Texas Energy Lab

A season one finale host roundtable! Kyle Frazier, Tim Duffy, and Sherren Harter gather in our Austin studio for a recap of the inaugural season of Texas Energy Lab. We recount our favorite episodes, share what we've learned over the past year, and discuss what the future may hold for energy, sustainability, and season two.

Matt Whelan, founding principal of Red Leaf Properties, specializes in bringing a community's vision to life. He is behind some of the most recognizable neighborhoods and urban mixed use developments in Austin, including Spanish Oaks, Mueller, and the transformation of Highland Mall with Austin Community College. Sustainability is core to his approach on every project.

Jason Wills, CMO and former SVP of On-Campus Development at American Campus Communities, on why students are leading the way on sustainability, how ACC went on from its first project at Dobie Center near UT Austin to become a national sustainable leader with dozens of LEED projects from Hawai'I to the Northeast, and what the future may hold for sustainable student housing.

Caitlin Smith, Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Invenergy, explains how the company is investing in Texas, building new sustainable energy projects, creating jobs, and collaborating with stakeholders to create growth.

Sam Sen and Bryan Stewart oversee value added smart home services and renewable energy options for TXU Energy, one of the largest electricity providers in the state of Texas. They sit down with hosts Kyle Frazier and Tim Duffy to share details about TXU's bundled home services, iThermostat product, wind and solar energy plans, and Alexa skill for customer service, as well as what the future of smart homes and renewable energy in Texas may look like.

Texas outdoorsman Todd Davidson, Ph.D., wants to solve big challenges, from the defense industry to entrepreneurial ventures to his current role at the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and the Webber Energy Group. He explains the important role of electric vehicles in addressing climate change, how transportation and electricity are linked, and how decarbonizing the industrial sector is our next big challenge.

Listen to this special episode to find out what Nimue (9), Preston (9), Sierra (9), Reed (6), and Weston (4) think about energy, sustainability, and what the future holds. These leaders of tomorrow share their thoughts about solar power, water conservation, electric vehicles, and robots.

Callie Taylor is the Economic Development Director for Clean Technologies at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. She joins hosts Kyle Frazier and Tim Duffy to explain why Austin is a clean tech hub, share Austin's secret to attracting businesses, and show us how Opportunity Austin 4.0 is creating a better future for the region.

John Pitts, Jr., lobbyist at Texas Star Alliance, represents Texas Solar Power Association (TSPA) at the state legislature. He joins hosts Kyle Frazier and Tim Duffy to share the story of his career in public policy, give us the inside story on the Texas legislative process, and consider the future of energy policy in the Lone Star State.

Native Texan Joshua Rhodes, Ph.D., is a Research Analyst at the Webber Energy Group and The University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute. Hosts Kyle Frazier and Tim Duffy chat with him about how electricity supply and demand can be better controlled to bring more wind and solar power onto the grid, address climate change, and lower energy costs for all consumers.

Mike Haggerty has spent almost 30 years helping to grow Thundercloud Subs into an iconic Austin sandwich shop chain that numbers 30 stores, along with co-founders John Meddaugh and Andy Cotton. He joins hosts Kyle Frazier and Tim Duffy to talk about the secrets to Thundercloud's success, their sustainability efforts including solar power and zero waste compliance, and how they give back to the community through the annual Turkey Trot race and “Give 5 to Mother Earth” campaign.

The Honorable Drew Springer, Texas House of Representatives, joins us from Muenster in far North Texas to talk about the impact of renewable energy on rural communities in the geographically sprawling Texas House District 68 that he represents. He discusses macro issues like agricultural economics and job creation as well as personal insights such as the view from the top of a wind turbine nacelle and the light pollution from wind farms. Hosts McKay Proctor and Alex Van der Colff also learn more about tax considerations for renewable energy companies through Mr. Springer's work at Ryan LLC.

Michael Sauder explains how he came to own all six Texas Woodcraft franchises in his second career as an entrepreneur, and he shares his perspective on building a sustainable future with solar power.

Eliminating drought. Saving lives. An innovative atmospheric water generator uses less energy (and can be solar powered) to synthesize fresh water from the air. Retired Army Ranger Moses West, CEO of Paladin Water Technology and founder of Water Rescue Foundation, tells us how his patented technology is changing lives in Puerto Rico and elsewhere.

How do we ensure a healthy and sustainable economic future for Austin? Leigh Christie, Senior Vice President of Global Technology and Innovation at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, talks to us about bringing businesses to Texas and keeping them in the Austin region, attracting international investors, spotlighting diversity among our industries, and addressing the local topics that will most affect our city's future. Photo by Carlos Delgado on Unsplash

Can 2 lines of code clean our electric grid? Katie Ryan, Director of Partnerships at WattTime, explains how choice and automation can increase the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and reduce emissions. This non-profit provides insights to homeowners, companies, and utilities about their energy usage and uses automated emissions reduction technology to optimize smart devices for both environmental impact and cost without compromising the user experience. Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Austin-based landscape architect Brian Ott, cofounder of Nudge Design, explains how our perspective on landscape architecture is evolving in urban environments, the connection between our health and the outdoors, and the importance of water management in modern landscape design. He also shares details about two of his commercial landscape architecture firm's projects in downtown Austin: The Grove at Shoal Creek, a mixed-use development, and 600 Guadalupe, a high-rise with 40,000 square feet of rooftop gardens.

