Tag: 3BL

Jennifer Bogs, Director of Global Sustainability at Crown Holdings Inc. discusses how the ASI Standards have supported Crown in elevating their sustainability efforts, enhancing the Twentyby30™ program through improved due diligence, biodiversity planning, and greater transparency in the aluminium supply chain.

Raising our standards

Crown is committed to conducting our business in the most responsible way possible. With ASI as the world’s leading organisation in the responsible sourcing of aluminium, our ASI membership means that we’ve raised standards for ourselves, our customers and our suppliers up and down the supply chain. We are looking deeply at the ASI Standards and increasing the level of transparency, our due diligence and risk management planning.

Increasing due diligence, embracing biodiversity and enhancing collaboration

Crown has embraced a new way of looking at how we conduct business because of ASI, and there have been changes implemented to be in line with ASI Certification. For example, biodiversity is a new area in sustainability, and we have increased the level of due diligence and developed robust biodiversity plans that were not in place before joining ASI. In addition to the IBAT desktop assessment, we contracted a biodiversity expert to conduct our first visual on the ground assessment of biodiversity impacts in two of our regions. Now we have the mitigation strategies and will be implementing them.

It’s eye-opening just how much ASI touches on and to the deeper level that ASI does. For example, we have expanded the scope of our due diligence, and our legal and procurement teams are working on ensuring that we have the necessary checks and balances in place for the aluminium supply chain. We have done a more in-depth review of human rights impacts via the Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA), which we are conducting regionally. We’ve been able to drill down into our operations and ask questions we were not asking previously, prompting us to investigate even further. The HRIAs will serve us in other areas of company action, for example, evaluating materiality and looking at it from the outside in. We have increased collaboration within the company and there’s learning back and forth. The executive leadership teams are being educated on biodiversity and, in turn, the wider team is being educated on what it means to conduct due diligence of the supply chain.

It has been refreshing to see that the ASI Standards are balanced and do not look at any one principle to the exclusion of others. For example, many organisations place a lot of emphasis on climate but not as much emphasis on other areas such as water and biodiversity. With this approach, one loses sight of the nexus and how interrelated these subject areas all are. At Crown as part of our Twentyby30TM sustainability program, we have as many water goals as we have climate goals, and so we agree with elevating the importance of the broader scope of sustainability.

Elevating our different sustainability programs

Our sustainability goals and program are very broad reaching. We have goals on climate, renewable energy, emissions reduction, water reduction and replenishment, circularity – increasing the recycled content of products, increasing recyclability of our products, safety and diversity, to name a few.

We are proud of how Crown has elevated its Twentyby30TM Best Practices Program in recent years and increased information sharing and learning between our plants. The Best Practices Program ensures that our several hundred plants are open and communicative about what they’re doing. That way, the good work that is being done in one plant is shared across the other plants and implemented. The Program has enabled us to identify projects that have yielded energy and water savings and increased safety measures – multiplying the wins and ideas across the different sites.

We have made strides in our renewal energy procurement and water replenishment. As RE 100 members (Renewal Energy) we have a goal to be 100% renewable. We have increased our water replenishment projects, with a goal to replenish 100% of the water that is consumed back to the same region from where it was consumed. We’re doing this through funding projects at grass roots level, working with NGOs, and engaging in projects that directly replenish water. For example, we have a project conserving trees in Brazil and strengthening water systems to have less water loss, providing for regenerative agricultural projects and sharing it with farmers.

We participate in charitable giving programs through our plants who nominate charities that are near and dear to their hearts.

We work through industry partners like Can Manufacturers Institute, Food Industry Asia, Metal Packaging Europe, Abralatas and CANAFEM, among others to improve recycling rates in our global markets and to lead to the implementation of better legislation to yield improved recycling results.

ASI helps to elevate our program and makes sure we are aware of the material impacts that are out there. It has also strengthened the “never compromise” pillar on responsible and ethical sourcing, from our Twentyby30TM sustainability program. With Responsible Sourcing, we’ve made progress in assessing our core suppliers and now we’re looking to expand that and have the rest of our suppliers assessed as well. We have also made good progress under this pillar regarding identifying chemicals of concern to make sure we’re working with products that are safe for customers.

