Tag: 3BL

Schneider Electric’s Access to the Future

Today, over 1.5 billion people are unable to access reliable energy, mostly in developing countries. It demands immediate action: expanding access to reliable and affordable clean electricity everywhere. A swift energy transition, packed with initiatives to address energy poverty, will transform the lives of millions while mitigating climate change.

Here, renewable energy systems — like minigrids, stand-alone, and off-grid systems — play a key role. They generate and distribute energy independently, making them a great option for areas with little to no access to traditional power grids.

Studies show that by 2030, Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) could bring power to around 500 million people. Not only can it replace ‘dirty’ diesel generators, but does so while making power more reliable and affordable for homes and businesses. Its installation and maintenance can also create high-quality, local jobs. The International Energy Agency suggests that off-grid solutions are the most cost-effective way to electrify nearly half of the world’s unconnected population by 2030.

Minigrid vs microgrid

A minigrid is a small, independent power network that usually integrates with the main grid, but can also work alone when needed. It provides power to different users like homes, businesses, and industries in a specific area. Minigrids are especially useful in rural or semi-urban areas where it’s too expensive or difficult to expand the main grid.

A microgrid is a smaller version of a minigrid, with less power and fewer users. The main difference is that microgrids serve a smaller area or just one place, like a hospital, university, or military base.

Both minigrids and microgrids decentralize energy generation and provide reliable, affordable power to underserved populations. This makes them essential for achieving global energy access goals. But despite their promise, the adoption of minigrids in developing countries has been stunted.

The challenges facing minigrids

A report published by BloombergNEF and SEforALL noted three critical challenges: the need for regulation to protect cash flows, affordability, and the limitations of smaller-scale projects. Other barriers include:

Customizing to local conditions increases engineering and design costs, which impacts project viability.High initial technology and equipment costs hinder widespread adoption.Difficulty in securing affordable financing slows project implementation.Limited purchasing power affects project financial sustainability.Underdeveloped social engineering ecosystems impact community engagement and sustainability.

Overcoming these challenges requires a broad approach that reduces costs, creates financing mechanisms, and enhances social engineering while ensuring affordability for local communities.

Key drivers

The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program highlights five drivers to help the minigrid market achieve its full potential:

Lowering the cost of electricity from solar hybrid minigrids to $0.20/kWh by 2030 would provide life-changing power to half a billion people for just $10 per month.Building portfolios of minigrids, instead of one-off projects, could increase deployment to 2,000 minigrids per country per year.Providing reliable electricity to communities would expand the operations of 200,000 schools and clinics, and create demand for three million income-generating appliances and machines.Attracting private sector finance with development partner funding and government investments. This could raise $127 billion in investments for minigrids by 2030.Establishing supportive policies, adaptive regulations, and minimizing bureaucratic red tape in countries with low access.

Innovative solutions to payment barriers

In India, the ‘Climate Smart Village Solution’ pilot lets farmers use solar power for various needs, boosting income while cutting costs with inverter-less and battery-less solutions. This makes renewable energy more affordable and better suited for rural economies.

Scaling to achieve SDG 7

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), an estimated 100,000 minigrids are needed annually in Africa alone. This ambitious scale means standardizing designs and products, to allow for quick plug-and-play installations without complex engineering and design processes. In India, we’ve seen promising outcomes from solar installations ranging from 50 kW to 3 MW. These projects have an average payback period of 3 to 3.5 years, with lifetime savings typically 8 to 10 times the initial investment.

How does a minigrid enhance living conditions?

By supplying reliable power where it’s needed most, mini grids can often mean the literal difference between life and death. For example, we set up an 8.7KW solar and storage minigrid at a birthing hospital in Kisii, Kenya, alongside local partner PowerPoint Systems. This meant the facility could open 24/7, increasing average monthly deliveries from 5 to 20 — 60% of which occur at night. And while operational hours expanded, monthly energy costs sank.

Over on Kenti Island, Myanmar, our solar minigrid project with Techno-Hill Engineering brought 24/7 renewable energy to 300 households, a clinic, a high school, and two primary schools, along with streetlights and enhanced equipment for local businesses. The project has allowed the local economy to thrive. In particular, this has benefitted women, who have started home-based businesses such as sewing shops or freezer leasing.

Benefits of standardized minigrid systems

Standardizing minigrid designs and producing them at scale have multiple benefits, including:

Cost reduction of minigrids and electricity, through economies of scale.Simplified manufacturing and deployment, ensuring consistency, quality, and reliability across different installations.Higher confidence for investors and financial institutions, making funding easier to obtain.Stronger influence on regulations, providing a clear basis for policy development.Better safety asprotocols are integrated into designs, ensuring high standards and minimizing risks.Simplified maintenance and operation processes, guaranteeing availability of spare parts.Seamless integration with the main grid when needed, eliminating complexity and costs.

Standardization represents a long stride toward our energy access goals, both on a global and community level. It allows us to clear heavy roadblocks for widespread minigrid adoption. By standardizing, we can greatly accelerate the expansion of minigrids, promoting energy access, economic development, and living standards on a massive scale.

Verizon

For veterans, the transition from service to entrepreneurship is a new kind of mission — one where adaptability and resilience are key. “In the military, the path is clearly defined, but in business, uncertainty is a constant,” says Princess Brownfield, veteran and founder of the Crown Elevate Project. To deal with that uncertainty and to continue evolving their businesses, these four veterans acquired small business knowledge that led to success in channeling their big ideas into lives of continued service.

A vet who defied expectations, paving her own path

Tiffany Richardson, Artisan-Preneur Consulting

When Tiffany Richardson left the service after six and a half years, she took a job as a marine electrician, following a predictable skilled-labor career path for vets. But, as she soon discovered, expected career paths are not always fulfilling career paths.

To change course and pursue her dream of starting her own business, Richardson had to get over feeling isolated. “It can [be] difficult without a mentor or immediate support group for veterans to pursue interests that have nothing to do with the military,” she says.

Post-military, Richardson also struggled with her mental health, a challenge common to many veterans. “People noticed I was a lot more pessimistic, not the Tiffany that went into the military,” she recalls. She also struggled to find security, dealing with homelessness and needing to live with extended family while pregnant and caring for her young son.

