Tag: 3BL

Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS), a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, is proud to release its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report outlining the company’s commitment to create extraordinary flow control solutions that make the world better for everyone. In this year’s report, the Company details how it strives to enable a clean energy future by advancing technologies that reduce climate impact, embedding sustainability within its core operations and strengthening its purpose-driven culture.

The success of the company’s 3D strategy in supporting customers’ ESG efforts inspired the launch of a refreshed ESG approach with three main pillars: Climate, Culture and Core Responsibility. “Our ESG approach continues to influence our growth strategy and our path forward, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made balancing the challenges of an ever-changing energy sector while serving our customers, engaging our people and improving our planet,” said Scott Rowe, president and chief executive officer. “Backed by our greatest asset — Flowserve associates — I am confident that we will continue to innovate for a better world for our customers, suppliers and the global community,” he added.

Flowserve’s 2022 ESG Report reflects the impact Flowserve made throughout the year including the following highlights:

Climate

Reached 80% of our 2030 carbon emissions reduction goalAchieved nearly $140 million in energy transition bookings while continuing to support core markets, contributing to a robust backlog of $2.7 billionEntered strategic partnerships and collaborations to advance innovation in critical markets and emerging technologies such as hydrogen fueling, LNG, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), recyclables and other sustainable fuels

Culture

Empowered leadership training for over 2,000 People Leaders through the Leadership in Motion program, equipping them with tools and alignment on People Leader Expectations to deliver value to associates and customersInvested over $500,000 with Flowserve 25th Anniversary grants through our global community impact program, Flowserve Cares, reinforcing Flowserve’s commitment to serving the local communities where we operate around the world

Core Responsibility

Delivered record safety performance, recording first ever incident-free month in June with no recordable injuries at any Flowserve sitesLaunched more than 20 new and redesigned products that directly align with Flowserve’s 3D strategy, enhance ESG initiatives and support customers’ sustainability efforts

For more information on Flowserve’s ESG progress, or to access the Flowserve 2022 ESG Report and 2022 ESG Report Executive Summary Video, visit our ESG page on Flowserve.com.

Flowserve Contacts
Jay Roueche, Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations, (972) 443-6560
Mike Mullin, Director, Investor Relations, (214) 697-8568

About Flowserve: Flowserve Corp. is one of the world’s leading providers of fluid motion and control products and services. Operating in more than 55 countries, the company produces engineered and industrial pumps, seals and valves as well as a range of related flow management services. More information about Flowserve can be obtained by visiting the company’s Web site at www.flowserve.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words or phrases such as, “may,” “should,” “expects,” “could,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “predicts” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, earnings forecasts, statements relating to our business strategy and statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies and anticipated developments concerning our industry, business, operations and financial performance and condition.

The forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on our current expectations, projections, estimates and assumptions. These statements are only predictions, not guarantees. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from what is forecast in such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation, the following: the impact of the global outbreak of COVID-19 on our business and operations; a portion of our bookings may not lead to completed sales, and our ability to convert bookings into revenues at acceptable profit margins; changes in global economic conditions and the potential for unexpected cancellations or delays of customer orders in our reported backlog; our dependence on our customers’ ability to make required capital investment and maintenance expenditures; if we are not able to successfully execute and realize the expected financial benefits from our strategic transformation and realignment initiatives, our business could be adversely affected; risks associated with cost overruns on fixed-fee projects and in taking customer orders for large complex custom engineered products; the substantial dependence of our sales on the success of the oil and gas, chemical, power generation and water management industries; the adverse impact of volatile raw materials prices on our products and operating margins; economic, political and other risks associated with our international operations, including military actions, trade embargoes, epidemics or pandemics or changes to tariffs or trade agreements that could affect customer markets, particularly North African, Russian and Middle Eastern markets and global oil and gas producers, and non-compliance with U.S. export/re-export control, foreign corrupt practice laws, economic sanctions and import laws and regulations; increased aging and slower collection of receivables, particularly in Latin America and other emerging markets; our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, including in hyperinflationary countries such as Venezuela and Argentina; our furnishing of products and services to nuclear power plant facilities and other critical processes; potential adverse consequences resulting from litigation to which we are a party, such as litigation involving asbestos-containing material claims; expectations regarding acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses; our relative geographical profitability and its impact on our utilization of deferred tax assets, including foreign tax credits; the potential adverse impact of an impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangible assets; our dependence upon third-party suppliers whose failure to perform timely could adversely affect our business operations; the highly competitive nature of the markets in which we operate; environmental compliance costs and liabilities; potential work stoppages and other labor matters; access to public and private sources of debt financing; our inability to protect our intellectual property in the U.S., as well as in foreign countries; obligations under our defined benefit pension plans; our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud; the recording of increased deferred tax asset valuation allowances in the future or the impact of tax law changes on such deferred tax assets could affect our operating results; our information technology infrastructure could be subject to service interruptions, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security breaches, which could disrupt our business operations and result in the loss of critical and confidential information; ineffective internal controls could impact the accuracy and timely reporting of our business and financial results; and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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To continue and build upon efforts to encourage sustained, meaningful and transformational change in East Buffalo, KeyBank, Buffalo GoGreen and Providence Farm Collective are once again partnering to launch a weekly farmers market in the city’s Delavan-Grider neighborhood. The market brings fresh fruits and vegetables to neighborhoods with few options and is part of KeyBank’s ongoing response to the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo that took place in May 2022.

The market will be held at the Delavan-Grider Community Center located at 877 East Delavan Avenue. It will take place from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. each Thursday from June 22 through fall.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Buffalo GoGreen, Providence Farm Collective and the Delavan-Grider Community Center to address food insecurity and bring community-oriented resources to the Delavan-Grider neighborhood,” said Chiwuike “Chi-Chi” Owunwanne, Corporate Responsibility Officer for KeyBank in Buffalo. “New this year, we are making this a weekly event, expanding access to fresh food in East Buffalo.”

In addition to produce vendors, other merchants from around Western New York will take part in the market. Accepted forms of payment are cash, checks, Mastercard, Visa, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC and Senior Farmers checks. In addition, those who sign up on site for the Double Up Food Bucks program will receive a $10 food voucher to the market courtesy of KeyBank.

Read more about the upcoming KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market:

KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market returns to East Buffalo June 22 | WGRZ-TV
 KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market to Return to the East Side | Buffalo Rising
 KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market to return to East Buffalo on June 22 | Niagara Frontier Publications

BALTIMORE, June 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Baltimore-based global investment management firm T. Rowe Price announced today it is on track to deploy $50 million in deposits to under-resourced deposit institutions through a partnership with CNote, an impact investment fintech that provides capital to lenders that empower small and diverse business owners and support under-resourced communities. Beginning last year, funds have been directed to community banks and credit unions across the country to distribute the capital to small businesses.

“We are committed to ensuring underrepresented and under-resourced communities have access to capital,” said Raymone Jackson, head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Corporate Responsibility for T. Rowe Price. “We believe this investment will go a long way in providing capital and coaching to small and emerging businesses; expanding access to healthcare, education, and other community-centric facilities; financing affordable housing development; and generally making communities more economically resilient.”

The $50 million investment, which is the first of its kind in the investment management industry, is the result of a social impact investing initiative spearheaded by T. Rowe Price’s Black Leadership Council, a group of senior African American associates who advise the Management Committee and support engagement with Black/African American associates.

“We are excited to partner with leaders like T. Rowe Price who are providing access and opportunity for underserved and under-resourced communities,” said Catherine Berman, CEO of CNote. “Through CNote’s platform, T. Rowe Price is delivering much-needed capital into low-income communities and communities of color while earning returns and measurable impact.”

As of March 31,

Funds have been deposited in 44 depositories,Seventy percent of these assets were deployed in communities as loans.Minority borrowers have received 65 percent of loans.Sixty-eight percent of loans were disbursed in low- to moderate-income communities.Of those 44 depositories, 28 are community development financial institutions (CDFIs), 17 are minority deposit institutions (MDIs), and 20 are low-income designated credit unions (LIDs).Funds are placed in deposits within Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insured limits.

