Tag: 3BL

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA, a founding member of the Inogen Alliance, is proud to announce our sponsorship of season three of the global podcast, Rethinking EHS: Global Goals, Local Delivery, launching 21 April. Created by the Alliance, this podcast traverses the globe to unearth the stories of EHS and sustainability communities making an impact on the ground. It shares compelling stories, expert insights, and diverse perspectives to highlight real solutions and share innovative strategies that drive change.

The idea for a global podcast started from a desire to create an accessible platform for sharing local perspectives from every corner of the world. We envisioned a space to give back to the EHS community by spotlighting expert perspectives, lessons learned, challenges faced, and conversations around today’s most pressing topics. Advancing global goals requires collective learning and collaboration, and this podcast is one way we can help drive that progress together.

Following season one, during which thousands of listeners tuned into episodes spanning topics such as Social & Environmental Justice, Occupational Health and Safety, COP29 outcomes, Biodiversity, CSRD, and more, we knew we had to continue these conversations. Season two of the podcast expanded to be available in both audio and video formats across all podcast streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple as well as the Inogen Alliance YouTube channel. Topics ranged from AI in EHS to Water Stewardship, Landfills, Infrastructure, Energy Transition, and more.

Across the Alliance, Associates connect regularly through 10 global working groups covering critical focus areas like water stewardship, sustainability, energy transition, remediation, mergers & acquisitions, health & safety, infrastructure and more. Bi-annual Inogen Alliance meetings are held in-person to provide a unique opportunity to meet with experts across the globe as they share experience, feedback, and updates on current environments. Now, as a sponsor of the third season of this podcast, we are excited to bring more of those stories to a wider audience.

“In pursuit of our purpose, we draw on the collective experience of our 70+ and growing members, actively incorporating their technical expertise to partner with organizations all over the world to achieve an equitable and resilient planet. The podcast allows us to extend this expertise and knowledge to a broader base to help accelerate towards a more resilient planet for all,” says Angelique Dickson, President of Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA.

Whether you’re an EHS practitioner, a sustainability specialist, or a leader striving to improve your organization, subscribe and listen to the new season to connect with and learn from our local experts on the ground. 

Sign up now to get notified of each new episode of this new season.

Upcoming episode topics include:

• Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Inogen Alliance – looking back at our history and ahead to industry trends
• Contaminants – PFAS, tire wear, microplastics
• Risk management and global program management of compliance
• Environmental/urban planning and infrastructure
• Flood management and environmental planning
• Mergers & acquisitions
• Data centers
• Energy resilience and conservation

Our hosts this season include Inogen Alliance President Angelique Dickson (EVP, Antea Group USA); Chair of the Board Keith Knoke (EVP, Antea Group USA); and Leadership Team members Beatrice Bizzaro (Water Stewardship Service Technical Lead, HPC Italy) and Charlotte Buffoni (EHS Practice Director, Antea Group UK).

Upcoming Antea Group USA speakers include: Keith Knoke (mentioned above), Alizabeth Aramowicz-Smith, VP at Antea Group USA, Jack Sheldon, Senior Consultant at Antea Group USA, and more to come.

Other upcoming speakers to look forward to include Alex Ferguson, CEO of Antea Group UK; Ivy YuXia Liu, Terrapex Canada; Alessandro Intile, HPC Italy; Sofiane Kessouar, Baden Consulting Switzerland; Chris Trim, Peter J. Ramsay & Associates in Australia, and more to come.

The global podcast is made possible by our other sponsoring Associates: Antea Group UK, Baden Consulting, Chola MS Risk, HPC AG, Peter J. Ramsay & Associates, Terrapex, and Tonkin + Taylor.

 

About Inogen Alliance

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of over 70 independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn. 

About Antea Group USA  

Antea®Group USA is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address EHS-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on EHS issues through our work with multinational clients, our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.  

Originally published by Mastercard
By Mike Kresse
Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, North America, Mastercard

The last time one of my daughters had to write a check, she had no idea where to get one.

