Energy Crossroads

In this throwback episode, Amanda Tullos, founder of GreeNexus Consulting, shares her vision for sustainable, regenerative buildings.

A licensed architect who has led more than 150 LEED-certified projects spanning 15 million square feet, Amanda explores how the Living Building Challenge is driving market transformation and offers practical solutions for advancing green building practices.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you listen to podcasts and don’t miss this and other compelling conversations. Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more.

In this episode, Dirk Kestner, Senior Principle and Director of Sustainable Design at Walter P Moore, discusses the importance of considering embodied energy and life cycle analysis in sustainable building design. This conversation explores how these concepts influence decision-making in construction and the future of environmental impact assessment.

Join us for a conversation with John Day about how energy efficiency, smart facility design, and operational innovation are helping Kids’ Meals expand its mission and serve more children across the Houston region.

We welcome Adam Muller, Program Lead at the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) for a conversation role on the critical role of energy efficiency, innovation, and infrastructure in Texas. In this episode, Adam shares insights on how Texas is balancing reliability, economic growth, and sustainability in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Join us for a discussion with Elizabeth Carlson about how corporate sustainability strategies are evolving beyond reporting toward operational impact, and how Houston’s World Cup sustainability efforts are leveraging energy efficiency, mobility, waste reduction, and long-term community resilience to share a more sustainable future for the region. 

We sat down with Geoff Garber of global tax services company, Ryan LLC, who works at the intersection of finance, energy strategy, incentives, and project delivery for this episode of Energy Crossroads. Geoff tells us where projects tend to get stuck, how organizations are thinking about reliability and sustainability, and why technologies like solar plus storage and geothermal are gaining renewed attention. We also explore how smaller players, from nonprofits to municipalities, are finding creative ways to participate in the energy evolution.

 In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Ward, Program Manager at the Southface Institute to explore his fascinating pivot from performing arts stage to building infrastructure.

We dive into the Building Improvement Toolkit (BIT), discuss the facilities workforce, and highlight the exciting work happening in Houston at Texas Southern University.

Join us as we reframe energy efficiency not just as a technical checklist, but as a human-driven performance that determines the health and resilience of our entire community.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, Shaun Auckland, Senior Manager, Government and Community Engagement at SPEER shares insights on bridging the gap between lofty energy efficiency goals and real-world implementation. From local governments to community leaders, we explore how important it is for organizations and individuals to understand resources and take actionable steps - you don’t need a huge budget to make a difference! This conversation looks at rethinking how we approach energy solutions, starting by understanding what’s possible. 

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we’re joined by Dr. Matthew Berg, CEO and Principal Scientist of Simfero Consultants, to explore the role of One Water in Texas’ evolving energy landscape.

We discuss how integrated water planning can improve resilience across power generation, industry, and rapidly growing infrastructure like data centers.

Dr. Berg shares where Texas is making progress, where key gaps remain, and why early water-energy alignment creates long-term value. The conversation looks ahead at how water constraints will increasingly shape energy decisions across the state.  

In this episode we explore the rapidly evolving energy innovation landscape and examine the frameworks shaping the oil and gas industry’s role in the shift with Gavin Dillingham, PhD.

We discuss how existing infrastructure, and decades of subsurface knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs in geothermal energy. From turning wells into heat engines to scaling solutions at industry speed, this conversation unpacks how legacy energy players are redefining what’s possible.

Join us to hear how the energy evolution is unfolding from the inside out, and why Texas is at the center.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Scott McCready, PLA, a Principal at SWA Group, a long-standing, employee-owned collective of eight independent design studios. Scott’s work is dedicated to the enhancement the social and ecological infrastructure of the urban environment, while broadening access and connectivity to open space within the city. His recent work has focused on urban parks, urban infill, and large-scale campus planning and design. 

Scott was once quoted saying, “Design can be a tool to elevate social interaction within the public realm, as well as a medium to reconnect people with nature. By synthesizing place-making and infrastructure needs, we can create environments that enrich, educate, and endure.” Listen as Scott shares his broad expertise related to the better utilization of land and resources to create more value for communities, both in public and private sectors.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Nicole Alderete-Ferrini, CEO of Parade on Main, a next-generation strategy, advocacy and policy firm reimagining how public institutions build smarter, more resilient communities. As the first Chief Resilience Officer for the City of El Paso and a former city executive, she brings two decades of experience in sustainable development, crisis leadership, and systems innovation.

It's the time of the year when many coastal communities are preparing hurricane season, and the subject of resilience is top of mind. Listen as Nicole discusses how integrated sustainable strategies are helping communities evolve from crisis response mode to long term readiness. According to Nicole, resilience is not just about bouncing back, it is about building forward. 

