Tag: 3BL

JUNEAU, Alaska, January 9, 2025 /3BL/ – As Alaska’s tour season closes, the focus shifts from unforgettable, meaningful vacations to Carnival Corporation’s unwavering commitment to the state’s well-being. Last year, the combined efforts of Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line have left a lasting impact through generous donations and dedicated volunteer work. These initiatives have significantly benefited residents and visitors, reinforcing Carnival Corporation’s mission to enhance the quality of life across Alaska.

“Giving back to our communities is at the heart of what we do,” said Bonnie Westlund, sustainability and community relations director for Holland America Line – Princess for Alaska and the Yukon. “We strive to be a valuable partner by addressing critical needs through volunteer and donation efforts.”

Carnival Corporation has almost 300 full-time, year-round employees living in Alaska, with more than 3,500 seasonal team members during spring through late summer. Here are some highlights from their 2024 contributions and ideas:

Monetary and Scholarship Programming

School Scholars: Twenty graduating high school students across Alaska were awarded Carnival Corporation scholarships to continue their education. The communities include Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Haines, Ketchikan and Denali Borough.Donations Across Alaska: Holland America Line supports SeaShare, a nonprofit organization that works to get nutrient-dense Alaska seafood into food banks across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. This year, monetary donations helped provide 64,000 servings of seafood to those in need.Dozens of Big and Small Donations: During the 2024 season, the company distributed several dozen other donations to various communities, school districts, clinics, volunteer emergency services and transportation needs.

Stories with Heart: Volunteering Nearly 1,000 Hours

Denali Borough School District: Employees from the Denali Transportation team washed all the buses and vans for the Denali Borough School District. They also had a schoolyard clean-up day, during which the employees cut brush and trees to prepare the grounds for the start of the school year.Lighting the Way: The company upgraded the lighting system in the shared bus shop to improve safety for the mechanics and school children.Health: A blood drive at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge collected enough blood to help save more than 60 lives.All Aboard for Children Fundraiser: For over 20 years, Carnival Corporation’s rail division has hosted the All Aboard for Children fundraiser benefiting Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital, featuring two railcars with supporters and a five-course wine dinner. Contributions included volunteer staff, food and wine, highlighting Carnival Corporation’s long-standing commitment.

A Really Big Salad Bar 

In the second year of the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge’s passion project, a 2024 harvest yielded an incredible mix of home-grown vegetables from their chef’s garden. The bounty was used to serve guests during the summer. By the numbers:

Almost 1,900 pounds of vegetables were grown – about two-thirds of a ton and equivalent to the weight of a grand piano.More than 200 floral arrangements were created from resort-grown flowers.Two hundred sixteen pounds of produce were donated to the Food as Medicine program at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank to help complete a nutritious meal.

“Through our community involvement initiatives, we strive to make a meaningful and positive impact,” said Westlund. “The dedication and passion our employees bring to volunteering highlight our unwavering commitment to supporting our communities and staying true to our core values and spirit.”

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About Carnival Corporation & plc 
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com.

For information on Carnival Corporation’s industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:

Janna Rowell, Carnival Corporation, jrowell@carnival.com

Ellie Beuerman, LDWW, ellie@ldww.co

FT. CAMPBELL, Ky., January 9, 2025 /3BL/ – ‘Tis the season for giving, and FedEx is helping the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation deliver holiday happiness to military families across the U.S. This year marks a milestone year of the Trees for Troops program. Over the last two decades, more than 300,000 Christmas trees have been delivered to troops and their families.

“We are proud to support the work of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, helping to deliver the joy of the holiday season to our men and women in uniform and their families,” said Marvin Hill, veteran and FedEx Human Resources Project Advisor. “When I was on active duty, I had just returned home from serving in Iraq and was reassigned to serve in Tampa. Although all of our belongings were on a moving truck to our new home, we were elated to receive the gift of a tree. It made Tampa feel more like home during the holidays.”

This year more than 15,000 trees, provided by the generosity of tree farms and garden centers across the county, will make their way to 93 military bases. FedEx uses its broad global network to deliver these trees, and drivers have logged more than a million miles transporting them since 2005.