SolarSno is the first off-grid solar-powered shaved ice food trailer in Austin. Founder and owner Thomas Myers joins hosts McKay Proctor and Sherren Harter to explain how his background as an entrepreneur and U.S. Marine prepared him to start SolarSno, how sustainability differentiates his small business to customers and makes it more profitable, and what the future holds. Find SolarSno on Facebook and Instagram.

If you love dogs and have an eye for design, you don’t want to miss Barkitecture! Daniel Campos is a board member and eight-year barkitect who tells us how everyone can enjoy this fun, oh-so-Austin, annual event that raises money for Bastrop Animal Rescue, Emancipet, and PALS (a Meals on Wheels Central Texas program). He also talks about some favorite designs from past years and the latest trends in sustainability and green building trends for doghouses.

In our second episode with Paul Hobby of Genesis Park LP, we continue our conversation about energy in Texas. Paul talks with Kyle Frazier, Sherren Harter, and Bret Biggart about the tradeoffs of the various Texas electricity market structures, the future of Texas energy prices, the effect of low natural gas prices on wind and solar power adoption, and how he would approach a business investment in the solar power industry. We also ask Paul to comment on the effectiveness of solar tariffs, why solar photovoltaic (PV) beats concentrated solar power (CSP), whether the grid is here to stay, and what is driving the entry of Amazon and Google into the electricity industry.

All Things Energy – A Houston Perspective. Paul Hobby is the founding partner of Genesis Park LP, runs Texas Monthly, sits on the board of NRG, and has wide-ranging expertise on energy, media, and Texas politics. In the first of two episodes, Paul sits down with hosts Kyle Frazier, Sherren Harter, and guest host Bret Biggart from Freedom Solar Power. Their wide-ranging discussion covers Houston’s future as the Engineering (not just Energy) Capital of the World, and innovation at the intersection between water and energy. Plus, post-Harvey emergency preparedness, the net impact of fracking, the future of nuclear power in Texas, and why electric cars are the future.

Austin Community Design & Development Center (ACDDC) engages with communities and brings together partners to create affordable housing and sustainable environments. Executive Director Nicole Joslin and Program Coordinator Marla Torrado join hosts Kyle Frazier and Sherren Harter to discuss strengthening the quality of life in our neighborhoods, empowering local residents, and ensuring equitable access to food, water, and energy. We talk about using integrated design thinking to rebuild after natural disasters, address displacement in rapidly growing cities, and create spaces that work for everyone.

Growing Green Spaces in Urban Centers. The Trail Foundation (TTF), partners with the City of Austin to protect and enhance the Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail on Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake). Beth Carroll, landscape architect and Project & Creative Director for TTF, chats with hosts Kyle Frazier and Sherren Harter about the award-winning, sustainable bathrooms along Butler Trail, the Boardwalk that has become an integral part of downtown Austin, and the 15 projects TTF is taking on over the next five years as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. Solving the potty problem on the trail? Accommodating parks and transportation in the middle of downtown? Protecting green spaces amid population growth through public-private partnerships? Looking for inspiration in urban parks nationwide? We cover it all!

Sustainability, community, and the future of cars with Will Hardeman of Continental Auto Group, which runs the First Texas Honda, Austin Subaru, Mercedes-Benz of Austin, and Austin INFINITI car dealerships. Will chats with hosts Kyle Frazier and Sherren Harter about growing up in the family business, how the company approaches sustainability through solar power and water conservation, and his perspective about big-picture trends in the automotive industry including electric cars such as Tesla and self-driving cars.

Austin homeowner Aaron Heth is considering solar panels for his home and has a lot of questions. Solar industry expert Kyle Frazier of Freedom Solar Power has answers. Hosts McKay Proctor and Sherren Harter moderate a Q&A discussion about home solar panels with Aaron and Kyle on this week's Texas Energy Lab.

Hunter Brown explains how his dad’s purchase of a single Budweiser truck in 1962 has become the #1 beer distributor in Austin today. Brown Distributing Company is also a leader in environmental sustainability and community support. Hunter talks to hosts Kyle Frazier and Sherren Harter about the company’s efforts to reduce costs and protect the environment with LED lighting, solar power from Freedom Solar, comprehensive recycling programs, and fleet management.

Erik Norwood, CURB Founder & CEO, and Zack Embry, Sales & Business Development, join us to explain how easy it is to make your house a smart home with this unique home energy intelligence solution that empowers homeowners to understand and control your energy usage. See why energy efficiency and solar panels are a perfect pair and learn more about how CURB is moving from monitoring to control through innovative partnerships with ABC Home & Commercial Services and Schneider Electric.

