Tag: 3BL

‘Tis the season! As we look forward to numerous holidays, special traditions, and spending time with loved ones, I can’t help but think about the impact of my actions. Sometimes it feels like my actions alone can’t really change the amount of consumption, waste, and emissions the holiday season produces. And it’s true, alone I can’t. That’s where all of you come in! Based on research by The United Nations Environment Programme, household consumption accounts for around two-thirds of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As a member of the Cisco Chief Sustainability Office, I am deeply invested in our planet and hope to help educate others on various topics surrounding environmental sustainability. So I spoke with some of our Cisco Green Team members about ways to help reduce your holiday footprint, positively impact the planet, and help you feel good about the actions you take this season.

Decreasing Energy Usage

Switch to LED lights: Decorating with lights is popular this time of year. It’s dazzling and it’s festive so what’s the problem? It’s estimated that throughout the month of December, in the U.S. alone, households will use 3.5 billion kWh of electricity to power holiday lights, which is equivalent to the annual energy usage of 350,000 homes. However, if everyone were to switch to LED lights, the usage would decrease to one quarter of the amount, as LED use about 85% less energy than traditional lights. Plus, it would cut down on everyone’s electricity bill (around $850 million each year!)

Invest in a timer: Ever go to bed and forget to turn off your lights? An easy solution is to add a timer to your lights. This way you can set how long your lights will be using energy and when you would like them to turn on and off each day.

Reducing Waste

Cut down on food waste: Hosting dinner parties, baking cookies, and sharing meals are all delicious ways to enjoy the gift of food, but they can also lead to unexpected waste. Did you know that  one-third of all food produced in the world – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes – is lost or wasted every year?

Grocery stores and households both play a part in managing the amount of surplus food, whether unsold or uneaten, that is discarded into landfills. According to ReFED, it makes up 24% of all landfill inputs, making food the number one material in landfills. The good news is we have a few ways to cut this number down.

Start with buying only what you need and plan ahead if you know you need to feed a certain number of people.  If you do have scraps or leftovers, sending them to a landfill won’t helpto reduce GHG emissions. The decomposition of food and other organic materials in an environment without oxygen (like a landfill), produces methane, a greenhouse gas. Wasted food is responsible for 58% of landfill methane emissions. Instead, take notes from Cisco’s Tram Quach in Raleigh, United States: “We compost our cooking scraps at home with a tumbler in our backyard and use glass containers to take or bring back food to avoid using disposables.” Composting is a great option to discard food waste and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, one of the easiest ways to cut down on food waste is simply eating all your leftovers. Bonus points if they are in reusable containers like Tram’s.

Be conscious of packaging and decor: Opening a special gift from a loved one can create an unmatched feeling. Unfortunately, most conventional wrapping paper sold in stores has plastic lining, coating, or harmful chemicals, which means it cannot be recycled. Out of the 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper produced each year, around half, or 2.3 million pounds ends up in landfills (that’s 277,000 miles worth!)

Don’t worry, you can be sustainable and still experience the surprise of unwrapping a gift. “I always find fun, silly, and odd things to wrap my gifts in from around my house. Whether it be newspaper, unused fabrics, or other creative materials, this has been a loved tradition in my family, and they always look forward to what I come up with,” says Cisco’s Angee Barnett from Topika, United States.

Similarly, Green Team co-lead Jordan Hart White based in Raleigh, United States likes to wrap presents in butcher paper and then draw on decorations and name tags. “This saves some of the plastic holiday waste from going into the trash and allows me time to get creative,” says Jordan, who knows her plastics!

Another part of holidays that bring both joy and waste are decorations. And I get it, who doesn’t love festive décor? But as always, there are ways to make this tradition a little lighter on the planet. One example comes from Toronto, Canada Green Team member Alyssa Copp: “Make your own decorations! I strung my first citrus garland this year which is both sustainable AND economical!” This might even check off two boxes: consciously made décor and cutting down on food waste, a win-win. Besides making your own decorations, another option is to thrift or buy secondhand.

