Month: April 2023

Originally published on TriplePundit

Most people don’t spend much time thinking about their roofs, but a home is quite literally a roof over our heads. Roofs will always need to be replaced at some point, and despite recession and supply chain woes, industry watch groups continue to predict growth in the construction sector. So, what does that mean for the asphalt shingles that make up over 80 percent of home roofs? Owens Corning, one of the top global manufacturers of asphalt shingles, has a plan.

Recycling 2 million tons of shingles per year

Owens Corning recently announced a commitment to recycle 2 million tons of shingles per year in the U.S. by 2030. 

Approximately 12 million to 14 million tons of asphalt shingles are sent to landfills every year across the industry. This creates a problem for several reasons. “Think about what these things are,” Mark Leo, director of circular economy initiatives at Owens Corning, told TriplePundit. “We develop [shingles] to be extremely durable, with 20- to 30-year lifespans. This material doesn’t degrade quickly in a landfill.”

Solving this waste problem sits front and center within the company’s sustainability goals, which include doubling the positive impact of products and halving the negative impact of operations. “We want our handprint — the positive — to be bigger than our footprint — the negative,” Leo explained. “The [recycling] program fits into our waste story to become a net-positive company.”

How does shingle recycling work?

To meet that 2 million ton goal, Owens Corning is testing out new ways to process shingles in partnership with the recycling companies ASR Systems, CRS Reprocessing Services and Indiana Shingle Recycling. A shingle recycling pilot in Indianapolis will utilize proprietary, patented processes to break down shingles and extract the raw materials for reuse. Those materials will then be tested in Owens Corning manufacturing facilities to produce new shingles made from old ones. 

“This is a first-of-its-kind pilot facility to break these components down,” said Gunner Smith, president of roofing for Owens Corning. “They break down the shingles and pulverize them. Then, through the process, out comes liquid asphalt. It was the first time I’ve seen old-use shingles turned into something we use every day. It’s a full circle.”

In addition to roofs, the company plans to give old shingles a second life in paving. “The configuration of Owens Corning — our business, technology and the way our assets are distributed throughout the country — helps us choose the approaches we’ll take,” Leo said. The company intends to help incorporate these materials into the paving industry, where it already has relationships. “The paving industry is looking for ways to improve their processes, like we are,” he continued. “We’re trying to reduce the amount of virgin materials and use more recycled materials to reduce our overall footprint.”

The proof is in the pudding

The shingle recycling pilot launched in December of last year, and Owens Corning and its partners have been experimenting ever since — running trials in plants and testing how recycled-content shingles will stand up to tough conditions. “We need to go through it with a special eye,” Smith said. “We want this material to be as good or better than our traditional products.” 

Smith and his team believe Owens Corning’s decades of expertise give the company the flexibility and adaptability to push new processes forward. The industry has been trying to get its head around this problem for 20 years, Smith said, but he feels like this pilot is something different. “If we can prove this works and scale it, we’ve got a real game-changer here.”

“Stepping up.”

The construction industry faces significant challenges with the circularity of its materials — from concrete to steel to asphalt. Industry organizations are talking about how to increase sustainability while customers and contractors are asking for it. “It feels like we’ve gotten to a point as an industry where we all know we need to tackle these types of challenges,” Leo told us. “We’re all in. The industry needs leadership in this space, and we are happy to step up.”

The pilot is the first step toward making that happen. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Leo concluded. “We set that goal of 2 million tons a year, and we’ll advance toward it as fast as we can. We’ve got our marching orders.” And maybe the next time you replace your roof, it will be with recycled shingles born from a goal of making a handprint bigger than a footprint.

This article series is sponsored by Owens Corning and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Images courtesy of Owens Corning

Leidos believes that a commitment to the environment is our responsibility as an ethical company and is critical to our business performance. During Earth Month, we look for ways to show our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and how our efforts support our customers, our employees, and the communities where we live and work.

This year, we are leveraging the commitment and talents of our employees to make a difference in communities across the country through a series of Eco-Action days of service. We are also launching Green Teams, employee driven groups that will provide people with a passion for the environment opportunities to act on sustainability issues at their work sites, their homes and in their communities.

