Month: April 2023

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2023, /3BL Media/ – Today, in recognition of their commitment to national park protection, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has named Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey the recipient of its third annual National Park Defender award. This award, given out each April during National Park Week, recognizes and honors a partner who shows exceptional dedication to national park protection through authentic, impactful partnership with NPCA and educates their customers about the importance of taking action to protect parks.

Partnered since 2018, Yellowstone Bourbon has donated nearly $500,000 to NPCA to preserve national parks and inspire the next generation of park advocates; and in 2023, they became NPCA’s largest annual corporate partner.* The brand’s connection to national parks stretches back over 150 years – in 1872, Yellowstone Bourbon was first crafted in the same year Yellowstone National Park was designated America’s first national park. Today, Yellowstone Bourbon continues to commemorate this heritage through their passionate commitment to the protection of public lands.

“Yellowstone Bourbon has a shared history with our country’s national parks dating back to 1872, when our family named the bourbon after the very first national park,” said Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller and Founder Stephen Beam. “I am proud of our continued partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association and its ongoing efforts to keep our parks wild and wonderful. We are doing our part to help educate consumers about the importance of conservation and keeping our parks protected, preserved and accessible for future generations.”

Yellowstone Bourbon has partnered with NPCA on numerous campaigns to educate and inspire customers to take action on behalf of parks, in addition to their efforts to directly support public lands in immediate need. In 2022, Yellowstone Bourbon responded within days of floods that devastated Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding area resulting in nearly $100,000 raised for the Southwest Montana Relief Fund and the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation in conjunction with a fundraising event hosted by NPCA.

This week, Yellowstone Bourbon released a special edition NPCA collector’s label on bottles of Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The bottles feature an illustration of the bears from NPCA’s logo as well as a ribbon in NPCA’s iconic green. Additionally, each bottle includes a QR code that directs to a landing page where customers can learn how Yellowstone Bourbon and NPCA work together to protect public lands.

“Protecting our national parks is a collective effort that succeeds when the movement is as inclusive as the parks themselves,” said Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of National Parks Conservation Association. “Businesses grounded in values, and who put those values into action, are a critical part of ensuring our national parks thrive now, and for generations from now. Based on our five years of partnership together, it’s clear that Yellowstone Bourbon is one of those committed companies. We’re proud to name them this year’s recipient of NPCA’s National Park Defender award for their ardent efforts to educate and empower national park advocates and their dedication to working with NPCA to preserve our public lands.”

To learn more about NPCA’s annual National Park Defender award, please visit here. To learn more about how NPCA and Yellowstone Bourbon partner to protect parks, please visit here.

*Based on donations made within NPCA’s fiscal year 2023.

 

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About National Parks Conservation Association Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit http://www.npca.org/.

About Limestone Branch Distillery Stephen Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011, with the goal of crafting the finest spirits in small batches. Stephen is a seventh-generation distiller with a history of distilling on both sides of his family – Beam and Dant. In 2015, he brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family. The distillery is now home to Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey, Yellowstone Limited Edition, Minor Case Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin. For more information on Limestone Branch Distillery and Yellowstone, please visit http://www.limestonebranch.com/, http://www.yellowstonebourbon.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/yellowstonebourbon/

Media Contact:
Casey Pola
National Parks Conservation Association
cpola@npca.org
202-816-0988

McKenna Burst
Yellowstone Bourbon
m.burst@luxco.com
314-880-0324

This story first appeared on Baker Hughes’ Energy Forward Stories

Meet Jonny MacGregor. He thrives on pressure, running over 100 sensor projects and driving his race car beyond its limits.

QUESTION:

What led you to work in the area of sensor technologies?

JONNY MACGREGOR:

I am currently the Technology Leader for the Druck Precision Sensors & Instrumentation product line, part of Baker Hughes’ Industrial & Energy Technology business segment.

I started as a Lead Mechanical Engineer in the subsea department. We were designing subsea sensors to go on “Christmas Trees” (the systems of valves and fittings that regulate flow of oil and gas from wells) and as a mechanical engineer, I found the challenges of that really fascinating, given all the different loads and the relentlessness of the environment.

It all progressed from there and I’ve had the opportunity to work in a broad range of sectors from just one company – from the oilfield services space all the way through to gas, hydrogen and industrial applications such as aerospace, electrical manufacturing and meteorology.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

JONNY:

We are at the forefront of developing precision pressure measurement technologies and instrumentation. As you can imagine, given the race to net zero, we are focused on developing new products that support the energy transition, aligned with our strategy. This takes an incredible amount of cross collaboration.

