We had the opportunity to connect with David Kidman, who wears many hats, all in the effort of improving the environment and health of our planet. He leads efforts in renewable energy in the commercial and non-profit sectors, and also is the creator of a card game that teaches environmentalism through the five elements in order to increase awareness of our impact on the environment.
Tell us a little bit about you and your background:
I grew up in the UK and studied Business at the University of Greenwich. I have since worked in a wide berth of roles in various verticals from the internet to technology consultancy and data management and now in Renewable Energy. These roles have been taken me around the world – namely Europe, Asia & of course the Americas – California right now. I am VP of Strategy for Sunistics Group who have been around for over 10 years delivering clean energy solutions in the commercial sector and for Faith Based and non-profit organizations.
What is a fun fact about you?
I designed my own card game which you can see at mywuxing.com
It teaches the interaction of the productive and destructive cycles of the 5 Elements – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. It’s what is used for Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui, martial arts etc.
Such an important astrological formula to understand especially with today’s fluctuating environment. Simply put a productive cycle is going through the seasons with balance while a destructive one is extremities and uncertain fluctuations where it maybe summer one day then winter the next and we completely miss spring and autumn! That’s an example but the point that I am getting at is balance is of the essence and this needs to be addressed of course.
I also have another project on Facebook called Planet Janitors – updating followers on positive eco-friendly news and projects.
Why do you think climate change and sustainability is such an important topic today?
As the famous Indian proverb goes “Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
We as a species have cultivated an addictive culture that drains without giving back and this has resulted in quick hit dopamine highs with the likes of sugar being packaged in plastic which can be purchased cheaper than water also packaged in plastic – it’s not good at all and we have a lot of restoration and regenerative work ahead to clean up our home. We’re in for a bumpy ride!
What do you envision your industry looking like 10 years from now?
Being in Renewable Energy and having previously worked in Data Management – the metrics are all there that make Renewable Energy not only the more efficient source but by far the most cost effective, so it is not “just” about going clean – it also delivers better ROI & IRR than traditional energy sources. This is only going to get better with Energy Storage.
I see the Energy Storage Industry being in a place now where computing was in the 90s with mainframe computing. Today we have similar computing power in our smart phones so that gives an indication of where Energy Storage is going to go. This is key and presents us a with the potential of a node network of decentralized clean energy microgrids.
What can the average person do to make a difference?
Plastic – do as much as they can with regards to picking up, recycling, avoiding packaged plastic & getting the word out. Plastic to me is the Elephant in the Room. Plastic gets very little coverage in comparison to climate & covid and it is fragmented coverage. To me plastic in the ocean is the biggest threat to the planetary eco system right now.
David, thank you for sharing your story and insight with us. We share your passion for clean energy and saving the environment and are optimistic for the future.
Green Success Stories is a television show, podcast, social media, and news platform, hosted by Dylan Welch, that highlights climate change scientists, renewable energy experts, and clean tech entrepreneurs by giving them a voice in the mainstream media. The Green Podcast highlights leading experts in cleantech, sustainability, media, finance, and real estate. Tune in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple or Spotify to listen to interviews with leading cleantech and sustainable experts. If you are interested in being featured on Green, click HERE.