Month: July 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Otis (NYSE: OTIS) will provide innovative technology and connected vertical mobility solutions for Arte Star, a luxury residential building located near iconic landmarks such as the Kuala Lumpur Tower and Merdeka 118.

• Otis will complete installation of 22 SkyRise® and 1 Gen3™ elevator systems by 2027
• Otis will maintain Arte Star’s vertical mobility systems through 2029
• Otis is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation, and service company

“We are proud to collaborate with our customer Arte Corp on this project, delivering smarter, safer and more sustainable solutions that enhance Kuala Lumpur’s urban landscape and redefine luxury living,” said Pradeep Nair, Managing Director of Otis Malaysia and Brunei.

FAQ: What Otis systems will be in the Arte Star, Kuala Lumpur?

• The flexible SkyRise system, available in a range of speeds and rises up to 900m, is equipped with the Otis regenerative-drive technology (ReGen® Drive) which feeds electrical energy back into the building power grid during braking. This can then be used to power equipment in the building, helping to lower net electricity consumption and enable building cost savings
• The Gen3 elevator system launched in Malaysia in 2024, is digitally connected. It enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and seamless building integration. The Gen3 elevator system enhances efficiency, improves safety, and elevates the customer’s experience
• The Arte Star will be equipped with the Otis ONE™ IoT digital platform that connects elevators to the cloud. Otis ONE monitors, collects and analyzes data from elevators’ smart sensors to deliver performance information, proactive communication and predictive insights to Otis’ customers. This translates to improved savings and value for building owners and managers.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

View original content here.

I come from a big, close-knit family and always dreamed of having one of my own someday. What was in store is even more than I could have ever expected.

When I graduated from high school, instead of going to college, I jumped immediately into career mode, starting as an administrative assistant for an Aflac agent. I was just 19 at the time, and it was in that role that I learned about the earning potential and asked for mentorship opportunities. It was on that path that I met my husband and today, we have built both a beautiful family and a very successful insurance business.

But, as with all things in life, there were valleys that came along with these peaks. In those years in between, I lost loved ones to cancer. But if there is ever a silver lining in a situation like this, it’s that their cancer journeys were exactly the reminders I needed to get myself checked.

Later that year, I went to my routine wellness mammogram and through that exam, I found out I had an aggressive breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. Over the next year, I underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy — all while raising our two young kids (3 and ½ years and 18 months) and running our thriving business.

Today, I’m so happy and grateful to say that I’ve been cancer free for eight years. That experience taught me so much, and ever since, I’ve been on a mission to share it with others, whether it’s recommendations for finding comfort during treatment or the unexpected after diagnosis.

It’s at this point that I usually tell people what gave me peace of mind during this time.

But I have an even more important point to share, especially after seeing the results of my company’s most recent Wellness Matters Survey, which showed that 90% of respondents delayed checkups and routine screenings that could help save their lives.

So my message to you is simple: Schedule and commit to your routine wellness exams. Let my story be a reminder — because I followed through on my regular mammogram appointment, I’ve been able to watch my kids grow and keep my business flourishing.

About the study: The 2025 Wellness Matters Survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 employed U.S. adults ages 18-65 in April 2025 by Kantar Profiles on behalf of Aflac.

The results from the 2025 Wellness Matters Survey are intended for informational purposes only.

This letter contains the opinions of an Aflac policyholder and is not intended to portray any specific benefits or details of Aflac insurance.

WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500327 
Exp. 5/26

Nasdaq

California has adopted legislation that will require U.S. entities with annual total revenues greater than $500 million, and doing business in the state, to publish a climate-related financial risk report by January 1, 2026, and biannually thereafter. Later in the year, U.S. entities doing business in the state with annual total revenues greater than $1 billion will be required to begin reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Is your company prepared to meet these requirements?

To speak to some of the complexities around the California climate laws, Nasdaq recently hosted a webinar, Climate Risk: How is California’s SB-261 impacting resilience & adaptation planning? Sustainability professionals Natasha Tuck, Director of Sustainability and ESG at Dolby, Michael Littenberg, Partner, and Global Head of the ESG, CSR, Business and Human Rights Compliance Practice at Ropes at Ropes & Gray, and Bob Languell, Manager of the Corporate Climate Data Fee Implementation and Enforcement Support Section of CARB, shared their insights about the current legislative landscape.

Watch the webinar recording

Read the blog to learn more

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) today announced an extension of its long-term partnership with Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. With the renewal of this 22-year partnership, Louisiana teachers maintain access to innovative digital resources that foster engaging learning environments, spark student curiosity, and boost academic success.

LPB is Louisiana’s largest digital classroom over the air, on every device, in schools, and in the community. LPB’s Educational Services Department is committed to providing extensive information, lesson plans, materials, and digital resources to support formal K-12 education statewide. Through its 22-year partnership with Discovery Education, LPB has offered learners access to a deep library of digital resources through Discovery Education Experience.

