 years have been awesome! I really enjoy home building.” Founded in 1985, Meritage Homes began in Scottsdale, Arizona - where the company headquarters is still based. As the seventh largest public homebuilder in the United States, Meritage Homes oversees 21 divisions across ten states. In 38 years, the homebuilding company has delivered 155 thousand homes and built a reputation centered around its impressive energy efficiency. In 2022, Meritage Homes was awarded the Energy Star™ Partner of the Year for sustained excellence and superior building practice for the ninth consecutive year. Since 2013, every Meritage Homes project has been energy certified and each home is approximately 40% more efficient than other new homes on the market. As one of the only builders to use spray foam insulation for the entire envelope of the house, homes have a protective barrier that helps with noise reduction, pest management, sealing in the interior's climate and promoting healthy air quality. Other energy-efficient appointments within every Meritage home include high-performance air filters, low-flush toilets, Energy Star™ appliances, LED lighting and much more! White said, “It is really impressive what we do in our homes – it's not just the energy saving, it's also the resale value that it gives you on the backend.” Meritage Homes focuses on three main segments of the buyer profile – first-time buyers (millennials), first-time move-up buyers and move-down buyers. The homebuilding company offers various-sized townhomes and single-family homes in communities across the Greater Atlanta area. SweetWater Green – Club Series by Meritage Homes is a master-planned type community with over 400 lots, four product lines and various price points. The Club Series offers a mixture of 21 and 24-foot townhomes, priced in the low $300,000s, boasting three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and one- to two-car garages across 1,600 to 1,800 square feet. Located in Lawrenceville, the community is just southeast of I-85 and Pleasant Hill Drive off Club Drive. White said, “SweetWater is a very exciting community!” Tune into the full episode above to learn more about Meritage Homes, or visit www.MeritageHomes.com. Never miss an episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episode on the Radio page. Listen to the full interview above! A special thank you to Denim Marketing for sponsoring Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. A comfortable fit for companies of all shapes and sizes, Denim Marketing understands marketing strategies are not one-size-fits-all. The agency works with your company to create a perfectly tailored marketing strategy that will adhere to your specific needs and niche. Try Denim Marketing on for size by calling 770-383-3360 or by visiting www.DenimMarketing.com. The Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio “All About Real Estate" segment, presented by Denim Marketing, highlights the movers and shakers in the Atlanta real estate industry – the home builders, developers, Realtors and suppliers working to provide the American dream for Atlantans. For more information on how you can be featured as a guest, contact Denim Marketing at 770-383-3360 or fill out...

On this week's episode, we will continue to dive into sustainable product labeling with a focus on brand certifications. We will discuss B Corp, 1% for the Planet, Energy Star Partner, Climate Neutral Certified, and ISO 14001. Follow us on social media @sustainabiliME.pod Sources: B Corp: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/ https://www.businessinsider.com/b-corporation-b-lab-movement-and1-cofounder-2018-11 1% for the Planet: https://onepercentfortheplanet.org/model?hsLang=en Energy Star Partner: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/resources_audience/service_product_providers/build_your_partnership_epa/join_energy_star_partner Climate Neutral Certified: https://www.climateneutral.org/why-go-neutral ISO 14001: https://ecochain.com/knowledge/iso-14000-iso-14001-standards/#:~:text=The%20series%20of%20standards%20around,actually%20verify%20their%20environmental%20claims 

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla continues SED's series on “Inspiring Diversity in Energy.” This conversation was part of the recent Distributed Energy Forum with a panel featuring Cheryl Comer, Strategic Account Manager - Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, Gilbert Campbell, Co-Founder & CEO - Volt Energy, and Denis George, Category Manager for Energy - The Kroger Company. You won't want to miss this meaningful conversation on how collaboration can help accelerate success in diversifying the supplier rosters of large electric power users. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Backgrounds and current roles [02:31] Challenges in engaging large customers [06:35] The importance of collaboration [12:53] Volt Energy's community efforts [16:36] What is DiCE? [18:49] Environmental Justice PPAs [26:46] Collaboration for new ideas Humankind is in a race against time to save the planet. Innovation and transformation need to happen. Different mindsets and thought processes working together bring value and best-in-class ideas to the table. Collaboration provides an excellent opportunity to get to know key stakeholders in other communities and become exposed to new ideas. For example, social justice and a PPA would never have been correlated before, but amazingly and effectively, they are now. Diversity focuses on connecting people in various communities so such ideas can develop and expand. Diversity in Clean Energy (DiCE) The creation of DiCE was prompted when T Mobile became one of Cheryl's strategic accounts. Amy Bond, Energy Procurement Program Manager - T Mobile, asked Cheryl how Duke Energy interacts with diverse suppliers. In response, Duke Energy held a two-day roundtable discussion about tracking diverse suppliers. They realized that corporations don't usually share contacts when they have them. The communication that did happen was limited to word of mouth. Duke's vision of DiCE is to open doors, utilize, and amplify the stories of diverse suppliers. One of DiCE's key objectives is to create a database or repository for diverse suppliers, which is being sponsored by Microsoft. They want to ensure that the energy industry has a good database without systemic barriers. While DiCE is growing, it's running on a two-year pilot in a smaller nexus with Kroger, T Mobile, Microsoft, and diverse suppliers. There is significant interest from organizations that want to join. Meanwhile, they can raise awareness and take action in their own space. Justice in the environment Environmental Justice PPAs are Volt Energy's response to ensure that rural communities aren't left behind in the transition to clean energy. Volt Energy prioritizes developing projects in economically disadvantaged rural areas, particularly where fossil fuel plants have been shut down, to help with economic revitalization. They also recognize the plight of many minority communities that haven't had access to participate in the clean energy boom. Volt Energy explains that these communities have risked their lives for the last 100 years to ensure everyone has