What we learned from the Net Zero buildings experts on our webinar

We kicked off the KLA Climate Solutions Series with an informative and engaging webinar discussion on how local governments can take steps toward implementing Net Zero buildings in their communities -- a critical step to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions at a scale that truly matters for climate action. 

You can access the on-demand webinar, our tipsheet and webinar slides here.

Here are four things our panelists said about this high-impact climate solution that caught our attention: 

1. The cost to get there is nothing compared to what it will save us long-term.

We know the climate crisis demands action, and action costs money. It’s important to keep in mind, however, the cost of not acting.

Steven Burke mentioned the importance of this perspective when thinking about the initial cost of constructing Net Zero buildings: 

“If the premium to save our future is a 3% added cost on a building, we should be able to manage that.”

This whole planet-saving thing is our job...and our passion

This Earth Day at KLA, we’re not just celebrating a day-long commitment to protecting our planet, but a life-long one.  

KLA is unique. Every single one of our team members is in this line of work because we truly care. We’re a group of passionate people whose hearts are in the act of saving the planet — who better to help our local governments address climate change?

To inspire you and help you understand why we do the work that we do, we wanted to share some of our team members’ stories. We asked the KLA team to share their “green spark” — the thing that drove them to pursue a career in sustainability, whether it be a moment, place, idea or event.

Kim, CEO:

“You can track my two decades-long sustainability career back to a Scholastic News article about baby seals being clubbed in the Arctic, which prompted me to map out a plan to partner with polar bears to attack the poachers. Flash forward to today, and I am still driven by a passion to protect the planet for all living species by partnering with local governments to plan for and take action on climate change.”

New (Updated 2024) Climate Conversation Guide will help turn your words into action

It's common to hear that the time for talking about climate change is over, and that it's time for action. With experts indicating that we have less than a decade to avoid the most dire impacts, it's true that bold action is needed. But we would argue that *in addition to* taking action in our own lives, we need to be talking. 

Add one of the KLA Team's fave podcasts to your playlist this Earth Day

If Earth Day has you inspired to pick up new green habits, a first step might be to up (or start) your podcast game.

We polled the KLA team and put together a short playlist of some of our favorite podcasts. These have been fueling and feeding our curiosity about anything and everything environment, climate, and sustainability related – urban design, environmental justice, climate politics and more.

Podcasts are an easy way – while fixing a meal, running errands, taking a shower – to keep up to speed with the latest stories and analysis. We think they are awesome enough that we produce our own Sustainability Action Series podcast SAS Talk with Kim. We’re out with a fresh episode focused on community equity partners with Imhotep Adisa from The Kheprw Institute in Indianapolis.

Green your playlist and your mind with these podcasts:

Take Our Short Earth Month Quiz to Find Out

Happy Earth Month!

First webinar in series that will focus on high impact GHG reduction strategies for local governments

Experts tell us that we have less than a decade to significantly reduce GHG emissions to avoid the most dire impacts of climate change. This means local governments must take aggressive action now.

A Chat with Our Community Equity Partner from the Thrive Indianapolis Planning Process

Whenever we approach a new planning project, one of the first items on my to-do list -- even at the proposal stage -- is to find “The Kheprw Institute of this community.”

What does that mean? And why is it so hard?

We dive into a bit of that in my latest Sustainability Action Series (SAS Talk) podcast, but the key is “equitable engagement.” That’s the cornerstone of KLA’s approach to climate, sustainability and climate action planning processes. We work with clients to go beyond the usual suspects and to identify and break down the barriers that have long silenced the voices of the most vulnerable in the community. And the most effective way to accomplish that is by partnering with community-based organizations who have established trusted relationships on the ground and can represent and reach the voices you need to hear.

And that's what I talk with Imhotep Adisa of The Kheprw Institute in Indianapolis about in our latest podcast. 

Video: Why it’s important and how to do it on any budget

Cities, towns and counties of all sizes should incorporate video in their climate action, sustainability and resilience work. Why?

• About 82% of internet traffic this year is expected to be video.
• If you hear a piece of information, you remember about 10% of it a few days later. If that info is presented in video (so you see *and* hear it), you can remember 65%. 
• Video is shared 12 times more than text and images – and 92% of mobile users share videos. 

If you want community members to take a survey, come to a meeting, know about a program or take some action, video might just be the ticket!

So you've read our "Yes, Your Climate Action Plan Needs a Brand" post, and we convinced you of the value of investing in intentional branding and messaging at the very start of your planning process? Good stuff.  

Nike’s Swoosh. The classic Apple symbol. The World Wildlife Fund panda. Target’s bullseye. These are all iconic brand logos. When you see them, you know what they represent. And when you hear the following words, you probably know the company or product and something about it: Melts in your mouth, not in your hands (M&Ms); Red Bull gives you wings; Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there; Yes We Can (Obama presidential campaign).

The words and visual identity of these brands carry meaning and clearly communicate the essence of that company or organization – and what they want you to do (buy our products) or think (we should protect that panda).

The same should be true for your work on climate action, resilience and sustainability plans.

Bottom line: you need to be deliberate about the words and images you choose in order to raise awareness of and create buy-in for your climate and sustainability work and move people down the path to taking meaningful action in their lives. Branding is a key ingredient to your long-term success, and you have to embrace it early on and stick with it.