CNote is a women-led impact platform on a mission to close the wealth gap through financial innovation. Using a community-first framework, CNote enables corporations, institutions, and individuals to efficiently invest at scale in fixed-income and deposit products that advance economic equality, racial justice, gender equity, and climate change adaptation.

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ABOUT T. Rowe Price

Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW) helps people around the world achieve their long-term investment goals. As a large global asset management company known for investment excellence, retirement leadership, and independent proprietary research, the firm is built on a culture of integrity that puts client interests first. Investors rely on the award-winning firm for its retirement expertise and active management approach of equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset investment capabilities. T. Rowe Price manages USD$1.35 trillion in assets under management as of May 31, 2023 and serves millions of clients globally. News and other updates can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and troweprice.com/newsroom.

Contact T. Rowe Price, PUBLIC RELATIONS

Tiane Harrison 
T. Rowe Price 
(410) 577-2216 
Tiane.Harrison@troweprice.com

Amy Burke Friedman 
PROFILES 
(410) 243-3790 
afriedman@profilespr.com

Sharing your company’s corporate sustainability and social impact progress is no small feat. The key stakeholders – investors, journalists, rankings & ratings agencies, NGOs and consumers – who care about your commitments are a diverse and fragmented audience. It takes a specialist to find them, connect with them, and engage them meaningfully and consistently on a single platform.

That’s where 3BL comes in.

For over a decade, we’ve built a robust and responsive content distribution network across that uniquely complex audience. Our credibility and specialist focus means that when we share our clients’ news, the right people take notice. And, our unmatched service ensures that the client messages we share have been optimized for attention and impact.

Join us on June 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET for a demo of the Professional platform. In thirty minutes you’ll see how leading companies are leveraging our proprietary technology and expansive content distribution network to…

Increase visibility, engagement & credibility with key stakeholdersGain traction with ratings & rankings agenciesDevelop a positive brand reputation among consumersInform current & potential investors about their ESG commitmentsEnhance communications strategy with comprehensive reporting and analytics

Click here to register for the demo.

But, don’t take our word for it. Here’s what a few of our clients are saying:

“3BL allows us to really get eyeballs on our content, we need to drive it to our audiences and 3BL makes sure that the right people are able to find out about it… and without it our content is just so much less viewed” – Head of Corporate Sustainability, 3BL Customer

“3BL does an excellent job with its subject matter expertise. It counsels us about how to modify our information to meet the needs of recipients.” – Senior Investor Relations Advisor, 3BL Customer

“3BL’s analytics helps us to check how our content is doing. It’s nice to be able to say that twice as many outlets posted our annual sustainability report than last year.” – Managing Director, Communications, 3BL Customer

Attendees that purchase a subscription to the Professional platform within 30 days of the demo will receive a 5% discount. Register here. 

ATLANTA, June 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Plastic waste doesn’t have to be waste at all. It can be a resource.

With the support of GP Recycling, the Center for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC Global) is converting plastics into a concrete additive called RESIN8. Now instead of ending up in a landfill or the ocean, those plastics can be used to make the concrete that goes into homes, businesses and infrastructure.

“First and foremost, the big value of RESIN8 is keeping the plastic out of landfills,” said Kevin Butts, director of strategy and business development for GP Recycling. “On top of that, you’re able to substitute plastic for traditional aggregates to improve the performance characteristics of the concrete.”

Concrete produced with RESIN8 is lighter and provides better insulation, according to CRDC Global. In non-structural concrete applications, RESIN8 can improve insulation by up to 35%, per CRDC Global. RESIN8 is suitable for numerous applications including concrete blocks, pavers, grouts, mortars, and even hot-mix asphalt. So where does CRDC Global get the plastic it needs to make RESIN8? That’s where GP Recycling comes in.

GP Recycling supports CRDC Global’s first U.S. facility in York, Pennsylvania, as a direct supplier of plastic feedstock. But the partnership goes beyond just providing supply. GP Recycling also serves as a strategic and logistical partner, helping CRDC Global manage partnerships with other plastic feedstock suppliers.

