We're now adding a new podcast episode each week; details at https://saxefacts.com/green-economy-heroes-podcast/. Here is a taste of what's ahead:
Episode #GuestCompanyDescriptionA taste of the interviewGreen economy KeywordsDate 87Ahmad GhahremanCyclic MaterialsMeet a local firm that is recycling rare earth minerals to achieve circularity in the new green economy and ramp up Canadian manufacturing.Rare earth metals, metal recycling, circular economy02/01/24 86Nicole GranathTangible MaterialsTracking, managing, and reducing embodied carbon throughout the construction process.Embodied carbon, development, construction, building materials01/04/24 85Eddie ObeliunasExactus EnergyA Toronto-based firm takes on the solar challenge: complete site survey, engineering and design solutions for solar projects of any scale.Solar, PV, engineering, site survey12/07/23 84Shane HarkerRethink ResourcesFood and beverage providers are eager to do their part in diverting waste but often don't know how. Find out how a Toronto organization is successfully helping film sets and restaurants divert up to 80%.Rethink ResourceWaste diversion, recycling, food & beverage11/02/23 83Hanif MontazeriEnersionAs the world heats we need more HVAC infrastructure thus accelerating global warming. Is it possible to break this vicious cycle? Hanif Montazeri has a plan for cooling and heating that is free of refrigerants and fossil fuels.AC, HVAC, refrigerant, heating & cooling10/05/23 82Phil de LunaDeep SkyCarbon removal developer, carbon removal credits, carbon offsets, sequestration, geological carbon storage, direct air capture, direct water capture, CCS, carbon capture and storageDeep SkyCarbon removal, direct air capture09/07/23 81Robin RichardsonHappy FietsElectric assist cargo-bike rental companyHappy FietsBike, bicycle, E bike, micro mobility, transportation, mobility, rental, green economy10/06/22 80Alex EsseltineTin Whistle BreweryCarbon neutral craft beer with local ingredients and minimal packaging wasteTin Whistle BreweryCraft beer, low carbon manufacturing, circular economy, zero waste, net zero beer09/22/22 79Danial HadizadehMitrex SolarMost buildings can generate their own electricity if solar PV is integrated into the building cladding. Now cost competitive and appearing on buildings around the worldMitrexRenewable energy, solar, building integrated photovoltaics, PV, solar cladding, resilience, green buildings, electricity09/08/22 78Jason RobinsonEvocoLow-toxic, low-carbon plant-based foams to replace petroleum, starting with sneaker insolesEvocoPlant-based materials, toxics, shoes, consumer goods, sneakers, shoe insoles, regenerative agriculture08/25/22 77Kayli DaleFriendlierReusable, deposit-return packaging for takeout foodFriendlierCircular economy, waste reduction, zero waste, packaging, food packaging, consumer goods08/11/22 76Marc GoldgrubGreen Economy LawGreen economy law firm that advises green business and nonprofit clients, and provides public education on climate law. Plus psychedelicsGreen Economy LawGreen economy, green businesses, waste, renewables, climate law, carbon pricing, health law7/28/22 75Nikki SelfSaponettiPioneer of home and bodycare essentials in refillable, non-plastic, circular economy containersSaponettiCircular economy, reusable containers, refillable containers, zero waste consumer goods, home and body care06/30/22 74Eric BeckwittFreighteraA marketplace that stealthily grows greener, lower-emission freight while saving money for Canadian manufacturersFreighteraGreen freight, green economy, transportation, marketplace, IT, trucks, rail04/14/22 73Ravi KampaiahZen E-bikesWhy E-bikes are often a better solution than electric cars. Made in Canada too!Zen E-bikesMicro mobility, electric mobility, transportation, bikes, fun03/31/22 72Sam KashaniToo Good to GoTurning trash into cash and good, cheap meals. The food waste elimination app that's growing explosively. A Time Top 100 companyToo Good to Gofood waste, food security, surplus food, IT, app, restaurant, grocery, surprise bag03/17/22 71Monique ChanBruizedTurning imperfect and discarded food waste into delicious treatsBruizedfood waste, circular economy, local sustainable food, farmers markets03/03/22 70Derek Lim SooPeak Power EnergySaving money and cutting climate