Founding Member Spotlight
Marc Shackelford-Rowell
When Marc Shackelford-Rowell isn’t managing solar installs with Solar States, he’s busy with the business he founded, Deep Green Retrofit, to educate others about energy and create energy efficient homes for all. You can follow Deep Green Retrofit on Instagram to keep up with the latest.
Why did you join Circular Philadelphia?
I joined Circular Philadelphia because the idea of a community based around zero waste solutions made my heart race, in a good way. Part of what I envision for the city of Philadelphia is people living in solar passive homes in neighborhoods adjacent to transit with businesses like the Rounds that promote a local economy. An ambitious goal, but I’ve seen places that have those very same properties in cities 4x the size of Philadelphia. It’s why I founded Deep Green Retrofit. Doing all of this seems manageable with a collective of like minded individuals and businesses as a resource.
What kind of work do you do and/or interests do you have?
I be outside trying to preserve nature. Trying to preserve culture. All of that. But I spend most of my time project managing solar installs with Solar States. I’d say I spend most of my time trying to solve the problems I’m most affected by. Then I start a business around it. I feel very fortunate that the work I do is in alignment with my value system. Fun Fact: a few years ago (wow, time flies) while working at Bennett Compost I had an aha moment. I saw how they were turning waste products into something viable. At that moment I was like oh ok, I have to find a way to incorporate that mentality into other areas of my life. I was already a believer in the circular economy, but my experience there took it to another level.
What does a circular economy mean to you?
To me a circular economy means building a self-sustaining economy while also creating businesses that can regenerate former industrial corridors like sections of Strawberry Mansion and parts of Kensington. These neighborhoods were built for industry. The abandoned factories and rail infrastructure serve as relics.
What advice would you give to someone to help move the circular economy forward?
My advice to someone looking to move the circular economy forward would sound like this: Hey, first of all thank you for your service. You could be doing a lot of other things with your time and resources, but instead you’re here trying to build back better. Thanks bro. Closing feedback loops can be pretty exhaustive work—don’t forget to rest. Even if it’s not yoga, you should have a mental health practice. All the successful people I know in business have one. Also, I want you to get in the practice of writing down your ideas. This is a way to filter the good ideas from the ideas that still need some working through. I call this practice Drafting. How long you draft depends on you and your timeline, but once you draft then make a model or prototype for whatever idea you want to bring to life. Record data, then draft again on how it can be better…I told you closing feedback loops takes a lot of work 🙂 No worries, you got this!