As the UN COP27 meeting was winding down, Dana and Steven sat down to recap and discuss some of the highlights from the first half of the climate summit. The COP negotiation continues to be a key mechanism in trying to move the needle forward and keep countries accountable and collaborative as they work against climate change. On this Energy Minute, Dana and Steven touch on some of the pledges the United States has made, an exciting announcement out of Brazil, an update on the 1.5-degree target,...
Nov 28, 2022•8 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Technological innovation around energy efficiency and sourcing renewable energy are enabling significant sustainability gains in the real estate sector. At the same time, consumer demand and new local regulations are putting more stringent requirements on the sector to reduce emissions and waste--causing asset owners with billions on the line to set and meet increasingly higher goals in concert with builders, building managers, and even tenants on sustainability. In this episode, Cass McFadden, ...
Nov 21, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 10
There are 2 core approaches when it comes to counting carbon emissions from procured electricity: market-based and location-based carbon accounting. Is one better than the other? How can you use each (or both) to your benefit when working toward your clean energy goals? In this Energy Minute, Dana and Steve discuss the pros and cons of both methods, and how granular carbon accounting data fits in, so you can assess how best to work toward your net zero goals. Resources Bloomberg News, “ What Rea...
Nov 14, 2022•8 min•Season 1Ep. 9
As the the United Nations’ 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) climate summit gets underway in Egypt - where all parties are focused on implementation, how is the world working together to tackle the climate emergency? In this special episode, Martin Wainstein, Founder and Executive Director at the Open Earth Foundation, provides a glimpse into what a global framework united on sustainability needs to look like. Wainstein tackles the sticky geopolitical issues when nations convene and define ...
Nov 07, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Why do are forward-leaning companies centering their decarbonization strategy around 24/7 carbon-free energy? How is it different from a 100% renewable energy target? This episode revisits fundamental concepts on renewable energy (including RECs), looks at the difference in these two models, and explains why hourly data is critical to meeting 100% decarbonization goals.
Oct 31, 2022•5 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Institutional investors and investment managers need reliable and certified data to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities. Fortunately, efforts to provide high-quality ESG data on real estate and infrastructure-focused funds are rapidly moving forward. In this informative episode, Dan Winters, Senior Director at GRESB, explains how the framework and theoretical basis to gather both high-quality and far-ranging data is taking shape at his organization. Listen in as he reveals how GRESB works t...
Oct 24, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 6
How can companies better work towards meeting their clean energy adoption goals? This episode is about obtaining the best available data to inform your energy decisions. Tracking energy and by extension, carbon data by the hour provides granular-level insights you can’t get from a monthly utility bill. By switching from monthly to hourly emissions reporting, energy procurement and ESG/sustainability teams gain a deeper understanding of their firm’s carbon mix—consumption versus energy sources—an...
Oct 17, 2022•3 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Suzanne Shelton , founder and CEO of the Shelton Group , helps clean businesses speak sustainability. In her words, Shelton Group “translates the good you do for people and the planet into business success.” As a leading sustainability marketer, she helps businesses grow by making ESG initiatives understandable and attracting loyal, environmentally conscious consumers. In this lively interview with host Lincoln Payton, she explains why Americans are more concerned about ocean plastics than clima...
Oct 10, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 4
What is load matching and how does it help companies address climate change? Companies including Amazon, Apple, Iron Mountain, Microsoft, and Google are pioneering this innovative practice with bold goals of going 24/7 carbon-free. But…what does it take for both these companies and the non-tech giants of the world to start decarbonizing their operations? This Energy Minute episode should shed light on the situation! Load matching helps businesses understand how well their electricity demand is a...
Oct 03, 2022•3 min
Iron Mountain Data Centers are in the vanguard of the clean energy transition: they not only run their facilities on 100% renewable energy, they are working towards a more ambitious goal, powering them with carbon-free energy 24/7. In this episode, host Lincoln Payton dives deep into decarbonization with Chris Pennington , Director of Energy and Sustainability at Iron Mountain Data Centers, to understand the more ambitious goal, and how Iron Mountain is using hourly energy and carbon data as the...
Sep 26, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 2
How can businesses and individuals offset their carbon footprint and support clean energy? Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) have been the key—and are the topic of the first Energy Minute brought to you by Cleartrace . RECs commoditize renewable energy and encourage investment in green energy projects. But problems arise when too much of the clean energy companies are buying isn't coming from where and when it's being used. Buying RECs wholesale from different parts of the country with different-g...
Sep 19, 2022•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1
It's not enough to think about what it takes to be more sustainable. Now is the time to act. The question is, who will lead the pack in saving our planet, and what do they need to stay on track and honest with their goals? The Decarbonization Race is a show for ESG and sustainability leaders ready to go beyond 100% renewable, beyond the bare minimum, and truly make an impact. Join host Lincoln Payton, CEO of Cleartrace, and a passionate executive leader with over a decade of experience in the en...
Aug 19, 2022•2 min