Continuous Improvement

While we are proud of what we have achieved so far, we continue to advance and elevate our performance. On Climate, we’re focusing on what types of new and existing technologies can be leveraged to meet our goals, increasing our renewal energy procurement, installing solar panels at our different locations and reducing the energy load on gas.

With Water, we have set company-wide water quality standards for our locations to abide by and we continue to seek and implement more water replenishment projects globally.

Circularity is also another focus. We’re establishing targets and increasing local engagement to influence legislation, increase recycling rates through more recycling collection equipment, support informal recycling measures and increase recycled content in products.

We are being proactive about identifying safety risks and mitigating those risks, to achieve our aim of reducing the number of injures at our sites.

To improve our diversity, we continue to train and educate employees and review our programs and policies regarding hiring to ensure we are being inclusive.

We remain committed to improving our performance on these goals and to creating more positive impacts in future.

View original content here.

SB’24 San Diego will convene for its 18th edition, uniting 1,200+ sustainability and brand leaders, 200+ speakers, and 50+ exhibiting brands who see environmental and social innovation as critical drivers of long-term business success.

A highlight of this year’s event is the SB Regen Ag Summit. Dive deep into regenerative agriculture with industry leaders, farmers, and innovators. Explore sustainable practices that enhance soil health, improve biodiversity, and create resilient agricultural systems while driving business growth.

As a valued member of the 3BL community, use code “ptr3BL20” to unlock a 20% discount on any pass type.

We hope to see you there!

For more information, please contact events@sustainablebrands.com.

Register Now

SWORDS, Ireland, August 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, today announced its partnership with the Carolina Ascent Football Club, one of the eight inaugural franchises of the United Soccer League’s Super League, the newest Division One women’s professional soccer league in the United States.

Trane Technologies will serve as presenting partner of the Carolina Ascent Women’s Leadership Speaker Series which aims to connect, develop and inspire current and future female leaders across the greater Charlotte area. As presenting partner, Trane Technologies will host several panels featuring female executives who will share their career journey with students and young professionals to help them plan for success in business and life.

“At Trane Technologies, we’re committed to creating an uplifting and inclusive culture where everyone feels empowered to be themselves. Carolina Ascent shares these values and that’s why we’re excited to partner with them as they kick off their inaugural season,” said Carrie Ruddy, senior vice president and chief communications and marketing officer, Trane Technologies. “We’re particularly enthusiastic about the Women’s Leadership Speakers series and the opportunity to inspire the next generation of women leaders.”

Maryann Bruce, managing member of investor group Empower HER Fund, LLC, expressed enthusiasm about forming a strategic partnership with Trane Technologies, stating, “Trane Technologies’ longstanding commitment to community service and fostering an inclusive culture where representation and empowerment are paramount directly aligned with Carolina Ascent’s and Empower Her Fund’s mission.” Bruce added “that this collaboration will help uplift women in the Carolinas, particularly in soccer, by providing more opportunities, amplifying their voices, and supporting their pursuit of excellence both on and off the field.”

Trane Technologies’ partnership with Carolina Ascent is its first collaboration with a women’s professional sports organization. As a result of the partnership, the Trane Technologies logo is featured on the sleeve of the Carolina Ascent away jersey. The company will also sponsor a “Science of Soccer” feature that will be showcased on the scoreboard during matches and the team’s social media channels.

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About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

International Olympic Committee news

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will go down in history for their stunning venues in the heart of Paris and across France, their focus on sustainability and legacy, and the record-breaking performances by athletes from the territories of 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the Refugee Olympic Team.

These Olympic Games were the first to be planned and delivered in line with the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020. They were younger, more inclusive, more urban and more sustainable.

They were the very first Olympic Games with full gender parity, because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allocated 50 per cent of the quota places to female athletes and 50 per cent to male athletes. Olympic and world records were broken, and athletes recorded historic firsts for their countries. Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) are reporting record figures compared to previous Games, with Paris 2024 anticipated to be the most followed Games ever, with over half of the world’s population expected to have engaged with them.

Ahead of the Closing Ceremony at the Stade de France, join us in looking back at the incredible facts and figures from the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

All data as of 11 August 2024.