After losing money on her first, art-based business, Richardson switched gears, founding Artisan-Preneur Consulting in 2021. The firm helps other entrepreneurs launch their own businesses. The next year, she found her niche as an AI strategist, which sparked her creativity, enthusiasm, and curiosity, allowing her to better serve clients seeking strategic planning and AI-driven solutions to a host of common issues, such as financial projections and marketing campaigns. That same year, Richardson discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Richardson utilized the platform’s resources to implement structures and practices that have helped her gain support and community.

“The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program has been instrumental in the significant evolution and expansion of my business this year,” Richardson said.

The program has informed and affirmed her strategic decisions which has resulted in an increase in annual revenue from $8,000 to almost $60,000 and a 120% increase in new client acquisitions compared to the year prior.

Richardson’s aim now is the same as when she left the service. “I really just want to work for myself and show other people, especially female entrepreneurs, that you can run a business [while living] with mental health issues and still have a positive impact on other people,” she says.

A recipe for resilience and reinvention

Carl Fambro, Francar’s Wings

After serving in the military for 14 years, Carl Fambro became a veteran entrepreneur in 1993 as the owner of Francar’s Wings, a popular Buffalo wings restaurant in Macon, Georgia.

Always refining his menu and experimenting with new sauces for wings — his latest is a cilantro-lime sauce — Fambro found himself at a crossroads during COVID, when the business he’d run for nearly 30 years was on the verge of closing due to a shortage of funds.

Fambro found fresh inspiration from Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. What he learned in the free courses helped him make significant improvements to his operations and decision-making, helping him to stay afloat in the short-term while planning for long-term success.

Through courses like “Creating Content That Matters: Compelling Content for Your Business” and “Defining Your Brand: Connecting to Customers” he learned how to create social media campaigns to appeal to nearby college students. He also created a text club with 800 subscribers that helps drive business and doubled his social media followers in the last year. Last Thanksgiving, he devoted a campaign to selling cakes, a long-standing holiday tradition for the restaurant, and sold double the number of cakes as usual.

“If I had taken these classes back when I first opened up, I would have skipped a whole lot of problems,” Fambro says.

Although he had plenty of experience writing business plans, Fambro found the technique he learned through the coursework so effective that he developed a plan to expand his business. His new venture, which includes a first-run movie theater with dinner service, is now slated to open in June 2025.

“When you work in your business, it’s hard to work on your business, but these classes convinced me that I could make changes,” Fambro says.

How one vet turned trauma into triumph

Princess Brownfield, Crown Elevate Project

During the pandemic, while working remotely for the mayor’s office in Washington, D.C. and volunteering, Princess Brownfield had an epiphany: It was time to bet on herself. Brownfield’s volunteerism focused on teaching a course for women about how to overcome trauma in life. As a survivor of domestic violence, Brownfield had done just that. And she was now ready to focus on her holistic coaching endeavor.

So Brownfield took the leap of faith, founding the Crown Elevate Project, a therapeutic coaching program in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia, to help girls and women to create positive inner change for both themselves and their communities. But to succeed, Brownfield needed to sharpen her entrepreneurial skills.

Through the Black Chamber of Commerce, Brownfield discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready courses, which have built up her confidence, as well as her business. One major benefit of the courses, Brownfield says, was “helping us refine our approach to scaling operations and expanding our online presence,” so she could effectively diversify her income streams into three sources: corporate contracts, corporate workshops, and e-commerce stores that sell apparel, journals, and more. She was able to launch e-commerce stores on both retail and social media platforms after taking the course “Sell Effectively Online: eCommerce Essentials.” They now account for 35% of her total revenue.

Overall, Brownfield has seen a 10 to 15% growth in sales and a 20% increase in online media followers since taking the courses. Thanks to her expanded reach, Brownfield has been able to change lives through her coaching of at-risk adolescent girls. “The girls tell me everything, Brownfield says, “and that’s what keeps me going.”

Adaptation is essential in both the service and in business

Jevon Wooden, BrightMind Consulting Group

Jevon Wooden’s business, BrightMind Consulting Group in Houston, Texas, evolved from a previous entrepreneurial effort. While running his first company, Wooden recognized that personal well-being directly influences professional success. This insight led him to rebrand his business with a focus on emotional intelligence and its connection to improved performance. Wooden, who has firsthand experience with mental health challenges after struggling with PTSD upon leaving the armed services, saw how a shift in outlook could transform a person’s life.

At BrightMind, Wooden offers one-on-one and group coaching on mindset and emotional intelligence, and also develops corporate programs that include keynote addresses and group facilitation.

In 2022, Wooden discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, which showed him more efficient ways to operate his business. That type of knowledge, he says, is “helpful for anyone, no matter what phase of business you’re in.” Wooden also learned to be intentional when going after contracts and discovered the value of certification. He became certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, which led to his first government contract, doing professional development for teachers in a Texas school district. “[The contract] validated my business and provided a tangible boost to our revenue stream,” Wooden says.

Wooden continues to be driven by the same motivation as when he started his business: community. And he’s found the value of connecting with other entrepreneurs, through the Verizon platform, as they all reach for success, together. “There’s no fast way to success, but if you can get into a community of people who… are looking to gain relationships and insight, you get that accountability,” Wooden explains. “That’s the best way for you to grow as a business owner.”

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1 million small businesses by 2030 with the resources to thrive in the digital economy. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts. To sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, visit digitalready.verizonwireless.com. An individual user’s experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.

Verizon

For veterans, the transition from service to entrepreneurship is a new kind of mission — one where adaptability and resilience are key. “In the military, the path is clearly defined, but in business, uncertainty is a constant,” says Princess Brownfield, veteran and founder of the Crown Elevate Project. To deal with that uncertainty and to continue evolving their businesses, these four veterans acquired small business knowledge that led to success in channeling their big ideas into lives of continued service.

A vet who defied expectations, paving her own path

Tiffany Richardson, Artisan-Preneur Consulting

When Tiffany Richardson left the service after six and a half years, she took a job as a marine electrician, following a predictable skilled-labor career path for vets. But, as she soon discovered, expected career paths are not always fulfilling career paths.

To change course and pursue her dream of starting her own business, Richardson had to get over feeling isolated. “It can [be] difficult without a mentor or immediate support group for veterans to pursue interests that have nothing to do with the military,” she says.

