How Smarter Buildings Fight Climate Change (with Runwise founder Lee Hoffman) | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Runwise is transforming buildings by replacing outdated technology with wireless smart sensors, saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, and making cities more sustainable.

Key Insights

• 🫢 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US are caused by commercial and residential buildings, highlighting the need for energy-efficient solutions.
• 🏛️ Outdated technology in buildings from the 1960s and 70s results in excessive energy usage and carbon emissions.
• 🥺 Runwise's wireless sensor network and software offer a 10 times faster and cheaper solution to control building heating systems, leading to significant energy savings.
• 😨 By running buildings more efficiently, carbon emissions in the US can be reduced by over 10%, equivalent to taking half of the cars off the road.
• 🍉 Runwise's long-term vision is to transform all 12 million buildings in the US, making cities more sustainable and healthy.
• 🐕‍🦺 The concept of "outcomes as a service" offered by Runwise shifts the risk of installation to the company, providing property owners with cost savings and improved technology without the burden of building it themselves.
• 👯 Runwise emphasizes the importance of hiring exceptional engineers, technicians, and client service people to achieve their mission.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why do many buildings in cities like New York and San Francisco use outdated technology for heating and cooling?

The installation of control technology is historically expensive, labor-intensive, and requires mechanical expertise. Once installed, the technology is often left untouched and does not result in energy savings.

Q: How does Runwise's wireless sensor network and software improve building operations?

Runwise replaces old technology with wireless smart sensors that operate on batteries, enabling modern software and hardware to control and optimize the building's heating system. This leads to faster installation, lower costs, and more efficient energy usage.

Q: What impact can running buildings more efficiently have on carbon emissions?

Buildings in the US contribute to 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. By increasing energy efficiency through Runwise's technology, carbon emissions could be reduced by over 10%, equivalent to taking half of the cars in the country off the road.

Q: What is the long-term vision for Runwise?

Runwise aims to transform all 12 million buildings in the United States by implementing their technology. By doing so, cities can become more sustainable, healthier, and cleaner. They are currently in less than 4,000 buildings, showing significant potential for growth.

Q: Why do many buildings in cities like New York and San Francisco use outdated technology for heating and cooling?

The installation of control technology is historically expensive, labor-intensive, and requires mechanical expertise. Once installed, the technology is often left untouched and does not result in energy savings.

More Insights

• 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US are caused by commercial and residential buildings, highlighting the need for energy-efficient solutions.

• Outdated technology in buildings from the 1960s and 70s results in excessive energy usage and carbon emissions.

• Runwise's wireless sensor network and software offer a 10 times faster and cheaper solution to control building heating systems, leading to significant energy savings.

• By running buildings more efficiently, carbon emissions in the US can be reduced by over 10%, equivalent to taking half of the cars off the road.

• Runwise's long-term vision is to transform all 12 million buildings in the US, making cities more sustainable and healthy.

• The concept of "outcomes as a service" offered by Runwise shifts the risk of installation to the company, providing property owners with cost savings and improved technology without the burden of building it themselves.

• Runwise emphasizes the importance of hiring exceptional engineers, technicians, and client service people to achieve their mission.

• Energy is one of the largest operating expenses in buildings and is a controllable cost that can be reduced through energy-efficient solutions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Many buildings, including high-rises, still operate on outdated technology from the 1960s and 70s, resulting in excessive energy usage and carbon emissions.

• Runwise is addressing this issue by building a wireless sensor network and software that controls buildings' heating systems, reducing energy usage by 20 to 25% and cutting carbon emissions.

• By making control technology 10 times faster and cheaper to install and utilizing advanced software, Runwise aims to make cities more sustainable, healthy, and cleaner.