Green Sense Radio: Recent Episodes
Green Sense Media
Green Sense Radio Show has been on the air since 2010 and is one of the first programs dedicated to covering the topic of sustainability. We feature innovators with market-based solutions to environmental challenges and cover a wide range of topics including energy, transportation, agriculture, waste and water management, the built environment, and health.
Visit our website every Monday to hear the latest show or download our complete library of podcasts from Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher, or tune into 780 AM & 105.9 FM, WBBM Chicago to listen to the Green Sense Minute every Thursday and Saturday.
Kay Baker, Founder of Green Llama, says what’s hiding under your sink could be harmful. She shares insights on how consumers can be better educated to buy cleaning products that are safe for your home, your health, and the environment. Visit www.greenllamaclean.com to learn more.
Tom Appel, host of the Car Stuff Podcast and publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, discusses the Formula Sun Grand Prix, where engineering students build vehicles from scratch in a solar car competition.
After 15 years, the Green Sense Show is wrapping up with Tom Appel, host of the Car Stuff Podcast and publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive. Tom has been the most frequent guest on the show, and he shares his predictions from back then, including Tesla's demise (which didn't happen, of course). He and Robert Colangelo also talk about changes in the EV and hybrid markets, and how the definition of a car has changed. Back when the Green Sense Show started in 2010, green cars were very rare. Now they are everywhere. Tom also discusses AI and autonomous vehicles.
Chelsea Biggs, Chief of Staff at the Illinois Environmental Council, says more clean energy jobs are being created in Illinois.
Chelsea Biggs, Chief of Staff at the Illinois Environmental Council, says there are more jobs in the clean energy sector, including jobs in energy efficiency, manufacturing, electric vehicles, wind and solar. The industry continues to grow because it is driven by innovation, public demand, and the urgent need for climate solutions. Chelsea also discusses the Inflation Reduction Act and innovation.
Dr. Brandon Finn is an Assistant Research Scientist of Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. He says, "Mining is not going anywhere, anytime soon," but the mining industry should be pragmatic as well as compassionate.
Sam D'Amico, founder and CEO of Impulse Labs, has developed a sustainable cooktop and explains how a stove is able to boil a liter of water in 40 seconds using less energy.
Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, says that we should lower our exposure to cell phones.
Dr. Joel Moskowitz is director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley. He is one of the nation's top researchers on the public health impacts of wireless radiation and offers helpful advice at his website, saferemr.com. Dr. Moskowitz discusses the harms of cell phones and radiation, and why research is practically nonexistent in the United States. He also explains how the telecom industry attempts to block information, and says people should reduce their exposure to all forms of wireless radiation.
Photo Source: Getty Images/Scientific American
Carey Gillam, Managing Editor of The New Lede and author of The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice, discusses the Make America Healthy Again report.
Carey Gillam is Managing Editor of The New Lede and author of The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice. She is back on the show to discuss the Make America Healthy Again report, why pesticide makers want immunity, and why regenerative agriculture is in the news.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, discusses Waymo, the autonomous ride-hailing service.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, says that Waymo has been "quietly successful." He and Robert Colangelo discuss other disruptive mobility technologies, including autonomous ride-hailing services and how they are different from taxis and Ubers. Tom offers a deep analysis of the Slate EV Truck, whether EVs are still affordable, and why companies are trying to attract younger customers.
(Image source: Waymo)
Shoshannah Lenski, Associate Director at the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, offers advice for anyone pursuing a career in sustainability.
Shoshannah Lenski is Associate Director at the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. She discusses her projects at the Center, which she describes as an "intellectual home" for people who are committed to analyzing systems for the environment and sustainability. She says that she facilitates the information by "translating" the science for the public to understand, and discusses her own professional journey in sustainability.
This week’s Green Sense Minute features Chris Kennedy, author of Malthus Enigma: Technology, Science and Policy for a Fragile Earth.
What makes the earth so fragile? Chris Kennedy is a professor at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and a global expert on sustainability, infrastructure and industrial ecology. He discusses his new book, Malthus Enigma: Technology, Science and Policy for a Fragile Earth, which he hopes will encourage readers about our future.
Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, explains why Tesla with declining sales is resilient.
"It's unlikely that Tesla will go bankrupt anytime soon," says Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions. He says that Tesla is a strong brand, and Teslas are very good vehicles. Sam also discusses his passion for cars and how he became a data analyst.
Gene Giacomelli, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona, gives advice for indoor urban farming.
Gene Giacomelli is Professor Emeritus and former director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at the University of Arizona. He talks about his 45 years of experience teaching students about indoor farming, what skills are required, the future of CEA, and what it take for urban farms to succeed. Gene also tests his knowledge about indoor farming in the Green Sense Quiz.
Jeff St. John, director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, explains why the electric grid isn't ready for AI expansion.
Jeff St. John, director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, has been following the relationship between AI computing energy demands and the U.S. energy sector. He discusses what data centers require, the challenges that utility companies have, and what kinds of decisions have to be made to accommodate environmental changes.
Food anthropologist Rebecca Chesney, Director of Sustainability Innovation for the food service company ISS Guckenheimer, discusses zero-waste cooking.
Rebecca Chesney, Director of Sustainability Innovation for the food service company ISS Guckenheimer, discusses the ways we can reduce food waste, how she became a food anthropologist, and talks about creating a more sustainable food system. Rebecca also shares her knowledge about food waste in the Green Sense Quiz.
Nick Rubino, owner of Sparkie Electric, discusses commercial and residential backup power options for severe weather.
Nick Rubino, owner of Sparkie Electric, explains what businesses use to keep the power on all year, and what backup power systems homeowners can use, even in extreme weather. Nick also answers questions about weather and power outages in the Green Sense Quiz.
Carey Gillam is Managing Editor of The New Lede and has been reporting on food and agriculture for several years. She talks about her latest book, The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice, and her investigative journalism career.
Carey Gillam is Managing Editor of The New Lede. Her latest book is The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice.
Brendan Daley is Vice President of Operations at Lincoln Park Zoo, which is free to visit in Chicago.
Brendan Daley, Vice President of Operations at Lincoln Park Zoo, discusses caring for the animals, conservation, sustainability, education, and community engagement, and why the free zoo is a good place to visit in Chicago. Then Brendan answers questions about zoos in the Green Sense Quiz.
Eunice Jung is head of partnerships at the company Future, which has created a debit card that rewards sustainable low-carbon purchases.
Eunice Jung is head of partnerships at the company Future, which has created a debit card that rewards sustainable low-carbon purchases. Eunice explains a cash-back program for purchasing second-hand items, bikes and gear, and plant-based protein. You can also get cash back for charging your EV and using public transportation.
Ines Sommer is creator of The Hills documentary, which tells the story of Chicago's Southeast side and how the steel mills released contaminants into the environment.
Ines Sommer is a director, producer, and editor of the documentary The Hills. The film tells a story about how the closure of steel mills on the Southeast side of Chicago greatly impacted the environment, social, and economic issues in the area and the community.
Julia Kurnik, Senior Director of Innovation Startups at the World Wildlife Fund, explains how the U.S. Post Office helps farmers with produce distribution.
Julia Kurnik is the Senior Director of Innovation Startups at the World Wildlife Fund and is back on the Green Sense Show to discuss a new initiative, Farmers Post, which connects small farmers to local consumers. She says the U.S. Post Office is a good partner for simplifying the produce supply chain, and can help farmers ship more economically.
Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, discusses charging networks for electric vehicles.
Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, joins Robert Colangelo in a test drive of a Kia EV9 GT SUV. Robert describes his experience driving the Kia to Cleveland and using the charging network. Then Tom tests his knowledge of songs that feature cars in the Green Sense Quiz.
Abigail Derby Lewis, Senior Conservation Ecologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, explains why she pivoted from academia to applied conservation work.
Abigail Derby Lewis is the Senior Conservation Ecologist at the Field Museum of Natural History. She discusses how she goes beyond the museum walls to provide outreach and education to communities about climate change and adaptation. Then Abigail answers questions about museums in the Green Sense Quiz.
Joe Skibbie hosts the Beats, Beds & Browns podcast and is passionate about urban gardening. He gives away free seed kits (get a free seed kit at www.beatsbedsbrowns.com). He discusses guests on his podcast, the importance of sustainability, what he's growing, and the challenges he faces.
This week’s Green Sense Minute features Mont Handley, the founder of PittMoss, who was a contestant on the show Shark Tank.
Mont Handley is the founder of PittMoss and is the Associate Director of the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center in the College of Technology at Purdue University Northwest. He was a contestant on "Shark Tank" and talks about his experience on the show, how his business developed, the lessons he learned, and how he is leveraging that experience to help other entrepreneurs. Then Mont takes the Green Sense Quiz to answer questions about entrepreneurship.
Practical futurist Michael Rogers discusses how artificial intelligence will affect jobs.
Michael Rogers is a practical futurist, author, and speaker. He discusses how artificial intelligence will affect jobs, including the greenhouse industry, education, and health care. Michael also describes advancements in material science, cities, and transportation. Then he talks about words that he thinks will be outdated in the future.
Alex Minnella, Senior Planner in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, discusses the Fox River as Aurora is becoming more sustainable.
Alex Minnella, Senior Planner, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, discusses Aurora's sustainability initiatives: the net zero neighborhood, EV readiness program, and portable housing and transportation. Alex also describes Aurora's location, economy, and how it became one of the first Illinois cities to get a casino. Then he answers questions about sustainability in the Green Sense Quiz.
Charles Platkin, PhD, JD, MPH, is Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Food As Medicine. Charles describes how food can be used as medicine and sorts through the misinformation. He discusses his health journey and answers questions with food fun facts in the Green Sense Quiz.
Charles Platkin, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Food As Medicine, discusses his latest research.
Are EVs still selling? Our electric vehicle expert, Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff podcast, tells us what brands are popular, which companies are struggling, and where sales are stronger. Tom also answers questions to test his knowledge about EVs in the Green Sense Quiz.
Are EV sales really down? Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, explains why more electric vehicles are hitting the market this year.
Meenesh Singh, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago, is researching a better way to make hydrogen gas.
Meenesh Singh, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago, explains how the Materials and Systems Engineering Lab is researching ways to reduce the amount of electricity required to make hydrogen gas from water. Dr. Singh discusses the challenges and possibilities of achieving better fuel efficiency with this game-changing technology. He also answers questions in the Green Sense Quiz.
Danielle Kruse, manager of Trout Lake Farms in Washington state, discusses the importance of farmworker equity in regenerative agriculture.
Our food system is broken, and this week we have three guests who discuss ways to fix it: Megan Baskerville is Illinois' Agriculture Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, Logan Karcher is the Southern Illinois Grazing Coordinator for the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, and Danielle Kruse is manager of Trout Lake Farms in Washington. They are very passionate, knowledgeable, and experienced farmers who are working hard to repair our food system.
Joe Webber is founder of Four Star Mushrooms, a sustainable food provider that is moving toward the regenerative agriculture space.
Nick Rubino, owner of Sparkie Electric, describes how he became a master electrician, what people should look for when they hire an electrician, how to address the shortage of workers in the trades, the three levels of EVs and hybrids, how to decide which charger is best and what is best for the home, and more. Nick also answers questions with some fun facts about charging in the Green Sense Quiz.
Master electrician Nick Rubino, owner of Sparky Electric, discusses why people should go into the trades.
Victor Garcia, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, discusses how food is sourced and distributed, the wide range of people who need food, and how people can help. Victor also talks about how he went from banking to helping people in need. Victor also answers questions with some fun facts about food in the Green Sense Quiz.
Victor Garcia, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, says "It's okay if you need help."
