Best Greentech Podcasts (2024)

1
381. The End of Coal-fired Generation in Alberta - Now What? 4:00

13h ago4:00

4:00

Alberta phased out its coal-fired electricity in record time representing the largest single action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. The trouble is a lot of the coal was replaced by natural gas which produces 60% of the emissions of coal. Can the fossil fuel-infatuated province also capitalize on its amazing renewable energy resources …

1
HPH355: The Story of Upfront Carbon - with Lloyd Alter 50:00

17h ago50:00

50:00

Lloyd Alter explains the term upfront carbon, its relevance to us all as consumers, and why he felt compelled to write a book on the topic. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
381A. King Coal is Dead - Alberta's last coal-fired power plant 4:00

8d ago4:00

4:00

Alberta's last coal-fired power plant stopped burning coal on June 16, 2024 at 10:57 pm. The coal phase-out was originally proposed for 2061, but in 2015 a new target was set for 2030. On June 16 the last lump of coal was burned to produce electricity six years ahead of schedule. The phase-out represents the largest reduction in greenhouse gas emis…

1
380B. Cracking the Geothermal Nut -EAVOR building in Germany 4:00

8d ago4:00

4:00

This is huge! EAVOR believes they've cracked the geothermal nut. Using closed-loop technology they have pioneered a new kind of Geothermal that can be built almost anywhere without uncertainty. We look at EAVOR's pilot project in Alberta and their full-scale geothermal plant in Germany that will provide electricity for 8,000 homes and district heat…

1
HPH354: How natureplus helps you identify sustainable building products - with Tilmann Kramolisch 34:41

15d ago34:41

34:41

Tilmann Kramolisch from natureplus explains why their eco label was established, how materials and products are assessed, and what it means to use a natureplus certified product on your project. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
380A. Geothermal breakthrough - heat and power anywhere 4:00

20d ago4:00

4:00

EAVOR has pioneered a new kind of geothermal that can provide heat and power almost anywhere on the planet. This could be the missing link in the energy revolution that could not only help electricity get to net-zero. It also helps solve the even bigger challenge of how to heat buildings with zero emissions.We talk to Jeanine Vany of EAVOR, a compa…

1
HPH353: 12 tips for a successful Passivhaus project 22:48

29d ago22:48

22:48

Speakers from the Passivhaus workshop event at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon each share a top tip. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
379B. Green Infill - A 16-Unit Passive House Ready for Northern Climates 4:00

30d ago4:00

4:00

Here's what Green Infill looks like!Built to the super energy efficient Passive House standard this 16-unit townhouse style infill project replaced two underutilized single-family homes in Edmonton, Alberta. The homes require just 10% of the heating energy of a regular home, and have no natural gas or bills.We take a tour of this amazing project wi…

1
379A. Green Infill - Creating desperately needed housing and building community 4:00

1M ago4:00

4:00

This project checks all the boxes. T5M Connect replaced two single-family homes with 16 new units of desperately needed housing and the kicker is it was built to the passive house standard in the mostly northerly city in North America.GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com PodcastBy David Dodge

1
378B. Gregor Robertson now helping 13,000 cities take action on climate change 4:00

1M ago4:00

4:00

Part 2 - Gregor Robertson, Vancouver's longest-serving mayor set out to create the greenest city in the world. Now he's the Global Ambassador of the Global Covenant of Mayors helping 13,000 other cities take action on climate change.GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com PodcastFull story GreenEnergyFutures.ca…

1
HPH352: Encouraging and supporting home retrofit in your local area 42:28

1M ago42:28

42:28

Neighbours Wookey and Rob Leedham explain why they were motivated to retrofit their homes, how they built up knowledge and why engaging with others on a similar path has been extremely useful. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
378A. Vancouver's former Mayor Gregor Robertson on Creating the Greenest City in the World 4:00

2M ago4:00

4:00

When Gregor Robertson came up with his campaign slogan of creating the greenest city in the world who knew it would be his most popular focus? He went to become Vancouver's longest-serving Mayor, and although they may not have reached the coveted top spot, they got pretty close. They created a very green building code, increased non-car transportat…

1
HPH351: Creating affordable, high quality, low carbon homes - with Linda Farrow 31:42

2M ago31:42

31:42

Linda Farrow from Agile Homes explains how their prefabricated panelised system can deliver high quality and truly affordable homes that are good for the planet. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
377B. Summerside from Zero Energy to 62% Renewable Energy 4:00

