Month: June 2023

Schneider Electric

All-electric Center for Computing and Data Sciences leverages Schneider Electric expertise, technologyThe Center is the largest net-zero building in Boston

BOSTON /3BL Media/ – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been selected as the sustainability partner for the Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences. The newly completed education center sets a new standard for sustainable, all electric buildings in Boston and is the city’s largest net-zero building.

Boston University will heat and cool the 345,000 square-foot property with 31 geothermic wells and all of its electricity will be supplied via a long-term campus procurement with a wind farm in South Dakota. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ Building Offering serves as the building management system (BMS) and is supported by EcoStruxure™ Building Advisor’s Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) platform for continuous commissioning. Both of these systems will allow building management to closely monitor and control energy use throughout the state-of-the-art building.

Schneider Electric, an expert partner for carbon-neutral buildings

Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) requires all large buildings to gradually reduce emissions to net-zero operations by 2050. Ordinances such as BERDO are proliferating to help guide organizations toward carbon neutrality.

“Organizations in Boston and around the country are under immense pressure to reduce their carbon emissions as part of broader climate action plans, however, developing and executing sustainable building construction and operation plans can be daunting,” said Estelle Monod, Buildings Segment President, Schneider Electric. “Boston University has proven to be a leader in this space, and Schneider Electric is proud to leverage our expertise and market-leading technology to help the university and other customers execute their sustainability missions.”

Schneider Electric remains a market leader in supporting net zero, electrification, and sustainability solutions. Boston University has proven to be an ideal partner, as the institution has set its own aggressive climate goals through its Climate Action Plan, which exceeds those set by the city, targeting net carbon neutrality by 2040.

“Schneider Electric has proven to be an invaluable partner in the developing our university’s first true net zero building, and we’re proud to serve as an example of what’s possible for the rest of the city,” said Elijah Ercolino, Executive Director of Planned Maintenance & Engineering, Boston University. “Not only will the new Center for Computing and Data Sciences serve as a vital resource for students, but the building’s geothermal system is demonstrating the strategy for decarbonizing building operations.”

As more organizations seek to reduce energy consumption in new and existing buildings, they’ll require expert partners. Schneider Electric meets smart building needs with its robust service delivery model and technology offerings, ensuring any organization can develop, control and maintain efficient building energy use.

To learn more about Schneider Electric’s climate commitments along with how the company is helping customers in Boston and beyond meet net zero goals and regulations, visit here. Find out more about the new Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences here.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

PLAINFIELD, Ind., June 5, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Duke Energy is awarding more than $125,000 in grants to 26 local and regional economic development organizations to spur new jobs and investment in Indiana communities. The grants are through Duke Energy’s Partnership Program, which funds marketing and strategic efforts to grow cities and towns.

“We believe that when our communities thrive, we thrive,” said Erin Schneider, managing director of Midwest economic development for Duke Energy. “That’s why we work hand in hand with local and regional economic development organizations to bring new jobs and capital investment to the communities we serve, and our Partnership Program is one example of that.”

Grant dollars are used to support marketing campaigns and promotional materials, website development and updates, conference and tradeshow registrations and continuing education.

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance will receive $5,000 in grant funding to help purchase new street sign banners bearing the group’s new branding, which includes a revamped logo, color palette and messaging that reflects the community’s unique character and aspirations.

“As the Kokomo community continues to grow and expand as a result of a new battery industry presence, we want to create a renewed sense of pride for current businesses and residents,” said Lori Dukes, president and CEO of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance. “Through this new marketing campaign and street sign banners, we’re able to create a unique identity and sense of place for those who call Kokomo home.”

Since the Partnership Program was established in 2017, Duke Energy has contributed more than $700,000 in grant funding to organizations that are helping create vibrant economies in Indiana.

To qualify for program consideration, each applicant submitted a plan that would have a direct impact on their community’s economic growth. These awards help local and regional economic development organizations fund marketing and strategic efforts in the communities they serve. Amounts varied depending on the size and scope of the project.

This year, grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Aspire Johnson County – $5,000 
 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation – $5,000 
 Boone County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000 
 City of Batesville – $5,000 
 Daviess County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000 
 East Central Indiana Regional Partnership – $5,000 
 Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County – $1,625 
 Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance – $5,000 
 Greensburg-Decatur County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000 
 Grow Wabash County – $5,000 
 Hancock Economic Development Council – $5,000 
 I-74 Business Corridor – $5,000 
 Indy Partnership – $5,000 
 Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation – $5,000 
 Knox County Indiana Economic Development – $5,000 
 Lawrence County Economic Growth Council – $5,000 
 Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth – $5,000 
 Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership – $5,000 
 One Dearborn – $5,000 
 Purdue Research Foundation Economic Development Team – $5,000 
 Radius Indiana – $5,000 
 Shelby County Development Corporation – $5,000 
 South Central Indiana Economic Development Group – $5,000 
 Southwest Indiana Development Council – $5,000The Town of Cumberland – $5,000 
 Vermillion County Economic Development Council – $4,485

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

Do you feel a bit lost when people refer to certain environmental sustainability topics and aren’t sure where to start when it comes to learning more? Sustainability 101 is a blog series that you can turn to for information about different environmental terms that may come up at work, during discussions with friends, and even at your annual holiday gathering.