Millions of electric vehicles and cell phones are being produced, and they use millions of batteries. How can those batteries be made to be more sustainable and easier to recycle? Jeffrey Spangenberger is the Materials Recycling Group Leader in the Applied Materials Division at Argonne National Laboratory, where he is researching lithium-ion battery recycling. He discusses the upcoming changes in batteries, the national resell program, and material innovations to help the environment.
Jeffrey Spangenberger researches lithium-ion battery recycling at Argonne National Laboratory, where he is the Materials Recycling Group Leader in the Applied Materials Division.
Can a car fly? Sam Bousfield, Creator of the Switchblade flying sports car and CEO of its manufacturing company, Samson Sky, was last on the Green Sense Show in 2016. Still on the startup runway, Sam returns to the show to give us an update on his progress and when the first flying car will be available for sale. He discusses the new pilot training program, what materials are needed to develop the car sustainably, the challenges of developing a flying car, how the vehicle performs, insurance and other costs, and more.
Can you have an urban farming job that you're passionate about and still make a livable wage? Jason Halm describes how he's become a recovering urban farmer and has advice for people who want to change careers. Jason is also the first guest contestant for the Green Quiz; he answers questions with some fun facts about agriculture.
This week’s Green Sense Minute features Paige Franks, senior executive search advisor with BEST Human Capital and Advisory Group, who is passionate about emotional intelligence.
Paige Franks, senior executive search advisor with BEST Human Capital and Advisory Group, discusses emotional intelligence: the history, how it helps people work together, why it's important, and how it is different from IQ.
Lisa Anderson, founder of LMA consulting, who discusses global changes in the supply chain.
Lisa Anderson, a management and supply chain consultant and founder of LMA consulting, discusses the history of container shipping, how the global supply chain has changed to become more sustainable, how COVID has affected shipping, issues with the Panama Canal, attacks at ports, logistic infrastructure, and other challenges.
Sybil Derrible, Professor of Urban Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago, discusses how cities can be engineered to be more livable with sustainable infrastructure. He compares American cities to European ones, and talks about water and energy supplies, transportation and traffic, and education.
Sybil Derrible, Professor of Urban Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago, researches sustainable infrastructure.
Alisa Young from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shares data about decreased ice on the Great Lakes.
Alisa Young, Weather and Climate Program Lead in the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), discusses why the Great Lakes has less ice, how she got into her profession, and job opportunities in the field.
Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff podcast, rides in the 2024 Tesla Model Y dual motor long-range EV in full self-driving mode.
Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff podcast, joins Green Sense host Robert Colangelo on a test drive of the 2024 Tesla Model Y dual motor long-range EV in full self-driving mode. They drive in Robert's new Tesla from Chicago's southwest suburbs to Midway Airport.
Brian Chaplin, Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago, discusses how the engineering field is changing.
Chicago is quickly becoming a water hub, where academic research, industry, and government are working together on new innovative technologies. Brian Chaplin, Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago, talks about the Great Lakes ReNEW program and his research with PFAs, better known as Forever Chemicals. He also discusses engineering career paths, water treatment, and removing toxins.
Autumn Proudlove, Associate Director of Policy and Markets at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, is back on the show to discuss the new 50-state report about electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. She also explains how the Center maintains its neutrality to provide factual information.
Autumn Proudlove, Associate Director of Policy and Markets at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, discusses a new national report about electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
The solar eclipse is coming! Hunter Miller is public observing educator at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, which is the oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Hunter discusses tips for viewing the solar eclipse, outer space, and events at the planetarium.
Hunter Miller is public observing educator at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, which is offering events for the April 8th solar eclipse.
Alaina Harkness, Executive Director of Current, discusses the Chicago-based water technology innovator.
Alaina Harkness, Executive Director of Current, is back on the show to discuss the multimillion-dollar grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation that will help turn the Midwest region into a hub for water innovation. She explains why "We want to make it here, made in the Great Lakes, but built for the world."
Mick Jacobsen, executive director of the Lake Villa District Library, says "Libraries were doing green way before it was cool." He discusses how the library serves the community and promotes sustainability. Mick also describes the new plan to transform 30 acres of land into an outdoor library space.
Mick Jacobsen, Executive Director of the Lake Villa District Library, is overseeing the implementation of the outdoor library space plan.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, discusses what the U.S. can learn from Norway to increase electric vehicle use.
Norway is transitioning to electric vehicles; by 2025 all new cars will be zero-emission, and all new trucks will be zero-emission by 2030. Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, talks about what the U.S. can learn from the oil-rich northern European country. Tom also discusses what role the government plays, Norway's charging infrastructure, recycling, incentive programs, challenges, and more.
Have you heard of decommissioning solar projects? Justin Lindemann, a policy analyst at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, talks about a new national report.
Have you heard of solar decommissioning? Here is a fact-based discussion with Justin Lindemann, a policy analyst at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, about the report 50 States of Solar Decommissioning: 2023 Snapshot. Justin explains why it's important for consumers, developers, and landowners to understand how solar projects affect the environment, and what long-term planning is required at the end of a solar project's lifecycle. He also discusses emerging state requirements and how the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center assists organizations.
Joep Van den Bosch is Chief Strategy Officer for the Ridder Group, a Dutch company that produces innovative technical solutions for greenhouses and indoor vertical farms.
How do you locally feed a growing global population with less arable land and a changing climate? Joep Van den Bosch is Chief Strategy Officer for the Ridder Group, a Dutch company that produces innovative technical solutions for greenhouses and indoor vertical farms. Joep comes from a third-generation Dutch greenhouse farmer family and shares his global perspective on the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry. He discusses how AI and robots help farming in controlled environments, especially when local people don't want to do manual labor.
Aptera Motors has spent five years developing solar-electric vehicles, and CEO Chris Anthony says there are tens of thousands of pre-orders. He discusses entrepreneurship, the unique features of the sustainable vehicles, the manufacturing, charging, and repair process, and much more.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, describes how the TARP "Deep Tunnel" project is a sustainable solution for surface water management.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, describes how the TARP "Deep Tunnel" project is an engineering marvel and is being replicated in other cities around the world to help the environment, control flooding, and decrease pollution. He also discusses the operating cost over the past several decades, state-of-the-art technology used, his own involvement, and more.
Camilo Penalosa discusses how his entrepreneurial background helped him create his business, Infinite Herbs.
Camilo Penalosa has achieved the American Dream after working hard and helping people for more than 20 years. He describes how his company, Infinite Herbs, became one of the top fresh herb companies in the U.S., his entrepreneurial background, and making a difference in the environment and society.
Can EVs handle midwest winters? Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel discusses the challenges of charging electric vehicles in cold weather.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, discusses the challenges, myths, and facts of charging electric vehicles in the deep freeze, and why EV owners should be educated about batteries and preconditioning.
Eliza Fournier, the urban farm director at the College of Lake County, talks about where the next generation of modern farmers will be trained.
Eliza Fournier, the urban farm director at the College of Lake County, discusses revitalizing north suburban Waukegan, and offering accessible, affordable, nutrient-dense food. She also describes how her agricultural background has helped her create sustainable programs and help young farmers.
Rebecca and Josh Tickell are the directors of the documentary Common Ground, which connects the dots between agribusiness farming and how to make our food system more sustainable. The film includes celebrity narrators and presents a solution for creating a resilient, regenerating, healing food system that can last for generations. They want people to know how we can stabilize the climate and we can grow nutrient dense food and we can save the American farmer.
Josh and Rebecca Tickell are the directors of the documentary Common Ground. They want their film to inspire people to regenerate the food system and make it more sustainable.
Canary Media reporter Maria Gallucci explains why it's important for steel companies to invest in technology to improve the environment and human health.
Maria Gallucci, a reporter with the nonprofit newsroom Canary Media, says the steel industry is a hard business, requires a lot of capital, and involves a complex polluting manufacturing process. She discusses the challenges and technical solutions for decarbonizing steelmaking and making it more sustainable.
Vehicle expert Tom Appel has been with the Green Sense Show for 10 years! And now that the new year is starting, he discusses what to expect in '24, reflects on last year's trends, and explains how Consumer Guide Automotive reports and analyzes the automotive industry. He also explains how consumers can discern fact from fiction when it comes to electric vehicles, including Tesla claims, charging stations, and much more.
Are electric vehicles really more eco-friendly? EV expert and Consumer Guide Automotive publisher, Tom Appel, compares gas and electric vehicles.
Kelli Pelc is the founder of The Refilleri, a zero-waste store in Chicago. They offer refillable or zero-waste solutions for a variety of products to make living an eco-friendly urban lifestyle more accessible.
Kel Mitchell is an award-winning actor, comedian, and youth pastor. He discusses World Vision's holiday gift-giving program for children and families in need, why he got involved, and how you can help. He also talks about his Nickelodeon shows, his various projects, and his hometown Chicago.
Tis the season to give. Award-winning actor, comedian, and youth pastor Kel Mitchell discusses a holiday gift-giving program for children and families in need.
Lise Lykke Steffensen, CEO of NordGen, talks about the Svalbard Seed Bank in Norway, where more than one million seeds are stored in an arctic mountain to preserve the world's crop diversity.
Whitney Young High School student Nikita Agrawal describes the computer model she developed to predict wildfires.
Nikita Agrawal is a student at Whitney Young high school in Chicago who has created a model for predicting wildfires. She explains why she is passionate about science, climate change, and environmental justice. Nikita has already been involved in programs at NASA and Argonne National Laboratory and is interested in environmental economics.
Kim Blomquist, Director of Marketing and Communications at mHUB, returns to the Green Sense Minute to discuss how the innovation center helps accelerate startups in Chicago.
Kim Blomquist, Director of Marketing and Communications at mHUB, returns to the Green Sense show to discuss the new climate energy tech accelerator. Kim also discusses how the new innovation center helps accelerate startups in Chicago by assisting them to figure out their business strategies and to create hard-tech prototypes.
Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita (13th District) is back on the show to talk about how the county's forest preserves can help you relax, and how nature can be a cure for the wintertime blues. She also discusses how she is addressing inequities and promoting diversity.
Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita (13th District) talks about how forest preserves can help you relax.
Dr. Ross Cunning, research expert at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, says the ocean's coral reefs are living animals, the start of the food chain, and incredibly important. He discusses what his recent research expedition revealed about how coral bleaching affects the Dry Tortugas off of Miami's coast and the Florida Keys.
Dr. Ross Cunning, research expert at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, explains why coral reefs are very important.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, is back with an update on how the UAW strike is affecting the car business, recent trends in EV sales, and why electric vehicles are piling up in dealers' lots and in the supply chain.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, talks about the volatility of the electric vehicle market and how the UAW strike affects it.
Jeffrey Simon is the real lawyer behind the Netflix series Painkiller. Now he's focused on how Big Oil is hiding the facts about fossil fuels.
Jeffrey Simon is the real lawyer behind the Netflix series Painkiller, and he won a historic 2-billion dollar settlement from Johnson & Johnson and other pharmaceutical companies. Now he's suing oil companies for 52 billion dollars. Jeffrey talks about how justice should be achieved, how the petroleum industry is harming the environment, his book Last Rites, and how companies shouldn't harm the public through recklessness or misinformation.
Jennifer Jewell is a gardener, educator, author, host of the Cultivating Place podcast. She talks about her book What We Sow, describes the ecological and cultural significance of seeds, and gives advice for finding seed suppliers. We do not have to rely on big business to buy and cultivate seeds.
Jennifer Jewell is a gardener, educator, and author of the book What We Sow. She offers advice on how individuals have the power to regain control of their food.
