Supercool

In 2009, Gundersen Health System embarked on an audacious journey to generate all of its power from local, renewable energy sources. By 2014, the organization headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, succeeded. Alan Eber was right there near the beginning, first as Manager of Engineering and Energy and eventually rising to Director of Gundersen Envision, overseeing the entire energy and sustainability arm of the organization. Alan joins us to share this remarkable story of climate innovation. Harnessing the likes of wind, solar, geothermal, cow manure, landfill gas, and methane created from the operations of a local brewery, he and his team oversaw the development and implementation of a vast array of clean energy technologies. The results are a reduced carbon footprint, $5 million in annual energy savings, improved health conditions in the communities Gundersen serves, and lower healthcare costs for its patient populations. Eber is now CEO of Eneration, helping other healthcare systems pursue what he and his team accomplished at Gundersen.

Show Links:
Guests: Alan Eber
Company: Eneration
Initiative: Gundersen Envision
Health System: Emplify Health

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What is Supercool?

What if solving climate change makes life better? From cutting-edge tech innovation to effective policy implementation, Supercool climate solutions are spreading to towns and cities across the globe. These climate initiatives do more than cut carbon. They improve our lives, save us money, and strengthen our communities. Each week, Josh Dorfman pinpoints the stories and data behind civilization’s dynamic response to climate change as we advance toward the low-carbon future.