Zum Raises $140 Million for School Bus Batteries on Wheels
February 2nd, 2024 Via ImpactAlpha, an article on a company raising money to use school buses as batteries on wheels: School buses are the largest source of mass transit in the US, transporting over 20 million students [...]
U.S. Will Pay to Add Solar Panels to Hospitals, Schools After Disasters
February 2nd, 2024 Courtesy of the New York Times, a report on federal government’s plans to reimburse state and local governments that rebuild damaged public buildings to be more energy resilient: The Federal [...]
L.A. County Looks to Require Rental Units to Stay Cool in Summer
January 30th, 2024 Via the Los Angeles Times, a report that L.A. County is considering establishing a maximum temperature for rental units in the county: This winter, renters in frigid Los Angeles apartments have some [...]
The Problem With Heat Pumps
January 30th, 2024 Via The New Statesman, a look at heat pumps – which have been the norm in Sweden for 40 years – but have not had the same success in the UK? My parents are getting the hang of sustainable [...]
Cool Roofing Initiative to Address Record-Breaking Heat in Arizona
January 30th, 2024 Via Environment and Energy Leader, an article on cool roofing initiative designed to address record heat in Arizona: NanoTech Materials and Cool Roof Coating Systems are joining forces to install [...]
Agency Leaders Ask Utilities for Water and Energy Data for Apartment Buildings
January 29th, 2024 HUD, DoE, and EPA leaders are asking utilities for water and energy data for apartment buildings: “Making these data easily available for multifamily properties is critical to the ability of [...]

ABOUT
BLACK SWANS GREEN SHOOTS
Black Swans / Green Shoots examines the collision between urbanization and resource scarcity in a world affected by climate change, identifying opportunities to build sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure through the use of revolutionary capital, increased awareness, innovative technologies, and smart design to make a difference in the face of global and local climate perils.

'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.