“And what we did was, ‘let’s combine the performance of heat pump, off the shelf heat pump, heat pump water heater, with thermal storage with really really smart controls, and you can reap the benefit of that heat pump by shifting the load to the middle of the day and giving you a heat and hot water whenever you need it.” - Jane Melia

Jane Melia, Co-founder and CEO of Harvest, the smart thermal battery system explains the genesis of Harvest. She discusses the limitations of traditional heat pump systems and how Harvest combines a heat pump with thermal storage and smart controls to decouple the time when heat is generated from when it is used, allowing the system to take advantage of cheaper, cleaner electricity.

Jane provides a detailed overview of how the Harvest system works. It uses a heat pump water heater, a thermal battery (hot water tank), and smart controls to optimize when the heat pump runs to take advantage of renewable energy and off-peak electricity rates, while still providing heating and hot water on demand.

Jane discusses the cost of the Harvest system, noting that it is comparable to a median heat pump system but with higher performance. She explains the various incentives and tax credits available, including the 30% federal tax credit, that can make the system cost-competitive with traditional gas heating and water heating. She also discusses Harvest's efforts to work with contractors and property owners to drive broader adoption.

Jane and Izumi discuss the future of home heating and cooling, with Jane envisioning a future where thermal storage becomes a standard feature of heat pump systems to better leverage renewable energy and support grid decarbonization. They also discuss the policy changes, such as bans on new gas furnaces, that are helping drive the transition to clean heating solutions.

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“During Covid I started to think more about the products I was using and plastics. I’d always used refilled bottles for water and I’d reuse plastic bags at the grocery store. Then I heard the statistics that 2.5 billion tons of trash are in the landfill just from hand and body lotion alone and hand and body wash… “ - Libby Bourne

Libby Bourne is the store manager for a sustainable store Sun Moon Rain in Santa Monica, offering refillable cleaning and personal care products. The store aims to eliminate single-use plastic and toxins through education.

Libby outlined the store's most popular items like refillable dish soap and laundry detergent, appealing for their effectiveness and concentrates reducing plastic use. Customers favor natural deodorants and handwashes for their safe, non-toxic formulas. Libby ensures products meet the store's high standards by checking Environmental Working Group ratings and trusting suppliers with aligned values. This gives customers confidence that items support wellness without compromising the planet.

She explains how the store attracts families seeking non-toxic products plus students and health practitioners concerned with sustainability. Santa Monica schools influence interest, and youth outreach grows demand while older customers remain open to change. While progress encourages Libby, a perfect solution remains distant. Continued education and small individual changes can chip away at plastic pollution if companies also curb production. Collaboration across generations offers hope for positive change.

"We’re not sacrificing anything aesthetic. We’re not sacrificing anything ergonomic by being mindful. We’re just pausing and thinking about it and making a good decision instead of rushing through to check everything off the list. It’s not going to be apparent in the final end result that you did everything in a very sustainable mindful way. It looks the same. It functions the same. It’s just going to last, and it didn’t hurt anyone in the process. And if it’s ripped out, it’s not going to hurt the earth for getting ripped out." - Ali Davin

Ali Davin is a founder of Jute Interior Design, who specializes in sustainable and healthy designs. Ali's passions for art, antiques, and spatial design led her to study and work in those fields in Italy and the US. Clients regularly sought her design advice beyond individual pieces, inspiring her holistic interior design practice.

For her sustainability means prioritizing the earth's and inhabitants' well-being. Ali incorporated sustainability from necessity due to her chemical sensitivities. It involves mindful material selection, waste reduction, and opting out of consumerism through repurposing.

Building codes and contractor mindsets don't always support sustainability. Willing contractors make incremental changes, while some reject discussions. Education is key to accepting health risks in building practices.

Ali informs clients of sustainable options without pushing agendas. Most clients initially prioritize aesthetics over sustainability. Changing mindsets requires patience, as rushing decisions sacrifices health and environmental impacts.

Ali sees growing receptiveness as sustainability connects to individual and planetary well-being. Her dream is working with aligned clients and contractors on thoughtful, waste-reduced projects that minimize footprints.

Her book, Live Natural, aims to introduce sustainability gently through beautiful imagery and approachable, bite-sized writing. It encourages absorbing sustainable messages comfortably without sacrificing aesthetics or function.