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons the Executive Director Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES), where she is committed to fulfilling the organization's mission to educate and inspire every Texan to adopt solar energy as part of a clean energy future. 

Listen as Pete discusses the benefits of solar, policy opportunities to increase solar adoption, and the continued need for education about this renewable energy source. She also shares details about her exciting career journey in sustainability…a reminder to those pursuing this field, that the career trajectory is not always a straight line.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads we are joined by Felisa Conner, President & CEO of Frazier Revitalization, an organization focused on addressing affordable housing renovation and development, family and youth programming, and resident empowerment.

Listen as Felisa illustrates how energy efficiency can improve the quality life and help to create generational wealth, and we discuss how previous practices have negatively impacted the ability of certain communities to achieve advancements in sustainability.

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Jonathan Kraatz, the Executive Director for the U.S. Green Building Council Texas Chapter, plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable building practices and promoting green initiatives across Texas with a focus on leadership and advocacy and industry engagement.      

Listen as Jonathan discusses how green certifications are supporting efforts to build more resilient, sustainable buildings and cities.  We also discuss exciting sustainable construction and environmental stewardship  developments on the horizon, and actions each of us can take to start making more of this a reality. 

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Nisha Desai, the Founder & CEO of Intention, a startup company creating a climate impact investment platform for retail investors. Nisha is also the managing partner of the Intention Climate Fund, a microfund investing in pre-seed and seed stage climate tech startups across the US.

Listen as Nisha discusses her career journey in the clean energy space, and the upside and innovations related to climate impact investments. The information shared in this episode will excite passionate investors, and should spark interest in passive investors that are considering values-aligned investment strategies.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Dr. Erick C. Jones Jr., an assistant professor in Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Jones investigates how organizations can allocate their limited resources to maximize desired outcomes sustainably, efficiently, and resiliently

Dr. Jones leads the Sustainable and Equitable Allocation of Resources, or SEAR, Lab where he leads teams working on research surrounding energy, supply chains, transportation, climate change, and more

Listen as Dr. Jones discusses the research being conducted by the SEAR Lab and shares his expertise on energy transition and resiliency, and considerations for equitable allocations to ensure that all communities can benefit.

Welcome to Energy Crossroads, where we talk Texas clean energy. We are on a mission to learn more about how clean energy impacts a wide variety of industries. We will explore conversations with industry leaders around clean energy trends and related technology, finance, the built environment, and policy opportunities impacting your organization.

This podcast is powered by HARC, an independent, environmental research nonprofit that applies science to drive energy, air, water, and resilience solutions for a sustainable and equitable future. This series is underwritten by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.

In this episode, Amanda Tullos, founder of GreeNexus Consulting, discusses her mission to create sustainable, regenerative buildings. A licensed architect with numerous certifications, Amanda has overseen over 150 LEED-certified projects and 15 million square feet of sustainable spaces. She highlights the Living Building Challenge’s role in driving market transformation and shares solutions to real-world challenges in green building practices. You don’t want to miss this insightful conversation, tune in now.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts. We want to hear from you. Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Randy Plumlee, Energy Code Program Manager for the South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER), the newest regional energy efficiency organization which aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced building systems and energy efficient products and services in Texas and Oklahoma. He’s a native Texan but loves to travel and see new places. Give him a Paloma, a pool, and family and he’ll want for nothing more. (You have to love his bio!!!)

Listen as Randy shares his expertise to provide an ‘energy codes 101’ for commercial and residential conservation. Following these codes are not just a check-the-box exercise, they serve as drivers to continue to advance energy conservation, resiliency, and sustainability.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Rives Taylor, FAIA, LEED Fellow, and Gensler’s Global Design Resilience Co-Leader & Principal. He is a recognized global expert in resilient, high-performance, and sustainable design and has been a faculty member of both Rice University and the University of Houston for 30 years. Rives has authored more than 150 articles for diverse publications like ULI’s Urban Land, WIRED, Fast Company, and Texas Architect and has been an invited speaker at symposiums on five continents. He founded the Houston Chapter of the USGBC and recently received the Center for Houston’s Future’s Impact Award. A member of the prestigious AIA Fellowship, Rives holds a B.A. in Architecture from Rice University and a Master's from MIT.

Due to climate change, once in a generation weather events are now becoming regular occurrences. When extreme natural events happen, it is imperative for businesses and communities to be able to bounce back and function adequately. The emphasis of this episode is how we can build better and recover faster. Learn about engineering and infrastructure advancements that can better withstand extreme nature conditions and keep our businesses and households up and running.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Dr. Margaret Cook, Deputy Director – Climate Equity and Resilience for HARC. In this role, she develops and manages HARC’s Climate Equity Initiative and supports community engagement and community benefits priorities within HARC projects. Dr. Cook is also passionate about community resilience and making science accessible to the public. Prior to working at HARC, Dr. Cook worked on improving water recycling in the oil and gas industry with the aim of reducing total fresh water use in water-scarce West Texas; and she has used her expertise working at the Texas Legislature, the U.S. Department of Energy, Apache Corporation, and Austin Energy.  Dr. Cook earned her Doctorate in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering with a certificate in Engineering Education in 2018. She earned dual Masters degrees in Public Affairs and Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UT-Austin.