We specialize in developing technology that performs in the harshest environments, from the highest altitudes to the deepest oceans, and even in outer space, across a wide variety of sectors. Our customers rely on our products to unlock insights on asset performance to improve safety, drive efficiencies or enhance fuel economy, regardless of the temperature, terrain, climate, vibration, speed, or altitude. A critical part of my job is overseeing the teams that design brand-new products, or technologies that are modifications to existing products to suit a particular customer’s need. Currently, we’ve got seven major product developments on deck and over 100 projects for specific customers. That means a lot of programs, projects and…many meetings.

As a member of the leadership team for the product line, I also contribute to operations, services, finance and even marketing. You get the picture – there’s a lot of collaboration! It’s key in developing precision technology – and key in ensuring, as a business, we’re making the right decisions. I love the responsibility and I love the variety of my job.

Aerospace is an important sector for sensors; what’s happening above the cloud?

JONNY:

We entered the aerospace market 20 years ago and have been expanding our footprint ever since. We have more than 500,000 sensors in the skies today. You are unlikely to board a flight without one of our sensors controlling something: such as the undercarriage or the flaps that control where the plane’s going; the cabin air pressure; the fuel system; the oiling system for the engine; and more.

In aerospace, the product is highly tailored to the customer’s application. We try to look at what we have in the portfolio by way of standard designs to base a customized product on. We took the opportunity of a brief lull in aircraft construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, to develop a new sensor platform which can reduce the need for a high level of customization for each customer and therefore shorten time to market. It’s set to take-off at a launch event during the Paris Airshow in June this year.

In this sector, there is a huge amount of testing to verify the performance and reliability of any product because it just has to work when you’re 40,000-60,000 feet above ground – there is no room for error. By upgrading the standard platform to current tested and approved products, we can make the whole process quicker and easier.

What’s different about what Baker Hughes sensors do for industry, compared to aerospace?

JONNY:

In aerospace, reliability is the number one critical requirement as it is so intrinsically linked to the safety of those on board the aircraft.

Although safety is a huge concern in all industries, another key benefit of our technology is the ability to optimize customers’ operations. Whether they are manufacturing computer chips, which relies on mass flow controllers that are pressure based, whether they’re running a turbine, or other applications in industry, our sensors provide data that help optimize their processes. This can mean improving yield, minimizing running costs, ensuring better fuel economy or lower emissions.

How are sensors and instrumentation technologies now contributing to the energy transition? What’s exciting about this space?

JONNY:

The energy transition has some big challenges ahead, not least reducing energy usage, which will make energy more affordable. To do so, everything must become more fuel efficient, which will lower the cost of running equipment.

You can’t optimize any process or reduce costs and improve efficiency without data to base decisions on. To become more energy efficient, industries need data.

The two things that are measured most are pressure and temperature. You need high-fidelity sensing to register small percentage variations – if technologies record data that is not as accurate as it could be then industrial customers can’t make the most effective optimization decisions.

For example, our pressure sensor technology provides data that enables us to improve the fuel efficiency of our gas turbines, optimizing performance and ultimately helping to reduce emissions.

Why is hydrogen compatibility of sensors the new must-have?

JONNY:

Taking effective optimization decisions is especially key when working with unpredictable gases, like hydrogen.

Pressure measurement in hydrogen applications can be as simple as confirming how much hydrogen is in a storage tank, or it can be used for controlling fuel supply to gas turbines, or to conduct regular self-testing for system leaks. Across all these applications providing accurate data is essential.

However, there are two major challenges with traditional hydrogen sensors. Firstly, hydrogen can permeate or move through metal, particularly if the material is thin, so it can escape or move into the sensing element and cause problems. Secondly, it can cause embrittlement across a variety of materials – this can make sensors not designed for hydrogen environments susceptible to failure, or become less accurate

Therefore, we’re developing a number of new techniques — materials, coatings and manufacturing refinements — to address these issues and make sure the performance of our technology is consistent over time.

You race cars in your spare time. How do you use sensor technologies in your motor racing?

JONNY:

The Druck product line has a long and successful track record across every level of motorsport. I wish I could say the same about me, although, I’ve enjoyed success in the British Endurance Championships.

As I mentioned earlier, our sensors are reliable in harsh environments. In motorsport we say, “to finish first, first you must finish.” Without reliable components, a car is not going to finish a race because it is such a harsh environment, and everything gets pushed hard, quite often beyond its intended limits.

At some of the racing events I compete in, the car is pushed to its limits for up to six hours continuously. For that, you need the highest reliability in any components on the vehicle.

For example, we use pressure sensors to measure the pressure of the air coming into the engine. The accuracy of that data has allowed us to look at the design of the air intake system and make small design changes, optimize it, enabling us to get more power out of the car. Test and calibration instrumentation is also essential to calibrate sensors– and assure the data is accurate.

How is motorsport changing with the energy transition? Will there always be petrol-fueled production cars in racing?