The greatest contribution we make to environmental stewardship comes through the work we do for our customers. For example:

Leidos is currently working to support coastal areas that are threatened by rising sea levels and eroding shorelines due to climate change. Together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), we are stabilizing a portion of the shoreline north of the National Park Service’s Fort Monroe National Monument in Hampton, Virginia. The U.S. Army used about 40 acres in this area, known as the Dog Beach Landfill, to dispose of household waste, construction debris, and incinerator ash until the 1960s. Leidos marine scientists and environmental engineers are optimizing construction and restoration alternatives to make this site safe for residents, tourists, and wildlife.
 Leidos climate experts helped NASA develop a climate action plan that outlines how it will proactively address climate-related risks to its overall mission. This work was in response to the Biden administration’s 2021 executive order, which requires the head of each federal agency to publish and execute similar plans for climate adaptation. One of NASA’s top priorities is to ensure continued access to space by managing climate-related risks to launch sites and equipment.
 Leidos collaborates with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to develop a smarter electrical grid through its work to identify the best kinds of fuel cells. Identifying the right kind of application for any fuel is key to conservation and economic efficiency. The Leidos team leveraged new technology and mapped hundreds of real-time sensors which led to the development of a smarter electrical grid that tracks peak usage and anticipates requirements, therefore saving energy.
 Utility customer National Grid has been working with Leidos to gain insights into the cost and carbon reduction impacts of projects like EV charging stations, energy storage, demand response, combined heat and power/fuel cells, and photovoltaic systems. Leidos performed a comprehensive review of the National Grid sites including an inventory of existing EV infrastructure, and projected electric fueling needs for the utility. Additionally, the Leidos team identified opportunities for energy reduction, and assessed the potential for renewable and clean energy projects. The result of the study included detailed infrastructure plans for each site and a comprehensive site prioritization plan.

Read more about these projects and more in our most recent Sustainability Report and on leidos.com.

April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – A letter sent today to state departments of transportation on behalf of the Ceres Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance and NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) urged state officials to strongly consider commercial and public fleets in their plans for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in their respective states. In addition, fleet owners also call for the design and installation of charging infrastructure that supports the charging of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs).

In February, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued the final minimum standards for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program that will provide funding and guidance to states for the build-out of cost-effective, equitable, and reliable EV infrastructure.

The federal government’s standards are a much-needed step to significantly advance the electrification of the high-emitting transportation sector, but continued transportation decarbonization will rely heavily on actions at the state and local levels.

“The rapid electrification of the transportation sector is crucial to addressing the climate crisis. It will both reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and the outsized impact of greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the transportation sector,” said Sara Forni, director of clean vehicles at Ceres, and leader of the Ceres Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance. “We applaud the Biden administration’s efforts to not only expand the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure in the U.S., but to ensure that the infrastructure meets a minimum set of standards that allow chargers to be reliable, easy to use, and have transparent and fair pricing.”

“However, the final NEVI minimum standards are just that—a baseline for the successful implementation of publicly- and privately-funded infrastructure projects,” Forni added. “We call on state transportation officials to include the consideration of high-mileage fleet vehicles as well as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles as they utilize federal funding for their future siting plans.”

While the final NEVI minimum standards do not include specific requirements to support charging of MHDVs, the FHWA noted that the rule does not preclude medium- and heavy-duty charging infrastructure and encouraged states to consider future charging needs for these vehicles. These vehicles currently account for 21% of transportation greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to reducing transportation emissions, electrification will improve public health. MHDVs typically run on diesel fuel, the top source for pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter which are most threatening to human health.

“As fleets move to rapidly decarbonize and electrify it is critical that we plan and construct comprehensive infrastructure to sustain the important public health and safety services that fleets provide. Whether it is police and ambulance services, school buses, utility repairs or ensuring grocery stores are stocked, Americans rely on fleets every day,” said Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA Fleet Management Association. “It is important that we establish a widespread national charging network that is reliable and able to serve all fleet vehicles, including light-, medium-, and heavy-duty. Fleets stand ready to do our part to advance decarbonized transportation while ensuring that Americans can continue to rely on our services.”

