Renewable Rides

Today Gareth shares his recent experience purchasing an electric vehicle and the surprising parallels to how businesses should approach energy investments. From overcoming information gaps to leveraging data for smarter decisions, we break down the steps you can take to ensure you're making the best choice—whether it's for your next car or your company's energy strategy. You'll...

What does the future of clean energy look like, and how can businesses stay ahead of the curve? In this episode, Bill Nussey shares his bold predictions for 2025 and highlights the transformative trends in clean energy. Bill dives into the accelerating adoption of distributed energy systems, including microgrids and battery storage, and discusses how these innovations will soon move from niche to...

What do California's wildfires reveal about the vulnerabilities in our energy infrastructure? In this episode, we talk about the devastating impact of the recent wildfires in California and how climate change is reshaping the way we think about energy systems. You'll learn about the urgent need for grid hardening and why the traditional centralized power systems might not be enough to ha...

Today we are joined by Bart Calame, CEO of Compass Dermatopathology, to discuss his journey into renewable energy. From how he transitioned his business to solar energy to valuable lessons for leaders considering sustainable solutions, this episode is full of key insights from someone with firsthand experience. Listen in as we delve into Bart's meticulous supplier selection process, as well a...

What does it take to tackle corporate emissions and align sustainability with business success? In this episode, Ty Colman, Co-Founder of Optera, dives into the critical role of Scope 3 emissions in combating climate change. You'll learn how businesses can begin their sustainability journey using accessible data, collaborate with suppliers, and create scalable solutions to drive meaningful en...

What did 2024 teach us about the future of renewable energy? In this episode, we reflect on our predictions for the year and evaluate how trends in distributed energy, EV adoption, energy resilience, and regulatory incentives shaped the market. With insights on record-breaking grid electricity price hikes and the booming growth of on-site solar installations, we explore the challenges and opportun...

How is the global energy transition reshaping the way businesses approach sustainability? In this episode, Peter Kelly-Detwiler unpacks the challenges and opportunities in decarbonization, grid modernization, and renewable energy integration. Drawing on decades of experience and insights from his book, The Energy Switch, and upcoming work, A Matter of Degrees , Peter shares how companies can adapt...

How are corporate giants like Amazon, Google, and Meta driving the solar revolution? In this episode, we dive into the Solar Means Business report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and uncover the impressive strides corporations are making toward clean energy adoption. Discover how companies are leveraging solar energy and battery storage to lead the charge in a sustainable futur...

What does it take to navigate climate challenges and create meaningful change? In this episode, Sotiria Anagnostou, Executive Director of AZ CleanTech, shares her journey from academia to corporate sustainability and her mission to build a cleantech ecosystem in Arizona. Sotiria discusses how she combines innovative tools like AI and digital twins with collaborative approaches to address climate r...

What does it take to modernize manufacturing facilities while slashing energy costs and improving sustainability? In this episode, Charlie Marquez, Senior Manager of EHS and Facilities at Kirkhill, shares his fascinating journey from his Navy beginnings to spearheading energy innovations in a California manufacturing plant. Learn how Charlie led his team to adopt a groundbreaking 1.3 MW Combined H...

With the grid getting cleaner, is onsite energy still worth considering? As businesses look for the most cost-efficient solutions, it's tempting to think the answer is no. But the reality is far more complex. In this episode, we dive deep into this question and share some surprising findings about the state of the grid and carbon intensity across the U.S. Listen in to hear the data from recen...

The election results are in—but how will they affect the energy industry? Tune in to this episode to get our take on the news and how we expect things to change over the next few years. You’ll get a breakdown of where we see key changes happening (or projected to happen), as well as how those things will affect distributed energy, onsite energy, and VECKTA. Listen in as we discuss opportunities, i...

Are local regulations impacting commercial real estate as much as national headlines? In this episode, we uncover the critical, often overlooked policies shaping the commercial and industrial real estate landscape across America. We explore building performance standards and key programs. Learn how these local laws are transforming property management, affecting operational costs, and influencing...

What causes the largest global blackouts, and how can we prevent them in the future? In this episode, we explore some of the most significant power outages in history, such as India's 2012 blackout, which affected 620 million people, and Brazil's 1999 grid failure. We examine the underlying causes, from infrastructure challenges to unpredictable natural events. Beyond the statistics, thi...

Is sustainability the key to the future of real estate? Brendan McCarthy, Head of Real Estate Responsible Investment at Calvert Research and Management, explores how ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices are transforming the commercial real estate landscape. In this episode, Brendan shares his journey from traditional finance to sustainability-driven real estate, and how capital ma...

How can businesses prepare for natural disasters? In this episode, we dive into the importance of power resilience and how major operations, such as Disney, have designed energy systems to handle these emergencies. We’ll explore their innovative approach, from building a private energy utility to integrating renewable energy sources for continued operation, even in the harshest weather. You'l...

Can one person truly make a difference in the fight against climate change? In this episode, we sit down with Mike Dieterich, a Corporate Sustainability Expert, who shares inspiring stories from his global travels and groundbreaking work, including leading the Zero Carbon North American Roadmap at AstraZeneca. With a career that spans government startups and corporate sustainability initiatives, M...

How do we tackle the monumental challenge of decarbonizing the real estate industry, which contributes a large percentage of global emissions? In this episode, Brendan Wallace, co-founder and CEO of Fifth Wall, breaks down the $18 trillion question: how do we transition real estate to a more sustainable future? Brendan explains the intersection of real estate, technology, and energy, highlighting...

Today Calvin Fine, Head of Market Operations at VECKTA, joins us to explain how businesses are rethinking their relationships with utilities and the strategic options available for energy procurement. You'll learn how the rise of battery energy storage systems and renewable energy is empowering companies to move beyond traditional utility dependency. We discuss how energy costs, greenhouse ga...

What do the Olympics have in common with the energy transition? In this episode, we draw compelling parallels between Olympic athletes’ commitment to their sport and the effort businesses must put into achieving sustainability goals. You’ll learn how the pursuit of operational resilience through energy innovation can be just as demanding and rewarding as training for Olympic gold. We’ll explore ho...

How can sustainability drive both environmental and business success? In this episode, Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer at General Motors, shares insights on how GM is integrating sustainability into their core business strategy. Discover how GM is tackling Scope 3 emissions by not just focusing on electric vehicles, but also ensuring that the electricity powering these vehicles comes...

How do you ensure you're getting the best value from your suppliers? In today's episode, we dive into the crucial role of supplier diversity and the importance of driving competition when bringing a project to market. We’ll explore the latest customer insights, discuss the impact of regional players and suppliers, and uncover strategies related to equipment and labor that can significant...

Curious about the best way to finance your onsite energy systems? In this episode, we explore the crucial decision between self-financing and debt financing, breaking down the benefits, risks and key considerations for each option. You’ll gain valuable insights into whether it’s better to own your energy systems outright or let someone else take on the ownership—and what that means for your busine...

Now that we’ve designed the right onsite energy system, how do we buy them from developers and contractors? This is a crucial topic for business leaders who want to harness the power of onsite energy. Choosing the wrong contractors could have a very damaging effect on your progress and implementation, so listen in to hear about how you can get multiple quotes, manage risks, and ensure that you’re...

Are you one of the many people who want to understand heat pumps? We've heard plenty of our customers express their pain points surrounding industrial energy and how they want to learn more about heat pumps, so today, we are joined by Arun Gupta, Founder and CEO of Skyven Technologies. Arun is here to shed light on solving industrial heat issues, how heat pumps work, and more. Listen in as he...