Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Logitech Blog

Logitech is committed to providing girls and women with skills, resources and tools to build careers in technology. As part of this pursuit through the MX Women Who Master program, Logitech recently hosted its first “Women in Coding” panel. By bringing together top minds in coding, the event explored the challenges, achievements, and future opportunities for women in the tech industry. It not only underscored Logitech’s commitment to fostering diversity in technology, but also set the stage for meaningful discussions on mentorship, resilience, and personal growth. 

The panel featured influential women from Logitech’s MX partners and leading tech organizations, and was moderated by Logitech’s Moumita Pal. Together, they shared their unique journeys, insights, and lessons learned on the path to building impactful careers in coding.

Meet the panelists:

• Kanchan Kaur (Girls Who Code Alumni Advisory Council & Product Manager at Microsoft) – Kaur worked in software engineering at NASA JPL. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Human Computer Interaction at Iowa State University. She is on the Girls Who Code Alumni Advisory Council and is a Google Women Techmakers Ambassador.
• Avni Khatri (Senior Director for GitHub Education) – Khatri leads GitHub Education within GitHub’s Developer Relations organization, helping learners access the tools and resources they need to successfully build software products.
• Zoe Bachman (Curriculum Director at Codecademy) – Bachman finds new ways to make learning to code more accessible and engaging based on her experience as a creative technologist and classroom teacher.

The panelists spoke in detail about what inspired them to pursue careers in coding, what advice they’d give to their younger selves, and how mentorship shaped their journeys. To help attendees take the next step in their own coding careers, selected participants got to connect one-on-one with panelists for a mentorship session on career development, coding skills, and navigating the tech industry. 

Relive the insights and inspiration from the event by watching the panel highlights below. You can also find the full replay here.

Nasdaq

If you need software for sustainability data management and reporting, consider launching a request for proposal (RFP). This can help you find the right software to measure, manage, and share your environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

However, launching an RFP can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have a clear strategy and process in place. To help you, we have recommended practices for creating and launching an RFP for sustainability software based on our experience as a sustainability solutions provider. Discover questions across the areas below to consider including in your RFP:

• Sustainability Strategy & Performance: How does the software set, track, and report on KPIs?
• Data Management: Does the software manage structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data across all material sustainability topics?
• Audit & Data Quality: What are the software capabilities and/or processes that support data audits?
• Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure: How does the software create sustainability reports for internal and external reporting?
• Workflow & User Management: What are the software capabilities to assign permissions or roles and accountability for data?
• Implementation & Support: What is the software implementation methodology and timeline?
• Industry Experience & Services: What is the company’s background, services, experience, and qualifications in providing sustainability products and services?

Download the guide for the full list of RFP questions and additional insights.

TORONTO, July 8, 2025 /3BL/ – While the flexibility of working from home is enticing, many companies today are making a shift back toward return to office to enhance collaboration, productivity, company identity and culture. This means that architecture, construction and engineering firms and their partners – like Otis – need to offer companies and their employees comfortable and exciting places and spaces to work. And this includes vertical mobility solutions that meet new, sustainable design needs and are inclusive for all.

The innovative seven-story, 423,452-square-foot office building T3 Junction presented a unique challenge for the Otis team: Rather than a concrete hoistway, Otis was trusted to install eight Gen2^® elevators within a timber hoistway.

The result is a custom solution built entirely from massive timber pillars and specialized plates that allow the elevator to be safely secured within the wood framing.

The T3 in T3 Junction stands for Transit, Technology and Timber. Developed by Hines, the building uses heavy timber construction, a growing trend in sustainable building design.

Timber construction and other sustainability features are part of the developer’s vision for attracting tenants and their employees to the building. Timber’s natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties contribute to a healthier work environment, and studies show employees exposed to wood experience higher levels of well-being and take less sick leave.

“People really enjoy the flexibility of being able to work from home, so if you want people to be excited about coming back to work, you need to give them a place that they’re excited to go to work in,” said Alexandra Khazzam, Hines Managing Director, Canada. “T3 Junction gives that to people, and Otis was a great partner to provide the reliable transportation we need in this building.”

This project demonstrates Otis’ commitment to sustainable product and service solutions, and how Otis partners with customers to meet their expectations.

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.

Originally published in Principal Financial Group 2024 Sustainability Report

Principal® has a longstanding commitment to making a positive impact on the populations and communities we serve, and this commitment has grown and evolved over time.

In my 40 years with the company, I’ve seen us adapt to meet the changing needs of our stakeholders, while staying closely committed to our core values.

In my past decade as CEO, I’ve encouraged and supported this work at Principal and am proud of our accomplishments—including establishing our Sustainability Task Force, developing a strategy, and issuing our first public commitments. Now, as Executive Chair, I’m handing the baton to our new President and CEO Deanna Strable who will continue the company’s efforts to drive improved outcomes for people, society, and the planet.