Established by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the NEVI program provides access to funding for states with a goal to build out 500,000 chargers along America’s highways. To access this funding, each state is required to submit plans to the federal government on how it intends to build out their respective electric vehicle infrastructure using its share of NEVI funds. Investments like these increase access to charging stations in underserved and marginalized communities, which are the most likely to be adversely impacted by pollution from automobile exhaust.

“We thank the federal government for releasing guidance that will support the expansion of EV infrastructure in every region of the U.S. It’s now up to state leaders to implement the planning and installation of this infrastructure in a strategic and thoughtful manner,” said Hari Nayar, Vice President of Fleet Electrification and Sustainability at Merchants Fleet. “We work with fleets that operate light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles nationwide, and achieving a connected, reliable, and accessible charging network is critical to their successful deployment of EVs. A clean transportation future is crucial for our business, the environment, and the communities we live and work in, and supporting fleet electrification will put us on that pathway.”

“AT&T applauds the Federal Highway Administration for releasing its final minimum standards for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. Corporate fleet transition to electric vehicles will not be possible without charging infrastructure that is affordable, equitable, reliable, and resilient, and these standards are a great first step,” said Heather Martin, VPGM Global Fleet Operations at AT&T. “AT&T and other major corporations will be looking to states to ensure that a national electric vehicle charging network meets the needs of commercial fleets.”

Ceres is working to decarbonize the transportation sector—one of six of the highest emitting sectors in the U.S. economy—through its Ceres Ambition 2030 initiative and through the work it is leading with the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance.

The 32-member Alliance, whose members include Amazon, DHL, Hertz, and Otis, is working to accelerate fleet electrification in the U.S., and charging infrastructure is a critical piece of the puzzle. Collectively, Alliance members own, lease, or operate over 2.5 million on-road vehicles in the U.S. alone. In the coming months, members will review the new standards and identify the ways it can support states in leveraging federal funding for both passenger and commercial fleet charging.

Today’s letter is a follow up to comments the Alliance and the NAFA Fleet Management Association submitted last July to the FHWA on NEVI.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Reginald Zimmerman

As we celebrate Earth Month, Entergy remains steadfast in our commitment to creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for our customers and communities. Now in its 22nd year, Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, or EIF, is a component of our business strategy. The EIF provides $1 million in shareholder-funded grants each year to support environmental projects and solutions that benefit our region.

“Since 2001, our fund has awarded nearly $42 million in Entergy shareholder contributions to support environmentally beneficial projects and programs across our service area of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas,” said Kelli Dowell, director of environmental policy. “We’re proud to partner with community organizations to reduce environmental risk and ensure a cleaner, brighter tomorrow for our communities.”

Do you have a project idea that promotes conservation, energy efficiency or delivers environmental benefits? Submit your proposal for funding consideration through this 2023 request for proposal. All proposals must be received by midnight Central time, May 31, 2023.

Our Sustainability and Environmental Policy organization manages the EIF, evaluates project proposals, solicits approval from company leaders and awards funding to the most impactful project ideas.

Funding will be granted to proposed projects based on:

Potential to create environmental benefits.Projects within the utility service area will be given preference.Project quality.Proponent’s standing, reputation and co-party risk.The likelihood that a project will not move forward without EIF funding.Cost.Marketing and public relations opportunities.Project-specific terms and conditions.Uniqueness, innovative quality or opportunity to expand into self-funding projects.

View our 2022 awarded grant recipients here. For more information on Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, email EIF@entergy.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH), a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions, today announced a total of $1 million in grants that have been awarded to help low to moderate income consumers across the United States improve their financial wellbeing and advance economic equality. More than 165 grant applications from non-profit organizations were received, resulting in a highly competitive process.  The individual grants range from $20,000 to $100,000 and were awarded to organizations with a demonstrated track record of performance supported by measurable impact. 

