Tag: 3BL

In less than 48 hours we:

Put a spotlight on equity. Whether through the lens of the investor landscape, addressing the wrongs of the past in global regions such as Canada, or sharing personal stories about how we find ways to belong, equity, inclusion, accessibility and justice remain a priority for IWBI to help support WELL adoption as a lever to afford everyone an opportunity to thrive.Heard from the Nation’s Doctors, some of the world’s most esteemed public health professionals, regarding health in the built environment and positioning our buildings as a tool for improving health and well-being.Sat in on a close conversation focused on food as dynamic medicine, which is key to helping us live our best, healthiest lives. The fireside chat explored the importance of eating real food, echoing many of the best practices laid out in WELL’s Nourishment concept.Shared a thing (or three!) about what’s new with WELL, from our Works with WELL program and the WELL Forum to pulling out capes for our heroic WELL APs, including a deep dive into designing with neurodiversity in mind.Celebrated our global WELL community, from school leaders and policy champions to innovative architects and designers.Showcased what amazing things can happen when you combine a focus on environmental sustainability and health in our buildings.

It was a Summit to remember! Read on.

“The energy, the greatness that went down over these two days can’t be put into words,” said Kimberly Lewis Inkumsah, Executive Vice President of Equity, Engagement and Events. “With inspiration and learnings–and laughs–from esteemed public health professionals to wisdom from Indigenous community leaders on truth and reconciliation, and deep dives into WELL, the Summit was the ultimate experience centered on creating people-first places. And I cannot wait to reconvene this growing community in Long Beach next year. The movement is strong!”

Those memories just begin to describe the 2023 WELL Summit, where we gathered our global WELL community for an energizing two days of learning, inspiration and connection.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM: Real Estate Reboot: Return to Office Won’t Save Us, So What Will?
Executives shared how real estate is embracing change and driving innovation to reshape the future of work to support all workers. Notably, connectivity, collaboration and a commitment to people were all emphasized.

“Employees want flexibility. It’s a demonstration of trust,” said Christina Chiu, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Empire State Realty Trust. “If you need the flexibility, I as an employer trust you as an employee to get it done and to utilize your days as needed, but every company has to find its own rhythm. It’s not going to be one size fits all.”

HIGHLIGHTS FROM: Using Investor Influence to Change the World: How to Move Capital Toward Racial Justice
Monique Aiken, managing director of The Investment Integration Project (TIIP), shared historical perspectives and a strong business case for focusing on and investing in efforts that will drive racial equity.

“You could easily imagine that there would be even more substantial gains if we add the effects of full participation of Indigenous people and other people of color to this mix. And that has not been well studied, which is also problematic in itself,” Aiken noted.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM: A Prescription for Well-being: Places that Put People First
In what was the most anticipated MainStage session, A Prescription for Well-being: Places that Put People First, four former Surgeons General took to the stage in a lively and unforgettable conversation moderated by Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. Hodgdon mentioned the unfortunate loss of public trust in government public health institutions, asking, “What do we need to do to build back that trust?” Each of the Surgeons General had ideas, pointing to some key steps that can apply well beyond the political landscape, including the role of leadership, education, health literacy, cultural competency and empathy.

The session shed light on key topics including speaking truth to power; how to address the diminishing trust in government institutions; the importance of health literacy, cultural competency and empathy; and buildings as a prescription for health.

Right before, IWBI announced a major call to action from many of the country’s public health leaders.

“Just this morning, 12 public health leaders sent a letter to the nation’s policymakers urging them to rethink the entire future of building policy so it focuses on human health outcomes,” said Jason Hartke, Executive Vice President, External Affairs and Advocacy, from the MainStage. “Like I said, the movement is growing,” added Hartke, referencing an open letter drawing attention to an often-overlooked policy opportunity—reimagining the nation’s buildings as a prescription for health.

Echoing the message of the letter, Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, and Hodgdon also teamed up on an op-ed in TriplePundit showing why buildings are the unsung heroes of public health. “As the world contends with the rise of acute public health threats and the devastating impacts of climate change, we teamed up with six former surgeons general and a number of executives from leading public health organizations to turn the attention of policymakers to an unsung hero: our buildings. That’s right, our buildings play a pivotal role in our well-being, and it’s time our policymakers recognize this,” they wrote.