Sport

19 days of competitionAthletes from the territories of 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team represented32 sports/48 disciplines35 competition venues4 additional sports proposed by the Paris 2024 Organising Committee: skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and breaking15 new events1 sport made its Olympic debut – breaking754 competition sessions329 medal events5,084 medals have been produced, using 18 grammes of iron from the Eiffel Tower20 mixed-gender medal events125 Olympic records broken in 10 disciplines32 world records broken in 8 disciplines91 NOCs and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team won medals4 NOCs won their first Olympic Games gold medal:Botswana: Letsile Tebogo – athletics – men’s 200mDominica: Thea LaFond – athletics – women’s triple jumpGuatemala: Adriana Ruano Oliva – shooting – women’s trapSaint Lucia: Julien Alfred – athletics – women’s 100mFirst medal for the Refugee Olympic Team: Cindy Ngamba (bronze) – boxing – women’s 75kgFirst medal won:Albania: Chermen Valiev (bronze) – wrestling – men’s 74kg freestyleCape Verde: David de Pina (bronze) – boxing – men’s 51kgDominica: Thea LaFond (gold) – athletics – women’s triple jumpSaint Lucia: Julien Alfred (gold) – athletics – women’s 100m

Fans

Throughout Paris and across France, fans have packed out the competition venues and hundreds of celebration sites.

Over 9.5 out of 10 million tickets have been sold145,000 spectators from all around the world gathered in 743 Carrés des Supporters zones located in venue stands during the Games, to cheer for the athletes and create a festive atmosphere – 2,250 of them gathered along the River Seine for the Opening CeremonyNearly one million people came out into the streets to watch the two Olympic road cycling races on 3 and 4 AugustMore than 6 million visitors to celebration sites across the country, including:4.5 million fans across 171 Club 2024 sites that opened for the Games period, with the three biggest – Paris Hôtel de Ville, Parc Georges-Valbon and Marseille – welcoming 15,000 to 20,000 people per dayNations Park: 15 nations hosted their own “House” at La Villette, including Club France, with Park attendance at more than 90,000 people per dayChampions Park: 280,000 people experienced the celebration space at the Eiffel Tower, cheering for 600 medallists from around the worldAcross all types of celebration sites, 95 per cent of visitors rated their experience as good or excellent, demonstrating the enthusiasm of the fans for the Games and free celebrations

Some examples of sports that set new attendance records at the Games:

Basketball – nearly 1.08 million spectatorsRugby 7s – over 530,000 spectatorsHandball – nearly 500,000 spectatorsBeach volleyball – nearly 450,000 spectatorsOn 30 July alone, around 743,000 spectators attended Paris 2024 eventsMore than 4,800 communities have been awarded the Terre de Jeux label, bringing the Games to those who are far from the stadiumsThere were more than 2,500 Cultural Olympiad projects, offering over 100,000 eventsLast night, more than 48,000 Olympic enthusiasts took part in the first-ever mass-participation event organised during the Olympic Games, the Marathon Pour Tous

Gender equality

196 NOC delegations (96 per cent) selected one male and one female athlete as their flagbearers28 out of 32 sports reached full gender equalityA more gender-balanced number of medal events, with the competition schedule comprising 152 women’s events, 157 men’s events and 20 mixed-gender eventsWomen accounted for 50 per cent of the 45,000 volunteersThe staff and Board of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee were 50/50 gender balancedGender parity was achieved among the 10,000 torchbearers/relay participantsThe 40,000 spots for the Marathon Pour Tous mass-participation event were also split equally between men and womenSome examples of record attendances for women’s sports:World record for women’s rugby: 66,000 at the Stade de FranceEuropean record for women’s basketball: 27,000 in LilleRecord attendance for women’s handball: 26,500

Olympic Solidarity

(data correct as of end of competition on 10 August 2024)

The Olympic Solidarity programme helped thousands of athletes qualify for and compete at the Games by providing crucial funding to cover training, equipment and other essential costs, leading to outstanding results.