Grant recipients will deliver on a variety of high-impact outcomes that align with their respective missions to advance financial wellness, such as:

Helping consumers build their savings accounts to an average of $8,000Employing 60% of participants in non-subsidized jobs Securing employment for 81% of program graduates within one year of graduation at an average hourly wage of $20.80Assisting consumers in reducing or restructuring debt, decreasing expenses, boosting income and avoiding scams 

“These grants will continue enabling positive change within our communities to build a resilient and financially confident future for consumers at every stage of life” said Dana Beckman, head of sustainability at Bread Financial. “At Bread Financial, we strive to support deserving organizations to maximize their impact, further their mission and positively affect those in the communities they serve. We look forward to seeing and further communicating the results of these important investments.”

This $1 million in funding is part of Bread Financial’s broader commitment to supporting financial wellness through education, training and technology that helps consumers build a bright financial future. With the addition of this grant funding, the company raises its commitment to financial wellness initiatives to $3.5 million, an increase from the initial $1 million pledged in 2022.

Grants were awarded to programs focusing on financial education and coaching, credit building, workforce development and inventive solutions in the financial wellness space in the following locations: Chicago, Ill., Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, New York City, N.Y., Philadelphia, Pa., Salt Lake City, Utah, Wilmington, Del. These locations are representative of where a majority of the company’s workforce resides. 

A full list of winners may be found below. 

Chicago, Ill. 

Breakthrough Ministries
The Community Economic Development Program provides education, work experience and supportive services so participants can become economically stable and strong community contributors.Chicago Commons Association 
The Family Hub Financial Wellness Initiative works with parents of children enrolled in the association’s early childhood education center through biweekly workshops focused on budgeting, money management, banking tools and understanding of public benefits. Participants also receive one-on-one support through the Mobility Mentoring program.Girls, Inc. of Chicago
The Boss Up Program provides financial literacy education to girls grades 5-12 with a gender specific lens to teach girls from historically disinvested communities how to recognize and overcome gender-specific economic obstacles. Ultimately, they empower girls to build their financial competence and confidence so they can make healthy economic decisions and prepare for financially independent futures.Local Initiatives Support Corporation 
The Financial Opportunity Center is an integrated service delivery strategy equipping individuals with tools, support and know-how to boost earnings, build credit, reduce expenses and make sound financial decisions. 

Columbus, Ohio 

Lower Lights Ministries
The Ministries’ Financial Empowerment Services provide comprehensive programming to address root causes of poverty through relevant education, employability and emotional stability.Per Scholas, Inc. 
The Columbus IT Skills Training Program advances economic equality and mobility through rigorous technical training and connection to employment opportunities.

Dallas, Texas 

Chris Howell Foundation, Inc.
The Healthy Dollars program helps participants develop knowledge of credit building and repairing, budget setting techniques and savings account set-up and maintenance.Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas, Inc. 
The Elder Financial Safety Center’s financial literacy program and financial coaching addresses older adults’ poverty through workforce development, financial literacy, exploitation education, insurance counseling and providing basic needs.Vickery Trading Company, Inc. 
Through its comprehensive programming to empower refugee women and their families, the Vickery Trading Company, Inc. supports participants in their financial health journey through ESL classes, job training, social enterprise employment and financial literacy courses.Women in Need of Generous Support (WINGS)
The Economic Advancement Program provides women with financial education classes, benefits screening, credit building tactics and financial coaching to empower them to make wise financial decisions.

New York City, N.Y. 

Futures and Options 
Through their internship program, high school students are provided paid internships and early work experience while undergoing trainings in financial literacy, networking and career spotlights where they hear from guest career speakers.Girls, Inc. of New York City 
The Her Future financial literacy program brings programming to the digital age by syncing with new mobile app that will teach financial capabilities through experiential learning.Qualitas of Life Foundation 
Programming like the Financial Education and Entrepreneurship Initiative provide core financial education programming covering family finances, budgeting, saving, banking, avoiding financial fraud, credit, taxes, migration and money.Working in Support of Education (W!SE)
The Financial Literacy Certification provides curriculum to New York public high schools to teach a course on personal finance and then administer the W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Test. Passing students become Certified Financially Literate™.

Philadelphia, Pa. 