Avoiding Over Consumption

Forgo buying new: In the sustainability world, we say “why buy new, when you can get it used or homemade?” or maybe that’s just me! People buy 60 percent more clothing today than 15 years ago, and each item is kept for only half as long. Getting used items or DIYing is a unique and circular way to change up your wardrobe. “Instead of buying new ethnic wear for Diwali, I often try and wear my mom’s age-old sarees (Indian ethnic wear),” says Cisco’s Neha Agarwal from Bangalore, India, “which have not been worn by her for one or two decades at least. They feel new because no one remembers seeing them. I am totally re-using them and make small fashion edits to make it match the current fashion trend.” We love mom’s hand-me-downs!

Like decorations, gifts are a perfect opportunity to get creative and make something homemade. If you aren’t the DIY type, secondhand stores have gift options for everyone. Cisco’s Erin Carter from Chapel Hill, United States likes to incorporate both by buying cute baskets at thrift shops, lining them with paper, and filling them with cookies as gifts. And Green Team member Elizaveta Vatlina from Oeiras, Portugal also opts for secondhand, saying “Last year I didn’t buy clothes at a new store, instead I used Vinted or vintage stores.”

There are several online secondhand stores that are wonderful options if you don’t have the means to get out to your local secondhand store. A few that I know of are Vinted, Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, and thredUp, but I am sure there are many more. San Jose, United States Green Team member Kayshav Dattatri recommended Thriftbooks.com as a great online source for used books at a bargain!

A final idea from Cisco’s Scott Weber based out of Ann Arbor, United States is a book exchange where each person brings a book that they enjoyed reading over the past year. Then everyone goes home with a new-to-them used book and a personal recommendation.

Buy local: If you are interested in buying something new, there are plenty of amazing options that you can find right down the road. Yes, I’m talking about shopping right in your local community! “I’m a big book-giver, so I head down to my local used bookshop and pick out gifts there,” says Cisco’s Ron Toland in Vancouver, Canada. It’s estimated that buying locally generates 3.5 times more wealth than shopping at national chains. Plus, it reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on the amount of fossil fuels that are burned, since it changes how far goods must travel.

Give experiences: This idea stems from the absence of buying something material. “I love to gift experiences instead of things!” says Cisco’s Alex Wilkins, from San Jose, United States, “I’m planning a cooking class for my partner, a fancy dinner with my mother, and bowling with my brother!” Other ideas could include guitar lessons, yoga classes, or tickets to a concert, comedy show, sporting event, or museum exhibit.

Donate or volunteer: Donating to charity on behalf of another instead of giving physical gifts is an idea brought to us by Sydney, Australia Green Team member Vivien Chia. You can also get in touch with local charities to see if they have volunteering opportunities available, because giving your time is an incredible gift. And don’t forget, Cisco provides 10 days a year of Time2Give, donates $10 for every hour volunteered, and matches dollar for dollar on approved organization donations.

There are probably hundreds of other ways that we can practice sustainability during the holiday season. If you have a favorite practice, share it in the comments! Our decisions matter and we can create change with the choices we make. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!

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Chemours President and CEO Mark Newman and Chief Sustainability Officer Amber Wellman recently returned from COP28, where they spent time meeting with business leaders from around the globe who are working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world.

Throughout the COP28 summit, Mark and Amber participated in different roundtable discussions, panels, meetings, and workshops—ranging from broad topics such as “How to Build a Low-Carbon Future” to more specific issues such as “The Role of the Circular Economy in Climate Progress.” These discussions happened side by side with the official climate negotiations—helping shape those debates and conversations.

For Chemours, the message was clear – Our chemistry is essential to a more sustainable planet, and we can make it responsibly.

