Energy Crossroads

As extreme heat, flooding, severe storms, and other hazards increasingly impact communities, healthcare systems are facing a critical question: How can they prepare for climate risks while continuing to protect the people who depend on them?   We are revisiting our conversation with Dr. Adele Houghton, President of Biositu, LLC, and Instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, abou...

In recognition of World Habitat Day, we’re revisiting a conversation that reminds us that energy efficiency starts at home.   Felisa Connor, President and CEO of Frazier Revitalization joins us in this throwback episode to explore the connection between affordable housing, energy efficiency, and neighborhood revitalization. Felisa shares how investments in homes and communities can improve quality...

In this throwback episode of Energy Crossroads , we sit down with Dean Stanberry, formerly with the U.S. General Services Administration and Global Chair of IFMA, and Rob Hamon, former Director of Energy and Sustainability at Boxer Properties, to explore how facility and energy managers can finance energy efficiency projects and maximize their value. We also discuss how industry trends are shaping...

As the energy evolution reshapes our systems and communities, how we allocate limited resources will play a critical role in building a more sustainable and resilient future. In this episode of Energy Crossroads , we sit down with Dr. Erick C. Jones Jr., assistant professor of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington and director of the SEAR Lab, t...

In this throwback episode, Amanda Tullos, founder of GreeNexus Consulting, shares her vision for sustainable, regenerative buildings. A licensed architect who has led more than 150 LEED-certified projects spanning 15 million square feet, Amanda explores how the Living Building Challenge is driving market transformation and offers practical solutions for advancing green building practices. Subscrib...

As extreme weather and natural disasters continue to test our energy systems and built environment, resilient design has never been more important.  In this throwback episode we sit down with Rives Taylor, FAIA, LEED Fellow, and Gensler’s Global Design Resilience Leader and Principal, to discuss how resilient building design, smarter energy infrastructure, and forward thinking planning can help bu...

In this episode, Dirk Kestner, Senior Principle and Director of Sustainable Design at Walter P Moore, discusses the importance of considering embodied energy and life cycle analysis in sustainable building design. This conversation explores how these concepts influence decision-making in construction and the future of environmental impact assessment.

Join us for a conversation with John Day about how energy efficiency, smart facility design, and operational innovation are helping Kids’ Meals expand its mission and serve more children across the Houston region.

We welcome Adam Muller, Program Lead at the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) for a conversation role on the critical role of energy efficiency, innovation, and infrastructure in Texas. In this episode, Adam shares insights on how Texas is balancing reliability, economic growth, and sustainability in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Join us for a discussion with Elizabeth Carlson about how corporate sustainability strategies are evolving beyond reporting toward operational impact, and how Houston’s World Cup sustainability efforts are leveraging energy efficiency, mobility, waste reduction, and long-term community resilience to share a more sustainable future for the region. 

We sat down with Geoff Garber of global tax services company, Ryan LLC, who works at the intersection of finance, energy strategy, incentives, and project delivery for this episode of Energy Crossroads . Geoff tells us where projects tend to get stuck, how organizations are thinking about reliability and sustainability, and why technologies like solar plus storage and geothermal are gaining renewe...

 In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Ward, Program Manager at the Southface Institute to explore his fascinating pivot from performing arts stage to building infrastructure. We dive into the Building Improvement Toolkit (BIT), discuss the facilities workforce, and highlight the exciting work happening in Houston at Texas Southern University. Join us as we reframe energy efficiency not just a...

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, Shaun Auckland, Senior Manager, Government and Community Engagement at SPEER shares insights on bridging the gap between lofty energy efficiency goals and real-world implementation. From local governments to community leaders, we explore how important it is for organizations and individuals to understand resources and take actionable steps - you don’t need a h...

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we’re joined by Dr. Matthew Berg, CEO and Principal Scientist of Simfero Consultants, to explore the role of One Water in Texas’ evolving energy landscape. We discuss how integrated water planning can improve resilience across power generation, industry, and rapidly growing infrastructure like data centers. Dr. Berg shares where Texas is making progress, where...

In this episode we explore the rapidly evolving energy innovation landscape and examine the frameworks shaping the oil and gas industry’s role in the shift with Gavin Dillingham, PhD. We discuss how existing infrastructure, and decades of subsurface knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs in geothermal energy. From turning wells into heat engines to scaling solutions at industry speed, this conversa...

Texas is emerging as a major hub for data center development, but that growth comes with significant energy and water implications. In this episode of  Energy Crossroads,  Dr. Margaret Cook, VP of HARC joins us to explore what’s driving the data center boom and the projected electricity and water demands and implications for local communities across the Lone Star State. The conversation delves int...

In this episode of   Energy Crossroads   we are joined by Scott McCready, PLA, a Principal at SWA Group, a long-standing, employee-owned collective of eight independent design studios. Scott’s work is dedicated to the enhancement the social and ecological infrastructure of the urban environment, while broadening access and connectivity to open space within the city. His recent work has focused on...

In this episode of   Energy Crossroads   we are joined by Rod Turner, Facilities Manager for Houston Endowment. Responsible for overseeing the daily performance of the Houston Endowment’s headquarters facility, Rod is not just thinking about building operations, maintenance, safety, and upkeep – he is focused on people, resilience, legacy, and the systems that hold it all together. A  veteran of b...

In this episode of   Energy Crossroads   we are joined by Nicole Alderete-Ferrini, CEO of Parade on Main, a next-generation strategy, advocacy and policy firm reimagining how public institutions build smarter, more resilient communities. As the first Chief Resilience Officer for the City of El Paso and a former city executive, she brings two decades of experience in sustainable development, crisis...

In this episode of   Energy Crossroads   we are joined by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons the Executive Director Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES), where she is committed to fulfilling the organization's mission to educate and inspire every Texan to adopt solar energy as part of a clean energy future.  Listen as Pete discusses the benefits of solar, policy opportunities to increase solar adoption, and the...

In this episode of   Energy Crossroads   we are joined by Felisa Conner, President & CEO of Frazier Revitalization, an organization focused on addressing affordable housing renovation and development, family and youth programming, and resident empowerment. Listen as Felisa illustrates how energy efficiency can improve the quality life and help to create generational wealth, and we discuss how...

In this episode of   Energy Crossroads   we are joined by Dr. Adele Houghton, President of Biositu, LLC, where she works at the intersection of buildings, public health, and climate.  Healthcare facilities are critical infrastructure in our communities. During a disaster, it is important for all facets of the Emergency Management Cycle to operate at optimal levels. Listen as Dr. Houghton discusses...

Jonathan Kraatz, the Executive Director for the U.S. Green Building Council Texas Chapter, plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable building practices and promoting green initiatives across Texas with a focus on leadership and advocacy and industry engagement.       Listen as Jonathan discusses how green certifications are supporting efforts to build more resilient, sustainable buildings and...

In this episode of  Energy Crossroads , we are joined by Nisha Desai, the Founder & CEO of Intention, a startup company creating a climate impact investment platform for retail investors. Nisha is also the managing partner of the Intention Climate Fund, a microfund investing in pre-seed and seed stage climate tech startups across the US. Listen as Nisha discusses her career journey in the clea...

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Dr. Erick C. Jones Jr., an assistant professor in Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Jones investigates how organizations can allocate their limited resources to maximize desired outcomes sustainably, efficiently, and resiliently Dr. Jones leads the Sustainable and Equitable Allocati...