Discovery Education Experience is the essential companion for engaged classrooms, offering supplemental, cross-curricular, digital resources that inspires teachers, motivates students, and supports instruction in all academic disciplines. Designed expressly for K-12 schools, Experience delivers all-in-one, ready-to-teach lessons and strategies, exciting career exploration resources, standards-aligned content, and flexible tools for differentiation and assessment. Recently, Discovery Education announced a host of new enhancements to Discovery Education Experience that include new tools and resources, AI technology, additional career explorations, and more.

“Louisiana Public Broadcasting is delighted to mark its 22nd year of partnership with Discovery Education,” said Clarence “C.C” Copeland, President and CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. “In collaboration with Discovery Education, we are equipping teachers with the essential tools they need to ignite student curiosity and deepen engagement in learning. We are excited to continue this impactful partnership.”

All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network or DEN. A global community of education professionals, the DEN connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.

This year, the DEN is celebrating 20 years of connecting educators to their most valuable resource: each other. Educators interested in learning more this powerful professional learning community and joining the DEN can visit the DEN homepage here.

“Discovery Education is excited to extend this long-standing partnership,” said Lyndley McNabb, Partnership Manager at Discovery Education. “C.C Copeland, CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and Nancy Tooraen, Education Director, have demonstrated remarkable commitment to supporting teachers and students statewide, and we are honored to contribute to their work on behalf of the students and teachers of Louisiana.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

###

About Discovery Education  
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

Contact 
Stephen Wakefield 
Discovery Education 
Phone: 202-316-6615 
Email: swakefield@discoveryed.com

Hamilton, Bermuda, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Bacardi in Puerto Rico has achieved Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Certification, powered by Tandem Global, recognizing its dedication to preserving Puerto Rico’s bat populations and educating the community about their ecological importance.

The bat is deeply embedded in the family-owned company’s 163-year history and conservation work to protect bat populations takes place at many Bacardi sites around the world. In Puerto Rico, Bacardi has launched a series of initiatives to educate employees, local communities, and visitors about the vital role bats play in the island’s ecosystem.

The program’s efforts include hosting the Puerto Rico Bat Festival in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Bat Conservation Program (PCMPR). The festival, which is attended by more than 500 people, includes educational talks from bat conservation experts, interactive workshops and educational exhibits. In 2024, Bacardi also opened a new space dedicated to educating the c. 150,000 annual visitors to the Casa BACARDÍ visitor experience about the importance of bats. Through its partnership with the PCMPR, Bacardi also helps engage the wider community in Puerto Rico through outreach events.

“Protecting the local bat population is a real passion for us at Bacardi, and this WHC Certification is fantastic recognition of our success in sharing that passion and drive for action with others,” said Gregorio Frias, Sustainability Manager, Bacardi, based at the BACARDÍ rum distillery. “From our own teams to the wider community across the island, we want to help foster a culture of environmental stewardship and play our part in protecting the planet for the future.”

Looking ahead, Bacardi plans to further its conservation efforts by funding new research equipment for the PCMPR, as well as reforesting a small patch of habitat near the front of the distillery which was damaged during recent hurricanes. 

“The Puerto Rico Site is recognized as meeting the strict requirements of WHC Certification,” said Margaret O’Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Tandem Global. “Companies achieving WHC Certification, like Bacardi, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”

This is the fourth time the site has achieved this award. The largest premium rum distillery in the world and the home of the world’s most awarded rum, received the first WHC Certification ever presented to an organization in Puerto Rico in 2018 and as of today, remains the only organization to receive a WHC Certification on the island.

The BACARDĺ rum distillery joins other sites in the company’s portfolio in securing the WHC Certification. Both the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® distillery in the UK and the Bacardi Bottling Corporation site in Jacksonville, Florida, have earned WHC Certifications for their work in conservation.

For more on how Bacardi is protecting People & Planet, visit www.bacardilimited.com/CS.

A new plant-based food program is helping Thomasville, Georgia seniors manage chronic illnesses through free meals, health screenings, and community support.

Fifty seniors are served weekly with four free plant-based meals. Health data is tracked through A1C, glucose, and BMI testing, and the program powered locally by local farms, chefs, and labs.

The program is one of several new programs that Thomasville Community Development Corporation is able to implement as recipients of a two-year grant ($100,000 this year) from Drawdown Georgia.

Watch the video here.

• 4 MW installation will offset 30% carbon generation across five Eaton facilities and accelerate progress toward company’s sustainability goals

PITTSBURGH, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton is adding a new clean energy project to drive carbon reduction at its operations in Wisconsin, advancing its commitment to achieve net zero operations by 2050. The joint project with We Energies, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, and Eaton will help strengthen energy security, deliver cost-effective power to the grid, and reduce Eaton’s carbon footprint at five locations in Wisconsin, where the company conducts research and makes electrical infrastructure for utility, data center, large commercial and industrial applications.

Once energized in early 2026, the 4-megawatt solar project located adjacent to Eaton’s Thomas A. Edison Technical Center is expected to meet 30% of the annual carbon reduction goals at five Eaton sites in Franksville, South Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls and two Waukesha facilities. Combined with previous energy efficiency upgrades, the initiative will support a 58% reduction in Eaton’s greenhouse gas emissions across the state since 2018.