Mark also stressed that big-picture policy objectives like the EU Green Deal or the U.S.’s Inflation Reduction Act must be supported and aligned with the right incentives and science-based regulations that allow the private sector to drive both the innovation and deployment of technology needed to address the climate crisis.

Meanwhile, Amber joined several events and workshops hosted by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg where she had the opportunity to highlight Chemours’ leadership in responsible manufacturing and discuss our sustainable offerings with the media and CSO’s from major companies across the globe.

COP28 saw the largest business presence of any previous summit and companies like Chemours must come to the table at forums like COP28 to forge new partnerships that will help us build a more sustainable future for our company, customers, communities, and our planet.

Here are some key takeaways from Chemours CEO and CSO:

“Someone asked me why a company like Chemours participated in a global climate summit. The answer is simple—our chemistry is an essential part of the solution to climate change. When we look at the technology that is needed to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize the economy, so much of it is rooted in material science and chemistry.

While my conversations at COP covered a range of topics, one topic was consistent—we need more collaboration and cohesiveness between industry and government. Big picture policy objectives like the EU Green Deal or the U.S.’s Inflation Reduction Act must be aligned with the right incentives and science-based regulations that allow the private sector to drive both the innovation and deployment of technology needed to address the climate crisis. 

I’ve been really encouraged by my conversations at COP28 and the enthusiasm I’ve seen for strengthening public-private partnerships. That’s why it’s so important that companies like Chemours are here—so we can work together with all stakeholders to build a brighter future.” – Mark Newman, President & CEO, Chemours

“I’m thrilled to have represented Chemours at COP28 as each day was full of meaningful discussions and valuable insights on global climate action. I was encouraged to engage with leaders representing different industries and governments from across the world, and participate in conversations with CSOs from companies of all sizes and sectors. This is a global challenge, and we must work together and share best practices to keep 1.5 alive!

But conversations alone won’t cut it. We need the progress made at COP28 to be a catalyst for meaningful action and stronger public-private partnerships. Fortunately, I truly believe that we have the tools, resources, and know-how we need to solve these challenges—now it’s time to put them into action.

I left COP feeling a greater sense of urgency about the climate, but also energized about the opportunities I see for Chemours to be part of the solution. I’m so proud to lead the sustainability efforts at a company that recognizes that what’s good for the planet is good for business. Our sustainable offerings are helping transform the economy, accelerate the energy transition, and help nations across the world meet their climate goals. As a science-based company, we’re also driven by our commitment to responsible manufacturing of our critical chemistries — a commitment that we are delivering on every single day.” – Dr. Amber Wellman, Chief Sustainability Officer, Chemours

MONTREAL, December 21, 2023 /3BL/ – Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL: TSX and NYSE) (“Gildan” or “the Company”) is pleased to share that it has been included on the Dow Jones Sustainability™ North America Index (DJSI North America) [1] for its ongoing efforts towards ESG initiatives. This marks the 11th consecutive year the Company has been included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).

Gildan achieved the fifth highest Corporate Sustainability Assessment score in the Textiles, Apparel, and Luxury Goods Industry, placing the Company in the 98th percentile within its sector [2]. This year, 190 companies were assessed in the Textiles, Apparel, and Luxury Goods Industry.

“Gildan’s continued inclusion on the DJSI underscores our commitment to sustainability and highlights the ongoing efforts of our employees across our business,” says Peter Iliopoulos, Senior Vice-President of Taxation, Sustainability, and Governmental Affairs at Gildan. “This recognition reflects our commitment to our Next Generation ESG strategy, which aims to create long-term value for our stakeholders and contribute to the well-being of our planet.”

The DJSI follows a best-in-class approach, surveying companies from each industry and identifying sustainability leaders through the Corporate Sustainability Assessment. It represents the top 20% of the largest 600 North American companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index based on long-term economic, environmental, and social criteria.

More information on Gildan’s ESG approach can be found here.

[1] Index inclusion announced on December 8, 2023.