Post-military, Richardson also struggled with her mental health, a challenge common to many veterans. “People noticed I was a lot more pessimistic, not the Tiffany that went into the military,” she recalls. She also struggled to find security, dealing with homelessness and needing to live with extended family while pregnant and caring for her young son.

After losing money on her first, art-based business, Richardson switched gears, founding Artisan-Preneur Consulting in 2021. The firm helps other entrepreneurs launch their own businesses. The next year, she found her niche as an AI strategist, which sparked her creativity, enthusiasm, and curiosity, allowing her to better serve clients seeking strategic planning and AI-driven solutions to a host of common issues, such as financial projections and marketing campaigns. That same year, Richardson discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Richardson utilized the platform’s resources to implement structures and practices that have helped her gain support and community.

“The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program has been instrumental in the significant evolution and expansion of my business this year,” Richardson said.

The program has informed and affirmed her strategic decisions which has resulted in an increase in annual revenue from $8,000 to almost $60,000 and a 120% increase in new client acquisitions compared to the year prior.

Richardson’s aim now is the same as when she left the service. “I really just want to work for myself and show other people, especially female entrepreneurs, that you can run a business [while living] with mental health issues and still have a positive impact on other people,” she says.

A recipe for resilience and reinvention

Carl Fambro, Francar’s Wings

After serving in the military for 14 years, Carl Fambro became a veteran entrepreneur in 1993 as the owner of Francar’s Wings, a popular Buffalo wings restaurant in Macon, Georgia.

Always refining his menu and experimenting with new sauces for wings — his latest is a cilantro-lime sauce — Fambro found himself at a crossroads during COVID, when the business he’d run for nearly 30 years was on the verge of closing due to a shortage of funds.

Fambro found fresh inspiration from Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. What he learned in the free courses helped him make significant improvements to his operations and decision-making, helping him to stay afloat in the short-term while planning for long-term success.

Through courses like “Creating Content That Matters: Compelling Content for Your Business” and “Defining Your Brand: Connecting to Customers” he learned how to create social media campaigns to appeal to nearby college students. He also created a text club with 800 subscribers that helps drive business and doubled his social media followers in the last year. Last Thanksgiving, he devoted a campaign to selling cakes, a long-standing holiday tradition for the restaurant, and sold double the number of cakes as usual.

“If I had taken these classes back when I first opened up, I would have skipped a whole lot of problems,” Fambro says.

Although he had plenty of experience writing business plans, Fambro found the technique he learned through the coursework so effective that he developed a plan to expand his business. His new venture, which includes a first-run movie theater with dinner service, is now slated to open in June 2025.

“When you work in your business, it’s hard to work on your business, but these classes convinced me that I could make changes,” Fambro says.

How one vet turned trauma into triumph

Princess Brownfield, Crown Elevate Project

During the pandemic, while working remotely for the mayor’s office in Washington, D.C. and volunteering, Princess Brownfield had an epiphany: It was time to bet on herself. Brownfield’s volunteerism focused on teaching a course for women about how to overcome trauma in life. As a survivor of domestic violence, Brownfield had done just that. And she was now ready to focus on her holistic coaching endeavor.

So Brownfield took the leap of faith, founding the Crown Elevate Project, a therapeutic coaching program in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia, to help girls and women to create positive inner change for both themselves and their communities. But to succeed, Brownfield needed to sharpen her entrepreneurial skills.

Through the Black Chamber of Commerce, Brownfield discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready courses, which have built up her confidence, as well as her business. One major benefit of the courses, Brownfield says, was “helping us refine our approach to scaling operations and expanding our online presence,” so she could effectively diversify her income streams into three sources: corporate contracts, corporate workshops, and e-commerce stores that sell apparel, journals, and more. She was able to launch e-commerce stores on both retail and social media platforms after taking the course “Sell Effectively Online: eCommerce Essentials.” They now account for 35% of her total revenue.

Overall, Brownfield has seen a 10 to 15% growth in sales and a 20% increase in online media followers since taking the courses. Thanks to her expanded reach, Brownfield has been able to change lives through her coaching of at-risk adolescent girls. “The girls tell me everything, Brownfield says, “and that’s what keeps me going.”

Adaptation is essential in both the service and in business

Jevon Wooden, BrightMind Consulting Group

Jevon Wooden’s business, BrightMind Consulting Group in Houston, Texas, evolved from a previous entrepreneurial effort. While running his first company, Wooden recognized that personal well-being directly influences professional success. This insight led him to rebrand his business with a focus on emotional intelligence and its connection to improved performance. Wooden, who has firsthand experience with mental health challenges after struggling with PTSD upon leaving the armed services, saw how a shift in outlook could transform a person’s life.

At BrightMind, Wooden offers one-on-one and group coaching on mindset and emotional intelligence, and also develops corporate programs that include keynote addresses and group facilitation.

In 2022, Wooden discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, which showed him more efficient ways to operate his business. That type of knowledge, he says, is “helpful for anyone, no matter what phase of business you’re in.” Wooden also learned to be intentional when going after contracts and discovered the value of certification. He became certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, which led to his first government contract, doing professional development for teachers in a Texas school district. “[The contract] validated my business and provided a tangible boost to our revenue stream,” Wooden says.

Wooden continues to be driven by the same motivation as when he started his business: community. And he’s found the value of connecting with other entrepreneurs, through the Verizon platform, as they all reach for success, together. “There’s no fast way to success, but if you can get into a community of people who… are looking to gain relationships and insight, you get that accountability,” Wooden explains. “That’s the best way for you to grow as a business owner.”

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1 million small businesses by 2030 with the resources to thrive in the digital economy. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts. To sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, visit digitalready.verizonwireless.com. An individual user’s experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.

KeyBank and the KeyBank Foundation proudly announced an investment of $300,000 the Indianapolis Urban League (IUL) to expand its Entrepreneurship Center Program (ECP).

The ECP was established in 2021 to support entrepreneurs in developing, launching, sustaining, and expanding minority-owned small businesses in Central Indiana and the surrounding counties. This comprehensive program offers both current and prospective small business owners access to in-person and virtual workshops, short-term industry-recognized training credentials, individualized coaching, and resources to help maximize revenue, reduce costs, enhance profitability, and create job opportunities.