She’s in her twenties. Smart, capable, digitally fluent — and largely  unfamiliar with a payment method that still moves trillions of dollars between businesses every year. When she needed to pay a deposit, she didn’t ask how to write the check. She asked why she had to.

Consumer payments have evolved dramatically over the past two decades. Millennials have been banking online for most of their adult lives. Gen Z came of age with contactless payments; Gen Alpha was born into a world with digital wallets. But much of the commercial payments world is still operating on processes my kids have never used and don’t expect to: purchase orders, invoices and checks, all on paper, in spreadsheets, and handed along from desk to desk.

As a 25-year veteran of the payments industry, I’ve seen just how far money movement has come. I’ve also seen where it hasn’t. I’ve learned that real change doesn’t happen just because technology exists. It happens when expectations shift. That shift is underway now, driven by the next generation of workers — one of whom may be your CFO one day.

Why commercial payments have been slow to modernize

The reality is that commercial payments didn’t fall behind overnight or by design. They evolved under very different conditions. B2B transactions tend to be larger, more complex and more fragmented. They often involve multiple systems, approval layers, legacy ERP platforms and long-standing supplier relationships. In many organizations, paper checks became deeply embedded because they “worked” — and once a process works, it tends to stick.

While some industries have moved past paper, others have invested heavily over decades in workflows designed around paper. Automating those workflows felt easier than rethinking them entirely. So instead of digitizing the payment itself, many organizations simply automated the workflow around the paper.

Inertia — that’s what we hear over and over again when we speak with small business owners and large-company finance departments of all ages and across industries about their organization’s approach to checks. One older man who works in the restaurant industry admitted that “digital payments tend to get lost with me” and described his system like this: “Purveyors come in, they hand me the bill, a month later I take them all out, they come home with me, I sit down with a calculator, I add them all up, write the check.”

Meanwhile, a young woman in wholesale said, “Our business is run by the older generation, and their preference is to always pay by check.” She then noted that a spate of coming retirements may trigger change.

This inertia has created a system that is functional but fragile and increasingly out of step with how businesses operate today. And it raises real risk.

Checks remain one of the most fraud-prone B2B payment methods. They lack real-time visibility, are difficult to track from end to end and provide limited controls once they leave an organization’s hands. And despite the availability of digital alternatives, checks still account for trillions of dollars in invoice payments each year.

Manual processes also limit control. When data is delayed, disconnected or incomplete, finance teams lose the ability to see what’s happening across the payment life cycle — from invoice to approval to settlement. That makes it harder to manage cash flow, enforce policies and prevent fraud. 

Bringing consumer-grade experiences into commercial payments

The same principles that transformed consumer payments — speed, simplicity, trust and intelligence — apply just as powerfully to commercial flows. That means extending one-click experiences into areas like procurement, accounts payable, supplier payments, business travel and disbursements.

Increasingly, that shift is being powered by embedded finance. Payments are no longer a separate workflow that happens after the work is done. They are a native part of how businesses buy, sell and manage cash flow. When payments are embedded directly into ERP systems or procurement or expense platforms, they happen in context, with fewer handoffs and less friction. For a generation that has never known a world of pop-up windows and manual workarounds, this feels natural. For businesses, it means faster execution, better data and tighter control.

Moving away from paper enables powerful new capabilities. Virtual cards, for example, enable real-time data for tracking and traceability, along with customizable spend limits for more control by the organization. That removes friction and reduces fraud risk while improving visibility and compliance.

And the consumer payments revolution hasn’t ended. Security capabilities continue to advance, including the emergence of tokenized credentials that can be used for commerce at scale. As those innovations mature, they won’t stay confined to consumer use cases. They’ll increasingly define what businesses expect from commercial payments — from stronger security to smarter data and more seamless experiences, end to end.

How younger workers can drive change

Gen Z employees aren’t just questioning legacy processes — they’re demonstrating alternatives. They’re fluent in digital tools. They expect embedded experiences. And they’re far less tolerant of manual workarounds that slow them down. Yes, the same can be said of millennials. But what’s different now is that modern solutions don’t require massive upfront investment or time-consuming implementation.

