Author: sHq_LoGiNz
NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GameChange Solar (GCS), a leading global supplier of single axis solar trackers announced the release of an updated version of its white paper “Reliable Hail Mitigation: Technical and Economic Optimization for Solar Trackers”. The white paper provides a comprehensive overview of hail mitigation, including discussions on appropriate triggers for hail stow, hail stow tilt angles, wind coincident with hail, and a case study identifying the lowest LCOE based on different hail mitigation approaches.
The updated edition incorporates the results of a new study by CPP Wind Engineering Consultants regarding wind direction during hail events. The CPP study, which is summarized in the memo “Wind directionality during hail events” analyzes the wind direction within +/- 30 minutes of 137 hail events at a site in East Texas, USA and 48 hail events at a separate site in Queensland, Australia. CPP calculated that the vast majority of storms with hail, 75% or more, produce winds from both east as well as west sectors. The study concluded: “The storm direction of travel or the wind direction at ground level prior to the onset of hail are not reliable predictors of the hail direction as conditions change rapidly.”
Based on this analysis, GameChange recommends that owners purchase trackers that are designed for wind loads acting on both the front face and rear side of the module. Furthermore, owners and insurers cannot assume that the modules are always facing away from the wind during a hail event, even for trackers that are able to stow to either the east or west on a storm-by-storm basis.
“We have a concern that some tracker OEMs in the industry are encouraging solar asset owners to put too much emphasis on the direction a tracker stows during a hail event,” explains Scott Van Pelt, Chief Engineer at GameChange. “Our understanding, based on conversations with CPP and multiple insurers, is that it is far more important that the tracker be rotated to a steep tilt angle of at least 60 degrees and that the system be regularly tested to ensure the trackers reliably rotate to stow when there is a chance of hail in the forecast.”
The white paper is available upon request from GameChange’s website and was discussed at the Solar Insights event hosted by GameChange Solar in New York City last month.
About GameChange Solar
GameChange is one of the top three global providers of solar tracker solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects around the world. We have delivered over 53 GW of solar tracker and fixed tilt systems that combine fast installation, bankable quality, and unbeatable value through superior engineering, innovative design and software, and high-volume manufacturing. Our products enable solar panels at power plants to follow the sun’s movement across the sky, optimizing plant performance while protecting the array from damaging weather conditions.
For more information, visit www.gamechangesolar.com
Contact:
Lisa Andrews
Director of Marketing
GameChange Solar
lisa.andrews@gamechangesolar.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gamechange-solar-leads-research-upending-the-current-understanding-of-hail-storm-mitigation-strategies-for-trackers-302656816.html
SOURCE GameChange Solar
NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GameChange Solar (GCS), a leading global supplier of single axis solar trackers announced the release of an updated version of its white paper “Reliable Hail Mitigation: Technical and Economic Optimization for Solar Trackers”. The white paper provides a comprehensive overview of hail mitigation, including discussions on appropriate triggers for hail stow, hail stow tilt angles, wind coincident with hail, and a case study identifying the lowest LCOE based on different hail mitigation approaches.
The updated edition incorporates the results of a new study by CPP Wind Engineering Consultants regarding wind direction during hail events. The CPP study, which is summarized in the memo “Wind directionality during hail events” analyzes the wind direction within +/- 30 minutes of 137 hail events at a site in East Texas, USA and 48 hail events at a separate site in Queensland, Australia. CPP calculated that the vast majority of storms with hail, 75% or more, produce winds from both east as well as west sectors. The study concluded: “The storm direction of travel or the wind direction at ground level prior to the onset of hail are not reliable predictors of the hail direction as conditions change rapidly.”
Based on this analysis, GameChange recommends that owners purchase trackers that are designed for wind loads acting on both the front face and rear side of the module. Furthermore, owners and insurers cannot assume that the modules are always facing away from the wind during a hail event, even for trackers that are able to stow to either the east or west on a storm-by-storm basis.
“We have a concern that some tracker OEMs in the industry are encouraging solar asset owners to put too much emphasis on the direction a tracker stows during a hail event,” explains Scott Van Pelt, Chief Engineer at GameChange. “Our understanding, based on conversations with CPP and multiple insurers, is that it is far more important that the tracker be rotated to a steep tilt angle of at least 60 degrees and that the system be regularly tested to ensure the trackers reliably rotate to stow when there is a chance of hail in the forecast.”