pollution by turning commercial buildings, batteries and electric vehicles into virtual power plants that reduce electricity use in peak demand hoursPeak Power EnergyElectricity, batteries, AI, peak electricity demand, vehicle to grid, smart grid, energy transition02/17/22 69Eric KamphofCurbside CycleMain Street bike store selling bikes intended as transportationCurbside CycleActive transportation, bicycles, bikes, E bikes, Main Street, low-carbon transportation02/3/22 68Ran GoelFresh City FarmsToronto's urban organic farm, online grocer and sustainable food business incubatorFresh City FarmsUrban agriculture, sustainable food, business incubator, organic food, local food, low-carbon food, Regenerative agriculture01/20/22 67Emil Sylvester RamosIris RadHow AI-enabled dashcams help municipalities cut costs and emissions in maintaining their roadsIris Radmunicipalities, maintenance, data, AI, asset management, smart cities, cleantech01/6/22 66Rob LavoieAirTerraBiochar: real, long-term carbon sequestration plus soil regenerationAirterra Biocharregenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration, biochar, offset, rebuild soil12/16/21 65Jeremy ClarkeSimple Life HomesPrefab panels for carbon-storing, high performance buildings that go up in record timeSimple Life Homesplant-based buildings, efficiency, embodied carbon, passive house12/2/21 64Curtis VanWalleghemHydrostorHow air, rock and water store electricity from wind and solar and clean our electricity grid.Hydrostorrenewable electricity, clean power, storage, electrification11/18/21 63Joshua GreenMysa smart thermostatsAfter years of struggle, a Newfoundland startup becomes a star with smart thermostats for electric home heatingMysa Thermostatscleantech, home heating, efficiency, smart thermostats, demand management, electric baseboards11/04/21 62Phil WintersGoodlot Farm and Farmstead BrewingMaking delicious, low-carbon, local craft beer with organic hops they grow themselves on their organic farmGood Lot Farmsbeer, craft beer, local food, sustainable food, organic, organic hops, low-carbon beer10/21/21 61Kevin McLaughlinZyggg, E-bike subscription serviceMaking it easy for lots of people to fall in love with zipping around on an electric bikeZygg Electric Bikese-bike, e-mobility, e-bicycle, seniors, low-carbon mobility, transportation, urban10/07/21 60Chandra RamaduraiEfficiency CapitalPerformance-based financing of water and energy upgrades for older buildings, toilets paying for boilersEfficiency CapitalFinance, upgrades, retrofits, performance-based financing, climate, green buildings, building retrofits, efficiency, energy efficiency, water09/23/21 59Sheena SharpCoolEarth ArchitectureDesigning buildings for the zero-carbon futureCoolEarthZero-carbon architecture, embodied carbon, geothermal, solar, mass timber, design09/09/21 58Arzeena HamirOrganic farming and leadership at Amara FarmHow an immigrant and mother started an organic farm, and a Farmers Institute, and got elected, and got $200 million of federal money for climate-smart farmingAmara Farmorganic, agriculture, farming, land use, elected, municipal councillor, leadership, mentor, climate-smart farming08/26/21 57Remi DesaPantonium, On Demand Transit SoftwareAllowing small cities to both cut costs and improve transit service with existing busesPantoniumMunicipalities, transportation, on-demand transit, better bus service, low carbon municipalities, saving cost and carbon08/12/21 56Francisca QuinnQuinn & Partners, sustainability consultantsFast growing pioneer in sustainable investing for investors, sustainable operations for companiesQuinn and PartnersSustainable finance, green business, sustainability, management consulting, sustainability reporting, sustainability for CEOs07/29/21 55James LarsenE Zinc, Storing electricity in zincLong-duration electricity storage through chemical transformations of zincE ZincCleantech, batteries, renewable electricity, electricity storage, long duration storage, renewable energy, zinc07/15/21 54Chief Wilfred King and AJ EsquegaGiizis Energy at Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation)Canada's first integrated solar microgrid displacing diesel in a remote community, environmental justice as part of reconciliationGull Bay First Nationsolar, renewable