Month: May 2023

Utility energy efficiency programs are continually tasked with achieving higher energy savings goals, complicated by a shrinking market of participants obtained through traditional marketing tactics. This has sparked interest in more innovative program outreach tactics, with the goal of identifying and engaging new customers. Utilities are finding success by collaborating with community partners who can expand program reach and strengthen customer engagement – components that can be vital to the success of an energy efficiency program’s goals and initiatives.

Best practices in community partnerships

Fostering relationships with community partners provides more authentic customer connections and can amplify the effectiveness of utility outreach efforts. Instead of a one-size-fits-all strategy, tapping into a partners’ core competencies and developing unique approaches allows for creativity in making energy efficiency a more organic approach. Partnerships with community-based organizations, clean energy stakeholders, and trade allies provide utilities with access to untapped customer markets and engagement through a variety of pre-existing touchpoints.

Community-based organizations

An increasing number of utilities are focusing on providing greater equity within energy efficiency programs to better serve their customers. Whether it’s supporting community-based organizations’ missions or collaborating on an issue, engagement with these partners is a crucial part of connecting with traditionally underserved audiences. Approaching these relationships with an understanding of the partner’s mission is key to successfully incorporating energy efficiency.

Ameren Illinois, with implementation partner Leidos, is working with several community-based organizations to bring energy efficiency to all. A partnership with the Peoria Guild of Black Artists (PGOBA) provides resources and energy efficiency education to Black communities in the Ameren Illinois service territory. They teamed up to create three murals in Peoria as a creative spark for getting people thinking and talking about energy. By employing local artists to create messages tailored to the local community, Ameren Illinois is working on building trust with these customers.

Through another partnership with Senior Services Plus, Ameren Illinois and Leidos are maximizing touchpoints with the traditionally hard-to-reach senior population. Senior Services Plus’s Handyman Program provides low-income seniors the ability to receive repairs in their home at an affordable rate. Ameren Illinois helped expand this program by funding an additional handyman and trained all staff to install Direct Install Measures (including LED bulbs, advanced power strips and faucet aerators) at no additional cost to them. Among the many benefits of this partnership are direct savings on energy bills as well as more widespread energy efficiency education.

As part of Ameren Illinois’ and Leidos’ mission to develop a diverse workforce within the energy efficiency industry, they created an internship program that provides scholarships through community colleges in Illinois to help train the next generation of Construction Management and HVAC professionals. In addition, a partnership with the Minority Business Development Center has helped to train dozens of minority-owned contractors in office services and place jobseekers in energy efficiency careers.

Hawaii Energy and program implementor Leidos work with established nonprofits on their mission of bettering the welfare of underserved residents by implementing programs tailored for low-to-moderate income communities. By providing “boots on the ground” support in these communities, these partnerships help recruit energy efficiency program participants, collect payments for and organize deliveries of new energy-efficient appliances, and follow up with reporting to ensure program targets are met.

Clean energy stakeholders

As more states continue to adopt clean energy goals, higher emphasis will be placed on utility energy efficiency programs’ role in successfully achieving these goals. To support their electrification and clean energy initiatives, many utilities are exploring partnerships with organizations that have coordinated missions. Successful collaboration with clean energy stakeholders provides the opportunity to assess the industry’s landscape, exchange ideas and expertise, and find common ground in achieving mandated environmental goals.

The state of Hawaii has been working on achieving 100 renewable energy generation by 2045. Hawaii Energy and its energy efficiency program implementer, Leidos, are supporting this ambitious goal. With the shared vision of making Hawaii a model clean energy state, Hawaii Energy and Blue Planet Foundation are collaborating on innovative approaches to fight climate change. In partnership, they are working on market transformation efforts, with unique initiatives including in-classroom student presentations, establishing a “Climate Crew” cohort for local high school students interested in learning more about policymaking and advocacy, developing an “Efficiency Unlocked” microsite game, and continued clean energy policy and advocacy work at the state and county level.

Trade allies

Creating partnerships with trade allies within a community – including contractors, architects, engineers, vendors, manufacturers, and retailers – helps support energy efficiency programs in reaching savings goals and portfolio-wide objectives. Strong partnerships with trade allies can increase energy efficiency awareness within a community. In addition, trade allies act as an extension of the program implementation staff – helping customers to complete energy efficiency projects and leverage available utility incentives.