A Senior Advisor to President Biden highlights White House efforts to support healthy buildings
“…[In 2020], Mayors everywhere got the message and understood that we needed healthy buildings to create healthier communities…it’s going to take all of us, the whole of civil society to work together to address these challenges, but we need all of us; we need more collaboration, we need more partnership, we need more engagement, we need more constructive input from the subject matter experts in this room.

IWBI’s ambitious mission is to drive market transformation. They brought all of you here together tonight, and this type of activity is key to delivering on healthier communities. I am humbled and honored that my role at the White House is focused on helping support that type of connectivity.

And thank you on behalf of the President and Vice President, I look forward to this continued collaboration, this continued back and forth, from all of you to advance the benefits of healthy buildings for everyone.” – Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director, White House Office of Public Engagement.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM: Lessons from Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Process: Centering and Celebrating Indigenous Wisdom
Davina Rooney, CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia and IWBI Governance Council Member, welcomed Victoria Grant, chair of the Counseling Foundation of Canada, and Diane Roussin, project director of The Winnipeg Boldness Project, for a conversation that shined a light on the systemic racism that has profoundly impacted the lives of Indigenous peoples and the importance of truth and reconciliation. As Rooney observed in facilitating the discussion, it’s important to pause and acknowledge – to sit in the truth for a bit first – because “if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not listening.”

“We are the sum of our experiences and the people who have walked with us through life,” Grant explained, adding, “We live in a world that has been made much smaller as a result of transportation, technology and communication. We all have much more diversity within our communities and in our countries. We need to understand that diversity is natural. It’s not something that needs to be overcome.”

In the spirit of the WELL Summit, we are leaving more energized than when we arrived, feeling inspired and activated by the slate of sessions over the course of two days. With that in mind, we encourage you to check out what you may have missed and register for the flagship WELL Conference in Long Beach, Calif.

View original content here.

Originally published in Owens Corning’s 2022 Sustainability Report

Regan Mattison has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. For the last eight, she served as an occupational health nurse for Owens Corning, based out of our facility in Delmar, New York, U.S., and has also worked with several other U.S. sites. In particular, Regan is working to integrate Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) into our wellness initiatives, using the principles of focused improvement to increase awareness and participation among Owens Corning employees. Although Regan moved into a new role within the Corporate Health Services group in 2023, she remains passionate about ensuring that Owens Corning is helping people lead healthier lives.

“Owens Corning sees the value of our expertise and knowledge within the nursing field. I’ve been with Owens Corning for eight years and it’s a great place to be a nurse.”

On the benefits of incorporating TPM into wellness

We have taken the plan-do-check-act aspect of TPM, where determine where we’re starting, and then ask how we can make it better. We need to have a goal, and we can’t just pull it out of our hat. Our 2023 leadership goals and wellness award criteria allowed us to set up key activity indicators and validate that we are meeting our goals. Our biometrics program was a perfect example. A very large percentage our people completed this program, and by using TPM, we can learn how to get an even larger percentage to participate. I think people are doing TPM and they don’t even know it. If you’re trying to make something better, you’re already doing it. By going through the TPM process, you’re putting words to what you’re doing to develop a master plan.

On increasing participation in employee wellness programs

It’s like the saying from the movie “Field of Dreams”: If you build it, they will come. If we build what employees want, they’re going to come to it. The way to get employees to participate is to find what works for them. It’s important to spread the word, offer fun events, and find things people want to participate in. We’ve always had the model where wellness takes place outside in the hall. It’s fairly convenient, but what’s even more convenient is walking up to them on the line with some information or a free item. The most important thing when you’re talking about personal wellness is that you have to keep trying different things.

On Owens Corning’s recognition of the role of nurses

I compare my career as a nurse to a house. Going to school was my foundation, and with each experience, I build a floor on top of that foundation. I think Owens Corning sees the value of our expertise and knowledge within the nursing field, and how we can have an impact in preventing injuries and preventing occupational exposures to hazardous substances. Wellness initiatives are a big part of what we do, too — we are really great advocates for these programs, and I think that Owens Corning values that.

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Originally published in Dow’s 2022 INtersections Progress Report

OUR APPROACH 

With a portfolio of more than 12,000 products that support approximately 10,000 customers, we know that how we manufacture, distribute and enable the proper use and disposal of our products can have a large and meaningful impact on the environment. Our vision is a future where every material we bring to market is sustainable for our people and our planet.