Using funding from KeyBank, IUL aims to enhance the ECP by offering more comprehensive programming and services tailored to each entrepreneur’s business stage at the time of enrollment. This expansion will enable IUL to provide additional resources and support to participants throughout their time in the program. These added resources will include mentoring, financial literacy training, logo and website design, among others.

“KeyBank recognizes the critical role that minority-owned businesses play in driving economic growth and building stronger communities,” said Juan Gonzalez, KeyBank Central Indiana Market President. “Supporting the Indianapolis Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Center Program allows us to help break down barriers for these entrepreneurs by providing the resources, training, and mentorship they need to succeed. This investment reflects our continued commitment to fostering equity, opportunity, and sustainable success for businesses that are vital to the future of Central Indiana.”

Since 2021 the program has achieved the following:

Enrolled 196 small businesses in six (6) cohortsAwarded over $146,000 in IUL Helping Hand Grant Funds ($101,000 2022 and $45,00 in 2023)Provided over $50,000 to 175 entrepreneurs participating in the IUL Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair in 2022 and 2023Program participants were awarded over $398,501 in other grant and funding supportConducted over 75 small business workshopsConducted over 2,893 total small business counseling hours20 small business owners earned industry-recognized training credentials

“KeyBank understands what it takes to help establish and grow a business in Central Indiana. The Indianapolis Urban League is truly appreciative of our partnership with KeyBank and their generous contribution of $300,000 to help support our Entrepreneurship Center Program,” said Tony Mason, Indianapolis Urban League President and CEO. “The contribution will help to ensure that ECP participants, established and aspiring minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs are prepared to succeed, create generational wealth and contribute to the economic vitality of Indianapolis and Central Indiana.”

Covia highlights the dedication and leadership of team members who have made a significant impact on the job or in their communities by sharing their stories. Today we recognize Adam Beatty, Senior Plant Manager of Covia’s North American clay operations. For the past 17 years, Adam has been helping to create a family-like work environment at Covia plants from Indiana to Georgia. Keep reading to learn more about Adam, how he got started with Covia, and how his team navigated the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Building an Empowering Work Environment

Adam studied at North Carolina State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in textiles and getting a job in the industry after graduating. In 2007, Adam left the world of textiles and accepted a position at Covia’s Hephzibah, Georgia, location as the plant superintendent – working under the plant manager to oversee the daily operations of the facility. “One of the first things I noticed when I changed industries was how familial the atmosphere in the plant was,” Adam said. “Covia’s Hephzibah plant had a real family atmosphere compared to the textile world.”

In 2013, Adam received a promotion to the position of Plant Manager at Covia’s facility in Troup, Texas. He took on additional responsibilities by overseeing three plants in Georgia: Junction City, Hephzibah, and McIntyre, simultaneously managing these locations due to existing vacancies. Adam successfully managed all three plants for several months until permanent plant managers could be appointed to fill the vacant roles.

Today, in his current role as Senior Plant Manager, Adam oversees all four of Covia’s clay plants – Troup, Texas; McIntyre, Georgia; Hephzibah, Georgia; and Huntingburg, Indiana. “While most people across the organization understand how our sand and mineral operations work, clay is a totally different world,” Adam noted. “We use different parameters and processing equipment to serve customers in the fiberglass and ceramic industries. A lot of people don’t know that the ceramic that goes into your toilets, tile, and bathroom sinks are produced from the clay mined at our plants.”

Adam works alongside the team members at each plant he oversees, helping to create the same “family” environment that he felt when he first started at Covia. “I’m inspired by the mentors I’ve had over the years. One of my former mentors, now retired, was the plant manager at Hephzibah. He was a mild-mannered leader who was very knowledgeable,” Adam said. “He helped lead a team that cared and looked out for each other. I like that approach, and now the team at our plant looks at each other not as managers and subordinates, but as teammates with the same goal.”

Navigating the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

In late September of 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the southeastern portion of the United States, including Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. While the storm was initially expected to follow a path toward Columbus, Georgia, it moved east and brought 100 mph winds to Hephzibah. “We didn’t initially make plans for the hurricane since it wasn’t expected to impact our area,” Adam added. “Once we noticed it was moving in our direction, we started having conversations and taking steps to make sure everyone stayed safe. That included closing our plants doors early and not opening the morning the storm was expected to hit.”

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene hit the community around our Hephzibah plant. “While the plant only suffered minor damages – fallen trees on the property, lost tin on the roof, and some light flooding – the community where our team members live and work was hit hard,” Adam said. “Nearly all of our employees had some sort of damage to their homes or vehicles – or they had family members who were greatly impacted.” In addition to the storm damage, the plant and members of the community were left without power for nearly two weeks.

“I remember the morning after the storm hit. My phone started ringing with calls from employees from the plant. Everybody was checking in with each other to make sure they were doing alright. A lot of team members have worked here for a long time. They wanted to make sure their friends were okay.”

In the aftermath of the storm, Adam and the team at Hephzibah got to work to make a positive impact for their coworkers and community. “The gas stations were all closed, so we opened up the plant to help fuel cars for employees so they could get around the area,” Adam noted. “We also loaned the city of Hephzibah a front-end loader from the plant to help clear the debris and fallen trees from the roads. Drivers could barely get from point A to point B without running into a road closure.”

To help ease the impact the storm had on families, Covia jumped into action to help provide emergency funds to team members in need. “Covia was able to put a plan in place to help employees with emergency financial assistance through the Covia Cares Emergency Relief Fund, administered by the Emergency Assistance Foundation. Even though the plant was unable to operate, team members were eligible to receive $500 immediately and up to an additional $1,500 through other channels as a result of the federally declared natural disaster to help stock up on food, purchase generators, and provide temporary housing, if needed.”

Covia was able to provide additional financial assistance for over 40 employees who were affected by Hurricane Helene. Covia emphasizes the importance of looking out for one another, much like the team at the Hephzibah Plant. It was great to see the company rally around its employees during a challenging time.

Team members stepped up as well to help one another. “The team helped each other out – letting one another borrow generators and tools to remove debris from their driveway. I am really impressed by how everyone was able to get together during a time of need to help build each other back up.”

