Solar energy is often held up as the clean energy solution. But how much do we actually know about how solar panels are made, what battery storage requires, and the trade-offs that come with it?

In this episode of Sustainability Unplugged, we finally give solar the deeper dive it deserves.

We break down:
How solar panels are manufactured — from sand to silicon wafers
How battery storage is made — and what mining lithium really involves
Why solar’s lifetime carbon footprint is dramatically lower than coal and natural gas
The real costs of installing solar (and why it’s still a long-term investment)
The environmental impacts we don’t talk about enough

Solar is renewable. It reduces emissions. It can lower electric bills.

But it’s not impact-free.

This episode isn’t about convincing you to install panels tomorrow. It’s about understanding the full picture — the good, the bad, and the complicated — so we can ask better questions about the future of energy.

Plus, we share a tool you can use to see whether solar might work for your own home

Because sustainability isn’t about choosing the “best” solution—it’s about asking better questions. And if solar is going to play such a big role in our energy future, we think it’s important to understand it beyond the buzzwords.

#SolarEnergy #SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #Podcast #SustainablilityUnplugged

• [0:00] Life Updates & Community Events
• [7:15] Understanding Solar Energy
• [10:57] the Mechanics of Solar Panels
• [20:58] Solar Energy Production & Efficiency
• [32:53] Environmental Impact of Solar
• [39:49] Challenges with Solar
• [44:12] Consumerism & It’s Effects on Energy
• [48:00] Home Solar Assessments
• [47:47] Next Green Thing

• https://www.constellation.com/energy-101/energy-innovation/solar-energy-pros-and-cons.html
• https://earth.org/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-solar-energy/
• https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/solar-energy-and-the-environment.php
• https://www.solar.com/learn/what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-solar-panels/
• https://greentumble.com/why-are-solar-panels-inefficient
• https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/

In honor of the International Day of Women & Girls in Science, we’re spotlighting one of the most recognizable young climate activists of our time: Greta Thunberg. From her first “School Strike for Climate” sign in 2018 to launching the global Fridays for Future movement, Greta has transformed youth climate activism into a worldwide call for climate justice. We dig into how her activism began, the major speeches that went viral, her zero-emissions Atlantic crossing, her books and documentaries, and where her advocacy has shifted in recent years. Plus, we close with a “Next Green Thing” inspired by STEM equity—because empowering girls in science is empowering the future of climate solutions.

Main Points

• International Day of Women & Girls in Science: why it matters and how it supports gender equity in STEM
• Greta Thunberg’s origin story: climate awareness at age 8 and activism beginning in 2018
• The rise of Fridays for Future and how it spread globally
• Greta’s viral moments: COP24, U.N. speeches, and “How dare you!”
• Her values in action: veganism, refusing to fly, and the zero-emissions yacht journey
• Major milestones: Time Person of the Year, Nobel Peace Prize nominations, books + documentaries
• Where Greta is now: activism beyond climate, continued protest of COP, and evolving public perceptio
• Big discussion questions: Will her focus shift as she gets older? How do older generations show up?

For this week’s Next Green Thing, we’re honoring Women & Girls in Science with action: check out the National Girls Collaborative Project’s “5 Ways to Be a STEM Champion for Girls,” from countering stereotypes to supporting girl-serving programs. Because the more girls we empower in STEM today, the more climate problem-solvers we have tomorrow.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 07:01 International Day of Women and Girls in Science
• 08:33 Greta Thunberg
• 16:26 Our Thoughts on Greta
• 31:52 Next Green Thing

Resources

• https://www.womeninscienceday.org/our-history.html
• https://www.biography.com/activists/greta-thunberg
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Thunberg
• https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/16/world/greta-thunberg-cop24/index.html
• https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/763452863/transcript-greta-thunbergs-speech-at-the-u-n-climate-action-summit
• https://ngcproject.org/resources/5-ways-be-stem-champion-girls-2025

Rate & Review on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPcV81RJQV74HQ8NbymTs?si=hHP7zDEPT6CoozRt_CsMQA

Plastic pollution is everywhere—and it’s way worse than most of us realize. In this episode of Sustainability Unplugged, we zoom out from individual plastic swaps to explore what the world is doing to tackle plastic pollution at scale. From global plastic bag bans and deposit return schemes to the United Nations’ attempt at a legally binding global plastics treaty, we break down how plastic waste, microplastics, and single-use products are harming human health and ecosystems—and why international cooperation matters more than ever. We also unpack why negotiations stalled, what’s holding countries back, and what a circular economy could actually look like if we get this right.

Key Takeaways & Talking Points

• Why plastic pollution is primarily driven by single-use products and microplastics
• How microplastics move from land to ocean—and into our food and bodies
• What countries around the world are doing right now to ban or reduce plastics
• Why the U.S. is noticeably missing from national-level plastic action
• What the proposed UN Global Plastics Treaty would cover across the plastic lifecycle
• The biggest disagreements stalling the treaty: production limits, funding, and enforcement
• Why a global, binding solution is still our best shot for people and the planet

Next Green Thing

Feeling overwhelmed by global plastic politics? Start where you are. Swapping just a few everyday plastic items for reusable or natural alternatives helps reduce demand for single-use plastics—and sends a clear signal that we’re ready for a circular economy, not a disposable one.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:56 The Raccoon Navy Proposal
• 06:06 Global Responses to Plastic Pollution
• 10:25 The UN's Plastics Treaty Initiative
• 31:31 Next Green Thing

Resources:

• https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/08/global-plastics-treaty-inc-5-2-explainer/
• https://wedocs.unep.org/items/e6b68bdd-cccb-4321-90a8-1d98a0a08222
• https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/02/how-microplastics-get-into-the-food-chain/

Rate & Review on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPcV81RJQV74HQ8NbymTs?si=hHP7zDEPT6CoozRt_CsMQA