Tag: 3BL

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Venture Forward Research Initiative

Small and microbusinesses boomed in 2024, expanding their reach and impact. Agile entrepreneurs harnessed cutting-edge tech to seize opportunities, fueling growth and innovation. These nimble ventures now fuel local economies. They create jobs and strengthen communities. Their resilience and adaptability are changing the business world. They are forging connections and shaping a new economy. This groundswell of entrepreneurial spirit promises a more vibrant, interconnected marketplace for all.

Read the Full Report

Below is an executive summary of key findings and excerpts from the GoDaddy Venture Forward annual report, including an interactive map with microbusiness data points over time on digital businesses with typically fewer than 10 employees. We invite you to explore and download the full report for extended insights and an exclusive dive into what’s happening with online entrepreneurs in 2024.Report Sections

Snapshot of Microbusinesses 2024Key Entrepreneur Insights

Microbusinesses are growing

In 2024, microbusinesses are thriving from busy U.S. cities to remote U.K. communities. By adopting digital technology and AI, these small entrepreneurs surpass larger companies. Their hard work is driving post-pandemic recovery in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Innovative solutions and cutting-edge tools empower small players to set new industry standards. As markets evolve quickly, these agile firms lead the charge. Each bold move reshapes global commerce.

Ranking states by the growth in the number of their microbusinesses over the last year points to other interesting trends. While the largest states, known for their technology hubs, like New York, California, and Florida, show up in the top ten, a lot of movement and momentum is found in states of various sizes and around the country – from Delaware and Oklahoma to Washington.

Top 10 States By Microbusiness Count Growth1

State

1 year Microbusiness

Count % Growth

5 year 
Microbusiness

Count % Growth

Active Microbusinesses

July/Aug ’24

Microbusiness 
Density

July/Aug ’24

Delaware65%359%381,54338.4Montana45%61%83,1327.6Nevada36%44%601,05819.4Washington31%50%720,8369.4Colorado24%30%598,24910.4New York21%29%1,832,2989.2California14%19%4,026,19710.2Florida14%32%2,471,41211.4Oklahoma14%57%289,6667.3Wyoming14%212%112,42119.5

Every type of community saw double-digit growth in microbusiness growth over the last 5 years.

 Microbusiness Density1

Counties

1 year Active

Count % Growth

5 year Active

Count % Growth

Microbusiness Density* 
July/Aug ‘24% of all countiesRural 
Less than 70 ppl. square mile8%24%2.763%Suburban 
70-250 ppl. / square mile7%19%3.522%Urban 
More than 250 ppl. / square mile22%25%7.615%*Microbusiness Density is defined as the number of microbusinesses per 100 people

Every year, the GoDaddy Venture Forward report shares annual changes in e-commerce activity in terms of revenue, number of orders, or number of sellers by industry, as self-reported by the website owner. These insights underscore interesting trends, such as the peak of wedding-related services post-pandemic, and then a continual decrease since then.

Year-Over-Year Average Revenue Change by Industry2
(Q3 2023 – Q3 2024)

Top 5 Industries (by % Gain)Bottom 5 Industries (by % Loss)IndustryY/Y ChangeIndustryY/Y ChangeFinancial142%Writing-77%Marketing42%Personal Services-50%Software/IT29%Business-50%Religion24%Food and Drink-45%Home Services14%Wedding-23%

Microbusinesses make major economic impact

In 2021, we first revealed the outsized economic impact made by microbusinesses.

Together with economists and academic researchers, we uncovered that they drove up jobs and annual household median incomes, and drove down unemployment. Specifically, the job impact has grown from two or more jobs created for every microbusiness in 2020, to over seven jobs for every microbusiness entrepreneur on a county-level.

7+: Over seven new jobs are created by each microbusiness entrepreneur on a county-evel. In 2021, each microubusiness created just over two jobs.3

Key Entrepreneur Insights

Since 2019, GoDaddy Venture Forward has surveyed over 50,000 microbusiness owners with a GoDaddy domain and active website. Across Australia, Canada, U.K. and the U.S., most of these businesses have fewer than 10 employees, with a large portion being solo entrepreneurs. Despite their size, they are agile and resilient, consistently adopting digital solutions to adapt to changing economic conditions.

Microbusinesses are thriving, fueled by a blend of resilience and the innovative power of AI. Despite economic fluctuations, entrepreneurs remain optimistic about their ventures, betting on their ability to adapt and succeed in any climate. Regions like the South and Midwest in the U.S. exemplify this growth, with many microbusinesses planning to expand their teams in the coming year. This trend highlights not only the growth potential of digital microbusinesses but also how AI tools empower these small enterprises to innovate, scale, and thrive, even in a challenging economic environment.

The South and Midwest are the most likely to hire additional employees over the next 12 months (28%), while the West is the least likely (20%).41 out of 4 business owners with a negative outlook on the national economy still plan to hire employees in the next 12 months.4Plans to hire by U.S. region align with the growth demonstrated in microbusinesses over the last year.4

Entrepreneurs in the microbusiness sector are driven by a diverse range of motivations—from the desire for autonomy and flexibility to a passion for their hobbies and causes. Digital entrepreneurship enables them to not only make a living but also create a fulfilling life. Their ambitions vary widely: while over one-third prefer to remain solo, one in five aspire to scale their businesses to mid- or enterprise-sized operations. Remarkably, nearly three-quarters of these entrepreneurs are already generating income, with many identifying as serial entrepreneurs; one in three currently manages multiple businesses. This dynamic landscape showcases the resourcefulness and adaptability of microbusinesses, empowered by technology and AI, as they navigate and flourish in today’s economy.

