The Cool Down

🤝 We're thrilled to announce TCD has joined the Ad Net Zero US community! This global group of brands is helping the advertising industry navigate the transition to net zero through a 5-point action plan — including by using the industry's collective creative power to drive positive change. Let's go!!

🔥 Ok -- this truck is just COOL. I got a chance to sit in one of the much-anticipated vehicles from Scout Motors Inc. and talk to founder Ryan Decker and VP of marketing Steven Martini about how they're reimagining an iconic American brand with the best technology of the future. "We're an American, entrepreneurial, innovative startup on one hand, but on the other, we have the backing of one of the world's largest OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] behind us," Decker told The Cool Down. Owned by Volkswagen, Scout's two new vehicles promise 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and over 500 miles in range, thanks to an optional gas-powered range extender. And, they're bringing back the old bench seat, which I love. 💚 Read more of my interview and check out the video tour by Josh Robertson: https://lnkd.in/dayX53Ep #ev #electric #electricvehicle #battery #scout #vw #volkswagen #innovation

"If you can install a flat-screen TV, you can install this, no problem." That's Erica Rosen from BioLite, the company that's found a way to help people power their most important appliances during a power outage — without shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for a whole-home generator. The Cool Down caught up with Rosen to get a feel for the backup batteries, which provide up to 60 hours of instant reserve power for a fridge, phone, medical equipment, etc. The batteries look like long, slim laptops (less than 3 inches thick) and are "designed to live in forgotten spaces," Rosen said. The kicker for us: Installation takes less than 30 minutes and users don't need an electrician, either. 💡 Get the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eXygr3PT #climatesolutions #tech #innovation 🎉 P.S. We're excited to welcome BioLite as part of our growing Marketplace program (think of it like the customer acquisition engine of the clean economy) because we believe in the products BioLite is creating. Welcome to the team!

As Americans learn more about the overlap between human health and the environment, Grove Collaborative is making a big bet that people will need a trusted guide to help them choose better products for their homes and their families. And while other companies are stepping back from their #sustainability commitments or shying away from speaking publicly about them, their CEO Jeff Yurcisin is doubling down. "Sustainability is the only future. Period," he told me in an interview for The Cool Down. "It may not appeal to every consumer. They can shop somewhere else. Our job is to serve our consumer really well, and we are accelerating our efforts, not backing down." 💪 It was great to connect with Jeff, who is full of energy, enthusiasm, and outrage about studies like the recent one showing that 0.48% of a 45-50 year old's human brain is now made of plastic 🤯 We spoke about his bold plan to win the clean lifestyle space by going 100% direct to consumer with a mission to be the first plastic-neutral retailer (yes, they're taking their products out of retailers like Target), and to expand their offerings beyond home cleaning products into health and wellness supplements and other kitchen products. More of our conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gXBfkeRX #plastic #plasticneutral #microplastics #sustainability #climate #ceo

Installing solar panels is one of the best decisions you can make — but truth be told, the solar industry has more than a few bad actors and plenty of shady customer experiences. TCD's co-founder Anna Robertson chatted with Andrew Sendy, the founder of SolarReviews, to learn how the company gives customers a built-in level of trust as the "Reddit of solar reviews." "The solar industry is a weird industry in that it attracts both the best and the worst," Sendy said.    So for over a decade, SolarReviews has been creating the largest collection of unbiased, verified reviews from real people about solar companies. It also connects homeowners with trusted solar installers in their area. "There are a lot of companies we don't [recommend] because they're scumbags." 🌤️ Here's the full story: https://lnkd.in/epENGnMP #solar #climatesolutions #innovation 🎉 P.S. We're excited to welcome SolarReviews as part of our growing Marketplace program (think of it like the customer acquisition engine of the clean economy) because we believe in the service the SolarReviews team is creating. DM us if you're ready to learn more.

🚁 "We're now at the point where it's no longer science fiction, but science fact." That's Nikhil Goel, COO of Archer, who I sat down with recently to talk about when we'll start seeing electric air taxis whisking people from airports in cities across America. The answer: over the next year. Their four-person taxi, "Midnight," is currently doing test flights in California daily -- it travels up to 150 mph and is 100 times quieter than a helicopter -- without the pollution. At launch the price he told me the price would be similar to an UberBlack, with the goal of getting closer to an UberX cost. "What's really exciting is this is no longer The Jetsons ... it's no longer flying cars or Back to the Future," Goel told me. "These are going to be very quickly in a place where we can fly them in cities with passengers." Are you excited about eVTOLs? Let me know in the comments 👇 And read more of my interview with Nikhil on The Cool Down: https://lnkd.in/gWbmrRmR #livideo #evtol #electrictaxi #EV #Electric #climate #aviation #helicopter

↗️ As a recent essay in the The Wall Street Journal put it: "The Clean Energy Revolution is Unstoppable." And here's a practical, anecdotal example from a recent look through offerings in Costco Wholesale's catalogue reaching mainstream America: ⚡ Jackery 5000 Plus Whole Home Backup Kit: "When there's a blackout, have confidence your household will stay online." 🔌 Electric vehicle chargers for your home on sale, including the Battery Tender® by Deltran plus a feature on #EVs and Costco's "EV Marketplace" program to help people make informed decisions about buying an EV 💡 A feature on solar lighting as "an effective and environmentally friendly way of illuminating your yard." 🥕 A feature called "Less waste, more tasty meals: Delicious uses for leftover seafood." 🌿 Ads for Greenworks portable power tools and two different home composters. 🏠 A feature on #HVAC systems including a recommendation to explore electric pumps from Lennox: "Electric heat pumps significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to natural gas boilers, and could also save you money on your regular utility bills." Consumers and corporations have a big part to play in how fast the cooler, cleaner future arrives -- it's on the way. (And side note: I am a big Costco shopper and fan, but I / The Cool Down have no official partnership (sadly). WSJ story here: https://lnkd.in/gnVC2wmJ #cleanenergy #cleanfuture #clean #climate #climatesolutions #foodwaste #heatpumps

🚘 Cool tech alert: Meet the Pebble Flow, the fully #electric RV that's re-imagining your next roadtrip. We chatted with Pebble's Stefan Solyom and he gave us a tour inside the ultra-modern setup — which includes an #induction stove, rooftop #solar, and a 45-kWh battery. See for yourself 👇

🚰 ⚡ Amazing opp from our Marketplace partner Zero Homes! Free heat pump water heaters (yes you read that right). For all our Denver-based readers, this is the sign you've been waiting for. Heat pump water heaters are 2-3x more efficient than traditional units — meaning upgrading could save you up to $550 every year [https://lnkd.in/eW4RUCvw]. Zero Homes is offering you one for free — gotta love those local Denver incentives — so snag yours by March 12.

How do you get more and more households to adopt solar tech? Remove the high upfront cost and offer solar leases instead. Recently we covered Palmetto's new leasing program that comes with pricing peace of mind: "We are guaranteeing that the customer is going to save money when they lease with us," Palmetto's Nathan Healy told The Cool Down. Healy also reported that the company's new leasing program is exploding in popularity — with an average of 300 households in 30 states signing up every day. Get the full story here 👇