NEW ORLEANS, November 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Entergy is pleased to serve as a platinum sponsor of the 51st Bayou Classic, an annual event that celebrates the rich heritage and legacy of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Entergy has a longstanding commitment to powering life for its customers and communities. The prominent football game, played between the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State University Tigers, serves as a platform to not only showcase exceptional athletic talent but also to honor the traditions, achievements and contributions of HBCUs to American society.

“We’re honored to again sponsor the Bayou Classic and help support a celebration that has become an iconic part of Thanksgiving weekend here in New Orleans,” said Drew Marsh, Entergy’s chair and chief executive officer. “Entergy is proud to continue our longstanding collaboration with HBCUs, through which we have created more opportunities for students to thrive. As an energy industry leader, it’s important that we develop future generations, fostering a diverse and innovative energy workforce that will strengthen our entire community.”

The Bayou Classic, presented by P&G, draws more than 200,000 people to New Orleans each year, providing numerous opportunities to highlight on a national scale all that the city and state have to offer. Entergy’s sponsorship will have a significant impact on the local community, generating economic benefits for the city of New Orleans through increased tourism and revenue for local businesses.

Ranked as the No. 1 HBCU Classic in the nation, the football game will be played Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Entergy recognizes the significance of HBCUs in shaping the educational landscape and empowering generations of Black students. With roots in New Orleans for more than 100 years, the company is committed to taking meaningful action to help create opportunities for fostering HBCU student success, as well as building a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce in its communities. Earlier this year, Entergy announced a 10-year, $20 million commitment to elevate and empower HBCUs and their students across the company’s service area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The expansion of Entergy’s The Power of Prosperity program will support HBCUs and students with enhanced education, career readiness and workforce development programs.

Entergy looks forward to a memorable 51st Annual Bayou Classic event that celebrates the achievements and cultural significance of HBCUs. Learn more about Entergy’s commitment to building diverse communities.

About Entergy

Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability, resilience and growth of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and connect with @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

Contact

Media inquiries: Cristina del Canto|504-576-4238|mdelcan@entergy.com

FOUNDATION NEWS

The Magic Behind RayDay

For those of you who’ve been with us for the past decade, please know that the real “magic” behind RayDay comes from Sue Anne Morgan and the incredible team at idealand. While we’ve always strived to make RayDay as sustainable as possible, it’s Sue Anne and her team that have helped us elevate RayDay to the event it is today. With her leadership, we moved from a “sustainably-minded” event to a climate neutral, zero-food waste event.

Sue Anne has always been there to help ensure we make mindful decisions through a true green lens. Examples include food trucks with locally sourced food, commercially compostable plates, cups, napkins, utensils, natural sodas, sustainable beer and wine choices, and dedicated waste ambassadors, well placed to be sure we stay on the right track.

If you’re considering your own event in and around Atlanta, and you want to make it green and truly “walk the talk,” idealand should be your partner of choice. Sue Anne even wrote a blog explaining how she does it. Read “Tips for Planning a Green Event.”

Several new exhibitors joined us this year in the Kids Tent. The header of this newsletter features the work of No More Liddering, which engaged kids at RayDay to create beautiful art from recycled and otherwise non-recyclable materials like plastic drink lids and Mardi Gras beads.

Atlanta Toolbank helped kids build toys while learning about the shared economy, and The Wylde Center featured art activities based on the natural world.

Other highlights from RayDay 2024 included an expanded EV Showcase area with the latest OEM vehicles from Kia and Porsche, a fleet vehicle from Cobb County Fleet Management, two electric buses (Blue Bird’s EV school bus and a 14 passenger EV shuttle bus from Amplify Your Ride), and a DRIVE H2 hydrogen golf car from Yamaha. Read a full recap of RayDay 2024 here.

Mobile Solar Microgrid Trailer Deployed to Support Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

In late September, following Hurricane Helene, The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church deployed a solar-powered disaster response trailer that the Foundation funded in 2023 through a grant to the Footprint Project. 

The trailer’s first-ever deployment was to Camp Tygart outside of Valdosta where it provided power for lights, freezers, refrigerators, and a cooling station for early responders working in the hardest hit communities in South Georgia. This trailer is the first solar microgrid of its type, built in Georgia, for use in Georgia. Read the full story.

RAY C. ANDERSON CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Annual Report

The Center supports Scheller College’s vision of being a global leader in education, research, and inclusive innovation to advance business and improve the human condition. It empowers the leaders of tomorrow to create sustainable businesses and communities. The 2023-24 Annual Report includes stories about student success, faculty research, collective impact initiatives, and more. Read the report.

Scheller’s MBA Net Impact Chapter Recognized

Scheller College’s Net Impact MBA Chapter was selected as the 2023-24 U.S. Graduate Chapter of the Year. Awards are given to chapters demonstrating dedication to Net Impact’s mission to inspire and equip emerging leaders to build a more just and sustainable world. Five chapters (among 300 global chapters) are honored annually. Emily Bodiford, MBA ’23, said, “This recognition underscores our commitment to driving positive change and creating lasting impact within our community and beyond.” Read the article.

Equity in Sunshine

Amanda Ehrenhalt, an industrial and systems engineering major who is committed to sustainability on campus and in her future career, shares lessons learned from a transformative summer internship with Renewvia Solar Africa. The internship solidified Amanda’s desire to pursue a career that can make a more equitable and sustainable world. Read the reflection.

Beril Toktay on Scheller Business Insights

Scheller Business Insights is a dynamic video series that highlights the innovative thought leadership of Scheller faculty. In a recent episode, Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business Faculty Director, Beril Toktay, defines net zero and discusses some ways to alleviate climate change by reducing carbon emissions to the point of net zero emissions. Watch the video.

DRAWDOWN GEORGIA BUSINESS COMPACT

The Drawdown Georgia Business Compact leverages the collective impact of the Georgia business community to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the state through a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition. Three members of the Compact spent the summer making progress in their efforts to positively impact the circular economy. The Forest Carbon Working Group has been busy bringing together key marketplace and educational leaders to address maximizing carbon removal, new economic opportunities for landowners, and protecting biodiversity in the state. Also, the Compact collaborated with Georgia Tech partners to convene experts for a workshop on driving sustainable aviation fuel in the Southeast.