2M ago4:00

4:00

PART 2 - Summerside PEI had no electricity generation capacity a decade ago and then did some amazing things. First (in part 1) they added wind power, a smart grid and energy storing furnaces. Then they added AI-powered solar microgrids and a solar and battery farm right in the City. The little City with no generation capacity has achieved 62% loca…

1
377A. Summerside little city with no energy now a leader in renewable energy 4:00

2M ago4:00

4:00

PART 1 - Summerside like the province of PEI had no energy production except expensive backup diesel generators just a decade or so ago. Something had to change. So in an amazing transformation, they set up their own utility, built a wind farm in the city, installed a smart grid and thermal energy storing appliances and got to 42-46% renewable ener…

1
HPH350: What is value engineering? 29:41

2M ago29:41

29:41

Ben Adam-Smith explains what value engineering is and how it can help us to do more with less. He reflects on a short video about Slate House in Herefordshire that includes some great examples of value engineering. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
376. EVs are driving down the price of electricity for all consumers 4:00

2M ago4:00

4:00

This sounds counterintuitive, but a new study has found Electric Vehicles (EVs) are driving the price of electricity down and increasing net profits for utilities. Thanks to time-of-use pricing EV owners are shifting their charging habits to non-peak times thus making much more efficient use of existing grid resources. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.co…

1
375. The Energy Mix - 30,000 stories on climate change - interview wth Mitchell Beer 4:00

3M ago4:00

4:00

Mitchell Beer started The Energy Mix, a media service dedicated to covering climate change 10 years ago long before the conventional media took it seriously. We talk to Beer about climate change, journalism, and his media service which has published 30,000 stories on climate change and climate solutons. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast…

1
HPH349: Timber build approaches – with Meredith Bowles 50:33

3M ago50:33

50:33

Meredith Bowles from Mole Architects shares his experience working with timber as a construction material and explains the benefits and drawbacks of the different build approaches. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
374. EV Lifecycle Emissions - lower, here, there and everywhere 4:00

3M ago4:00

4:00

EVs produce fewer lifecycle emissions than ICE vehicles in countries with dirty grids or clean grids. A study looked at emissions in five countries including China, the US, UK, Germany and Japan and found EVs produce much lower emissions throughout the life of the vehicle.GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast…

1
HPH348: Why do homes get mould? – with Alexx Stuart 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

Alexx Stuart from Low Tox Life shares her experiences of toxic mould exposure and offers some advice on how best to keep your home healthy and mould free. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
373B. Alberta's new renewable energy rules - $14 billion in projects at risk? 4:00

3M ago4:00

4:00

In part 2 of our series on Alberta's new renewable energy rules we learn that 57 projects worth $14 billion are potentially at risk. We talk to Jason Wang of the Pembina Institute which just prepared a map overlay showing the potential impact of new restrictions. We also talk to Vittoria Bellissimo of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association about…

1
373A. Alberta's new renewable energy rules - a red tape solution in search of a problem? 4:00

4M ago4:00

4:00

At first glance, new rules for renewable energy development in Alberta seemed ready to block renewable energy from most of the province. Two weeks on some clarifications have been announced. We talk to Vittoria Bellissimo with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association about restrictions on agricultural land, near so-called "pristine viewscapes" and…

1
372. Floating solar filling important niche around the world 4:01

4M ago4:01

4:01

Ciel & Terre is making a splash with floating solar having installed more than 300 projects around the world. It costs just a little more than mounted solar but its helping utilities, companies and municipalities generate renewable energy where there is no land or roof space. We talk to Chris Bartle of Ciel & Terre US about this growing industry. G…

1
HPH347: Common pitfalls to avoid when building a house – with Amelia Lee 57:17

4M ago57:17

57:17

Amelia Lee from Undercover Architect shares some common themes that tend to crop up on owner-builder projects (particularly with people who are doing this for the first time) and explains how they can be avoided by creating a clear foundation of your values and project intentions. Check out the show notes for more information.…

1
371. Alberta lifts moratorium on renewable energy, but are new rules a poison pill for the industry? 4:00

4M ago4:00

4:00

Alberta lifted it's six-month moratorium on renewable energy projects but some critics say new rules amount to a defacto moratorium. This is ironic since Alberta had a booming industry with up to $33 billion in projects under development at the time of the moratorium. We talk to renewable energy expert Dr. Sara Hastings-Simon of the University of C…

