Supercool

At Holabird Academy and Graceland Park, two net-zero energy Baltimore public schools, the future is already in session. Solar panels line the roofs, geothermal wells lie below the ballfields, and energy-efficient features keep these buildings running entirely on renewable power. But while these schools are a win for the planet, the real story is how they’re transforming the lives of everyone who steps inside—students, teachers, administrators, and the surrounding community. Stephanie Novak Pappas, the award-winning Principal of Holabird Academy, joins the conversation along with Amy Upton, Director of Environmental Design and Principal at Grimm & Parker Architects, the visionary behind these modern, sustainable, 21st-century schools where carbon emissions are down and performance is up.

Show Links:

Guests: Stephanie Novak Pappas and Amy Upton

School: Holabird Academy

Company: Grimm + Parker Architects (see the Holabird project)

For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon and improve modern life, subscribe to our newsletter.

What is Supercool?

Trillions are on the move. Climate tech startups are scaling. Fortune 500s are reinventing. The driver: decarbonization.

Every major sector of the economy is now realigning around low-carbon innovation.

Hosted by climate-tech founder and author Josh Dorfman, Supercool talks to the operators, investors, and companies at the forefront—how they design, finance, and build products that are winning customers, reshaping markets, and leading a generational shift to the low-carbon future.

Each episode reveals the strategies, business models, and playbooks driving the transition—so you can discover emerging opportunities and act with confidence.