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Supercool

Supercool

Supercool

Discover real-world climate solutions that cut carbon emissions, boost the bottom line, and improve modern life. Each week, climate entrepreneur and author Josh Dorfman pinpoints proven playbooks, business models, and technologies accelerating the low-carbon economy in future-forward towns and cities. Hear from CEOs, Mayors, startup founders, policymakers, and other innovators addressing climate change head-on to shape a smarter, more sustainable future.
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Top 10 Supercool Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Supercool episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Supercool for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Supercool episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

In 2009, Amit Gupta, a rising executive at Carrier, the global HVAC company, discovered a neglected technology inside the company called Aeroseal. It used aerosol particles to seal air leaks in building envelopes and air ducts—offering a simple yet powerful way to tackle a major problem: the 10% of global energy wasted due to leaks. Seeing its potential, Amit took a leap. In 2010, he left his corporate career, rebooted Aeroseal as a startup, and focused on what matters most to customers: lowering energy bills, improving indoor air quality, and creating comfortable spaces. Today, with backing from world-class climate tech investors, including Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and over 260,000 buildings sealed, Aeroseal is sealing the cracks in our energy future.

Show Notes

Guest: Amit Gupta

Company: Aeroseal

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:

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Ned Tozun co-founded d.light in 2007 with a mission to provide safe, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for all. Seventeen years later, d.light's solar products have improved the lives of over 180 million people across 72 countries, with major operations in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. The company employs 1,200 people and tens of thousands of local sales agents to bring its innovative products to remote, rural communities. Ned joins Supercool to share how the business has effectively scaled around the world as it races to impact one billion people by 2030.

Show Notes

Guest: Ned Tozun, Co-Founder and CEO

Company: d.light

Time Magazine's 2024 Time100 Climate List: Feature on Ned Tozun

Video of d.light's product durability: See it on Amazon

For more Supercool climate solutions accelerating the low-carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:

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Weekly Newsletter

Supercool on Instagram and Linkedin

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Supercool - Welcome to Supercool
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06/20/24 • 3 min

Supercool is a new conversation about extraordinary climate solutions that cut carbon and improve modern life. From tech innovation to policy implementation, host Josh Dorfman pinpoints the stories and data behind the low-carbon economy as it spreads to towns and cities across the globe.

The starting point for Supercool is, "What if solving climate change improves life?"

The evidence is increasingly clear: Climate innovation enables safer city streets, improved education, stronger national security, more economic opportunity, and better health - the issues Americans routinely say we care about most.

Not all climate solutions are created equal. Some are unrealistic. Others are uninspired. Yet, in the hands of forward-looking entrepreneurs, engineers, policymakers, and everyday professionals, the low-carbon economy delivers. We’re excited to share it with you.

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After a determined two-year campaign, thirty Denver Public Schools (DPS) students convinced the School Board of Education to approve a climate policy to make the school district a national leader in climate action. LeeAnn Kittle, Executive Director of Sustainability for Denver Public Schools, now leads the charge, overseeing the Climate Action Plan, which already saves the district $5 million annually through carbon-cutting initiatives. LeeAnn joins host Josh Dorfman to discuss what it takes to guide a large organization toward ever-greater climate goals. Riley Loveland Falvey, Associate Director at the New Buildings Institute, also joins the conversation to discuss how districts and students nationwide are collaborating and stepping up to build a supercool, climate-forward future.

Show Links:

Guests: LeeAnn Kittle and Reilly Loveland Falvey

Initiative: Denver Public Schools Climate Action Plan

Organization: New Buildings Institute

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Across America, a quiet revolution is unfolding—autonomous electric mowers are gliding silently across parks, ballfields, and backyards. These zero-emission machines couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Lawn care and gardening account for 4-5% of the U.S.'s total greenhouse gas emissions—a staggering number for a single industry. Adam Sloan is the founder and CEO of Greener, which provides climate-friendly robots to landscaping companies that install them in customers' backyards. Hundreds are in the field. More on the way. Landscapers love the mowers because they free up time for more skilled tasks. Homeowners love them because their lawns look pristine. And neighborhoods? Well, they finally get their peaceful, quiet Saturday mornings back.

