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Meet Joselyn Lai: Amping Up the Decarbonization of Buildings #5

Updated: Mar 22

 🌿Hey Earth First Fam!


Welcome to our 5th newsletter!


In this edition of Earth First, we're diving into the innovative world of Bedrock Energy, a leading name in sustainable geothermal solutions. Steering this green endeavor is Joselyn Lai, CEO and co-founder, a figure synonymous with environmental stewardship and technological innovation.


Here’s what we’ve got lined up for you in this edition:

  1. What is Geothermal Energy? & Why is it a Game Changer?

  2. Who is Joselyn Lai? & How Did She Pioneer Bedrock Energy?

  3. What's Bedrock Energy's Mission? & How Are They Making a Difference?




🔥Geothermal Energy: Harnessing Earth’s Inner Heat


Hello, eco-warriors and energy aficionados! Have you ever paused to consider the untapped power lying dormant beneath our very feet? Enter geothermal energy (in Greek: Geo = Earth & Therme = Heat): Earth's subterranean gift, offering a green and steady stream of power.


This isn't just the stuff of ancient spas or Roman leisure; it's a modern-day key player in our quest for clean, uninterrupted energy, sidestepping the fickleness of wind and sun, and the environmental consequences of traditional fossil fuels.


Earth's Core to the Rescue 🌍


Imagine supporting our lives by merely tapping into the planet's fiery heart. From warming your home during the chill of winter or cooling it during the summer's peak, geothermal heating and cooling uses the Earth's natural temperature gradient as a thermal sink and source, producing minimal emissions and utilizing less land compared to its energy counterparts. It's like having a superhero beneath us, fighting the climate crisis invisibly and tirelessly, 24/7.


Harnessing Heat, Powering Progress ⚡


Geothermal setups can bring the Earth's deep high-temperature heat up to our level, spinning turbines to light up our world. They can also provide eco-friendly heating and cooling with the more ambient temperatures of the first few hundred feet underground.

Picture an energy solution so sleek that it reduces bills and carbon footprints without breaking a sweat. Geothermal heat pumps showcase the sheer efficiency and versatility of this energy.


The Hot Path Forward 🔜 


The future looks bright and steamy with high-temperature geothermal energy poised to revolutionize how we power our homes and industries. Think about it this way: in 2024, we're expecting geothermal energy to pump out a whopping 99.73 billion kilowatt-hours.

High-temperature geothermal energy is gearing up to be a cornerstone of our sustainable energy landscape. It's a thrilling time to be alive, as we drill down to solutions that promise a cleaner, greener planet.


🌟 Joselyn: The Sustainability Pioneer Forging a Geothermal Legacy




Embarking on a Green Journey 🌳


Let's talk about Joselyn, whose passion for the environment has been a lifelong affair. With a foundation built on an academic exploration of regenerative agriculture at Harvard University, her career began at the crossroads of sustainability and innovation.

From contributing to sustainable agriculture in nonprofit consulting as an extra-10 at Bain, Joselyn's early career was marked by a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Later, she joined an agricultural SaaS startup as Head of Operations, which ultimately laid the groundwork for her eventual pivot to climate tech.


A Pivot to Purposeful Innovation 🔧 


The turning point for Joselyn came when her focus sharpened on identifying a startup idea with a direct, measurable impact on decarbonization. Her extensive background in agriculture and sustainability informed her search for a venture that could make a tangible difference in the fight against climate change.

 I was specifically looking for a startup concept that would be super direct in its decarbonization impact: super quantifiable, permanent, additional, and not leaky.

This journey of exploration led her to the potential of geothermal heat pumps as a scalable, effective solution for decarbonizing buildings. It was a perfect match for her criteria: direct, quantifiable, and capable of making a significant environmental impact.


Geothermal Visionary 🌍


Driven by the urgency of climate change and the need for actionable solutions, Joselyn co-founded Bedrock Energy after meeting her co-founder, Silviu Livescu, previous Chief Scientist at Baker Hughes. Values were everything and questions regarding passion for the technology, intellectual curiosity, drive, and culture, were all checked off.


Her venture wasn't just about introducing a new product; it was about challenging and changing the status quo of the real estate industry and making it the economically preferable option as well.


Simplifying Sustainability in Startups 📈


Building a startup is no small feat, especially in the realm of geothermal energy where the leap from traditional oil and gas to innovative climate solutions is vast. For Joselyn and her team at Bedrock Energy, it's about bridging this gap, emphasizing that progress, no matter how incremental, is valuable.


Navigating the Green Path 🚀


In the early stages, delivering even at a three or four out of ten is celebrated as a step forward, laying down the path to eventual excellence. This journey from initial concept to scalable solutions reflects a deep commitment to both innovation and environmental stewardship.