power. They've dealt with environmental injustice in basic necessities like clean water and air. As power plants are shutting down in a transition to clean energy, it's fair to prioritize those communities. There are many great environmental justice organizations doing great work both at the national and local levels. Volt Energy invests in programs and projects conducted by these organizations to continue this good work. Volt also works with small businesses. One of the major barriers for small businesses, particularly diverse small businesses, is capital. Volt Energy is looking into providing microloans to businesses to help reduce some of the financial burdens. These loans offer an avenue for scaling diverse businesses. Resources & People Mentioned Solar Energy Industries Association American Association of Blacks in Energy Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance Dice ESG Report - The Kroger Co. Environmental Justice PPA Connect with Gilbert Campbell On LinkedIn Gilbert Campbell is the Founder and CEO of Volt Energy Utility, a national renewable energy firm that finances and develops utility-scale solar and energy storage projects for large corporate clients, municipalities, and other institutions. Gilbert serves on the Board of Directors at The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), The Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), The American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), is an Advisory Board Member at 3Degrees, and is a Founding Member of Renewables Forward. Gilbert also co-founded Volt Energy, a national distributed generation solar development company. Under Gilbert's leadership, Volt Energy successfully developed solar projects for numerous public and private sector clients including, Accenture, Exelon/Pepco, The Cheesecake Factory, Subaru, District of Columbia Government, Howard University, and Wake Forest University. Gilbert is an advocate and spokesperson for diversity, equity, and inclusion in clean energy, environmental justice, and sustainability; and regularly advises federal and local officials, corporations, and other key stakeholders on policies and best practices. Gilbert has been nationally recognized for his efforts and has testified before Congress regarding the need for increased minority participation in the renewable energy sector. In 2016, the Obama Administration presented Gilbert with the White House Champions of Change Award for his leadership in advancing climate change equity. Gilbert was named to EBONY magazine's 2014 Power 100 List, which recognizes influential achievements by African Americans annually. Under Gilbert's leadership, Volt is a 2014 recipient of Amtrak and The Washington Wizards Pioneer Award, which honors companies that have made a positive impact in their community. Realizing that change begins with preparation Gilbert has been a vocal proponent of STEM education and outreach opportunities for young people across the country. ‍ Gilbert graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.B.A in Finance from Howard University and has done post-graduate leadership training at Harvard University. Connect with Cheryl D. Comer On LinkedIn Cheryl Comer is a Strategic Account Manager in the Sales and Relationship Management organization at Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions. She is responsible for developing and sustaining long-term strategic customer relationships for mutual growth, profitability, trust, loyalty, and risk management. Her assigned strategic accounts are FedEx, Kroger, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. Cheryl brings a wealth of experience from the education and legal industries. In addition to teaching middle school and high school students music theory, solfeggio, string, symphony orchestra, and music history, Cheryl served as a high school principal of an alternative school in Phoenix, Arizona. She managed a school of 350 students and 30 staff members. During her tenure as principal, she learned to effectively balance considerations from competing stakeholders such as state mandates, instructional and support staff, parents, students, and community. Under her leadership, graduation rates and test scores increased. Cheryl is also a licensed attorney in North Carolina and Louisiana and practiced law at a mid-sized litigation boutique in downtown New Orleans before joining Duke Energy in 2018. She continues to practice law in the capacity of a pro bono attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina and often lends a hand to family and friends when in need of sound legal advice. She is a community activist in Gaston County and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion champion. Cheryl's first love, however, is the cello. She began playing in an exploratory program in the 4th grade and never stopped! She plays the violin, viola, cello, and bass but is proficient on cello. Cheryl is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Michigan (where she won principal cellist of the most advanced orchestra). She earned a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit School of Law. She has been a licensed attorney since 2009. Cheryl's passions include international travel, spending time on the beach with her family, and enjoying the zest of life. She grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has three children, and resides in Charlotte, N.C. Connect with Denis George On LinkedIn As Category Manager - Energy for The Kroger Co.– one of the Nation's largest grocery companies with well over $110B in annual revenue - Denis George manages the Company's renewable energy acquisition, energy contracts, regulatory intervention, as well as construction material & equipment sourcing. From 1998 to 2015, Denis served as Kroger's corporate manager – energy with responsibilities that included energy efficiency initiatives, carbon footprint calculations, mechanical system design, and Energy Star program compliance. During this time, Kroger has also received numerous national and regional awards for energy efficiency and sustainability, including in 2015 the Energy Star “Partner of the Year” Award, in 2012 the Alliance to Save Energy's top award, the “Galaxy” Star of Energy Efficiency, and an “Award of Excellence” from Platt's Publications. Mr. George has presented before numerous Commissions and Associations, including the Edison Electric Institute, Touchstone Energy Partnership, Green Retail Decisions, and the Critical Consumer Issues Forum. Mr. George received a Juris Doctor Degree in 1985 from The University of Cincinnati College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics/Business Administration, cum laude, from Wittenberg University in 1980. Denis and his wife, Alice Sutherland George, live in Loveland, Ohio. Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.com

Ahead of Earth Day, Josh Weaver, Vice President of Software Solutions at Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions, tells us about the Sensi smart thermostat. The #STLMade product is Energy Star Partner of the Year for the second year in a row. After Nashville scored 8,500 jobs from Oracle, Greater STL Inc's Jason Hall joins us to explain what St. Louis has percolating.