Dr. Bronner's soap started 75 years ago and is still innovative, committed to sustainability, and generous. Consumer educator Lisa Bronner talks about the family company's establishment and destruction in Germany, and why her grandfather started a new company in the U.S. with a message of peace and unity. Today they give away millions of dollars of profits, support their employees, promote sustainable production practices, and sponsor causes to help humanity.
Lisa Bronner talks about Dr. Bronner's 75-year-old company philosophy, and why it's a soap-maker with soul.
David Andrews, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, discusses how PFA chemicals affect the water supply and our health. He describes his research and the source of harmful chemicals, the lack of drinking water standards, and the influence of the chemical industry. Is the EPA doing enough? The news isn't all negative, but we should still be concerned.
David Andrews, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, talks about the use of chemicals in society.
There's a clean energy manufacturing boom, partly because of increasing manufacturing of hybrids, electric vehicles, and batteries. Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, is back on the show to talk about the challenges of vehicle sales and distribution, how the EV and hybrids market is busier, manufacturing and retail costs, how much consumers can pay, fake news, and much more.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, explains what kinds of electric vehicles are now in demand.
Some manufacturers want to create laws that prohibit consumers from repairing e-bikes themselves. Maddie Stone, reporter with Grist, describes what e-bikes and e-scooters are, and how their batteries are charged. She explains why e-bikes are a good substitution for gas-powered or electric vehicles, and how they can be repaired and recycled.
Maddie Stone, reporter with Grist, says we should fix our technology instead of throwing it away.
There is a kinder, gentler alternative to the traditional predatory venture capital approach. John McDonald, Managing Entrepreneur at NEXT Studios, talks about his own experience and what it takes to have a successful business. He discusses what works and what doesn't with venture capital. He also describes the other tools that NEXT Studios offers to help grow your startup.
There's a different model for funding sustainable ideas. John McDonald, Managing Entrepreneur at NEXT Studios, discusses alternatives to the traditional predatory venture capital approach.
Energy is not just about power plants and poles anymore. Autumn Proudlove, Associate Director of Policy and Markets at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, talks about how customers are becoming active participants in the grid, not just users of electricity.
With more reliance on electricity, can the electric grid meet future demand? The electric grid has an antiquated network of power plants and poles, and transmission and distribution lines. Autumn Proudlove, Associate Director of Policy and Markets at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, discusses the challenges with the current electric grid and offers solutions on how to make the grid robust, reliable, and resilient to meet current and future demand.
How can you benefit from a home energy audit? Ron and Rich Cowgill, hosts of the Mighty House home improvement show, explain how an audit is done and how you can save money.
Energy and Environmental Analyst David Gohlke discusses his EV research at Argonne National Laboratory.
Dave Gohlke is an Energy and Environmental Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory. His research interests span the lifecycle of vehicles, from vehicle manufacturing to sales through vehicle operations and end-of-life. He researches the environmental impacts and characteristics of EVs.
Roberto Rodriguez is an instructor in the Green Janitor educational program at SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and works at Northwestern University. He talks about how he worked his way up from janitor to supervisor and the job situation for janitors at Northwestern and elsewhere. He also describes green education, environmentally friendly equipment and procedures, and why safety and health are important.
Roberto Rodriguez is an instructor in the Green Janitor education program at SEIU Local 1 and talks about environmentally friendly cleaning.
Julian Spector, senior reporter at Canary Media, explains the climate change aspects of the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act).
Julian Spector, a senior reporter at Canary Media, explains the finances and climate change aspects of the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), which President Biden signed into law last year. Julian breaks down the details including tax credits for households and manufacturing companies that are bringing back jobs to the U.S. to create new equipment. Energy innovations include solar sources, battery plants, and wind power.
Heather Murphy from the Street Transportation Department for the City of Phoenix talks about how they are cooling the pavement in the hot desert city.
Hot pavement is a problem in cities across the country. Heather Murphy, Communications and Public Engagement Coordinator at the Phoenix Street Transportation Department, talks about a new pilot program that is now working to cool the city by decreasing the heat of the pavement. The non-toxic treatment that Phoenix is using also contributes to less wear and tear on the underlying asphalt. The innovations in the desert will hopefully spread to other cities that need to reduce heat as the population increases.
The tree canopy covering Chicago is shrinking, so trees need our help. Tony (Tonatiu) Rodriguez is the Forestry Program Coordinator at Openlands.
Tony (Tonatiu) Rodriguez is the Forestry Program Coordinator at Openlands, where he's involved with the tree Planters Grant and Community Outreach and education programs. He says when tree canopies are reduced, there is more heat and pollution, which affects communities and the quality of life. Tony also discusses the positive effects of trees and how diseases decreased the number of trees. He and others are working to grow Chicago's tree canopy and protect the urban forest.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has incentives available for car owners. Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, explains some of the eligibility requirements of the IRA like how vehicles now need to be built in the United States, even batteries for electric vehicles. He also talks about how owners of Ford, General Motors, and now Rivian vehicles will have access to Tesla charging stations. Tom discusses much more in this content-rich episode.
The Inflation Reduction Act has a lot of incentives for car owners, according to Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive.
Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, talks about how clean the water is after billions of dollars have been invested in the infrastructure.
The executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, Margaret Frisbie, is back on the Green Sense show to talk about collaborating with the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance. She says the river system is drastically healthier, and billions of dollars have been invested in clean water infrastructure. She also discusses a free natural solutions tool that helps organizations obtain data centered on equity, public health, biodiversity, resilience, and watersheds. And she talks about the importance of keeping the water free of litter and garbage.
Dan McCarthy, news editor at Canary Media, discusses what is causing a clean energy manufacturing boom in the U.S.
The Inflation Reduction Act has many incentives available to homeowners to promote clean energy. Dan McCarthy, news editor at Canary Media, shares his perspective on what is causing a clean energy manufacturing boom in the U.S. and how more than one million new jobs will be created.
An update from Michelle Nichols, director of Public Observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, about the immersive experience of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and viewing eclipses.
Michelle Nichols, director of Public Observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, is back on the show to discuss the immersive full-dome planetarium show with audio from Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album. She also offers tips for viewing upcoming eclipses and talks about the challenges of navigating in space.
Earthship is a movement! Deborah Binder, Executive Director of Biotecture Planet Earth, is from the Canary Islands in Spain and has worked on six continents, speaks three languages fluently, and has managed more than 25 Earthship construction projects. She talks about how a home can be a self-contained vessel, built to be sustainable. Deborah discusses the unique features and design of the Earthship: it uses the earth to for heating and cooling, wind and solar as renewable energy, and is built out of recycled materials. She describes the construction and incredible design, and how Earthships help make the planet a better place for the future.
Allison Sant is a partner and co-founder of the Studio for Urban Projects and author of From the Ground Up: Local Efforts to Create Resilient Cities.
What went wrong in our big cities? Allison Sant is a partner and co-founder of the Studio for Urban Projects, an interdisciplinary design collaborative based in San Francisco that works at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, art, and social activism. She has a solution for improving the quality of life in cities and making them more resilient, and recently authored the book From the Ground Up: Local Efforts to Create Resilient Cities.
The Climate Action Museum is opening this month in Chicago. Architect Doug Farr talks about conservation, natural resources, energy, and sustainability.
Opening this year on the summer solstice near Union Station in downtown Chicago, the Climate Action Museum offers visitors the chance to take part in climate action, as they learn about conservation, natural resources, energy, and sustainability. Doug Farr, a nationally recognized architect, urbanist and author, returns to the Green Sense show to talk about sustainable architecture and how the museum will help people learn about how our actions affect the environment. The museum at 300 South Riverside Plaza is free and individuals or groups can visit Monday through Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 2.
When you want to get rid of old computers, furniture, home entertainment devices, mobile electronics, and other items, there is now a permanent recycling drop-off facility in Chicagoland. Anthony Tindall manages the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability's Solid Waste Division and talks about the new partnership with South Suburban College and the creation of the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM). The center will repurpose, reuse, or recycle the items instead of putting them in a landfill. He also talks about what items can not be recycled.
The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is a new permanent recycling drop-off facility in Chicagoland. Anthony Tindall manages the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability's Solid Waste Division and gives an overview.
As lead scientist at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, Professor Yang Yang describes how his team's transparent solar panel experiment can revolutionize indoor farming. Using organic materials to produce clear PVs, they want to scale up the experiment to grow vegetables more sustainably, while maintaining the same efficiency.
Can a solar panel experiment revolutionize indoor farming? UCLA engineering professor Yang Yang talks about building a new kind of greenhouse.
Michelle Nichols, director of Public Observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, talks about what you can see through the Adler's telescopes and the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's bestselling album, "The Dark Side Of The Moon," with an immersive audio visual experience.
Michelle Nichols studied physics, astronomy, and education, and is now the director of Public Observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium. She offers tips for viewing eclipses and talks about the array of stargazing events. The Adler has a variety of powerful telescopes, including the largest publicly accessible telescope in the Chicagoland area. There are several astronomical events such as classes, stargazing, road trips, and the new full dome planetarium show. Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's bestselling album, "The Dark Side Of The Moon," with an immersive audio visual experience. Listen to the interview to find out all the Planetarium has to offer.
Accomplished musician and actor Franklin Vanderbilt is now a community developer to help young people on Chicago's West Side.
Drummer Franklin Vanderbilt has performed with famous artists including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and Lenny Kravitz. He grew up on Chicago's West Side and wants to make his old neighborhood more sustainable by developing a youth center to teach music, art, financial literacy, horticulture, and life skills. Franklin talks about his career, family, and why he wants to help young people thrive.
Chuck Knapp, vice president of conservation research at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, talks about how people can get more engaged with conservation.
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago was the first inland aquarium to have marine species and one of the first aquariums to be designated as Center for Species Survival. Chuck Knapp, vice president of conservation research, talks about how people can get more engaged with conservation. Chuck discusses his long career and the Shedd’s efforts to save wild animals and imperiled ecosystems, and the various programs at the aquarium. Visitors can learn about aquatic biodiversity with thousands of animals and species.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, says if you're deciding between a regular gasoline powered car and a hybrid, go with the hybrid.
EVs, hybrids, or gas? Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, gives practical advice for buying a new car. He discusses alternatives to electric vehicles such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and high mileage gas cars, and challenges in finding charging stations. He also says some car manufactures are done developing gas engines. Share your thoughts: do you think this is the beginning of the end for gas engines?
When Josina Morita was previously on the Green Sense Show, she was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of greater Chicago. Now she has been elected as Cook County Commissioner in the 13th District. She joined us on World Water Day to talk about water conservation, water responsibility, and the little changes we can make in our daily life to save water.
Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita talks about water conservation, water responsibility, and the little changes we can make in our daily life to save water.
Josh Deth, founder of Revolution Brewing, talks about the basics of beer brewing and how it can be sustainable. In addition to using solar energy, recycled packaging, and rooftop beehives, Josh discusses what they do with the byproducts of the brewing process. He says spent grain is the number one byproduct, and the protein-rich hops can be used to feed cattle. Josh also explains how his brewery's byproducts help clean the city's wastewater and how the spent yeast and hops become part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's treatment program.
Josh Deth, founder of Revolution Brewing in Chicago, talks about the basics of beer brewing and how byproducts are used for treating wastewater and feeding cattle.
Lise Lykke Steffensen, CEO of NordGen, talks about the Svalbard Seed Bank in Norway, where more than one million seeds are stored in an arctic mountain to preserve the world's crop diversity.