RESIN8 from CRDC Global’s first facility in San José, Costa Rica, has already been used for Habitat for Humanity building projects in Latin America. Ten concrete companies in the U.S. and Canada are currently exploring incorporation of RESIN8 into their products. And as awareness and use of RESIN8 becomes more widespread in the states, CRDC Global and GP Recycling expect to work closely to scale up supply and bring this innovative solution to more people.

“We see CRDC Global as a unique solution because they take all plastics. They aren’t limited to just certain grades,” Kevin said. “So given that broad range of feedstock, we see them being able to help communities throughout the country find value for different types of plastics.”

The collaboration is yet another example of how GP Recycling is pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships with waste processors and with the companies that use recycled scrap—partnerships that create value for consumers while also minimizing waste and improving environmental performance.

After just four years of collaboration, GP Recycling and CRDC Global have only begun to explore what’s possible in the pursuit of creating value from plastic feedstock.

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When Vicky Choi began her career as an engineer, she noticed that women and Asian people overall were well represented in the field – but that Asian women weren’t reflected in upper management and leadership positions. Vicky saw this as a potential opportunity for her professional growth, and she embraces her background as an Asian American woman.

After graduating from college, Vicky spent a few years working in Shanghai, first at the World Expo, and then the Shanghai Disney Resort. “When I worked on big projects in Shanghai, I still had a lot to learn in terms of culture despite being ethnically Chinese and bilingual,” she says. “But because of the support for developing more Asian women leaders, I found there were lots of career opportunities that allowed me to thrive abroad.”

Several years ago, Vicky joined Gilead as a Senior Project Manager, but was recently promoted to Associate Director for Project Management in Corporate Engineering. She oversees a team that focuses on the scope, schedule and deliverables of new laboratory buildings that enable scientists to do the work they need to every day. The shift into biotech has brought new meaning to her work.

“At Disney, it was making sure that magic is there every time somebody steps into the park,” she says of her past career. “But building a lab means making sure the scientists have the tools they need to discover therapeutics that help improve lives.”

As Vicky’s career has evolved, she’s noticed a shift in her field. “Times have definitely changed,” she says. “As we’re hiring new people, I’m seeing a lot more diversity and people from different backgrounds. That’s been really exciting to see.”

Abbey Kim is a recent hire in the same department as Vicky’s, where she works in Automation Engineering. Unlike Vicky, she went for the biotech industry straight out of college. “I wanted to help people, and to find fulfillment in my career,” she says. “I heard about Gilead’s history in transforming the treatment and prevention of HIV, and I knew that they had developed a cure for hepatitis C. I wanted to work for a company that was determined to make the world a healthier place for all people.”

The Gilead Asian Interest Network 
Abbey started at Gilead in 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full swing. She worked remotely as an intern, but after getting hired on as a full-time employee, she began coming into the office. It was on campus that a colleague told her about the Gilead Asian Interest Network (GAIN), an employee resource group that brings together more than 1,000 Gilead members of Asian descent. The group promotes and encourages inclusion and diversity while supporting professional development and networking opportunities.

“It’s been a really good way for me to meet people outside of my building and see what other people do at Gilead,” Abbey says. “At the GAIN events I’ve met people from lab operations, scientists and people who work in maintenance. It’s helps me feel more connected to the community here.”

Through the GAIN community, Abbey has also started to dig deeper into her identity as a Korean American woman in her field.

“I grew up in the Bay Area, where so many people around me were also Asian,” she says, noting that she didn’t face much isolation in school or at work. But when she attended a conference in Texas early in her career, “I saw other people in my industry from across the country, and they weren’t like me at all. That was a bit of a shock. But it also gave me a different perspective and made me realize that I’m bringing something new to the table.”

Abbey has also started challenging some of the ways of thinking she grew up with. “I thought that talking about your struggles was supposed to be hush hush,” she says. “But when I joined Gilead and GAIN, I noticed people are very open about the professional and personal struggles that they’re facing, and what they’re doing to overcome them. It left a very good impression on me, and I now think it’s okay to admit when you’re having issues.”