On episode 42 we're exploring the depths of offshore wind and covering all the angles. On this episode, we talk with Eric Thumma of Avangrid Renewables, who provides an update on the current status of offshore wind development in the state and a quick recap of the already developed wind farm in Eastern North Carolina. We also sit down with Abby Watson of Siemens Gamesa to talk about offshore wind manufacturing and the importance of a robust supply chain to the growth of the industry in the United States. More information on the offshore wind supply chain analysis and NC's offshore wind MOU: https://www.nccommerce.com/business/key-industries-north-carolina/energy/offshore-wind-industry #PateOnThePod News Articles: http://my40.tv/news/local/coalition-wants-to-use-group-purchase-campaign-to-make-solar-power-affordable-in-buncombe-county?utm_source=Energy+News+Network+daily+email+digests&utm_campaign=c182ecad7a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_11_11_39_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_724b1f01f5-c182ecad7a-89273063 https://www.charlotteagenda.com/245663/demand-for-solar-panels-surges-in-north-carolina/ The 42nd episode is brought to you by Moseley Architects, a full service architecture & engineering firm with offices in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Moseley Architects is a 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and has designed more than 140 LEED certified buildings. For more information check out @MoseleyArch on Twitter or visit moseleyarchitects.com. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

On this episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, we're joined by D'Artagnan Beets, Workforce Development Project Lead at the Center 4 Energy Education, to talk about jobs, education, and training within the clean energy industry in North Carolina. We dive in to urgent workforce needs in the state to support the continued development and growth of utility-scale solar, while outlining the need to continue to diversify the workers supporting these efforts. To find out more about workforce training programs in NC, including K-12 programs, visit center4ee.org. #PateOnThePod News Articles: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-01-15/energy-policy/poll-most-nc-voters-support-offshore-wind-100-clean-energy/a72813-1 https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/01/19/duke-energy-sees-solar-rebates-claimed-immediately.html?ana=e_me_prem&j=90546808&t=Morning&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT0dKa1pXVXhZekkzTnpRMiIsInQiOiJTREVBVnhZdkdQbXJ2S3djcGg4czlmcUgxdEtFU0xWS3BZYWxGZjNHWjFTNDNcL0h5MHZNNEVYNmhJNHNycVJpVkR2QUF4QmNJK2dPY1RMTUlTQlRcL2xjZVUxQWVaRk5oMHY0N0lsQllQUTJybENZYnJVZWI3a1dXRkxLK3AzRDdCIn0%3D The 41st episode is brought to you by Moseley Architects, a full service architecture & engineering firm with offices in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Moseley Architects is a 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and has designed more than 140 LEED certified buildings. For more information check out @MoseleyArch on Twitter or visit moseleyarchitects.com. Additional Support for this week's podcast comes from TS Designs, a Burlington, North Carolina based company creating sustainable t-shirts from sustainable US supply chains since 1977. Learn more about TS Designs' newly launched Solid State Clothing and 10,000 Pounds of Cotton Project, created to transfer power to U.S. cotton farmers and to you as a conscious consumer. Learn more at tsdesigns.com. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Sara Neff took Kilroy Realty Corporation from having no sustainability program to being named the #1 public real estate company across all asset classes on sustainability in the Americas by GRESB. At Kilroy, she oversees all sustainability initiatives such as the implementation of energy and water efficiency projects, solar and battery installations, green janitor education, all LEED certifications, the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations, and the greening of building and construction standards. Under her leadership they just achieved carbon neutral operations at the end of 2020! She also serves on The CLEEN Project advisory board, the GBCI Board of Directors, and the GRID Alternatives Board of Directors. Previously, she served on the USGBC Advisory Council and as Chair of the Board of Directors of USGBC Los Angeles, in addition to the Board of Directors of Young Professionals in Energy Los Angeles, Advisory Council of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, and the BOMA Los Angeles Sustainability Committee. She is a frequent speaker (20+ events per year) at industry conferences and seminars on energy efficiency, tenant engagement, market transformation, and green leasing. Select speaking engagements include ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year (Keynote), C40, USGBC Greenbuild, VERGE, US Conference of Mayors, BOMA International and ACEEE.    Show Highlights   Kilroy has the right market forces to make sustainability happen. The reasons you need to advocate for a standalone sustainability budget.  Avoid getting trapped in sustainability with these staying power tips for the industry. What did Kilroy do to shock the commercial real estate world?   Their impressive sustainability portfolio. Amount of influence over the whole industry, especially in something as important as carbon. The America's listed sector leader across all asset classes.   Getting creative about off-site renewables. Sara talks all things GRESB (how green is your portfolio of CRE). Green building's responsibility towards the impact buildings have on human health and productivity. Sara's tips to make sustainability make business sense.  A great tool that gives insight into the embodied carbon of construction materials and helps manage it.   “Environmental people tend to just only want to talk about sustainability. You have to speak the language of business in our field of real estate, to really be able to be successful [with your sustainability initiatives].”  -Sara Neff   Sara Neff Transcript   Sara Neff 's Show Resource and Information Kilroy Realty Annual Sustainability (2019) Report How To Have A Good Day The Grid Invisible Women Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes.  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!   Copyright © 2020 GBES

