Episode 47: From classroom to stadium: the Michigan sustainability model

in , , , , , , ,

L-R: The University of Michigan’s Paul Dunlop and Andy Berki. Photos courtesy of the University of Michigan and Second Wave Media.

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.

Guests:
Andy Berki
Executive Director of Campus Sustainability
LinkedIn

Paul Dunlop
Associate Athletic Director, Facility Operations
LinkedIn

Host:
Dave Karlsgodt
Director of Energy and Sustainability
Brailsford & Dunlavey

Resources:
Michigan Sports Sustainability
University of Michigan Office of Campus Sustainability

Production Team:
Executive producer and host: Dave Karlsgodt
Producer, sound editor: Kristan Crawford
Producers: Karmela Lejarde, David Almany
Production assistants: Claudia Ahawo, Allison Bruns

Episode Transcript:

The following is an AI-generated transcript of this episode and may contain errors or omissions: Transcript

Episode 39: The Cutting Edge with Peter Kelly-Detwiler

in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Peter Kelly-Detwiler

Peter Kelly-Detwiler

Guest:
Peter Kelly-Detwiler
Cofounder, NorthBridge Energy Partners, LLC

Host: Dave Karlsgodt
Director of Management Advisory Services, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

In this episode we will talk with journalist, author, and energy consultant Peter Kelly-Detwiler. Our topic: Cutting Edge Campus Climate Tech.

Our mission: help campus decision makers and stakeholders understand "cutting edge" campus decarbonization / reliability / resilience technologies. How can they take advantage of new and emerging technologies while avoid wasting time on ideas that are either empty hype or operationally irrelevant for their campus context?

Resources:

Production Team:

Episode Transcript:

The following is an automated transcription of this episode which will include errors and omissions. You can listen and follow along with the text here: Otter Transcript You can find a text-only version of the transcript here: Episode 39 Otter Transcript

You can find a text-only version of the transcript here: Episode 39 Transcript

Episode 38: The Political Economy of Higher Ed with Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou

in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou

Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou

Guest:
Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou
Energy Systems Strategist -
SMITHGROUP

Host: Dave Karlsgodt
Director of Management Advisory Services, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

In this episode, we talk with with Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou, Energy Systems Strategist at SmithGroup. The discussion focuses on what higher education can expect from federal, state and local governments in the near term, but also a broader discussion about the politics and business model of higher ed. itself.  She both challenges conventional ideas and paints a compelling vision for a sustainable future for higher education and the communities in which they operate.

Resources:

Production Team:

Episode Transcript:

The following is an automated transcription of this episode which will include errors and omissions. You can listen and follow along with the text here: Otter Transcript

You can find a text-only version of the transcript here: Episode 38 Transcript

Episode 37: Designing for the 90% with Kenny Seeton (CSU Dominguez Hills)

in , , , , ,
Kenny Seeton, Central Plant Manager/Energy Manager at California State University, Dominguez Hills

Kenny Seeton, Central Plant Manager/Energy Manager at California State University, Dominguez Hills

Guest:
Kenny Seeton
Central Plant Manager/Energy Manager at California State University, Dominguez Hills

Host: Dave Karlsgodt
Director of Management Advisory Services, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

In this episode, we talk with Kenny Seeton, central plant and energy manager at California State University Dominguez Hills. The wide-ranging conversation spans everything from LED retrofits to solar powered golf carts. Kenny talks about how to safely take risks and how to connect systems seeking continuous improvement. He offers up sound advice for energy managers on metering, sensors, occupancy controls, valves, dampers, trend analysis and even phase change materials. This engaging episode is perfect for anyone looking for creative energy solutions for their campus, whether this is your first introduction to energy management or, like Dave and Kenny, you geek out over topics energy efficiency, storage, and more.

Resources:

Production Team:

Episode Transcript:

The following is an automated transcription of this episode which will include errors and omissions. You can listen and follow along with the text here: Otter Transcript

You can find a text-only version of the transcript here: Episode 37 Transcript

Episode 35: The Eco Performance Office with Ron Herbst

in , , , , , , , ,
Ron Herbst, Vice President, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

Ron Herbst, Vice President, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

Guests:
Ron Herbst
Vice President, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

Host: Dave Karlsgodt
Director of Management Advisory Services, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.

What can a higher education institution learn from an international bank? In this episode, we talk to Brailsford & Dunlavey’s own Ron Herbst, whose long and varied career in energy eventually led him to work with Deutsche Bank establishing and managing their Eco Performance Management Office (PMO.) An EcoPMO is a team that coordinates all of the functions needed to achieve an organization’s sustainability goals.

As the son of a blue-collar inventor, Ron felt drawn to the energy and sustainability world from a young age and wanted to be what he calls a “building energy efficiency doctor.”

Ron discusses his time at Deutsche with Dave how he applies what he learned about balancing institutional needs with sustainability goals to colleges and universities. In addition, we also discuss how to balance the needs of various institution stakeholders in order to reach those goals.

Resources:

  • The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE): https://www.aashe.org/

  • US Department of Energy - Better Buildings Partnership: https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/challenge

  • Second Nature: https://secondnature.org/

  • Rocky Mountain Institute: https://rmi.org/our-work/buildings/

Production Team:

Episode Transcript:

The following is an automated transcription of this episode which will include errors and omissions. You can listen and follow along with the text here:

https://otter.ai/s/-Tws0LiGQMuAtEwbq6YoKA

You can find a text-only version of the transcript here: Episode 35 Transcript