Deanna, who served as CFO for the past seven years, and I co-architected our enterprise strategy to lead Principal into the next decade, mindful of the role our purpose plays in shaping our continued success. Additionally, we now serve together on the Principal Board of Directors, which reviews and approves commitments the company makes and monitors results.

Five years of progress

It’s been five years since we made our first public commitments, so before I turn this letter over to Deanna, I want to review the progress Principal has made during that time. I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished, led by our core values: Start with the customer. Do what’s right. Own what’s next. Invest for our future.

• Aligned our community impact initiatives more closely with our purpose: helping more people, businesses, and communities gain access to financial security.
• Contributed millions of dollars to communities through Principal® Foundation and made it even easier for employees to give back, matching donations and championing employee volunteer efforts around the world.
• Launched proprietary research designed to spur crucial conversations about financial inclusion globally.
• Added more sustainable investment options to meet increasing
  client demand.
• Maintained an inclusive and respectful workplace designed to help all employees succeed.
• Reduced the company’s impact on the environment through long-term, responsible actions that have led to exceeding our annual GHG emissions glide path target each year since 2019.

Our willingness to make these commitments and our diligence in delivering on them has led to impressive results, as detailed on page five. All of this is a source of great pride for the management, employees, and our Board. Of course there is more to be done, and I’m confident Deanna and team will rise to the challenge.

Committed to our future impact

It’s been a privilege to be part of meaningful work that advances our purpose, and as Executive Chair, I’ll continue my support for it. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s who we are as an organization. I’m looking forward to all that’s to come.

Dan Houston
Executive Chair

To learn more, read the Principal Financial Group 2024 Sustainability Report.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®. Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/dealers. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

4581344-062025

Originally published on NRG Insights

By Robert Ott

Welcome to the first edition of our Load Growth series where Robert Ott, Vice President of Origination for NRG Business, will break down the recent trends in load growth, explaining what they really mean and how they are influencing both the market and customers. Join us as we explore the key insights and implications behind these changes.

As populations grow and technology advances, the demand for energy is skyrocketing. Understanding energy load growth, or the rising need for electricity, gas, or other forms of energy, is crucial to ensuring a reliable supply. This growth comes with both challenges and opportunities, as we balance the need for more power with managing energy costs, ensuring they remain stable for consumers.

Overview of unprecedented growth

Energy load growth has remained relatively consistent year over year across most Independent System Operators (ISOs). However, ERCOT stands out, experiencing a 14% rise in demand from 2021 to 2023. This growth is largely fueled by Texas’ rapid population increase and its prominence in the expansion of data centers.¹ To address this surge, ERCOT is highlighting the need for new thermal generation, as seen with the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) awards in 2024. In response to these large load forecasts, we are adding an additional 1.5 GW of generation through the TEF, as well as collaborating with industry leaders to drive speed to market.

Additionally, PJM, home to many top tier data center markets, is also projecting large load growth throughout the end of the decade. To adequately prepare for this demand, PJM is prioritizing shovel ready generation projects to ensure its load forecast, seen below, is met with new generation.² These initiatives reflect the changing dynamics of energy demand in these regions and highlight the challenges and opportunities of meeting future energy needs.

Drivers of demand growth

One of the primary drivers of demand growth is artificial intelligence (AI). AI models consume a significant amount of energy because of the high-performance processors and vast amount of data used to train the model. Data centers and AI companies have already invested $400 billion in high-performance chips, showcasing the significance of AI-driven growth. ³ This is accelerating with $302 Bn in projected spend in 2025 on AI data centers by hyperscalers. ⁴

Additionally, data centers are increasing rack and chip density, further accelerating load growth and the build-out process. As AI chips grow more compact and workloads intensify, power demands will surge, fitting greater computational capacity into ever-smaller spaces. This combination of technological advancement and infrastructure density is playing a key role in driving energy demand projections upward.

In addition to AI-driven growth, another factor forecasted to drive energy demand higher is the onshoring of large industrial loads. With the return of manufacturing and industrial facilities to the U.S., reversing decades of offshoring, energy demand is expected to rise further.

Other factors contributing to load growth include the rise of cryptocurrency mining and increased electrification efforts. These sectors, along with AI, are all playing a pivotal role in driving substantial increases in energy load.

In our next edition

Understanding the impact of these factors is critical as they will place significant strain on the energy grid, requiring substantial upgrades and innovations in infrastructure to meet rising demand. With such rapid growth, the energy landscape is evolving quickly, and we must anticipate these challenges to ensure a resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable energy system for the future.

In our next blog, I’ll dive into the impacts of this load growth on customers and energy markets — exploring how these changes are shaping pricing, reliability, and the overall energy experience.

