Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future

The Hidden Climate Problem in Every Grocery Store (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, Megan Kjar sits down with Fritz Troller, CEO of Thurm, to discuss one of the most overlooked climate opportunities hiding in plain sight: refrigeration and the food supply chain. Refrigerant gases used in grocery stores and cold storage facilities are among the most powerful greenhouse gases in the world, and small leaks add up to massive climate impact. These “super pollutants” are responsible for a significant portion of near-term global warming — but they’re also one of the fastest problems we can solve. Fritz explains how Thurm works with grocery stores, distributors, and food processors to reduce refrigerant leaks, transition to climate-friendly systems, and use carbon finance to make sustainable upgrades economically viable. The company also helps divert food waste from landfills, reduce methane emissions, and create new revenue streams through carbon markets. This conversation explores the intersection of climate technology, finance, and global supply chains — and why the key to scaling climate solutions is making the right decision both environmentally and economically. Topics covered: * Super pollutants and why they matter * Refrigeration and climate impact * Carbon credits and carbon finance * Food waste and methane reduction * Scaling climate solutions globally * The business model behind climate tech adoption If you’re interested in climate tech, carbon markets, supply chains, or scalable sustainability solutions, this episode is for you.

The $10 Trillion Climate Lever Nobody Is Talking About

Most people think their climate impact comes from things like driving an EV, installing solar panels, or reducing waste. But what if the biggest climate impact you have is hidden inside your retirement account? In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, Megan Kjar sits down with Ashwin Devnani, CTO and Chief Product Officer of Investiture, to explore one of the most overlooked levers in climate finance. In the United States alone, nearly $10 trillion sits in employer-sponsored retirement accounts like 401(k)s. Most employees set them up once and rarely revisit them — but those investments may be funding industries that contribute heavily to carbon emissions. Ashwin explains how Investiture is helping companies and employees understand the carbon footprint of their investment portfolios, and how simply reallocating a portion of those funds could unlock massive climate impact without sacrificing financial returns. They also discuss: * Why retirement investments are often called “zombie money” * The hidden climate footprint of 401(k) and 403(b) plans * Why service companies’ largest emissions may come from their investments * How companies and employees can influence retirement fund options * The opportunity to redirect even 10% of $10 trillion toward climate solutions * The challenges startups face when disrupting large financial systems This conversation highlights an important truth: solving climate change isn’t always about new capital — sometimes it’s about moving the money that already exists. investature.com [http://investature.com]

What Most Companies Still Don’t Understand About EV Charging

In this episode of Green Disruptors, Megan Kjar sits down with Nick Casas, CEO of Uptime EV Charger, to talk about the realities of EV infrastructure deployment in a changing market. Nick shares how Uptime approaches enterprise EV charging rollouts, why the company focuses on transparency and education, and what it means to truly listen to customer needs instead of pushing one-size-fits-all solutions. He explains why EV deployment is far more complex than many assume, and how long-term thinking, strong execution, and the right team can create growth even during a slower and more uncertain market cycle. Megan and Nick also discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the EV sector right now, including power constraints, adoption bottlenecks, policy uncertainty, and the need for practical innovation. Nick highlights the company’s work around mobile charging, battery-backed systems, and hybrid solutions for businesses that do not own their facilities but still need to electrify operations. The conversation also explores how AI is being used inside the business to improve uptime, remote monitoring, customer communication, and decision-making across teams. And in true Green Disruptors fashion, the episode closes on a more personal note with a conversation about music, family, creativity, and the things that keep founders energized outside of work. This episode is for anyone interested in EV charging, fleet electrification, clean energy infrastructure, AI in operations, and what it takes to build resilient companies in the energy transition.

Solving a 100-Year HVAC Problem: How Clean Coils Unlock Massive Energy Savings

Buildings account for roughly 40% of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, yet one of the biggest drivers of that energy use remains largely invisible: HVAC systems. In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, host Megan Kjar sits down with Jim Metropoulos, founder of BlueBox Air, to unpack a problem that’s been hiding in plain sight for over a century — biofouling inside HVAC heat transfer coils. Jim shares how a background far outside traditional engineering led to an accidental but powerful breakthrough: a patented, enzyme-based process that cleans and automates HVAC systems from the inside out — without chemicals, shutdowns, or disruption. The result? * 30–50% efficiency restoration in fouled systems * Dramatically lower energy costs and peak load demand * Improved indoor air quality * Fast ROI that often pays back in under a year From hospitals and high-rise buildings to data centers powering AI, this conversation reveals why HVAC is the foundation of the modern world — and why solving this one choke point could meaningfully impact global energy use and emissions at scale. This episode isn’t about moral arguments or sustainability buzzwords. It’s about performance, economics, and systems that finally work the way they were supposed to.

Why Focus Beats Hustle: Scaling Appadana Energy with Lev Buslovich

What does it take to scale a clean energy company without losing focus, culture, or profitability? In this episode of Green Disruptors, host Megan Kjar sits down with Lev Buslovich, President of Apadana Energy, to explore leadership lessons behind sustainable growth in clean energy. Lev shares his remarkable personal story—from growing up as a refugee to leading a rapidly scaling energy company—and breaks down the leadership principles that helped Apadana double year over year. Topics include: Why focus is critical for scaling Engineering-driven growth vs. custom chaos Building teams around strengths Systems, process, and leadership in clean energy If you’re a founder, operator, or energy professional thinking about scale, this conversation is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of energy.