Learn more: Blueprint for Product Safety

2022 ACTIONS

At Dow, creating safer materials is a continuous journey made possible through innovation, design and more predictive, enabling technologies. In 2022, we:

Earned recognition for new innovations, many with improved health and safety profiles. In 2022, Dow received eight Edison Awards, six R&D 100 Awards by R&D Magazine and three BIG Innovation Awards from Business Intelligence Group.Used digital technologies to predict safer alternatives. In 2022, Dow and CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, collaborated to develop Smart Search, an Edison Awardnominated artificial intelligence tool that can help our R&D team refine searches for new substances by properties, including by hazard classifications.Advanced our Safer Materials roadmap, outlining and launching enterprise actions for continuous improvement.Proactively conducted more than 50 business risk reviews, comprehensively assessing new innovations, raw materials and/or applications for risks, and implemented appropriate risk management measures where necessary.

Open and Transparent Chemistry: Taking Action on Our Safer Materials Roadmap

In 2022, we identified three work tracks to help us advance our corporate roadmap to developing safer materials. These work tracks are:

Characterizing our portfolio, which will build upon our history of strong risk management and our current risk characterization of products. In 2023, Dow commits to publishing a high-level guide of use-hazard combinations that carry with them a degree of inherent safety and those where more scrutiny or more detailed risk assessment and proof of safe handling is required.Prioritize substances of concern, which involves taking strategic actions within our businesses to address all parts of the product life cycle, from investing in clean upstream manufacturing technologies to reducing facility emissions to restricting downstream uses of some substances and utilizing our strong innovation pipeline to develop safer alternatives.Development of next-generation safer chemistry, which focuses on increasing integration of predictive toxicology tools into early-stage R&D.

Innovation: Developing Biodegradable Beauty Products

In 2022, Dow’s MaizeCare™ Clarity Polymer was recognized with two prestigious innovation awards – an R&D 100 Award and a BIG Sustainability Product of the Year award. This biodegradable polymer, derived from corn starch, offers curl retention when styling your hair, then breaks down readily when it washes out and down the drain. The polymer is one example of Dow’s growing portfolio of bio-derived and bio-degradable products that deliver on consumer demands for affordable products that are safe for humans and the environment without compromising performance.

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Imagine learning how to determine the slope of a right triangle by sending your own tiny skier down ski trails or by setting up skateboard ramps for a virtual skater to jump. That’s the future of math learning, thanks to augmented reality (AR).

“Using AR helps make difficult content more digestible, so students can develop conceptual understanding,” says Sylvia Diaz, superintendent in residence at McGraw Hill. “Because it’s experiential and hands-on, the app helps make the abstract and the complex simpler.”

Using augmented reality features of the McGraw Hill AR app, available through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, educators can bring 10 math concepts to life on their students’ smartphone or tablet. Students can view and manipulate shapes and use animations to help them visually understand mathematics.

Increased student engagement and excitement are the primary goals for embracing innovative tech curricula in the classroom, Diaz explains. “Getting students to feel like they are good learners and have the capacity to learn and grow, even when things are challenging, is half the battle,” she says. “These types of applications bring joy into the environment. Kids get that feeling of success and accomplishment.”

Renee Dawson, an educational technology specialist for Atlanta Public Schools and Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Coach, agrees. When she introduced the app to students, Dawson says, they were immediately drawn to the gamification of mathematical concepts and the app’s ability to bring difficult concepts to life. “Teachers see the benefits of this technology, too,” she says. “It lets them be creative in the classroom, which is a big motivator.”

Diaz says that having materials for Spanish-speaking students, such as activities, student resources and worksheets in Spanish, is extremely valuable, too. “They empower students to strengthen their academic language and help them share information with their family about what they’re learning,” Diaz says. These Spanish-language materials are exclusively available on Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

5 free math lessons to let your students explore on the app

Slope: In this activity, students determine the slopes of ski trails; they can also set the slopes of skateboard ramps for virtual riders. From there, students move on to calculate the slopes of triangles.Growth functions: Students compare the growth rates of linear, quadratic and exponential functions by evaluating the differences between terms in sequences and deciding if the growth is constant, accelerating or exponential. Students can see this growth in the form of dozens (and then thousands) of rabbits jumping out of a magician’s hat.Reflections: Students manipulate the line of reflection in the AR environment and observe its impact on the reflected image.Solve equations: In this activity, students balance a scale to solve linear equations. The objective is to solve equations of the form y = x + b and y = mx, where m and b are whole numbers.Graph theory: Students will identify Euler paths and, by making bridges for a pirate on a deserted island, determine when a Euler path does not exist for a given graph.