¹US Census Bureau and 451 Research

²Utility Dive

³Goldman Sachs

⁴Morgan Stanley

As cities and infrastructure rapidly expand across the globe, the need to rethink how we build has never been more urgent. In the UAE and broader GCC region, this urgency is amplified by a unique mix of environmental sensitivity, ambitious development agendas, and climate-related risks. That’s where “building with nature” comes in, a concept that is both innovative and deeply rooted in ancient wisdom.

At Terra Nexus, this isn’t just a philosophy, it’s our practice. As an environmental consultancy firm specializing in infrastructure and the built environment, we help clients align growth with ecological stewardship, delivering real-world solutions that balance environmental priorities with development objectives.

What Does “Building with Nature” Really Mean?

At its core, building with nature means designing infrastructure and urban developments in ways that harmonize with natural systems rather than working against them. It’s about making strategic decisions that:

• Minimize environmental disruption
• Preserve or enhance ecosystems
• Build climate resilience into infrastructure
• Unlock long-term benefits for both people and the planet

Globally, the construction sector is one of the largest contributors to climate change and resource depletion:

• The 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (UNEP/GlobalABC) highlights that in 2021, the sector was responsible for over 34% of global energy demand and about 37% of energy- and process-related CO₂ emissions.
• Climate Action Accelerator reports that the buildings sector (both construction and operation) accounted for 36% of global energy consumption in 2020, which aligns with the 30–32% range commonly cited
• It is responsible for over 50% of raw material extraction worldwide (EU Analysis).

This scale of impact means our industry holds powerful potential for positive change. Read more about Green Building Certification here and the Top Green Building Benefits.

Localizing the Approach: The UAE and GCC Context

Across the Gulf region, massive infrastructure and urban planning projects are reshaping coastlines, deserts, and mountainscapes. From NEOM to new waterfront masterplans in the UAE, growth is happening at an unprecedented pace. This makes environmental planning more essential than ever.

At Terra Nexus, we specialize in embedding environmental intelligence early in the development lifecycle. Our projects range from mixed-use mega-developments on thousands of acres to localized upgrades like improving marine water quality in a coastal marina.

Key point: Early involvement is critical. When we are brought into a project during the planning and design phase, we can make the most meaningful impact, steering decisions that avoid sensitive habitats, reduce construction impacts, and improve long-term sustainability outcomes.

Real-World Examples: Building with Nature in Action:

UAE Coastal Development Masterplan

In a confidential but large-scale coastal development in the UAE, Terra Nexus provided ecological mapping and strategic advice on land use. Our goal: identify which areas were suitable for development and which should be preserved due to environmental value.

Results:

• Protected kilometers of seagrass beds and coral reefs
• Conserved ecologically valuable land from being cleared
• Integrated blue-green infrastructure to mitigate flood risk and cool urban microclimates

By applying geospatial analysis and ecological assessments, we helped the project team design a world-class destination with a minimized environmental footprint.

Mountain Hospitality Destination in Saudi Arabia

In a mountainous, forested region of Saudi Arabia, Terra Nexus led the environmental framework for a new hospitality and residential masterplan. Despite its remote location, the project presented ecological challenges: flood-prone zones, erosion risks, and forested areas at risk of being cleared.

Some of the solutions that we implemented on the project included:

• Avoiding high-risk areas and integrating erosion protection measures
• Creating ecological corridors for wildlife movement and habitat connectivity
• Developing a native planting palette tailored to the site’s climate and soil
• Enhancing forest preservation within the development envelope

This case shows how even complex sites with rugged terrains can benefit from an approach that works with, not against, natural features.

Retrofitting Nature into Existing Projects

While early planning is ideal, building with nature isn’t limited to greenfield sites. Even in already-developed areas, upgrades and rehabilitation projects can bring environmental and social value.

For example, we partnered with engineers to improve water circulation in a small UAE marina where stagnation had reduced water quality. With minor engineered interventions, marine health improved, benefiting both environmental quality and overall user experience.

In these retrofit scenarios, phasing and stakeholder coordination are key. Creative thinking, combined with empathy for operational realities, helps deliver win-win outcomes.

Key Benefits of Building with Nature

Whether you’re working in the UAE or halfway around the world, here are five compelling reasons to adopt a building with nature strategy:

1. Lower capital and operational costs – Leveraging natural topography, materials, and systems can reduce the need for expensive earthworks or engineered infrastructure.
2. Enhanced climate resilience – Nature-based designs reduce vulnerability to flooding, erosion, and extreme heat.
3. Improved livability and user experience – Green spaces, natural shade, and biodiversity improve wellbeing for residents and visitors alike.
4. Regulatory readiness – In regions like the UAE and KSA, environmental permitting is mandatory. Building with nature ensures compliance and competitive advantage.
5. Positive brand and investor perception – Sustainable, eco-sensitive developments are increasingly attractive to both stakeholders and the public.