“This program started on a crazy idea and started small. We delivered 4,300 trees to only 5 bases that first year, one of which was Fort Campbell,” said Wendy Richardson, Chair of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Board of Trustees. “It’s hard to believe we’ve now exceeded 300,000 total trees and we’re in the 20th consecutive year.”

The transportation of the trees began on December 2, and each one is tagged with handwritten messages of thanks and the spirit of the season. Military families were on hand on December 7 as a portion of these trees were delivered to Ft. Campbell in Kentucky. The families were able to pick up their trees following a special ceremony commemorating the 20th year of the effort.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Whirlpool Corporation employee volunteers worked side-by-side with representatives from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County and Habitat for Humanity International to help construct a new, sustainable five-bedroom home in Bloomington, IN. This is the 14th home they’ve worked together to build.

As part of Habitat for Humanity’s BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative, the new home will be climate-resilient and energy efficient. The 260 total homes built across the United States through the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program in the last three years aim to deliver an average of 45% predicted energy cost savings per family (compared to code-built homes) and a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per home.

As a result of prior efforts through the program, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County recently received a $250,000 grant from the City of Bloomington to install solar panels on 30 additional homes in the Osage community where four BuildBetter with Whirlpool homes with solar panels are located. The solar panels come with monitors, which allow homeowners to manage the electricity usage in their homes.

“We’re thrilled the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program is delivering energy efficient homes and inspiring even more sustainable actions like the city’s grant to support solar panels.”

“We’re thrilled the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program is delivering energy efficient homes and inspiring even more sustainable actions like the city’s grant to support solar panels,” said Jim Peters, Kelley School graduate and Whirlpool Corp. executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer. “Working side-by-side with the homeowners, students and community members to build sustainable homes makes me incredibly proud of the work Whirlpool has done and continues to do in Bloomington.”

The new owner of the home, Angelique Nesbitt, and her family symbolically received keys to the home after the dedication, on the field at Memorial Stadium before IU’s homecoming football game. Nesbitt, the mother of six children, including four who live with her between the ages of 9 to 18, is looking forward to the stability that home ownership provides after years of renting and receiving public assistance. “That restores your faith in humanity,” she said. “We see so much bad and the good that’s come from this is overwhelming.”

Families qualify for the Habitat program based on three criteria: need for housing, ability to pay back their affordable mortgage and a willingness to partner. Each adult member living in a Habitat home must invest 250 hours of volunteering, called “sweat equity,” before closing on their house.

“Habitat’s work is about building hope and opportunity, as seen in our partnership with Angelique and her family. Not only will they gain a place to call home, but we know homeownership has a long-lasting, generational impact,” said Wendi Goodlett, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County. “Whirlpool’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and their 25 years of support for Habitat, including generous donations of energy-efficient appliances, have greatly impacted our community and countless families like Angelique’s.”

Whirlpool Corp. and Habitat for Humanity together are working to help build a better world where families have access to safe, decent and affordable housing. To date, Whirlpool Corp. has donated $140 million in funding and more than 241,000 home appliances and had a positive impact on nearly 1,000,000 individuals around the world through the relationship with Habitat.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with our brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2023, the company reported approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 59,000 employees, and 55 manufacturing and technology research centers.  Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

View original content here.

Update: January 8, 2025

Concessions 

We are offering unlimited talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Assurance Wireless customers in the cities of Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Los Angeles, Palisades, Pasadena and Sierra Madre who do not currently have this as part of their service plan, effective Wednesday January 8 through Wednesday January 15. 

Community Support 

Our teams are on standby to deploy relief supplies, including Wi-Fi, device charging and “power packs” for charging, as conditions safely allow.  

First Responder Support 

T-Mobile for Government is actively engaged with numerous federal, state and local officials and emergency management agencies across the region including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and numerous city emergency operation centers. They are coordinating with California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department to support first responder command posts and staging sites ensuring critical connectivity. 

Employee  

We are reaching out to our employees in affected areas to ensure their safety and understand any impacts to them and their families. Our focus is to provide support, particularly to those who may have evacuated or have damage to their homes. 