Learn more about the McGraw Hill AR app — as well as other free immersive education apps, hundreds of lessons and professional development courses that help K-12 educators learn new skills — by visiting Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

“Using AR helps make difficult content more digestible, so students can develop conceptual understanding. Because it’s experiential and hands-on, the app helps make the abstract and the complex simpler.”

Sylvia Diaz, McGraw Hill

October 5, 2023 /3BL/ – The urgent call to decarbonize has thrust sustainability into the spotlight on the corporate stage. Whilst the growth in reporting has created an expansive list of pressing priorities.

But how are businesses preparing for the comprehensive and complex reporting landscape? Where are they investing today, and perhaps more pertinently in the years to come, to meet the needs of regulators and climate-conscious stakeholders? And how are today’s businesses strategizing to meet their sustainability ambitions?

Discover the answers to these pivotal questions in the Reuters Impact Global Sustainability Report 2023, a valuable resource that will help shape your sustainability strategy, chart your investment course, and provide a meaningful benchmark against industry peers.

Our unique, proprietary dataset, assembled using survey responses from more than 570 sustainability practitioners and decision-makers globally, provides a detailed examination of how sustainability investments are shifting towards a new set of technologies, where businesses are setting their sustainability priorities and the strategies being pursued to meet them.

Our research has unveiled several key findings:

Data analysis and emissions accounting solutions are the leading destinations of business investment for sustainability purposes today, but by 2026 a new suite of technologies is expected to lead the way.Our technology investment leaderboard highlights differences in investment approach between companies operating in North America and those in Europe. Are European organizations still sustainability’s trailblazers?Energy and decarbonization is a top priority for a leading majority of organizations responding to our survey, however there is a distinct mix of strategies being pursued to reduce remissions.

Claim Your Report Now

Enjoy your reading and feel free to share your thoughts on the findings in our sustainability report!

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Many holidays were created to bring attention to and inspire action around specific causes – including such topics as energy efficiency and conservation – and present great marketing opportunities for organizations. By leveraging relevant energy holidays, utilities can seize an opportunity to increase customer engagement, educate on important energy issues, and build awareness of their energy efficiency programs and potential energy-saving projects.

Hawaii Energy, administered by Leidos, promotes energy holidays as a way to spark a conversation with customers about energy efficiency and conservation. Through specific marketing campaigns, the program raises the importance of sustainability, promotes energy efficiency tips for customers, and acknowledges the critical role energy plays in our daily lives. Hawaii Energy’s annual marketing campaigns for Energy Awareness Month and Earth Month have had a positive impact on building customer engagement and supporting the program’s energy savings goals.

Energy Awareness Month (October)

During Energy Awareness Month in October, Hawaii Energy joins the national effort to spotlight the vital importance of improving energy efficiency and conservation. Their messaging urges customers to take additional steps to save energy and develop habits needed to reduce energy use each day. Extending across multiple digital channels, their Energy Awareness Month campaign includes a dedicated landing page on their website as a central point for resources and information. Using Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and email marketing, they aim to capture attention and generate excitement.

In their “Level Up” campaign for Energy Awareness Month, they encouraged customers to share how they #LevelUp to win a gift card and provided additional bonus entries to customers who shared personal stories. The primary focus of the campaign was a focus on equity and encouraging all customers – no matter where they are on their energy-saving journey – to see themselves in the clean energy transition and learn the foundational practices of efficiency and conservation.

Though the goal with this campaign was largely to increase brand awareness, Hawaii Energy captured engagement metrics throughout the campaign. They saw an increase in unique page views of more than 1,000 during the month of October; their “Level Up Giveaway” email received a 67% open rate; and their Instagram engagement was up 193%, with 76% increase in reach. Another key success was the value of having a platform for customers to share personal stories.

In October, Hawaii also promotes Energy Action Challenges in conjunction with Energy Efficiency Day on the first Wednesday of the month as well as ENERGY STAR® Day, which occurs mid-month.

