Decarbonizing Water Heating with Intelligent Water Heaters: Insights from Michael Rigney of Cala Systems

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. In this first of a two-part episode, Dylan chats with Casey Handmer, Founder of Terraform Industries. Casey and his team at Terraform are scaling technology to produce cheap natural gas with sunlight and air. Join us as we explore innovative solutions for sustainable energy. Casey shares how TerraForm leverages solar energy, carbon capture, and green hydrogen production to create cost-effective natural gas to combat climate change. Drawing on his diverse background at NASA, Hyperloop, and Caltech, Casey highlights the overlap between space exploration and Earth-bound energy challenges. The discussion delves into the economics of renewable energy, the practicality of hydrogen, and the potential of scalable, modular chemical plants to drive a sustainable energy revolution.

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, Dylan talks to Rob van Straten, CEO of Skytree, about the company’s pioneering direct air capture (DAC) technology aimed at combating climate change. Rob explains how Skytree’s compact, modular DAC systems capture CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, providing a sustainable alternative to fossil-derived CO₂. Skytree, developed initially for the ISS, now helps sectors like vertical farming reduce emissions with locally sourced CO₂. Rob discusses DAC’s role in a circular carbon economy, energy efficiency improvements, and Skytree’s commitment to sustainable materials and customer-driven innovation for scalable climate solutions.

"Performance and user experience are our key differentiators. Our smart induction stove is greener, more powerful, and more precise than traditional gas stoves.” Sam D’Amico In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, Dylan talks to Sam D’Amico, Founder and CEO of Impulse. Dylan chats with Sam about Impulse’s electric induction stove with built-in battery storage designed to reduce household reliance on the grid. They explore how this innovative stove combines high performance and precise temperature control, bringing convenience and efficiency to users. Sam shares insights on how Impulse sets the stage for a cleaner future with distributed energy storage, virtual power plants, and seamless integration of renewable energy.

“Shipping drives 90% of the world's economy. It's our most efficient way to move things around the world, better than land or air shipping, but it still emits around 3% of global CO2. Because of that, ship owners face growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from regulations, customers, and shareholders.” Dylan Garrett In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, Dylan talks to Alisha Fredriksson, Co-Founder and CEO of Seabound. Alisha explains how Seabound’s system, housed in modular shipping containers, helps ship owners reduce CO2 emissions using the latest second-generation carbon capture technology. She shares insights on the challenges shipping lines and owners face, like meeting IMO regulations and the Poseidon Principles while highlighting Seabound’s practical, scalable solution. Alisha also reflects on her journey as a non-technical founder and the importance of curiosity and adaptability in tackling climate tech challenges.

Residential water heating accounts for 3% of all US greenhouse gas emissions and 19% of home energy use, which means it uses a large chunk of a home's energy while adding emissions to our environment. An intelligent heat pump-based water heater is a step in the right direction on both fronts. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, Dylan talks with Michael Rigney, CEO and co-founder of Cala Systems, about their innovative heat pump water heater. They delve into the environmental impact of residential water heating and the need for sustainable solutions. They also discuss the challenges of finding a job at the intersection of hard tech and climate and how the current climate tech wave has opened up more opportunities in this field.

What is the cornerstone for a vibrant Climate Tech ecosphere? A climate hardware playbook designed to guide founders in fundraising and building businesses while helping investors integrate climate hardware into their investment portfolios. A playbook backed by research and insights from climate tech investors and founders. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, Dylan interviews Christian zu Jeddeloh and Sophia Escheu about their newly developed Climate Hardware Playbook, designed to help founders build and scale climate tech startups. They discuss key challenges facing climate hardware companies, including the European funding gap, the chicken-and-egg problem of commercial traction, and the talent shortages in founding teams. The conversation also touches on creative financing solutions, the evolving climate tech investment landscape, and differences between the US and European markets. Christian and Sophia offer valuable insights into emerging trends and practical advice for those looking to make an impact in climate tech. If you are a recent founder or thinking about founding your Climate Tech company, this episode is a must-listen!

Energy storage is a vital cog in building a sustainable grid. It helps us manage the intermittent supply of renewable energy from wind and solar energy sources. Our guest today brings a unique solution to energy storage by repurposing idle gas and oil wells for gravity energy storage. Welcome to this special episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Joining us today is Gregory Kemp, Co-founder and CEO of Renewell Energy. Dylan and Kemp discuss Renewell's innovative approach to repurposing idle oil and gas wells for gravity-based energy storage. Kemp explains how this solution addresses renewable energy's intermittent supply, repurposes existing infrastructure, and offers economic incentives for oil companies.

Access to economically viable solutions to measure soil carbon at scale is a game changer in our ability to improve our food systems and also improve our land's ability to store carbon. Welcome to this special episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Joining us today is Chris Tolles, Co-Founder and CEO of Yard Stick, a company on a mission to reduce soil carbon measurement costs by 90%. This will pave the way for improving our ecosystem health, restoring soil health, and combating climate change. Join us as we examine soil carbon measurement and its impact on food systems and carbon storage. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of soil carbon measurement, the economic aspects of carbon removal, and the role of data in driving behavior change. Chris shares the potential of using spectroscopy for faster and more efficient soil carbon measurement and discusses its impact on agriculture, climate change, and economic value. Our conversation explores the intersection of agriculture, climate change, and carbon removal, offering valuable insights and inspiration.

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Joining us today is Jack Morrison, Co-Founder and CEO of Scythe Robotics, a green company on a mission to provide the most advanced and sustainable autonomous technology for maintaining off-road environments. The company’s autonomous electrical mowing and landscaping equipment helps eliminate the emissions from gas-powered equipment that is commercially used. Join us as we discuss Jack’s background, Scythe’s mission to improve sustainability in landscaping, and their recent series B funding. Jack explains the environmental benefits of transitioning from gas-powered to electric mowers and the importance of urban green spaces. He highlights Scythe’s innovative mower, the M.52, and its development based on customer feedback. Jack also discusses the potential of autonomous technology in various industries and expresses optimism about renewable energy’s future. He encourages individuals to contribute to climate change solutions, emphasizing collective efforts toward sustainability.

Welcome to this special episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Joining us today is Laura Teicher, President and Executive Director at FORGE, a nonprofit on a mission to help innovators with physical products navigate the journey from prototype to commercialization and impact—at scale. Join us as we discuss the challenges and benefits of bringing physical climate tech products to the market. Laura recounts her career shift from politics to innovation support, detailing FORGE's role in assisting with manufacturing and supply chain challenges. She emphasizes local manufacturing benefits like reduced carbon footprints and better communication. The discussion covers FORGE's three support pillars—education, connection, funding, and future service expansions. Laura highlights climate tech growth in renewable energy, electric transportation, and grid connectivity. She advises aspiring climate tech professionals to leverage transferable skills and maintain relationships.