# HIBT Lab! BlocPower: Donnel Baird

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-07-07
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird

## Summary

Donnel Baird, founder of BlocPower, explains how he built a for-profit company to electrify low-income buildings, drawing on his upbringing in Brooklyn where residents used gas ovens for heat. He details the technical process of replacing fossil fuel systems with heat pumps and induction stoves, and the financial model that allows building owners to repay upgrades through energy savings. Baird also discusses the company's partnership with cities like Ithaca, its competitive advantage in serving underserved markets, and his vision for broad-based investment in the green energy transition.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=0) Introduction: Donnel Baird and BlocPower
- [1:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=118) Growing up in Brooklyn and the Obama Campaign
- [6:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=404) The Problem of Energy Neglect and Building Emissions
- [12:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=738) Founding BlocPower and the Business Model
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=1184) Electrification Technology: Heat Pumps and Induction
- [26:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=1581) Financing Upgrades for Low-Income Buildings
- [30:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=1850) Workforce Development and City Partnerships
- [34:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=2069) Profitability, IPO Plans, and Market Strategy
- [42:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird#t=2531) Broadening Climate Investment and Political Coalitions

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- BlocPower (company)
- Goldman Sachs (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Rivian (company)
- Mitsubishi (company)
- Daikin (company)
- Fujitsu (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Ithaca (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Using Efficient Heat Pumps to Cut CO2 Emissions with Paul Lambert, Founder and CEO of Quilt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-08-31-using-efficient-heat-pumps-to-cut-co2-emissions-with-paul-lambert-founder-and-ce) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Decarbonizing Heating and Housing Spaces: A Conversation with Jane Melia, Co-Founder and CEO of Harvest](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-08-03-decarbonizing-heating-and-housing-spaces-a-conversation-with-jane-melia-co-found) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [How a User-Installable Heat Pump Can Decarbonize Apartment Buildings: Insights from Vince Romanin, CEO of Gradient](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-10-12-how-a-user-installable-heat-pump-can-decarbonize-apartment-buildings-insights-fr) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [How Base Power plans to use its fresh $1B [re-published]](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-16-how-base-power-plans-to-use-its-fresh-1b-re-published) (Catalyst)
- [Sustainable Kitchens: Smart Induction Stoves for Fighting Climate Change with Sam D’Amico](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-11-07-sustainable-kitchens-smart-induction-stoves-for-fighting-climate-change-with-sam) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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