DRAWDOWN GEORGIA

Climate Solutions for Congregations

Drawdown Georgia and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) co-hosted this special conversation with representatives from congregations across our state who are putting climate solutions into action. From installing rooftop solar and improving energy efficiency to installing EV chargers to creating composting and recycling programs, there are so many ways for congregations to reduce GHG emissions and help solve for climate. Watch the video.

Electric School Buses Drive Progresss on Climate Solutions in Georgia

Electrifying transportation in Georgia is a powerful climate solution, and the benefits of upgrading to electric school buses go beyond carbon. The transition to electric buses supports the local economy and can positively impact our kids’ health, too. 

We recently spoke with representatives from 2024-25 Climate Solutions & Equity Grant recipients Mothers & Others for Clean Air about their partnership with the Georgia State Medical Association and Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action to advance the transition to electric school buses in Georgia’s school districts. 

The Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grants program is a collaborative philanthropy initiative to meet grassroots community-based organizations where they are at the intersection of climate and equity. Funders for this grant included the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Ghanta Family Foundation, the Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Foundation, the Dobbs Fund, the Reilly Family Fund, and the Tull Charitable Foundation. Read the full story here.

Sustainable Transportation: A Climate Digest Interview

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Georgia. Choosing to walk, bike, or take mass transit to get where you’re going can have a big impact when enough of us make small changes in how we get around. Tune into this interview with John Devine, executive director of Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes) to learn all about sustainable transportation alternatives. Watch the video.

Drawdown Georgia Sustainable Transportation Toolkit

John Devine, executive director of Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes) is the author of Drawdown Georga’s latest climate solutions toolkit. Click here for the toolkit.

BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE

Biomimicry Institute Unveils New 10-year Strategy

The Biomimicry Institute, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing a Nature Positive, inclusive, and regenerative world inspired and guided by nature’s genius, announced the launch of its ambitious 10-year strategy at New York Climate Week.

Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of The Biomimicry Institute, commented, “Our new strategic plan acknowledges the critical urgency of today’s environmental and societal challenges, yet we approach these issues with optimism and enthusiasm. We are confident that biomimicry can play a transformative role in creating a Nature Positive future, where our solutions not only address these challenges but do so with a sense of joy and hope, aligning human systems with nature’s wisdom”

This new plan directly addresses three critical global challenges: climate change and biodiversity loss, the disconnection between humans and nature, and the pervasive ‘take-make-waste’ culture. Read the plan here.

Focus on the 2024 Ray of Hope Accelerator Cohort

In today’s fast-paced world, we all seek connection, a sense of belonging, and purpose that ties us to something greater than ourselves. The connection between the startup founders in the Ray of Hope Accelerator goes beyond just launching a startup. The teams are scaling nature-inspired technologies to address urgent environmental and social challenges. This is no small feat, and many early-stage founders often find themselves working solo or with a small, close-knit team. Lacking a strong support network can be a major barrier for founders in sustaining the mental, emotional, and physical resilience needed when scaling these important climate solutions. 

Read the latest blog from the 2024 Ray of Hope Accelerator Retreat, written by Sarah McInerney, ROH Accelerator Program Manager.

Tardigrades and Silkworms: Nature’s Secret to Smarter Seed Coatings

The Biomimicry Institute is proud to highlight the 2023 Ray of Hope finalists, as they tell their stories via video. See the other 2023 cohort videos here.

FOUNDATION NEWS

The Magic Behind RayDay

For those of you who’ve been with us for the past decade, please know that the real “magic” behind RayDay comes from Sue Anne Morgan and the incredible team at idealand. While we’ve always strived to make RayDay as sustainable as possible, it’s Sue Anne and her team that have helped us elevate RayDay to the event it is today. With her leadership, we moved from a “sustainably-minded” event to a climate neutral, zero-food waste event.

Sue Anne has always been there to help ensure we make mindful decisions through a true green lens. Examples include food trucks with locally sourced food, commercially compostable plates, cups, napkins, utensils, natural sodas, sustainable beer and wine choices, and dedicated waste ambassadors, well placed to be sure we stay on the right track.

If you’re considering your own event in and around Atlanta, and you want to make it green and truly “walk the talk,” idealand should be your partner of choice. Sue Anne even wrote a blog explaining how she does it. Read “Tips for Planning a Green Event.”

Several new exhibitors joined us this year in the Kids Tent. The header of this newsletter features the work of No More Liddering, which engaged kids at RayDay to create beautiful art from recycled and otherwise non-recyclable materials like plastic drink lids and Mardi Gras beads.

Atlanta Toolbank helped kids build toys while learning about the shared economy, and The Wylde Center featured art activities based on the natural world.

Other highlights from RayDay 2024 included an expanded EV Showcase area with the latest OEM vehicles from Kia and Porsche, a fleet vehicle from Cobb County Fleet Management, two electric buses (Blue Bird’s EV school bus and a 14 passenger EV shuttle bus from Amplify Your Ride), and a DRIVE H2 hydrogen golf car from Yamaha. Read a full recap of RayDay 2024 here.

Mobile Solar Microgrid Trailer Deployed to Support Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

In late September, following Hurricane Helene, The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church deployed a solar-powered disaster response trailer that the Foundation funded in 2023 through a grant to the Footprint Project. 

The trailer’s first-ever deployment was to Camp Tygart outside of Valdosta where it provided power for lights, freezers, refrigerators, and a cooling station for early responders working in the hardest hit communities in South Georgia. This trailer is the first solar microgrid of its type, built in Georgia, for use in Georgia. Read the full story.

RAY C. ANDERSON CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Annual Report

The Center supports Scheller College’s vision of being a global leader in education, research, and inclusive innovation to advance business and improve the human condition. It empowers the leaders of tomorrow to create sustainable businesses and communities. The 2023-24 Annual Report includes stories about student success, faculty research, collective impact initiatives, and more. Read the report.

Scheller’s MBA Net Impact Chapter Recognized

Scheller College’s Net Impact MBA Chapter was selected as the 2023-24 U.S. Graduate Chapter of the Year. Awards are given to chapters demonstrating dedication to Net Impact’s mission to inspire and equip emerging leaders to build a more just and sustainable world. Five chapters (among 300 global chapters) are honored annually. Emily Bodiford, MBA ’23, said, “This recognition underscores our commitment to driving positive change and creating lasting impact within our community and beyond.” Read the article.

