Buildings as Batteries: How Basic Demand Response Could Shift Peak Demand, Save Billions
April 23rd, 2024
Via Renew Economy, an interesting look at the impact that demand response alongside energy efficiency could have on overall energy savings: Demand response, alongside energy efficiency, is often cited as one of the unsung heroes of the energy transition, thanks to its potential to shift large electricity loads out of periods of peak demand with […]
Read more »Green Roofs Are Great. Blue-Green Roofs Are Even Better
April 22nd, 2024
Via Wired, an article on Amsterdam’s experiments with roofs that not only grow plants but capture water for a building’s residents. Welcome to the squeezable sponge city of tomorrow. You might visit Amsterdam for its famous canals, and who could blame you, really. But the truly interesting waterways aren’t under your feet—they’re above your head. […]
Read more »Cities That Are Saving The Planet
April 22nd, 2024
Cities are transforming to integrate with nature, using features like vertical forests to encourage wildlife’s return and restore our connection to the natural world. Here is an interesting video look at some of the innovations from BBC.
Read more »Chicago’s Mayor Proposes Plan to Fundamentally Change Construction of New Buildings
April 20th, 2024
Via The Cool Down a report on a Chicago’s new decarbonization ordinance: The Windy City could soon be much cleaner and cooler thanks to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed plan to phase out gas-powered heating systems and appliances in new construction. Per Grist, The Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance, which Johnson introduced earlier this year, would […]
Read more »Climate Change Will Increase Value of Rooftop Solar
April 19th, 2024
Via Futurity, an argument that climate change will increase value of rooftop solar panels: Climate change will increase the future value of residential rooftop solar panels across the United States by up to 19% by the end of the century, according to new research. The study defines the value of solar, or VOS, as household-level […]
Read more »Is China Ready To Power Crowded Coastal Cities With Ocean Solar?
April 19th, 2024
Via Dialogue Earth, a look at China’s evaluation of ocean solar which could help power densely populated coastal cities with clean energy: China is increasingly seeking to put solar panels on the seas off its coastline, with some state-run companies experimenting as far offshore as 30 kilometres. A global leader in renewable energy, China has […]
Read more »'Black Swans' are highly improbable events that come as a surprise, have major disruptive effects, and that are often rationalized after the fact as if they had been predictable to begin with. In our rapidly warming world, such events are occurring ever more frequently and include wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought.
'Green Shoots' is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during a downturn. It references a period of growth and recovery, when plants start to show signs of health and life, and, therefore, has been employed as a metaphor for a recovering economy.
It is my hope that Black Swans / Green Shoots will help readers understand both climate-activated risk and opportunity so that you may invest in, advise, or lead organizations in the context of increasing pressures of global urbanization, resource scarcity, and perils relating to climate change. I believe that the tools of business and finance can help individuals, businesses, and global society make informed choices about who and what to protect, and I hope that this blog provides some insight into the policy and private sector tools used to assess investments in resilient reinforcement, response, or recovery.