While many people know Kroger as the nation’s largest traditional food retailer, few know that they are effectively the fifth largest consumer packaged goods manufacturer in the nation and have more than 2800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names. In this episode, we learn that Kroger is committed to protecting people and the planet by advancing positive change in their company and communities and realizing that they could have multiple environmental and social impacts through their own operations, through the supply chain, and in other areas. Zero Hunger, Zero Waste is what Kroger named their social impact plan to end hunger in their communities and to eliminate waste in their company by 2025. This plan was launched in September of 2017 and was inspired by their purpose to feed the human spirit. They are always looking to the future and have recently announced their new, and very ambitious, 2030 ESG Goals. Joining Smart Decisions Founder John Failla for this closer look are Kroger’s Lisa Zwack, Head of Sustainability, and Denis George, Category Manager – Energy.    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:58] A brief scope & scale of Kroger and Lisa & Denis’ roles and responsibilities [5:00] Drivers and commitments related to Kroger’s sustainability and energy management [8:30] Drivers behind Kroger’s energy programs [10:50] Safety and quality are paramount [12:30] The role that investor interest has played [20:45] More about Kroger’s approach to Climate Impact [25:08] Two key ideas for  getting store-level associates to buy into the idea of saving energy [29:17] the La Habra Baking Project [34:01] What role, both internally and externally, do you see relationships playing in pursuit of your ESG goals? [41:45] What is unique about Kroger’s relationship with Duke Energy? [43:57] Talk about the future and where things are headed Stakeholder/Investor Engagement Stakeholder engagement is a great way for Kroger to learn what their key internal and external stakeholders think about what they are doing and what they think Kroger should be doing moving forward. Kroger engages with its stakeholders through its materiality assessment early in the year. It is a great focused opportunity to get input from their various stakeholders, investors, NGOs, and any number of people outside of the company as well as inside the company. Kroger wants to hear what is most important to their leaders as well. Investors are a key audience. There is increased investor interest in how companies are managing climate risk and climate impact and how they are reducing energy usage and moving to more renewables and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kroger is generally always trying to increase and improve the amount of transparency that they use when they talk to their stakeholders as they know that they are trying to get more decision-useful information for their purposes of making investments in different companies. Kroger prides itself on being very in tune with what investors are looking for and being responsive to that. They also took part in a qualitative climate risk assessment late last year. Kroger assesses and manages risk as a company overall, but this assessment was a great foray into the more dedicated climate risk assessment process, which is something else investors are looking for companies to do.  Historically Driven by Expense Savings Twenty-some years ago, when Denis started with the company, they were more “Zero Energy, Zero Waste” before they were “Zero Hunger, Zero Waste.” Denis states that if they can fulfill their mission to their customers by using less energy, that is just a smart way to operate a business. They learned long ago that through energy efficiency they could achieve that very quickly and very uniformly. They have also found that one can achieve cost reduction in many other ways - through contract negotiations, better rates from utilities, items of that nature, and, as renewables continue to come on and there are more and different ways to engage in renewable energy acquisition those costs are coming down.  This is very consistent with Kroger’s desire to reduce expenses, to maintain reliable well-lit stores, keep food safe and tasty while ensuring the quality of their food, as well as to contribute to the environment. Denis comments that it is wonderful when all those goals that can sometimes seemingly conflict come together and, by doing what they have been doing with reducing the amount of energy and starting to bring on additional renewable purchases, that they are beginning to achieve a lot of the goals all at the same time.  Safety and Quality are Paramount Three of Kroger’s four drivers mentioned in this podcast come up in varying order. Cost reduction is number one nearly 80 percent of the time, followed by greening the environment, but the one most interesting point of the conversation is the notion of food safety because that is a unique and very important driver for the entire food industry. You could save a lot of money by turning everything off, but ice cream doesn’t work well in a zero-energy environment. Everyone’s been inside a grocery store and knows how much energy it uses, but milk has to maintain a certain temperature, the quality of ice cream depends on how cold you keep it - too cold is actually as bad as too warm. There are not only a lot of state, federal, and local food requirements to follow but a lot of other things Kroger wants to do to maintain freshness as well. Those are the rules by which Kroger must live that perhaps might not be needed in a clothing retail store or an