energy, diesel, indigenous, reconciliation, microgrid, batteries, green power06/30/21 53Jon LomowFieldless Farms, Growing great local lettuce indoorsSolving our world record lettuce deficit while saving carbon, water and healthFieldless FarmsFood, agriculture, food miles, food imports, indoor farming, food waste06/17/21 52Ajay KochharLi-Cycle, Truly recycling lithium ion batteriesFrom a standing start to one of the world's top cleantech companies in less than 5 yearsLi-CycleCircular economy, cleantech, lithium, batteries, recycling, materials, toxics, urban mining06/03/21 51Josh LewisNerva Energy, Energy efficiency for buildingsAward-winning approach to cutting building operating costs with current technologyNarva EnergyEnergy efficiency, multi-unit residential, building envelopes, building automation05/20/21 50David Isaac, WDuskGroupCommunity renewable energyRenewable energy, transformation, and reconciliation, especially for remote indigenous communitiesWDuskRenewable energy, solar, wind, reconciliation, modernization, self-sufficiency, Indigenous clean energy, renewable energy developer05/07/21 49Connie StaceyGrowing Greener Innovations, Lego-style low cost batteriesSlashing the cost of battery storage by simplifying and automating how they connectGrowing Greener InnovationsRenewable electricity, energy poverty, electricity storage, low-cost storage, green energy04/22/21 48Bill RedelmeierBiodynamic wines from Southbrook WineryOrganic biodynamic wines- healthy soil, healthy staff, delicious winesSouthbrook WineryAgriculture, organic, biodynamic, plant-based, local food,04/08/21 47Trevor KloeckHemp Fibre Co, Amazing jobs for hempFascinating jobs for hemp residues, including soil reclamation and creating stronger paper and non-plastic packagingHemp FibrePlant-based materials, reclamation, fibres, recycling, new materials03/25/21 46Gavin Pitchford, Clean50 AwardsCanada's Sustainability HeroesAwards that celebrate sustainability heroes, to accelerate collaboration towards a job-rich, cleaner, healthier, innovation based low-carbon economyClean50Green economy, clean tech, green business, green business leaders, green awards, innovation, green business network03/11/21 45Paul BotteroInMotiveHow a better electric vehicle transmission, invented in Canada, makes electric cars lighter, faster, cheaper, and longer rangeInMotiveElectric vehicles, range anxiety, Canadian invention, Green Tech, clean tech, e-mobility02/25/21 44Mike KeilhauerKeilhauerDesigning, manufacturing and selling zero carbon, zero waste office chairs of pure, reusable materialsKeilhauerembodied carbon, zero waste, sustainable design, circular economy02/11/2021 43Jim FongerAmerescoEngineering and finance to slash the carbon footprint of existing buildings, such as schoolsAmerescoenergy efficiency, energy performance contracts,01/28/2021 42Rebecca BlackBlack Current MarketingMarketing and strategic foresight for green economy companiesBlack Currentgreen economy, green transition, green marketing, strategic foresight01/14/2021 41David BeauvaisElectrifier SG2BRapid, accurate energy and emissions data for community energy planningElectrifierenergy, energy efficiency, energy planning, municipal energy plans, green button, energy data12/31/2020 40Brad Crapeau, Alex HaymanFoodCyclerHow to turn food waste to compost, at home, in hoursFoodCyclerfood waste, circular economy, compost, waste reduction12/17/2020 39Marc BedardLion ElectricAll electric buses and trucks - now cost competitive for heavy useLion Electricelectric vehicles, clean transportation, air quality, electric buses12/10/2020 38Darren Jones & Daygan FowlerMyHEATBeing able to SEE where heat is escaping from your house motivates action when talk doesn't. When will our utility pay for the pictures?MyHEATenergy efficiency, buildings, utilities, climate action, reduce waste12/03/2020 37Sumi ShanDunya HabitatsTiny, portable, energy efficient, beehive-shaped hydroponic units for growing vegetables anywhereSumi Shan teaseragriculture, hydroponics, food deserts, equity11/26/20 36Andrew PeelPeel Passive HouseBuilding and retrofitting buildings for maximum comfort, minimum fossil fuelsPeel Passive Housegreen buildings, passive buildings, low-carbon buildings11/19/20 35Adam CorneilUnbuildersCarefully taking buildings apart for