As a Gen Xer, I remember when software took four to 12 months to deploy on-premise. Those days are gone. Now we just download an app and we’re off to the races. Digital commercial payment tools can be deployed quickly, integrated seamlessly and proven with real data.

When younger workers can show that digitization improves speed, security and control, not just convenience, it changes the conversation. Modernization stops being a “nice to have” and becomes a competitive necessity.

Gen Z is entering the workforce at a moment when the technology and the urgency finally align. As expectations collide with capability, commercial payments are poised to catch up to the digital world in which they already live.  

Continue reading here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Global supply chains are operating in an era where disruption is no longer occasional — it’s constant.

In her latest Forbes Business Council article, “Keeping Customers Moving When the World Doesn’t,” Brittany Caskey, Chief Commercial Officer for Logistics at DP World in the Americas, examines how companies can maintain reliability despite rising volatility across global trade.

From tariffs and cyberattacks to extreme weather and shifting trade routes, supply chain disruptions now contribute to an estimated $1.6 trillion in lost revenue each year. But for customers, the reason behind a delay matters far less than the outcome.

As Caskey explains, the real competitive advantage lies in shielding customers from disruption — ensuring goods continue to move even when conditions change.

Closing the Visibility Gap

Many supply chains still struggle with blind spots between key nodes such as ports, warehouses, and distribution hubs. These gaps often slow response times when disruptions occur.

Caskey notes that only 21% of supply chain leaders report having highly resilient networks with end-to-end visibility and real-time monitoring. Improving connectivity across suppliers, carriers, and logistics systems helps organizations respond faster and make better decisions when conditions shift.

Diversifying for Resilience

Recent geopolitical events have also exposed the risks of concentrating too much volume through a limited number of suppliers or routes.

Companies are increasingly moving from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” strategies, building flexibility through diversified sourcing, multimodal transport options, and regionalized supply networks.

Combining Data and Human Expertise

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in strengthening supply chains. Predictive analytics and AI can analyze data from weather, port operations, and transportation networks to flag potential disruptions before they escalate. These tools help organizations move from reactive responses to proactive decision-making.

But Caskey emphasizes that resilience isn’t built on technology alone. Automation may streamline operations, but experienced teams remain essential for managing exceptions and maintaining customer trust when plans change.

Delivering Reliability in a Volatile World

Ultimately, supply chain resilience depends on collaboration across partners and shared accountability for risk.

As Caskey writes, supply chains don’t just move products — they move promises.

And in a world where disruption is inevitable, the companies that keep those promises will be the ones that stand apart.

Read Brittany Caskey’s full Forbes Business Council article.

As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated and accessible, financial institutions are seeing a sharp rise in a new form of fraud: AI‑powered imposter scams. These schemes use advanced tools to convincingly mimic a person’s voice, image, or behavior—making them harder to spot and more emotionally manipulative than traditional scams.

KeyBank and other financial organizations are urging consumers to stay alert as criminals adopt these emerging technologies.

A New Twist on an Old Scam

Imposter scams have long been one of the most common forms of financial fraud, but AI has dramatically raised the stakes. Using publicly available voice clips, photos, or videos—often pulled from social media—fraudsters can now replicate a person’s speech patterns or even generate realistic videos known as “deepfakes.”

These tools allow criminals to pose as:

• Family members in urgent distress
• Friends requesting help
• Bank representatives seeking account information

KeyBank will never call, email, or text asking for personal credentials such as your full Social Security number, online banking username, or password. Any unexpected request for sensitive details should be considered suspicious. If someone calls you asking for this information, hang up and call your bank through a known channel.

How AI-Driven Scams Work

Voice Cloning

Scammers use AI to analyze audio samples and recreate someone’s voice with startling accuracy. Once they have a convincing imitation, they may call victims claiming:

• A family emergency that requires immediate financial help
• An urgent need to “verify” account information
• Cloned voices may sound real but often struggle with natural emotion, timing, or detailed personal questions.

