First Crack Podcast with Garrick Van Buren

Tyler Patterson just finished up a Masters Thesis project investigating adding all the University of Minnesota Twin Cities’ campus energy sources into the Chicago Climate Exchange.

In this numbers and stats intensive conversation, we discuss:

• The methodology of the measuring the campus’ carbon footprint
• The economics of the carbon trading and energy efficiency
• The trade-offs in determining energy sources (fuel oil vs. coal vs. oat hulls vs. natural gas)

Listen to Measuring Carbon Footprints with Tyler Patterson [41 min].

Rich Huelskamp built a 100% off-grid, renewable-energy home down in Red Wing, MN. He and I talk about how he got his home down from the average 25kWh/day to 6. Along the way, he goes through the steps to making a urban/suburban home more efficient.

If you’re looking to replace your home’s appliances, Rich recommends picking from ACEEE.org’s list of most energy efficient appliances

Listen to Rich Huelskamp on Making an Energy Efficient Home [36 min]