reuse, instead of smashing themUnBuildersdemolition, construction waste, circular economy11/12/20 34Anie RouleauThe Unscented CompanyLocal, unscented soap company, on the road to plastic-freeThe Unscented Companyretail, consumer product, soap, single-use plastic11/05/20 33Peter HowardPond TechnologiesHow to make carbon sequestration pay for itself: turning industrial CO2 emissions into algae, superfoods and profitsPond Technologies teasercarbon capture, algae, anti-oxidants, sequestration10/29/20 32Amir AlamShoe LaundryHow did a DJ who loves shoes become a sustainability entrepreneur during Covid?Shoe Laundry teasershoes, retail, cleaning, reducing waste10/22/20 31Audrey MascarenhasQuestor TechnologiesMethane destruction: reducing climate damage and air pollution for $2/ tonne. Why do Canada's regulations lag behind Mexico's?Audrey Mascarenhasmethane capture, air pollution, renewable energy10/15/20 30Gildas PoissonierDesjardins FinancialWhere can I do my banking without supporting fossil fuels?Desjardins Financialfinancial, insurance, Paris targets 10/08/20 29Steve OldhamCarbon EngineeringDirect air capture of carbon dioxide - Is it a realistic solution?Carbon Engineeringcarbon capture, enhanced oil recovery10/01/20 28Matt BrownPatagoniaHow a clothing firm slashes its carbon footprint and works to preserve our home planetPatagoniaretail, clothing09/24/20 27Greg NuttallWoodland BiofuelsComing soon: the world's cheapest liquid transportation fuel, made from construction wasteWoodland Biofuelsbiofuels, transportation fuel, construction waste reuse09/17/20 26Sarah Devika SumnauthUrban MineralsLocal-source vegan makeup startup with its first sustainability report - on hand-poured lipstickUrban Mineralsmicro business, makeup, sustainability report09/10/20 25Mike BrighamSolarshareHow did Mike Brigham build a $60 million community-owned #solarpower cooperative, SolarShare? And why is he personally funding the used #electricvehicles incentive in Ontario?SolarshareSolarshare, solar bonds, solar energy cooperative09/03/20 24Shaun LoneyAki Energy: Climate benefits and reconciliationGreen energy and efficiency social enterprise as a path to social healing and lower costs. Why is the green economy a good path forwards for people with barriers to employment?Aki Energygreen energy, efficiency, renewable energy, indigenous reconciliation08/27/20 23Bruce TaylorEfficiency: the best investmentFunding clean water in Africa by saving clients energy, water, resources and money hereEnviro-Stewardsenergy efficiency, materials efficiency08/20/20 22Catherine ThornDistrict energy scaling upHow a former municipal utility is becoming a giant in cleaner heating and cooling for many buildingsCatherine Thorn of Enwavedistrict heating and cooling, low carbon heating, thermal recycling08/13/20 21Mike AndradeInnovative solar technologyHow did Morgan Solar survive China's solar juggernaut, and stay Canadian?Morgan Solarsolar energy08/06/20 20David RobertsCanada's first net zero bus companyHow Victoria Harbour used a 15-year contract to get a net-zero bus system for cruise passengersNet zero bus companynet zero buses, clean transportation, electric vehicles07/30/20 19Jocelyn MolyneuxWorm farming, soil boostingCollecting office food waste, and feeding it to 1,000,000 worms to make plant foodJocelyn Molyneuxagriculture, organic waste07/23/20 18Yuill HerbertSustainability Solutions GroupWorkers' cooperative consulting firm that helps create decarbonized, equitable, healthy cities for everyoneSustainability Solutions Groupenergy planning, co-operative, municipal energy plans07/16/20 17Sean DrygasBullfrog PowerCanada's green energy retailer, so I can heat and light my home without fossil fuelsBullfrog Power low carbon electricity and gas, retail07/09/20 16Cara ClairmanPlug’n’DrivePlug'n'Drive stokes public passion for driving electric vehicles, often by letting people try onePlug’n’Driveelectric vehicles07/02/20 15Trish NixonRenewable energy investment for everyoneCoPower's green bonds allow almost everyone to put the planet in their portfolioTrish Nixon, CoPowergreen bonds06/25/20 14Jennifer WagnerPutting carbon into concreteCarbonCure's amazing technology saves money by using CO2 to make concrete strongerCarbonCurelow-carbon concrete, carbon sequestration06/18/20 13