Known as the Doomsday Vault, the Svalbard Seed Bank is located hundreds of miles beyond the Arctic Circle in Norway in a former coal mine. You need high security clearance to enter this facility built in a mountain that contains duplicates of more than one million seed samples from almost every country in the world. Lise Lykke Steffensen, CEO of NordGen, shares the facts and clears up misinformation about the Norwegian government's project run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
How can we help the inner city's economy? Quilen Blackwell, president and founder of the Chicago Eco House, discusses how his non-profit uses sustainability to alleviate poverty. Quilen talks about his grandfather, who was a sharecropper, and his parents, who moved to Wisconsin from the South. After doing Peace Corps in Thailand, Quilen volunteered in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, where he got the idea for Chicago Eco House. He and his wife, Hannah, started Southside Blooms, a solar-powered flower farm on a vacant lot on Chicago's Southwest Side, and have expanded to Detroit, Milwaukee, and Gary, Indiana. Blooms is hyper-local; they grow and deliver their own flowers in communities without using any herbicides, pesticides, or chemical or synthetic fertilizers. Quilen says he is blending community organizing and a sustainable environmental business while exposing young people to opportunities in areas of crime and trauma.
The Green Sense Show is sponsored by CEA Technology, providing a sustainable modular indoor growing system. To sponsor this program, go to www.greensenseshow.com
This week on Green Sense Show, where spoke with Ben Kravitz, Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Indiana University. Ben discusses the history of climate change and explores how political influences can sometimes muddy the waters of scientific fact. Kravitz also shares with us the concept of climate engineering, which proposes new ways to address the ongoing challenge of climate change. As we learn, not all solutions require costly and time-consuming experiments to be validated. Discover how climate engineering could pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.
In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Marianne Lalonde - a true powerhouse who has been making waves in promoting critical science-based thinking in various fields, including business, arts, and politics. As a scientist with a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern University, a sustainability professional, community activist, and candidate for alderperson for Chicago's 46th ward, Marianne has a unique perspective on the challenges scientists face when
entering politics. She shares her insights on the specific groups that exist to support scientists in their political endeavors and how their expertise in critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making can be valuable in the political arena.
Mike Bryson, a Professor of Sustainability Studies at Roosevelt University, joins us again to share his thoughts on what role the arts and humanities play in changing hearts and minds about climate change, water conservation, and sustainability. We discuss the current economic conditions and the job market for students working in the field of sustainability.
This week, we spoke with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, todiscuss some things to consider when taking a long trip (4 hours or more) in an EV. In addition, we look at other costs to consider when buying an EV, such as installing a home charger, insurance, licensing, buy or lease. Tom also shares his thoughts on improvements needed to make the EV industry more competitive.
This week we spoke with Ron Cowgill, President of D/R Services and host of the Mighty House Radio Show. Ron shares his thoughts on what makes housing affordable, tips for homeowners on how to help save money and energy by weatherizing their homes, and tips for installing a home EV charger.
This week we spoke with Kelli Pelc, founder of The Refilleri, a zero-waste store in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. They offer refillable or zero-waste solutions for a variety of products to make living an eco-friendly urban lifestyle more accessible. Kelli shares her motivation for beginning her business and her motto of reduce, reuse, and refill to help us achieve a plastic-free world.
This week we spoke with Joe Webber, Founder of Four Star Mushrooms, an indoor grow operation that sells its exotic mushrooms to the best restaurants in Chicago. Joes shares how Four-Star Mushrooms is on a mission to create more sustainable and equitable food and ecological systems. Mushrooms are both a delicious, nutritious source of food, and the substrate can be recycled to provide compost material.
This week we spoke with Sanza Kazadi, Founder of Kazadi Enterprises. Kazadi Enterprises is developing refrigeration systems that use the cleanest energy on earth - environmental heat. Their systems reduce the energy cost of refrigeration by up to 90% and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants. Sanza discusses how their solutions are resilient against brown- and black-outs, working even when electricity isn't available.
A Future Solution for Today’s Plastic Waste Problem
Max Delferro, group leader of the Catalysis Science Program at ArgonneNational Laboratory and coresearcher Geoffrey Coates, Professor at CornellUniversity discuss their bench-scale research to a revolutionary approach torecycling by plastic waste reengineering the molecular structure. Max explainswhat it will take to scale their research and make it commercially available.
2022 was a year of unpredictability for agriculture, with droughts, floods, volatileweather, kinks in the supply chain, inflation, and labor shortages. Along with thechallenges came advancements in Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA)technology allowing more crops to be grown indoors while minimizing risk. CEAcovers a wide range of crops grown in greenhouses and vertical farms - fromfloriculture to fruits and vegetables to cannabis and hemp.
This week we have a special edition of Green Sense Show where we meet theCEA press to look back on the CEA industry in 2022 and what we can expect tosee in 2023.
Host Robert Colangelo has a candid discussion with representatives from threeleading publications that make up the CEA Press: Jennifer Marston, SeniorReporter AgFunder, Brian Sparks, Senior Editor of Greenhouse Grower, andChris Higgins, Founder of Urban Ag News.
Building physical technologies that will change the physical world.
This week we spoke with Kim Blomquist, Director of Marketing and Communications, at mHUB, an innovation center for all things hard tech. Kim discusses how mHUB’s prototyping labs, industry partnerships, and a commitment to U.S. manufacturing (the mHUB ecosystem) are changing the landscape of hard tech development. Hear what resources mHub has to offer startups that make things.
This week we are joined by Julia Kurnik, the Director of Innovation Startups atWorld Wildlife Funds. WWF is the world’s leading conversation organization,working in nearly 100 countries to develop and deliver innovative solutions thatprotect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live. Julia discusseshow climate change is impacting crop production in the US. There recentresearch suggests alternative locations to grow crops more sustainably.
This week a chat with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, tolook back at the many new green transportation innovations we saw in 2022 andlook forward to what to expect in 2023. Tom also shares his thoughts on oilchanges: synthetic vs. traditional and how many miles can you go betweenchanges.
Prince William of Wales launched the Earthshot Prize Awards last year, an international contest to fund the world's most promising projects in five categories: protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world, and fix our climate".
This week we spoke with Zara Summers, Lanza tech’s Vice President of Science, the only American finalist, about their unique solution to change the way people think about carbon from a “liability” to a valuable feedstock for a wide range of sustainable new products.
This week we are joined by Mike Bryson, Roosevelt University’s Professor of Sustainability Studies and co-leader in developing the university's first Strategic Sustainability Plan. The plan positions the school as a leader in driving the greening of American higher education institutions. Mike discusses the plan’s goal of creating an environment that is focused on key issues and challenges in sustainability with courses focused on climate and energy, education and outreach, waste and natural resources, and economics and governance.
Hydrogen is abundant, but is it really the clean energy fuel of the future?
This week Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, joins us to discuss the pros and cons of hydrogen and his thoughts on applications for where it can become the fuel of the future.
This week we spoke with a master of many trades, Ron Cowgill. Ron is acontractor in the Chicago area and the host of Mighty House Radio Show. Withwinter coming and power outages a possibility, we reviewed home generatoroptions, including - solar, to learn which is most cost-effective. We also discussedwhat’s involved with home solar panel installation - is it a DIY project orsomething best left to professional installers?
This week we explore the circular economy, a practical approach to sustainability, with our guest Sandra Goldmark who is a professor, author, and entre- and intrapreneur with deep expertise in circularity and the need for radical collaboration for climate action. Sandra discusses her experience in theatre design and how it opened her eyes to the vast and entrenchedsystems that control how we make, obtain, and dispose of our stuff and how they are harmful to both people and the planet.
Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health at the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, joins us again with an update on their Clean Air Initiative RHA is working to reduce air pollution from diesel fuel, supporting efforts to increase the use of clean nonpolluting sources of energy, and increasing the use of electric vehicles.
The Respiratory Health Association is on a mission to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better through education, research, and policy change. Listen to our previous episode with Brian to learn more about RHA and its mission to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better through education, research, and policy change.
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This week Tom Appeal, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, joins us to discuss the current diesel crisis. The US reserve is reported to have a 25-day supply, lows that have not been seen since 2008. During our interview, Tom provides a factual analysis of how gasoline and diesel are produced, the demand for each, who are the largest users of diesel, what it means to have a low diesel supply, how diesel shortages can affect the supply chain, and what’s the bottom line for consumers.
The Chicago Tribune in 1961, ran a series of articles on the world of tomorrow. They talked about how agriculture will be so mechanized that farms will resemble factories with automation control devices performing precision agriculture. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will replace human judgment for optimizing crop production and harvesting, packing, and shipping will all be done with robots.
Eric Adamson is the Co-founder and CEO at Tortuga AgTech, and he is transforming the agriculture world of tomorrow today! Tortuga has developed a robotic strawberry harvester that is picking strawberries as we speak. Tortuga AgTech aims to build a healthier society and a thriving planet through smarter farming and helps farms be more resilient, sustainable, and successful with technology. In our interview, Eric shares insights on how these robotics work, robotic harvesting challenges, and the pros and cons of using robots instead of manual labor.
This week Host Robert Colangelo shares his thoughts with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, after test-driving the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, including a rundown of its performance and features. The all-knowing Guru of Gears also talks about the current state of charging stations and if they will be a limiting factor to increased vehicle sales as EVs become more popular.
Are zoning codes stopping cities from being vibrant, equitable, and sustainable? This week we spoke with M. Nolan Gray, the Research Director for California YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) and author of “Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.” During the interview, Nolan discusses how flawed policies are a major reason many US cities cannot address housing shortages, stunted growth and innovation, persistent racial and economic segregation, and car-dependent development. Nolan shares his proactive ideas for making our cities better.
Are zoning codes stopping cities from being vibrant, equitable, and sustainable? This week we spoke with M. Nolan Gray, the Research Director for California YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) and author of “Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.” During the interview, Nolan discusses how flawed policies are a major reason many US cities cannot address housing shortages, stunted growth and innovation, persistent racial and economic segregation, and car-dependent development. Nolan shares his proactive ideas for making our cities better.
This week we spoke with Josina Morita, Commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The MWRD, one of the largest water districts in the country, employs 2,000 people, and has been providing clean drinking water and managing wastewater for Chicagoans since 1889. Commissioner Morita talks about historical engineering feats (reversal of the Chicago River and TARP- Tunnel and Reservoir Plan) the district has completed, the challenges a big City faces in hardening its water infrastructure to be more resilient to climate events and why protecting local freshwater sources is more important now than ever.
This week we spoke with Josina Morita, Commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The MWRD, one of the largest water districts in the country, employs 2,000 people, and has been providing clean drinking water and managing wastewater for Chicagoans since 1889. Commissioner Morita talks about historical engineering feats (reversal of the Chicago River and TARP- Tunnel and Reservoir Plan) the district has completed, the challenges a big City faces in hardening its water infrastructure to be more resilient to climate events and why protecting local freshwater sources is more important now than ever.
The Farm on Ogden, a multi-use facility in an underserved area on the west side of Chicago, supports and sustains a healthy urban community by bringing food, health, and jobs together in one location. The farm is run by Windy City Harvest, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture education and jobs-training initiative that offers the Veggie RX program, which provides a prescription of fresh produce (a weekly box of fresh greens) to food-insecure patients with diet-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.
This week we spoke to two members of the Windy City Harvest Team, Brittany Calendo, the Program Director, and Ketaurah James, Veggie RX Manager, to learn more about how these programs are helping build a local food system, healthier communities, and a greener economy.
The Farm on Ogden, a multi-use facility in an underserved area on the west side of Chicago, supports and sustains a healthy urban community by bringing food, health, and jobs together in one location. The farm is run by Windy City Harvest, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture education and jobs-training initiative that offers the Veggie RX program, which provides a prescription of fresh produce (a weekly box of fresh greens) to food-insecure patients with diet-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.
