Shows
Carbon Clarity#15. Don't look back: Construction's missing feedback loop with Joe-Jack Williams.We spend weeks perfecting tender documents for projects we might not even win, but how much time do we spend learning from the buildings we actually build? Spoiler alert: almost none. In this wide-ranging conversation, I discuss with Joe-Jack Williams from Bywater how the construction industry has developed a serious case of selective blindness when it comes to post-occupancy evaluation – and why it's such a missed opportunity.But that's just one of the things we talk about!Alongside some great insights to the use of timber in construction, Bywater's speciality, Joe-Jack tak...2025-07-3044 min
Carbon Clarity#14 Lock it in. Why carbon storage matters.We all know we need to cut carbon emissions... but what about the carbon that's already out there?I recently sat down with Garrett Boudinot, founder of Vy-Carb, and he shared a really powerful perspective. He says it's not just about fixing the leaky tap – it's also about mopping up all the water that's already spilled!Mitigation, reducing our emissions, is absolutely non-negotiable, but if we're serious about hitting our climate targets, we have to think about actively removing and storing carbon too.Garrett explains both carbon capture and storage, what options are av...2025-06-2546 min
Carbon Clarity#13 The Critical Chain: Minerals, Geopolitics, and the Green TransitionWhat do electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and satellites all have in common?They rely on a complex, often invisible web of elements – rare earths and critical minerals – pulled from the ground, refined across borders, and essential to our transition to a net-zero carbon future.But here’s the catch – the term “critical” isn’t as clear-cut as it sounds. It depends on who you ask, where you’re standing, and what you need.In this episode, we dig deep into the world of critical minerals:What makes a mineral critic...2025-05-2843 min
Carbon Clarity#12 Can we save Britain's nature?In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Brian Eversham, CEO of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire WIldlife Trust and absolute nature guru! We discuss the critical state of nature in the UK in the context of being one of the most nature depleted places on the planet. We talk about the specific impacts of climate change and how agriculture is a major factor in wildlife decline but could also be a big part of saving it, and Brian tells me about the incredible work the Trust is doing, from the Great Fens project to the reintroduction of b...2025-04-2341 min
Carbon Clarity#11 AI's Energy Use: Can Data Centres Keep Up?The rise of Artificial Intelligence is changing our world, but at what cost? AI searches consume significantly more energy than standard online queries, and the data centres powering this revolution are transforming into the heavy industry of our age. But how do these energy-hungry giants impact our planet and communities?In this episode, we talk to Anna Dowson, Senior Director of Sustainability at Greenscale, to pull back the curtain on data centres. We explore their critical role in our digital lives and the sustainability challenges they face. Discover how AI is reshaping data centre design, the drive...2025-03-2643 min
Carbon Clarity#10 Carbon Clarity with Kev and NigelIn this episode, I'm joined by Nigel Banks, Technical Director at Octopus Energy; now the UK's largest energy supplier.We get into all manner of energy and carbon related chat including how Octopus can afford to guarantee that customers on their Zero Bills tariff won't pay anything for energy for an extraordinary 10 years, why moving data centres and other energy hungry industry to where there are more renewables might benefit balance sheets as well as GHG inventories, and why upgrading the fabric in your house probably shouldn't be step 1 on your decarbonisation journey.Things mentioned...2025-02-2647 min
Carbon Clarity#9 Carbon Clarity 2024 Recap with Kev and AndrewSix months into the Carbon Clarity podcast journey and time for a recap! I'm thrilled to be joined once again by Andrew Chamberlain, MD of Elevated who takes over the question master duties for this episode where we talk about the pod so far, previous guests and the conversations with them.We also talk about where global events leave the carbon agenda right now, how we can still react positively in a tricky political climate and the plans for the show in the coming months.Don't forget to subscribe to the show wherever you normally...2025-02-1230 min
Carbon Clarity#8 Carbon Clarity with Kev and SamThe existing buildings challenge. In this episode, I'm joined by Sam McCabe, architect and PassivHaus Designer to discuss the oft repeated fact that 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built and the challenge of how we align them with a Net Zero future.We have a teensy pop at Project Managers who don't give enough time for feasibility work. And architects who still like fully glazed buildings. Oh, and agents. But only a little bit...We also discuss the importance of comfort, the need for incremental change, and how the professional...2025-01-2938 min