Deepfake Videos

Deepfake technology allows scammers to generate hyper-realistic videos of people saying or doing things they never actually said or did. These videos may exhibit subtle flaws, such as:

• Unnatural blinking
• Odd shadows or lighting
• Mismatched lip movements
• Distorted backgrounds

Such content is often designed to create urgency or emotional pressure to extract money or information.

Warning Signs to Watch For

With voice calls, be cautious if:

• The speech sounds slightly robotic or inconsistent
• The caller cannot answer questions only the real person would know
• There is pressure to act immediately

With videos, be alert for:

• Stiff or unnatural facial movements
• Odd lighting or blurry background details
• Poorly synced audio and video
• Watermarks indicating the content may have been flagged or altered on social platforms

How to Protect Yourself

Experts recommend several steps to reduce your risk:

• Verify the request: If someone claims to need money or sensitive information, contact them back using a known, trusted phone number or communication channel.
• Be wary of urgency: Scammers rely on panic. Slow down and double-check.
• Enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
• Limit personal information you share online, especially videos and audio clips.
• Monitor your accounts daily and report unauthorized activity immediately.
• Stay educated: Share fraud-prevention tips with family members, particularly older adults who may be targeted more frequently.

If You Suspect You’ve Been Targeted

Take swift action:

• Contact any financial institution involved. KeyBank clients can reach the Fraud Client Service Center at 1‑800‑433‑0124 (or 711 for TTY/TRS).
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.
• Change passwords and security questions on affected accounts.
• Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports and monitoring your credit closely.

Get more tips from KeyBank that can help protect you from fraud

Content provided for informational and educational purposes only and is in no way to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal financial issues. ©2026 KeyCorp®. All rights reserved. KeyBank Member FDIC CFMA #260311-4195728

 

ST. PAUL, Minn., February 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) is pleased to announce new Strategic Corporate Member Google who joins previously announced Founding Members EdgeCore, Oracle, STACK Infrastructure, Salesforce, Vantage Data Centers and Yondr and Strategic Corporate Members Ada Infrastructure, CBRE, Digital Realty, and Flexential and QTS.

The Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) brings together industry stakeholders to promote a unified approach to safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of personnel across data center operations. Amid continued rapid growth in the sector, there is an increasing need for consistent best practices, shared learning, and clearly defined resources for training and workforce development. Recognition of the safety risks inherent to these complex, often multi-employer environments has accelerated over the past 5–7 years, yet implementing comprehensive, company-wide safety programs remains challenging. Through collaboration and advocacy, the DCSC supports alignment of health and safety expectations and advances a consistent approach to managing operational risks across the industry.

Google is a global pioneer in designing and operating hyperscale data center infrastructure, powering popular services including Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Cloud. Google manages a global network of highly secure, energy-efficient facilities across four continents that serve billions of people. Google is driving the industry forward with an ambitious goal to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy.

“As a leader, I see our involvement in the Data Center Safety Council as a pivotal opportunity to actively shape the future of EHS for the entire data center industry,” said Stephanie Rowan, Global Lead, EHS Project Management Office at Google. “Our leadership in this forum is fundamental to our commitment to continuously protect our people and the environment. By driving standardization and innovation in safety, we can eliminate critical operational blockers, which in turn will accelerate our capacity delivery and ensure our growth is both responsible and sustainable.”

The members of the Data Center Safety Council are all leaders in the industry and well positioned to create collective global action and consistency for the industry as a whole. The DCSC invites its data center industry peers to join this mission as we continue to grow. DCSC is facilitated by Antea Group.

For more information, please check our website, LinkedIn page or contact the below.

Media inquiries:

Kate Asleson, Marketing Director

Kate.asleson@anteagroup.us

 

Membership inquiries:

Jennene Lyda, Executive Director

Jennene.lyda@anteagroup.us

ST. PAUL, Minn., February 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) is pleased to announce new Strategic Corporate Member Google who joins previously announced Founding Members EdgeCore, Oracle, STACK Infrastructure, Salesforce, Vantage Data Centers and Yondr and Strategic Corporate Members Ada Infrastructure, CBRE, Digital Realty, and Flexential and QTS.

The Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) brings together industry stakeholders to promote a unified approach to safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of personnel across data center operations. Amid continued rapid growth in the sector, there is an increasing need for consistent best practices, shared learning, and clearly defined resources for training and workforce development. Recognition of the safety risks inherent to these complex, often multi-employer environments has accelerated over the past 5–7 years, yet implementing comprehensive, company-wide safety programs remains challenging. Through collaboration and advocacy, the DCSC supports alignment of health and safety expectations and advances a consistent approach to managing operational risks across the industry.

Google is a global pioneer in designing and operating hyperscale data center infrastructure, powering popular services including Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Cloud. Google manages a global network of highly secure, energy-efficient facilities across four continents that serve billions of people. Google is driving the industry forward with an ambitious goal to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy.

“As a leader, I see our involvement in the Data Center Safety Council as a pivotal opportunity to actively shape the future of EHS for the entire data center industry,” said Stephanie Rowan, Global Lead, EHS Project Management Office at Google. “Our leadership in this forum is fundamental to our commitment to continuously protect our people and the environment. By driving standardization and innovation in safety, we can eliminate critical operational blockers, which in turn will accelerate our capacity delivery and ensure our growth is both responsible and sustainable.”

The members of the Data Center Safety Council are all leaders in the industry and well positioned to create collective global action and consistency for the industry as a whole. The DCSC invites its data center industry peers to join this mission as we continue to grow. DCSC is facilitated by Antea Group.

For more information, please check our website, LinkedIn page or contact the below.

Media inquiries:

Kate Asleson, Marketing Director

Kate.asleson@anteagroup.us

 

Membership inquiries:

Jennene Lyda, Executive Director

Jennene.lyda@anteagroup.us

• New Brightlayer Energy software delivers automated, dynamic and grid-interactive energy optimization
• Comprehensive monitoring and reporting for Scope 1 and 2 emissions supports compliance with regional regulatory requirements in North America, Europe and the Middle East
• Pilot projects demonstrate significant energy, cost, emissions and maintenance savings

PITTSBURGH, March 17, 2026 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton today announced the availability of Brightlayer Energy, an AI-powered energy management and optimization system (EMOS). It is designed to help building owners manage, optimize and monetize energy investments, while meeting local regulatory requirements. The platform delivers real-time data analysis, forecasting and automated control to help maximize benefits from building electrical infrastructure and distributed energy resources.

There are significant opportunities to improve building energy performance. The average commercial building in the U.S. wastes 30% of its energy, while 75% of buildings have poor energy performance in the European Union. Brightlayer Energy software helps address these challenges as part of Eaton’s Buildings as a Grid approach, which transforms buildings into strategic and dynamic energy hubs that drive new efficiencies, advance energy resilience, reduce costs and accelerate progress toward sustainability goals, which are required in Europe under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

“Building environments everywhere are becoming increasingly complex with diverse energy assets and evolving regional regulatory requirements—and digital tools are vital to simplify and improve energy management,” said Mark Roces, vice president, digital offer management at Eaton. “As a key part of our digital ecosystem for buildings that includes proven energy storage, microgrid control and electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, our Brightlayer Energy software provides the foundation to optimize building infrastructure investments and helps enable a reliable supply of low-cost, sustainable electricity, while meeting compliance obligations.”

Brightlayer Energy software early successes yield significant savings

Implementations in Europe and North America demonstrate energy efficiency, maintenance savings and emissions reductions. For example, the Florian Hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, lowered electricity costs by more than 25% and reduced emissions by 27% while adding nine EV chargers. At an Eaton warehouse in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company used the software to save 17% on energy costs overall and reduced forklift charging costs 66% by eliminating high energy demand spikes.

Eaton software designed for building energy optimization and performance

Brightlayer Energy software utilizes advanced algorithms that transform real-time data into actionable insights enabling energy use forecasting with 99% accuracy. The platform provides comprehensive oversight of energy consumption patterns, potential savings and efficiency improvements to help businesses evaluate energy strategies for cost-efficiency, sustainability and long-term reliability. With real-time weather data integration, users can forecast onsite solar generation and optimize energy production, automatically directing excess solar power to battery energy storage systems (BESS) for use when demand is high.