[2] CSA Score as of October 26, 2023.

About Gildan 

Gildan is a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel. The Company’s product offering includes activewear, underwear and socks, sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters or embellishers, as well as to retailers that sell to consumers through their physical stores and/or e-commerce platforms, and to global lifestyle brand companies. The Company markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, under a diversified portfolio of Company-owned brands including Gildan®, American Apparel®, Comfort Colors®, GOLDTOE®, Peds®, in addition to the Under Armour® brand through a sock licensing agreement providing exclusive distribution rights in the United States and Canada.

Gildan owns and operates vertically integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean, North America, and Bangladesh. Gildan operates with a strong commitment to industry-leading labour, environmental, and governance practices throughout its supply chain in accordance with its comprehensive ESG program embedded in the Company’s long-term business strategy. More information about the Company and its ESG practices and initiatives can be found at www.gildancorp.com.

Investor inquiries: 

Jessy Hayem, CFA 
Vice-President, Head of Investor Relations  
(514) 744-8511 
jhayem@gildan.com  

Media inquiries: 

Genevieve Gosselin  
Director, Global Communications and Corporate Marketing  
(514) 343-8814  
ggosselin@gildan.com 

CNH announced its partnership with the Catholic University of Cordoba (UCC) to help educate Argentina’s next generation of farmers.

In Argentina, Technical Education Day was celebrated on November 15 in commemoration of the creation of the National Council of Technical Education (CONET) in 1959. The National Institute of Technological Education (INET) governs the teaching of different technological and scientific specialties in numerous schools in the country.

“Collaborations like this reinforce our pioneering spirit and commitment to the educational and social development of future generations of professionals. We are convinced that they are the ones who will continue on the path towards the digitalization and technification of agriculture,” said Marcus Cheistwer, Country Manager of CNH.

The partnership puts in place professional internships for training in Agronomic Engineering at UCC, providing them with a valuable opportunity for learning and growth in the CNH business environment. More than 100 students a year will be able to carry out practical experiences with Case IH and New Holland products. They will be trained with high-tech tools such as Oculus, augmented reality headsets and the metaverse – solutions that will allow them to apply their knowledge acquired during training.

Both institutions have a common vision on this path towards innovation in the field. “The expectations of the students are very good since we did not have previous agreements signed with any other company in the area of agricultural machinery. The impact will be very positive, especially for those students who are interested in deepening their practical knowledge in areas related to business,” said Carolina Ambrosino, director of the Agronomic Engineering program.

Currently, the Agronomic Engineering program at UCC includes two subjects focused on agricultural machinery. For 2024, an updated curriculum will incorporate precision agriculture. This change is in line with CNH’s digitalization journey in an industry that is constantly advancing and evolving.

“We look forward with great enthusiasm to the results of this collaboration and the positive impact it will have on the future of innovation and technology applied to the field of the agricultural industry, both in Argentina and globally,” said Federico Arroyo, Coordinator of Technical Training Argentina & LAI.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is thrilled to be the winner of the Diversity & Inclusion category at this year’s World Sustainability Awards. Learn why WBA was selected at https://worldsustainabilityleaders.com/events/winner-diversity-inclusion-walgreens-boots-alliance/

Walgreens Boots Alliance’s global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy

With more than 325,000 employees in nine countries, our workplace encompasses a range of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives and insights. Our goal is to create a culture underpinned by allyship, where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is not just a mantra but a seamless way of working. Our mission is to attract, develop, and engage employees and partners who reflect the diverse customers and communities we serve, and to foster an inclusive future where everyone feels respected, valued, and excited to grow their career with us. We can accomplish this by having DE&I at the center of everything we do. 

Our global DEI strategy follows three pillars of action: continuously learning, building talented and diverse teams, and building inclusive brands and services. During fiscal 2022, our strategy came to life through continued leadership accountability and transparency in building talented and diverse teams, expansion of our business resource groups (BRGs), including membership, driving and enhancing, supplier diversity initiatives, and ongoing organizational learning and awareness. 

