An Interview With Martita Mestey
Electrify Everything: Transitioning all energy use to electricity, even if the grid isn’t fully renewable yet, sets the stage for a cleaner future as the grid itself becomes greener.
As we face an unprecedented environmental crisis, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. This series seeks to spotlight the innovative minds and passionate advocates who are leading the charge in environmental conservation and sustainable practices. We aim to explore the most effective strategies, breakthrough technologies, and transformative policies that are shaping a more sustainable future for our planet. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Stephen Lake.
Stephen Lake is the founder of Jetson, a company focused on revolutionizing home heating and cooling with all-electric heat pump systems. A passionate entrepreneur and innovator, Stephen co-founded Thalmic Labs, where he developed the Myo armband and Focals smart glasses, which were sold to Google in 2020. With Jetson, he is addressing CO₂ emissions by making it easier for homeowners to switch to sustainable, all-electric heating and cooling solutions.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
I’ve always been drawn to building and creating. At 13, I started my first business, and that entrepreneurial spirit has guided me ever since. After studying mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo, I co-founded Thalmic Labs with two classmates. We developed the Myo armband, a gesture-control device that read electrical activity in muscles to control digital devices. Later, we rebranded as North and launched Focals, stylish smart glasses that integrated seamlessly into daily life. Our journey led us to grow the company to over 400 employees and eventually sell to Google in 2020, where our technology became part of their augmented reality efforts
Outside of work, I’ve always been passionate about architecture and design. As a teenager, I rewired my parents’ home with smart controls, and more recently, I took on a side project converting a wrecked Tesla Model 3 into an all-electric boat.I have a home workshop that has basically become as full r&d facility with CNC lathes, mills, router, welders and dozens of other industrial machines and I’m always building something.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
Founding Thalmic Labs straight out of university. Starting with just three of us, we grew the company to over 400 employees, raised around a quarter billion dollars in financing, and developed groundbreaking products like the Myo armband and Focals smart glasses. We even built our own advanced manufacturing facility and opened retail stores in New York and Toronto.
The key takeaway from this journey was the importance of having a clear vision and staying focused. In startups, resources are limited, and distractions are plentiful. I learned that maintaining a laser focus on our goals was crucial to making meaningful progress. This lesson was further reinforced during my time at Google, where I observed how large teams with abundant resources could still struggle without clear direction.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Resourcefulness: In the early days of Thalmic Labs, we operated on a shoestring budget. We had to be creative in solving problems, whether it was building prototypes with limited materials or finding unconventional solutions to technical challenges. This resourcefulness was essential in bringing our products to market.
- Conviction: When we introduced the Myo armband and later Focals, many were skeptical about wearable technology and specifically our vision for a lightweight all-day product. However, we believed in our vision and remained steadfastly focused on our version of the future, a direction we still think is the winning one today.
- Vision: Having a clear vision of the future has always guided my endeavors. With Jetson, for example, we envision a world where homes are fully electrified, reducing carbon emissions and improving quality of life. This vision drives our mission and keeps us aligned with our goals.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
Yes, I’m currently focused on Jetson, a company I founded with the same early team from North. We’re addressing one of the largest sources of CO₂ emissions: home heating. In the U.S., home heating accounts for over 15% of energy use. Traditional systems rely on fossil fuels, but we’re making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to switch to all-electric heat pump systems.
Jetson is a vertically integrated company that simplifies the process of upgrading home heating and cooling. We handle everything from consultation to installation, making it as straightforward as buying your next favorite product online. Our systems are more efficient, healthier, and better for the planet.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. What pivotal moment led you to dedicate your career to sustainability, and how has that shaped your approach to environmental challenges?
After selling North to Google, I took time to reflect on where I could make the most impact. I realized that while electric vehicles were gaining traction, home heating remained largely dependent on fossil fuels. It struck me as odd that in 2025, many still pipe flammable, polluting gas into their homes for heat.
I spent a couple of years researching climate challenges and technologies. I kept returning to the home as a critical area for improvement. The technology for electrification exists, but adoption is low due to cost and complexity. With Jetson, we’re addressing these barriers, making sustainable choices accessible and appealing to homeowners.
Could you describe a groundbreaking project or initiative you’ve been involved in that significantly contributed to sustainability?
Jetson is that project. We’re already one of the largest installers of central heat pumps in our current markets, including Colorado and British Columbia. We’re expanding to Massachusetts and several other states soon. This year alone, we’re helping thousands of homes transition to all-electric systems, and we aim to assist tens of thousands more by next year. We’re generally thousands of dollars cheaper than legacy contractors and install a much better, software-enabled system.
Each home we convert from a gas furnace to a heat pump reduces emissions equivalent to removing a large SUV from the road. Collectively, these efforts have a substantial impact on reducing carbon footprints.
How do you navigate the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation in your sustainability strategies?
Our business model is designed to align economic incentives with environmental benefits. By driving down the “green premium,” we make sustainable choices financially viable for homeowners. This approach ensures that environmental preservation doesn’t come at the expense of economic growth but rather complements it.
What emerging technologies or innovations do you believe hold the most promise for advancing sustainability and why?
Electrification is at the forefront. Homes are transitioning to electric systems with heat pumps, solar panels, and batteries. Industrial processes are following suit. The cost of renewable energy generation has dropped significantly, and advancements in grid-scale storage are on the horizon. These developments will continue to lower energy prices and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels.
Here is our main question. Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet”? (Please share a story or an example for each)
1 . Electrify Everything: Transitioning all energy use to electricity, even if the grid isn’t fully renewable yet, sets the stage for a cleaner future as the grid itself becomes greener.
2 . Start with Your Own Home: Electrifying your car and home heating system are among the most impactful personal choices you can make to reduce emissions. A typical household’s emissions from home and vehicles are equivalent to the CO₂ that 15–20 acres of mature forest can absorb each year.
3 . Drive Down the Green Premium: Companies should innovate to make sustainable products cost-competitive with traditional options, removing financial barriers to adoption.
4 . Policy Support: Governments should redirect fossil fuel subsidies to support zero-emission products and implement carbon taxes that make polluting options less attractive.
5 . Leverage Diverse Skill Sets: The climate transition requires contributions from all professions — engineers, tradespeople, software developers, marketers, and more. Everyone has a role to play.
In your view, what are the key steps individuals, communities, and governments need to take to achieve a more sustainable future?
• Individuals: Electrify your home and vehicle. These are significant steps toward reducing your carbon footprint.
• Communities: Simplify permitting processes and remove bureaucratic hurdles that make sustainable upgrades more challenging than traditional options.
• Governments: Implement targeted policies that make polluting products more expensive and use the revenue to incentivize clean alternatives.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would champion a movement that fosters optimism about technology’s role in creating a better future. Too often, technological advancements are met with skepticism or fear. By embracing innovation and focusing on its potential to solve pressing challenges, we can inspire collective action toward a more sustainable and equitable world.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
You can follow my work through Jetson’s website at jetsonhome.com and on our LinkedIn page at Jetson on LinkedIn. We regularly share updates on our projects, insights into home electrification, and tips for making sustainable choices.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
The Future Is Green: Stephen Lake of Jetson Home On Their Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.