This week we spoke to two members of the Windy City Harvest Team, Brittany Calendo, the Program Director, and Ketaurah James, Veggie RX Manager, to learn more about how these programs are helping build a local food system, healthier communities, and a greener economy.
This week we spoke to the all-knowing Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, to review our test drive of the Ford F-150 Lightening (I’m still smiling). We also discussed the load EVs put on the CA electrical grid to see if they are the reason for the brownouts and blackouts from the record-setting temperatures experienced throughout the state this summer.
This week we spoke to the all-knowing Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, to review our test drive of the Ford F-150 Lightening (I’m still smiling). We also discussed the load EVs put on the CA electrical grid to see if they are the reason for the brownouts and blackouts from the record-setting temperatures experienced throughout the state this summer.
Feeding a growing global population using less land, water, and energy is a big goal. It’s even more challenging when you are looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with rising input costs and supply chain shortages. This week we are joined by Chris Higgins, President and co-Founder of Hort Americas and founder of Urban Ag News. Chris gives us an update on new state legislation designed to regulate electricity use at indoor farms and the unintended consequences these policies can have on indoor vegetable grow operations.
Feeding a growing global population using less land, water, and energy is a big goal. It’s even more challenging when you are looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with rising input costs and supply chain shortages. This week we are joined by Chris Higgins, President and co-Founder of Hort Americas and founder of Urban Ag News. Chris gives us an update on new state legislation designed to regulate electricity use at indoor farms and the unintended consequences these policies can have on indoor vegetable grow operations.
Historical climate data models are important for anticipating future risks, predicting the cause and effect, guiding adaptation decisions, and setting mitigation targets for now and future generations.
Historical climate data models are important for anticipating future risks, predicting the cause and effect, guiding adaptation decisions, and setting mitigation targets for now and future generations.
Our guest this week is Geza Gyuk, Director of Astronomy at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. The 1859 Carrington Event, also known as the perfect solar superstorm, was the most intense Coronal Mass Ejection (large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona) in recorded history. These fast-moving geomagnetic waves wreaked havoc with technology and telegraph communications worldwide. With current society so heavily dependent on technology and electricity, Geza discusses just how detrimental it would be if a similar storm hit Earth today, what systems are in place to detect these storms and how you can be prepared.
Our guest this week is Geza Gyuk, Director of Astronomy at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. The 1859 Carrington Event, also known as the perfect solar superstorm, was the most intense Coronal Mass Ejection (large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona) in recorded history. These fast-moving geomagnetic waves wreaked havoc with technology and telegraph communications worldwide. With current society so heavily dependent on technology and electricity, Geza discusses just how detrimental it would be if a similar storm hit Earth today, what systems are in place to detect these storms and how you can be prepared.
Traditionally mileage has been a key factor in determining a car’s value, but that is not the case for electric vehicles. This week we spoke to our Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, the publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and the host of the podcast Car Stuff, to take a look at how EVs are valued and resold as they age.
Traditionally mileage has been a key factor in determining a car’s value, but that is not the case for electric vehicles. This week we spoke to our Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, the publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and the host of the podcast Car Stuff, to take a look at how EVs are valued and resold as they age.
Hidden Lemur is a sustainable travel website that aims to give travelers better access to ethical travel experiences. We spoke with Hidden Lemur’s Founder and CEO, Conor Armor, to discuss the growing interest in eco-tourism and if these sustainable travel destinations are minimizing social, physical, and economic impacts on these sensitive environments.
Hidden Lemur is a sustainable travel website that aims to give travelers better access to ethical travel experiences. We spoke with Hidden Lemur’s Founder and CEO, Conor Armor, to discuss the growing interest in eco-tourism and if these sustainable travel destinations are minimizing social, physical, and economic impacts on these sensitive environments.
The Environmental Working Group is on a mission to shine a light on outdated legislation, harmful agricultural practices, and industry loopholes that risk human health and the environment. This week we spoke to EWG’s Senior Scientist, Tasha Stoiber, to learn more about PFAs synthetic fluorine-based compounds that are everywhere and never break down! Hear Tasha's helpful tips on what you can do to avoid these chemicals.
This week we are joined by Mary Beth Cowardin, the Vice President of Marketing and member engagement at AmericanHort, the organizers of Cultivate, the premier horticulture industry trade show. AmericanHort is on a mission to unite, promote, and advance the horticulture industry through advocacy, collaboration, connectivity, education, market development, and research. We spoke with Mary Beth about today’s current global supply chain issues, rising input costs, climate change, and its impact on the greenhouse and nursery ecosystem.
This week we spoke to Bronx educator Stephen Ritz, who is on a mission to build healthy, equitable, and resilient communities through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st Century workforce development. Stephen discusses how he developed an incredibly successful indoor gardening curriculum in the Bronx that allows children to grow vegetables in the classroom, helping them eat better, be more engaged with school, and providing inner city kids with pathways for jobs in agriculture.
Over the last several years, billions of dollars have been poured into the Agri-food tech industry, yet only a small percentage of the money goes to women-owned companies. This week we spoke to Amy Wu, who is on a mission to get more women at the table and raise awareness about the lack of representation in funding in the Agri-food tech space. Amy is the Founder and Creator of From Farms to Incubators. This multimedia platform uses documentary, video, photography, and the written word to tell the stories of women leaders and innovators in Agtech.
This week we are joined by Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health at Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. We discuss how the Respiratory Health Association is on a mission to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better through education, research, and policy change. We review a recent report showing which Chicago neighborhoods are air pollution hot spots.
The Hawaiian economy historically has been very dependent on tourism revenue which rapidly saw a decline at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. With more tourists comes an environmental impact causing local government to rethink its economic development policies. This week we are joined by Kelly Takaya King, who holds the County Council seat for the South Maui residency area. She is the Chair of the Climate Action, Resilience, and Environment Committee. Kelly is a champion of change and discusses her efforts to create meaningful climate action policy, economic diversification beyond tourism, and sustainable agriculture practices to grow more food on the island.
With gas prices rising, so is the demand for EVs. This week, Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and the host of the podcast Car Stuff, joins us to break down the cost of going electric, how much drivers can save, and the cost of charging.
This week we are joined by Alaina Harkness, executive director of Current a catalyst for better, cleaner water working to grow the blue economy, accelerate innovation, and solve pressing water challenges. Listen to our discussion on how Current is creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Midwest to create market-based water solutions.
This week's guest is Johanna Neumann, Environment America, Senior Director for the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy. We discuss the history of solar power, solutions to the cons associated with solar power, and Solar Stars - Cities setting the bar for the use of renewable energy.
Environment America is a DC-based network of 30 state environmental advocacy organizations that promote core environmental values, such as clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean energy to power our lives. They do this through research, lobbying, litigation, and mobilization of public support.
This week Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and the host of the podcast Car Stuff, joins us to explore the current price-gouging happening in the automotive industry. Despite the recent excitement around new EVs in the industry, getting your hands on one is not as simple. Tom gives us his thoughts on the current car shortage and breaks down the rising price of gas.
To learn more about what factors affect gasoline pricing please visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration website at https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/factors-affecting-gasoline-prices.php
This week we sat down with Bryant Terry, an award-winning chef, educator, and author renowned for his activism to create a healthy, just, and sustainable food system. He is currently a Chef-in-Residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco where he creates public programming that celebrates the intersection of food, farming, health, activism, art, culture, and the African Diaspora.
Derek Young is the Managing Director, of ESG Consulting Services at Summit Strategy Group. In this episode of Green Sense, we get into the details of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) reporting - why it’s important and how it impacts all of us.
This week Guru of Gears, Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and the host of the podcast Car Stuff shares his thoughts on how the computer chip and wire harness shortage is impacting availability and pricing of EVs. We also discuss the highlights of this year’s NY Auto show along with an update on Tesla, Rivian and VWs EV production.
Lucia Priselac is the Founding Director of The Uproot Project a nonprofit organization launched in March 2021 to advance the careers of journalists of color who have been historically underrepresented when it comes to reporting on environment and science-related issues. Lucia is a proponent of individuals doing little acts to make their daily lives more sustainable and she provides concrete examples of how to bring about sustainable change in underserved communities.
Friends of the Chicago River is an award-winning non-profit founded in 1979 with over 35,000 members, volunteers, and online advocates, that have been working to improve the health of the Chicago River system for the benefit of people, plants, and animals. This week we spoke with Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director, Friends of the Chicago River to learn how this non-profit is turning a river once so polluted with waste from the city’s meatpacking industry to a river that can be both ecologically healthy and a place for people to live, work, shop, and play.
All the way from Berlin we are joined by Dr. Anna Zakrisson who is on a mission to empower individuals by promoting science literacy and critical thinking to make people more resistant to populist ideologies and alternative facts (AKA fake news!) She is the founder of the science communication platform Doctor Anna's Imaginarium and currently works as a Scientific Researcher with Green Roof Diagnostics. Hear how she combines art, science, and green roofs to help improve the sustainability of a community.
Mike Keen is the Principal at Thrive Michiana, a sustainability and innovation consulting and development company. He has dedicated his career to the principles of sustainability and is a longtime friend. Listen to his story on how he transitioned from a professor to a builder of accessible housing and his efforts to transform the housing system that has priced many out of owning a home.
To make society sustainable, it must work for all its citizens. Mike Carney is the president and founder of KCARC. He has been creating a livelihood and tax-paying productive citizens for people who otherwise would have been left behind. Hear his story about how he began KCARC in 1972 with the mission to bring accessible, compassionate, and innovative services to people with disabilities, in Knox County, IN.
Angie Fyfe, Executive Director of ICLEI, (Local Governments for Sustainability) is one of the largest global networks of local governments devoted to solving the world’s most intractable sustainability challenges. Angie was featured as one of three women leading in sustainability and climate action. Hear about how she and her organization are tackling climate challenges with local solutions.
For centuries—even prior to the Civil War—Black-owned farms have played a key role in how Black Americans have forged their own identities, independence, wealth, and well-being amidst systems designed to repress them. John Jamerson, and his son D'Anthony Jamerson, are with the Indiana-based Legacy Taste of the Garden" farm. They talk about the challenges and opportunities facing black farmers in the past, present, and future!
What happens if all the doomsdays forecast for the future are wrong and we have a utopian future with a clean environment? Michael Rogers, Practical Futurist has been tracking innovations that will change the future for decades and has written a new novel Email from the Future, notes from 2084. Michael’s utopian future contains vertical farms in cities, as a sustainable way to grow year-round crops with a small footprint and high yields.
This week on Green Sense Radio we are joined by Mike Jackson a Springfield Illinois-based architect and a visiting professor of architecture at the University of Illinois. Mike has led the architectural division of the Illinois historic preservation agency for more than 30 years and shares his insights into why historic preservation is important, the criteria used to differentiate between blight and buildings worth saving, and provides tips the public can use when it comes to preservation.
This week, Tom Appel reports our Green Automotive News - Ford Motor company’s announcement to split the company into Ford Blue, for traditional gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, and Ford Model E, for new electric models; Rising gas prices and their impact on car sales; The rise and fall of Rivian the darling of Wall Street rising production costs, delays in production and a PR debacle have soured its loyal customer base; and why battery production is moving to the US.
This week we sat down with Arama Kukutai, CEO of Plenty an indoor, automated vertical farming technology company that can grow clean produce year-round, anywhere in the world. Arama is a pioneer in both Ag Tech investing and Vertical Farming. Hear about how growing up in New Zeeland, his Māori heritage and college days playing rugby shaped him to succeed. He shares his insights on the current CEA industry and what big plans he has as the newly appointed CEO of Plenty.