599 Olympic Solidarity individual scholarship-holders competed (303 men and 296 women)75 medals won by scholarship-holders: 26 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze, plus 132 diplomas195 NOCs received Olympic Solidarity athlete scholarship funding for Paris (159 through individual scholarships and 36 through tailor-made assistance)1 medal and 3 diplomas won by Refugee Athlete Support Grant beneficiaries5 medals won by teams who received Olympic Solidarity Team Support grants: 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, plus 12 diplomas139 Paris 2024 scholarship-holders (64 women and 75 men) were selected as the flagbearers for their NOC at the Opening Ceremony88 Paris 2024 scholarship-holders (45 women and 43 men) were selected as the flagbearers for their NOC at the Closing Ceremony (figure based on provisional list)

Media and broadcast

Paris 2024 reached billions of people around the world thanks to new media rights agreements and the work of the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) team.

36 Media Rights-Holders (including the Olympic Channel)182 broadcast sublicenseesOver half of the world’s population is expected to have engaged via broadcast or digital channels with the Olympic Games Paris 202411,000+ hours produced by OBS8,300+ broadcast personnel1,000+ OBS cameras3,680 microphonesOBS’s online content delivery platform (Content+) has become the primary method of delivering short-form and social media content to the MRHs – more than 17,000 pieces are available (of which approximately 790 pieces are vertical content designed specifically for social media)This has resulted in a total of more than 113,000 downloads over the course of the GamesOver 440 Athlete Moments completed, more than double that of Tokyo 202070+ countries connecting to athletes via the Athlete MomentAI used to support MRHs with automatic highlights generation – over 95,000 highlights created5,733 accredited media (4,155 press + 1,578 photographers)903 domestic / 4,830 international press and photographers2,113 news organisations

Digital

More Olympics fans than ever before used the IOC’s various digital and social platforms to follow the Games:

Unprecedented results on Olympics social media handles, with over 12 billion engagements, more than double that of Tokyo 2020Over 32 million new followers joined Olympics social media during Paris 2024, more than tripling the growth seen during Tokyo 2020Record usage of the Olympic web and app, reaching approximately 300 million people during Paris 2024, the highest for any Olympic Games editionNo. 1 sports app in over 70 territories and the no. 1 app overall in key markets, including the USA, France and Italy

Legacy and impact

Paris 2024 has set new benchmarks for the positive impact and legacy the Games can create for the local communities before, during and long after the event.

Paris 2024 has brought more sport to more people across France30 minutes of daily physical activity at primary schools adopted as a national policy and introduced in all 36,800 French primary schools26,000 children across France received free swimming lessons as part of the 1,2,3 Nagez! programme – including 9,400 from Seine-Saint-Denis5 million young people engaged across eight editions of the Olympic and Paralympic Week5,000 community sports facilities across French neighbourhoods have brought more opportunities to practise sport closer to people’s homes4.5 million people directly benefitting from 1,100 grassroots projects that use sport to improve people’s livesAquatics Centre – strategically located in Seine-Saint-Denis, which lacks sports facilities and where one in every two 11-year-olds cannot swimThe Olympic Village, also in Seine-Saint-Denis, will become a new residential district with 2,800 apartments, including 25 per cent social housingBetween EUR 6.9 and 11.1 billion in economic activity expected to be generated by the Games within the Paris metropolitan area181,100 people found employment in Games-related jobs30,000 people have been trained in new skills for future careers, enhancing their employability and career prospects90 per cent of Games suppliers from France, 78 per cent are small- and middle-sized suppliers

Sustainability

Paris 2024 has set new sustainability standards for global sporting events by doing more with less to reduce the environmental impact of the Games while maximising social and economic benefits.

Paris 2024 aimed to cut carbon emissions by half compared to the average of London 2012 and Rio 201695 per cent of venues were existing or temporaryAll venues accessible by public transportSecond life secured for 90 per cent of equipment and goods The Olympic Village – a new residential and business eco-district constructed with 30 per cent less carbon compared to a regular French construction

Olympic Village

Around 14,000 athletes and entourage members stayed at the Olympic Villages in Paris, Lille, Châteauroux, Marseille and TahitiThe Paris Olympic Village will become a new residential and business eco-district with 2,800 apartments for 6,000 people, 25 per cent of which will be social housing

Olympic Torch Relay

The relay lasted for 68 days, travelling across French cities, towns and territoriesThe torch passed through over 450 towns and citiesIt covered 65 regions, including five overseas territories: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, French Polynesia and Réunion IslandApproximately 11,000 torchbearers participatedAround 8 million spectators came to see the Olympic Torch Relay

CNH brand, Case IH, has announced the expansion of its professional training project to the cities of Tarumã and Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo in Brazil.

