Green Sense Radio

First Fully Electric Tug

Crowley Engineering Services has completed its first-ever design and build of a fully electric tug boat. This high performing, sustainable solution to harbor services will be working in the

Port of San Diego. This week we spoke with Cole Van Gundy, director of commercial operations, with Crowley Engineering Services to discuss this groundbreaking boat, both it’s innovative and customizable features, and even the challenges faced when developing the first electric-powered tug boat.

MAKE ROOM FOR INNOVATION: GRADIENT AIR CONDITIONER

Gradient is innovating the way we cool down our home using heat pump technology. The San-Francisco-based startup has developed a new take on window AC units. This week we spoke with Gradient’s CEO Vince Romanin to discuss the company’s climate-friendly unit that is quieter and cheaper than traditional AC window units. This innovative AC unit not only keeps your home cool but also is designed for a more appealing and space-saving look.

The EV Meets the RV in a Modern New Camper

The EV meets the RV in a modern new camper. This week we spoke with Dean Wiltshire of Colorado Teardrops to discuss their new Camper Trailer designed to be towed by electric vehicles. Dean gives us an in-depth look into the trailer’s features and unique designs that make it stand out against other campers. 

Cultivate 21 - First Major In-Person Horticulture Conference Since COVID!

Horticulture, the art of cultivating plants for their numerous uses is a $13 Billion / year industry. It is involved with numerous top issues we hear about every day including climate change, sustainability (energy, water and waste management), labor, and immigration.

This week we spoke with Mary Beth Cowardin, Vice President of Marketing & Member Engagement at AmericanHort to discuss, Cultivate, the premier event for the entire horticulture industry. Cultivate is an annual educational event and trade show hosted by AmericanHort that is one of the largest and longest running shows.  In the past it has attracted 10,000+ industry professionals, 700 exhibitors and attendees from more than 70 countries. Mary Beth discusses why Cultivate continues to be a world class educational event, along with a run-down of this year’s event and the challenges they faced in putting on a show in a COVID environment.

Chicago Auto Show 2021 - Adapting to a Covid Environment

The market for EV’s, hybrids, and other ‘alternative fuel’ vehicles continues to grow offering consumers more model options to choose from. This week we are joined by Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel for a recap of the nation’s largest and longest-running - Chicago Auto Show, along with our Green Road Test of the Toyota Highlander Limited –L4 AWD Hybrid and the 2021 Lexus UX 250 Hybrid F Sport.

Too Good To Go - Can an App Minimize Global Food Waste?

Each year, 1/3 of food produced in the world goes to waste, and generates 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Too Good to Go is on a mission to change that. Too Good to Go is a leading anti-food waste app that allows users to buy surplus fresh food from local restaurants and save it from going to waste. This week we spoke with Claire Oliverson, U.S. Head of Marketing at Too Good to Go to discuss how the app works, their expansion plans and how their market-based solution is fighting food waste globally.

MGM Makes a Big Bet on Solar Power!

MGM Resorts, one of the largest global hospitality and entertainment companies, is taking the necessary steps to make sure the company's 30 worldwide resorts are as sustainable as possible. This week we're joined by Yalmaz Siddiqui, vice president of corporate sustainability at MGM Resorts International. His main goal is to make sure the company's resorts are reducing their carbon footprint.

We discuss some of the steps MGM is taking to strive for a more sustainable resort, including their new 100-megawatt solar array, the largest of its kind in the hospitality industry, producing up to 90 percent of MGM Resorts' Las Vegas daytime electric power needs.

Godfather of Vertical Farming - Dickson Despommier

This week on Green Sense Radio Show: Grounding a tall vision in market reality an
interview with the godfather of vertical farming! 

Dickson Despommier has a Ph.D., in microbiology, is an ecologist, and emeritus
professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University, and coined
the term vertical farm back in 1999.  He’s one of the many respected experts
who’ve contributed to the new book ‘The Economics of Sustainable Food - Smart
Policies for Health and the Planet.’ We talk about the new book and the past,
present, and future of vertical farming.

Zoo Sustainability - Water, Energy, and Waste.

Zoos and public aquariums have a big challenge when it comes to sustainability. They face the

the challenge of extreme temperatures and must have the ability to keep conditions arctic cold in the

the heat of summer, or tropical warm in the cold of winter all in the same facility.

This week we are joined by Drew Gravitt, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Schneider

Electric and Bob Wengel, Senior Vice President of Facilities and Security at Shedd Aquarium.

We discuss how they sustainably operate and manage such mass amounts of water, waste, and

operating facility.

The Brood X Cicada: Big, Loud, and Coming in Masses

The Brood X is the largest of the 17-year Cicadas, these insects are big, loud, and come in masses. As the weather gets warmer trillions of cicadas will be coming up from the ground impacting states across America. This week we are joined by Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist with Purdue University where we discuss what we can expect as these creatures make their way out of the ground across the country.

 

Did you know how Cicadas make that noise? Cicada possesses the tymbal organ, which is unique among insects. The frequency of the contractions of the tymbal muscle range from 120 to 480 times a second, which is fast enough for the human ear to hear a continuous sound.