energy - Climate Break

Rerun: Climate Action through Community-Driven Philanthropy, with Jared Blumenfeld

The Waverley Street Foundation seeks opportunities to create climate solutions through community engagement. By involving communities hit hard by climate change and the injustices that come with it, the Foundation seeks to show people around the world how cutting carbon emissions, implementing sustainable farming practices, and promoting clean energy can benefit people lives, rather than spreading the narrative, that people must sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of the planet.

Climate & Society, Economics & Finance, Energy, Land

Rerun: Making Electric Heating Accessible and Affordable for Low-income Residents, with Sarah Moskowitz

People in many parts of the US rely on fossil gas to heat their homes during winter. Clean, all-electric heat, such as from heat pumps, is otherwise unaffordable to many low-income people, due to the higher upfront costs compared to a fossil gase furnace. We spoke to Sarah Moskowitz, the Executive Director at the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois, a ratepayer advocacy organization, about Chicago’s pioneering effort to support lower-income residents with accessing cheap, accessible all-electric heating.

Climate & Society, Energy, Technology

Rerun: Energy as a Service, with Bob Hinkle

Most current energy technologies burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Adopting low and zero-carbon technologies is one way to reduce emissions, but barriers such as high upfront and maintenance costs have impeded the adoption of these technologies. Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) arrangements make it easier for consumers to adopt energy-efficient technology. Under these arrangements, the EaaS provider provides the customer with an energy service, such as lighting, cooling, or heating, in exchange for a recurring fee. More energy efficient technology results in a lower carbon footprint.

Economics & Finance, Energy, Policy

Standardizing Energy Efficiency, with Mark Kresowik

Energy is a fundamental resource. Society relies on energy in order to operate and maintain safe, healthy, and accessible lifestyles. However, in order to promote sustainability, society must invest in methods to curb excess energy consumption by increasing energy efficiency. We spoke with Mark Kresowik to learn more about the benefits of setting energy standards.

Energy, Policy

Improving Lithium-Ion Batteries: The Manganese Solution

Lithium-ion batteries are an integral part of life in our modern electrified world. However, they may not be the best choice as demand increases. We spoke to Dr. Jason Croy from the Argonne National Laboratory, who is working on solutions like nickel-manganese-cobalt cathodes.

Energy, Technology, Transportation