Some locations may be operating under reduced hours or closed.  For updates on local store operations, including temporary closures or modified hours, please use our store locator.  

For more on our emergency response efforts, visit T-Mobile Emergency Response. Follow @TMobileNews on X for the latest updates. 

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January 7, 2025 

Strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions sparked a rapidly growing fire in Pacific Palisades, California forcing mandatory evacuations in some areas and power shutoffs by local utility companies to reduce additional fire risk. With the Eaton Canyon fire above Altadena and other Southern California areas at risk, T-Mobile is actively monitoring weather conditions and taking steps to ensure our customers, communities and first responders stay connected.  

Network 

Our teams are actively supporting impacted areas in the following ways: 

Network Resilience: Across California, we have hardened and reinforced our network with generators should commercial power loss occur. Overlapping coverage in some areas may help reduce service interruptions. Our emergency teams have 600 permanent and portable generators in the impacted Southern California areas, with almost 200 portable generators already deployed to maintain service during commercial power outages. AI in T-Mobile’s Network: Our Cognitive Self-Organizing Network (SON) and automatic antenna tilting technologies enhance signal strength, expand coverage, and prevent congestion, helping to ensure reliable service as wildfires evolve. 

First Responders 

We are coordinating with federal, state and local public safety agencies, including California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)’s State Operations Center (SOC) in Sacramento and local officials in the impacted areas, to identify command posts and communication needs for public safety and to meet the needs of first responders and other agencies.   

Eligible first responders and critical infrastructure customers can register for Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to access priority coverage at no cost. For communication assistance, agencies can contact our 24-hour emergency hotline at 888-639-0020 or email ERTRequests@T-Mobile.com. 

For more on our emergency response efforts, visit T-Mobile Emergency Response. Follow @TMobileNews on X for the latest updates. 

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Southwire Company, LLC, is pleased to announce a strategic investment in Ndustrial.Io, Inc., an AI-powered energy intensity platform for industry.

Ndustrial is the largest deployment of energy management and digitization solutions in food logistics and cold chain, processing 100 million data points daily. In the last twelve months, the company has deployed its technology in 122 facilities across 17 countries. As the first and only platform to integrate with over 60 different industrial data systems, Ndustrial empowers customers to access critical analytics and proactive suggestions to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

“Our investment in Ndustrial reflects our commitment to advancing solutions that drive both operational efficiency and sustainability,” said Se Oh, Southwire’s vice president, Operational Sustainability. “Their energy management platform empowers industrial facilities to optimize production processes, significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. We are excited to support Ndustrial as they unlock new opportunities for businesses to enhance performance while contributing to a more sustainable future.”

Using a combination of AI, machine learning, automated devices and IoT technology, Ndustrial is helping more than 400 facilities across more than 10% of the food supply chain do everything from shift production timeframes to minimize costs to optimizing distribution center energy use. The company installed 304 meters, 388 sensors, 47 gateways and 11 edge devices for customers in the past 12 months, empowering companies to make data-driven decisions that optimize energy efficiency and reduce costs.

“Industrial leaders understand that energy intelligence is a strategic imperative, and that has driven exceptional growth for our platform in the past year,” said Jason Massey, CEO of Ndustrial. “We’re seeing firsthand how data-driven energy management is transforming industrial operations, enabling companies to turn their sustainability commitments into strong financial results. Southwire’s investment and partnership will accelerate our journey with deep industry expertise as we continue to scale worldwide.”

As a part of its investment, Southwire plans to deploy Ndustrial’s technology at several of its own manufacturing facilities to support its Growing Green initiative to optimize production and reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, Southwire will serve as a wire and cable solutions supplier to Ndustrial’s electric transport refrigeration units (eTRU) power infrastructure customers, which is electrifying diesel-fueled chillers to lower operational costs by as much as 33% and reduce emissions by as much as 70%.

“As a worldwide leader in power delivery, Southwire looks forward to partnering with Ndustrial to advance sustainable energy management for large industrial facilities,” said Charles Hume, managing director, Southwire Technology Ventures. “Ndustrial’s offering has the potential to help Southwire’s own operations as well as those of Southwire’s customers.”