The white paper is available upon request from GameChange’s website and was discussed at the Solar Insights event hosted by GameChange Solar in New York City last month.
About GameChange Solar
GameChange is one of the top three global providers of solar tracker solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects around the world. We have delivered over 53 GW of solar tracker and fixed tilt systems that combine fast installation, bankable quality, and unbeatable value through superior engineering, innovative design and software, and high-volume manufacturing. Our products enable solar panels at power plants to follow the sun’s movement across the sky, optimizing plant performance while protecting the array from damaging weather conditions.
For more information, visit www.gamechangesolar.com
Contact:
Lisa Andrews
Director of Marketing
GameChange Solar
lisa.andrews@gamechangesolar.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gamechange-solar-leads-research-upending-the-current-understanding-of-hail-storm-mitigation-strategies-for-trackers-302656816.html
SOURCE GameChange Solar
WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ClarkDietrich, North America’s largest manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing and accessories, has launched a new digital tool to quickly estimate the embodied carbon of structural and non-structural steel-framed walls. The Embodied Carbon Calculator (ECC), available for free on ClarkDietrich’s website, helps architects, specifiers and contractors understand the carbon impact of their steel framing choices and evaluate options such as standard versus low embodied carbon (LEC) steel to support lower-impact building designs.
“When we launched our line of LEC steel framing last year, we heard from building teams across the country who were excited to be able to better meet their projects’ carbon reduction goals. With this calculator, it’s now easier and more accessible than ever for sustainability-focused teams to quickly evaluate those reduction goals against the types of framing available (LEC vs. standard), and make purchasing decisions based on third-party certified EPD data,” said Adam Shoemaker, business development director for ClarkDietrich.
Users enter wall dimensions and framing details (stud spacing, size, bracing, track and more) to calculate total steel weight, and the calculator instantly converts the weight into embodied carbon (Global Warming Potential, GWP) and shows the embodied carbon reductions between standard framing and LEC framing, measured in kilograms CO2e per metric ton of steel and in percent savings.
The tool also provides comparative facts to help contextualize the carbon savings. For instance, 100,000 kg of CO2e is the equivalent of over 11,000 gallons of gasoline used. These equivalency statistics, leveraging data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, help architects and building owners share the impact of their green building solutions in a way that relates to everyday life.
The Embodied Carbon Calculator is part of ClarkDietrich’s comprehensive iTools program. Visit itools.clarkdietrich.com to start calculating your reduction in embodied carbon.
About ClarkDietrich®
ClarkDietrich® is the leading manufacturer of a full line of drywall studs and accessories, structural studs and joists, metal lath and accessories, shaft wall studs and track, interior and exterior finishing products, and connectors and accessories for commercial and residential construction. Quality manufacturing, a full-line offering, national distribution, engineering services and responsive customer service position ClarkDietrich as the largest manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing in North America. Clarkwestern Dietrich Building Systems is a 75/25 joint venture with Marubeni-Itochu Steel America Inc. (MISA) and Worthington Enterprises, Inc. For more information, visit www.clarkdietrich.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clarkdietrich-launches-industry-first-embodied-carbon-calculator-for-steel-framing-302656837.html
SOURCE ClarkDietrich
LAS VEGAS, January 8, 2026 /3BL/ – Spotlighting its commitment to inclusive innovation, LG Electronics USA has expanded the LG Comfort Kit family of accessories developed to deliver a better, more intuitive appliance experience for everyone. These accessible technologies are featured in LG’s “Design for All” exhibition at CES® 2026 where the company is demonstrating how thoughtful, human-centered design can help overcome everyday barriers.
Design for All, a key initiative under LG’s “Better Life for All” global ESG vision, reflects the company’s belief that technology should be intuitive, approachable and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Through inclusive product design, services and communication, LG is expanding access to technology while keeping real customer experiences at the center of innovation, according to John I. Taylor, senior vice president, LG Electronics USA.
“At LG, inclusive design is not about adding special features for a select group; it’s about rethinking how products fit naturally into everyday life,” said Taylor. “Design for All represents a long-term commitment to creating technology that works better for everyone — from people with disabilities to seniors, children and families — because when design is inclusive, the experience improves for all.”
Expanding the LG Comfort Kit
At CES, LG unveiled eight new LG Comfort Kit items, further expanding its inclusive design ecosystem across home appliances. Newly introduced solutions include the LG Washer Easy Detergent Cup, LG Dishwasher Door Easy Handle, LG Water Purifier Easy Tray, and LG Microwave Touch Guide, all designed to reduce effort at key moments of appliance use.