Vicky agrees. “Being ethnically Chinese, we tend to work very hard and often don’t really speak up as much. Gilead has taught me there are different ways to work and communicate to be more effective, and it’s okay to try different methods to see what works and helps you grow.”

Both Vicky and Abbey say they’ve found a place in Gilead where they can pursue their career goals while having their cultural identities embraced not dismissed.

“Gilead has a big emphasis on inclusion and diversity, and that can be really encouraging,” Vicky says. “Regardless of color, ethnicity or role I think each person brings something valuable to the table.”

Learn more about Gilead Careers

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

At Boston Scientific, we encourage everyone to bring their full selves to work, knowing they’ll be accepted, heard and valued.

For Pride Month, three employees from around the globe share what having a supportive and inclusive culture means to them, and how their involvement in the Promoting Respect, Inclusion, Diversity and Equality (PRIDE) employee resource group has helped them speak up and out on behalf of their LGBTQ+ colleagues.

Finding courage, strength and acceptance

Growing up in Piauí, Brazil, Cadu was bright, energetic and fascinated by culture, leading him to learn four languages and eventually build a successful career in international relations. But for years, Cadu kept part of himself hidden: “I thought my parents would be angry when they found out I was gay,” he says. “In my mind, I tried to compensate by aiming to be the best in school, the best at everything.”

Though this drive helped Cadu excel in many aspects of his life, finding the courage and acceptance to embrace his authentic self would prove to be a long road.

When he was 16, Cadu moved to Brasília to study International Relations. For the first time, he met others who identified as gay, which played a major role in his eventual decision to tell his friends and family. “Despite my initial fear of telling my parents, they immediately supported me. In fact, as soon as Brazil started allowing same-sex marriages, my mother became one of the first judges in my state to perform them.”

As he began his career, Cadu chose to remain discreet about his sexuality. But soon after he joined the team at Boston Scientific as a Government Affairs specialist, a simple act by his manager changed his mind: “We were entering a building that required us to show our credentials,” he says. “A guard at the door asked if we were ‘together, but in a good way.’ My manager responded, ‘Is there a bad way for us to be together?’ The guard immediately looked ashamed. In that moment, I knew I could count on my manager to be supportive.”

A few weeks later, Cadu decided to come out to his manager and colleagues. He also joined the PRIDE ERG. Today he lives with his fiancé Caio, whom he’ll marry next year.

“Boston Scientific is the first company where I feel truly comfortable being honest and open about my sexuality and celebrated for who I am,” he says. “Through PRIDE and other platforms, I’m able to speak up for others like me and help inspire them to embrace who they are, without fear.”

“I can’t imagine not having that time with my daughter”

For Michael, a senior marketing specialist supporting the company’s WATCHMANTM business and global communications lead for the PRIDE ERG, helping people live healthier, better lives has always been a passion — it’s what drew him to Boston Scientific almost five years ago. For him, living life to the fullest meant starting a family with his husband, Matt.

Michael began the adoption process a few months after joining the company, in 2020. “I don’t think many people realize how challenging and lengthy the process can be,” he says, reflecting on the multi-year experience. “But having support from the company made such a difference for us, from a benefits standpoint and also in the outpouring of encouragement we received from so many across the organization.” He recalls a baby shower his colleagues held for him, and what that meant to his growing family.

Michael and Matt finalized the adoption of their daughter, Mila, in 2022. “We were there for Mila’s birth, and since it was an open adoption, we remain close with her birth mother,” says Michael. He and Matt also had the chance to bond with Mila over the first few months of her life as part of the company’s global parental leave benefits. “I can’t imagine not having that time with my daughter,” Michael says. “Without it, I think it would have been a very different experience.”

A pioneer for change

Fifteen years ago, Anna joined Boston Scientific in Sydney, Australia, not long after she married her wife, Yasmin. The wedding took place in Canada, because same-sex marriage was not yet legal in Australia.