About Southwire: 
Southwire Company, LLC is North America’s leading wire and cable company. The $8B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services. For more on Southwire’s products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.

About Ndustrial 
Ndustrial provides software and services to help the $60B industrial market combat inflation and climate change by optimizing energy intensity — the crucial metric of energy, emissions and cost required for one unit of production. By uniting production data with energy usage for some of the most complex, energy-demanding operations in the world, Ndustrial’s AI-powered solutions enable smarter energy decisions in real-time. The company has helped customers like Lineage, ABB and W.L. Gore (makers of Gore-Tex) avoid over $100M in energy spend to date. Learn more at ndustrial.io.

In 2024, Action Against Hunger faced hunger crises head-on. We harnessed cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to bring hope to the world’s most vulnerable communities.

With a child dying of malnutrition every 15 seconds somewhere around the world, it’s imperative that we pioneer and scale up solutions to address hunger’s causes and consequences. Every day, our team works in dangerous and remote environments, offering assistance to those who need it most. We’re working on the next frontier of hunger research, conducting over 30 research initiatives each year and co-creating solutions with the communities we serve. In 2024, we continued to advance some of our greatest inventions, including the SAM Photo App, a groundbreaking smartphone technology, new climate-smart agriculture practices, lifesaving crisis prediction models, inventive data-tracking tools like SMART+, and novel malnutrition treatment formulas that reach more people at a fraction of the cost.

Although 2024 was a year of dire emergencies — from deadly floods to catastrophic conflict— our teams, partners, and program participants persevered. In some of the planet’s most perilous regions, we worked alongside communities to build resilience and push for lasting change. We reach more than 21 million people in 59 countries each year, pioneering new innovations that harness cutting-edge technology to save lives. Thanks to our efforts, between 1990 and late 2010s, the global proportion of malnourished children. Our work is far from over. Today, hunger impacts one in 11 people. Conflicts in countries and regions like Haiti, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine left countless people dead or injured. Climate shocks in Kenya, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and throughout Central America has caused more families to face unprecedented food insecurity. But with continued research and innovation, it is possible to solve this crisis in our lifetimes.

What does this innovation against hunger look like today? We’re honored to showcase our top nine photos of 2024 to show you just that.

In Zambia, we developed climate-smart agriculture.

In February 2024, Zambia’s government declared a national emergency as communities faced the region’s worst drought in four decades. After the president called for international support, Action Against Hunger and partners heeded their call. There, we’re implementing a ten-year project designed to mitigate and prepare for the impact of climate change. This spring, farmers harvested their first batch of drought-resistant black-eyed peas.

In Bangladesh, we took preemptive action against cyclones.

Repeated natural disasters and chronic food insecurity in Bangladesh make it one of the world’s most vulnerable countries. Our staff work with local partners to strengthen anticipatory action programs, which can predict climate shocks like cyclones. In the exposed coastal regions, these programs help communities build climate resilience and plan for long-term challenges. There, a group of women attend a monthly meeting organized by an Action Against Hunger partner in Satkhira, Bangladesh to learn about how to prepare for these catastrophes far in advance.

In South Sudan, we grew onions and other crops in flooded areas.

In South Sudan, over 6.3 million people suffer from food insecurity. 2.1 million children have severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger. Our innovative programs help farmers grow rice in flood waters, farm climate-resilient crops, build new waterways, access emergency services, rebuild livelihoods, and so much more. Meet Chan Agany Joseph, a farmer who is transforming his community by growing onions, in an area where produce is typically grown only by women.

In Guatemala, we collected rainwater with a novel invention.

Action Against Hunger is working to combat climate change through programs like The Rain Tree Project, or Arbol de Lluvia. This innovation has increased harvests by harnessing rainwater. The Rain Tree accumulates rainfall and gives it to soil when the ground becomes dry, keeping crops hydrated. It has helped countless individuals in Guatemala like Alicia, pictured above.

In Ethiopia, we pioneered groundbreaking research on malnutrition treatment strategies.