Additional Comfort Kit items on display at CES include the LG Vacuum Cleaner Easy Handle, LG Refrigerator Container Easy Lid, LG Air Purifier Easy Guide, and LG Dehumidifier Easy Handle, with several scheduled to launch in the first quarter of this year.
Inclusive Design in Action at CES
The Design for All zone in LG’s CES booth features core dimensions of accessibility, inspired by real consumer needs and real-world use cases. For consumers who are blind or have low vision, LG offers Comfort Kit items designed to improve visibility, recognition and safe use of home appliances.
One example includes a color sticker for LG’s robot vacuum, helping low-vision customers more easily recognize the device and reducing the risk of tripping at home. Other solutions incorporate tactile indicators, high-contrast elements and Braille-supported touch guides that promote confident and independent use.
For consumers who experience mobility challenges, Comfort Kit items reduce the physical effort required to grip, open, close or move appliances. For instance, Easy Handles for LG washers and dryers allow users to open doors using their arm instead of their hand, supporting greater independence and comfort for customers with limited hand mobility or reach.
Design for All Beyond Products
LG’s Design for All initiative extends beyond physical products to include accessible services and communication. LG offers sign language services for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing, Braille stickers for key product touchpoints, and web-based product manuals built with accessibility in mind, supporting a more seamless and inclusive customer journey.
By embedding accessibility into design, communication and service, LG aims to remove barriers that impact daily life and help more people experience technology with comfort and confidence, Taylor explained.
“At the heart of Design for All is a simple but powerful purpose,” he added. “We want to help people live independently and comfortably in their own way — whether they’re managing a disability, aging in place, raising a family or simply looking for products that are easier to use. This is how inclusive design becomes meaningful, scalable and sustainable.”
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About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com
Media Contact:
LG Electronics USA
Kimberly Regillio
kim.regillio@lge.com
+1 815 355 0509
LAKE JACKSON, Texas, January 8, 2026 /3BL/ – Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO), a nonprofit founded to protect birds and their habitats around the Gulf and beyond, is celebrating a major sustainability milestone with a 29.52 kWh rooftop solar array system and a Kia EV6 Light Long Range vehicle, courtesy of a $135,000 grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club®.
The new solar array system and electric vehicle will offset 65% of GCBO’s energy needs, saving nearly $15,000 in overhead costs each year and equivalent to more than 5,000 hours of scientific bird monitoring.
Founded in 1997, the mission of GCBO is to protect birds and their habitats with a vision of healthy ecosystems with abundant space for birds to survive and thrive around the Gulf and beyond. Internationally recognized for research in the United States, Central America, and South America, GCBO conducts significant conservation projects such as habitat enhancement, conservation land protection and acquisition, plastic mitigation efforts, education and outreach efforts, and more. Locally, 200,000 people are reached annually through their management of two bird sanctuaries in Brazoria County, plus their headquarters that sits on a 34-acre bottomland forest along Buffalo Camp Bayou. GCBO also engages their community through monthly bird banding, the Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza, Online Bird School and their YouTube channel.
“GCBO is very excited and truly grateful to Green Mountain Energy Sun Club for choosing us as a solar grant recipient,” said Martin Hagne, executive director at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. “Being a conservation organization that cares about natural habitats, it made perfect sense for us to add solar on top of an already-existing structure to harness power from the sun and an electric vehicle for us to reach more people using less resources. It’s a win-win project!”
“Green Mountain Energy is thrilled to join forces with Gulf Coast Bird Observatory to offset their energy needs and help expand their efforts to protect birds and their habitats,” said Andrea Ortega-Toledano, senior director of sustainability, Green Mountain Energy. “We recognize the important work that GCBO is doing to protect birds and their habitats, and we are excited to play a role in making their impact even greater.”
Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $16 million for 174 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Green Mountain Energy invites its customers and employees to contribute and help support more projects that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship.
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About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club
Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $16 million for 174 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub.
About Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is an independent non-profit organization with 501(c) status. We have become recognized as an innovative organization, which has designed and conducted a significant number of large conservation projects, including migration studies, habitat enhancement, land acquisition, regional habitat mapping, and others. Our vision is a healthy ecosystem with abundant space for birds to survive and thrive around the Gulf and beyond.
Media Contact:
Jeanie Davey, Green Mountain Energy
445-544-1670
Jeanie.davey@greenmountain.com