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Donnel Baird | Making buildings greener, healthier, and smarter for all
FromClimate Positive
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Length:
38 minutes
Released:
Dec 1, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Leading analysts estimate that more than 7% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated by small-to-medium buildings. Too often, these buildings are terribly inefficient—wasting as much as 50% of the energy they consume, which significantly drives up energy bills—and unhealthy—with deadly viruses and other toxins circulating freely. What’s more, many of these buildings primarily serve low-to-moderate income Americans, who often lack the upfront capital needed for proven upgrades. In part driven by his childhood experience with energy poverty and the related localized pollution, Donnel Baird founded BlocPower seven years ago to ensure that everyone, especially those with lower incomes and/or from other disadvantaged backgrounds, has access to greener, healthier, smarter, and more cost-effective homes and buildings. To date, BlocPower has helped to identify, finance, and upgrade more than 1,200 buildings—many in communities that had previously been left behind in our transition to a greener economy. In this episode, host Chad Reed dives deep with Donnel into how his professional experiences in community organizing and with the Obama Administration led him to his entrepreneurial efforts to decarbonize buildings in disadvantaged communities. Chad also speaks with Donnel about how best to ensure all communities—whether in neglected urban areas or deindustrialized rural areas—share in the economic benefits of a cleaner, greener economy. We hope you find this discussion as inspiring and entertaining as we did.Links:BlocPowerWashington Post: This US city just voted to decarbonize every single buildingDonnel Baird on LinkedInEpisode recorded: October 6, 2021
Released:
Dec 1, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (84)
Introducing Climate Positive | Presented by HASI: With the climate crisis igniting around us, it’s easy to let defeatism and complacency creep in. But there is so much to be hopeful for. And we know that hope breeds action, the action we need to sustain change. That’s why we’re starting Climate Positive. As investors in climate solutions, we only make investments that improve our climate future. Of course, Climate Positive means so much more than that. Join us, Chad Reed, Hilary Langer, and Gil Jenkins, as we talk with the business leaders, scientists, authors, advocates, and policymakers who are committed to making a difference in the climate fight. We’ll unpack their personal journeys and accomplishments and get their perspectives on emerging energy and environmental trends with the goal of driving all of us toward a more just and sustainable future. by Climate Positive