1. Microbusinesses are small4

93% of microbusinesses have fewer than10 employees 55% are solo entrepreneurs 45% have employees

2. Microbusinesses generate income4

31% Main40% Supplemental29% No Income

3. About 1 in 3 currently own more than one business4

Microbusinesses also have the power to close economic and gender gaps. In the last 5 years, women-owned microbusinesses have grown 10% to now being over half of all surveyed entrepreneurs. Almost one-third are the breadwinners contributing more than 51% of their household income, and Black women continue to be the fastest growing demographic of microbusiness owners.

51% Women-Owned; +10% since August 20194About 3 out of 10 women with a microbusiness are the breadwinners in their home. (Breadwinners contribute 51% or more of their household income).413% of U.S. microbusinesses are owned by a Black entrepreneur, and of those, 73% are owned by a Black woman.4

Microbusinesses are showing resilience and optimism. They are growing by adapting to AI technologies in a tough economy. These entrepreneurs face challenges. But, they are not just surviving; they are thriving. They have an unshakeable belief in their ability to shape their futures.

Four in ten business owners who didn’t sell their previous venture at a profit currently support their households. This shows their immense pressure and high stakes. For them, success is vital for family well-being. This need drives their pursuit of growth.

Microbusiness owners are increasingly turning to AI, with more than half now comfortable using it in their operations. This technological shift reflects a broader trend of adaptation and innovation. For 36% of GenAI adopters for their business, the payoff is tangible: increased revenue. AI tools help small businesses work faster, be more efficient, and stay competitive. As challenges grow, tiny businesses tap into AI’s power. This shows that adapting to change brings real benefits in today’s fast-moving market.

AI integration goes beyond a growth strategy – it’s a lifeline for entrepreneurs who refuse to give up. Driven by optimism, they’re using technology to overcome obstacles and build sustainable businesses. By adopting these advancements, microbusinesses are starting a new era of entrepreneurship. This era is defined by innovation, adaptability, and a drive for success for themselves and their families.

4 out of 10 current business owners who previously didn’t sell at a profit are still the breadwinners of their households.4

How confident are you as a user of GenAl for your business?4

55%: CONFIDENT31%: NEUTRAL17%: NOT CONFIDENT

Over the last six months, how has your business’ average monthly revenue changed?4

My revenue increased:

28%: Not Used GenAl36%: Used GenAl

My revenue decreased:

29%: Not Used GenAl24%: Used GenAl

About GoDaddy Venture Forward

A research initiative launched in 2018 that quantifies the growth and economic impact of over 20 million global online microbusinesses, and provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs.

Want More Country-Specific Microbusiness Insights?

Select below to see localized research data, entrepreneur stories and reports on microbusinesses.

AustraliaCanadaUnited KingdomUnited States

1Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward 2019-2024
2Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward 2024
3Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward and U.S. Census
4Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward U.S. National Survey. February 2024 (N-U.S.= 3,565)

This quarterly newsletter showcases how Truist Foundation supports Truist Financial Corporation’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities through strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Click here to sign up to receive the newsletter via email.

Supporting communities impacted by hurricanes

This season’s storms have been devastating for communities, so we’ve donated $2.55M to help build them back up. Quick response and recovery efforts are crucial for those impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms—and our leaders are speaking up.

Truist Foundation President Lynette Bell spoke during the Clinton Global Initiative’s “Corporate Philanthropy and Humanitarian Response” roundtable and SVP, Head of Operations Sara Manning spoke at the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals conference on “ESG & CSR’s Role in Disaster Recovery–Examples of Deciding When, Where, and How to Give.”
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming businesses and lives at an unprecedented rate. However, this exponential growth doesn’t come without environmental considerations. Every time you use AI to write an email or ask a chatbot a question, it comes at a cost to the planet—one ton of carbon at a time. What is the carbon footprint of AI and how do we calculate it? Can AI be used to reduce emissions, and do these benefits outweigh the environmental costs? These are all questions to consider when balancing the pros and cons of artificial intelligence on the environment. In this article, we’ll explore the impact of AI on carbon emissions and the climate change crisis.

Understanding the Carbon Footprint of AI

AI’s carbon footprint can be substantial. According to research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, training a single AI model can emit as much carbon as five cars over their lifetimes. The energy-intensive nature of AI operations, particularly in data centers, produces significant carbon emissions.

Before the carbon footprint of AI can be efficiently mitigated, however, the footprint itself must be quantified. This can be done in several different ways including manually, but we recommend using a carbon accounting software—like the Climate Solutions Platform—to simplify the process.

Several key factors contribute to AI’s carbon footprint:

Data Centers: AI relies heavily on data centers, which are notorious for their high energy consumption. Cooling systems, servers, and other hardware components all require massive amounts of power. Large data centers can each have emissions equivalent to tens of thousands of cars or hundreds of thousands of trees cut down each year.Training Models: Training complex AI models often involves running numerous computations for extended periods. This process is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to carbon emissions.Hardware: The specialized hardware used for AI, such as GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) and TPUs (Tensor Processing Units), consumes a lot of energy during both the manufacturing and operational stages. These two types of processing units are central to facilitating AI and machine learning and their use can not be avoided at this time.