JONNY:

People say that motor racing is an environmentally unfriendly sport. There’s a large carbon footprint outside of the actual race itself — in the logistics and so on. But it’s also very important to appreciate that high-level motorsport, like Formula One, is pushing the boundaries of what combustion engines and technologies are capable of.

Every year, these engines are becoming more fuel efficient, and designers are getting more power out of smaller engines. Twenty years ago, a two-liter road car did 30 miles to the gallon with 150 horsepower. Now you can get that out of a one-liter engine, and it does 60 miles to the gallon. That kind of technology is filtered down from Formula One, and it is helping reduce carbon emissions from everyday driving. The sport is also looking at all kinds of cleaner fuels, such as hydrogen.

The data analytics side of motorsport is also being passed onto many different sectors. For instance, companies like McLaren are working with industry, helping them with data analytical capabilities. In Formula One, it’s obvious that the cars need to be competitive, but what ultimately gives them the edge is the strategy derived from data provided during the race. All that expertise, not only in how they gather the data, but what they do with it, and the decisions made — that huge skill set is being transferred to other industries.

What’s the most exciting part of the Baker Hughes remit to take energy forward?

JONNY:

Knowing that we’re designing, developing, and bringing to market cutting-edge technologies and solutions that are supporting the energy transition. Our products play a part in many applications that are improving the world: from life-saving flood defenses to weather forecasting for smart cities; from providing clean water, to making Industrial production more efficient.

I draw huge satisfaction knowing that we’re playing our small part across all those applications, and many more. It’s also humbling being part of Baker Hughes, supporting the energy transition and taking energy forward on a much bigger scale.

Originally published on HBI Sustains.com

HanesBrands associates in Surin, Thailand, are dedicated to making meaningful changes for the planet and local communities. Through its new upcycle program, HanesBrands associates in Surin work with local vendors to turn excess materials into products that are sold by the local community. This project keeps 240 tons of waste out of landfills per year.

“It’s inspiring to see innovation and creativity in the finished products and it’s rewarding to know we are making important steps toward our sustainability goals while creating opportunities for our province to thrive,” said Kamalraj Ramadoss, Plant Manager, HanesBrands. “The vendors are grateful to receive our binding waste to create quality products they can sell to support their families.”

Within its goals to protect the Planet, HanesBrands is identifying key regional reuse and recycling partners to advance its zero waste to landfill journey. At the same time, this project allows the company to contribute to its goal of improving the lives of 10 million people by 2030.

“Our associates are motivated by the success of this initiative,” said Kamalraj. “They are finding new, innovative ways to upcycle in our facility and their households.”

“Create Opportunity for All is a company value that is woven into this project from start to finish,” said Chris Fox, Chief Sustainability Officer, HanesBrands. “The material waste gets reused, our associates are inspired to make a positive impact and our communities become stronger.”

HanesBrands iconic brands like Champion, Hanes, Bonds, Bali and Maidenform, are committed to creating a zero-waste circular economy through innovation, recycling and remanufacturing new products.

Each of these gifts is available from brands that engage and inspire others to advocate for our public lands — check out the full guide here.

For the park frequenter who loves to show off their pride for parks

Do you know a national park lover whose space could use a pick-me-up? Help them show off their park pride with items from Huckberry — including candles inspired by parks such as Zion and Joshua Tree, park guides from Maine to Yosemite, and glasses and decanters that commemorate some of America’s best-known peaks such as Denali and the Grand Tetons.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

As part of their commitment to ensuring parks are protected, Huckberry is donating 10% of the purchase price of qualifying national park-inspired items to NPCA during National Park Week, from April 22, 2023, to April 30, 2023.**

For Yellowstone’s biggest fan (who also has a taste for bourbon)

As NPCA’s largest annual corporate partner*, Yellowstone Bourbon is committed to the permanent protection of our national parks. Created the same year Yellowstone National Park was designated, their Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey borrows its moniker from America’s very first national park.

Perfect for the bourbon lover with a penchant for exploring, this bourbon is a great addition to any collection. Also, be sure to keep an eye out — beginning National Park Week, a special edition NPCA collector’s label will be available at retailers nationwide!

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

From developing a video series about park advocates who inspire others to take action, to their efforts to support the Yellowstone community in the wake of 2022’s devastating floods, Yellowstone Bourbon is dedicated to doing their part to protect our public lands. Since 2018, Yellowstone Bourbon has donated nearly $500,000 to NPCA. Learn more about our work together.