Equity in Sunshine

Amanda Ehrenhalt, an industrial and systems engineering major who is committed to sustainability on campus and in her future career, shares lessons learned from a transformative summer internship with Renewvia Solar Africa. The internship solidified Amanda’s desire to pursue a career that can make a more equitable and sustainable world. Read the reflection.

Beril Toktay on Scheller Business Insights

Scheller Business Insights is a dynamic video series that highlights the innovative thought leadership of Scheller faculty. In a recent episode, Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business Faculty Director, Beril Toktay, defines net zero and discusses some ways to alleviate climate change by reducing carbon emissions to the point of net zero emissions. Watch the video.

DRAWDOWN GEORGIA BUSINESS COMPACT

The Drawdown Georgia Business Compact leverages the collective impact of the Georgia business community to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the state through a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition. Three members of the Compact spent the summer making progress in their efforts to positively impact the circular economy. The Forest Carbon Working Group has been busy bringing together key marketplace and educational leaders to address maximizing carbon removal, new economic opportunities for landowners, and protecting biodiversity in the state. Also, the Compact collaborated with Georgia Tech partners to convene experts for a workshop on driving sustainable aviation fuel in the Southeast.

DRAWDOWN GEORGIA

Climate Solutions for Congregations

Drawdown Georgia and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) co-hosted this special conversation with representatives from congregations across our state who are putting climate solutions into action. From installing rooftop solar and improving energy efficiency to installing EV chargers to creating composting and recycling programs, there are so many ways for congregations to reduce GHG emissions and help solve for climate. Watch the video.

Electric School Buses Drive Progresss on Climate Solutions in Georgia

Electrifying transportation in Georgia is a powerful climate solution, and the benefits of upgrading to electric school buses go beyond carbon. The transition to electric buses supports the local economy and can positively impact our kids’ health, too. 

We recently spoke with representatives from 2024-25 Climate Solutions & Equity Grant recipients Mothers & Others for Clean Air about their partnership with the Georgia State Medical Association and Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action to advance the transition to electric school buses in Georgia’s school districts. 

The Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grants program is a collaborative philanthropy initiative to meet grassroots community-based organizations where they are at the intersection of climate and equity. Funders for this grant included the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Ghanta Family Foundation, the Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Foundation, the Dobbs Fund, the Reilly Family Fund, and the Tull Charitable Foundation. Read the full story here.

Sustainable Transportation: A Climate Digest Interview

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Georgia. Choosing to walk, bike, or take mass transit to get where you’re going can have a big impact when enough of us make small changes in how we get around. Tune into this interview with John Devine, executive director of Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes) to learn all about sustainable transportation alternatives. Watch the video.

Drawdown Georgia Sustainable Transportation Toolkit

John Devine, executive director of Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes) is the author of Drawdown Georga’s latest climate solutions toolkit. Click here for the toolkit.

BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE

Biomimicry Institute Unveils New 10-year Strategy

The Biomimicry Institute, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing a Nature Positive, inclusive, and regenerative world inspired and guided by nature’s genius, announced the launch of its ambitious 10-year strategy at New York Climate Week.

Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of The Biomimicry Institute, commented, “Our new strategic plan acknowledges the critical urgency of today’s environmental and societal challenges, yet we approach these issues with optimism and enthusiasm. We are confident that biomimicry can play a transformative role in creating a Nature Positive future, where our solutions not only address these challenges but do so with a sense of joy and hope, aligning human systems with nature’s wisdom”

This new plan directly addresses three critical global challenges: climate change and biodiversity loss, the disconnection between humans and nature, and the pervasive ‘take-make-waste’ culture. Read the plan here.

Focus on the 2024 Ray of Hope Accelerator Cohort

In today’s fast-paced world, we all seek connection, a sense of belonging, and purpose that ties us to something greater than ourselves. The connection between the startup founders in the Ray of Hope Accelerator goes beyond just launching a startup. The teams are scaling nature-inspired technologies to address urgent environmental and social challenges. This is no small feat, and many early-stage founders often find themselves working solo or with a small, close-knit team. Lacking a strong support network can be a major barrier for founders in sustaining the mental, emotional, and physical resilience needed when scaling these important climate solutions. 

Read the latest blog from the 2024 Ray of Hope Accelerator Retreat, written by Sarah McInerney, ROH Accelerator Program Manager.

Tardigrades and Silkworms: Nature’s Secret to Smarter Seed Coatings

The Biomimicry Institute is proud to highlight the 2023 Ray of Hope finalists, as they tell their stories via video. See the other 2023 cohort videos here.

This story was originally published on TriplePundit.

By Javier Quiñones

Collective action on climate change is powerful. We know more than half of the world’s largest companies have set net-zero targets and are exploring new technologies, implementing better processes and re-designing their business models in support of a brighter future.

At IKEA, we believe we can do far more together on climate change than any of us can do as individuals. That’s why, along with our own work to reduce emissions in our business operations, we’re always looking for opportunities to connect with other organizations to share ideas, resources and inspiration.

One of our key platforms for collaboration is ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S., an ongoing series of convenings where we bring together some of the brightest minds on tough environmental and social challenges. As part of this platform, we brought together leaders during Climate Week NYC at the Nest Climate Campus, alongside Action Speaks — a climate initiative founded by Ingka Group. We were honored to host several dialogues as part of these events, covering topics like reducing built environment emissions and driving behavioral change for a circular economy.

We were excited to bring passionate leaders together to continue important and inspiring conversations. In a panel focused on the circular economy, IKEA U.S. Head of Marketing Shideh Hashemi shared the stage with Poshmark CMO Steven Tristan Young, Dacie Meng of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Randi Kronthal-Sacco of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Circularity 24 emerging leader Drexlar Attram to discuss ways to encourage more sustainable consumption through a circular economy. In speaking about the built environment, we heard from our partners, Rewiring America, EXP and Baywa r.e. Power Solutions, and discussed how improving building efficiency can also drive down operating costs long-term.

Driving action with internal changemakers

For a large global organization like IKEA, it’s essential to collaborate and partner internally. Climate change is a global challenge with local solutions and we continue to stay flexible, knowing that what works best in the U.S. may not be a solution in other countries around the world.