How AI Can Lower Carbon Emissions

Despite its large energy requirements, AI also holds significant potential for reducing carbon emissions across various sectors:

Energy Efficiency: AI can optimize energy consumption in homes, offices, buildings and industries by analyzing patterns in electricity usage and adjusting consumption in real time. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates AI can reduce a site’s energy consumption by about 30% or more. Smart grids, for example, use AI to balance energy loads and reduce wastage.Renewable Energy: AI is transforming the renewable energy sector by enhancing the efficiency and reliability of sources like wind and solar power. Predictive analytics can forecast weather patterns to optimize the use of these resources. This enables grid operators to better manage the intermittent nature of renewables, reducing the need for backup energy from fossil fuels.Supply Chain Optimization: AI-driven logistics and supply chain management can significantly reduce carbon emissions by streamlining transportation routes, optimizing delivery schedules, and improving inventory management. Fewer trips, reduced idling times, and smarter route planning all contribute to lowering costs and carbon footprint of goods transportation.Manufacturing and Industrial Processes: AI can improve energy-intensive processes in manufacturing by identifying inefficiencies and suggesting operational improvements. For example, AI-powered sensors and data analytics can monitor machinery performance, detect maintenance needs before they become critical, and reduce energy consumption during peak operational times.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?

A key consideration for any business looking to incorporate AI into its processes, is whether the environmental benefits of using AI outweigh its substantial energy requirements. However, the environmental benefits of AI applications across industries have the potential to significantly offset these costs. For example, AI-driven optimizations in energy grids and supply chains can result in substantial long-term emissions reductions.

AI technologies are already helping companies cut waste, improve resource use, and lower their environmental impact. This in turn is creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the emissions generated during AI training and deployment. When applied at scale, these efficiencies can far exceed the energy costs associated with running AI systems, creating a net-positive impact on global carbon emissions.

Mitigating AI’s Carbon Footprint

While AI offers numerous benefits, it’s crucial to mitigate its environmental impact through sustainable practices. Organizations that rely on AI can consider several strategies to reduce their carbon footprint:

Green Data Centers: Investing in energy-efficient data centers powered by renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the emissions associated with AI operations. Major tech companies like Google and Microsoft have already pledged to run their data centers entirely on renewable energy.Carbon Offsetting: For organizations that cannot fully eliminate the emissions generated by their AI operations, utilizing verifiable carbon offsets offers a practical solution. By investing in solutions that actively and verifiably remove or reduce CO2 from the atmosphere, companies can neutralize their environmental impact. However, it’s important that these offsets meet rigorous standards and will have their promised carbon impact in order to ensure real, measurable results.AI for Climate Action: Another way to balance AI’s footprint is to directly apply AI in climate-focused initiatives. For example, AI can be used to track deforestation, monitor emissions from industrial facilities, and improve carbon capture technologies. By leveraging AI for climate monitoring and carbon mitigation efforts, companies can help accelerate global efforts to fight climate change.

Balancing AI Innovation and Sustainability

AI presents both significant opportunities and notable challenges when it comes to carbon emissions. While its deployment can be energy-intensive, the broader benefits it offers—such as increased energy efficiency, streamlined logistics, and optimized use of renewable energy—present a promising path forward. As AI continues to evolve, organizations must adopt sustainable AI practices to ensure that its environmental benefits outweigh the costs. The potential for AI to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy is immense, but it is crucial that we manage this technology responsibly to minimize its impact on our planet.

As AI continues to shape the future, it’s crucial to make sustainability a priority. Climate Vault empowers organizations to reduce their carbon footprint and offset emissions effectively and verifiably. Contact Climate Vault to learn how our innovative solutions can help your business achieve real, measurable climate impact today.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – In celebration of Wildlife Conservation Day, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and International Paper (IP) are proud to highlight a critical milestone in the conservation of the red-cockaded woodpecker, a species whose resilience symbolizes the success of collaborative conservation. Recently downlisted from “endangered” to “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, this achievement underscores the progress in restoring vital habitats.

Through their Forestland Stewards Partnership, NFWF and IP have supported alongside numerous government agencies, local conservation organizations and landowners to restore thousands of acres of longleaf pine across the U.S. South, a crucial step in providing suitable habitat for red-cockaded woodpecker populations. These efforts have enabled new populations of birds to be established, benefiting the species and strengthening biodiversity across the region.

“By investing in long-term habitat restoration, we’re not only helping to secure a future for the red-cockaded woodpecker but also strengthening the broader ecosystem that supports countless other species,” said Sophie Beckham, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at International Paper. “This Wildlife Conservation Day, we celebrate the resilience of this iconic bird and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable forestry practices that protect wildlife.”

The restoration efforts focus on reestablishing longleaf pine ecosystems, which provide the specific mature, open-canopy environments that red-cockaded woodpeckers require. Alongside benefiting the red-cockaded woodpecker, this project supports a range of other species that rely on the longleaf ecosystem, further strengthening biodiversity.

“The downlisting of the red-cockaded woodpecker represents a remarkable success story for conservation and underscores the importance of partnerships in restoring biodiversity,” said Jay Jensen, southern region director with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “Our collaborative efforts with International Paper and local conservation partners are bringing life back to critical habitats, ensuring that these resilient woodpeckers can thrive for future generations.”

The Forestland Stewards Partnership has helped conserve and enhance vital forestland across the Southeastern United States, safeguarding essential habitats and supporting the recovery of at-risk species. These initiatives align with national conservation goals and demonstrate the transformative power of public-private partnerships in addressing complex environmental challenges.

Learn more about the Forestland Stewards Partnership here: www.nfwf.org/programs/forestland-stewards

###

About International Paper 
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America and North Africa. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

Koba @ 100 Barbirolli in Manchester is the world’s first WELL Coworking Rated flexible workspace

International WELL Building Institute and The Instant Group created rating for healthier workspaces

December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Koba, the flexible workspace company creating premium, evidence-based sustainable workplaces, has achieved the world’s first WELL Coworking Rated flexible workspace at Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square in Manchester, responding to growing demand for healthier workspaces.

