This is the latest installment in our Energy Startup Series that gives executives at cutting-edge energy firms an opportunity to share insights and experiences about the energy industry, their careers and their companies. Dip Patel is CEO and co-founder and Nick Lancaster is CTO and co-founder of Ecovent, a wireless temperature control system for the home.

1-      What is the greatest challenge facing the energy industry over the next 5 years? 

Dip: Attention to the wrong things. Elon Musk is helping this but we need to challenge the status quo everywhere to get ahead of this problem.

Nick: The transformation of the way we make energy.  Adding more and more intermittent and distributed sources such as solar and wind to the base load sources is changing the characteristics of our supply.  The storage and transmission infrastructure will need to be updated to match this new production profile.  New technologies such as smart home tech and electric vehicles will play a part as well by shifting demand to better match supply.  A holistic solution will be challenging to develop, but will enable our economy to continue to grow without the repercussions of previous methods.

2-      What has been the biggest positive energy industry change since the start of your career? 

Dip: Watching Private companies come in and disrupt things.  It shows us that we (a small group of people) have the power to really impact change.

Look at what Tesla has done for cars and SolarCity for Solar.  Companies like O-power came in and showed just a little bit of knowledge and accountability can go a long way.  

Nick: The rise of wind energy from less than 1% to over 3% of the US supply.  It has proven that the industry can change quickly and that renewable can be competitive. As a native Texan, I’ve seen tons of windmills installed in the heart of natural gas country.  Both of these sources have their places and it’s great to see them working side by side.

3-      What has been the biggest negative energy industry change since the start of your career? 

Dip: That innovation always seemed to be tied to oil prices.  I think things are getting better here, but again, cleantech investing and innovation should not be tempered because oil and other sources of power are affordable again. It’s not sustainable!!

Nick: The growth of the denial of the effects of our energy industry.  It has become a platform to deny the clear evidence that we are changing the world significantly through our energy production.  Pandering to this denial as a way to gain votes has gained too much power.  Getting re-elected because you successfully cut NASA’s budget to study climate change shouldn’t happen.

4-      What is the greatest satisfaction of working in an energy-related field?

Dip: We’re going to make a difference.  The only jury is the market – and once they adopt our stuff, we’ll be able to truly impact change. 

Nick: The potential for change we can produce.  Energy is the core of civilization, so making an impact in this field is important to me.

5-      What is the greatest frustration of working in an energy-related field? 

Dip: Status-quo in the industry. Yes there are experts that have been in the game forever, but this is a field that needs some shaking up, some new blood, and nepotism needs to find its way somewhere else.

Nick: Resistance to change.  It’s human nature, but there are so many new technologies out there we need to be racing to embrace.  The faster we can make the world a better place. As a company developing some of this new tech, we see this resistance fairly often.  The good news is that it seems to be lessening, and that people are starting to look for these new technologies on their own.

6-      What is your firm’s greatest strength? 

Dip: Our talent and focus. 

Nick: The people.  Nothing happens without great minds working together towards a common goal.  Our team is incredible and I know we’ll achieve great things.

7-      What do you think the future holds for energy technology? 

Dip: A revolution. Similar to the industrial, and agricultural. I can’t wait until energy isn’t even a thing we worry about anymore…

Nick: My hope is that we reach the point where energy is as free as information.  The potential of renewable sources and the hope of fusion lead the way to virtually unlimited energy with minimal impact.

8-      What is your favorite energy-themed film or television show? 

Dip: Tough question. Anything to do with greater than light space travel.  The problem is, most of the stuff out there is science fiction – but it needn’t be.  Someday there will be a CSI type show, but for energy stuff instead of forensic labs. The industry just needs to catch up first. 

Nick: I like that Monsters Inc. shows there is always a better way to make the energy we need.  We don’t need to sacrifice our morals to support our society.

9-      What is your favorite energy-themed book (fiction or non-fiction)? 

Dip: I don’t think I have one. Maybe my engineering texts on antenna design

Nick: “The Last Question,” Isaac Asimov.

10-   What would you have been if you didn’t work in energy? 

Dip: What’s the biggest threat facing our civilization? I’d be involved with that. 

Nick: At the end of the day, every engineer works with energy.  How to harness it, how to apply it, how to store it.  I don’t think I could be anything other than an engineer.

Cover photo credit: El gran sueño via flickr