1
HPH346: Passivhaus homes where cooling is a key consideration – with Andy Marlow 41:16

4M ago41:16

41:16

Andy Marlow from Envirotecture explains why Passivhaus homes are a good fit for most climates in Australia, how they approach these projects and what is needed beyond shading to keep the homes comfortable when the outdoor temperatures soar. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
370B. RenuWell - Solar on abandoned oil wells powers irrigation 4:00

4M ago4:00

4:00

Part 2 in Green Energy Futures' series on RenuWell, the idea of transforming abandoned oil wells into small solar farms. In this episode, we talk to Trevor Helwig of St. Mary River Irrigation District, the owner of the two RenuWell solar pilot projects. Irrigation and solar are a good match since they both work hardest when the sun shines. GreenEne…

1
370. RenuWell - Transforming abandoned oil wells into solar farms - Part 1 4:00

4M ago4:00

4:00

Of the 466,000 oil and gas wells in Alberta on third are active and 170,000 are suspended or abandoned. What to do? Keith Hirsche was a farm kid from Taber, Alberta and his company RenuWell wrapped up two pilot projects to transform a couple of long-abandoned well sites into small solar farms which are now owned by St. Mary's Irrigation District. W…

1
HPH345: Why is the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) such a useful tool? – with Sarah Lewis 43:41

5M ago43:41

43:41

Sarah Lewis, the Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust and author of PHPP Illustrated, explains what the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is and how it is used during the design process. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
369. How a small town went net-zero after being told solar wouldn't work 4:00

5M ago4:00

4:00

The town of Raymond, Alberta was told solar wouldn't work on their buildings in their town in southern Alberta.This didn't sit right with them, so they hired new consultants, installed solar everywhere and became the first community in Canada to achieve net-zero electricity. We talk to Greg Robinson of the Town of Raymond about how they did it.Gree…

1
368. Helping Municipalities Adapt to the Impacts of Climate Change Imperative 4:00

5M ago4:00

4:00

Record wildfires, crazy amounts of smoke and poor air quality, droughts, and floods - municipalities are experiencing the impacts of climate change in a big way. Cutting emissions is very important to prevent even worse impacts, but what is a small town or municipality to do to adapt to and avoid some of the bigger impacts of climate change? The Mu…

1
HPH344: Hazel Tree Passivhaus – with Janice Gardiner 30:13

5M ago30:13

30:13

Janice Gardiner, an ecologist and the client of last week’s interviewee Josh Wood at Green Trace Architect, is here to tell us what it is like to be the client on a Passivhaus project and share what she has learnt from the experience. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
367. Energy Managers Help small towns and cities save energy and money 4:00

5M ago4:00

4:00

Many small towns and municipalities want to do energy efficiency projects or install solar and save money, but most have neither the money, expertise or the capacity to figure it all out. The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre in Alberta knows this so they created a program that has helped small towns and municipalities hire 26 energy managers …

1
366B. Municipalities take climate action with a little help from their friends 4:00

5M ago4:00

4:00

This week we head off to three small towns: Pincher Creek, Raymond and Leduc Alberta to learn about what they are doing to take climate action. We find them embracing energy efficiency, solar, electric vehicles and climate adaptation actions and it's all thanks to support from a little-known organization called the Municipal Climate Change Action C…

1
HPH343: A low cost eco home on a challenging infill plot – with Josh Wood 42:43

6M ago42:43

42:43

Architect Josh Wood gives us an insight into his own self build project, where the balance between keeping costs low and creating a sustainable home have pushed him to come up with creative solutions. By undergoing most of the work themselves, Josh and his partner Amy have been able to transform their snug, back garden plot, into a comfortable and …

1
366A. MCCAC Helping municipalities save energy, money and emissions 4:00

6M ago4:00

4:00

You may not have heard of the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC), but you may have seen their work.They have helped more than 150 communities in Alberta complete 878 climate actions including energy efficiency, installing EV chargers, solar, and electric vehicles and even climate risk assessments and resiliency plans for towns.We talk t…