This approach also makes business sense. Developers benefit from cost savings, long-term durability, and market differentiation.

Challenges, and How We Overcome Them

Implementing this philosophy isn’t without hurdles:

• Speed of development: In the GCC, projects move quickly. You need nimble, adaptive strategies.
• Changing mindsets: Some stakeholders remain rooted in traditional “hard” engineering methods.
• Budget concerns: Upfront costs may appear high, even if long-term savings exist.

Our response:

• Use data visualization and GIS tools to show clear environmental risks and solutions.
• Present a business case alongside ecological benefits.
• Ensure recommendations are feasible, grounded in regulatory context, and matched to available resources.
• Engage with design teams as collaborators, not enforcers, building trust and shared vision.

Why Local Expertise Matters

Environmental conditions are highly contextual. Soil, water, climate, regulations, community norms, these differ not only country to country but even city to city. That’s why local knowledge is vital.

At Terra Nexus, our team understands:

• The intricacies of the region’s unique climate, native species, and marine habitats
• How to navigate permits and approvals with local authorities
• The realities of contracting, supply chains, and land-use constraints

Partnering with Inogen Alliance gives us access to global tools and peer expertise, but it’s our local insight that ensures success on the ground.

Final Takeaways

If you’re just starting your journey into building with nature, here are two simple but powerful pieces of advice:

1. Keep an open mind. Rethinking traditional infrastructure practices can feel disruptive, but it opens the door to smarter, more resilient development.
2. Get the right experts on board early. Cross-disciplinary collaboration, urban planners, ecologists, engineers, and regulators, is the key to success.

As we move toward a future of growing climate and resource challenges, the question isn’t can we afford to build with nature, it’s can we afford not to.

About the Author
Nivine Issa is the Managing Director of Terra Nexus, an environmental consultancy based in Dubai and part of the Inogen Alliance. She specializes in sustainable infrastructure, environmental planning, and integrated nature-based solutions for high-impact development projects across the GCC.

As global trade is set to double by 2050, according to a new climate advisory report from JP Morgan, port infrastructure around the world faces unprecedented pressures from climate risks, sea-level rise, and escalating demand. Ports handle over 80% of global goods by volume, and without significant upgrades and resilience planning, these critical gateways risk becoming choke points in global commerce.

JP Morgan’s report details a vulnerable industry: annual damage from climate-related natural disasters alone averages $7.6 billion, with risks heavily concentrated in hurricane-prone areas like the U.S. Gulf Coast and typhoon-vulnerable regions of Southeast Asia. By 2050, sea levels could rise to 40 centimeters, potentially costing ports up to $768 billion to adapt and prevent trade disruptions.

DP World’s Action to Future-Proofing Ports

Against this backdrop, DP World is taking proactive steps to ensure sustainable and resilient global trade infrastructure. Recognizing the critical role ports play in the global supply chain, DP World embeds sustainability as a core function across its network, enhancing resilience against climate-related disruptions while significantly reducing its environmental impact.

DP World’s “Our World Our Future” sustainability strategy charts the path to a net zero future by minimizing risks identified in JP Morgan’s report. At Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, DP World oversees comprehensive electrification, deploying electric vehicles and cranes to significantly reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency. Similarly, at the Canadian ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, DP World manages shore-side power facilities, allowing docked vessels to switch off diesel engines, dramatically reducing local air pollution.

DP World’s Port of Vancouver is also leading the way in renewable fuel consumption and the use of advanced electric handling equipment, further minimizing carbon footprint. Other critical DP World efforts include extensive waste management initiatives at their terminals, like the ‘Zero Landfill’ practices at the Port of Santos, Brazil which substantially reduces consumption and pollution.

Becoming a Global Model to Follow 

JP Morgan highlights a growing gap between adaptation and mitigation planning at global ports – 89% have mitigation plans, yet only 66% have clear adaptation strategies. DP World stands out by bridging this gap, demonstrating global leadership through initiatives like the Thames Freeport in London – dubbed a “low-carbon highway” – where infrastructure electrification, solar energy utilization, and emissions management have become a model for other ports worldwide.

Beyond traditional infrastructure, DP World actively explores nature-based solutions, such as restoring mangroves and coastal ecosystems, creating natural barriers against extreme weather. The company partners with Living Seawalls in countries like Peru and the UAE to restore natural ocean habitats and attract marine life. In Ecuador, DP World is investing in coastal protection through mangrove restoration, which not only mitigates flooding but also enhances biodiversity and supports local communities.

Moving forward: A Mandate for Sustainable Ports

JP Morgan’s research clearly underscores the urgency: the choices ports make today will define their operational viability tomorrow. DP World’s leadership in sustainable port infrastructure shows a clear path forward, balancing environmental responsibility with the demands of a rapidly changing global economy. Their approach doesn’t just anticipate the future – it actively shapes it.