Through partnerships, the CNH brand will offer more than 1,400 training courses and technical training in machine maintenance, in addition to specializations in Digital Agriculture and vacancies for the Young Apprentice technical learning program.

“Digital Agriculture has advanced faster and faster in the field and Case IH, as a leading brand in Digital Agriculture, sees, as its mission, to prepare farmers and the job market, because we know the difficulty of labor, especially the most specialized”, comments Christian Gonzalez, vice president of Case IH for Latin America.

In Tarumã, a city in the western region of São Paulo, the project is carried out in partnership with the city hall. 40 vacancies will be offered every 18 months, the training period for the Heavy Machinery Maintenance Technician course. The course is free and will be offered in an exclusive laboratory created by the city hall and the classes taught by the city’s technical school (ETEC).

In Ribeirão Preto, three different training courses will be offered, in partnership with Senai, such as the Agricultural Machinery Maintenance Technician courses and also in Digital Agriculture.

Case IH puts technology within the reach of the farmer, offering a complete system of products and services capable of preparing the rural producer for the challenges of his daily life.

Read the full story here.

Key Points

Marathon Pipe Line (MPL) donated $20,000 to Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) to provide resources and support services to children, individuals and families in Madison County, Illinois.RFM is composed of nine nonprofit organizations working together to address the needs of the community. Making a positive impact on the vulnerable members of the local community is the driving force behind MPL’s Heartland Area philanthropic efforts.

Marathon Pipe Line (MPL) recently made a $20,000 donation to Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) in Wood River, Illinois. The investment will provide resources and support services to children, individuals, and families who have experienced trauma due to violence, addiction, poverty and homelessness.

RFM is a blend of nine nonprofit organizations working together to ensure individuals in Madison County have access to resources and support. Each organization operates as an independent entity yet collaborates strategically to address various needs in the community. RFM provides essential resources including rental and utility assistance, job coaching, interview skills, resume writing, financial literacy, social service navigation, rehabilitation connections, laundry facilities and showers.

“We can amplify our impact and advance our mission of empowering individuals and families in need, making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.”

“The mission, values and efforts of those at RFM closely resemble those of MPL and the employees within the entire Heartland Area,” said MPL Heartland Area Manager Jayson Nohl. “Partnering with RFM allows us both to work toward achieving our goal of enhancing the lives of those less fortunate and those impacted by unfortunate life events.”

Making a positive impact on the vulnerable members of the local community is the driving force behind the MPL Heartland Area’s philanthropic efforts.

“We are profoundly grateful to Marathon Pipe Line for their steadfast dedication to uplifting our local community,” said Rachael Craddick, RFM Fund Development Director. “Their support not only demonstrates their dedication to our cause but also exemplifies the transformative power of corporate philanthropy. With partners like MPL by our side, we can amplify our impact and advance our mission of empowering individuals and families in need, making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.”

August 20, 2024 /3BL/ – My Green Lab, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting sustainability in laboratories, is pleased to announce a new offer for members of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). This collaboration provides discounted access to the My Green Lab Certification program, designed to help laboratories implement and advance sustainable practices. The certification aims to encourage environmentally responsible operations within the scientific community, benefiting both the environment and the research industry.

Through this partnership, RSC members can obtain My Green Lab Certification at a reduced rate. To ensure the highest standards of certification, Impact Laboratories, a subsidiary of My Green Lab, will provide third-party verification.

James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab, stated, “Our agreement with the Royal Society of Chemistry will equip members with tools to adopt sustainable practices in their laboratories, supporting a more sustainable future for scientific research.”

Christian Lautenschläger, Head of Corporate Development at the Royal Society of Chemistry, noted, “This agreement is part of our ongoing efforts to support sustainable practices in our community. We are pleased to collaborate with My Green Lab and Impact Laboratories.”