Action Against Hunger is leading several research projects around the globe to ensure that children are treated faster and more efficiently. At the Wayu Wando Health Post in Ethiopia, an Action Against Hunger health worker uses a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) band to screen two-year-old Waqoo for malnutrition. The health post is the backdrop for many treatment programs and even the Modified Dosage for Acute Malnutrition (MODAM) study, which tests modifications to typical treatment protocols to increase the number of children treated, reduce costs, and save more lives.

In Nepal, we empowered women to promote hygiene and sanitation.

In Nepal, female farmers are leading the fight against malnutrition. There, where one-third of the population lives in poverty, a financial crisis has driven many farmers to leave the country for better jobs. The women who stay behind have taken things into their own hands. Many are enrolled in Action Against Hunger’s hygiene promotion programs, which encourage safe sanitation practices, litter clean-up days, and community health.

In Tanzania, we partnered with community health workers to transform entire villages.

In Tanzania, 60-year-old Janet Mwendo is nicknamed the “street doctor” because of her commitment to her neighbors. In the Singida region, Janet goes door to door, checking children for malnutrition and teaching caregivers how to protect their little ones. Over the past five years, Janet has gone to countless homes to raise awareness about nutrition and educate her community for the better.

In Ukraine, we alleviated hunger and trauma alike through psychosocial support.

Hunger and mental crises are in a vicious cycle. Without proper nutrition, people are prone to stress, anxiety, depression and often lack energy to work engage with their community. When mental health needs aren’t met, individuals face financial, social and health challenges that make it harder to access food. In 2024, we celebrated our psychosocial health workers across the world. In Ukraine, these mental health heroes are on the frontlines of the conflict, providing a lifeline of support. Since the start of the war in February 2022, more than half of Ukrainian children have been displaced and 14.6 million people are in need. Marina Nechaieva, a psychologist with Action Against Hunger in the Kharkiv region, leads weekly therapy sessions for children and teenagers who have nowhere else to go.

In Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, we supported pregnant women and new mothers with enhanced nutrition.

Hunger is on the rise in the Middle East, with more than 1.9 million displaced in Gaza and 42,000 Palestinians killed. The entire region is at risk of famine. In Lebanon, another one million have been displaced. Action Against Hunger is ramping up its emergency response to reach as many vulnerable communities as possible. We also launched a vital project to support pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five years old. With famine imminent, our brave staff members are facing incredible odds to protect the people that need it most.

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By Kenneal Patterson

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 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.

Originally published by HVACinformed.com

Until a couple of years ago, most of the talk about heat pumps occurred around this time of year, when more than half the planet prepares for an autumn cooldown.

These discussions were typically limited to regions that only experienced moderate winters. But as anyone who has recently perused an HVACR trade magazine or website—or participated in an industry webinar, event, or social media conversation—can tell you, the topic of heat pumps is virtually unavoidable. Not only do heat pump discussions now occur year-round, but they’ve also ascended to consistent headline status and transcended the traditional boundaries of moderate climates.

The decarbonization megatrend

One might say heat pumps have taken their place on the global stage. If you’re asking why this has happened, the answer requires just three words: the decarbonization megatrend.

However, for industry professionals looking to grow their businesses, it’s helpful to gain a deeper understanding of heat pumps—how they work, ways they are currently meeting HVACR needs, and where the technology is headed for next-generation applications. Through this understanding, members of the industry can better forecast customer needs as well as identify opportunities for expanding in both current markets and, potentially, new ones.

How heat pumps work—don’t let the name fool you

What heat pumps do and, more specifically, how they do it provides the key as to why they are now being considered a “hero” of decarbonization. The term can be misleading, because “heat pumps” do not generate heat. Because of this, heat pumps are being more widely embraced as the lower-carbon-emission alternative to combustion-based heating technology that uses, for example, fossil fuels.

Instead of creating heat, heat pumps extract heat energy from where it’s not needed and move it to where it is needed. When a heat pump is in heating mode, its refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs heat from the outside. The heat released as the refrigerant condenses is then transferred to interior spaces. In warmer weather, a heat pump kicks into cooling mode and the process is reversed, as heat is extracted inside and released outside. This non-combustion process of moving heat from one place to another provides several potential benefits to society:

Heat pumps support the megatrend toward decarbonization.They replace fossil-fuel heating with high-efficiency technology.They can be paired with lower-global-warming-potential (GWP) A2L refrigerants—such as R-454B and R-32—to further increase environmental benefits, while offering similar performance to the legacy R-410A.They offer the ability to tap into alternative energy sources, such as industrial waste heat as well as heat sourced from the air (ambient), ground (geothermal), or lakes/ponds (water).