Ridder a Dutch indoor growing technology company is on a mission to help farmers grow more crops sustainably. They are on the constant hunt for new technologies that can grow a wider range of crops faster, better, safer, and cheaper. This week we spoke with Ridder’s CTO, Joep van den Bosch to learn about what technologies are on the horizon, when they will become commercially available and how they will address labor, rising inputs costs and crop quality to produce more crops with less resources.
First Student is an industry leader in home-to-school transportation and furthers its commitment to electric school buses. This week we spoke with Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Students to hear first-hand how their electric buses are transporting over 5 million students to school every day.
This week we spoke with Chris Higgins of Hort Americas and Urban Ag News to discuss how GE – Current repurposed an existing US light factory to make horticulture LED lights onshore. Did they get lucky to get ahead of kinks in the supply chain or was this well planned? Listen to this week’s episode and learn about the eco-innovations that are happening in the world of Controlled Environment Agriculture.
This week we sat down with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive to discuss the latest news in the automotive industry and the challenges manufacturing companies face to ramp up production of EV trucks to meet demand. Tom gives us insight into how car companies are competing in two different automotive markets - cars, and trucks, to meet increased consumer demand for EVs in 2022 and beyond.
There are currently 2.4 billion people around the world who don’t have access to clean water because of poor or no infrastructure to treat wastewater. This week we spoke to Triangle Environmental’s Founder & Principal Tate Rogers to learn more about the company’s development of a small on-site water treatment system that maximizes the chemical energy potential contained in wastewater to produce zero-waste and valuable effluent streams.
This week we are joined by AppHarvest founder and CEO Jonathan Webb to discuss how AppHarvest hopes to become the farm of the future, investing in robotics and artificial intelligence, while transforming Appalachia into a year-round hub for vegetable production. Johnathan will also be the keynote speaker at Indoor Ag Con, Feb28- March 1 st in Las Vegas.
President Biden began his term nearly a year ago facing massive environmental and public health challenges. One year in, how has his administration fared when it comes to the big environmental issues - especially ones that don’t get much media coverage?
This week we’re joined by Lisa Frank with Environment America Research & Policy Center to look at how the current administration is tackling environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, energy policy, and more.
This week we spoke with Anthony Dente, principal engineer, Verdant Structural Engineers
to discuss sustainable building material such as straw, bamboo, hemp, and cob as novel new green building materials. We review the benefits and limitations and talk about projects in which straw has been used to construct residential and low-rise commercial buildings.
Eight million metric tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans each year. This week we spoke to Patrick Simpson of PKS consulting, who is working to launch a Mobile Plastic Ocean Waste Recycler pilot system in Alaska coastal communities. Listen to the full episode and learn how this system collects plastic in the oceans and turns it into usable plastic building materials, creating an economic driver for ocean cleanup.
It’s a new year and you’re ready for change – it’s finally time to trade that paycheck for a dream. But how do you start your startup and make the world more sustainable? Gener8tor is a nationally ranked accelerator program that brings together founders, investors, corporations, job seekers, universities, musicians and artists. This week we spoke with Ryan Jeffery, Managing Director of the newly launched Sustainability Accelerator to discuss how Gener8tor is launching a new program to accelerate investing in sustainability and climate tech startups. He talks about the program and how you can be one of the five winners picked to enter the program- the reward a $100,000 investment.
It’s easy to be negative these days as the media bombards us with news about the ongoing pandemic, inflation, kinks in the supply chain, a dysfunctional government compounded by a waterfall of negative social media that can make the future feel hopeless. But what if, technology and innovation can turn all that negativity into innovation that make life better for us all?
Practical Futurist Michael Rogers has been tracking trends in technology for decades. He's a speaker, moderator, panelist, author, journalist, not to mention the New York Times futurist in residence. Michael shares his optimistic insight into how technology will make a better life better.
This week we sat down with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide automotive for a look back on this year’s top automotive news. This included a discussion on Charge anxiety, EV price hurdles, Toyota’s $70 B investment in EVs and why Elon Musk is Times person of the year.
Commercial food production and food waste are responsible for one-third of greenhouse gasses. This week we spoke with Rian McDonnell, CEO of FloWaste, a technology startup that is determined to address the business, environmental and ethical issues of food waste. FloWaste uses AI that includes a camera-driven, machine learning system that tracks how food is being wasted - and how it can be reduced.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that video games are more popular than ever. With millions of games available and players at every age it brings up the question, how can we share important messaging through these games? This week we spoke with Earthshot’s Co-founder and President Mark Bernstein to discuss the company’s new development of video games that are inspiring climate change.
Now that the dust has settled, and the UN COP 26 climate summit is over we sat down with Washington Post Climate Solutions Reporter, Michael Birnbaum to discuss his thoughts on this year’s summit. Birnbaum gave us his first-hand account of the good and bad that occurred at the 26 international summits to address climate change in Glasgow Scotland.
This week host Robert Colangelo spoke with Susannah Miller, Head of Science at the International School of Indiana. Inspired by this crop of young adults and their concern for people and the planet, we spoke about the student’s passion for the environment and how it inspires Susannah to incorporate science lessons into the classroom. Robert also spoke with three students from Miller’s class to get their thoughts on climate change, sustainability, and the future of our planet.
This week we spoke with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide automotive and host of the podcast Car Stuff to discuss the latest Green Automotive News including Ford's new EV conversion kit, how Hyundai is surging ahead on green car sales, and EV pickup truck maker Rivian's IPO.
Growing fruits and vegetables more sustainably is essential to feeding a growing population. However, what’s equally as important is distributing produce to the consumer, so fruits and vegetables stay fresh and secure with less packaging. This week we spoke with Kyle Barnett, host of the ‘Crop Talk’ podcast and known for his work in helping growers create better packaging and merchandising solutions. We discuss how the produce industry can reduce waste, rely less on plastic, and shift into more sustainable packaging. We also look at the barriers to making this eco-friendly change.
The Villages, an Active Adult Retirement Community located in sunny central Florida has over 40 acres of CEA space dedicated to growing hyper-local produce for residents and the surrounding community. This week we are joined by the executive director, Jennifer Waxman, at Village Grown Farm to discuss how this Agri-hood creates a sense of place around farming.
Torqeedo is making boating life on the water clean and quiet. The leader in electric boat drives, Torqeedo offers drives for boats of all sizes from dinghies to 120 ft yachts.
This week we spoke to Torqeedo’s President Steve Trkla to discuss how these emissions-free, quiet, and more efficient drives are making big waves in boating.
This week on Green Sense Radio, host Robert Colangelo test drives two new and very different hybrids with our resident “Guru of Gears” Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive. The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has rugged capability coming from its All-Wheel Drive power train, and tech features like expansive digital displays and safety features.
The new Jeep Wrangler Hybrid Plug-in has a cult following, learn how this plug-in Hybrid with the addition of an electric power train can be an advantage both on and off-road?
If you had to pick, which EV do you prefer? The family-friendly SUV or the sporty adventurous Wrangler?
This week we spoke with Sarah Nolet the CEO and Founder of AgThentic, a food and agriculture strategy firm, as well as the co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first dedicated agrifood tech VC firm focused on building the early stage agtech ecosystem in Australia.
We spoke about Nolet’s recent article co-written with Matthew Pryor that puts in perspective how the Silicon Valley investment model set AgTech back a decade. Nolet gives insight into how Silicon Valley investors and agriculture startups operate as well as how cultures clash when these high-tech investors meet Midwestern-based Ag Tech startups.
This week we spoke with, Iain Milnes, President of Power Knot an innovator when it comes to onsite food waste digesters. Power Knot provides environmentally sound products that help reduce costs while reducing the amount of food waste going to landfills. We spoke with Milnes to discuss the company’s innovative food digesters and how they are assisting food processing companies, restaurants, and institutional kitchens to be more sustainable.
We’ve covered electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes - from boats to planes, to cars and semis. But there’s also a market niche for ‘severe mobility or ‘vocational’ trucks - used for some of the heaviest of duties in and around roadways. This week we spoke to the Founder and CTO of Zeus Electric Chassis, Bob Grinstead about the company’s innovative truck that can be designed to support commercial customer’s changing needs.
Crowley Engineering Services has completed its first-ever design and build of a fully electric tug boat. This high performing, sustainable solution to harbor services will be working in the
Port of San Diego. This week we spoke with Cole Van Gundy, director of commercial operations, with Crowley Engineering Services to discuss this groundbreaking boat, both it’s innovative and customizable features, and even the challenges faced when developing the first electric-powered tug boat.
Gradient is innovating the way we cool down our home using heat pump technology. The San-Francisco-based startup has developed a new take on window AC units. This week we spoke with Gradient’s CEO Vince Romanin to discuss the company’s climate-friendly unit that is quieter and cheaper than traditional AC window units. This innovative AC unit not only keeps your home cool but also is designed for a more appealing and space-saving look.
The EV meets the RV in a modern new camper. This week we spoke with Dean Wiltshire of Colorado Teardrops to discuss their new Camper Trailer designed to be towed by electric vehicles. Dean gives us an in-depth look into the trailer’s features and unique designs that make it stand out against other campers.
Horticulture, the art of cultivating plants for their numerous uses is a $13 Billion / year industry. It is involved with numerous top issues we hear about every day including climate change, sustainability (energy, water and waste management), labor, and immigration.
This week we spoke with Mary Beth Cowardin, Vice President of Marketing & Member Engagement at AmericanHort to discuss, Cultivate, the premier event for the entire horticulture industry. Cultivate is an annual educational event and trade show hosted by AmericanHort that is one of the largest and longest running shows. In the past it has attracted 10,000+ industry professionals, 700 exhibitors and attendees from more than 70 countries. Mary Beth discusses why Cultivate continues to be a world class educational event, along with a run-down of this year’s event and the challenges they faced in putting on a show in a COVID environment.
The market for EV’s, hybrids, and other ‘alternative fuel’ vehicles continues to grow offering consumers more model options to choose from. This week we are joined by Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel for a recap of the nation’s largest and longest-running - Chicago Auto Show, along with our Green Road Test of the Toyota Highlander Limited –L4 AWD Hybrid and the 2021 Lexus UX 250 Hybrid F Sport.
Each year, 1/3 of food produced in the world goes to waste, and generates 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Too Good to Go is on a mission to change that. Too Good to Go is a leading anti-food waste app that allows users to buy surplus fresh food from local restaurants and save it from going to waste. This week we spoke with Claire Oliverson, U.S. Head of Marketing at Too Good to Go to discuss how the app works, their expansion plans and how their market-based solution is fighting food waste globally.
MGM Resorts, one of the largest global hospitality and entertainment companies, is taking the necessary steps to make sure the company's 30 worldwide resorts are as sustainable as possible. This week we're joined by Yalmaz Siddiqui, vice president of corporate sustainability at MGM Resorts International. His main goal is to make sure the company's resorts are reducing their carbon footprint.
We discuss some of the steps MGM is taking to strive for a more sustainable resort, including their new 100-megawatt solar array, the largest of its kind in the hospitality industry, producing up to 90 percent of MGM Resorts' Las Vegas daytime electric power needs.
This week on Green Sense Radio Show: Grounding a tall vision in market reality an interview with the godfather of vertical farming!
Dickson Despommier has a Ph.D., in microbiology, is an ecologist, and emeritus professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University, and coined the term vertical farm back in 1999. He’s one of the many respected experts who’ve contributed to the new book ‘The Economics of Sustainable Food - Smart Policies for Health and the Planet.’ We talk about the new book and the past, present, and future of vertical farming.