auto parts place where humidity and temperature would not affect the product as much as it does fresh produce and fresh meat. Kroger must respect those guidelines and principles to sell their product to their customers in a very safe and comfortable environment. Resources & People Mentioned Duke Energy CDP Climate Questionnaire Kroger 2020 ESG Report Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Sasb.org Standards Connect With Our Guests Lisa Zwack, Head of Sustainability Lisa is the Head of Sustainability at The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest grocery retailer, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this role, she leads and executes on Kroger’s sustainability strategy across a variety of topics, including the company’s progress towards its 2020 sustainability goals as well as goals for the next decade. Previously, Lisa served as Sustainability Manager for Staples, Inc. for nearly five years, where she played a key role in implementing and communicating the company’s global sustainability vision. She earned her MBA from the Ross School of Business and her MS and BS degrees from the School for Environment and Sustainability, all at the University of Michigan, during which time she worked with several leading companies on sustainability-related projects. Follow Lisa Zwack on LinkedIn Denis George, Category Manager – Energy As Category Manager — Energy for The Kroger Co. (www.thekrogerco.com) — one of the Nation’s largest grocery and retail companies — Denis George manages the Company’s renewable energy acquisition, gas & electricity contracts, utility agreements, regulatory intervention, and related matters. From 1998 to 2016, Denis served as Kroger’s Corporate Manager — Energy with responsibilities that also included energy efficiency initiatives, carbon footprint calculations, mechanical system design, and Energy Star program compliance. Over these years, Kroger received numerous national and regional awards for energy efficiency and sustainability, including the Energy Star “Partner of the Year” Award (twice), the Alliance to Save Energy's top award — the "Galaxy" Star of Energy Efficiency, and an “Award of Excellence” from Platt’s Publications. Mr. George has presented before numerous Commissions and Associations, including the Edison Electric Institute, American Public Power Association, Touchstone Energy Partnership, Green Retail Decisions, Smart Energy Decisions, and the Critical Consumer Issues Forum.  He serves on the Customer Advisory Board of Smart Energy Decisions and has previously served on numerous utility customer advisory groups. Denis also served two terms on the State of Ohio Public Benefits Advisory Board, a non-compensated Board advising the State of Ohio and utilities on low-income consumer energy needs. From 1980 to 1997, Denis worked at The Dayton Power and Light Company, serving in several legal and management positions that included appearances and representation before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Mr. George received a Juris Doctor Degree in 1985 from The University of Cincinnati College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics/Business Administration, cum laude, from Wittenberg University in 1980. He remains a licensed Attorney at Law in the State of Ohio. Denis and his wife, Alice Sutherland George, live in Loveland, Ohio. Follow Denis George on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Beyond The Meter on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

We have Dave Miller, from Delta Electronics, joining us today to talk about bathroom ventilation and bath fans.  Ventilation is very important, yet it’s something that’s often overlooked.  About Delta Delta Electronics came out of Taiwan and they have been going for almost fifty years. They are a very diverse firm, with a core philosophy of energy efficiency, good stewardship of the environment, and a green approach.  Diversity within Delta Electronics What Dave enjoys about Delta is their diversity. And he loves what they’re able to bring to the party, intellectually, through Delta’s many different divisions.  Delta is the world’s largest brushless DC motor manufacturer. They are the largest manufacturer of power supplies on the planet, and they do EV charging stations for hybrid vehicles and plug-in cars. They also get into projectors as well as several other diverse and complementary categories, including bath fans.  Dave explains that at Delta, they are truly communal in the way that they approach solutions. Delta started its Delta Breez division ten years ago. About bathroom fans and ventilation Dave points out that the ventilation is like the lungs of the house because it gets rid of all the odors, moisture, cooking smells, molds, and mildew. With everyone staying at home during the pandemic right now, there is a lot more potential for pollution, moisture, and toxins in our indoor environment. Moisture is the enemy of your home, and most of the moisture in our homes comes from the bathroom. The moisture from the bathroom drifts out into other areas of the home, so the bathroom ventilation is particularly important. Bath fans are one of the key elements to having cleaner and better air to breathe in our homes. How Delta entered the bath fan manufacturing business At Delta, they truly utilize their brilliance as DC (direct current) motor manufacturers when it comes to building their very energy-efficient DC brushless motors.  Delta’s founder Bruce Cheng suggested that the company start manufacturing bathroom fans because they were already making the best DC motors on the market. At the time, DC motors were such a novelty in the bathroom fan business because they were more expensive. But with Delta’s engineering prowess and manufacturing capabilities, the company became the first in the industry to exclusively use only DC motors in its exhaust fans – setting a new standard for energy efficiency and reliability. This became a game-changer for Delta because, with their DC motors, their bath fans use a whopping 75 percent less energy than a fan with an AC motor would. Bath fans are the solution for the future Talking about bath fans makes Dave wax evangelical because they represent the future for him, and he feels that we have to preach where we’re headed.  