The platform also automates complex data aggregation and provides multi-tiered management at site, campus and enterprise levels for proactive energy oversight and optimization. The technology simplifies monitoring of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, manages EV charging, and implements peak shaving and tariff-based load shifting strategies. Additionally, the software integrates energy market data to strategically orchestrate energy production while providing recommendations for improved operations and compliance reporting.

Brightlayer Energy software is a part of Eaton’s digital ecosystem to optimize energy use in buildings that includes proven microgrid control and EV charging optimization. Learn more about how Eaton is helping electrify the buildings of the future.

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 $27.4 billion in 2025, the company serves customers in 180 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Regina Parundik
+1.412.559.1614
reginaparundik@eaton.com

Nicole Schada
+43 676 8995 3040
nicoleschada@eaton.com

###

• New Brightlayer Energy software delivers automated, dynamic and grid-interactive energy optimization
• Comprehensive monitoring and reporting for Scope 1 and 2 emissions supports compliance with regional regulatory requirements in North America, Europe and the Middle East
• Pilot projects demonstrate significant energy, cost, emissions and maintenance savings

PITTSBURGH, March 17, 2026 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton today announced the availability of Brightlayer Energy, an AI-powered energy management and optimization system (EMOS). It is designed to help building owners manage, optimize and monetize energy investments, while meeting local regulatory requirements. The platform delivers real-time data analysis, forecasting and automated control to help maximize benefits from building electrical infrastructure and distributed energy resources.

There are significant opportunities to improve building energy performance. The average commercial building in the U.S. wastes 30% of its energy, while 75% of buildings have poor energy performance in the European Union. Brightlayer Energy software helps address these challenges as part of Eaton’s Buildings as a Grid approach, which transforms buildings into strategic and dynamic energy hubs that drive new efficiencies, advance energy resilience, reduce costs and accelerate progress toward sustainability goals, which are required in Europe under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

“Building environments everywhere are becoming increasingly complex with diverse energy assets and evolving regional regulatory requirements—and digital tools are vital to simplify and improve energy management,” said Mark Roces, vice president, digital offer management at Eaton. “As a key part of our digital ecosystem for buildings that includes proven energy storage, microgrid control and electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, our Brightlayer Energy software provides the foundation to optimize building infrastructure investments and helps enable a reliable supply of low-cost, sustainable electricity, while meeting compliance obligations.”

Brightlayer Energy software early successes yield significant savings

Implementations in Europe and North America demonstrate energy efficiency, maintenance savings and emissions reductions. For example, the Florian Hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, lowered electricity costs by more than 25% and reduced emissions by 27% while adding nine EV chargers. At an Eaton warehouse in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company used the software to save 17% on energy costs overall and reduced forklift charging costs 66% by eliminating high energy demand spikes.

Eaton software designed for building energy optimization and performance

Brightlayer Energy software utilizes advanced algorithms that transform real-time data into actionable insights enabling energy use forecasting with 99% accuracy. The platform provides comprehensive oversight of energy consumption patterns, potential savings and efficiency improvements to help businesses evaluate energy strategies for cost-efficiency, sustainability and long-term reliability. With real-time weather data integration, users can forecast onsite solar generation and optimize energy production, automatically directing excess solar power to battery energy storage systems (BESS) for use when demand is high.

The platform also automates complex data aggregation and provides multi-tiered management at site, campus and enterprise levels for proactive energy oversight and optimization. The technology simplifies monitoring of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, manages EV charging, and implements peak shaving and tariff-based load shifting strategies. Additionally, the software integrates energy market data to strategically orchestrate energy production while providing recommendations for improved operations and compliance reporting.

Brightlayer Energy software is a part of Eaton’s digital ecosystem to optimize energy use in buildings that includes proven microgrid control and EV charging optimization. Learn more about how Eaton is helping electrify the buildings of the future.