While most utilities recognize the importance of working with trade allies, National Grid and implementer Leidos take a unique approach that delivers greater collaboration. In working with large commercial and industrial customers, projects can be complex – often starting with a facility audit to identify opportunities. National Grid and Leidos invite the trade ally to participate in these audits, discuss areas of focus, uncover potential issues, and gain a greater understanding of how to address customer pain points. Working with the customers’ contractors has resulted in developing credible working relationships that enhance participation in energy efficiency and maximize energy savings.

Building community partnerships provides value to both the utility and the organizations they work with. By leveraging the strength of each partner, this collaboration helps increase knowledge, trust, and resources available to attract new customers and make lasting progress in communities they serve.

With 35 years of experience in the energy industry, Leidos specializes in working with community partners to advance energy efficiency education and inspire action. Our team of experts have extensive experience working with community partners to engage residential, commercial, and industrial customers across utility service territories. For more information on Leidos and our program implementation experience, contact our team.

Our friends at SIGWATCH track the views of non-government organizations (NGOs) on company sustainability. They recently dramatically expanded their coverage. They have shared information on more than 17,000 of the 38,467 entities they track. We have ratings for almost 15,000 of the entities we received data on.

The 50,000+ entities that CSRHub covers have a different regional distribution from those that SIGWATCH monitors. As you can see below, SIGWATCH has extremely deep data on European entities—probably because its clients provide it with lists of NGOs to poll (and many of its clients are based in Europe).

See Comparison of SIGWATCH and CSRHub Regional Coverage

Out of the more than 850 sources we ingest, SIGWATCH is the only group that focuses on NGO and not-for-profit input. They look for both positive or negative comments from NGOs. They break their data down into Environment, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) related topics such as: Animal Rights, Biodiversity, Children, Climate Change and Intellectual Property Rights. At the overall level, they summarize a company’s history over the past four years. SIGWATCH as a separate data set that covers “NGO pressure”—the efforts NGOs make to get companies to change specific behavior.

As is true with most ESG data sets, many entities receive a null/not available score on some or most issues. Many NGOs feel they can engage more effectively with companies through quiet, private outreach. A few entities draw a lot of attention. They tend to be the largest companies or those in “exposed” sectors such as mining or consumer goods.

SIGWATCH’s perspective means that it agrees most with sources that track “controversies.” The best-known source in this area is MSCI’s ESG Controversies data set. As we expected, there is a strong (21%, F score > 1,300) correlation between the net positive or negative view from SIGWATCH and MSCI’s Controversy Total Count score. Why isn’t the correlation higher? Remember, SIGWATCH is looking at issues from an NGO perspective—MSCI is driven by company self-reported data.

See Regression Statistics

Interestingly, the correlation between SIGWATCH’s net view and MSCI’s Controversy Score is lower (only 6%, F score > 300). This suggests to us that both data sets are sensitive to the frequency with which controversies occur but that SIGWATCH’s NGO audience has a different perspective on controversies than MSCI’s investor audience.

CSRHub seeks to include the input and views of all of the stakeholders of the entities it rates. Most of our data sources start from information that companies have disclosed publicly. They then analyze these disclosures and add analyst views, model calculations, or sentiment analysis to build their scores. Some sharing of base data and similarity of methods embeds a common element in each source’s view. We extract and use this agreement—this consensus—to generate our ratings. SIGWATCH’s perspective adds another dimension to our analysis. We are happy to include more data on both the positive and negative impact of NGOs in our scores, as they are an important part of society and long-time drivers of ESG thinking.

Bahar Gidwani is CTO and Co-founder of CSRHub. He has built and run large technology-based businesses for many years. Bahar holds a CFA, worked on Wall Street with Kidder, Peabody, and with McKinsey & Co. Bahar has consulted to a number of major companies and currently serves on the board of several software and Web companies. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy. He plays bridge, races sailboats, and is based in New York City.

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers one of the world’s broadest and most consistent set of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, covering 50,000 companies. Its Big Data algorithm combines millions of data points on ESG performance from hundreds of sources, including leading ESG analyst raters, to produce consensus scores on all aspects of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. CSRHub ratings can be used to drive corporate, investor and consumer decisions. For more information, visit www.CSRHub.com. CSRHub is a B Corporation.

By Kim Borges

During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, Regions Bank is celebrating and honoring the rich history and traditions of diverse communities. Here, we highlight a Regions community partner working to advance greater cultural understanding.

To you, they’re simply cloth napkins and place cards.

To Karla Macareno, they’re essential tools.

“I didn’t know how much it takes to do an event,” said Macareno, an intern at the Asia Society in Houston, Texas. “It takes a lot of supplies, a lot of hard work and dedication, a lot of people to do this.”