Our aim isn't just to innovate but to redefine the industry standards, making geothermal as mainstream as solar.

By prioritizing learning and gradual improvement, Bedrock Energy is not just building a product but spearheading a movement toward a sustainable future. Their approach illustrates a powerful message: sustainable change requires patience, persistence, and a clear vision for the future, making the daunting task of decarbonization not just necessary but achievable.


Inspiring Change, One Building at a Time 🏢 


Joselyn's story is more than just a career narrative; it's an inspiration for anyone looking to make a difference in the world. She embodies the spirit of innovation and the drive to create positive change through technology.


Through her pioneering work in geothermal energy, Joselyn is not only shaping a more sustainable present but also laying the groundwork for a more resilient future.


Get to Know Joselyn!



Favorite podcast: The Ezra Klein Show


Favorite Mantra: “Balance & Equilibrium”


Biggest Climate Role Model: Jamie Beard


Wishes people knew about climate: “I wish that people knew that it doesn't have to be sexy to make an impact. I think the less sexy stuff probably makes a bigger impact. We need people who are super nerdy about how the grid works, the impact of day-to-day decisions, how HOA works, or just the installation on your house. It's just the unsexy stuff that I wish people knew matters.”


Most excited about for the future: “I'm really excited for the moment when Bedrock has built enough of our product and our operation that we're like, this is the unit that can scale. This is a unit we can replicate and go. We proved the concept, let's go make a lot of it and do it in different parts of the country, and decarbonize lots of buildings.”


🚀 Bedrock Energy: Powering Cleaner, Greener Buildings



Let's dive into Bedrock Energy a game-changer in the geothermal industry, revolutionizing how we think about heating and cooling our spaces. They're not just another energy company; they're on a mission to turn the tide toward sustainability in urban development and beyond.


The Groundbreaking Innovations 🌡️


Bedrock Energy is making waves with their cutting-edge geothermal solutions, far surpassing traditional HVAC systems in efficiency and eco-friendliness. Their technology harnesses the Earth's constant temperatures, providing a renewable, emission-free source of heating and cooling that's not only good for the planet but also kinder to your wallet.


Here's a glimpse into their offerings:

  • Zero-Carbon HVAC: Ground-source heat pumps leverage the E

  • arth's consistent temperatures for eco-friendly climate control.

  • Top Energy Efficiency: Beats traditional systems, cutting costs by over 50%.

  • Compact and Clean: Avoids outdoor units, noise, and air pollution, ensuring a healthy, space-saving choice for HVAC.


How Bedrock is Different


What sets Bedrock Energy apart isn't just their technology; it's their approach to making geothermal heating and cooling a feasible, attractive option for all. They've reimagined geothermal installation, offering:

  • Fast, Smart Drilling: Innovative tech drills 5x quicker through any terrain, minimizing disruption

  • Algorithm-Powered Design: Ensures optimal, reliable borehole performance

  • Seamless Implementation: Covers design to financing and construction, simplifying geothermal adoption


Ambitious Environmental Goals 🌍


Bedrock Energy isn't just about providing sustainable heating and cooling solutions; they're about transforming urban landscapes. Their technology:

  • Cuts Urban Carbon Footprints: Switching to geothermal slashes HVAC emissions.

  • Fosters City-Wide Sustainability: Makes geothermal viable in dense areas, aiding Net Zero goals.

  • Boosts Eco-Economy: Aligns with incentives and policies, pushing for broader geothermal use.


Bedrock Energy is not merely innovating; they're setting a new standard for sustainable urban living. With their pioneering geothermal technology, they're paving the way for a future where clean, efficient heating and cooling is the norm, not the exception, making our cities greener and our planet healthier.

We want to close it off with a little educational section and a fun trivia!


📘 Geothermal Essentials:

  1. Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs): Systems that use the stable underground temperature to heat and cool buildings.

  2. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Advanced methods to extract geothermal energy from the ground, increasing the potential of geothermal power generation.

  3. Thermal Efficiency: The measure of how well a geothermal system converts heat from the Earth into usable energy.


Earth First Trivia (Answers in our next issue!)

  1. How much less acid rain-causing sulfur compounds and carbon dioxide do geothermal power plants emit compared to fossil fuel power plants of similar size?

  2. The first geothermal power plant was built in which country?


That's all for now! Stay green and grounded until our next edition!



Earth First 🌍✌️


Have any climate-related feedback or content topics you’d like to see in Earth First? Feel free to reach out team@theearthfirst.co 


If you are a climate tech startup or investor making real impact hit us up - we would love to chat! woovin@theearthfirst.co or haley@theearthfirst.co 


If you’d like to partner with us or be featured as a sponsor - reach out to evan@theearthfirst.co


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