For the park traveler who wears their love for parks on their sleeve

HOMAGE’s National Park Collection is perfect for the park enthusiast both on and off the trail. With soft, lightweight tees and cozy hoodies, they’ll have the perfect park-inspired apparel to wear no matter the weather, and you’ll feel good giving a gift that gives back.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

HOMAGE believes in the importance of protecting places of unparalleled natural wonder and historical significance. That’s why 5% of the purchase price of every T-shirt or hoodie from HOMAGE’s National Park Collection gives back to NPCA!**

For the explorer who dreams of visiting every national park

Wondery’s Parks of the USA Bucket List Water Bottle (also available in Ocean blue) is a fun and interactive gift to inspire even the most ambitious traveler to never stop exploring our national parks. For each new park they visit, they can add a sticker to their bottle and use blank spaces to inspire them to start planning their next park trip.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

Wondery aims to empower women in the outdoors and support a diverse community of outdoor enthusiasts. They’ve invited NPCA to join special events and workshops, engaging participants in local campaign efforts to support our shared mission of ensuring our parks are protected for future generations. As part of this commitment, 3% of the purchase price of each Parks of the USA Bucket List Water Bottle sold will be donated to NPCA, beginning April 19, 2023!**

For the park champion who wants to show their love for parks

Give them a gift that lets them show off their support for national parks with Pura Vida’s Protect Our Parks Bracelet. With each item handcrafted by artisans, the bracelets are a great, subtle way for them to always have our parks top of mind.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

Pura Vida supports a variety of nonprofits, allowing consumers to proudly wear products emblematic of the causes they champion. For each Protect Our Parks bracelet sold, Pura Vida will donate 5% of the purchase price to NPCA** to strengthen and protect our parks for future generations.

For the tiniest national park lovers

Start their love of national parks young with items from NPCA’s kids and babies collection!

From onesies that declare that they are park advocates to child-size tees and hoodies, there’s something to fit every aspiring park protector!

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

Purchases from NPCA’s store support NPCA and our mission to inspire the next generation of park advocates to explore and protect our public lands. Get your littles started early!

For the park enthusiast always searching for the perfect pairing

Looking for a gift for a park lover who enjoys wine? Raise a glass to National Park Week with Gamble Family Vineyards’ 2022 Emma Claire Rosé, or The Mill Keeper’s 2020 White Wine or 2019 Red Wine. All make perfect companions for everyday adventures.

They’ll also love trying Pine Ridge Vineyard’s 2022 Chenin Blanc + Viognier White Blend. The versatile wine pairs well with a variety of dishes and occasions, whether they’re unwinding from a full day of national park adventures or planning for the next one.

How do these items support NPCA’s mission?

The Gamble family has been dedicated to sustainability at their own properties, and within the Napa community, for generations. Their land conservation efforts are complemented by environmentally conscious vineyard methods and ongoing commitment to sustainable land management programs. For each bottle of 2022 Emma Claire Rosé sold through Gamble Family Vineyard’s tasting room and website from April 22 to 29, 2023, Gamble Family Vineyards will donate 5% of the purchase price to NPCA in support of national park protection.**

With a mantra of honoring the past and inspiring the future, The Mill Keeper is committed to introducing the importance of park protection to new audiences, inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards. From March 20 to June 21, 2023, 5% of the purchase price of each bottle of The Mill Keeper’s 2020 White Wine and 2019 Red Wine will be donated to NPCA** to fight threats to our public lands and ensure our national parks are protected and preserved for generations to come.

In addition to employing sustainable winemaking practices such as water and energy conservation programs, Pine Ridge Vineyards partners with NPCA to support our public lands and national parks. Beginning on Earth Day and the start of National Park Week on April 22, 2023, Pine Ridge will donate $50 for each 9LE case sold using the code “PARKS” to NPCA through July 31, 2023.**

For the park lover who’s dreaming of their next park-inspired home improvement project

Bring the palate of your favorite parks into your home with tile colors inspired by Arches, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain and more. Headquartered in California, Fireclay Tile offsets 100% of their carbon emissions and utilizes 100% renewable electricity as part of their dedication to sustainability.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

Fireclay Tile, the first B-Corp certified tile company, donates 1% of the purchase price of each thin-glazed brick to NPCA to support the protection and preservation of our national parks.**

For the avid reader looking for the perfect coffee table book

Help your favorite bookworm learn more about national park protection and give their tablescape a beautiful focal point with this hardcover book that celebrates the first 100 years of NPCA.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

When you purchase a book published by NPCA, you’re supporting our more than 100 years of effort to provide a strong future for national parks and the millions of Americans who have — and will in the future — enjoy them.

For the park advocate who has everything

Not sure what to get that person who seems to have everything? With an NPCA membership, they’ll get our member luggage cubes to welcome them to our NPCA family, plus four issues of our award-winning National Parks magazine.

How does this support NPCA’s mission?

When you become an NPCA member, you’re directly supporting NPCA and our over 100 years of effort to provide a strong future for national parks and the millions of Americans who have — and will in the future — enjoy them.

 

 

*Based on donations committed during NPCA’s fiscal year 2023.

**View our cause marketing disclosures and for more information on how NPCA benefits from the sale of partner products/services.