Earth Month (April)

In addition to Energy Awareness Month, Hawaii Energy celebrates Earth Month in April, highlighting key program participation opportunities with some added goodwill. During Earth Month, Hawaii Energy has highlighted their Refrigerator Recycling Program, encouraging customers to recycle their old refrigerators, with an opportunity for customers to donate their rebate to a local school in need. Another Earth Month highlight was asking customers to nominate a deserving nonprofit for the chance to win a LED lighting makeover.

Social media posts, emails, ads, giveaways, and contests are all examples of ways that Hawaii Energy has successfully engaged with customers during Energy Holidays throughout the year.

With over 35 years of experience in the energy industry, Leidos specializes in developing creative ways to engage residential, commercial, and industrial customers across utility service territories. Our team of experts have extensive experience creating innovative marketing campaigns to inspire action and drive energy savings. For more information on Leidos and our program implementation experience, contact our team.

October 5, 2023 /3BL/ – With an unwavering commitment to supporting working mothers, Danielle Melton founded MOTHERboard Society (MBS), transforming the landscape of self-care and wellness through her tech-enabled subscription program – combating burnout and promoting self-care and wellness through holistic programming. Now, she’s making a significant impact in the lives of women striving to balance their careers and motherhood.

Having experienced the challenges of juggling a successful career and motherhood firsthand, Danielle was inspired to create a community that understood the unique struggles faced by working mothers. “Studies show that 92% of working mothers don’t feel supported by their community. So knowing that MBS is that community we working mothers truly need is all the motivation I need to keep going!” said Danielle.

MOTHERboard Society offers a holistic approach to combat burnout, providing tailored programs and a supportive network of like-minded individuals. Danielle’s background in Executive Leadership in education laid the foundation for her innovative subscription program, which now reaches over 13,000 women in the United States and across the world. MBS has launched national chapters, conducted signature events, created a mom-owned business directory, and led impactful community initiatives.

Key to Danielle’s success has been the support she’s received from Sky’s the Limit mentors. Several remarkable individuals, including Mia Long, Associate Manager at Accenture, have provided invaluable guidance, shaping MOTHERboard Society’s trajectory. With their support, Danielle secured a $2,500 grant from Sky’s the Limit, highlighting the potential and impact of her work.

“Mia emphasized the importance of getting detailed with our buyer personas. Her insights prompted me to delve deeper into understanding the specific needs, challenges, and aspirations of our target audience, which is working mothers. This refined focus has enabled us to tailor our services more effectively and create a marketing plan that is more aligned with our audience’s needs. Mia’s expertise has been instrumental in helping us position MOTHERboard Society for faster customer acquisition and growth,” said Danielle.

Read more about Danielle’s inspiring success story and MOTHERboard Society here.

To further celebrate Women’s Small Business Month and her achievements and inspire others, Sky’s the Limit will be hosting the highly anticipated Limitless! premiere featuring the founder herself. Limitless! is a groundbreaking series where entrepreneurs can share their experiences, insights, and strategies for success. This episode will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from Danielle’s remarkable journey, gain valuable knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain insights into building successful businesses around passion and overcoming challenges in the fashion industry. More details can be found here.

“Nearly 70% of Sky’s the Limit entrepreneurs are women. Of the small businesses in the U.S. today, almost 13 million of them are women-owned, and women of color are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the country. With MOTHERboard Society, Danielle has created a vital tool for women so that they can continue to make their marks as entrepreneurs,” said Laura Plato, Chief Operating Officer at Sky’s the Limit.

Danielle Melton’s journey with MOTHERboard Society exemplifies how the right mentorship and a clear vision can lead to remarkable success in the world of entrepreneurship. Her dedication to improving the lives of working mothers serves as an inspiration to all.

Sky’s the Limit offers opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise. The organization has also provided over $450,000 in startup grants and educated tens of thousands of diverse entrepreneurs.

For more information about partnerships and how to get involved, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

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About SkysTheLimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 

In May 2013, during the Memorial Day weekend, Kristen Almer answered a phone call that would change her life forever—her 11-year-old nephew, Logan, had been involved in an ATV accident.

Almer, who spent most of her career in the powersports industry, was unprepared to receive the devasting news that Logan didn’t make it.

“You don’t think people can live—witnessing something so horrific and handle the grief of such a terrible, tragic accident. I vowed we were not going to lose Logan for no reason,” she recalls. “But honestly, I did not even know what that meant at the time.”

Almer soon realized that her nephew’s accident was not as rare as most would believe; in fact, one in every five ATV-related fatalities is a rider younger than 16.