Marc Richmond of Texas Green Realty and Kyle Frazier of Freedom Solar Power explain how to understand and maximize the value of solar panels on your home. Show Notes: National Association of Realtors Green Designation Appraisal Institute Residential & Commercial Valuation of Solar course Elevate Energy solar education courses for real estate agents, appraiser regulators, and appraises Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and The Appraisal Foundation's Green Lender training program Texas Association of Realtors' Texas Remodel Valuation Report Texas A&M Real Estate Center's Here Comes the Sun Tierra Grande article U.S. Department of Energy PV Valuation Model

Peter Rehme, the founder/owner/president/CEO of Rehme Steel Windows and Doors, tells hosts Kyle Frazier and Whitney Torres about discovering a passion for the metal arts, how he transitioned his tradecraft into a successful, thriving manufacturing business that handcrafts 100% American-made products using 100% net-zero solar power, and why his sustainability initiatives help his bottom line and desire to protect the environment.

Meet Rance Clouse, CEO of Capsa Ventures, whose innovation is continuously raising the bar on sustainability in the building and development industry. He joins hosts Kyle Frazier and Whitney Torres in the Texas Energy Lab studio to talk about his latest mixed-use project in East Austin Fourth &; why light gauge steel is not only more sustainable but also costs less and speeds the construction cycle compared to wood framing, where his passion for green building started, and what the future holds for his companies.

John Dromgoole returns to the show to tell us what’s in season, explore the sustainability and energy efficiency of various plants, and explain what's up with the solar cashier at The Natural Gardener.

Reagan Redfern of Redfern Management Corp. explains how business acumen and creative expression came together in the energy efficiency and green retrofit projects he has initiated on the two office buildings he manages in West Lake Hills, including a thermoplastic olefin (TPO) white reflective roof, solar panels, LED lighting, upgraded HVAC, smart thermostats, and a well system for irrigation.

Homegrown organic gardening legend John Dromgoole stops by Texas Energy Lab to chat with hosts McKay Proctor and Sherren Harter about the spirituality of sustainability, the simplicity of organic gardening success, and what you can discover when you visit The Natural Gardener in Austin.

Bobby Jenkins, the CEO of ABC Home and Commercial Services, has been a well-known Austin business leader for 35 years. He joins hosts Kyle Frazier and Sherren Harter to discuss the value of following your customers' lead to create sustainable growth, the win-win scenario of protecting the environment and delivering effective solutions, and the importance of family – not only at home but also in his business and in the community.

Charlie Hemmeline, the Founder and Executive Director of the Texas Solar Power Association, joins hosts Kyle Frazier and Whitney Torres to discuss the state of the solar energy industry in the Lone Star State. They cover topics including the economics of solar in Texas, the California mandate for solar on new homes, import tariffs, the water-energy nexus, storage, microgrids, policy and politics, and what the future may hold.

Hosts Kyle Frazier and Whitney Torres visit Community First! Village to interview Alan Graham, the Founder, CEO, and President of Mobile Loaves & Fishes. He shares his story and explains how he ended up living full-time at this unique and amazing “RV park on steroids” for the formerly homeless. He also describes some of the sustainability features that make Community First! Village so special – and why you should visit!

Dr. Karen Magid, Director of Sustainability and STEM at Huston-Tillotson University and the Co-Executive Director of The Dumpster Project, talks to hosts Kyle Frazier and Sherren Harter about sustainability, environmental justice, and the power of student engagement.

This week we took Texas Energy Lab on the road for a special episode recorded in Marfa, Texas, where an ambitious new art installation called "stone circle" was just unveiled. Guest host Sherren Harter talks to Haroon Mirza, the artist; Laura Copelin and Peyton Gardner of Ballroom Marfa, which commissioned the work; and Alex Seyer of Freedom Solar, which donated a solar and battery system that powers the sculpture.

Founder Adrian Buck and CEO Bret Biggart of Freedom Solar Power describe how they formed a 2+2=5 partnership that combined a love of solar and great customer service with an eye for a great business opportunity, explain how the early days working out of Adrian's house springboarded into winning business at five Whole Foods locations and thousands of customers all over Texas, and share some of their favorite projects such as the off-grid system for A Child's Hope orphanage in Haiti and the solar carport for Strictly Pediatrics, at the time the largest solar project in Central Texas.

In our first episode, hosts Kyle Frazier and Whitney Torres interview Ronda Rutledge, Executive Director of the Sustainable Food Center (SFC). Ronda explains her personal connection to SFC’s mission, the community-based programs they offer to improve food security and sustainability in Central Texas, and how they achieved a four-star rating through the Austin Energy Green Building program with solar power, rainwater catchment, and xeriscaping. Finally, she shared information about how to support SFC at their upcoming annual Farm to Plate fundraiser, which is happening on May 9th (tickets available here).