Retrofitting Buildings for a Greener Future: A Conversation with Nicole Whalen
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Devin: what do you see as your superpower?
Nicole: My superpower is that I don’t get—climate change isn’t something I see as a depressing end-of-world must-be scenario. It’s very much a call to action.
In today’s episode of Superpowers for Good, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nicole Whalen, Founder and CEO of Green Compass, a company dedicated to fighting climate change by retrofitting buildings with green infrastructure. The conversation highlighted the significant yet often overlooked role that buildings play in contributing to climate change. According to Nicole, over 70% of emissions in Washington, D.C., come from buildings, and this trend is common across the globe.
Nicole shared how Green Compass utilizes nature-based solutions to retrofit commercial and multifamily buildings. These efforts include installing solar panels, electrification systems, and green stormwater infrastructure, all aimed at reducing emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change. One of her most striking projects involved creating a 2,000-square-foot rain garden that captures almost a million gallons of water per year. “Something as small a footprint as 2,000 square feet can capture almost a million gallons of water a year,” she said, emphasizing the scale of impact even small projects can have.
What I found particularly compelling was Nicole’s vision for decentralizing both energy and water systems, a step she sees as critical for sustainability. “Decentralizing utilities is something that’s…indicative for sustainability. We need to have more decentralization of our energy sources [and] decentralized water systems as well,” she explained.
Nicole’s work demonstrates the immense potential of combining private sector investment with innovative green solutions to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems: climate change. Green Compass’s Raise Green crowdfunding campaign is now live, offering a unique opportunity for impact-minded investors to support this mission.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on how business leaders are using their superpowers for good!
tl;dr:
Introduction of Green Compass: Nicole Whalen, founder of Green Compass, explains that her company retrofits commercial and multifamily buildings using green infrastructure to combat climate change, employing nature-based solutions like solar systems and EV charging.
Climate Impact of Buildings: Whalen highlights the significant role buildings play in emissions, with over 70% of emissions in Washington D.C. coming from buildings, and emphasizes the need for retrofitting to reduce these emissions.
Stormwater Retention Credits: Green Compass develops projects that utilize stormwater retention credits, a market-driven solution that allows private investment in green infrastructure, benefiting entities like churches and reducing costs while improving environmental outcomes.
Future Expansion: Green Compass, initially focused in D.C., plans to expand across the U.S. as other municipalities adopt similar stormwater management systems, driven by climate change and inadequate existing infrastructure.
Nicole’s Superpower: Whalen attributes her success to her scientific mindset, particularly her ability to view the world through ecological Relationships, and her passion for using nature to restore the environment, offering an optimistic approach to addressing climate challenges.
How to Develop Green Innovation As a Superpower
Nicole’s superpower lies in her ability to drive significant environmental change through innovative green solutions. By retrofitting buildings with advanced green infrastructure, she tackles climate change head-on. Nicole’s approach integrates nature-based systems like green stormwater infrastructure, solar energy, and electrification to reduce emissions and enhance sustainability in urban environments.
An illustrative story from our conversation involved a project where Nicole’s team created a 2,000-square-foot rain garden that captures nearly a million gallons of water annually. This project not only manages stormwater effectively but also enhances the local environment by adding trees and reducing urban heat. Nicole’s innovative approach allows her to address both water management and carbon sequestration simultaneously.
To develop green Innovation as a personal strength, Nicole suggests focusing on several key areas:
Invest in Learning: Understand the latest technologies and methods in green infrastructure.
Leverage Investment Opportunities: Utilize innovative financing solutions like stormwater retention credits to support your projects.
Embrace Decentralization: Promote decentralized systems for energy and water management to increase sustainability.
By following Nicole’s example and advice, you can make green innovation a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Nicole Whalen (she/her):
Founder & CEO, Green Compass LLC
About Green Compass LLC: Based in Washington DC, Green Compass retrofits commercial and multifamily buildings to fight climate change by deploying:
💧 Green Stormwater Infrastructure
☀️ Renewable Energy Systems
🔋 EV Charging Infrastructure
🏢 Building Efficiency Measures
Website: www.greencompass.co
Other URL: invest.raisegreen.com/offering/greencompass/details
Biographical Information: Nicole is the founder and CEO of Green Compass. She has an interdisciplinary background in earth science and economics and followed her lifelong love of the oceans upstream to scale nature-based solutions that reduce air and water pollution.
Nicole earned a BA in International Studies/Economics cum laude from New College of Florida and a MA in Global Sustainability, Water Resource Management from the University of South Florida. Her career started in marine science and international development, working on climate adaptation programs funded by USAID and the US Department of State. She is proud to call DC home as a 5th generation Washingtonian and is passionate about deploying nature-based and city-led solutions to climate change.
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/niwhalen/
Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/greencompass.co/
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