And years later, Almer she an industry press release, listing eight guidelines for safe ATV practices, which had been released just 24 hours before Logan’s accident. Almer, whose family had believed they lost Logan because he wasn’t wearing a helmet, recognized that Logan wasn’t following six of those guidelines at the time of his accident.

“It still shakes us to our core that no one in our family got that message. But let’s be honest—no 11-year-old is going to read a press release, and most adults don’t either,” says Almer.

“So I took action.”

Kristen and her co-founder Hubert Rowland, a renowned powersport influencer, in 2018 established the RideSafe Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing powersport-related injuries and fatalities by inspiring children and adults to wear helmets, obtain safety certification, and use proper safety gear before operating powersports equipment.

RideSafe brings professional powersport athletes, certified safety instructors, and law enforcement directly to schools. They launched their first presentation at Logan’s school in 2018.

RideSafe has the data, and knows what can reduce injuries and fatalities:

Between 1982 and 2018, there were 15,744 ATV fatalities in the U.S.Of those, 3,353 were children under the age of 16.In 90% of all cases, the victim was not wearing a helmet.In 95% of cases, they had not received safety certification.

“While there are countless agencies and experts working on getting the message to the public, we all must work together to expand their efforts and ensure our children get the message,” says Almer.

At Enbridge, safety is the very foundation of our business, and we actively promote safety in the communities near our operations. A recent $10,000 Fueling Futures grant from Enbridge will support RideSafe Powered by BRP school presentations in Carlton County, Minnesota and Douglas, Sawyer and Washburn counties in Wisconsin this September.

What should people take away from RideSafe’s teachings?

“If you educate yourself and your family, accidents and injuries are highly preventable,” says Almer. “And safety is a learned behavior.”

By Mel Campbell 

No existential angst here; at Regions, we know who we are.

We know what Regions associates do in the communities we serve.

When Regions associates want to understand the impact that they have, there is almost no shortage of stories, anecdotes and statistics. When you combine the efforts of some 20,000 associates, working daily to meet the needs of customers, serve their colleagues, and help strengthen the communities in which we live and work, only good can come from that.

Want to know exactly what we mean?

See how Ken Jones has become known as Mr. Montevallo.Read how Regions is helping continue the work of the Mike Slive Foundation to help the fight against prostate cancer.Learn how Regions is making a difference with youth in Indianapolis.Watch how Regions helped a baker grow her business and share her family’s pound cake recipe.Read how Regions is keeping traditions and growth front of mind in Lakeland, Florida.

That’s just a taste of how Regions associates make a difference. Consider that in 2022:

Regions had 20,000 associates.In 2023, 81 amazing associates reached a milestone of 35 or more years of service.Associates volunteered some 74,000 hours in support of their communities.Between Regions associates, the company and the Regions Foundation, $7.2 million in donations were made to United Way in the markets Regions serves.1 million people received financial education from Regions Bank.430,000 students increased their academic competency through Regions Bank grants.There was $1.1 billion in small business and farm lending from Regions Bank.There was $1.4 billion in community development lending from Regions Bank.

Visit doingmoretoday.com to learn about what Regions and its associates are doing to make a difference in the lives of people and communities.

Originally published on TriplePundit

As the cost of wind turbines and solar panels continues to plunge, farmers can benefit from new opportunities to generate clean power on their land. Capturing methane emissions from livestock manure is another vital clean power pathway, and it is one that can help livestock farmers improve their manure handling systems while producing their own biomethane fuel to decarbonize tractors and other equipment.

The big impact of biogas capture

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere by fossil energy activities and the decomposition of food scraps and other organic matter. Livestock operations are also a leading source of methane, accounting for 32 percent of global methane emissions related to human activity, according to the United Nations Environment Program.

Researchers are developing new types of livestock feed to reduce methane emissions related to flatulence as animals digest food. However, that still leaves the problem of emissions from decomposing manure.

Capturing and repurposing these fugitive methane emissions for energy use is the goal of a venture between the leading agricultural machinery firm CNH Industrial and the U.K. biomethane expert Bennamann. In March 2021, CNH acquired a minority stake in Bennamann and became its exclusive strategic agricultural technology partner, establishing future benefits for customers and the environment.