In April 2024, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority on advancing healthy buildings, organisations and communities, and The Instant Group, the largest global marketplace for flexible workspace, announced a strategic partnership to spur health and well-being practices in coworking and flexible workspaces. This has culminated in the launch of the first-of-its-kind healthy buildings rating for coworking operators.

The Koba team joined a pilot cohort of organisations and worked with IWBI and The Instant Group to help shape a pioneering leadership benchmark designed for coworking and flexible spaces – the WELL Coworking Rating. The collaborative cohort also committed to being the first to enroll in the new rating.

The new rating, derived from the researched-backed health strategies in the WELL Building Standard, includes nearly 50 features spanning all 10 concepts in WELL, including air and water quality, light, thermal comfort, movement and nourishment. The rating serves to validate and showcase how coworking and flexible workspaces meet evidence-based health and well-being measures, whilst also being integrated with The Instant Group’s platform to help occupiers make informed workspace decisions based on health and well-being. Prospective coworking and flexible workspace users will be able to search for the new rating and its associated data as they access more than 350,000 flexible workplaces on Instant’s digital platforms.

Rob Stewart, Director of Strategy and Sustainability at Koba, said: “We are proud to be part of a selected cohort of businesses that has helped to push industry standards forward as this is central to our mission and indeed part of our manifesto commitment to share our lessons and learning with the broader industry.

“For Koba and Manchester to be recognised as the first site and city globally to achieve the rating is just a genuine thrill. And for our residents, both current and future, it’s a sign that we are laser-focused on providing workspaces that are backed by evidence on health, well-being and sustainability. Koba was created before the WELL Coworking Rating was developed, so to receive the rating is true testament not only to our own vision, but the quality of our partners at Cast Interiors too.” continued Stewart.

Koba announced a partnership with AEW in April this year for its inaugural 30,000-sq-ft sustainable flex centre across two floors at 100 Barbirolli Square in central Manchester. Since then the Koba team has worked with leading office fit-out design and build specialists, Cast Interiors, to create evidence-based premium sustainable workspaces designed with a focus on circularity and re-use.

With work now complete, Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square is fully operational with the dynamic new centre offering a range of meeting rooms, coworking spaces, studios and office suites to accommodate businesses of up to 200 people, with premium amenity, wellness and breakout areas.

Koba’s mission is to redefine flexible workspace by embedding sustainability at the heart of its offering and the company has ambitions to open three to four sites per year in outstanding commercial buildings in the UK’s major cities.

IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon said: “We proudly congratulate Koba for achieving the first WELL Coworking Rated workspace. Koba chose to pursue the rating to help deliver innovative health and productivity benefits to users of its flexible workspace at 100 Barbirolli Square. Its achievement will also inspire other coworking operators in the UK and beyond to provide healthy workplaces that support physical and mental well-being through the use of WELL’s science-backed strategies.”

Sam Pickering, Executive Director, Head of Sustainability at The Instant Group said: “The WELL Coworking rating enables occupiers to easily determine the health and well-being attributes of a specific coworking and flexible office space. Koba is the first workspace provider to achieve the rating globally and it is testament to their understanding and commitment to creating healthier workspaces that sees them achieve this accolade first.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

About Koba

Koba is a dynamic, flexible workspace company creating evidence-based sustainable workplaces across the UK. Designed with sustainability at its core, each Koba workspace is constructed for forward-thinking landlords and occupiers who want to make a positive mark on the planet and its people. Working with integrated delivery partner Cast Interiors and sustainability leader Drees & Sommer, Koba has created a manifesto for creating incredible workspaces across the UK and strives to back this up with tangible evidence every step of the way. www.kobaspace.com

About the International WELL Building Institute

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. IWBI is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative, and helps companies advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the use of WELL. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

About The Instant Group

The Instant Group has been rethinking workspace since 1999 with over 500 experts working globally across more than 175 countries. Instant’s digital platforms constitute the world’s largest digital marketplace for flexible workspace listing meeting rooms, virtual offices, flexible office space and coworking memberships. Its global team advises on commercial real estate solutions from serviced offices to fully customised managed offices, and consulting services for portfolio and net zero strategies. Instant’s approach enables agility, hybrid working solutions and improved operational resilience for more than 250,000 businesses every year. Clients include Amex, Prudential, Booking.com, Shell, Jaguar Land Rover and Worldpay. Instant has global offices including London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney.

For media enquiries please contact:

Faye Binns at Space PR on 07793 401 579 or via email at faye@spacepr.co.uk

Kate Johnson at Space PR on 07815 314 108 or via email at kate@spacepr.co.uk

Andrea McKenzie at Space PR on 07714 988 989 or via email at andrea@spacepr.co.uk

FTI Consulting, The Instant Group: instantgroup@fticonsulting.com

IWBI: media@wellcertified.com

December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Five Georgia nonprofit climate justice initiatives have been awarded a total of $1 million in funding for programs that advance climate solutions and prioritize equity based on the framework of Drawdown Georgia’s climate solutions. This year marks the third cohort of grant recipients; to date, a total of $3.2 million has been awarded to projects that are scaling climate solutions with an emphasis on equity across the state.

“All of us are impacted by climate change–but that doesn’t mean we all experience those impacts equally,” said John Lanier, executive director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, one of six family foundations who are funding the 2025-26 grants. “The funding partners behind the Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grants seek to help nonprofits across the state achieve this ultimate goal.”