“At Eaton, we’re tackling the energy transition from all angles — including right here in Wisconsin, where we produce the technologies essential to modernize the grid and support a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” said Guillaume Laur, senior vice president and general manager of Power Delivery and Regulation, Electrical Sector at Eaton. “Around the world, we’re leveraging the global megatrends of electrification and digitalization to unlock greater operational and environmental value from energy systems. This project marks another important milestone on our journey and there is much more to come.”

Under the agreement, We Energies will build, own and operate the system on Eaton’s behalf. Eaton will provide the land for construction and receive renewable energy credits for delivering clean energy to the local grid. Eaton is also contributing engineering expertise and essential technologies to the project, including electrical transformers produced at its Waukesha, Wisconsin manufacturing facility.

“We’re pleased to partner with Eaton to bring more renewable energy to Wisconsin,” said Mike Hooper — president, We Energies. “Our focus on reliable energy supports all of our customers and strengthens economic growth across the state.”

The Franksville solar project is an example of Eaton’s Everything as a Grid approach to the energy transition that is shaping a future where homeowners, communities and businesses can reduce the cost and environmental impact of energy through intelligent power management and on-site renewable energy production. The company has deployed multiple solar projects across its global operations since 2009, including a first-of-its-kind clean energy microgrid in Arecibo, Puerto Rico completed in 2024.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. 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 helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Founded in 1911, Eaton has continuously evolved to meet the changing and expanding needs of our stakeholders. With revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit  www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kristin Somers
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com

Regina Parundik 
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com

###

Water is a shared resource.

We all use it. We all need it. But do we give serious thought to the fact that we all need to work together to steward it? Or do we assume that someone else, someone with more people, more money, and more resources, will take charge and “fix” water risks on their own?

It is easy to believe that because water still flows from your tap, your home or business isn’t at risk. But a watershed is more like a shared bank account than a private vault. Everyone draws from the account, and it only stays full if everyone contributes back into it. When one user overdraws (or pollutes), it impacts the whole system.

To meaningfully address water risks and properly steward the water resources we have, we must look outside of the four walls of our home or facility. It takes real commitment to partner with others in the basin and take shared responsibility for the health of the watershed. Collective action is one of the core tenets of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term water security.

What Is Collective Action in Water Stewardship?

AWS defines collective action in the context of water stewardship as “a coordinated set of engagements among interested parties playing complementary roles, which pools together knowledge, resources, and/or expertise to jointly identify and implement solutions at various geographic scales, with the aim to address shared freshwater challenges.”

Collective action matters because water risks are interconnected, highly localized, and often impact multiple users or activities, which can add up over time to create much bigger problems. What one user does upstream can affect the water quality, quantity, or access to water downstream. These risks don’t stop at property lines or company boundaries.

Individual efforts, while important, may not be enough, especially in large or water-stressed basins. One facility can implement best practices internally, but if surrounding users are over-extracting, polluting, or not stewarding their water resources, the whole catchment remains vulnerable. It’s like being a healthy fish in a drying pond. No matter how strong or well-adapted you are, you’re still at risk if the environment around you is collapsing. That’s why collaboration is key. Only by working together can stakeholders protect the shared ecosystem they all depend on.

Who Needs to Be Involved—and Why

The success of collective action also depends on who is involved and how they’re engaged. Stakeholders each bring unique knowledge, perspectives, and priorities that contribute to a fuller understanding of the local water context. Building trust and capacity among these groups is often a necessary first step. Long-term basin health can’t be achieved without cooperation from diverse players, such as local communities, governments, other businesses, NGOs, and water utilities. Everyone has a role to play.

How the AWS Standard Supports Collective Action

The AWS Standard v.2.0 embeds collective action throughout its framework, but also addresses it directly in Step 5: Communicate & Disclose, Criteria 5.4: “Disclose efforts to collectively address shared water challenges.”

• Indicator 5.4.1 states that “the site’s shared water-related challenges and efforts made to address these challenges shall be disclosed.”
• Indicator 5.4.2 states that “efforts made by the site to engage stakeholders and coordinate and support public-sector agencies shall be identified.”

Collective action is also emphasized several times in the Standard’s Advanced Indicators. This reenforces the idea that as facilities and businesses continue to grow in their water stewardship maturity, they will begin to work more at the catchment level, partnering with other water users and stakeholders to drive meaningful change.

Moving Beyond the Fence Line

Water stewardship doesn’t stop at the fence line. It goes beyond the four walls. It requires a willingness to engage, collaborate, and invest in the health of the entire basin. As a business, we urge you to consider seeking out partnerships, supporting shared initiatives, and helping build trust among the diverse stakeholders who rely on the same watershed as you. Collective action isn’t a bonus, an add-on, or a “nice to have.” It’s essential to business resiliency. It’s how we move from isolated effort to scalable, meaningful, and lasting impact.

For questions about your business and responsible water management, reach out to our team of water stewardship experts today!

The content herein is the author’s opinion and not published on behalf of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The author holds an AWS Professional Credential and this piece of publishing helps fulfil their Continuing Contribution Units requirements. For more information about AWS or the AWS Professional Credentialing Program please visit https://a4ws.org/.