Meeting today’s needs—these aren’t your grandfather’s heat pumps

Heat pump technology has been commercially available and in use since the 1950s. Early versions of heat pumps were essentially reversible air conditioning units, and most used traditional refrigerants—like R-22 and, more recently, R-410A. These units performed well and operated safely using lower-toxicity, nonflammable (A1) refrigerants. However, they were known to sometimes struggle at lower ambient temperatures.

As often happens in the world of science and technology, challenges drive the search for solutions. Today, we’re seeing innovations that result in efficient, effective cold-climate heat pumps that optimize various components, such as compressors, heat exchangers, expansion valves, and their controls. Thanks to these innovations and others, the U.S. and other countries are experiencing broader heat pump adoption and, in turn, supporting progress toward decarbonization.

Increasing heat pump accessibility and viability in more places and spaces is also critical to the HVACR industry’s commitments to the environment—and its need to heed regulations advancing the transition to systems reducing climate impact. Emerging systems use mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants. They are similar in design to legacy systems and include modifications to mitigate risks associated with the change to A2Ls.

Where things are headed—heat pump technology is just getting started

Even with the significant advances we’ve seen in colder-climate heat pumps, there is still untapped potential in terms of what the technology can achieve. We can expect to see continued innovation as end-user needs and environmental priorities continue to evolve. Some foreseeable growth areas for heat pumps include:

Traditional applications—that is, moderate climatesExpansion into nontraditional climates—heating in very cold climates and cooling in hotter regionsDomestic water heating, replacing fossil-fuel systemsLeveraging a variety of heat sources—geothermal, air-sourced, and water-sourcedHarnessing waste heat generated by energy-intensive industrial processes

Use of lower-GWP A2L refrigerants

Supporting these growth areas will be innovations that optimize high-performance, high-efficiency delivery of extracted heat, using a combination of traditional and new split-ducted, ductless/mini-split, and mono-block technologies.

System optimization will also drive greater use of lower-GWP A2L refrigerants, such as R-454B, while limiting the use of highly flammable refrigerants such as R-290. Refrigerant selection will also play an increasingly important role and may offer additional opportunities for application-specific technology. As heat pump applications expand, we can expect to see greater focus on selecting the optimum refrigerant to use as the working fluid. Criteria will weigh system design, operating conditions, and other priorities against key refrigerant properties:

Physical—boiling point, vapor pressure, density, and material compatibilityThermodynamic—cooling/heat capacity, energy efficiency, pressure-enthalpy (PH) curvesEnvironmental—ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP)Safety and health—flammability and toxicity

Conclusion: There’s strong and ample reason to “stay pumped”

Over the past several years, members of the HVACR industry have enthusiastically embraced new heat pump solutions. Evolving heat pump technology and expanding applications will continue as the industry progresses along the path of more energy-efficient, lower-GWP, and more sustainable new-generation and next-generation heating and cooling.

This, coupled engineering and science that leverages untapped heat pump potential, will mean more opportunities for HVACR contractors to deliver new options to the markets they serve. With a strong understanding of their customers’ individual heating and cooling needs, climate challenges, and sustainability goals, contractors can confidently select the best heat-pump refrigerant solution.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 9, 2025 /3BL/ – To empower teachers and students to explore their world, the Environmental Education Initiative offers a curated collection of free environmental education resources for K-12 classrooms. Powered by worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education, the Environmental Education Initiative is a first-of-its-kind effort that helps students engage in environment science, make informed decisions that support healthy environments, and supports civic engagement.