Additional funders include The Ghanta Family Foundation, The Reilly Family Fund, The Tull Charitable Foundation, The Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, and one anonymous donor.

Launched in 2022, the Climate Solutions & Equity Grants empower BIPOC communities across Georgia to grow partnerships and programs that bring those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate to the table to lead, and benefit from, outcomes like new jobs, neighborhood investments, environmental benefits, and improved public health. The focus of the Climate Solutions & Equity Grants is on advancing specific climate solutions, including: Climate-Smart Agriculture, Energy Efficiency, Plant-Based Diets, Rooftop Solar, and Tree Planting.

Announcing the 2025-2026 Climate Solutions and Equity Grantees 

After reviewing almost 100 submissions, Drawdown Georgia announces that five, two-year grants of $100,000 per year will be awarded to fund the following projects from 2025-2026:

Georgia Organics and McIntosh S.E.E.D. Growing Climate-Smart Agriculture 

Georgia Organics (GO) and McIntosh Sustainable, Environmental and Economic Development (McIntosh S.E.E.D.) were part of the first Climate Solutions & Equity Grant cohort in 2023-24. This year’s grant extends the Climate Smart Farmer Cohort to at least 15 additional farmers within a 30–60-mile radius of Coastal Georgia, a continuation of the pilot project to prepare and support Black farmers in Coastal Georgia with adaptation and mitigation tools to build resilience and maintain productivity in the face of climate change.

Georgia WAND Education Fund Scaling Energy Efficiency for Seniors 

Georgia WAND Education Fund and two of their existing partners, Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluff Community and BeSMART Home Solutions, will work to extend energy assistance services to residents in rural Burke County, Georgia. These residents are some of the state’s most vulnerable populations, with a high percentage of senior citizens living in aging housing stock.

In the first year, the grant partners will introduce weatherization programs, educate residents on the economic and social benefits of energy-efficient retrofits, identify target neighborhoods, and conduct comprehensive energy audits.

Harambee House Building Food Sovereignty with Climate-Smart Agriculture 

The Harambee House Community Farm Project will put grant funds to work expanding existing community gardens in the Woodville and Hudson Hill communities in West Savannah. Gardens will be paired with small local farms to increase capacity and provide the support necessary to distribute nutritionally dense produce throughout historically underserved communities. The preparation, cultivation, processing, and distribution of all produce will be done within the guidelines of regenerative, climate-smart agricultural practices to achieve the overall goal of nutritionally rich and healthy food sovereignty.

Thomasville Community Development Corporation Improving Health for Seniors

Grant funds will be used to scale existing work in the historic Dewey City neighborhood in Southwest Georgia focused on decreasing the energy cost burdens for residents in 52 senior apartments while improving the health outcomes of hundreds in the surrounding community, which is currently designated as a “food desert.” Thomasville Community Development Corporation (TCDC) will work with the owner of Marathon Market, a nearby Black-owned food market, to implement a neighborhood plant-based food program. TCDC seeks to subsidize produce boxes, prepared meals, and plant-based education programs for neighborhood residents, sourcing the produce from local Black farmers.

Green Team of English Avenue Addressing Energy Burdens (h3)

The Westside Passive Cooling Tree Equity Partnership and Project will establish a community-driven model to address the impact of tree removal on the energy efficiency of residential buildings within the Westside Lead Superfund Site in Atlanta. The Green Team of English Avenue is partnering with the Climate Consortium of the Commons and Carinalis Consulting to assess the impact of trees removed within the Site on residential energy efficiency and thermal comfort of residents. The ultimate goal is to develop a replicable, scalable model that can be applied to additional homes in English Avenue, and in other Superfund sites within Georgia, and beyond.

About Drawdown Georgia

Drawdown Georgia is a statewide research-based initiative launched in 2020 that was born from a multi-university collaboration, funded by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Taking inspiration from Project Drawdown®, the world’s leading resource for taking action on climate change, Drawdown Georgia localized that work by identifying the 20 highest-impact solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our state over the next decade.

This framework focuses on climate solutions in five sectors: transportation, buildings & materials, food & agriculture, electricity, and land sinks. It considers how these solutions can reduce emissions and advance “beyond carbon” priorities, including equity, economic development, public health, and nurturing the larger environment.

Drawdown Georgia has grown into a “leader-full” movement, bringing together many organizations, universities, companies, leaders, and funders who are working to advance climate solutions in Georgia, including members of the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, Drawdown Georgia Congregations, and Drawdown Georgia Higher Education. Learn more at drawdownga.org

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, networking equipment and secure operations have become essential to nearly every aspect of business and daily life. This is even truer for storage networking since data access is vital to applications, including the Artificial Intelligence (AI) realm. As reliance on networking infrastructure grows, so does the need to advance sustainability in business practices and technologies. With the intent of progressing toward a more sustainable future, organizations can benefit from designing storage area networks (SANs) that are not only secure, high performance and reliable, but also with less impact on the planet. At Cisco, we have a goal for 100% of new Cisco products and packaging to incorporate Circular Design Principles by Cisco’s fiscal year 2025. Circular design means designing products and systems that enable reuse, minimize environmental impacts, drive innovation, and realize value for our stakeholders.