Zoos and public aquariums have a big challenge when it comes to sustainability. They face the
the challenge of extreme temperatures and must have the ability to keep conditions arctic cold in the
the heat of summer, or tropical warm in the cold of winter all in the same facility.
This week we are joined by Drew Gravitt, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Schneider
Electric and Bob Wengel, Senior Vice President of Facilities and Security at Shedd Aquarium.
We discuss how they sustainably operate and manage such mass amounts of water, waste, and
operating facility.
The Brood X is the largest of the 17-year Cicadas, these insects are big, loud, and come in masses. As the weather gets warmer trillions of cicadas will be coming up from the ground impacting states across America. This week we are joined by Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist with Purdue University where we discuss what we can expect as these creatures make their way out of the ground across the country.
Did you know how Cicadas make that noise? Cicada possesses the tymbal organ, which is unique among insects. The frequency of the contractions of the tymbal muscle range from 120 to 480 times a second, which is fast enough for the human ear to hear a continuous sound.
From seaweed to fiber, we sat down with Algiknit founder and CEO Tessa Callaghan, who created the next generation of eco-conscious materials. AlgiKnit is creating eco-conscious, renewable yarns for the circular economy, developing durable yet rapidly degradable yarns from kelp, one of the most regenerative organisms on the planet. Their material is built for everyone: a functional and accessible resource without environmental harm. This week Tessa breaks down the current textile industry and her goals to create a more sustainable way to produce textiles.
Recent studies have shown that improving our diets positively affects our health. Sustainable food production also can further reduce damage to the planet. Click the link in our bio to listen to our episode with Sarah Reinhardt of the Union of Concerned Scientists. We discuss how improving our diets improves the planet's health. Sarah also talks about how new policy recommendations for federal agencies can help protect public health and food security for generations to come.
Offshore wind power is the use of wind farms constructed in bodies of water, usually in the ocean, to harvest wind energy to generate electricity. There are currently only five offshore wind turbines, all located on Rhode Island; however, offshore wind has the potential to meet up to 90% of U.S. electricity demand by 2050. We spoke with Hand Reed from Environment America to discuss how the U.S. can meet its fullest wind energy potential with the continued development of offshore wind farms.
This week we spoke with Aptera CTO Nathan Armstrong to discuss Aptera’s first solar electric vehicle (SEV) that can hold a charge for up to 1,000 miles and requires no charging for most daily use. These advancements make it the most efficient vehicle ever made available to consumers.
This week we spoke to Henry Byers with the world's leading supply chain intelligence company FreightWaves to discuss the global shipping industry. The industry is experiencing an increasing all-time high in demand, and shortages in shipping containers and ships backed up in ports create kinks in the supply chain. Byers also gives his insights on the recent Suez Canal blockage by the Ever Given.
Sometimes just the right combination of things can lead to the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Combining canals and solar panels brings big benefits when it comes to water conservation and clean energy production. Brandi McKuin of the University of California Merced, and UC Santa Cruz is lead author of a new feasibility study.
There’s been big movement on electric cars in 2021 with car companies that have been around for more than a century embracing the latest tech. With the latest on Green Automotive news, we turn to Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive.
Losing your electricity can be more than an inconvenience. It can be fatal as we saw in the Texas power grid failure last month. While renewable energy was often blamed by some politicians and news commentators, that narrative has been widely debunked. To help us understand what we might learn from it, we're joined by Julie McNamara who covers grid resilience issues for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The largest green hydrogen production facility in North America is on its way to upstate New York.
Plug Power’s CEO Andy Marsh says the company’s future revolves around building the green hydrogen economy and it's investing 290 million dollars to back that claim up.
The documentary ‘Meltdown’ is an exploration of the intersection of art and science, set against the breathtaking canvas of the magnificent, but fast-melting, icebergs in Greenland. It features the work of renowned glacier photographer Lynn Davis and the insight of Yale climate scientist Tony Leiserowitz.
The world’s population could reach 10 billion people in the next 30 years. How we feed them has led to a lot of exciting developments in high-tech, indoor growing. Chris Higgins is co-owner of Hort Americas and founder of Urban Ag News which provides innovative and educational content to those interested in starting non-traditional businesses in urban agriculture, city and vertical farms.
Dandelion Energy is a geothermal energy company that’s seen some good growth in recent years.
We’re joined by CEO Michael Sachse.
Terraformation in recent months constructed the world’s largest fully off-grid, 100% solar-powered desalination facility which is helping nature reclaim areas that otherwise wouldn't be able to again grow trees. Jill Wagner is Terreformation’s Head of Forestry.
Recycling robots are making a dirty job much easier, safer and economical and we find out how from Matanya Horowitz, founder and CEO of AMP Robotics.
As 2020 comes to a close, we look back at the year in sustainable cars, trucks and beyond with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and the host of the podcast Car Stuff.
We're joined by director of Current, a Chicago-based water innovation hub for Alaina Harkness to learn more about the 'blue economy.'
Ammonia a colorless, but certainly not odorless, gas could be coming into its own as a green fuel. Trevor Brown is Executive Director of the Ammonia Energy Association, a non-profit that advocates for the responsible use of ammonia in a sustainable energy economy.
2020 is showing itself to be a landmark year in transportation. A few weeks ago, the Virgin Hyperloop slingshot two passengers through a vacuum-sealed tube at its test track.
We’re joined by Josh Giegel, Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Hyperloop and one of its first two passengers.
Wind energy is continuing to see record growth in the U.S. with it’s highest-ever third quarter. The American Wind Energy Association just released its report on wind energy and it’s looking encouraging for the present and the future. We dive into it with John Hensley, AWEA Vice President of Research and Analytics.
Kelp, the large brown seaweed that grows in shallow ocean water could be key to helping fight climate change if more people ate it. We’re joined by Sean Barrett with EatMoreKelp.com who explains how we can work it into our diets and how kelp farming could be a job-creating, climate change-reducing industry.
The millions of tires that are thrown away every year can have a new life - that is if they're recycled properly. ECO Green creates the machinery needed to turn old tires into all kinds of new things. We're joined by Andres Salazar, ECO Green's sales manager.
In a year of major milestones in aviation, another record has been set. The world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft took place in Cranfield, England. We’re joined by ZeroAvia CEO Val Miftakho whose company developed and flew the plane.
The Power Pod wind turbine is being called ‘the safest, most powerful wind turbine in the world.' It's being developed by Halcium, based in Utah and we’re joined by founder Nick Hodges.
With California announcing it's phasing out internal combustion engines by 2035, we thought it was a good time to talk with Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive who also brings his insights on other green automotive news.
Up to 40% of food around the world is wasted. That adds up to an estimated 400 billion dollars per year, according to the UN. But the practice of upcycling food is catching on - a growth industry that’s working to make sure much more of the food that’s produced isn’t wasted. We’re joined by Turner Wyatt, CEO of the Upcycled Food Association.
One day, skyscrapers and other buildings could serve as power sources, thanks to transparent solar panels allowing windows to generate electricity. A new record was recently set by researchers at the University of Michigan for the efficiency of transparent solar panels, helping make this idea a reality. Dr. Yongxi Li is one of the scientists who helped make it happen.
We get the latest news on fuel efficient, zero-emissions, and other innovative tech emerging in the auto industry from Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the podcast Car Stuff.
2020 is a year of re-thinking a lot of things including how we produce food and reduce our environmental impact. Dr. Eric Stein is Associate Professor of Management Science and Information Systems at Penn State; President of NE Decision Sciences Institute and, Executive Director for the Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture.
In our two-part series on electric planes, we meet MagniX CEO Roei Ganzarski.
His company made aviation history earlier this summer with the world’s largest electric powered plane taking its first flight, a modified Cessna Grand Caravan retro-fitted with an electric prop engine.
Air travel accounts for about 2.5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions according to the latest UN figures. While it’s a smaller share than emissions from passenger cars or power plants - at least one study shows plane emissions are growing fast. By 2050, it could go up to 25 percent. Whoever comes up with an electric powered plane would help significantly reduce those growing carbon emissions. We’re joined by designer Joe Doucet who’s been working on that very idea.
Wind turbines provide way to generate energy from an abundant, free resource. We’ve seen it installed in large scale operations lately, but what about something on a much more localized level?
The company IceWind, based in the country of Iceland is now setting up shop in the U.S. and hoping to change the way people think about and generate renewable energy.
With shelter-in-place keeping us off the roads, it doesn’t mean there isn’t news regarding the automotive industry, specifically green automotive news. When they have anything to do with getting behind the wheel, we turn to Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive.
James Conca, who writes about science and the environment for Forbes gives us an overview of some of the latest environmental innovations and issues including how bacteria thriving in nuclear reactors can be beneficial, meat that’s grown in the lab and how climate change is making trees smaller.
As the coronavirus touches nearly every aspect of life in nearly every part of the world, how we raise food continues to innovate.
Our longtime correspondent Chris Higgins of Urban Ag news joins us to talk about the latest developments in indoor farming.
The U.S. could reach 90 percent clean energy by the year 2035. Not only is it feasible, it would inject 1.7 trillion dollars into the economy and create half a million jobs per year.
Taylor McNair is Program Manager with Grid Lab, a non-profit affiliated with the University of California Berkeley which just put out a new study on how plummeting solar, wind and battery costs can accelerate our energy future.
As has been the case with electricity usage during the pandemic, water usage has also gone down. With the change in water usage, it's had both positive and negative effects on people and the environment, according to the latest findings by the Pacific Institute. Heather Cooley is Director of Research with the organization.
Clean water issues that have been well documented for years now - Flint, Michigan being the most prominent - are still ongoing, even if they’ve taken a back seat when it comes to national media coverage.
As part of our look at the EPA as it marks its 50th anniversary, we are looking at some of the clean water problems that continue years after their discovery. We’re joined by Jeremy Orr, attorney with the Safe Water Initiative of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
While fewer cars have been on the road in the recent past, we are still seeing a lot of developments in the cars that might be on the road in the not-too-distant future. We’re joined by Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive for some more green automotive news.
The US Environmental Protection Agency is celebrating 50 years this year. Since it first came into existence, many environmental triumphs, failures, actions and inactions have taken place. We’re joined by Dr. Andrew Rosenberg, Director of the Center for Science and Democracy for the Union of Concerned Scientists as we examine the role of the EPA in its first 50 years and beyond.
The transformations cities have seen - both negative and in some cases, positive - because of COVID-19 are now being examined as the pandemic continues.
We’re joined by Cooper Martin, Director of Sustainability and City Solutions for the National League of Cities which conducts research and gathers successful practices to help cities continue to innovate, strengthen their economies, and create vibrant neighborhoods where people love to live.
We’ve been affected by major shut-downs and ‘stay-at-home’ orders for going on two months now. I’m RC and this is GS where we bring you eco-innovations and dig into the important environmental issues affecting our lives. Our longtime correspondent Chris Higgins of UrbanAg news joins us to talk about indoor farming and food distribution in recent times.
With shelter-in-place keeping us off the roads, it doesn’t mean there isn’t news regarding the automotive industry, specifically green automotive news. For that, we’re joined by Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive.
Whether we planned it or not, our energy use has radically shifted in the last couple of months with ‘shelter in place’ and ‘stay at home’ practices around the world. The Rocky Mountain Institute’s mission is to transform global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. Mark Dyson is a senior associate with RMI's electricity practice and has a look at how grid improvements have helped during the pandemic.
A growing body of research shows that shifting what we eat could improve the health of the population and the planet. However, the US government has declined to incorporate this evidence into federal food policies. A new policy brief looks for key actions and recommendations for federal agencies and policymakers to help protect public health and food security for generations to come. Sarah Reinhardt of the Union of Concerned Scientists is the author of the study.