“It’s possible to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Here’s how” 1

“UN tells governments to ‘fast forward’ net zero targets” 2

These are just a few of many headlines from 2023 so far that center around the concept of “net zero.” You may hear the phrase frequently in the context of climate change and global warming, but do you know the intricacies behind it?

According to the United Nations (UN) Climate Action website, net zero “means cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.”

Similarly, the World Resources Institute (WRI) says net zero “will be achieved when all emissions released by human activities are counterbalanced by removing carbon from the atmosphere in a process known as carbon removal.”

Simply put, it is a state where emissions are balanced with an equal amount of GHG removal.

Why has net zero become such a commonly used term? Because our future depends on it. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “climate-related risks to health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security, and economic growth are projected to increase with global warming of 1.5°C” [compared to pre-industrial levels]. To stay below that temperature threshold, global emissions must decline by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

Achieving a state of net zero requires a two-part approach, according to WRI:

Reduce human-caused emissions, such as those from fossil-fueled vehicles and factories, as close to zero as possible.Remove any remaining emissions by balancing those with an equivalent amount of carbon removal from the atmosphere.

How can we reduce human-caused emissions?

According to the UN’s Climate Action website, burning fossil fuels — think coal, natural gas, and oil — to generate power, manufacture goods, and fuel transportation accounts for over 75 percent of global GHG emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Some other activities that create emissions include: deforestation or wildfires (because trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere during their lifespan and release it when they are destroyed) and non-sustainable food production, which releases large amounts of CO2, methane, and other GHGs into the atmosphere. (You can read more about GHG emissions sources in our previous Sustainability 101 blog.)

Actions that can reduce GHG emissions, according to the WRI, include:

Shifting to electric vehiclesTransitioning to clean, renewable energy from sources like wind and solarIncreasing public transportation, biking, and walkingRetrofitting buildings and improving energy efficiencyReducing food loss and waste

How can we remove carbon from the atmosphere?

Carbon removal can either be nature based or technology based. Common examples of nature-based removal projects are afforestation (planting new trees to create a forest) or reforestation (replanting trees where they previously existed) — because trees absorb CO2 through photosynthesis. Protecting and restoring other natural ecosystems, such as peatlands, coastal wetlands, savannas and grasslands, can contribute to carbon sequestration as well.

A number of technology-based carbon removal solutions are in various stages of development. One is direct air capture — the process of “chemically scrubbing CO2 from the ambient air and then sequestering it either underground or in long-lived products like concrete,” according to the WRI.

Another example that is in the demonstration phase according to the IPCC is a process known as “bioenergy with carbon capture and storage” (BECCS). Atmospheric CO2 is absorbed by plants and trees as they grow, and then the plant material (biomass) is burned to produce energy. The CO2 released in the production of this energy is then captured before it reaches the atmosphere and stored in geological formations deep underground on long time scales. This allows us to produce energy without adding additional GHGs to our atmosphere.

What actions are organizations taking?

Given the dire warnings from the IPCC and other scientific organizations, many companies, countries, and even individual cities are setting their own goals to reach net zero. According to Net Zero Tracker, as of 2023, more than 900 companies and 130 countries have set targets

In November 2022, a UN High-Level Expert Group issued a report that “set tight definitions for what it means to be net zero and net zero-aligned” for corporations, financial institutions, and local and regional governments. The report identified five principles for these “non-state” entities to set net zero goals:

Ambition which delivers significant near- and medium-term emissions reductions on a path to global net zero by 2050Demonstrated integrity by aligning commitments with actions and investmentsRadical transparency in sharing relevant, non-competitive, comparable data on plans and progressEstablished credibility through plans based in science and third-party accountabilityDemonstrable commitment to both equity and justice in all actions

One organization offering third-party accountability on corporate net zero goals is the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a partnership between CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the UN Global Compact (UNGC), WRI and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

In October 2021, the SBTi established its Net-Zero Standard, the world’s first framework for corporate net zero target setting in line with climate science. Cisco was among the first technology hardware and equipment companies to have its net-zero goal and near-term targets validated under the SBTi Net-Zero Standard. SBTi validation requires companies to reduce emissions across their value chains by at least 90 percent. Companies with SBTi validation can use offsets for no more than 10 percent of their emissions reduction. According to the SBTi, a company is only considered to have reached net zero when it has achieved its long-term science-based target and neutralized any residual emissions.

Learn more about Cisco’s goal to reach net zero GHG emissions across our value chain by 2040 on cisco.com and our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) Reporting Hub.

Willing to learn and engage more on environmental sustainability? In the next blog in our series, we will share more about smart buildings and what it means.

References

1 Science News – It’s possible to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Here’s how

2 Climate Change News – UN tells governments to ‘fast forward’ net zero targets

View original content here