Funding from the federal government has galvanized many projects that improve energy infrastructure. Listen as we discuss clean energy projects with great potential to provide wide scale benefits for underserved communities, notably the High Velocity Hydrogen Hub and the Texas Solar Fuel Coalition.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by John Hall, President & CEO at HARC. John has had a very distinguished career working in public, private and nonprofit sectors, including serving as Chairman of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. He also held a variety of clean energy and climate equity leadership roles at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Governmental legislation and investments have created significant opportunities for the state of Texas to become more energy resilient, inclusive of meeting the needs of underserved communities. Listen as John shares his vast experience with social justice issues, and how he leverages that passion to guide HARC’s impact for the community.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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Welcome to Energy Crossroads, where we talk Texas clean energy.  This podcast is powered by HARC, an independent research hub analysis on energy, air, and water issues to people seeking scientific answers, and is underwritten by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), and our new sponsor, the Mitchell Foundation. 

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Jordan Fruge, a national leader in the renewable energy and solar industries and founder and President of Fastrac Energy Services, a residential solar installation provider.

Leveraging Jordan’s expertise, we take a deep dive into the current state of residential solar, as the push to decarbonize reshapes energy markets. We explore solar financing options, trends in the Texas market, and how property owners can assess the choice that works best for them. We also unpack the dramatic changes in the energy markets and talk through the shift to distributed local energy.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about our efforts.  

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Facility managers are key drivers for a building’s operational efficiency, occupant well-being, and resource efficiency. Their work can help to decrease a facility’s carbon footprint and reduce costs.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we discuss the benefits and value of financing energy efficiency, through the lens of facility and energy managers. Listen to our conversation with Dean Stanberry (Office of Facilities Management, USGSA; IFMA Board of Directors Second Vice Chair) and Rob Hamon (Director of Energy and Sustainability, Boxer Properties) as we explore ways to finance energy efficiency projects. We also talk about the future of financing energy projects, given the impact of COVID-19 and other trends affecting the industry.

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at HARCPodcast@gmail.com to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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On this episode of Energy Crossroads, we discuss Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Finance or C-PACE programs.

C-PACE is an innovative financing vehicle for energy efficiency, water conservation and distributed generation improvements in commercial, industrial and multifamily real estate developments. This program has been around since 2005 with over $1.5B in investment across the country. Currently 22 states plus Washington DC have active programs. Texas adopted the program in 2013 as a local adoption model. With 254 counties and 1,200 cities that is a lot of geography!

Listen as we explore the world of Texas PACE with Rachel Davis (Senior Vice President of Sales at Petros) and Seth Eslami (Chief Operating Officer and Property Manager at 1225 North Loop West) and suggest resources for our listeners who,choose to take a deeper dive on the topic.

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at HARCPodcast@gmail.com to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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Across Texas, we continue to see adoption of existing building energy retrofits, renewable energy developments and distributed solar generation.  As owners and developers look for ways to improve operational efficiencies and market demand, investments in energy efficiency and clean energy projects make sense.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we continue our deep dive into the world of energy finance in the second of this two-part series.   We discuss how to finance clean energy projects in Texas and how to attract capital to implement wide-scale energy efficiency improvements.

We are joined by Steve Brown, President of Capital Assets, a company that focuses on sustainable energy development and public affairs; and Jonathon Blackburn, Renewable Energy M&A and Development for RWE, and former Managing Director of Texas PACE Authority.

Steve and Jonathon discuss the impact of COVID-19 on these efforts and share practical actions that can be taken to salvage or reboot a project when it stalls.

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at HARCPodcast@gmail.com to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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Investments in energy efficiency and clean energy projects have been on the rise over the past decade as local and regional governments have adopted ambitious targets to improve resilience and combat climate change.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we discuss how businesses can remain on the cutting edge of effective investments in renewable and efficient energy measures with two experts in this field.  The first, Natalie Campos Goodman is Founder of Incentifind, a company that connects property owners with green incentives; the second is Sean Ribble, Business Development Director at Greenworks Lending, a financing source for clean and renewable energy.

Natalie and Sean talk about what motivates them to work in the clean energy space, and they share tactics on how to source capital for energy projects and how they can assist facility managers with their projects. 

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at HARCPodcast@gmail.com to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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