The Environmental Education Initiative supports learners with standards-aligned resources that explore contemporary topics in environmental studies. The captivating multimodal content created by this initiative includes videos, ready-to-use lessons, and student activities exploring subjects such as energy, forestry, clean water, and more. The newest resources include 3 generation innovation video bundles, created in partnership with Nucor, Honeywell, and Subaru of America, Inc., and 6 student-facing activities, powered by LyondellBasell.

“Research reveals that environmental education helps improve overall academic performance, enhances critical thinking skills, and helps students develop personal growth and life-building skills,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Discovery Education. “We are proud to work alongside our partners to not only help students explore, grow, and develop academically and personally, but also to support teachers, as they help all learners explore the world around them, engage in civic life, and build healthy futures.”

The resources from the Environmental Education Initiative are created with The National Environmental Education Foundation and other partners, including Honeywell, LyondellBasell, Nucor, and Subaru of America, Inc. To access Environmental Education Initiative resources, visit environmentaleducationinitiative.discoveryeducation.com. Educators with access to Discovery Education Experience can find these resources on the Environmental Education Initiative channel.

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

Originally published on Geena Davis Institute 

Over the past few years as women’s basketball blossomed from an afterthought to a national phenomenon, the access to games on television and corresponding ratings, once minuscule, now rack up massive viewership numbers.

As a WNBA fan and market researcher, Charlene Polite Corley, Nielsen’s Vice President for Diverse Insights and Partnerships, had a front-row seat to the shift in data and culture. Polite Corley is delighted to see big brands, major sponsors and influential media outlets jumping aboard the women’s sports express and hails the economic opportunities accompanying this long-awaited breakthrough.

“It is super validating and almost emotional to see the audience catch up with the product on the floor,’’ Polite Corley said, noting how increased revenues have enhanced the lives of players. “To see these women getting their flowers is really, really magical.

“But also, Nielsen data shows there’s a ton of untapped opportunities. So the brands that have been very studied and investing in women’s sports along the way have a leg up. And now there’s some new joiners coming in, and so their price point is very different – as it should be.”

Indeed, potential advertisers should take note. The astonishing – but sustainable gains – for women’s sports serve as a true testament to the motto of the Geena Davis Institute: “If they can see it, they can be it.”

Or, as Polite Corley put it: “I feel like women’s sports is such a key case study for equity in media.”

Thanks to generational talents such as A’ja Wilson , Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese, women’s basketball leads the power shift. Those stars grabbed the spotlight and kept it, attracting new audiences at an almost unthinkable rate at both the college and professional levels.

In 2024, 20 WNBA games through August averaged at least 1 million viewers, according to Nielsen’s audience measurement. The CBS Network averaged 1.10 million viewers for its eight games, up a staggering 86 percent from last year.

This is a significant development for a fan base that has long yearned for such visibility. Nielsen data shows that fans have cited lack of information and a lack of access to live airings as key barriers to keeping up with women’s sports.

Suddenly, media interest in women’s sports has grown so fast that Polite Corley sounded a note of caution.

“Wow, we got a whole bunch of new eyeballs really quickly, and everybody’s having to do a little bit of work,’’ she said. “We have to check a lot of our biases about how we report on women being women, being competitive, women being athletes, women being other than catty and jealous and all these other things. Like really broadening the lexicon of how we report and view women in these competitive settings.”

Fortunately, Nielsen executives and their sports-specific research teams have been delving into these questions for a while. Their data helps inform this golden age for women’s sports, with basketball’s success augmented by the Olympic Games in Paris, where female superstars such as Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky took center stage.

With help from Nielsen, here are some key statistics and trends among sponsors and fans when it comes to women’s sports.

WNBA fans are more likely to engage brands 

Nielsen data determined that sponsors of the WNBA received an average of 77 percent more media value year-over-year. The league’s fans were also 1.6 times more likely to follow a brand’s social media account.

What’s going on there?

“What that 77 percent is telling us is that when WNBA fans are tuned in or attending, they are hyper-aware of the brands that are also supporting their teams,’’ Polite Corley said.

In fact, she knows this dynamic first-hand.

Polite Corley attended the WNBA’s 2023 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. That’s where Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty broke WNBA and NBA records for most points in a 3-point shooting contest.

One of the things Polite Corley remembers most about that experience is the signage for Starry lemon-lime soda, which sponsored the action.