Boots has a DEI Steering Group composed of senior leaders from the UK and the Republic of Ireland who meet monthly to hold themselves accountable for change. No7 Beauty Company has a Racial Equity Movement (REM) board across the UK and U.S. that supports the Company’s efforts to root out all forms of racism in the workplace and encourage our function leaders to integrate DEI commitments within their teams. While our strategy is global, our execution is local, and we are empowering our leaders to listen, learn, and take meaningful action based on their local cultures, regulations, and customers.

Read more about Walgreens Boots Alliance’s commitment to DEI in its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.

Pepco | The Source

Pepco has sponsored ZooLights for the last 15 years, where more than 500,000 environmentally friendly lights transform the Smithsonian’s National Zoo into a spectacular Winter Wonderland. This year, Pepco partnered with Building Bridges Across the River and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to bring local families to the zoo to kick-off the holiday season.

We provided participants with transportation to and from the event, entrance to the zoo for an evening, and certificates to spend on snacks or dinner. “Seeing the kids’ eyes light up when they came to the zoo was amazing,” said Tamica Jones, our Senior Corporate Relations Specialist. “Just seeing their expressions and hearing the excitement and gratefulness for us providing the opportunity made me proud.”

December 21, 2023 /3BL/ – Parts of Gaza are at high risk of famine according to a new report released today, which classified 378,000 people as facing “catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.” By early February, this number is projected to rise to over half a million. The new report is from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee, a panel of independent international food security and nutrition experts, including members of the United Nations, government leaders and NGOs, including Action Against Hunger, a global nonprofit leader in the movement to end hunger, which has been operating in Gaza since 2005.

According to the report, the risk of famine increases each day that hostilities intensify and restricted humanitarian access persists. Famine is defined as “an extreme deprivation of food,” potentially causing death.

Gaza is one of the world’s most densely populated areas, with 2.2 million people, half of whom are children. Food insecurity is so extreme that virtually every household in Gaza lacks enough food to meet daily needs. 80% of families in the north and half in the south go days and nights without eating anything at all.

“The combination of incessant shelling, shortages of food, water, fuel, and the inability of humanitarian agencies to operate in Gaza has caused this desperate situation,” says Chiara Saccardi, Regional Head of Action Against Hunger in the Middle East. “The UN and humanitarian organizations have been warning for weeks about the need to remove barriers to humanitarian aid entering Gaza to avoid this reality. Hunger should never be used as a weapon of war.

“Everything we are doing is insufficient to meet the needs of two million people. It is difficult to find flour and rice, and people have to wait hours to have access to latrines and to be able to wash themselves. We are experiencing a level of complexity in this emergency like I have never seen before,” says Noelia Monge, Head of Emergencies for Action Against Hunger, who recently returned from the region. “There are no supplies in the local market, and we can no longer reach areas in the North due to fighting and lack of transportation. It is a desperate situation.”

There have only been two famine declarations in this century: parts of South Sudan in 2017 and Somalia in 2011. Parts of Gaza are now in IPC Phase 5 (catastrophic hunger crisis), and the high risk of famine affects northern Gaza and thousands of internally displaced people in the south of the Gaza Strip. In the coming months in Gaza, more than 1.1 million are projected to be in IPC Level 4 (Emergency), comprising 50% of the population. The entire population of the Gaza Strip is projected to be classified as IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above.

Along with a hunger crisis, the conflict has led to the displacement of almost 2 million people—nearly the entire population—and the death of 19,000. One third of all buildings have been destroyed, and 52,000 are injured. Many others are lost and lie buried under the rubble.

This extreme degree of hunger is driven by severe conflict and can only be reversed with increased humanitarian access. Despite the dangers, Action Against Hunger is still working in parts of Gaza to distribute water, fresh fruit and vegetables, and diapers for children, as well as providing sanitation services and installing latrines.