He explains that in the future, we’re going to have to learn to consume less and provide more. And bath fans from Delta are the solution because they can provide effective and essential ventilation for your home while saving lots of energy with their quiet, energy-efficient, long-lasting DC motors.  Low-sound motors The DC motors that Delta provides have a long life, they’re very efficient, and they are also the quietest motors in the entire bathroom ventilation industry.  Dave points out that a loud fan is an ineffective fan because it never gets turned on! Changing the air in the home Dave tells us that a rule of thumb in any tight, efficiently sealed home is that one-third of all the air needs to be changed out every hour, on the hour. So that every three hours, all the air in the whole house has been changed out. And bath fans provide an effective, precise, and valuable way of doing that.  Providing the perfect solution Delta looked into the commercial/ industrial side of their business and they applied what they found there to the residential side of the business. And now, Delta’s motors, with their long-lasting, energy-saving, and quiet DC technology, provide the perfect solution for reliable bathroom ventilation.  Delta’s commitment to being energy-efficient Delta’s commitment to being energy-efficient while providing excellent solutions, coupled with the innovative way that they have combined all their in-house technology, has earned them the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for five years in a row, and a Sustained Excellence award for three years in a row! Links and resources: Delta Breez Bath Fan Buying Guide Delta Breez website  Delta Breez 100 CFM Integrity Bathroom Exhaust Fan with Edge-Lit Dimmable LED Light From Everyday Green Home Available on Amazon and Home Depot!

Jonathan White, division president of Atlanta at Meritage Homes, is in studio on today's episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses the multiple Meritage communities in progress or now selling in and around metro Atlanta. White also gives insight on the builder's commitment to energy efficiency and Operation Homefront on this All About Real Estate segment of Radio. White has been in the building industry for almost 16 years, and with Meritage Homes for the past two years. Originally from Florida, White began his career working in several Florida markets such as Orlando and Jacksonville. Most recently, White spent six years in the Houston market before settling in Atlanta in early 2018. White spent about half of his time in his home building career in land acquisition and development. After gaining years of experience, he shifted his focus to the overall management side of the industry. White also worked for eight years as a civil engineer. Meritage Homes stared in 1985 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Currently operating in 17 divisions across nine different states, Meritage is a top ten national builder. “Our core purpose is to enrich lives by building the American dream,” said White. “We are guided by six core values which are start with heart, integrity above all else, develop to empower, think strategically, build value and play to win. We really do live by those values.” Meritage came to Atlanta in 2014 and has evolved over the past six years, growing into a top ten builder in the area. For the seventh consecutive year, Meritage has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its superior building practices. It was awarded the Energy Star Partner of the Year in sustained excellence. Meritage Homes builds a wide range of products in and around the metro Atlanta area. Products include two-story front-loaded townhomes, three-story rear-entry townhomes, 40-to-50-foot-wide single-family homes, two-story rear-entry bungalows and more. Homes range in size from 1,600 to over 4,000 square feet. “Right now, we really focus on three rungs of the homeownership ladder,” said White. “First-time buyers, first-time move-up and move-down buyers are the primary focus of who we serve. Our price points range from the mid $200,000s to the low $500,000s. We really see the largest growth opportunity in the under-served first-time buyer market and the move-down buyers, so we intend to focus our growth in those areas.” Meritage Homes is currently selling in several of its new home communities. Highland Overlook near the East-West Connector is a three-story front-and-rear-entry townhome located in Smyrna. With only 68 homesites, this intimate community offers convenient access to various metro Atlanta favorites. Twelve homes are available now at Highland Overlook and priced from the low $400,000s. Willowcrest is the newest Meritage community, only just opening at the end of 2019. This community of single-family homes in Mableton is priced in the low $300,000s. Another fantastically located community right next to Smyrna, Willowcrest has three separate product lines. Forty-foot single-family homes, 26-foot front-load entry townhomes and 24-foot detached bungalow homes all reside in this community. Willowcrest also comes with an amazing amenity package. A third community White highlighted in his interview is Winding Creek in Stockbridge. This community will provide 117 wooded lots with convenient access to I-75. Priced from the mid $200,000s, homes in this community will feature up to 3,020 square feet, four to five bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and a two-car garage. Winding Creek homes offer one of four unique floorplans. Meritage Homes has these three incredible communities, as well as several more communities located around Atlanta. One distinction that separates Meritage from other home builders is its commitment to ener...

