In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with 24-year-old HVAC engineer and founder Austin Riesenberger about Swerv, his window-mounted energy recovery ventilator designed to improve indoor air quality without wasting energy. They explore how current climate solutions like “electrify everything,” ductless mini-splits, and LED lighting can unintentionally harm comfort, health, or affordability when implemented without enough empathy or systems thinking. Austin shares his journey from childhood asthma and open-windows-for-fresh-air habits to obsessing over building science, living in the machine shop at Columbia, and bootstrapping Swerv from a student project into a real company. The conversation dives into why CO2 and ventilation matter so much for sleep, cognition, and long-term health, how Swerv complements mini-splits and ERVs rather than replacing them, and what it’s like building climate hardware out of Greentown Labs. Key takeaways: solving climate change must also prioritize human health and household economics, modern homes are often “too tight” without enough fresh air, and there is huge opportunity for practical, hardware-first innovation in HVAC led by mission-driven founders like Austin.
Highlights from this week’s conversation include:
- How Climate Solutions Can Make Life Worse for People (2:05)
- Introducing Austin Riesenberger and Swerv’s Mission (5:47)
- What Swerv Is and How It Ventilates Without Wasting Energy (8:01)
- Austin’s Story: Asthma, Football, and Obsession with HVAC (11:19)
- Why Personal Projects Matter More than Classroom Learning (15:08)
- Why Air Purifiers and Mini Splits Aren’t Enough for Healthy Air (20:23)
- How Swerv Works with Mini Splits to Recover Heat and Humidity (23:49)
- Using CO2 As an Occupancy Signal and Real‑World Examples (26:51)
- Why Central ERVs Often Underperform in Bedrooms (29:51)
- Startup Journey: From Solo Founder to Growing Engineering Team (32:13)
- ADHD as Both Superpower and Challenge for Founders (35:16)
- Parenting, Kids’ Health, and Why Indoor Air Hits Home (38:48)
- What Gives Austin Hope: Young Builders and Greentown Labs Community (42:42)
- Where to Follow Austin and How to Join the Swerv Beta (44:21)
The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at lesstalkmoreaction.com.
