Energy Management Articles
Thomson Reuters Beats Climate Change Targets
On Earth Day, April 22, 2021, Thomson Reuters, the news, legal and information service, announced it has reduced its annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 93% from 2018 baseline levels.
U.S. Steel Corporation’s New Target: Net Zero by 2050
Building on its existing goal to eliminate 20% of its global carbon footprint by 2030, U.S. Steel Corporation announced that it plans to become fully carbon-neutral by 2050.
General Mills Announces New Emissions Reduction Goals
Aligning with new SBTI guidelines, General Mills shared both its recent achievements and its updated emissions and energy efficiency goals with the release of its 2021 Global Responsibility Report.
The Home Depot Signs 100 MW Solar PPA
Beginning in 2022, The Home Depot will receive 100 megawatts of solar electricity annually from National Grid Renewables’ Noble Project in Texas. This PPA promises to lower the home improvement brands’ carbon footprint by an annual 450,000 metric tons.
Albertsons Pledges to Lower Carbon Footprint
Albertsons Companies has committed to set an emissions reduction target that aligns with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the U.N.’s Paris Climate Agreement.
San Luis Obispo Celebrates Clean Energy Future
The County of San Luis Obispo celebrated the completion of a 1.2 megawatt-DC (MWdc) solar energy project at the County Operations Center on April 20. The project includes a total of 3,294 solar modules ground-mounted on 6 acres of land.
HP Announces Carbon Neutrality and Net Zero Goals
HP Inc. has announced its clean energy targets: carbon neutrality by 2025, and net zero GHG emissions by 2040.
MSCI Commits to Net-Zero Before 2040
MSCI Inc., a provider of decision tools and services for the global investment community, announced on April 19 its commitment to the goal of net-zero emissions before 2040.
Visa Achieves Carbon Neutrality, Commits to Net-Zero Emissions
As Visa announced on April 21 that its operations became carbon-neutral in 2020, the company also pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and shared its plan to ultimately become climate positive.
Siemens Dynamic VAV Optimization 1111 Broadway
Dynamic VAV Optimization (DVO) is helping owners and managers meet their HVAC goals in facilities across the country. This case study "Siemens Dynamic VAV Optimization 1111 Broadway creates more efficient, healthier building environment," learn how one of Oakland's most well-known buildings is benefiting from the ability to reduce the need for technicians and programmers to analyze code in order to achieve energy efficiency goals.
Stanley Black & Decker’s ESG Report Shows Progress Towards Carbon-Positive Goal
In its first consolidated Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) report “A Force for Good,” Stanley Black & Decker revealed its advancement towards the company’s 2030 Corporate Social Responsibility Goals. Accomplishments include completion of three solar projects in 2020, investment in Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), ongoing initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions by over 30,000 metric tons, and an upcoming VPPA solar project.
Polycor to be Carbon Neutral by 2025
Polycor Inc. announced on April 20 its plans to be carbon neutral by 2025. The company is the first natural stone quarrier to announce its commitment to carbon neutrality.
Budweiser to Cover Its Canadian Brewing Operations With New VPPA
Budweiser announced April 19 a VPPA that will allow it to cover 100% of its Canadian operations with Canadian-generated RECs.
IKEA Retailer Commits Extra 4 Billion Euro to RE Investments
The IKEA retailer Ingka Group announced April 20 that it will increase its renewable energy investments by 4 billion euro in support of its goal to use 100% renewable energy across its value chain.
New York City Announces Step Towards Large Renewable Electricity Buy
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on April 20 the signing of a letter of intent committing New York City to buy enough renewable energy to power the city's government operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
Michelob ULTRA Adds 100% Solar For Organic Lager
Michelob Ultra Pure Gold organic lager is now brewed with 100% renewable electricity from solar power, Anheuser-Busch announced on April 19. This beer will be the first product within the company’s U.S. portfolio to have this designation.
Hershey’s Partners with Renewable Energy Providers to Achieve Sustainability Goals
The Hershey Company announced two new agreements with solar providers that will help the candy and snacks magnate to reach its 2030 target of 50% emissions reduction.
Food Lion Commits to Climate Action
Southeast-based grocery franchise Food Lion announced on April 19 its 2025 and 2030 goals to reduce energy use, GHG emissions, and food waste while increasing transparency and sustainability in its food supply chain. This commitment builds on Food Lion’s numerous sustainable initiatives in partnership with its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA (ADUSA).
Sierra Northern Railway Switches to Zero-Emissions
Sierra Northern Railway announced that it will use hydrogen fuel cell modules from Ballard Power Systems for its upcoming zero-emission switching locomotive.
Whole Foods Market Adopts Reduced-GWP Refrigerant to Reduce Carbon Footprint
Whole Foods Market announced that more than 100 of its U.S. stores will lower CO2 emissions by retrofitting their commercial refrigerators with Honeywell’s Solstice refrigerant.
Under Armour Commits to Renewable Energy and Zero-Emissions Plan
As Under Armour joins RE100, it announced three commitments to reduce its environmental impact. Aligning with SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) and RE 100’s criteria, these goals will help the athletic wear brand to achieve 100% renewable energy sources by 2030 and net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Crown Battery to Source Local Renewable Energy
Crown Battery Company will use renewable energy to make batteries at its Ohio-based manufacturing plant after signing an Integrated Renewable Energy (IRE) agreement from American Electric Power’s subsidiary AEP Energy.
Verizon Boosts Emissions Goals
Verizon announced two new emissions reduction targets on April 19, committing to a 53% reduction in its operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) between 2019 and 2030 and a 40% reduction in its value chain emissions (Scope 3) between 2019 and 2035.
Morgan Stanley’s 2030 Goal: $1 Trillion in Sustainability Support
Morgan Stanley announced its plan to provide $1 trillion in sustainability initiatives by 2030. The first large U.S. bank to commit to net-zero financed emissions by 2050, the firm has earmarked $750 billion of the trillion dollars to finance low-carbon solutions, in addition to an initial commitment of $250 billion made in 2018.
Little Rock Audubon Center Now Powered With 100% Solar
The National Audubon Society’s Arkansas location is now home to the state’s first 100% renewable energy-powered nonprofit organization. The Little Rock Audubon Center’s (LRAC) 35-kilowatt solar power plant was custom designed to meet the center’s total electricity demand.
Want to Tune Up Your City’s Buildings? First, Tune Up Your Approach.
Are audits and tune-up policies the unsung heroes of the building energy policy world? In this column from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), Rory Gahagan makes the case for these actions as viable stepping stones to improving energy usage and reducing GHG emissions with five key lessons any city can deploy to tune up its approach to produce successful policies.
Iron Mountain Signs New Leases for RE-powered Data Center Space
Iron Mountain announced April 15 that it signed two leases for a total of 6 MW with a U.S.-based Fortune 100 customers at its 100% renewable energy-powered data center in Phoenix, Ariz.
Amazon Adds New Renewable Projects, Now Ranks as Top Purchaser in Europe
Amazon announced the purchase of solar and wind power from nine new utility-scale energy projects on April 19 in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. This brings Amazon’s total to 206 renewable energy projects globally with a capacity of 8.5 GW of electricity production. The company is now the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Europe with more than 2.5 GW.
Citi Expands Sustainable Financing Goal to $1 trillion
Citi Bank announced April 15 a commitment to complete $1 trillion in sustainable financing by 2030.
JPMorgan Chase Aims $2.5 Trillion Toward Sustainability Development
JPMorgan Chase announced on April 15 plans to finance and facilitate more than $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years to address climate change and sustainable development.