1
365. Deploy Energy Storage, Save $600m, Head for Net-Zero 4:00

6M ago4:00

4:00

How energy storage can be used to get the grid to net-zero using mostly existing infrastructure. For folks who want to preserve the old centralized grid, the sky is falling. However according to James Bererton an expert in low-carbon energy we can get fossil fuel-based grids like Alberta's most of the way to net-zero using current infrastructure, e…

1
364. Decentralised Energy Canada at 20 - An interview with Anouk Kendall 4:00

6M ago4:00

4:00

Decentralised Energy Canada is 20 years old. We talk to innovator and founder Anouk Kendall about how her organization went from being an advocate for decentralized energy such as solar that didn't exist then to today when its members represent billions in revenue and are busy building the resilient and affordable decentralized electricity grid of …

1
HPH342: How to incorporate reused materials on a self build - with Kirsty Maguire 40:32

6M ago40:32

40:32

Architect Kirsty Maguire explains why reusing an existing building is always preferable to demolishing and rebuilding. However, when buildings are in terrible condition or need radical alterations to make them habitable we should be looking to reuse, recycle and reclaim as many materials as possible. Kirsty shows us that with intentional and sustai…

1
363. The Year of the Heat Pump 4:00

6M ago4:00

4:00

Heat pumps are the future of heating and cooling. We found them heating and cooling in net-zero homes, in water heaters and clothes dryers and now there are models rated to -35C. The reasons are quite simple: they are incredibly energy efficient, and since they run on electricity it's pretty easy to run them and produce few or no emissions.GreenEne…

1
HPH341: Should embodied carbon or energy efficiency be our priority? – with Jae Cotterell 37:40

7M ago37:40

37:40

Jae Cotterell, founder of Passivhaus Homes, explains the importance of the choices we make when considering our construction approach. It is possible to create a high performance home with low embodied carbon that doesn't cost the earth if we understand the process, where the impacts lie and where optimisation can make a huge difference. Check out …

1
362. Bow Valley Green Energy Coop Takes Flight 4:00

7M ago4:00

4:00

The Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative in Canmore, Alberta has just wrapped up its fourth solar project in just a few years. This is blazing fast progress for green energy cooperatives in Canada that must navigate a network of challenging provincial electrical systems.We talk to Jeff Roberts about the coops success getting started in the shadow of…

1
HPH340: How to reclaim VAT on a self build or conversion - with Andrew Jones 50:00

7M ago50:00

50:00

Andrew Jones explains how to reclaim VAT on a self build home or conversion as well as sharing some common pitfalls to avoid. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
HPH339: What is the Housebuilder's Bible? - with Mark Brinkley 42:45

7M ago42:45

42:45

Mark Brinkley, author of the Housebuilder's Bible, explains how his book can guide you towards building a better home. He also shares some of the themes that have cropped up while he's been editing the latest edition. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
HPH338: How to measure and monitor the performance of a home - with Luke Smith 41:15

8M ago41:15

41:15

Luke Smith from Build Test Solutions talks about making building performance measurement more commonplace, and how you can't manage what you don't measure. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
361. Full Interview - Richard Allen of United Hydrogen 27:43

8M ago27:43

27:43

FULL INTERVIEW - We sit down with Richard Allen, the chair of United Hydrogen, a conglomerate of 37 hydrogen companies working together to bring to market hydrogen solutions on the road the net-zero. We talk about the role, advantages and challenges of using hydrogen to reduce emissions in transport, buildings and industry. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CK…

1
361A. United Hydrogen Conglomerate Sets Sights on H2 4:00

8M ago4:00

4:00

United Hydrogen is a conglomerate of 37 hydrogen companies based in Australia that has set it's sights on finding the solutions to help the world get to net-zero. Oh, they also are keen to take advantage of the hydrogen market, expected to reach $201 billion by 2025. We talk to United Hydrogen chair Richard Allen about solutions, challenges and the…

1
HPH337: Wind power and solar power - past, present and future 35:19

8M ago35:19

35:19

Dr. Derek Taylor talks about advances in wind and solar power over the last 50 years. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

1
360. Red Deer Energy Innovation Fair is back! 4:00

9M ago4:00

4:00

The Red Deer Renewable Energy Fairs were a hit in Red Deer, Alberta until COVID deep-sixed the popular event. But the event is back reincarnated as the Energy Innovation Fair. We talk to organizers Rene Michalak of ReThink Red Deer and Chelsah Thomas of Sol Invictus Energy Services about the line-up for the free event being held on Saturday, Octobe…

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