Get Real #2: Are we crazy?

Gaining Clarity

The fact that we’re new at this is the point of what we’re doing.

As I hoped, I got some feedback on our first issue. I’m going to put a little Q&A at the bottom - but the primary item I’d like to share is regarding the simplest question: Why?

(Before I dig in, a quick note on Elon Musk. My focus on him last week was coming from a business perspective. I like his cars and how he’s single-handedly turning the automobile industry upside down and helping it move from fossil fuels. I will not ever make this newsletter about politics.)

This is a newsletter by climate/energy newbies for climate/energy newbies who want to find ways to get involved. How do you get engaged and involved? Find jobs, understand terms, see things from a different viewpoint…

Economically speaking, there is a future in this space. Careers, businesses, tech startups, whole new industries and opportunities and ways to contribute and volunteer. In the US in particular, there is a massive opportunity.

But for now let’s dig a little deeper into our “why.”

When we decided to do this, we talked for hours about how we were going to share our journey. As I said last week, there is a gap in understanding about how to get involved. The problem we’re trying to solve is the one we are experiencing.

Back in the spring, we went to a Climate event at The University of New Hampshire. We met some interesting people with unique viewpoints. Kari White, a panelist at the event, spoke about the challenges she experienced in helping overcome those affected by Vermont’s severe 2023 storms and floods. From what we could gather, she thrust herself into the situation and coordinated a massive, distributed relief effort, all on her own.

Melissa approached Kari after the event and rhetorically asked, “How would someone like me, who has time and some resources, affect change?”

Taking Melissa’s question literally, a nearby couple jumped in and said that “there are opportunities everywhere, you just have to look,” and suggested that perhaps she volunteer at a nearby YMCA.

(…Ummm…cue the awkward silence…)

Kari was busy, and unable to continue the conversation, but the point was made — people are left to their own devices. The problems and challenges are too many to count. Resources have to move and be deployed. Behavior has to change, and the knowledge leaders out there need to find the people, rather than the other way around.

Our Problem - Our “Why”: People who are not scientists/academia, influencers, climate business people or investors, have very little information in the way of how to get involved.

We are building a solution to this problem. We are building a bridge. Awareness to action - remember?

THAT IS OUR WHY.

It’s going to be a big lift. We get it. We believe we can build this community.

But, I cannot promise that our journey won’t have moments like this:

via GIPHY

Sustainability: Finding ways to make things better

My job (that I’ve assigned myself) is to drive thought.

A few years ago, at the beginning of my journey, I asked a colleague what the word “sustainability” meant to him. I had my own definition… something about keeping things going and not wasting resources. It was nebulous.

But he explained it to me like this: “You know how when they built a house years ago, the septic system was supposed to be a certain size, but now they have to be bigger for the same size house? It’s about applying what we learn and changing the way we interact with the planet like that, on a bigger scale.”

I thought that was a good analogy - it stuck we me anyway.

And the world is a big place. I forgot where, but I recently heard that if every person on the planet stood shoulder-to-shoulder, packed together like sardines, we would fit into a space about the size of New Jersey. WHAT? For fun, assuming this is correct, I googled “What countries are about the size of New Jersey,” and found this unbelievable cool site called Mapfight.

I pulled some intriguing images:

Then, I did some more googling, and was surprised to learn that we’d fit into an area around the size of Los Angeles (then I did some math on their assumptions and it was about right):

When we talk about the planet and sustainment, it is not a real estate problem. Technically, there’s plenty of space for us as a race. Sure - lots of land is uninhabitable, but sustainability is about maintaining systemic balance and equitable, responsible resource consumption. I understand that this is a vast oversimplification, but if you have gotten this far, hear me out.

Imagine if everyone on earth lived in New Jersey. Every single day, there are earthquakes, floods, erupting volcanos, hurricanes, fires, even UFOs… and none of us would know. We’d be too busy dealing with these problems:

• Where are we going to get all our food?

• How are we going to power everything?

• Where is everyone going to work?

• How are we going to source and clean all our water?

• Who’s going to organize everything, build the infrastructure, manage waste (all kinds)?