Funding for education initiatives is not just a school district or state issue, it is national one. The current state of our workforce, with consistently changing technology and a push for computer science skills, is demanding a shift in education and the programs provided for students. Laura Spence, a K-12 STEM Specialist for Pinellas County Schools in Largo, Florida, is familiar with the direction that STEM is heading in, both in education and the workforce. Her career has been dedicated to it. But in trying to bring STEM programs to her students, she's faced the challenges of funding STEM resources. Several consistent methods of funding are available, such as grants, but to make room for more qualified staff and focused programs, funding has to get creative. On today's podcast, Spence breaks down how important community engagement is for bringing STEM to schools. Since the world today has a high demand for STEM skills, Spence has found power in educating parents, other educators, community leaders and businesses to help fund their programs. Another surprising way Pinellas County Schools managed to find funds for STEM education came from more intentional facility management. “Districts and schools often struggle with budget management in general,” Spence said. Pinellas County found a way to save $20 million by taking an in-depth look at the amount of money that was being wasted through inefficient energy use. The county partnered with Cenergistic to help them take a closer look at their facility management and energy use, and because of the partnership and money saved, Pinellas County Schools won the Energy Star Partner of the Year award. Spence has taken this award and other community engagement wins and helped set a standard for how school districts can find grass-roots, creative and responsible ways to fundraise for STEM initiatives. Listen to Spence explain how STEM education can be applied to multiple settings and is applicable in the real world, and why even a small start with funding is a big step in the right direction.

As Senior Vice President Global Client Care, Dave Pogue is leading the development of socially responsible, market driven solutions to align corporate responsibility principals into CBRE business practices through a strategy called Shared Advantage. In his prior role as Global Director of Corporate Responsibility, Dave oversaw CBRE’s development, implementation and reporting for all aspects of corporate social responsibility, including environmental stewardship, community engagement and corporate giving. His leadership has produced an award-winning sustainability platform leveraging thought leadership, service delivery and industry associations to raise worldwide green building standards. Program achievements include development of CBRE’s $1 million Real Green Research Challenge; delivery of co-branded BOMA BEEP training to more than 24,000 attendees; and recognition as the first manager of commercial property to certify more than 700 buildings in the LEED® for Existing Buildings rating system. CBRE has been honored by the EPA as a ten-time ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council® with the Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence. CBRE has also been included in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America and the FTSE4Good Index for four consecutive years.  In this episode, the following topics are discussed: Corporate citizenship and good business Stakeholder engagement Millennials Shared values EPA ENERGY STAR Building scoring Benchmarking LEED EB WELL certification and Delos Shared Advantage Reporting sustainability Nabers Australia GRESB Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies Corporate transparency Green Building Adoption Index - Maastricht University CSR NOTES and REFERENCES International Green Building Adoption Index CBRE Recognized for Transparency about Carbon, Energy Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies The Global ESG Benchmark for Real Assets NABERS Green office environments linked with higher cognitive function scores Global Major Report - Live Work Play: Millennials Myths and Realities CBRE Podcast ABOUT PHILIP BEERE Philip is host of Corporate Sustainability; the podcast that explores companies and people who inspire innovation, improvement, and sustainable business practices through purpose-driven missions and initiatives. Philip is a longtime marketer, who consults companies on how to use stories and narrative to help build their brands.  He says sustainability stories are one of the most powerful ways companies can manage their reputations. Connect with him by clicking here.     

Discover Best Practices to Managing Large Exhibit Projects This is an incredible episode with John I. Taylor, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at LG Electronics USA, Inc. John is the most senior PR, government affairs, and industry relations executive for LG Electronics, USA.    In his three decades of experience, John has been an active participant in the Consumer Technology Association, and has attended  48 CES shows!  You are going to hear not only insights of how the show has evolved over the past 36 year but also what LG Electronics does to deliver an incredible experience for attendees. Taylor shares insights into the  incredible technology released by LG Electronics at the CES show including The LG SIGNATURE OLED TV W features a "Wallpaper" design so impossibly thin and light that it attaches to the wall, while delivering unbelievable color and contrast, plus active HDR with 4K resolution.  Imagine what you can do in your exhibit with this technology! Four Key Ideas Shared in This Episode: What it’s like to have 148,000 people visit your booth and how to conduct business when it is incredibly crowded with government officials and Hollywood executives How to manage global teams in different time zones Strategies to stay on track with goals and objectives Why mentoring is a great way to give back and pay it forward. Show Notes: 00:28 – Natalie welcomes John I. Taylor to the show. 01:46 – In 36 years at CES, John has seen the event evolve significantly 02:01 – The evolution of CES reflects the evolution of the consumer technology industry 02:13 – CES has been the industry's launch pad for new technology 02:34 – Taylor talks about how other industries have arrived to the                       show including automotive 03:27 – Discussion about the challenge for smaller exhibitors is                          attracting the right visitors to their booth 03:56 – Crowd control needs careful planning and John and his team                   ensure the right people from LG are always there 04:13 – Every year, LG has new technologies