This blog post addresses the following topics relating to sustainability in SANs:

Combining energy consumption reduction and circularitySustainability in hardware and software design with monitoring includedStriving to evolve to a regenerative, circular model for products and packagingDesign best practices

Combining energy consumption reduction and circularity

Both energy consumption and power efficiency are critical factors when architecting sustainability in SANs. Energy consumption not only has an environmental impact but also contributes to operating costs. As such, choosing power-efficient switches is crucial. The Cisco MDS 9000 series switches are an excellent example of networking equipment optimized for the SAN designed to reduce energy consumption and operating costs while maintaining high performance and resiliency. This value proposition can get even stronger when paired with engineering efforts to align with the principles of a circular economy. Consider the ability to upgrade-in-place to a new generation of linecards and minimize replacement of parts. Consider the extended lifetime derived from a modular and highly reliable design. Consider the ability of extended use by loading the latest firmware release on the portfolio on sale, enabling an updated feature set and a solid security posture. This can help reduce the contribution of embodied carbon to overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Sustainability in hardware and software design with monitoring included

The Cisco MDS 9000 series switches follow hardware design guidelines that support activation of several software features to facilitate a reduced power footprint. The switching application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) keep evolving along a trajectory of doubling power efficiency (Gbps/Watt) at new generations. Moreover, current 64G chipsets incorporate the ability to reduce energy consumption while reducing port speed, further contributing to power efficiency in SANs. Power supplies hold third party Titanium certification for up to 96% efficiency.

Smart software capabilities keep gaining in importance. They allow for remote powering off of individual components such as switching modules and power supply units when they are not needed. This way SAN administrators can benefit from ready-to-activate spare components, minimize energy consumption and increase power efficiency. In addition, the recent transceiver power control feature introduces industry-unique power reduction innovation at the port level. The combination of these advanced power management features helps optimize energy consumption of SANs, which can minimize energy waste and reduce operating costs.

Improvements in the energy posture can be automatically captured and tracked. For example, the Nexus Dashboard management tool can monitor and display real-time and historical trends of consumed electrical power for Cisco MDS 9000 series switches. In conjunction with the Panduit Intelligent Power Distribution Units (iPDUs), it becomes possible to collect and unify IT and facility data points, gaining visibility of sustainability metrics at the site, equipment, or PDU outlet level.

Striving to evolve to a regenerative, circular model for products and packaging

Cisco’s focus on sustainability goes beyond energy efficiency in products, as we also have initiatives in place to help reduce waste. Cisco is a member in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Circular Products and Materials pathway. This pathway focuses on promoting and implementing circular economy principles in the production and use of materials and products. With our Product Takeback and Reuse Program, customers can responsibly return their used networking equipment at no cost. Cisco strives to process returned products to their next best use, whether it is refurbishing, reusing, reselling or harvesting their components and responsibly recycling them. Cisco reuses or recycles nearly 100 percent of products that are returned to us. Where applicable, customers can even opt-in to receive a Certificate of Recycling (COR), further promoting a circular economy approach.

Additionally, our focus on improving packaging and reducing plastic enables Cisco MDS 9000 series switches to stand out in the overall networking landscape. Reduction of plastic bags for transceivers and accessories, reduction of virgin raw materials in favor of recycled materials, improvements in product packaging cube efficiency: this pinpoints the current ambitious direction for product development and packaging.

Design best practices

When architecting sustainability in SANs, there are several best practices to consider. Virtualization and consolidation in the compute farm can reduce the number of physical switches and ports needed, which can help lower energy consumption and operating costs. Enabling advanced power management features on devices, such as those offered by the Cisco MDS 9000 series switches, can help further reduce energy usage. Topology considerations and product selection can also make a difference. The adoption of port-optimized low-power fabric switches for small SANs or top-of-rack deployments can help minimize energy consumption and cabling. When appropriate, the move to a multi-fabric collapsed core design with the Cisco MDS 9718 can help reduce the number of chassis and inter-switch links (ISLs), supporting tangible power and cost savings. The MDS 9718 can have up to 768 ports, allowing a moderately sized SAN to exist on a single switch. This means that ports can be connected to end devices instead of “wasted” on ISLs. A larger SAN can be designed with multiple MDS 9718 directors, each operating as an individual fabric. Finally, monitoring energy consumption and utilization can help identify areas for improvement, and choosing energy-efficient equipment and components can help maximize energy savings.

Cisco MDS 9000 series can help advance sustainability in your SAN

Architecting sustainability in SANs is essential for organizations moving toward more sustainable practices and looking to reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs. Power-efficient switches, such as the Cisco MDS 9000 series, can offer advantages in terms of energy consumption and cost savings. Organizations can also benefit from Cisco’s sustainability initiatives, such as Cisco’s Takeback and Reuse Program and our plastic reduction efforts. By following these practices, organizations can design SANs in a more sustainable way, which can benefit the environment and their bottom line. Modernizing SANs with sustainability in mind can help yield a high Return on Investment. We estimate that, over five years, the energy and footprint savings from the old systems can sometimes cover the cost of the new SAN, effectively allowing organizations to “pay for” the upgrade through operational efficiencies.

References

Cisco’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) Reporting Hub

Cisco evolving the business to circular economy

Cisco’s Product Takeback and Reuse program

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December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – More than two dozen major companies are heading to Capitol Hill this week for a series of meetings with Republican members of Congress to make the business and economic case for maintaining the federal clean energy tax credits and other incentives that were included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

The meetings this week mark the first since the 2024 Presidential election, the outcome of which will have major implications on tax policy in 2025. As Congress prepares to comb through the tax code, business leaders attending the meetings this week are making the clear case to maintain the clean energy tax credits that are delivering investment, manufacturing jobs, energy projects, and reduced costs to members’ states and Congressional districts.

Businesses participating in the meetings include AES Corporation, Amalgamated Bank, Avangrid, DHL Group, HASI, Heirloom, Hitachi Energy, IKEA USA, the National Ski Areas Association, ReVision Energy, and Samsung Electronics America, among others. 

