How I Built This with Guy Raz HIBT Lab! BlocPower: Donnel Baird
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Jul 7, 2022 Donnel Baird, founder of BlocPower, is on a mission to modernize buildings and transition low-income communities to clean energy. He shares his childhood experiences of energy inefficiency in Brooklyn, including the dangers of heating homes with gas ovens. Baird discusses innovative strategies his company employs to electrify these neighborhoods, creating safer, sustainable environments while also hiring local talent. He emphasizes the importance of partnerships and federal investment to make green energy accessible and affordable for all.
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Childhood in Brooklyn
- Donnel Baird's family emigrated from Guyana to a tough Brooklyn neighborhood where buildings lacked heating.
- They and their neighbors used ovens for heat, opening windows for ventilation.
Energy Poverty Observation
- While campaigning for Obama, Donnel Baird noticed energy waste in low-income communities, mirroring his childhood.
- This sparked his interest in addressing energy poverty and its health implications.
Green Buildings Initiative
- Donnel Baird worked on a $6.5 billion green building initiative with the Department of Energy.
- While some initiatives thrived (like Tesla's loan), the building-by-building approach proved challenging.