This includes weddings, proms, birthday parties, corporate events and even educational workshops like the Inner City Capital Connections training Regions Bank brought to Houston for more than 50 under-resourced entrepreneurs in late 2022. The Asia Society hosts more than 300 events annually.

Regions also supports the nonprofit’s Young Leaders Internship Program offering students like Macareno the opportunity to not only develop hands-on skills with event preparation, but to gain lifelong teambuilding and leadership skills as well.

Commercial Banking relationship manager Megan Bickel also connected with the Young Leaders program interns in April to discuss building savings, raising credit scores and other financial wellness insights.

The students led the conversation just as much as I did. I learned just as much from them as they hopefully did from me.
Megan Bickel, Commercial Banking relationship manager at Regions

“Money can be a hard thing to talk about, but this group asked wonderful questions,” said Bickel. “They are eager to be successful in life. We had an open dialogue. The students led the conversation just as much as I did. I learned just as much from them as they hopefully did from me.”

“For me, it was very beneficial,” Macareno confirmed. “I’m a whole newbie to savings. There were several times during our conversation with Megan when I thought, ‘I’m going to write that down.’”

Charles Gonzalez, event manager at the Asia Society, has observed Macareno’s growth in many other areas thanks to the Young Leaders Internship Program.

“Karla is smart, dependable, confident and quick and eager to learn new things,” said Gonzalez. “As her confidence grows, she is now conducting some of our site visits with new clients and creating new client rental contracts. She’s been a tremendous help during our busiest time of year.”

And Macareno had a rare opportunity to actually enjoy, rather than work, an event during the Asia Society’s Tiger Ball, the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser. A donor offered program interns the chance to experience the evening at no cost.

“I’d never been to a gala before,” said Macareno. “When I heard about it, I said, ‘I can go too?’ and they said, ‘Yeah, you can come.’ We danced, we ate, we got to have a good time. Everybody was so happy to be there. I don’t usually wear dresses, but I got out of my comfort zone and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

The Asia Society was a great place to start my internship. I’ve been able to make strong relationships with everyone. They’re friendly, they’re supportive, they’re awesome!
Karla Macareno

Beyond feeling like the belle of the ball, Macareno came away with an even greater appreciation for those involved with making the night’s event magic happen.

“They worked so much, they were tired, but they managed to work through it,” she said. “It always takes a whole team to pull off events.”

While Macareno wasn’t initially sure she wanted to enter the events industry, her internship experience has opened her mind.

“Event planning is now one of my top job searches because of what I did here,” she explained. “I didn’t think I was going to like it as much as I did.”

She’s grateful to Regions for offering her the avenue to make that discovery.

“This opportunity is meant for me to grow more from this position and take all of the learning I’ve been doing with me for my future jobs,” she said. “The Asia Society was a great place to start my internship. I’ve been able to make strong relationships with everyone. They’re friendly, they’re supportive, they’re awesome!”

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M and Discovery Education have named 10 recipients of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network Alumni Grants Program.

The alumni network and grant program, launched in January 2023, offers previous participants of the nation’s premier middle school science competition networking opportunities, resources, events and funding for existing science projects through a total of $25,000 in grant money given to ten different alumni annually.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see how the 3M Young Scientist Challenge alumni have continued their scientific innovations,” said John Banovetz, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Environmental Responsibility at 3M. “Congratulations to each of the recipients of the inaugural alumni grants program. 3M is proud to support these inspiring students as they apply their passion for science to make the world a better place.”

The 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Grants Program recipients are:

Braeden Benedict is a 26-year-old from Missouri and a 2011 finalist. Braeden received $1,000 for the project The Health Career Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis that provides mentorship, engaging health curriculum and exposure to health careers to high school students from low-income, underrepresented minority communities.Leanne Fan is a 15-year-old from California and 2022 America’s Top Young Scientist & Grand Prize winner. Leanne received $1,000 for the project Teaching Science to Kids Through Expos! that introduces young students to science.Reshma Kosaraju is a 17-year-old from California and a 2019 finalist & Improving Lives Award Winner. Reshma received $1,000 for the project Eco Quest: An environmental conservation board game that teaches students about climate change.Kathryn Lampo is a 20-year-old from Colorado and a 2017 finalist. Kathryn received $1,000 for the project NYC Model Rocketry Initiative that makes space science and engineering accessible to underserved middle schoolers across New York City through engaging STEM resources.Viraj Pandey is a 14-year-old from California and a 2021 finalist. Viraj received $2,500 for the project Enhancing Crop Yields and Minimizing Crop Diseases Using Graphene Quantum Dots to Combat Overpopulation and Adverse Climate Changes that will help sustainably increase crop yield.Sarah Park is a 15-year-old from Florida and a 2021 America’s Top Young Scientist & Grand Prize winner. Sarah received $5,000 for the project Spark Care+: Personalized Music Therapy App using a Mobile and AI that provides accessible and affordable music therapy for emotional wellbeing.Samvrit Rao is a 15-year-old from Virginia and a 2020 finalist. Samvrit received $1,000 for the project STEMForU Innovation Bootcamps that inspires underrepresented minorities to pursue STEM by providing innovative learning experiences and resources to help develop STEM critical thinking skills.Moitri Santra is a 13-year-old from Florida and a 2021 finalist. Harini received $2,500 for the project Novel Phyto-Nano Drug Delivery System that investigates the potential of medicinal phytochemicals at the nano-scale for reducing adverse drug reactions.Daniel Thomas is a 15-year-old from Texas and a 2022 finalist. Daniel received $5,000 for the project ClearWTR Portable: A Novel Water Disinfection and Purification Device that creates safe and clean drinking water.Harini Venkatesh is a 15-year-old from New Hampshire and a 2022 Improving Lives Award Winner & finalist. Harini received $5,000 for the project The Comptometrist: A Novel Method to Efficiently and Effectively Calculate Optical Power Current that calculates eye prescriptions.

Taco Bell Blog

At Taco Bell, we empower our teams to be fearless, embrace difference and drive change. We believe that each one of us has a story to tell.

The month of May celebrates Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. This month was specifically chosen to honor the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. (May 1843), as well as to acknowledge the tremendous contribution Chinese immigrants made in completing the transcontinental railroad (May 1869).

AANHPI is a wide-ranging term used to describe all cultures across the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia – representing approximately 50 ethnic groups and 100 languages. There is incredible depth and richness of diversity found within the AANHPI community, and this month is devoted to recognizing and elevating their cultural influence.

To honor and celebrate this month and the AANHPI community at The Bell, we will share their stories every week in the month of May in hopes that they not only educate but inspire you to drive positive and intentional impact within your community.

Throughout the year, we will continue sharing the incredible stories of our Taco Bell teams; the sharing and celebration doesn’t stop here.

Pragna P. – Area Coach, Taco Bell Corp

Pragna had always strived to pursue her dreams, and in 2010, she began her search for a job in hopes of achieving success – wherever she went. While her search was difficult, Pragna overcame these obstacles and eventually produced a flourishing career.

But how did it happen? Well, through countless job applications, she got an interview at her local Taco Bell. The Restaurant General Manager (RGM) at the time, Bryon, as well as her other mentor, Parabhjeet, saw something in Pragna, that she herself had yet to discover, and encouraged her to demonstrate this passion and perseverance in her new role. It wasn’t easy for Pragna to lean in, but once she did, she too saw what they saw in her and was grateful for the guidance and trust they provided.

Through their guidance and Pragna’s skills, she was able to become an Area Coach and support a larger team than she could have ever imagined. There is no doubt that she has made her mentors proud – by not only climbing up the ladder, but also utilizing the lessons Bryon and Parabhjeet taught her. “I always wanted to be as successful as my mentors, so I followed in their footsteps. I am where I am today because I had good mentors and I was ready to work,” she said.

Being a good mentor and having a great work ethic is only one side of the coin. Coming from a large family, Pragna knew how different every single one of us can be. Each one of her family members or friends is different in personality, has experienced different things – the list goes on – and that’s where the other side of being a leader comes in. Early on, she was able to learn to adapt to different situations. This knowledge allowed her to be open-minded to everyone she meets and learn from them.

So, for her, a month like AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to take stock of what you’ve learned, learn some more, and celebrate diverse communities and all their differences.

“I have a great appreciation for diversity and respect for every individual,” she said. “As a woman of color, I can encourage others to do the same… one of the ways we can do this today is supporting the Taco Bell Foundation where the goal is to provide more opportunities especially for [young people].”

After 13 years at The Bell®, Pragna can proudly say that she works at a place where she feels like she’s part of a community that accepts and celebrates her culture and can freely interact with people from different backgrounds. And that’s why equality is something that Pragna practices every day – she knows that her team and peers need to have a safe space where they can be themselves, and that’s Taco Bell.

As a leader, she wants her team to freely express their culture, feel like they belong and are motivated day-in and day-out. She believes that this is why she is successful today and wants to, “… motivate others within the organization and remind them that perseverance is the key to success.” And if you keep your eye on the ball, persevere and lean into all that Taco Bell has to offer, you too can achieve your dreams – just like Pragna.