Our energy consumption during the cornonavirus pandemic is down - but what does this mean long term? James Conca writes about science for Forbes and recently took at look at the long long-term energy outlook. He’s a Senior Scientist UFA Ventures and specializes in energy-related research.
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating an ever-changing situation as we are learning how to deal with the virus and the impact to the economy. We will get through it, and hopefully society will be better because of it. Someone who’s spent a lot of time envisioning what the future might look like is Mitchell Joachim of Terreform One, an architecture group for smart city design, ecological planning and art. He was selected by Rolling Stone for “being one of The 100 People Who Are Changing America.’
With driving habits changing during the coronavirus pandemic, it will no doubt have an effect on the automotive industry - including the development of EVs, the need for self-driving cars, and the price of fuel. Tom Appel, Consumer Guide Automotive publisher provides his insight.
We'll examine how the coronavirus pandemic is going to shape our lives ahead when it comes to how we work, travel and socialize. Practical Futurist Michael Rogers for 20 years has provided a powerful catalyst for organizations to create a vision for the future and the will to innovate.
As the coronavirus touches nearly every aspect of life in nearly every part of the world, how we raise food is coming into question. Our longtime correspondent Chris Higgins of Urban Ag news joins us to talk about indoor farming when facing a pandemic.
Activism, using vigorous campaigning to bring about social change, has been a key element for many important movements - voting rights, workers rights, civil rights and the environmental movement. The way we approach activism has also been going through some changes and one group leading the way is Extinction Rebellion, or XR. It’s committed to non-violent direct action, recognizing that periods of great social change have been launched when ordinary people reached out to the levers of power and (peacefully) pushed.
David O’Donnell works with the Chicago chapter of Extinction Rebellion.
Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel joins us after spending time at the Chicago Auto Show. While it's the nation's largest, there were decidedly few green cars on display. He'll helps explain why and what we might expect at future auto shows in other cities this year.
Cities make up just three percent of the planet's surface, but they're home to nearly 60 percent of the world's population who consume 75 percent of natural resources. So, it’s helpful that they contribute to taking in carbon dioxide and supplying oxygen. The Arbor Day Foundation recently announced the first cities which are part of its ‘Tree Cities of the World’ program and we’re joined by Pete Smith, the foundation’s Urban Forestry Program manager.
The term ‘regenerative’ is being used often today in agriculture, food, biology, even in finance. It means to restore, renew and grow - and it’s a way we can emulate nature instead of working against it in many aspects of human life. Emily Olson is the founder of ReGen Friends and works to bring regeneration beyond just a buzz word.
As we continue our series on the ‘green rush,’ the massive growth of the cannabis industry as legalization spreads across the US, we’re joined by Damian Soloman, who’s had a long international career in indoor agriculture and now runs Plant Geek Consulting.
Earthworms, which are beneficial to the soil in some areas, are now heading into places like the northern forests of Canada and the U.S. - disturbing the soil and transforming ecosystems. It could result in large amounts of carbon stored in the ground to be released into the atmosphere. Dr. Justine Lejoly is one of the researchers with the University of Alberta who’s been looking into the phenomenon of ‘global worming.'
Even though we might take them for granted, healthy insect populations are critical for life on earth. We hear about insects dying off because of pesticides, climate change, or other causes we don’t yet understand. One factor is light pollution - that is artificial light from homes and buildings. Dr. James Karl Fischer is the Executive Director of the Zoological Lighting Institute.
DHL has been trying out a by a new kind of cargo carrying bicycle to reduce pollution and traffic congestion. We’re joined by DHL Fleet Manager Chris Wessel to tell us more about Commercial Cargo Bikes soon to be whizzing through the streets of Manhattan.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide automotive has a look back on the year in green automotive news with EVs, hybrids, high MPG cars and more.
In our ongoing series getting to know the ‘green rush’ a bit better, we are meeting people innovators in the world of cannabis growing. One such person is Mike Lewis of Third Wave farms which occupies a unique niche as a supply chain consultant working to maximize crop yield and quality.
Stormwater that runs off pavements, gutters and lawns - picking up toxins and contaminants along the way - is usually discarded as pollution. But researchers at UC Berkeley have found a new way to use sand to soak up certain toxic materials from storm water which could unlock a new water supply. We’re joined by lead author Joe Charbonnet.
As the legalization of various forms of marijuana and hemp continues, we're seeing interest in farming it as a crop grow along with it. Bob Crumley, is the Founder of Founders Hemp and an early adopter and leader in the industry establishing one of its first vertically integrated companies.
The world produces more plastic waste than ever, adding about 300 million additional tons per year—nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Close to 80 percent ends up in landfills or the environment. It’s time to work on solutions and Northwestern University just launched a new program on plastics, ecosystems and public health. We’re joined by Dr. Aaron Packman, a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering with Northwestern.
Consumer Guide Automotive Publisher Tom Appel shares Green Automotive news – the greening of the Jeep Wrangler and news about Ford’s new EV, the Mach-E.
We’ve covered the innovation around solar cells being made from perovskite on Green Sense in recent months. An advantage is greater efficiency. However, in commercial use, the materials are unstable and contain hazardous water soluble lead. But a new team of scientists led by Letian Dou at Purdue University have come up with something new & improved.
As we work on feeding the world while using less energy and fewer resources, Hort Americas brings technically advanced and most cost effective products to the greenhouse growers across north America. It also has its finger on the pulse of the indoor growing news. General Manager Chris Higgins joins us again on Green Sense.
Visual art can often bring attention to causes and issues not only in what they display, but how they’re constructed. Currently at the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, students are combatting plastic waste by creating sculpture inspired by coral reefs. We’re joined by Jones College senior Alex Rovner who co-created the piece called ‘Not Coralated.’
Asphalt, according to the USEPA, is#1 on the list of recycled materials in the US. At the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, they’re doing all kinds of research into how to improve reusing asphalt even more. We’re joined by Edith Arambula Mercado, Recyclable Materials Program Manager.
Coke and Pepsi and other beverage companies are working together to reduce their plastic footprint with the Every Bottle Back Initiative. We’re joined by Sarah Dearman, VP of New Ventures with the Recycling Partnership.
The Great Lakes, which supplies 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water, are currently at dangerously high levels. Scientists are starting to understand how climate change is connected and we’re joined by University of Michigan researcher Andrew Gronewald.
When it comes to reducing plastic waste, a lot of places have been getting rid of plastic straws and switching to paper. But that requires resources too. But what about a waste-free option? Stroodles are pasta straws that could be a novel, viable - and edible - alternative. We're joined by Maxim Gelmann, Stroodle Founder.
Carlsberg, a Denmark-based brewing company recently announced a new sustainable beer bottle made of paper, which has been in development for the last four years. We’re joined by Simon Hoffmeyer Boas of Carlsberg to explain what went into this world’s first.
Virginia, a state with a long history with the coal mining industry recently made a commitment to meet all of its electricity needs by the year 2050 with an interim target of 30 percent by 2030. With a look at how the state might get there - and how other states could follow suit - we’re joined by Rob Sargent of Environment America.
Americans take 10 billion trips on public transportation each year, so a lot of us are using it. For every dollar invested in public transportation, it generates four dollars in economic returns, according to the American Public Transporatation Association. Wallet Hub recently released results of its new survey on 2019’s cities with the best & worst public transportation. We’re joined by Wallet Hub analyst Jill Gonzalez.
Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel joins us for the latest green automotive news on GM’s possible contract to build electric mail delivery trucks, the green benefits of the new Corvette and charging stations in U.S. cities.
How we approach the built environment, from the materials used, to the energy saved in building it, to the energy saved when it’s a functioning building, to how we reuse and recycle parts of it as it ages is crucial to sustainability in today’s world. Sara Gutterman is CEO of Green Builder Media and joins us on Green sense.
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 also known as the 2018 Farm Bill has been around long enough that we can start to see how it’s impacted the environment. One area is in the health of our soil and the Soil Health Institute just came out with a report on how the farm bill affects the soil. We’re joined by president and CEO Dr. Wayne Honeycutt.
Once we get into September it seems like the autumn files by and we’re into the year-end holidays. But one ‘holiday’ that we don’t want to let fly past us is in November - it’s America Recycles Day on November 15th and we’re joined by Randy Hartmann of Keep America Beautiful.
Changing over to renewables is happening bit by bit - but often there’s resistance because of cost. But a major benefit could be to human health. It could be to the degree that renewables would essentially pay for themselves, according to a new study by a team of MIT researchers. We’re joined by one of them, Dr. Noelle Eckely Selin.
Chris Higgins of HortAmerica joins us to help explain what the labels ‘organic’ and ‘locally grown’ on food products actually mean – and they are still useful.
Some rules under the Clean Water Act were recently repealed by the US EPA. While the move is praised by some in the agriculture industry, environmentalists are saying now is not the time to put clean water at risk. To help us understand what the roll-back means, we’re joined by Bart Johnsen-Harris, clean water advocate with Environment America.
How we approach the built environment: From the materials used, to the energy saved in building it, to the energy saved when it’s a functioning building, to how we reuse and recycle parts of it as it ages is crucial to sustainability in today’s world. Sara Gutterman is CEO of Green Builder Media and joins us on Green sense.
Biosphere 2, originally built as a self-contained ecosystem to research maintaining human life in outer space grabbed a lot of headlines when it first came into existence in the early 90s. Since that time, it’s been taken over by the University of Arizona as a place for research and education and we’re joined by John Adams, deputy director of Biosphere 2.
Parts of America’s newest National Park, Indiana Dunes, recently had to be shut down because of a chemical spill into the nearby Little Calumet River which flowed into Lake Michigan killing hundreds of fish. As if that’s not problem enough, nearby communities were not informed about the dangers for a matter of days. Howard Learner is an experienced public interest litigation attorney and President and Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center and joins us.
As we have learned, soil is much more than just ‘dirt’ and its health is crucial to our own survival on the planet. Someone who sees soil perhaps a bit differently than most is Autum Boxum, the soil judging national champion and recent college graduate.
Major League Baseball has been making major strides when it comes to sustainability. All 30 teams have their own innovative ways to reduce waste, conserve resources and to encourage fans to do the same. We’re joined by Paul Hanlon, Senior Director for Ballpark Operations and Sustainability for Major League Baseball.
Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive has Green Automotive news on the trends known as ‘peak car,’ ‘peak oil’ and the possible decline in popularity of the Toyota Prius.
We know that wind turbines are a clean source of power. But we’re learning more ways they can generate power more effectively. Wake-steering, which is pointing turbines slightly away from oncoming wind can improve both the quantity and quality of power from wind farms, and probably lower operating costs. This is according to a new Stanford study. We’re joined by mechanical engineering PhD student Michael Howland.
Soybeans are the 2nd-most field planted crop in the U.S. and a crop that popular among farmers has a big impact on how we best use resources. Amy Roady with Illinois Soybean Growers shares some of the issues and solutions around water conservation and soybean growing.
Water, a resource much of us simply take for granted, is something that if you lose access too has catastrophic effects on day-to-day life. The non-profit partnership Current, based in Chicago, delivers advanced research and market-driven innovations to enhance water resources, build resilience and drive sustainable economic growth by bridging gaps in water technology commercialization. We’re joined by Executive Director Steve Frenkel.
The idea of soldiers turning their swords into plowshares goes back to the Book of Isaiah in the Bible but it’s being lived out in new ways today as the numbers of U.S. veterans transitions back into society back home goes up along with agriculture technology. Karen Archipley co-founded Archi’s Acres which trains military vets to become organic farmers.