Anna came out to her manager during her first week at the company. Since then, she has not been afraid to speak up about who she is or when she’s felt a need for change. For instance, when her wife was expecting their first child, there were only two types of leave available at Boston Scientific in Australia: maternity or paternity. “I felt uncomfortable, because I wasn’t taking either of these,” she says. She approached Human Resources with this concern, which eventually led to changing the name of the policy to “parental leave” for all employees in Australia and New Zealand.

Anna’s unwavering commitment to championing diversity and inclusivity was likely what influenced company leaders to select her to launch the Asia-Pacific PRIDE ERG in 2020. “It was hard, because it’s a region where LGBTQ+ is not often spoken about,” she says. “But we got so much accomplished that first year, spreading education and awareness across our region where there was nothing before. It’s just grown ever since.”

Anna says that leading the Asia-Pacific chapter of PRIDE has been a highlight of her career. “For me, it’s so important for others to see people who are out and proud and able to thrive in a career at Boston Scientific,” she says. “I know I’m part of something bigger than myself, my team, even my country.”

Boston Scientific is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where all of our employees can bring their authentic selves to work and thrive personally and professionally. See our objectives and progress to date in our recently released 2022 Performance Report.

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Do you feel a bit lost when people refer to certain environmental sustainability topics and aren’t sure where to start when it comes to learning more? Sustainability 101 is a blog series that you can turn to for information about different environmental sustainability terms that may come up at work, during discussions with friends, and even at your annual holiday gathering.

Have you heard the phrase “Smart Building” in recent meetings or in the news and wondered what it meant? This blog will explain the ins and outs of smart buildings and how Cisco technology fits in.

What is a Smart Building?

According to a CommScope article hosted through the US Green Business Council (USGBC), a smart building “collects data from multiple systems and devices and shares that information so that action can be taken to improve business process, operational efficiency, sustainability, health and occupant safety, and user experience.” In essence, a smart building can take the data from its various building systems to make changes in real time.

The term intelligent building has been around since the 1980s, when spiking energy prices helped crystalize the need for and development of automated building systems. The internet boom of the 90s and early 2000s saw the transformation of intelligent buildings into smart buildings, thanks in large part due to the connectivity made possible by the internet.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), “in 2021, the operation of buildings accounted for 30% of global final energy consumption.” This trend is only continuing to rise as buildings demand increasing amounts of energy. Smart buildings represent one way building owners and operators can systematically reduce the energy and emissions of their portfolios, while improving occupant health and satisfaction.

What are the benefits of a Smart Building?

The real benefit of a smart building lies in how you use the collected data. Smart buildings can enable:

Lower energy costs. Smart building design can help save money and reduce the emissions of energy-intensive systems like Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and lighting. How? As one example, buildings with connected HVAC, security, and occupancy systems can modify temperature based on when employees enter and leave the office. This means heating and air conditioning will only be running when necessary.

Lower operational costs. A similar scenario plays out when you provide facility management teams with smart building data. Sensors that monitor how often a door is opened can provide valuable information to a janitorial team scaling their operations, for example. Instead of cleaning every conference room and restroom on the floor, teams can focus on only the rooms that need to be cleaned, saving time, money, and resources.

Greater flexibility. A well-designed smart building can be future proof. When designed with interoperability in mind, building systems can adjust to future technology evolution and adoptions.

How does Cisco influence Smart Buildings?

Cisco has an important role to play in the expansion of smart buildings. Cisco is leading the way with technology solutions such as Catalyst 9000, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and Cisco devices and spaces.

Catalyst 9000 provides the network upon which building systems and IT services converge.With PoE, devices are able to share data and power connectivity over a single Ethernet cable, helping to streamline infrastructure and simplify operations.Cisco devices such as the Room Navigator provide datapoints that allow HVAC and lighting systems to be modified based on occupancy. And, when connected with sensors and Cisco Spaces, devices allow users the ability to modify a room to their liking.Cisco Spaces provides the visualization of building system data that allows users to make decisions. Employees and visitors are empowered to make decisions on where to work based on how busy or temperate rooms are.