Show Links:
Guest: Adam Sloan

Company: Greener

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:

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At Holabird Academy and Graceland Park, two net-zero energy Baltimore public schools, the future is already in session. Solar panels line the roofs, geothermal wells lie below the ballfields, and energy-efficient features keep these buildings running entirely on renewable power. But while these schools are a win for the planet, the real story is how they’re transforming the lives of everyone who steps inside—students, teachers, administrators, and the surrounding community. Stephanie Novak Pappas, the award-winning Principal of Holabird Academy, joins the conversation along with Amy Upton, Director of Environmental Design and Principal at Grimm & Parker Architects, the visionary behind these modern, sustainable, 21st-century schools where carbon emissions are down and performance is up.

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Guests: Stephanie Novak Pappas and Amy Upton

School: Holabird Academy

Company: Grimm + Parker Architects (see the Holabird project)

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Iowa generates enough wind power to meet 77% of its energy demand. That's great for combating climate change and financially beneficial for local farmers, towns, and the overall economy. Discover how Iowa rose to wind energy prominence. We're joined by Chaz Allen, former Mayor of Newton, Iowa, and current Executive Director of the Iowa Utility Association. We also speak with Kathy Law, a farmer turned corporate attorney and one of the leading wind energy dealmakers in the state.

Notes

Guests:
1. Chaz Allen, Executive Director, Iowa Utility Association
2. Kathy Law, Attorney, Nyemaster Goode Law Firm

Television Segment: Chaz Allen on 60 Minutes
Data on Iowa's wind energy production: See U.S. Energy Information Agency Data Analysis by Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson.

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low-carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:

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Weekly Newsletter

Supercool on Instagram and Link

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Though over a hundred solar companies fled the state when its utility, Rocky Mountain Power, cut solar incentives four years ago, Utah is one of the fastest-growing states for residential solar—but with a twist. Many new customers also purchase grid-connected batteries. While others left, ES Solar, a local solar company, went all-in on solar-plus-storage. That move paid off; the company has installed 96% of Utah's residential solar-plus-storage systems. Zach Randall, ES Solar's VP of Sales, joins the show to share how his company has succeeded and why other states are playing catch-up to emulate Utah's success.

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Guest: Zach Randall

Company: ES Solar

Initiative: Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart Battery Program

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:

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Vancouver boasts the lowest carbon emissions per capita in North America and consistently ranks among the world’s most livable cities. That's no coincidence. This week, Josh speaks with Gregor Robertson, former Mayor of Vancouver, who championed many climate innovations during his three terms in office, including installing North America's largest waste sewer heat recovery system—delivering zero-carbon space and water heating to over 6,000 apartment units. Josh is also joined by Lynn Mueller, founder of Sharc Energy, who invented the technology, which is now spreading to cities across the U.S.

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Guests: Gregor Robertson and Lynn Mueller

Company: SHARC Energy

Organization: Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy

Initiative: Sewer Heat Recovery System Vancouver's False Creek Neighborhood

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:

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Stanford professor Mark Jacobson wasn’t just dreaming of a world powered by renewable energy back in 2009—he was doing the math and architecting the plan. Jacobson teamed up with actor-turned-eco-hero Mark Ruffalo to co-found The Solutions Project with a mission to transition the world to 100% renewables by 2035. As Jacobson's vision took root, states and cities began making 100% renewable pledges. By 2019, his idea had reached Capitol Hill when AOC and Senator Markey introduced the Green New Deal. Jacobson’s message? We can pull it off, it’ll save us trillions, and spare millions of lives. Plus, if you’re lucky enough to live in just about any state that’s ahead of the curve, you’re already paying some of the lowest energy bills in the country.

Show Links:

Guest: Mark Jacobson (Stanford University, LinkedIn, Wikipedia)

Book: No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air

Organization: The Solutions Project

Article: Scientific American - A Plan to Power 100% of the Planet with Renewables
Background data: U.S. Covid-relief spending

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:

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FAQ

How many episodes does Supercool have?

Supercool currently has 24 episodes available.

What topics does Supercool cover?

The podcast is about Climate Tech, Climate Change, Podcasts, Technology, Business and Global Warming.

What is the most popular episode on Supercool?

The episode title 'Welcome to Supercool' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Supercool?

The average episode length on Supercool is 44 minutes.

How often are episodes of Supercool released?

Episodes of Supercool are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Supercool?

The first episode of Supercool was released on Jun 20, 2024.

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