Carbon Clarity#7 Carbon Clarity with Kev and TomIn this episode, I'm excited to be joined by Tom Wigg, Senior Advisor, Net Zero Carbon Buildings at the UK Green Building Council to talk all things NZC Buildings Standard.If you're in any way connected to the built environment industry in the UK, you'll have no doubt heard about this new standard, created through the unprecedented collaboration of 9 professional and industry bodies and over 350 experts, it should represent a step-change in the way that we think about, and verify, the impact of buildings on the Net Zero future of the UK.In the show...2024-12-1137 min
Carbon Clarity#6 Carbon Clarity with Kev and MarinaRisk. It's a language every business should understand but do organisations have climate risk in their lexicon?In this episode I'm joined by founder of Bemari Consulting, Marina Bradford to talk about some of the myths that organisations fall foul of and which mean they aren't as prepared as they should be for a range of climate risks.Find out what's meant by physical and transitional risks, how companies can avoid being overwhelmed by the issues and how to break the problem down into digestible chunks.Things mentioned during the show:2024-11-1844 min
Carbon Clarity#5 Carbon Clarity with Kev and AnnaThis time I'm super excited to be joined by Anna Sturtivant, a sustainability practitioner with experience in consulting, central government and now a Sustainability Manager at the BBC.I was really interested to dig into the particular challenges facing large and complex organisations when it comes to creating traction for carbon reduction activity - we discuss the importance of relationships, language and stories, and why you should make friends with your internal comms team!Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts to find out more!Things mentioned in the show:Richard...2024-10-3142 min
Carbon Clarity#4 Carbon Clarity with Kev and CatIn this episode I'm thrilled to be joined by my old colleague, Cat Hirst. A sustainability lifer, Cat published her book 'A Regenerative Mindset' last year to cement her place as one of the growing band of expert practitioners who believe sustainability as we know it isn't enough to bring the world back into balance.In this fascinating episode, we explore what it means for a business to be regenerative, planetary boundaries and why we need to leave the Earth better than we found it. We also get into why a shift of mindset is...2024-10-1646 min
Carbon Clarity#3 Carbon Clarity with Kev and ElinaIn this episode, I chat to Elina Grigoriou owner and Design and Sustainability Director of Grigoriou Interiors, and the chair of the new Ska Rating board.We explore some great new research, recently published, on the up-front carbon in Cat B fit-outs - an often poorly represented and therefore frequently ignored part of a building's overall carbon impact. We talk about Elina's upbringing in Greece, her career-long involvement with Ska (the only assessment framework dedicated to fit-outs) and why it's the decision that's sustainable or not rather than the product.Elina's stint as a professional...2024-09-2441 min
Carbon Clarity#2 Carbon Clarity with Kev and AndrewIn this episode I chat to Andrew Chamberlain, MD of Elevated and specialist in non-profit business management.We get into a discussion about the role of membership associations in supporting their members on climate action - we cover the role of signposting, not trying to solve the whole problem, and how framing their role in the conversation can support members.If you're a membership association, or a member of one, listen in!Website: https://www.hut22.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/Music credits:...2024-08-2833 min
Carbon Clarity#1 Carbon Clarity with Kev and KennethIn this episode I chat to Kenneth Van den Bergh, CEO and co-founder of the online carbon accounting platform Carbon+Alt+Delete.We talk about the platform's altruistic backstory, the BIG carbon reporting problem facing every company and the exciting stuff the guys have planned for the future.If you want to continue the conversation, comment or review!Website: https://www.hut22.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/Music credits:March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)Check out...2024-07-2425 min
Association TransformationAssociations and proactive climate actionSend us a textWelcome to Episode 99! Once again we’re talking about the Climate Crisis and this week are joined by Kev Couling, MD of sustainability specialists Hut22 Ltd to further explore the role of associations in tackling the climate emergency. As associations continue to come to terms with and embrace their opportunities to address the climate emergency, we look at some of the pragmatic ways in which they can take proactive climate action, both as corporate entities and as the conduits for members to access the tools and resources they need to fulfil their climate ob...2024-05-1232 min