Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast

Dave Karlsgodt
  • 4.9 (12)
  • COURSES
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

In each episode, we will talk with leading campus professionals, thought leaders, engineers and innovators addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing higher ed. and corporate campuses. Our discussions will range from energy conservation and efficiency to planning and finance, from building science to social science from energy systems to food systems. We hope you are ready to learn, share and ultimately accelerate your institution towards solutions.

  1. 4D AGO

    Creating a climate action plan that works

    Community colleges are emerging as powerful climate leaders, and this episode explores how institutions at different stages are turning vision into action. Host Dave Karlsgodt talks with leaders from Monterey Peninsula College, Gavilan College, and College of Marin about how financial stewardship, campus modernization, and sustainability planning are shaping resilient, future-ready campuses.    From bond-funded infrastructure upgrades and on-the-ground implementation to the collaborative process of developing a Climate Action Plan, the conversation highlights practical lessons, shared challenges, and opportunities for regional leadership. Get an insider’s look at how community colleges are advancing climate action in ways that directly benefit students and the communities they serve.

    53 min

  2. FEB 3

    Funding Transformational Change

    Transformational sustainability projects live or die at the intersection of ambition and institutional finance. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how credit ratings shape what campuses can actually approve, explaining why CFOs and boards evaluate sustainability initiatives through the lenses of risk, affordability, and long-term resilience. Using familiar examples like student housing before moving into the harder reality of energy and utility infrastructure, the discussion reframes ‘off balance sheet’ thinking and challenges common assumptions about how transformational change gets funded. The result is a clearer, more realistic foundation for sustainability leaders who want their projects to move from good ideas to executable decisions.

    44 min

  3. 09/16/2025

    Charging ahead: Financing and powering resilient all-electric school bus fleets

    Electrifying vehicle fleets is no longer a distant goal—it’s happening now in school districts, cities, and campuses across the country. In this episode, we explore what it takes to transition large fleets to all-electric, from financing to infrastructure and community impact. Our guest shares lessons the K-12 perspectives, highlighting challenges and opportunities. Listeners will gain practical insights into how electrification can reduce emissions, improve health outcomes, and reshape the future of community transportation.

    40 min

  4. 07/22/2025

    Energy P3's grow up: lessons from the field in 2025

    Energy public-private partnerships (P3s) have moved beyond the pilot phase. They’re now a serious, scalable strategy for institutions facing aging infrastructure, decarbonization targets, and budget constraints. But a maturing market also brings complexity — in procurement models, financing tools, and internal alignment. In this episode, we talk with three experienced voices from across the P3 deal table about what’s working, what’s changing, and what institutions need to understand before jumping in.

    1h 23m

  5. 05/20/2025

    From classroom to stadium: the Michigan sustainability model

    What does it take to embed sustainability across an entire university—from academic buildings to athletic arenas? In this episode, we sit down with Andy Berki, Director of the Office of Campus Sustainability, and Paul Dunlop, Associate Director of Facility Operations for Michigan Athletics, to explore how the University of Michigan is turning ambitious climate goals into everyday action. From high-impact energy and waste reduction strategies to zero-waste game days at the Big House, Andy and Paul share how Michigan is leading the way in higher education sustainability. Whether you're focused on campus operations, athletics, or institutional strategy, this episode offers real-world insights for creating a culture of sustainability that sticks.

    43 min

  6. 04/08/2025

    Powering sustainability across California community colleges

    Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast

    57 min

  7. 01/21/2025

    Transforming Data into Outcomes with Natasha Nicolai

    Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast

    1h 12m

  8. 09/05/2024

    Climate Action vs. Decarbonization Planning

    This episode was recorded live during a session at the 2024 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit co-sponsored by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network in Long Beach, California, in February 2024. Guests from higher education and the private sector discuss the evolving nature of climate action planning and the emergence of decarbonization planning on college and university campuses. If you are a higher ed. sustainability professional trying to make sense of the alphabet soup of plans, strategies, roadmaps, and reports, this episode is for you!

    50 min
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4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

In each episode, we will talk with leading campus professionals, thought leaders, engineers and innovators addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing higher ed. and corporate campuses. Our discussions will range from energy conservation and efficiency to planning and finance, from building science to social science from energy systems to food systems. We hope you are ready to learn, share and ultimately accelerate your institution towards solutions.

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