Smart buildings play a fundamental role in helping owners and operators better understand and reduce the energy used in spaces, while increasing occupant comfort and satisfaction. Cisco’s Collaboration Centers are digitally enabled, efficient workspaces that use Cisco devices and networks to create a comfortable, safe, and inspiring environment for customers and employees to meet. The redesign of our Penn 1 building in New York City uses PoE capabilities and Cisco video endpoints to monitor and measure occupancy, space utilization, indoor air quality, energy usage, and security. This helps to reduce our expenses and energy use, and serves as a model of how smart building technology can be successfully integrated.

You can explore the full portfolio of Cisco smart building solutions and associated use cases at Cisco Smart Building Solutions and Cisco portfolio for smart buildings.

Willing to learn and engage more on environmental sustainability? In the next blog in our series, we will share more about IT and climate change.

Information regarding Cisco’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, goals and commitments, our latest impact, as well as policies and additional disclosures for specialized audiences, can be found in our 2022 Cisco Purpose Report and supplemental information in our ESG Reporting Hub.

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CINCINNATI, June 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – An additional $125,000 in financial assistance is available to Duke Energy customers in Ohio and Kentucky who may be struggling to pay their energy bills. This is in addition to the $292,000 that was originally dedicated to the Greater Cincinnati area combining for a total of $417,000 through Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund®. The Duke Energy Foundation matches every dollar donated to the fund which brings together customers and communities to help individuals and families in need.

“We want our customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bills to know that we are here to help,” said Amy Spiller, president of Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky “Working with our partner agencies, we can support our customers through these challenging times.”

The funds will be distributed by two community partners, with a $75,000 contribution to The Salvation Army in Ohio and $50,000 to the Northern Kentucky Community Action Agency (NKCAA). Qualifying Duke Energy customers can receive up to a $300 credit annually on their account.

Customers in Kentucky should contact the NKCAA at 859.581.6607. Ohio customers should contact their local community action agency below to see if they are eligible.

Adams County: 937.378.6041Butler County: 513.868.9300Clermont County: 513.732.2277Clinton County: 937.382.8365Hamilton County: 513.569.1850Montgomery County: 937.341.5000Warren County: 513.970.6737

Over the last five years, Duke Energy has supported more than 6,200 Ohio and Kentucky households with more than $1.9 million in energy bill assistance. In addition to the Share the Light Fund, in January, the company announced a $150,000 donation to the United Way to directly serve Northern Kentucky families.

In 2022, the company also provided more than $3 million in financial assistance to qualifying Ohio natural gas customers through a one-time separate agreement with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 880,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Sally Thelen 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_SallyT

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By Sofía De La Parra, FAIRR Initiative

At first glance, investment in the meat and dairy industry looks attractive. Global meat consumption is expected to grow over the next decade to a projected increase of 14% by 2030, according to the FAO. The changing global climate, however, poses significant risks and opportunities not just to this growth trajectory, but to the fundamentals of the industry.

From the rising price of feed to desertification of grazing lands and increasing regulation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock production, climate-related risks require an extra layer of analysis for asset allocation in the sector and present opportunities for transformative change in the decades ahead. The Paradox of the Animal Protein Sector: Both a driver of climate change, and at risk from it. 

Readers of GreenMoney Journal are probably well-aware of the climate and environmental impacts of the animal agriculture sector. For instance, it releases more GHG emissions than every car on the planet combined, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that 14.5% of all global anthropogenic GHG emissions come from livestock production. The animal agriculture sector uses 30% of the planet’s freshwater resources and continues to be the largest driver of deforestation. It also has a large part to play in the ‘silent pandemic’ of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

What is less well reported however, and of increasing concern to financial institutions, is that the meat and dairy industry not just contributes to climate change, but is uniquely vulnerable to its effects. Investors are increasingly aware of, and acting on, these risks. It is why the FAIRR Initiative, which is focused on helping investors understand risks and opportunities related to intensive livestock production, has become one of the world’s fastest growing investor networks with supporters managing over $70 trillion of assets under management (AUM) joining the network since 2016.

Read Sofia’s full article including sections on Regulatory risks, Preserving Long-term Value and What investors are doing about it. All here – https://greenmoney.com/climate-risks-threaten-investor-appetite-for-intensive-livestock-production

 

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