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 $27.4 billion in 2025, the company serves customers in 180 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Regina Parundik
+1.412.559.1614
reginaparundik@eaton.com

Nicole Schada
+43 676 8995 3040
nicoleschada@eaton.com

###

LINCOLN, Neb., March 19, 2026 /3BL/ – The landmark environmental program Tree City USA celebrates its 50th anniversary. Founded by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976, Tree City USA has helped shape how American communities care for their trees and includes cities and towns ranging in population from just 20 people in Sibley, North Dakota to 8.8 million in New York City, New York.

“While a lot has changed over the last five decades, trees have remained a constant and crucial part of improving the health and wellbeing of our communities. In the last 50 years Tree City USA — and the incredible network of tree champions who have supported it — has shaped a legacy of meaningful civic impact,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “This milestone is a tribute to the local leaders who are working everyday to grow hope across the country.”

In 1976, 42 communities earned the distinction of Tree City USA. Today, more than 3,500 cities and towns in all 50 states are currently recognized through the program. Tree City USA communities plant nearly 1 million trees annually and the 2024 class of recognized communities invested a collective $2 billion in trees. By gaining recognition through the program, municipalities have gained access to a unique national network of urban forestry professionals and helped create greater local support for canopy growth. 

“City staff are incredibly proud that Salem is a founding member of Tree City USA, a testament to our long-standing commitment to nurturing our urban canopy,” said Milan Davis, urban forester in City of Salem, Oregon. “Participation in this program reinforces the importance of trees in enhancing the quality of life for our residents and ensures a sustainable future for our community.”

“Since becoming a Tree City USA community, we’ve noticed a tangible increase in public engagement. Residents actively participate in tree plantings, educational programs, and care initiatives,” said Joe Avila, urban forestry supervisor in City of Wooster, Ohio. “Community perception of our trees has shifted from simply aesthetic value to recognizing trees as essential infrastructure that benefits everyone.”

Nearly half of the U.S. population lives in a Tree City USA.

To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. 

Click here to see an interactive map of the recognized 2025 Tree City USA communities.  

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To learn more about the history of the Tree City USA, visit arborday.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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LINCOLN, Neb., March 19, 2026 /3BL/ – The landmark environmental program Tree City USA celebrates its 50th anniversary. Founded by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976, Tree City USA has helped shape how American communities care for their trees and includes cities and towns ranging in population from just 20 people in Sibley, North Dakota to 8.8 million in New York City, New York.

“While a lot has changed over the last five decades, trees have remained a constant and crucial part of improving the health and wellbeing of our communities. In the last 50 years Tree City USA — and the incredible network of tree champions who have supported it — has shaped a legacy of meaningful civic impact,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “This milestone is a tribute to the local leaders who are working everyday to grow hope across the country.”

In 1976, 42 communities earned the distinction of Tree City USA. Today, more than 3,500 cities and towns in all 50 states are currently recognized through the program. Tree City USA communities plant nearly 1 million trees annually and the 2024 class of recognized communities invested a collective $2 billion in trees. By gaining recognition through the program, municipalities have gained access to a unique national network of urban forestry professionals and helped create greater local support for canopy growth. 

“City staff are incredibly proud that Salem is a founding member of Tree City USA, a testament to our long-standing commitment to nurturing our urban canopy,” said Milan Davis, urban forester in City of Salem, Oregon. “Participation in this program reinforces the importance of trees in enhancing the quality of life for our residents and ensures a sustainable future for our community.”

“Since becoming a Tree City USA community, we’ve noticed a tangible increase in public engagement. Residents actively participate in tree plantings, educational programs, and care initiatives,” said Joe Avila, urban forestry supervisor in City of Wooster, Ohio. “Community perception of our trees has shifted from simply aesthetic value to recognizing trees as essential infrastructure that benefits everyone.”

Nearly half of the U.S. population lives in a Tree City USA.

To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. 

Click here to see an interactive map of the recognized 2025 Tree City USA communities.  

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To learn more about the history of the Tree City USA, visit arborday.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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