AWESome EarthKind

By: Ron Kamen
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  • Summary

  • Dirty, unhealthy, and unsustainable energy for our electricity, heating, cooling, and transportation threatens our planet and the lives of everyone we love and know. Once a week - every Monday, we bring in leading environmental activists, entrepreneurs, experts, and everyday people who are transforming homes, workplaces & communities into clean energy power centers that save money and create a healthy, prosperous, just & sustainable planet. The AWESome EarthKind podcast inspires and empowers you with the knowledge of how the Forces of Nature (Air, Water, Earth, Sun, and YOU) – can make the world a better place, and save you money. The fear isn’t that we are powerless, but that we are powerful beyond measure. Find out more at www.AWESomeEarthKind.com.
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Earth Sciences
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Episodes
  • Powering the Future: Bridging the Clean Energy Job Gap with Steve Engler

    Powering the Future: Bridging the Clean Energy Job Gap with Steve Engler
    Dec 7 2024
    Quantum Quote: “What if someone told you that we have everything we need to decarbonize most of the economy, we could just start electrifying every new car furnace, water heater, dryer, and cookstove and industrial process starting right now." - Stephen Lacy, paraphrasing Saul Griffith. As we stand at the edge of a clean energy revolution, the urgency for a skilled workforce in this sector has never been more critical. With the United States experiencing a surge in clean energy jobs growing at twice the rate of other industries, the demand for qualified technicians is staggering. Unfortunately, a significant gap remains in our labor force, preventing the full potential of clean energy technologies from being realized. Consider this: while we have the solutions at our fingertips—like heat pumps and electric vehicle charging stations—what's truly needed is the manpower to deploy these innovations across the nation. Many are eager to take part in this movement, but without a clear path into these jobs, we're at risk of stalling progress. Steve Engler from Emerald Energy recognizes the need for a collaborative approach to build a community of clean energy installers. Through initiatives like Cleantechs, he aims to educate and inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds to step into these roles, ultimately bridging the workforce gap and addressing environmental justice along the way. In this episode,Ron Kamen interviews Steve Engler, founder and CEO of Emerald Energy, a recruiting and training platform for clean energy technicians. Based in New York City, Steve discusses his project supported by an E2 fellowship, aimed at addressing the critical shortage of clean energy installers. He highlights the importance of this initiative in the context of transitioning to a sustainable energy future and provides insights into the various clean energy jobs that are emerging in the industry. Listeners will learn about the collaboration between environmental entrepreneurs and the role of organizations like E2 in promoting policies that benefit both the economy and the environment. Tune in to explore the future of clean energy workforce development and the entrepreneurial spirit driving change. Join us as we delve into the transformative potential of clean energy jobs, highlighting the intersection of community engagement and technology, and learn how we can collectively forge a sustainable future for our planet. Steve Engler is the Founder and CEO of Emerald Energy, which is solving the critical shortage of clean energy technicians. This year he is an E2 Fellow building Cleantechs, a community and newsletter for prospective clean energy installers from nontraditional backgrounds. He previously worked as a product manager and in energy policy and is based in NYC. What You’ll Learn from this Episode: Understand the role of clean energy technicians and the growing demand for these jobs in the context of the energy transition. Discover the significance of heat pumps in decarbonizing buildings and how they work, including the differences between air-source and ground-source heat pumps. Explore the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on job creation in the clean energy sector and the financial incentives available for clean energy technologies. Learn about the importance of bipartisan support for clean energy initiatives and how these efforts are being implemented across the country. And more… The Challenge: What I'm working to solve is this looming shortage of clean energy installers. According to the Blue-Green Alliance, we need to hire 1 million climate jobs that will have been created by the Inflation Reduction Act. Rewiring America just came out with a 2024 workforce report that says that home electrification, electrifying billings and homes will create 3 million jobs. We need to find the people to fill these jobs, and it can be a difficult pathway now to get into clean energy jobs, even just really defining what a clean energy job is. Social Proof: Spotlight in this newsletter, we focused on a technician named Manny, who comes from New York. He worked his way up the ranks doing an HVAC program, which led to some coursework at City Tech here in New York City. And led to a job initially as an installer in an HVAC company, and then landed a job at Dandelion Energy, which does geothermal heat pumps. He was promoted four times in two years. Sometimes we have a problem explaining what these jobs are and who does these jobs. It would be great to sort of personify and a person Manny, who I've met, has spoken a lot about his journey really shows that it's tangible that it's possible to do this job. SuperNova #1. During the pandemic, a number of resources started like Work on Climate, which is the Slack community new Energy Nexus. New York Climate Tech is another great resource here in New York City that helps more office workers navigate into climate jobs, either ...
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    28 mins
  • HV Communities Lead on Climate Action

    HV Communities Lead on Climate Action
    Jul 3 2024

    We just had an amazing conversation on the Earth Kind podcast with Paige Ruane and Vanessa Bertozzi from Partners for Climate Action, Hudson Valley.

    They shared insights on their work supporting local communities in addressing the climate crisis and improving ecosystems in the Hudson River Valley watershed.

    Did you know they've given out over $3 million in grants since starting? Their impact is truly inspiring!