ACHIEVEability 
TechUp is a five-month paid workforce program collaborating with industry experts to provide training to upskill and certify low-income, Black jobseekers, who have previously only obtained a high school diploma, as Salesforce Administrators.Compass Working Capital 
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program integrates asset building into the delivery of federal housing assistance program harnessing an increase in income to establish a savings plan in escrow savings accounts.Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley 
The service provides no cost, one-on-one financial and housing counseling to prepare clients to achieve lasting, generational wealth and grow the communities they live in.

Salt Lake City, Utah 

People Helping People 
The Employment Program offers education, mentoring and coaching through a comprehensive program where participants attend workshops, meet one-on-one with volunteer business professionals, and learn skills like resume writing, interviewing, and navigating the learning curves of new jobs.Suazo Business Center 
The center provides support to underserved and low-income entrepreneurs in Utah by addressing existing disparities and providing courses, training, mentorships and one-on-one advising, and connecting entrepreneurs to financial resources otherwise unavailable to them.

Wilmington, Del. 

Latin American Community Center 
The Life Empowerment Program helps Latinos achieve or regain self-sufficiency through education resources and services. Programming includes financial literacy, workforce development, adult digital literacy, ESL, immigration and crisis alleviation, all provided in a bilingual and culturally aware environment.Wilmington Alliance 
Workforce development programming is a collective impact model that convenes partners around workforce initiatives for marginalized residents with a focus on addressing barriers to employment and providing stipends for individuals in training, as well as additional support through funding for fines/fees that impede employment.

About Bread Financial™   

Bread FinancialTM (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company providing simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions. The company creates opportunities for its customers and partners through digitally enabled choices that offer ease, empowerment, financial flexibility and exceptional customer experiences. Driven by a digital-first approach, data insights and white-label technology, Bread Financial delivers growth for its partners through a comprehensive product suite, including private label and co-brand credit cards, installment lending, and buy now, pay later (BNPL). Bread Financial also offers direct-to-consumer solutions that give customers more access, choice and freedom through its branded Bread CashbackTM American Express® Credit Card and Bread SavingsTM products.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Bread Financial is powered by its 7,500+ global associates and is committed to sustainable business practices. To learn more about Bread Financial, visit BreadFinancial.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

PITTSBURGH, April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/– Intelligent power management company Eaton announced today it has joined the White House and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Sector Climate Pledge to accelerate healthcare decarbonization and environmental resilience. Signing the pledge underscores Eaton’s commitment to achieve ambitious sustainability goals, including science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets and carbon-neutral operations by 2030.

The healthcare industry currently accounts for 8.5% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Eaton joins more than 100 organizations in signing the pledge to cut emissions 50% by 2030 and strengthen resilience against climate change.

“Bold action is needed to minimize the impact of climate change. At Eaton, we are helping our customers in the healthcare industry and beyond chart a path toward sustainability,” said Harold Jones, chief sustainability officer and executive vice president, Eaton Business System, Eaton. “We’re on pace to meet our ambitious sustainability goals and support collaborative efforts like this worldwide to help ensure a low-carbon future.”

Through its expansive portfolio of intelligent power management solutions, Eaton is helping healthcare customers simplify the energy transition to strengthen resilience, better manage existing electrical infrastructure and prepare for future energy requirements. Eaton is working with leading healthcare organizations to deploy clean energy and microgrid systems, update and modernize infrastructure, electrify fossil-fueled processes, and establish the flexibility needed to better manage evolving community healthcare needs.

“Now is the time to decarbonize healthcare,” said Justin Carron, global healthcare segment director at Eaton. “Today, there are vast opportunities to put the energy transition, electrification and digitalization to work to improve sustainability, resilience, reliability and the bottom line. And federal incentives for clean energy projects are infusing new resources to help healthcare organizations accelerate their energy and environmental goals.”

Learn more about how Eaton is unlocking a low carbon future for healthcare.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and doing what’s best for our stakeholders and all of society.

Founded in 1911, Eaton is marking its 100th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We reported revenues of $20.8 billion in 2022 and serve customers in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit Eaton.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Hilary Spittle 
+1 (216) 712-2005 
hilaryspittle@eaton.com

Regina Parundik 
Cobblestone Communications 
+1 (412) 559-1614 
regina@cobblecreative.com