In terms of global warming, methane is a carbon-containing gas that is over 80 times more harmful than carbon dioxide gas when measured over 20 years. Bennamann’s multi-patented system prevents biogas from entering the atmosphere by preventing direct emissions from manure slurry lagoons and tanks. The biogas is then upgraded to compressed or liquid methane, which is regarded as a ‘better than zero carbon’ biofuel.

The Bennamann process can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of an average dairy farm. For example, the estimated CO2 reduction for a 120-cow farm is equivalent to that of 100 typical western households.

The process yields significant additional benefits. The biomethane fuel can be used to run tractors, or to provide heat or electricity for other farm equipment and facilities. It can also be sold as fuel or converted to electricity for sale back to the grid, providing a new revenue stream for farmers.

In addition, the slurry-sourced methane fuel enables farmers to support their customers’ decarbonization policies.

This solution also helps maintain productive land to grow food. Digestate, the solid byproduct of the process, can also be re-used as an organic soil enhancer, enabling the farmer to reduce the use of carbon-intensive chemical fertilizers.

A solution for small and large farms

Larger livestock farms with anaerobic biogas digesters are in a good position to invest in the equipment needed to upgrade biogas to biomethane fuel, and New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, introduced its new T6.180 Methane Power compressed gas methane tractor in February of 2022. In December, the company also introduced a pre-production liquid gas version of the technology, the T7 Methane Power LNG.

Smaller farms can also participate in biogas upgrading. The benefits can be especially important for farms that are struggling to manage their open-air manure slurry lagoons.

Instead of investing in expensive anaerobic digesters, smaller farms can capture biogas by covering their open-air lagoons with a sturdy membrane, similar to those used in bouncy castles for children’s parties.

A covered lagoon enables manure to break down naturally without releasing biogas to the environment. The main difference compared to an anaerobic digestion system is the time. The process can take several months in a lagoon, though it only takes a matter of weeks in the optimized conditions of a digester. Still, the end result is the same: Biogas from the decomposing manure can be captured and put to use for methane tractors and other farm equipment.

To upgrade their biogas to purified biomethane fuel, smaller farms could enroll in a mobile gas processing model, rather than investing in their own equipment, New Holland says.

Additional benefits of covered lagoons

New Holland also notes several factors that can help offset the cost of the lagoon cover and help farmers overcome issues associated with open-air lagoons.

“As a tractor manufacturer, we’re interested in the fact that the methane can be used to make fuel,” said Tom Kindred, platform and engineering lead for the New Holland Methane Power tractors. “For the farmer, covering the lagoon reduces the smell, which can be a very important factor. Stopping the rainwater from getting in is another benefit.”

The cover can also be a space-saver: By reducing the amount of rainwater entering the lagoon, the cover enables farmers to store more slurry in the same space. That can be an especially significant benefit in regions where manure cannot be spread in the winter due to waterlogged soil, such as in the U.K.

“Farmers are encouraged to store manure over the wet season, then spread it when the ground is dry, so it is used at the right time of year when the crops need it,” Kindred explained.

Next steps for the energy-independent farm of the future

Kindred notes that the new methane tractors represent the first radical departure from the diesel-fueled tractors that have been used for nearly 100 years. More than an upgrade to modern technology, the new tractors enable livestock farmers to produce their own tractor fuel on site. Compared to the price swings of the global energy market, biomethane provides a stable, predictable source of fuel.

Bennamann has been working with dairy farmers Katie and Kevin Hoare who are tenants on Trenance Farm in Cornwall, U.K., and the system has already made a difference.

Chris Mann, the co-founder, chairman and chief technology officer of Bennamann, said that before the company’s solution was installed at Trenance Farm, it was generating 2,500 metric tons of carbon annually on a 20-year timescale. Since its installation, this has reduced by 90 percent, to just over 250 tons per year.

“There’s 2.5 million farms in the world and working with CNH Industrial, with its global presence and advanced manufacturing capability, is the way forward,” Mann added. “We’re making farms part of the solution rather than the problem. CNH Industrial and Bennamann can be really proud of that.”

New opportunities for energy-independent farms

As more clean power technologies emerge, farmers have new opportunities to transform their land from an energy-consuming model to one that creates renewable energy and contributes to a more sustainable economy. The farm of the future is a multifaceted enterprise that meets the 21st-century challenges of food, energy, water and soil.

This article series is sponsored by CNH Industrial and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image courtesy of CNH Industrial