“Clean energy tax credits are helping IKEA US and our partners create jobs and reduce carbon pollution, with major benefits to our co-workers and customers,” said Doug Murray, public affairs leader, IKEA US. “With 61 retail locations and 16,000 co-workers across the country, IKEA believes these clean energy tax credits deliver for the economy, businesses, and workers, and we are excited to meet with members of Congress to help tell this story.”

“With the U.S. experiencing a surge in electricity usage, which is only expected to grow, Hitachi Energy is proud to continue its investments to help meet the need for innovative technologies to modernize our electric grid, transmit and deliver reliable, clean power, and promote energy security,” said Abigail Singer, VP, Government and Institutional Relations, US, Hitachi Energy. “Public policy such as federal clean energy incentives provide crucial support for U.S. investments in both technology development and production capacity and can play a key role in meeting the nation’s energy needs and driving economic development going forward.”

“Sector-wide energy tax credits are an engine for U.S. economic growth and a critical enabler for keeping power prices low. These diverse energy tax code provisions have underpinned historic levels of private sector investment in domestically produced clean energy projects across every corner of America, bolstering our energy independence and fueling our nation’s prosperity,” said Gil Jenkins, vice president of corporate affairs, HASI. “With the U.S. experiencing an unprecedented surge in electricity demand — driven largely by the increased onshoring of manufacturing and massive AI-driven data center expansion — it’s crucial now more than ever that we, as business leaders, raise our collective voice to Congress and underscore the importance of the energy tax credit structures in the code today in sustaining elevated deployment levels of clean, reliable, and affordable power generation that our economy needs.”

“As America’s leader in direct air capture, Heirloom is creating a new class of carbon management jobs that cleanly map onto the traditional energy workforce and infrastructure. Our investments are supported by performance-driven policies, like tax credits, that ensure this technology is developed in the United States to strengthen our energy security and global competitiveness,” said Vikrum Aiyer, head of global public policy, Heirloom. “We look forward to working with lawmakers to highlight the remarkable progress we’re making — from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast — to bring a critical industry to scale.”

“Sealed believes the IRA home energy rebates have the potential to support contractors, lower energy bills, and increase energy reliability for families across the country,” said David Kolata, vice president for policy, Sealed.

Businesses have been major supporters of the clean energy tax credits because of their economic benefits, including the creation of new manufacturing jobs, the strengthening of domestic supply chains to bolster U.S. competitiveness, and the delivery of affordable, reliable, American-made clean energy.

Since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in 2022, the tax credits have positioned the U.S. as a global magnet for clean energy investment. They have already unleashed more than $350 billion in new private investment, creating more than 330,000 new jobs to manufacture and deploy clean technologies like batteries, vehicles, solar panels, and much more in the U.S. Most of the private clean energy investment since the Inflation Reduction Act became law has gone to Republican-held districts.

At Capitol Hill events organized by the responsible business organization Ceres, companies have met with policymakers on both sides of the political aisle to make the economic case for preserving the tax credits throughout 2024. Over the summer, 18 Republican members of Congress —14 of whom are expected to be seated in the upcoming Congressional term — signed a letter urging Congressional leaders to maintain the clean energy tax credits.

“Federal clean energy tax credits and incentives are benefiting all Americans by bringing back U.S. manufacturing, ensuring energy security, and reducing costs for businesses and families across the country,” said Zach Friedman, senior director of federal policy, Ceres. “As Congress seeks solutions to better position the U.S. economy, Ceres is excited to bring business leaders to Capitol Hill this week to help demonstrate why these policies – and the private-sector capital they have unleashed – are crucial to U.S. industry and the nation’s ability to compete in a changing global marketplace.”

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org

Cummins

by Cummins Components Business Unit

Key Takeaways:

Turbochargers for natural gas engines have evolved significantly, driven by stringent emissions regulations and the adoption of stoichiometric burning.Modern natural gas turbochargers feature distinct components compared to their diesel counterparts.Cummins’ innovations in natural gas turbocharger design have improved the cost-effectiveness and environmental performance of natural gas engines.

A decade ago, turbochargers for natural gas and diesel engines were not very different. However, new emissions regulations have driven the development of turbochargers specifically designed for natural gas engines. These turbochargers are adapted to stoichiometric burn conditions, where the mix of oxygen and fuel is precisely balanced. This balance ensures efficient combustion, leaving no unburnt fuel or excess oxygen.

Turbochargers developed for modern natural gas engines, have unique components like a dual wastegate port, larger actuators and a material housing made of composite materials that can withstand the higher temperatures a stoichiometric burn requires.

Cummins has spent decades developing innovative solutions for diesel and natural gas engines. This article explores how different turbocharger technologies are used for natural gas vehicles and how they have evolved to meet the challenges and demands of a transportation industry seeking more sustainable solutions.

Key differences between turbochargers for natural gas and diesel engines

Turbochargers for natural gas engines are distinct from those used in diesel engines due to the unique demands of natural gas combustion like higher operating temperatures and distinct air-to-fuel ratios. Unlike diesel engines, which operate with a lean burn and a higher air-to-fuel ratio, natural gas engines require a stoichiometric burn. This means the mixture of oxygen and fuel is balanced precisely (1:1 air-to-fuel ratio) for efficient combustion, ensuring no unburnt fuel or excess oxygen remains. Consequently, natural gas engines require smaller turbochargers since less air is needed for stoichiometric combustion compared to the leaner burn in diesel engines. For example, a diesel engine might need an HE500 turbo, but a natural gas engine could use an HE300 or HE400 due to its lower air requirements.