“Our organization can continue to operate in Gaza, even if only minimally, because we have been working there for many years and we know the suppliers well,” says Monge. “We have an exhaustive mapping of where we can get supplies and a high mobilization capacity supported by local staff. But if trucks can’t get in and there is no fuel, food and water distribution will become virtually impossible.”

Right now, safe humanitarian access to people in need is more critical than ever, but since the short seven-day pause in fighting ended on Dec. 1, the escalation of attacks, particularly in southern Gaza, has forced most humanitarian organizations to reduce their operations to a minimal level, insignificant compared to the needs.

When people suffer extreme food shortages, there are severe consequences, including death, severe pain, electrolyte imbalances, apathy, fatigue, physical and psychological deterioration, tissue degradation, and damage to key organs.

In addition to the lack of food and water, basic supplies such as diapers, wipes, and soap are also extremely limited. “Mothers are caring for their children with diarrhea, sometimes with blood, no water, no wipes, and no diapers. People are angry, depressed, and desperate because of the situation they live in. They are very afraid,” says Saccardi.

The health system has collapsed, and attacks on hospitals have left much of Gaza’s population without access to any treatment. There are no basic medicines left. Cases of Hepatitis A have been reported, and diarrhea and lice are common among the population. In overcrowded spaces with no water or sanitation facilities, this is just the beginning of a health crisis on the brink of explosion.

Action Against Hunger is once again calling for a permanent ceasefire to prevent people from dying of hunger and disease. Children, the sick, and the elderly are most at risk.

“We must act now,” says Saccardi. “Ending conflict is a prerequisite for a meaningful humanitarian response in Gaza, as well as for securing humanitarian access and being able to deliver a massive, multi-sectoral response as soon as possible. We are no longer in the warning phase —we have reached the point of catastrophe.”

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

CINCINNATI, December 21, 2023 /3BL/ – Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) today announced its 2022 Sustainability Report, published in June 2023, has earned four 2023 MarCom Awards. The 2022 Report won platinum awards, the highest honor possible, in three categories: Annual Reports (Corporate Social Responsibility), Annual Reports (Overall Design) and Annual Reports (Interior Design). The report also was recognized with an Honorable Mention for its cover design.

“Delivering on our sustainability strategy, priorities and commitments is key to our ability to continue generating long-term value to our stakeholders while building strong human relationships and connections with the community we serve,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer, Fifth Third Bank. “I thank and congratulate our team, especially those in the Corporate Responsibility Office, Marketing, and Communications departments, who produce our report and move our commitment to corporate sustainability forward.”

Fifth Third’s 2022 Sustainability Report featured key actions and progress reports within the Company’s five Board-approved sustainability priorities: keep the customer at the center, build strong communities, deliver on commitments to employees, promote inclusion and address climate change to create a more inclusive and sustainable world.

The MarCom Awards is an annual, international competition that honors excellence in marketing and communication. Since its inception in 2004, MarCom has evolved into one of the largest, most-respected creative competitions in the world. Each year, about 6,500 print and digital entries are submitted from dozens of countries. MarCom is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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Schneider Electric

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates in its latest report that 80% of the global population without access to energy, is based out of Africa, with around 600 million people affected, especially in the Sub-Saharan region. However, preliminary data suggests that the number of people without energy access in Africa may flatten in 2023 after increasing for three years, and there must be steady and consistent efforts to scale up energy accessibility in the years to come.

As a part of our long-term commitment to improve energy accessibility, Schneider Electric started a program in 2009 called – Access to Energy (A2E). This program aims to support various stakeholders around the world with training and technical expertise, to deal with issues regarding lack of energy accessibility. Through this program, Schneider Electric funded a research, that was led by PhD scholars Emilie Etienne and Théo Chamarande. The team visited several rural sites within African countries, to delve deeper into the role of solar microgrids in improving energy accessibility, the common roadblocks in the process, and ways to solve them.