I’m sure I’m missing many. But I hope you see my point.

Very quickly, people would want to get out. Away. Elsewhere. And then, the ones who stayed wouldn’t worry about the ones who left. Their problems aren’t mine - those people are gone. Consuming resources “somewhere else.”

Said a different way, if you have a four-bedroom house and five people live there, do you stop worrying about the rest of the house if everyone is gathered at one end watching a movie? You want to make sure the whole home - the system - is operational, intact, and secure. I know…”the world is our home” is a tired analogy, but it’s TRUE.

And there are people who better understand all the issues we have, everywhere; people who need help solving problems. If regular people have the will, the experts can guide us (if they listen to our questions and are patient).

I am spending time with these people and learning about what they know, their fears and frustrations and how they think people can engage. You’ll be hearing from them here if you stick around.

What we believe is that people will begin thinking about all the parts of the planet, not just the ones they can’t see, as a means to getting motivated to act. There is a whole new economy out there, just waiting to be fed and nurtured. And once it is, it will provide jobs and the outputs will be solutions.

Boiling down what’s happening in Asheville, NC

Remember Helene? That gigantic storm a couple “whole” weeks ago, that swept up the Gulf and dumped feet of rain on North Carolina? In Asheville, FEMA, the state government, and local officials and volunteers are:

• Assessing the damage

• Opening roads

• Restoring running water (and making it potable via almost primitive means)

• Restoring power

• Bringing clean food and water

• Cleaning the mess

This is a response action to a serious event that affected millions of people from Tampa Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Entire water lines were wiped out in Asheville. Many of these lines were laid in the mid-20th Century, with no anticipation of the flooding that Helene brought.

Many have said that this is unlike any storm in known history. Warm water feeds hurricanes, and warmer the air, the stronger the storm.

And - here’s an “unofficial tornado count” I compiled:

Meteorologists have said this is unprecedented.

Lots of destruction, lots of injury, loss, and even deaths. Shouldn’t it be easier to prevent things like this? In Southern California, they build earthquake-resilient buildings. In the Southeast, all new infrastructure projects and buildings need to take into account the increased frequency and intensity of these storms. We are not prepared, and we aren’t developing new habits.

“Feedback is a gift.“

I’m generalizing a few of the questions and other feedback here. One of them I’ll save for later. It was… memorable.

#1 - Wait, you’re not a climate expert! Damned straight I’m not! But my goal is to bring them to those who want to make a difference but think they can’t. Today I’m just a “boiler-downer business person,” trying to add perspective.

#1a - Are you getting into politics? NO. This is not a political agenda newsletter. If you believe climate and energy issues are political issues, this newsletter is not for you. However, if you think that humans have as much ability to create earth-friendly ways to heat, cool, cultivate food, live, and get from point A to point B, then it probably is.

#2 - Why are you writing a newsletter? See above, but… the to enable people to see the world through the eyes of motivated individuals with little knowledge or experience, but a thirst for both, and means to explore. The fact that we’re new at this is the POINT.

#3 - Is this a blog? Yes and no. Blogs are just posted somewhere. This is a companion newsletter. This coming Friday, I’m interviewing someone who I plan to spotlight in next week’s issue. We’re going to keep it somewhat personal and show you what we’re doing, not just tell, but also distill important information. I spent much of my week figurig out how to be a creator on Instagram. It’s a big deal and not at all like just scrolling through reels and laughing at cats or stupid cartoons (which I also do to blow off steam).

#4 - Do you love/worship Elon Musk? No. I actually am not a fan, but I like what he’s doing with his cars and how is changing the auto industry. As a guy? Not so much.

#5 - Will you share my email address? No. Never.

Hit me up at [email protected] or reply to this message with any questions/comments!

There is a lot more to come. I’m going to show you our heat pump system, explain some stuff we’ve talked about with solar companies, give some insights into the green jobs market and tie in some other people with whom I’ve been speaking. Lots coming.

Thank you!

If you know anyone who may be interested in our story or what we’re building, please don’t hesitate to refer below! We will track referrals and offer rewards soon. More to come!