Mahesh Ramanujam, co-founder, President, and CEO of the Global Network for Zero (GNFZ), joins the Clear Haze Exchange podcast to discuss how technology can be either an enabler or a differentiator. Mahesh begins by explaining how the evolution of technology has led to significant advancements in energy efficiency, automation, and data management, which he has experienced in his life and career, having worked with organizations like IBM and Lenovo.

As the CEO of GNFZ, Mahesh doesn’t have a typical day, but he emphasizes that a significant portion of his day is spent speaking, networking, and interacting with people at conferences. Marcus and Mahesh met at the Rebuild Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mahesh remembered Marcus and the two spent a lot of time discussing decarbonization and sustainable lifestyles.

Decarbonization, as defined by Mahesh, is the process of reducing and ultimately eliminating greenhouse gas emissions across various assets, including buildings and businesses. He argues that achieving decarbonization should not be overly complicated, and he co-founded GNFZ to remove much of the confusion and challenges about decarbonization.

In Episode 2 of Clear Haze Exchange, Mahesh Ramanujam points out that:

1. There is often a lack of clear communication about decarbonization,
2. Businesses don’t appreciate the long-term profitability, and
3. Alignment with decarbonization goals will benefit the environment and drive business success.

Ultimately, Marcus and Mahesh discuss how a lack of integration and interoperability is impacting the sustainability movement. Although green building programs and sustainability initiatives exist, many operate in silos. To overcome these challenges, Mahesh calls for a collaborative approach where data is shared openly, and different sustainability programs recognize and complement each other. Mahesh understands these programs on a larger scale from his time serving as the President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and staying close to other advocates of sustainability and decarbonization.

This episode is produced by Skip The Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.