About My Green Lab

My Green Lab® is a nonprofit environmental organization with a mission to build a global culture of sustainability in science. The organization is the world leader in developing internationally recognized sustainability standards for laboratories and laboratory products—bringing sustainability to the community responsible for the world’s life-changing medical and technical innovations. Laboratories are some of the most resource-intensive spaces in any industry, but they don’t have to be. By introducing a new perspective and proven best practices within a carefully crafted framework, My Green Lab has inspired tens of thousands of scientists and lab professionals to make positive changes in their labs by reducing the environmental impact of their work.

About Impact Laboratories

Impact Laboratories, a subsidiary of My Green Lab, helps measure, certify and verify labs around the world that are taking concrete steps to become more sustainable. The organization provides third-party verification and enterprise scale software tools that give the entire scientific community yet another reason to accelerate the journey to lab sustainability at a global scale. Working with labs in academia, commercial, and the biotech and pharma sectors, Impact Laboratories’ goal is to scale up the world’s most trusted green lab certification and tools.

For media requests, contact Namrata Jain at namrata@mygreenlab.org.

For more information about My Green Lab, visit mygreenlab.org. 

For more information about Impact Laboratories, visit impactlaboratories.org.

KeyBank’s Key4Women program and the Women’s Council of Central Indiana Realtist Association are hosting an empowering workshop tailored for homeowners and aspiring homeowners, sponsored by the Indianapolis chapter of The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREB). The workshop is designed to provide homeowners and aspiring homeowners with valuable insights, strategies, and expert advice to obtain and grow your home.

It will take place on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Maven Space, located at 433 North Capitol Suite 100 in Indianapolis, IN.

The event will focus on:

Exploring practical steps and tips for achieving homeownershipFinancial planning for homeowners: maximizing equity and minimizing debtLegal and tax considerations for homeowners

Whether you are a seasoned homeowner or embarking on the journey of homeownership, this event will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions.

Registration is open until Wednesday, August 21. Click here to register.

Get tips on homeownership from KeyBank

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at June 30, 2024.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC. © 2024 KeyCorp® All Rights Reserved.

NOTICE: This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. Conditions and restrictions may apply. Information and offer are subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to credit and collateral approval. Not all loans or products are available in all states. Mortgage and Home Equity Lending products offered by KeyBank are not FDIC insured or guaranteed. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #399797

KeyBank extends credit secured by residential real estate without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status. All credit products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval. Terms, conditions, and availability are subject to change. KeyBank does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. The information provided during this event is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Participants are advised to consult with a tax, legal, or accounting professional. 

CFMA # 240819-2740378

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

When Alex English retired from the game of basketball in 1991, he had many wins and achievements under his belt — from setting records at the University of South Carolina and in the National Basketball Association to his induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. English’s notoriety gave him a platform with both national and international audiences, but he never lost sight of the importance of supporting his hometown community in Columbia, South Carolina. Through his Let’s Share Foundation, English hosts the Alex English Basketball Camp, presented by Aflac, to empower youth in unserved and underserved areas of South Carolina, teach them basketball skills and share important life lessons gained on and off the court.

Fostering life lessons from sports experiences resonates for Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits. After four years of playing football at Virginia Tech, Bob stepped into a business career that he grounded in key learnings from his time on the field. He was invited to visit the Alex English Basketball Camp and share a few life lessons with participants, ages 7 to 18:

Positive attitude. If you’re down about something, people can see it and feel it. Instead, be positive. And always remember to listen to your coaches and anyone else in life who is trying to help you. I do this every day in my work at Aflac.Teamwork. Teamwork in sports carries over to everything in life. It’s important to pick people up when they’re down and celebrate them when they’re doing well. At Aflac, we are always trying to win and meet our goals while being supportive teammates.Practice. Practice doesn’t stop when you leave the court or stop playing sports. I practice my skills all the time so I can be the best teammate at Aflac.

“Alex English is highly regarded not only in the basketball community, but also in the Midlands of South Carolina community. I was honored to join him to share life lessons with the kids — including my son who participated in the camp — and tell them how much Aflac cares for them and our community,” said Bob. “We are proud to once again support the basketball camp and help advance the mission of the Let’s Share Foundation.”

Aflac’s sponsorship of the Alex English Basketball Camp provided scholarships for 20 youth to attend camp at no charge. Learn more about Aflac’s culture of care and the many ways the company extends support to those in need at Aflac.com/About-Aflac.

