About episode
After a summer of record heat waves, I’m sure we’re all grateful for air conditioning. And we know, it’s not just about comfort or productivity, but with extreme heat, being able to cool buildings keeps people safe. Yet, it comes at a cost: air conditioning today is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and demand is set to triple by 2050.
Maybe you’re thinking that heat pumps are the answer and will come to the rescue? They’re certainly an important part of the solution, but until electric heat pumps are plugged into a grid that is fully powered by clean energy, efficiency matters a great deal. Enter Mojave HVAC. Their liquid desiccant technology can cut the energy needed for cooling commercial spaces by 30-50%. For today’s conversation, I’m joined by Mojave Founder & CEO Phil Farese. We spoke about Phil’s past and how he learned about the economics of energy efficiency, Mojave’s business model, technology, and its potential role in keeping us cool without overheating the planet. Here we go.
In today’s episode, we cover:
- [03:01] Phil’s background & what led him to founding Mojave HVAC
- [05:07] Mojave & the problem that they’re solving
- [07:24] The limitations of heat pumps
- [10:36] Focusing on efficiency & using less energy for our HVAC needs
- [13:53] How Mojave’s technology was developed & where the business is at
- [16:04] Mohave’s target market & how sales are progressing
- [17:21] Other insights on Mohave’s product
- [18:21] The overall opportunity for business & impact
- [19:42] Emissions savings through technology adoption
- [20:25] Drivers of demand for Mohave’s product
- [22:26] The pros & cons of the liquid desiccants debate
- [25:37] Mohave’s next milestone & the biggest challenges
- [26:41] Blind spots in addressing climate change & buildings
- [29:27] Today’s climate innovation ecosystem & how it needs to improve
Phil’s background & what led him to founding Mojave
Phil’s career, though not intentionally planned this way, equipped him with the expertise to lead a technical business like Mojave. After leaving academia during a postdoc at Princeton, he joined McKinsey & Company and developed a passion for energy. He led a major project on energy efficiency in 2010, analyzing its strategic, technical, and practical aspects across sectors. This experience deepened at NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), where he supported energy efficiency programs and discovered liquid desiccant technology for air conditioning. Phil later joined a liquid desiccant startup in Florida as CTO and then moved on to Enphase Energy, a pioneering company in solar microinverters. There, he expanded his leadership experience across multiple functions, from product management to regulatory affairs. To round out his knowledge in finance, Phil joined Point72, gaining insights into both venture capital and public sector investing. After a brief career pause, Xerox approached him about liquid desiccant air conditioning technology, which ultimately led to the founding of Mojave.
Mojave & the problem that they’re solving
Mojave is fundamentally aiming to revolutionize air conditioning by addressing a key inefficiency in traditional systems. Air conditioners, originally designed over 100 years ago to cool and dehumidify air by lowering it below the dew point, still operate on the same principle today. However, changes in building design and a focus on energy efficiency have revealed a major flaw—current systems often overcool spaces, especially in commercial buildings, just to remove moisture. This results in wasted energy, oversized equipment, and higher climate impact. Mojave’s solution is a liquid desiccant technology that dehumidifies without overcooling, saving 30-50% of the energy typically used and delivering air at the ideal temperature and humidity level.
Resources Mentioned
Connect with Phil Farese
- Connect with Phil on LinkedIn
Connect with Jason Rissman
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