HARC

10/07/2026

09/30/2026

How can energy efficiency improve quality of life while creating opportunities for generational wealth?

For World Habitat Day, we’re revisiting our conversation with Felisa Conner of Frazier Revitalization about affordable housing, energy efficiency and building stronger communities.

🎧 Listen to this episode and more of Energy Crossroads wherever you get your podcasts.

https://bit.ly/EnergyCrossroads

09/28/2026

Summer is over. But in Houston, the heat is still here.

And not every neighborhood experiences it the same way.

HARC’s latest research found that some Houston neighborhoods face a combination of intense afternoon heat, elevated morning temperatures and heat that lingers throughout the day.

Our Heat Burden Priority Index identified 19 neighborhoods experiencing this “triple heat threat.”

The takeaway: The hottest afternoon temperature doesn’t tell the whole story.

Understanding how heat builds and persists across neighborhoods can help inform where cooling strategies, including tree planting, could have the greatest impact.

Swipe through to see what the data tells us, then read the full story below.

https://bit.ly/heatburden

09/25/2026

🌊 It’s National Estuaries Week!

From the rivers that flow into Galveston Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, estuaries connect our waterways, wildlife and communities in ways that matter.

In this video, HARC’s Dr. Erin Kinney takes a closer look at Galveston Bay and why understanding these connections is so important.

Watch to learn more about the estuary in our own backyard.

09/18/2026

Texas used more electricity than ever before this summer. What does that tell us about the future of energy? ⚡

On July 22nd, ERCOT’s hourly peak demand reached a record 91.1 gigawatts, 6% higher than the previous record set in 2023. The peak occurred during a heat wave, when Texans were relying heavily on electricity to stay cool.

And this isn’t just a story about breaking records. Growing electricity demand raises bigger questions about how Texas plans, generates, delivers and manages energy as communities, industries and technologies continue to change.

The energy system of the future will need to be more than reliable. It will need to be flexible enough to respond to rapidly changing demand.

09/17/2026

09/17/2026

💧 "Water is the biggest [resource] and we have started to bring water into the conversation"

In a recent interview with ENOUGH Houston on KPRC2 / Click2Houston, HARC’s Dr. Erin Kinney discussed the growing need to consider water alongside energy when planning for new data centers and other emerging industries.

As Texas’ landscape changes, Dr. Kinney says we need to take a closer look at how we plan for future water needs and make sure those plans account for both new industries and existing water users.

Watch the clip to hear more from Dr. Kinney.

09/16/2026

🔙 Energy Crossroads Throwback: Financing Energy Efficiency

How can facility and energy managers finance energy efficiency projects while maximizing their value?

In this throwback episode, Dean Stanberry, formerly with the General Services Administration and Global Chair of IFMA, and Rob Hamon, former Director of Energy and Sustainability at Boxer Property, discuss financing strategies, industry trends and what’s ahead for energy financing.

🎧 Listen to this episode and more of Energy Crossroads wherever you get your podcasts.

https://bit.ly/EnergyCrossroads

09/11/2026

Texas’ growing data center industry is raising important questions about the state’s water future.

HARC’s Dr. Margaret Cook was recently featured in Austin Chronicle discussing the water demands of data centers and what their growth could mean for Texas’ long-term water security.

As Dr. Cook put it: “Communities that are allowing data centers in their community are gambling against being able to get new water from future State Water Plans.”

HARC’s Thirsty Data and the Lone Star State report examines this growing challenge and offers recommendations for better planning.

Read the report: https://ow.ly/J3Qw50ZM4N1

09/02/2026

As we revisit some of our favorite conversations from the Energy Crossroads podcast, Episode 18 takes us into the evolving future of energy in Texas. 🎙️

Dr. Erick C. Jones Jr., an assistant professor at the The University of Texas at Arlington and director of the SEAR Lab, joined us to discuss how organizations can make the most of limited resources while building more sustainable, efficient, and resilient systems.

From Texas’ long history in the energy industry to the opportunities ahead, this conversation explores energy transition, resilience, and the importance of thoughtful resource allocation in shaping the future of energy.

🌎 Listen to the full episode https://bit.ly/4cXh6d1