Clear Haze Exchange

About Clear Haze Exchange

Clear Haze Exchange is an interview-led podcast focused on simplifying sustainability while uncovering the hidden systems, decisions, and long-term impacts shaping our built environment and energy future. Hosted by Marcus Hazelwood, an energy engineer with 15+ years of experience in sustainability and energy efficiency consulting, the podcast has evolved across two seasons: Season 1 focused on breaking down the fundamentals—making energy efficiency, building systems, and sustainability concepts more accessible and practical for a wide range of listeners. Season 2 builds on that foundation, diving deeper into the systems-level thinking behind sustainability—exploring how decisions in design, operations, policy, and business strategy create long-term outcomes. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with industry leaders, engineers, architects, researchers, and decision-makers who are actively shaping the future of sustainability. From building performance and infrastructure to sustainable chemistry and organizational mindset, Clear Haze Exchange connects ideas across disciplines to provide real-world insight. This podcast is for professionals and curious minds alike, those who want to better understand not just what sustainability is, but how it actually works in practice. If you're interested in smarter investments, better systems, and meaningful progress, you're in the right place. Subscribe to Clear Haze Exchange on your favorite platform and join the conversation. For inquiries or guest opportunities: hello@clear-haze.exchange

Publisher

Marcus Hazelwood

Category

business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Apr 2025

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Navigating Hidden Systems in Building Sustainability

   Summary In this episode of Clear Haze Exchange, host Marcus Hazelwood recaps Season 2, highlighting the hidden systems influencing sustainability in buildings. He explores the intersection of technology, data, and organizational dynamics in driving sustainable decisions. Key Takeaways Hidden systems often influence building performance more than technical issues. Data abundance doesn't guarantee better decisions; clarity is key. Successful sustainability requires aligning different organizational perspectives. Technology is valuable but needs people to effectively implement it. Understanding the problem is crucial before finding solutions. Resources Energy Efficiency Insights Sustainable Building Strategies AI in Energy Management 🎧 Listen On: Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2qnqnIzWr91j8ZG9A7W6uh) | Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-haze-exchange/id1807133550?uo=4) 📲 Connect: X (https://x.com/ClearHaze1010) | LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-haze-exchange/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CHEPodcast-10) Chapters: 0:00 - Reflecting on Season 2: Hidden Systems and Decision-Making 16:59 - Exploring Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   How Utility Data Drives Better Building Performance | Somalia Jones

   What happens after you collect the data? In this episode of Clear Haze Exchange, Marcus Hazelwood sits down with Somalia Jones, MBA, Manager of Responsible Investment Policy & Practices at White Oak Partners, to explore how building owners can move from collecting information to actually using it to make better operational and investment decisions. Across a real estate portfolio, utility bills, meter data, financial information, benchmarking requirements, sustainability reporting, and operational data can quickly become overwhelming. The challenge isn't simply collecting more. It's understanding which information matters, translating it across departments, and connecting it to action. Somalia shares how she works across sustainability, finance, accounting, operations, and other teams to create a more complete picture of building performance — and how that information can ultimately influence everything from reporting and budgeting to CapEx decisions. Key Takeaways • More data isn't necessarily better — start with the information needed to answer a specific question. • Utility invoices can reveal much more than cost, including consumption trends, anomalies, operational changes, and potential savings opportunities. • Sustainability professionals can play an important role translating information between finance, accounting, operations, and investment teams. • Reporting shouldn't end with the report. The information can be used to identify future operational improvements and capital projects. • Low-cost, high-impact opportunities can provide a logical starting point when prioritizing CapEx investments. • Software and AI can help organizations process information, but human judgment remains critical for understanding anomalies, context, and organizational priorities. • As experienced building professionals retire, documenting not only processes but also the reasoning behind them is increasingly important. • Establishing a reliable baseline is one of the most important first steps toward improving building performance. About the Guest Somalia Jones, MBA — Manager, Responsible Investment Policy & Practices, White Oak Partners Somalia works at the intersection of real estate, sustainability, reporting, compliance, and business operations. Her work includes gathering and organizing utility and asset information, supporting reporting requirements such as GRESB, identifying performance trends, and connecting building information with operational and financial priorities. In this conversation, she provides a practical look at what it takes to turn portfolio-level building information into something organizations can actually use. If you're interested in smarter investments, better systems, and meaningful progress, you're in the right place. Subscribe to Clear Haze Exchange on your favorite platform and join the conversation. For inquiries or guest opportunities: hello@clear-haze.exchange (mailto:hello@clear-haze.exchange)

3. 

   15 Sept 2026

   3 AI Innovations Transforming Energy Management in 2026

   Summary Explore how AI innovations are transforming energy management by 2026. Host Marcus Hazelwood discusses with Mohamed El-Sayed the revolutionary impact of AI on building performance and sustainability. Key Takeaways AI helps automate repetitive tasks, allowing professionals to focus on critical thinking. Understanding AI limitations is crucial for effective implementation in energy management. AI will not replace jobs entirely but will complement human intelligence, enhancing productivity. Investing time in defining problems leads to more effective AI-driven solutions. AI enhances communication with buildings, providing real-time insights and recommendations. Resources OpenAI and GPT: Overview of capabilities Anthropic Claude: Explore AI tools Amazon's AI Integration: Business applications About the Guest Mohamed El-Sayed — CEO, EA Energy Solutions Mohamed El-Sayed, licensed Professional Engineer & Principal at EA Energy Solutions and has more than 20 years of experience in energy management, building performance, commissioning, energy modeling, and sustainable design. Connect with Mohamed Website: https://www.eaenergy.us (https://www.eaenergy.us) 🎧 Listen On: Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2qnqnIzWr91j8ZG9A7W6uh) | Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-haze-exchange/id1807133550?uo=4) 📲 Connect: X (https://x.com/ClearHaze1010) | LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-haze-exchange/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CHEPodcast-10) Chapters: 0:01 - AI's Role in Energy Efficiency and Sustainability 6:20 - Exploring AI Tools: From ChatGPT to Codex 12:29 - Understanding AI Agents and Their Limitations 18:52 - Integrating AI in Business Workflows and Challenges 26:16 - Navigating Job Automation and AI's Role 30:30 - AI Revolutionizing Building Management and Optimization 36:56 - Defining Problems: The Key to AI Solutions 42:41 - Balancing AI Use with Professional Responsibility

Who has been a guest on Clear Haze Exchange

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Julia Pooler
• Kristy Walson
• Greg Kwak
• Janelle Ball
• Dr Eric Woodroof

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

756,752

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

73

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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