Aflac refers to the following companies: American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, American Family Life Assurance Company of New York, Continental American Insurance Company, and Continental American Life Insurance Company.

AGC2400958

As the world increasingly turns to artificial intelligence (AI) for its vast potential to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and revolutionize industries, the surge in energy demand has set the stage for a critical conversation about sustainability. The data center industry stands at a significant crossroads, where the urgent need for cleaner energy solutions must meet the explosive growth of AI technologies. This article explores how data centers can leverage digital twin technology to adapt to the challenges posed by AI and transition successfully to renewable energy solutions.

Understanding the Current Landscape

Data centers are the backbone of our digital infrastructure but are among the largest energy consumers. A striking example is the energy consumption of AI; a single query on ChatGPT can use nearly 10 times the power of a standard Google search. With European data center demand outstripping supply in recent years—601 MW versus 561 MW in 2023—it’s evident that the industry is facing immense pressure to innovate and manage energy consumption more effectively.

To add to the urgency, recent regulations demand that data centers reassess their operational practices, pushing them to adopt greener solutions. This shifting landscape calls for a reimagination of how these facilities operate, particularly as they grapple with the substantial energy requirements of AI algorithms and the need for efficient cooling systems.

Enter Digital Twin Technology

Digital twin technology offers a groundbreaking solution for data centers aiming to streamline their operations while minimizing environmental impact. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical system, enabling real-time simulation, analysis, and optimization.

The benefits of digital twins in data centers include the following:

Energy Efficiency Testing

Digital twins allow data center managers to simulate new energy strategies and test their efficiency without disrupting operations. This foresight enables informed decision-making when considering renewable energy integrations.

Hear how Kao Data validates a complex indirect evaporative cooling design for wholesale and high-performance colocation and a new and unprecedented data center IEC design.

Enhanced Resource Allocation

Due to AI advancements, data centers face unique challenges related to increasing power densities. Digital twins can analyze various cooling strategies and resource distributions, adapting dynamically to fluctuations in renewable energy availability. This ensures maximum utilization of clean energy sources.

Hear how Switch provides unparalleled exascale data centers with dense air-cooling for some of the world’s largest companies.

Data-Driven Decisions

With the insights derived from digital twins, facility managers can track energy usage, optimize capacity planning, and avoid potential threats, such as stranded capacity and increased IT failure risk. This capability fosters not only sustainable operations but can also lead to improved Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) scores.

Hear how Thesee DataCenter, providing a sovereign, eco-responsible, colocation data center with six data center halls, validates its designs and guarantees service-level objectives for its customers.

Supporting Sustainability Metrics

Digital twins are instrumental in capturing key sustainability data. They help data centers report on their environmental impacts and potential energy savings, ensuring compliance with emerging regulations and facilitating the transition to greener practices.

Read how an American healthcare company overcame power, cooling, and space challenges brought on by the extreme demands of high-density systems.

Overcoming Challenges in Achieving Sustainability

Despite the advantages, data centers face hurdles during the transition to renewable energy. The complexities of sourcing and integrating sustainable energy solutions, coupled with public opposition to new facilities due to environmental concerns, underscore the need for a strategic approach.

By implementing digital twin technology, data centers can proactively address these challenges. The ability to simulate various scenarios allows them to anticipate potential pitfalls, explore alternatives, and optimize their energy mix—all while maintaining operational excellence.

Conclusion

The confluence of AI growth and sustainability demands a radical rethinking of operations within data centers. Digital twin technology is not merely a digital representation; it’s a powerful tool that enables data centers to manage energy demands more efficiently while paving the way for integrating renewable energy solutions.

In a world where regulatory pressures and public sentiment are intensifying, those who leverage digital twin technology will be better equipped to address AI’s needs without compromising sustainability. The path forward is clear—by adopting innovative technologies, data centers can not only meet AI’s growing demands but also lead the charge toward a greener, more sustainable future.

By positioning themselves as pioneers in this space, data center operators can transform challenges into opportunities, ensuring that the digital landscape remains responsibly powered and environmentally conscious.

Learn more about Cadence’s solutions for data centers.