that attract attendees– this year they had the LG OLED Tunnel 04:47 – They had over 148,000 people go inside their tunnel 05:29 – LG is proud of the CES 2017 results including Best in Innovation Award for their OLED Wallpaper as thin as a pen and mounts with magnets 05:37 – John lists the new LG devices displayed at CES 2017 06:09 – LG won about 120 awards from the show 06:55 – The process started early in fall of 2016 planning for the show 07:20 – They embargoed the announcement for LG Series OLED W7 Wallpaper until their press conference the day before the event 07:48 – They also made sure their digital marketing team was integrated from the beginning as the CES planning took place 08:26 – How post-show promotions are done 09:18 – How they did crowd control in the OLED Tunnel 09:26 – Meetings and tours in the booth were pre-scheduled 09:31 – John conducted a lot of the VIP tours himself 09:51 – “It’s important to plan ahead...and also important to tailor the message to the audience” 10:39 – CES is the epicenter of all things consumer technology related and policy makers are known to attend these events 11:21 – CES becomes a wonderful opportunity for exhibitors to be top of mind among policy makers and consumers 12:00 – The volume of attendees and overall show was so crowded it made it difficult for 1 on 1 meetings. 12:36 – John’s fondest memories from CES are really around the excitement of launching new technologies 12:59 – LG had 2,000 badges for the show 13:23 – Because the show is in the US, people from LG USA takes a huge part in planning but it’s still a collaborative effort from across the world 13:43 – LG’s planning for CES 2018 has already started 14:09 – John reiterates the importance of having a clear alignment on the objectives 14:47 – John and his team do a lot of meetings to plan 15:17 – They have just completed their post-show review and results summary for CES 2017 16:39 – In previous years, John has been given the chance to be a mentor to smaller companies 17:26 – John suggests visiting CES as an attendee first before becoming an exhibitor if you are a smaller company to become familiar with the show and all it has to offer. 18:03 – “There’s a place for anybody and everybody in the consumer tech space” 18:26 – The best part of CES for John is being with his colleagues (even if they are competitors) 19:02 – John tries to spend the last day of the show checking out other booths 19:54 – Over the years, CES has been the catalyst of ‘connected homes’ 21:37 – Earlier in John’s career, he had back to back all-nighters 21:50 – Now, the LG staff schedules are done in shifts to help reduce fatigue 21:59 – Key survival tips-always have hand sanitizers at your booth and wear comfortable shoes 22:10 – Take breaks every couple of hours 22:21 – Try to force yourself to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep and take a break after the show 23:41 – John and his team use the LG G-Pad to communicate and to brief people for the show 24:58 – John has been reading several books at a time like The Wright Brothers, Destiny and Power, American Lion, and Seoul Man 26:02 – Natalie thanks John for today’s episode 26:35 – Check out LG Electronics Resources Mentioned: CES (Consumer Electronic Show) – The largest North American Show Consumer Technology Association – The technology association where John has been active for over 3 decades The Wright Brothers, Destiny and Power, American Lion, and Seoul Man – Books John are currently reading John Taylor: As the Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications for LG Electronics USA since 2000, Taylor represents the company before the U.S. government and in industry organizations. He is the chief media spokesman and public relations strategist for LG in the United States and leads LG’s U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability initiatives. Active for three decades in the Consumer Technology Association, Taylor is Chairman of the CTA 4K Ultra HD Communications Working Group, Vice Chairman of the CTA Video Division Board and a member of the CTA Foundation’s Executive Committee. He is a long-time member of the CTA Government Affairs Council, the judging committee for the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame and the Editorial Advisory Board for CTA’s i3 magazine. Other CTA experience includes serving two terms as Chairman of the CTA Communications Committee (in the 1990s and 2010s), as past Chairman of the Video Division, ex-Chairman of the HDTV Promotion Committee and former member of the CTA Board of Industry Leaders. He is a charter member of CTA’s Academy of Digital TV Pioneers and earned its highest honor, the Industry Leadership Award. A key player in digital television since 1988, Taylor currently serves as Communications Chairman of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, the industry group developing next-generation TV standards. He also serves on the boards of trustees of The Media Institute and the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. Previously, he was Public Relations Chairman of the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance in the 1990s and co-founded the Digital TV Transition Coalition in the 2000s. He was a founder and former Chairman of the Plasma Display Coalition, and also formerly served on the boards of directors the ATSC Forum, the Museum of Broadcast Communications and Better Business Bureau. Taylor also represents LG Electronics USA on the Board of Directors of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and on the AHAM Major Appliance division board. Currently AHAM Vice Chairman, he serves on the board’s Executive Committee and also chairs the AHAM Major Appliance Division Government Relations Committee. He received the AHAM Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into the Dealerscope Hall of Fame in 2015. About LG Electronics USA LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in home appliances, consumer electronics and mobile communications. LG Electronics, a proud 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, sells a range of stylish and innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, mobile phones, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions in the United States, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LG.com.   Visit The Rock Your Trade Show LinkedIn Group to share ideas and be part of the community. Credits Show Notes provided by Mallard Creatives  

Today we talk with Javier Ruiz, president of Senercon, 5 time ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, and expert in selling energy efficiency to builders in El Paso, where there is no help from rebates, incentives, or energy utility involvement.