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Category: Energy

An Induction Range, No Rewiring Required

Fans of the induction cooktops say it’s how we’ll electrify our homes, breathe cleaner air… and maybe cook better too. The hitch? Installing these cooktops often requires expensive and time consuming rewiring. We spoke to Channing Street Copper Company, a startup whose new induction cooktop could help make the technology more accessible by which plugging directly into the wall.

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Could Windows Be A Source of Solar Power? with Professor Stephen Forrest


Office buildings, high rises, and greenhouses are covered in windows. What if we used all that window space to capture solar energy and add to the grid’s renewable energy supply? Listen to University of Michigan engineering professor Steven Forrest explain how a change in the semiconducors used in solar panels could allow us to transform windows into power sources — without sacrificing light and transparency.

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What Advanced Clean Cars II Means for Zero Emission Vehicles with Dr. Steve Cliff


The California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II Rule requires all new light duty vehicles sold in California to be zero-emission by 2035. In the final episode of our series with CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steve Cliff, Climate Break talks to Dr. Cliff about CARB’s approach — and why he thinks the time is right for an ambitious government mandate.

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Equitable Policy for Energy Efficient Homes with Dr. Steve Cliff


In our second episode with California Air Resources Board’s Executive Officer, Dr. Steve Cliff, hear how Dr. Cliff is thinking about the challenges of building electrification and the role government can play in ensuring a just transition to energy efficient buildings.

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What Can California’s Experience Tackling Climate Change Teach the Federal Government? With Richard Corey


In recognition of COP-27, Climate Break is partnering with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to talk about what what policymakers can learn from California’s experience with designing environmental regulations and incentives. First, listen to former CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey reflect on his experience and what’s to come for the future of environmental policy, in conversation with Ken Alex.

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Building Tribal Communities’ Energy Independence with Indigenized Energy Initiative

Native communities have disproportionately low access to and pay higher rates for utilities, particularly electricity, which has a significant impact on access and opportunities for remote work, education, and other activities. The Indigenized Energy Initiative works to increase indigenous energy ownership and access in order to address the social, economic, and environmental injustices that native communities face. This week, Chéri Smith, founder and CEO of IEI, discusses their strategy for assisting indigenous communities and eliminating energy poverty.

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Using Solar Energy to Power Large Scale Compost with Chris Seney

In an attempt to reduce methane emissions, California’s SB 1383 has mandated municipalities dramatically increase the amount of organic waste they compost. But responsibly composting at such a large scale takes energy. We spoke to Chris Seney of Republic Services about how their first of its kind solar powered compost facility in Chula Vista, California, could provide a carbon emissions free way to power composting’s expansion.

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Using Geothermal Technology to Replace Natural Gas in Homes with HEET

Heat pumps are often suggested as a way for homes to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. However, their high price tag has traditionally made them inaccessible to many. By installing neighborhood wide geothermal technology, GeoGrids could provide the solution.

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What Does West Virgina v. EPA Mean for Environmental Policy? with Professor Dan Farber and Ken Alex

Audio By: Wangyuxuan Xu Scripting By: Alexandra Jade Garcia Blurb By: Elizabeth Shertinsky Socials By: Sophia Del Priore West Virginia v. EPA The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency on June 30, 2022, determining (in a 6-3 ruling) that, without explicit congressional instruction,…

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Electric Vehicle-Grid Integration with Dr. Carla Peterman – California China Climate Institute

The growth of electric vehicles has increased the demands on the electric grid, which can be a particular problem if EV owners charge their cars at the same time that other electricity demand is at its peak. However, EVs may be part of the solution to some of the grid’s operational challenges.  Dr. Carla Peterman, chief sustainability officer at electric utility Pacific Gas and Electric and a former California energy official, spoke about the possibility of electric vehicles providing grid services.

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