    Paige and Vanessa believe that the overlapping ecological crises are best addressed by the communities that are closest to them by using approaches that honor the uniqueness of each place.

    Partners for Climate Action (PCA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2019 with a mission to catalyze bioregional climate action. They believe in addressing ecological crises at the local level, honoring the uniqueness of each community. PCA focuses on moving various forms of capital to where they can have the most impact, aiming to catalyze local action effectively. Their core work involves providing funding, knowledge, tools, and connections to support grantees in achieving success.

    PCA's priority areas include ecological restoration, emphasizing the establishment of community forests and native habitat cultivation, as well as the decarbonization of existing building stock in underserved communities within the region. By prioritizing these initiatives, PCA aims to empower communities to take action on climate change at the local level, recognizing the importance of grassroots efforts in creating meaningful change.



    About the Founders:

    Paige Ruane is a co-founder of Partners for Climate Action, where she co-developed the Local Champions program and the Building DecarbonizationGrants program. She is a member of her Climate Smart Communities Task Forcein Austerlitz, NY where she contributed to the achievement of bronze certification. Paige has worked as a psychotherapist and documentary film and radio writer/producer.

    Vanessa Bertozzi works as a consultant for Partners for Climate Action, where she co-developed the Local Champions program and the Building Decarbonization Grants program. Vanessa is an elected official on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Rhinebeck, NY, where she led her Climate Smart Community Task Force to bronze certification. As a consultant, Vanessa has worked for The New York Times and clean energy companies. Previously, she worked at Etsy.com for over a decade.

    If you're looking for ways to get involved in climate action, this episode is a must-listen.

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode

    • Funding and Support for Local Communities: Partners for Climate Action provides funding and support to local communities addressing the climate crisis and improving ecosystems in the Hudson Valley watershed.

    • Programs Overview: The podcast discusses the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and the Climate Smart Communities program, highlighting their goals and actions.

    • Grant Programs: Details about the building decarbonization grant program and ecological restoration grants are shared, emphasizing the impact on reducing carbon emissions and restoring ecosystems.

    • Community Engagement: The importance of community involvement, volunteerism, and collaboration in addressing climate change is highlighted, along with the role of local champions and organizations.

    • Upcoming Events and Initiatives: Information about upcoming webinars, field trips, and grant opportunities, such as the pollinator action guide and forest health projects, is provided for listeners to engage with.

    • …and many more

    “Think locally. Act locally.” - Vanessa and Paige, PCA Founders

    Resources:

    PCA Awards Twenty Building Decarbonization Grants https://www.climateactionhv.org/decarb-grant

    Connect with Climate Action HV

    • https://www.climateactionhv.org

    • Instagram @climateactionhv

    • Be a Climate Action HV Supporter/ Donate: https://www.climateactionhv.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=64b822edbd30a73b5c77c3ca

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    38 mins
  • The Future of Sustainable Healthcare Products: A Conversation with Cabinet Health's Co-Founder Russell Gong

    The Future of Sustainable Healthcare Products: A Conversation with Cabinet Health's Co-Founder Russell Gong
    May 28 2024

    From plastic medicine bottles to sustainable healthcare products, learn how Cabinet Health is making a difference.

    In this episode, we chat with Russell Gong, co-founder of Cabinet Health, about their mission to eliminate single-use plastic medicine bottles in the healthcare industry. Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

    Russ shares his journey from recognizing the plastic medicine problem to founding a sustainable healthcare company.

    Learn how Cabinet Health is innovating to make a positive impact on the environment and healthcare industry.

    From appearing on Shark Tank to envisioning a future with circularity and refillability in healthcare packaging, Russ discusses the exciting possibilities ahead.

    Discover more about Russ's impactful story and the future of sustainable healthcare in this episode.

    Russ's story is a compelling reminder of the power of innovation and entrepreneurship in tackling some of the world's most pressing issues. His work with Cabinet Health not only addresses environmental concerns but also paves the way for a healthier planet. It's inspiring to see how businesses can lead change and make a significant impact on both industry standards and global sustainability.

    Today’s awesome Earth Podcast is sponsored by Earth Energy Consulting. Earthkind Energy brings over 30 years of expertise in creating clean energy projects that reduce energy costs, provide outstanding returns on investments, lower carbon footprints, and leave a proud legacy for our children and all future generations. www.earthkindenergy.com.



    Topics Covered:

    • Journey of Russell Gong: Learn about Russ Gong, co-founder and President of Cabinet Health, and how the company is tackling the issue of plastic waste in healthcare.

    • Problem of Plastic in Healthcare: Delve into the environmental impact of single-use plastic in the healthcare industry.

    • Impact of Microplastics: Discover the effects of microplastics on human health and the environment.

    • Experience on Shark Tank: Learn about the behind-the-scenes experience of appearing on the TV show Shark Tank and the lessons learned.

    • Vision for Sustainable Healthcare Packaging: Understand the future vision for sustainable healthcare packaging and the potential transformation of the healthcare industry towards circularity and refillability.

    • And many more…

    "The best packaging is no packaging, right? - Russell Gong

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Beyond Zero: Directed by Nathan Havey

    • Kellie Gillespie



    Connect with Russell Gong

    • Website: https://cabinethealth.com/

    • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-gong-b9528346



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    50 mins

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