What is a Microgrid?

Microgrids are stand-alone power systems that can operate independently from the main power grid. They are usually based on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydroelectricity. These microgrids can be deployed locally and provide clean, reliable power to communities.

In most cases, electricity generated by a microgrid is cheaper per kilowatt-hour than usual sources used in rural areas – such as fossil fuel-enabled devices.

Why solar microgrids are a great solution to remedy the energy crisis in Africa

Africa is often called the ‘sun continent’ as it receives more total hours of bright sunshine than any other continent. This increases the possibility of harnessing solar power to solve its energy crisis.

Solar microgrids are cheaper and greener than diesel generators and are suitable for most geographical conditions. However, like every other solution, Microgrids have their own share of challenges. Here are three key challenges that jeopardize most microgrids installed in rural Africa and ways to solve them.

Challenges with rural Microgrids and potential solutions

Challenge #1 – Affordability of monitoring remote areas

Operating microgrids can be costly, especially when monitoring those installed in remote areas. Rural microgrids often face geographical challenges, such as inaccessibility during rainy seasons, distance from city centers, and being on islands. This makes it difficult and costly to conduct on-site visits to monitor the infrastructure. However, recent advancements in microgrids have led to the incorporation of digital tools, which enable remote monitoring by providing timely and detailed information. These tools are crucial for better understanding and analyzing the evolution of demand. They also help mitigate the risk of data loss, which is higher when manually recording years of data.

Advanced digital IoT-enabled software enhances site visibility and adds value to the remote monitoring process. This includes:

real-time monitoringanalyze and improve operational efficiencysending data to the cloud and monitoring at a global levelassess impact parameters and performance parameters for better decision-making

Challenge #2 – High attrition among local managers

People on the ground play a pivotal role in the success of a microgrid ecosystem. They handle technical tasks, collect payments, facilitate communication between customers and operators, detect fraud, manage conflicts, and alert the operator when maintenance is needed. However, a significant issue is the high turnover rate among these managers. This is not their fault, as the uncertainty of microgrids often leads them to take up other jobs in cities or do something that assures a more stable income.

To address this problem, it is important to involve these managers more closely in operations, provide them with vocational training, and ensure a stable source of income. Service providers should work closely with them, empower them through training, and ensure they have a stable income.

Challenge #3 – Fluctuating incomes and electricity needs of rural customers

The rural population has several sources of income and expenses that fluctuate throughout the year. This includes – daily jobs, small-scale agriculture, occasional remittances, and more. As a result, their ability to pay for electricity services varies greatly.

Similarly, their electricity needs also vary. Some days may require more electricity due to community events or market days, while some months may experience a peak or a decrease in electricity demand due to harvest periods or weather conditions.

Contrary to this, some microgrids require customers to pay a fixed amount every month, regardless of energy needs and income. This can make it inaccessible for many people. This is where a Pay-as-you-Go or a prepaid service model can help.

A Pay-as-you-Go model allows customers to pay for electricity based on their needs and income. It breaks down the total cost into monthly or weekly payments, reducing the upfront cost of the solar home system. This provides much-needed flexibility for rural customers.

On the other hand, a prepaid model enables customers to pay a small amount to the service provider for a set amount of consumption, either for a day or a month. This allows people in rural areas to choose convenient plans based on their usage without the burden of a fixed cost.

The key to success – a robust regulatory framework

Some of the major challenges in running these microgrids, such as the ones listed above, usually stem from the lack of trust among stakeholders. To successfully run a network of microgrids in a complex scenario, there must be a strong regulatory framework set up by local authorities. That will help build trust among investors, developers, and customers.

A national integrated energy plan led by local authorities and jointly designed by key stakeholders will help in instilling accountability. This, in turn, will lead to a successful ecosystem of operational microgrids.