“Sabrina just broke all kinds of records. But I had never seen or heard of Starry,’’ she said. “So, the next time that I was traveling and encountered the brand ‘out in the wild,’ I made sure that I bought, like, two bottles.”

This is commonplace among this fan base. A whopping 60 percent of WNBA fans said they would recommend a brand sponsor to others.

“As soon as I saw this metric, I was like, ‘That’s so true,’’’ Polite Corley said. “Because I was so impressed by the show that they put on, sponsoring All-Star Weekend, and it just instantly translates to ‘that’s a brand that gets the value of this league and its fans.’

“The data shows that fans of The W are more likely to walk away saying ‘I’m going to talk to somebody about it and I’m going to purchase that brand when they show up. I think that’s a kind of widespread concept for those long-term fans.’”

The WNBA is a perfect spot for brands to demonstrate values and engage new consumers 

Nielsen’s research shows that the WNBA fan base embraces companies with a cause. The league’s supporters rank among the most supportive of social justice issues.

Polite Corley described inclusion as “the secret to growing the game.”

That’s demonstrated in the data surrounding the WNBA.

“It’s a perfect opportunity for the right brand to show up and say, ‘Hey, we care about (women’s) talent just getting the recognition it deserves, and that’s why we’re here,’’ Polite Corley said. “It’s a way to live your values with how and where brands place their sponsorships, especially because there has been such a dearth of investment for so long across multiple sports.”

Nielsen Fan Insights data found that 84 percent of WNBA fans and 74 percent of NBA fans care about combating racism.

With four new professional leagues for women coming this summer — soccer, volleyball, softball and a 3-on-3 basketball – Polite Corley expects brands to try to replicate some of the WNBA sponsorship success.

“So there’s a lot more opportunities to kind of tap into folks growing into those new avenues to support professional women’s athletes,’’ she said.

WNBA Draft viewership up 511 percent vs 2023 

The obvious follow-up question here is … wait, really? (begin italics) Five-hundred-and-eleven percent? (end italics)

Indeed, Nielsen’s data verifies the astounding year-over-year surge in interest in the night the WNBA teams get their pick of top college players turning pro.

In fact, it gets more amazing: Among girls aged 2 to 17, the viewership figure is up 668 percent.

“Yeah, this is interesting because the year prior, the WNBA Draft saw double-digit growth with female viewers,’’ Polite Corley said. “At the time, we saw an 89 percent jump so, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s fantastic!’

“It may not continue to do triple-digit increases going forward. But I do think it signals that you have a new audience who is really paying attention here.” 
 

Brands go big during the Olympics, but what are they doing in the meantime to engage? 

The Olympic Games have obvious appeal for sponsors because of their massive high-profile international exposure. But Nielsen underscored that opportunities continue for brands even during the non-Olympic years.

Polite Corley pointed to how an unlikely niche sport – women’s rugby – thrived on the media landscape this summer with help from relentlessly charismatic star Ilona Maher.

“I’m a burgeoning expert. Rugby is my new favorite,’’ Polite Corley said with a laugh. “So one of the benefits of the Olympics is we get this exposure to sports that may not be widely popular but are on the rise in our country.

“So folks have now discovered all these new sports they want to watch or learn to play. These are opportunities to place bets for the future of a growing sport, especially when it comes to women’s sports.”

For sponsors, there are also new frontiers to reach.

“I do think that it’s about keeping that momentum,’’ Polite Corley said. “The Paralympics come up right after the Olympic Games, and so that’s another opportunity to also tune in again and live those values around inclusion and support the Paralympic competitors as well.”

Conclusion: Is your brand in the right place to break through?

One of the biggest takeaways from Nielsen’s insights is that the best way to nurture a fan base is to tell more stories. Younger fans especially are open to sports-related content behind the scenes.

This interest is an opportunity to tell more stories of athletes, rivalries and triumphs across women’s sports.

Sponsors and brands, take note.

“There’s data that shows that when brands are thoughtful and show up with the right information to place these investments in women’s sports, they really do pay great dividends,’’ Polite Corley said. “It’s been a really exciting time.”

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