# Solar, Batteries & the Future of Resilient Buildings with Jesse Michalski

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-green-building-matters-podcast-with-charlie-cichetti-559336/solar-batteries-the-future-of-resilient-buildings-with-jesse-michalski
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-green-building-matters-podcast-with-charlie-cichetti-559336/solar-batteries-the-future-of-resilient-buildings-with-jesse-michalski.md
Podcast: [The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-green-building-matters-podcast-with-charlie-cichetti-559336)
Published: 2026-06-03T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://gbespodcast.libsyn.com/solar-batteries-the-future-of-resilient-buildings-with-jesse-michalski
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/gbespodcast/GBES_With_Jesse_Michalski.mp3?dest-id=583595
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-green-building-matters-podcast-with-charlie-cichetti-559336/episodes/solar-batteries-the-future-of-resilient-buildings-with-jesse-michalski
Duration seconds: 1818

## Resource

✅ The Green Impact Report Quick take: Most schools talk about sustainability. Jesse Michalski helped build one that actually runs on it. In this episode, the longtime electrician and renewable energy specialist breaks down how a Wisconsin middle school became a net-zero energy success story —without sacrificing practicality, ROI, or resilience. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Jesse Michalski is a renewable energy specialist at Eland Electric, a third-generation electrical contractor based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With more than 20 years in the electrical trade, Jesse has helped lead commercial, residential, and K-12 solar installations across the Midwest. He specializes in solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and resilient electrical infrastructure, helping clients future-proof buildings while reducing operational costs and carbon emissions. 🌱 Breaking Ground on Better Building 🤩 Key Insight #1: Net-zero buildings don't happen by accident — they're designed "solar ready" from day one. The Challenge: Many buildings attempt to add renewables after construction, forcing expensive retrofits, structural upgrades, and electrical redesigns. The Solution: Jesse and his team worked with architects early in the Menasha Maplewood School project to ensure the building was structurally and electrically prepared for future solar and battery storage. ROI: The school avoided costly retrofit work later, streamlined installation, and successfully delivered a net-zero energy facility with geothermal heating, solar power, and battery backup. 🌟 Key Insight #2: Battery storage means different things depending on where you live. The Challenge: Building owners often assume batteries automatically create financial savings everywhere. The Solution: Jesse explained how battery…

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