Achieving this efficient combustion has led to significant modifications in many system components, including the incorporation of a dual wastegate port to handle the high bypass capability necessary for natural gas turbochargers. This port regulates exhaust flow, controls pressure and prevents over-boost.

The intense temperatures and pressures of natural gas engines also influence turbocharger design. While diesel engines prioritize turbocharger efficiency, natural gas engines focus on achieving the required mass flow rate and meeting exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) demands. As a result, turbochargers for natural gas engines are built with high-temperature materials, particularly at the turbine stage, to resist thermal fatigue.

These turbochargers also require water-cooled bearing housings to manage the elevated temperatures, necessitating additional piping and connections to maintain coolant flow.

Housing Materials:

Cummins employs advanced materials in turbocharger construction to withstand the high temperatures of stoichiometric combustion in natural gas engines. These materials include graphite and stainless steel for the turbine housing, as well as higher-grade alloys like Chrome-Moly, which contains chromium and molybdenum. These materials allow the turbochargers to endure turbine inlet temperatures exceeding 760°C, far surpassing the operating temperatures of diesel engine turbochargers, which typically remain below 700°C.

Actuators:

Turbochargers for natural gas engines use larger actuators compared to those in diesel engines. A natural gas turbocharger uses a T4 actuator, which is 4 square inches, while a diesel engine turbocharger only requires a T2 actuator, a 2-square-inch component. This increase in actuator size is essential for managing the higher bypass capabilities and temperature demands of natural gas engines.

Modifications from diesel engines:

While natural gas engines share many components with their diesel counterparts, key modifications have been made to turbochargers to accommodate the use of gaseous fuel. These changes address the higher temperatures and different flow characteristics unique to natural gas, ensuring optimal performance and durability.

The evolution of the natural gas turbocharger

A decade ago, natural gas and diesel turbos were nearly identical, but stringent emissions regulations like Euro 6 and EPA standards have driven significant changes, including the shift to stoichiometric burning, which increased operating temperatures and created the need for new turbocharger configurations.

By shifting to stoichiometric burning, Cummins was able to reduce the need for aftertreatment systems like Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, which ultimately lowered the cost of the engines and turbos.

As a leader in turbocharger innovation and technology, Cummins is committed to working with customers to provide the right solutions for their applications. With Natural Gas being a critical player in decarbonizing commercial transportation, Cummins continues to optimize natural gas engine design, improve the economics of the engine systems while meeting strict emissions standards and make natural gas a competitive alternative to diesel in many applications.

Originally published by Northwestern Mutual

MILWAUKEE, December 3, 2024 /3BL/ – Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, today announced its continued support of those affected by childhood cancer with a $500,000 donation toward higher education for childhood cancer survivors and childhood cancer siblings. As part of the company’s 2025 Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program, 25 childhood cancer survivors and 25 childhood cancer siblings will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship, with the option to renew for a second year for a total of up to $10,000 per student.

“Studies show that 60% of families lose significant household income and are hit with financial hardship as a result of a childhood cancer diagnosis,” said Steve Radke, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Each year, it’s an honor to provide some relief to these families and alleviate part of the financial burden tied to higher education, but the real joy is being able to see these students looking forward to their future and the brighter moments they have ahead them.”

Since the program’s inception in 2017, more than 320 scholarships have been awarded to children undergoing treatment, survivors and siblings of those who have been affected by childhood cancer, totaling $3 million. The Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program is one of several initiatives that the Northwestern Mutual Foundation commits to as part of its ongoing mission to the childhood cancer cause.

“For over a decade, it has been the Foundation’s mission to help find better treatments and cures for childhood cancer, while supporting families undergoing treatment and survivors living with long-term effects of treatment,” said Radke. “Part of that includes celebrating the ‘goldeNMoments’ and breakthroughs along the way, like survivors and siblings affected by childhood cancer pursuing their aspirations through higher education.”

Applications for the 2025-26 school year scholarship program are now being accepted through Feb. 3, 2025, unlocking an additional $500,000 in student scholarships.

The Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program is administered through Scholarship America, an organization dedicated to developing scholarship solutions for student success. Northwestern Mutual helps identify the criteria Scholarship America uses to select each year’s recipients, including the student’s essay, family income level, grade point average and geographic location. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate studies and students must be a childhood cancer survivor or sibling of someone who had or has childhood cancer. For more information about the Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program and to apply, visit https://northwesternmutual-foundation.com/scholarships/.

Since 2012, Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Program has been committed to accelerating the search for better treatments and cures for childhood cancer while supporting families undergoing treatment and survivors living with long-term effects. To date, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, has funded more than 700,000 hours of research to accelerate the search for better treatments and cures for childhood cancer and contributed more than $60 million to the cause overall. To learn more about the company’s commitment to childhood cancer, visit the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s website here.

As a mutual company improving lives through financial security, we know the actions we take today shape tomorrow. Our disciplined approach to governance, risk management and shared value through the lens of sustainability and social impact protects our long-term financial strength, creates positive economic and societal impact, and helps ensure we’re here to serve for generations to come. By delivering financial security and expanding financial access, investing in our communities, strengthening a culture of belonging, and reducing our environmental impact, we’re building a resilient tomorrow for policyowners and clients, our employees and financial advisors, and our communities. nm.com/sustainability

About Northwestern Mutual Foundation

The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $500 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company’s employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination. Visit Northwestern Mutual Foundation to learn more.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what’s most important. With more than $627 billion of total assets being managed across the company’s institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, nearly $36 billion in revenues, and $2.3 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 111 on the 2023 FORTUNE 500.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “Advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual