POPULARITY
You've heard that the transition to clean energy is going too slowly, and it may be too late. But what if everything you've heard...is wrong! While some may paint a depressing picture of a sluggish transition, the real story is far more optimistic. On this episode, Barbara and her guest Jon Creyts, CEO of RMI, pull back the curtain on the staggering developments that no one has told you about. From game-changing technology that sounds like science-fiction (but it's real!), to surprising reasons the market will help us get to clean energy faster, you'll get useful and actionable insights about the hidden POSITIVE tipping point we're rapidly approaching. This episode delivers paradigm-shifting information about how our world will transform to clean energy faster than anyone has predicted. (Please note that the company H2 Green Steel mentioned by Jon Creyts now goes by Stegra.) Show notes: Barbara's newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/optimistic-outlook-7171212265625374720/ Global Cooling Prize: https://www.cleancoolingcollaborative.org/super-efficient-air-conditioning/ Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance: https://flysaba.org/ Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform: https://rmi.org/our-work/climate-aligned-industries/sustainable-steel-buyers-platform/
In a warming world, we are becoming increasingly reliant on air conditioning to keep our biological, economic, and health systems functioning. But this cooling technology has not come without its costs. According to the Clean Cooling Collaborative, this action of cooling our homes, businesses, medicine, goods, and more contributes to more than 7% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. Factoring in projected population and economic growth, that environmental footprint could double by 2050.This is why Ten Across is launching a new competition (with a $100K grand prize!) for college and university faculty-led student teams across the Ten Across corridor challenging them to develop innovative solutions for more efficient, climate-friendly, affordable, and accessible cooling for underserved communities. More details regarding the new 10X Prize can be found at 10across.com/10xprize/. Our guest for this episode has helped execute two global initiatives aimed at solving this cooling paradox. The first being, the Global Cooling Prize, which concluded in 2021 and produced two winners in their challenge to create an AC unit with 5x less climate impact. The other being the Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator, a partnership announced last month between Rocky Mountain Institute and the Clean Cooling Collaborative to take the prize-winning and other efficient air conditioning technologies to global-market scale. Listen in as Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and Ankit Kalanki, a manager of Rocky Mountain Institute's Carbon-Free Buildings Program, assess this imperative energy efficiency and public health challenge of the 21st Century, and the solutions that are on the way.
“Global Cooling or Global Warming” “Global EV Conversion” “It's all about the Money” “Charlie's Vacation to Europe”
It may not get the same attention as higher-profile sectors, but cooling accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gasses emissions. That's more than even aviation or shipping. Demand for cooling is expected to triple by 2050. In places where global warming is triggering intense heat waves, cooling has become a matter of life and death. And yet, cleaner, more-efficient air conditioning technology exists. Why aren't we using it? And how do we make it affordable and widely available? In this episode, guest host Lara Pierpoint talks with Jessy Rivest, vice president and general manager of the Cleantech program at Xerox PARC, where she develops and commercializes new cooling technologies. Lara and Jessy examine the two key technologies inside an air conditioner. The first is the cooling itself, a sophisticated process involving refrigerants. The second is humidity control, an energy-intensive process that Jessy thinks is ripe for an upgrade. Jessy also talks about the challenges of higher upfront costs associated with more efficient cooling options, and how incentives like the Global Cooling Prize are addressing them. She points out market opportunities like cooling-as-a-service and rebates from utilities to help avoid grid blackouts. And they dig into refrigerants, new types of dessicants, heat pumps and even ice. Lara and Jessy also discuss ventilation and air quality technologies that intersect with health, a key consideration during the pandemic and wildfire season. And Lara talks about turtles and sartorial approaches to manage that enduring office debate: How cold should it be in the building? Catalyst is supported by Antenna Group. For 25 years, Antenna has partnered with leading clean-economy innovators to build their brands and accelerate business growth. If you're a startup, investor, enterprise or innovation ecosystem that's creating positive change, Antenna is ready to power your impact. Visit antennagroup.com to learn more. Catalyst is supported by Nextracker. Nextracker's technology platform has delivered more than 50 gigawatts of zero-emission solar power plants across the globe. Nextracker is developing a data-driven framework to become the most sustainable solar tracker company in the world — with a focus on a truly transparent supply chain. Visit nextracker.com/sustainability to learn more.
In this episode of DoWell podcast, Ankit talks with Ankit Kalanki about Ankit K's background, the exciting work that he has done with the Global Cooling Prize project and the new cohort of start-ups at Third Derivative. You can follow the podcast on twitter at @podcast_dowell, on Instagram at podcast.dowell or you can also email us at podcast.dowell@gmail.com. You can also follow the host Ankit at @ankitpsri.
The former OPIC, African Development Bank and Black Rhino Group official tells Katie & Rose why she's frustrated with energy and climate finance double standards for Africa, how she would advise President Biden on climate & Africa, & why it's unethical to argue Africa must stay poor to reduce climate change impacts. Plus: Katie tells Rose why she's Amped Up about Richard Branson's Global Cooling Prize.
A global alliance has launched an innovative competition aimed at creating sustainable and eco-friendly air-conditioning systems. The alliance, comprised of the Indian government, nonprofit organization Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), and other international partners, launched the Global Cooling Prize competition. The goal of this competition is to develop new technologies for room air conditioners (RACs). More than 2,100 participants from over 95 countries signed up for the competition. Among those who submitted initial ideas, eight finalists were chosen and given $200,000 each to build prototypes, which will be tested in India during the summer of 2020. The finalists introduced different technology types that can reduce or eliminate substances used in air conditioners that contribute to climate change. For example, two finalists used water in their designs. By 2050, the global demand for RACs is expected to have an unprecedented increase from the current 1.2 billion units to a projected 4.5 billion. Some contributors to the increase are urbanization, population growth, and continuous global warming. Because of this, RACs' impact on the climate is also expected to increase, and this will cause the planet to warm further. According to RMI, global warming can rise by half a degree by the end of the 21st century because of RACs. The alliance recognizes that the major challenge of the winning technology will be persuading people to replace current RACs. According to a professor from the University of Cambridge, it will be difficult to encourage consumers to buy air conditioners based on performance and impact on the climate. A proposed solution is to phase out current designs that are unsustainable.
In this special episode of AIRAH on Air, we’re talking with Iain Campbell of the Rocky Mountain Institute – a US-based not-for-profit working to find practical, market-based solutions that will shift dependency from fossil fuels to renewables.Part of the Institute’s work involves administrating the Global Cooling Prize (GCP).Launched in November 2018, this international competition calls upon inventors and innovators to develop the next generation of cooling technology. To succeed, the design must have least five times less climate impact than a standard room air conditioning (RAC) unit. For the winners, there’s the incentive of US$3 million in prize money, as well as some pre-established channels to market.The GCP’s goal is to find a combined solution to growing demand and global warming. Residential cooling is set to boom three times globally by 2050 – particularly in developing nations. That means approximately 4.5 billion RAC units will be in use globally, compared to 1.2 billion today. Without any changes, it will result in a massive increase in power demand and emissions.“This technology could prevent up to 100 gigatonnes (GT) of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050, and put the world on a pathway to mitigate up to 0.5˚C of global warming by 2100, all while enhancing living standards for people in developing countries around the globe,” says the GCP.HVAC&R Nation editor Mark Vender met with Campbell following his keynote address at AIRAH’s Refrigeration 2019 conference. Campbell speaks engagingly about the Global Cooling Prize, why it’s so important and what potential applicants need to know.For more on the Global Cooling Prize, including details on the application process, visit globalcoolingprize.orgYou can also read more about the Global Cooling Prize’s objectives via HVAC&R News: www.hvacrnews.com.au/news/the-global-cooling-prizeA number of organisations and individuals have signed on to support and promote the prize, including AIRAH, the Government of India, Mission Innovation, Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite, ASHRAE, the World Wildlife Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme, among others: globalcoolingprize.org/about-the-glo…rize/partnersWatch Richard Branson explain Why the Cooling Challenge Matters here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_NEavNUQlMAIRAH on Air is a podcast exploring topics related to building services/design and a hidden industry in a constant state of innovation: the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry. To find out more about the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating, and to get details on our advocacy, our objectives and opportunities to get involved in the HVAC&R industry, visit www.airah.org.au
In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed our presenters, Helen Scales and Seyi Rhodes, speak to Radhika Lalit from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Radhika manages the Global Cooling Prize and in this second episode of our second season, she talks about the incredibly troubling position the planet is in due to inefficient room air conditioners. If you haven't stopped to think about your room air conditioner and its potential impact on a warming planet – here’s some context to help frame the global cooling problem:By 2030, over half of the world’s population will live in hot climates – many will experience increased exposure to potentially dangerous heat conditionsDue to this increasing risk of heat stress, residential cooling demand across the globe is expected to almost quadrupleTo meet this demand, approximately 4.5 billion room air conditioners will be in use by 2050 – compared to the 1.2 billion in use todayCurrently, room air conditioners being commonly sold in the market are EXTREMELY energy inefficient. Only 14 percent of maximum theoretical efficiency has been reached by today’s most advanced room air conditioners, with the majority of models reaching only 8 percent efficiencyThis is a power crisis, an energy crisis, a climate crisis and an economic crisis and it will affect global productivity, health, and losses in GDP.Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into the world of air con and what is RMI and a global coalition of partners doing to solve this global cooling challenge. Stay tuned till the end to learn more about how we can do our bit to help to solve the critical climate threat that comes from the growing demand for room air conditioning. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
When it comes to climate change, there are things homeowners can do with their yards and gardens to make a difference. This special episode answers a Colorado Wonders question about bluegrass and dispels perennial myths when it comes to landscaping in Colorado. Plus the Global Cooling Prize and the wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains.
When it comes to climate change, there are things homeowners can do with their yards and gardens to make a difference. This special episode answers a Colorado Wonders question about bluegrass and dispels perennial myths when it comes to landscaping in Colorado. Plus the Global Cooling Prize and the wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains.
Opening RemarksSarah Ladislaw, Alex Dehgan, and Iain CampbellKeynoteGina McCarthy, former Administrator, U.S Environmental Protection Agency; and Director, Center for Climate, Health, & Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthPanel One: The Problem and Potential of Technological SolutionsDavid Nemtzow, Bill Sisson, Paul Bunje, Gabrielle Dreyfus, and Kartikeya SinghKeynoteJohn Roome, Senior Director, Climate Change, The World BankPanel Two: Deploying Solutions at ScaleEric Toone, Jason Hartke, Stacy Swann, William F. Martin, and Erol YaybokeReception The CSIS Energy & National Security Program, Rocky Mountain Institute, Conservation X Labs, and the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development are pleased to host the U.S. launch of the Global Cooling Prize. To shed light on the purpose of the prize, keynote speakers and panelists will discuss the importance of developing new cooling technologies as the world grapples with climate change. We are pleased to host Gina McCarthy and John Roome, who will each deliver keynote addresses to frame the importance of cooling within the contexts of climate, public health, investment, and scaling. Following these keynotes, our expert panelists—from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives relative to climate and cooling technologies—will discuss the growing global demand for residential cooling, potential technological solutions, and how to deploy these solutions at scale. Announced in November 2018, the Global Cooling Prize is a global competition to develop breakthrough residential cooling technology. The Prize seeks to create a global cooling revolution by spurring the development of a radically more energy-efficient cooling technology. The Prize calls upon participants around the world to develop a breakthrough residential cooling technology with at least 5 times less climate impact when compared to a baseline unit. The Prize is administered by Rocky Mountain Institute, Conservation X Labs, the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy, and CEPT University. It is made possible by the Indian Department of Science and Technology, Tomkat Foundation, Argosy Foundation, The Grantham Foundation, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, Workforce Equity & Fiduciary Capital Advisors, and the Sidney E. Frank Foundation. This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS and the CSIS Energy & National Security Program.
In this episode of the podcast, Iryna speaks with Rushad Nanavatty, Principal at the Rocky Mountain Institute and core member at the Global Cooling Prize team about the impact that air conditioners have on our environment and the current efforts to develop new and better solutions. They discuss the severity of the issue, future unsustainable energy demands, new and upcoming innovations, Global Cooling Prize competitors' requirements, and other topics.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