The way forward

As an impact company on a mission to connect 50 million people to clean and reliable sources of energy, by 2025, Schneider Electric’s A2E program is addressing these challenges, by:

Developing quality and affordable products and servicesPreparing electricians and entrepreneurs within rural areasMaking the most of Schneider Electric’s expertise in the digital and sustainability spaceFinancing start-ups in the field of access to energyActively contributing to the A2E international community, sharing experience with all stakeholders.

Find out more about Schneider Electric’s efforts to tackle these challenges, from the links below:

Access to Energy: Learn more about this program by Schneider Electric that is committed to the cause of energy accessibility. Check out our innovative products specially customized for communities that lack access to energy.Youth Education & Entrepreneurship program: Discover how Schneider Electric is empowering young minds through education and entrepreneurship initiatives.EcoStruxure IoT platform: Dive into the world of EcoStruxure, Schneider Electric’s innovative IoT platform, and explore how it is revolutionizing energy management and automation.

By Jennifer Elmore

The Bottom Line

Affordable housing is crucial.

But in many places, it’s getting harder to find.

So, the timing couldn’t be better for Regions Bank’s Affordable Housing group to work with developers on opportunities like this.

What’s New:

It’s called Tobias Place – a development where hundreds of individuals and families will soon find their home.

But this is not an ordinary apartment complex. Yes, it features one-to-three-bedroom units. There’s the community garden, pond, playground and more.

What’s different is how it’s all designed to help people who call Fort Worth, Texas, home … to continue calling Fort Worth home.

Tobias Place is in the Hemphill neighborhood south of downtown. Community leaders are concerned about gentrification displacing longtime residents of the area, which is rich with Hispanic heritage. At the same time, there’s a need for more modern housing for elderly residents, recent college graduates and others.

With rents ranging from $400 to $1,000 per month, Tobias Place will fill the gap thanks, in part, to some collaboration from Regions Bank.

Why it matters:

People need access to high-quality, safe affordable housing. Communities need affordable developments to maintain the quality of life and support long-term growth.

Tobias Place is financed through federal housing tax credits, loans, grants and partnerships with the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant County entities. Regions provided an equity investment, a construction loan and a bridge loan. In addition, Regions Real Estate Capital Markets supported the development with a permanent loan. Ojala Partners is the developer.

“Tobias Place is an example of what can be done when local government and the private sector work together to address a need,” said Rachel Thomas Phillips, a Regions Affordable Housing relationship manager. “We know affordable housing is critical to economic and community development, and the benefits are making a real impact in people’s lives. Our commitment to strengthening communities from the ground up is strong.”

Through collaboration with the bank’s Affordable Housing and Real Estate Capital markets teams, we’re delivering incredible results.”

Brian Happel, Fort Worth market executive for Regions Bank

Phillips and her team attended the development’s recent groundbreaking. So, too, did Brian Happel, Fort Worth market executive for Regions Bank. Happel said the variety of financial solutions Regions made available to support Tobias Place reflects how the company takes a holistic approach toward meeting clients’ needs.

“Through collaboration with the bank’s Affordable Housing and Real Estate Capital markets teams, we’re delivering incredible results,” Happel said. “Communities in South Fort Worth are experiencing strong revitalization and population growth, and that make access to affordable housing more important now than ever. Our team carries great pride in seeing developments like Tobias Place come together.”

“This transaction represented a monumental effort by all parties involved, including our capital partners, elected officials at the city and county, city staff, and a coalition of actively engaged neighborhood groups and organizers,” said Daniel Smith, managing director at Ojala Partners. “We could not have pulled this off without the help of so many committed parties.”

For more on Regions Bank’s work in affordable housing, see links below.

Evoke Living at Morris FieldWelcome HomeParmore Fossil CreekAddressing an Urgent Housing Need in Brooklyn: Regions Bank Arranges Vital Financing for New Housing