This Climate Week, we were excited to stand alongside the Action Speaks exhibition for the first time. Action Speaks is a platform that showcases innovative climate solutions and inspires other companies to learn from, replicate and adapt them. The platform features events and opportunities for individuals and organizations to present climate solutions related to how we eat, power, move, make, grow and finance. At Climate Week NYC, Action Speaks put a spotlight on climate solutions in a 3,200-square-foot experiential exhibit at the Nest Climate Campus, where visitors explored ideas to improve energy efficiency, optimize supply chains, increase circularity in food systems, protect and restore ecosystems and more.

The underlying theme of Action Speaks is that “actions speak louder than words,” and at IKEA, we carry that sentiment in everything we do.

Building the business case together

Rob Olson, chief operating officer of IKEA U.S., and Mardi Ditze, the IKEA U.S. sustainability manager, spoke during ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S. about how different teams across IKEA come together to create climate solutions.

Rob reflected on how it is often a challenge to implement and operate sustainable projects while still considering their short-term impact on the company’s bottom line. However, collaborating across teams from operations, sustainability, construction and other departments to discuss opportunities and the best way forward was the key to success.

Initially, sustainability and finance may seem at odds, but communication and partnership across teams helps us build the business case to create lasting change. Today, Rob and Mardi’s teams work together at IKEA U.S. to scale renewable energy, battery storage and other solutions across our business, while leveraging resources like local and federal incentives to manage costs.

The power of positive thinking 

Every day, I hear stories of positive progress and learn about promising climate solutions. These stories give me hope, and should be told far more often. At IKEA, we believe in the power of positive thinking and want to continue making space for action-oriented conversations that invite people to learn from each other’s successes – and failures – so we can all get better along the way.

IKEA continues to strive toward becoming as affordable, accessible and sustainable for as many people as it can. By bringing people together and creating opportunities for conversation and action, we continue to practice our commitment to help build a more sustainable and vibrant future. We’re proud of the progress that’s come out of our ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S. event series and can’t wait to see what purpose-driven leaders will put into action after Climate Week.

I’d also like to personally invite you to join us — because this work requires everyone. If you have ideas to share and would like to be invited to future ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S. events, please let our team know by reaching out to ohop.24.us@ingka.ikea.com.

You can also join us by signing up as a member of Action Speaks or submitting examples of scalable climate solutions.

This article series is sponsored by IKEA U.S.

This story was originally published on TriplePundit.

By Javier Quiñones

Collective action on climate change is powerful. We know more than half of the world’s largest companies have set net-zero targets and are exploring new technologies, implementing better processes and re-designing their business models in support of a brighter future.

At IKEA, we believe we can do far more together on climate change than any of us can do as individuals. That’s why, along with our own work to reduce emissions in our business operations, we’re always looking for opportunities to connect with other organizations to share ideas, resources and inspiration.

One of our key platforms for collaboration is ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S., an ongoing series of convenings where we bring together some of the brightest minds on tough environmental and social challenges. As part of this platform, we brought together leaders during Climate Week NYC at the Nest Climate Campus, alongside Action Speaks — a climate initiative founded by Ingka Group. We were honored to host several dialogues as part of these events, covering topics like reducing built environment emissions and driving behavioral change for a circular economy.

We were excited to bring passionate leaders together to continue important and inspiring conversations. In a panel focused on the circular economy, IKEA U.S. Head of Marketing Shideh Hashemi shared the stage with Poshmark CMO Steven Tristan Young, Dacie Meng of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Randi Kronthal-Sacco of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Circularity 24 emerging leader Drexlar Attram to discuss ways to encourage more sustainable consumption through a circular economy. In speaking about the built environment, we heard from our partners, Rewiring America, EXP and Baywa r.e. Power Solutions, and discussed how improving building efficiency can also drive down operating costs long-term.

Driving action with internal changemakers

For a large global organization like IKEA, it’s essential to collaborate and partner internally. Climate change is a global challenge with local solutions and we continue to stay flexible, knowing that what works best in the U.S. may not be a solution in other countries around the world.

This Climate Week, we were excited to stand alongside the Action Speaks exhibition for the first time. Action Speaks is a platform that showcases innovative climate solutions and inspires other companies to learn from, replicate and adapt them. The platform features events and opportunities for individuals and organizations to present climate solutions related to how we eat, power, move, make, grow and finance. At Climate Week NYC, Action Speaks put a spotlight on climate solutions in a 3,200-square-foot experiential exhibit at the Nest Climate Campus, where visitors explored ideas to improve energy efficiency, optimize supply chains, increase circularity in food systems, protect and restore ecosystems and more.

The underlying theme of Action Speaks is that “actions speak louder than words,” and at IKEA, we carry that sentiment in everything we do.

Building the business case together

Rob Olson, chief operating officer of IKEA U.S., and Mardi Ditze, the IKEA U.S. sustainability manager, spoke during ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S. about how different teams across IKEA come together to create climate solutions.

Rob reflected on how it is often a challenge to implement and operate sustainable projects while still considering their short-term impact on the company’s bottom line. However, collaborating across teams from operations, sustainability, construction and other departments to discuss opportunities and the best way forward was the key to success.

Initially, sustainability and finance may seem at odds, but communication and partnership across teams helps us build the business case to create lasting change. Today, Rob and Mardi’s teams work together at IKEA U.S. to scale renewable energy, battery storage and other solutions across our business, while leveraging resources like local and federal incentives to manage costs.

The power of positive thinking 

Every day, I hear stories of positive progress and learn about promising climate solutions. These stories give me hope, and should be told far more often. At IKEA, we believe in the power of positive thinking and want to continue making space for action-oriented conversations that invite people to learn from each other’s successes – and failures – so we can all get better along the way.

IKEA continues to strive toward becoming as affordable, accessible and sustainable for as many people as it can. By bringing people together and creating opportunities for conversation and action, we continue to practice our commitment to help build a more sustainable and vibrant future. We’re proud of the progress that’s come out of our ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S. event series and can’t wait to see what purpose-driven leaders will put into action after Climate Week.

I’d also like to personally invite you to join us — because this work requires everyone. If you have ideas to share and would like to be invited to future ONE HOME, ONE PLANET U.S. events, please let our team know by reaching out to ohop.24.us@ingka.ikea.com.

You can also join us by signing up as a member of Action Speaks or submitting examples of scalable climate solutions.

This article series is sponsored by IKEA U.S.