Energy Management Articles
California housing facility to reduce energy use 15% with utility upgrades
An affordable housing community in Palm Desert, Calif., recently underwent nearly $1 million in energy efficiency upgrades that should reduce overall energy consumption by nearly 15%.
White Plains begins work on 6.8 MW solar portfolio
The City of White Plains broke ground last week on a nine-project, 6.8 MW community solar portfolio that will triple Westchester County's solar energy production.
Weekend reads: How to make Biden's EV charging target a reality; The cracks in China's emissions plan
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
Global wind market grew 59% in 2020 despite pandemic
The global wind market commissioned 96.3 GW of new capacity in 2020, reflecting 59% growth year-on-year, despite the economic challenges presented to the market due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smart Energy Voices Podcast - Episode 26: The Evolution of McDonald's Sustainability Roadmap
With 37,000 restaurants in over 100 countries serving 69 million people every day, McDonald’s understands how great an impact they have. The last time John spoke with Emma Cox, North American Sustainability Manager at McDonald’s Corporation during the 2019 Innovation Summit, the company was primarily focused on energy efficiency within the U.S. Since that beginning, their focus has had a global shift that will positively affect the environment. Listen to hear how McDonald’s is changing the world one community at a time.
SED’s 2021 Innovation Summit agenda & sponsors set
The slate of sessions, attendees, and sponsors is now final for Smart Energy Decisions’ 2021 Virtual Innovation Summit, March 22-25. Uniting under the theme of "Emerging Technologies for the Future of Energy Management," the Summit will welcome energy, sustainability, and facility executives from over 50 commercial, industrial, institutional, and government organizations. Almost two-thirds of these buyers represent companies that are participating in a Smart Energy Decisions event for the first time.
Microsoft and Total partner on energy innovation
Total and Microsoft announced March 11 a new partnership to help one another achieve their respective energy goals.
Nashville approves construction of 3.2 MW of solar power
The Nashville, Tenn., Metro Council unanimously voted last week to allow the installation of 9,777 solar panels at three water treatment plants that will bring 3.2 MW of generation capacity to the city.
Honeywell develops biofuel-powered generator for hybrid-electric aircrafts
Honeywell announced March 8 the development of a 1 MW generator that will be able to act as a power source for hybrid-electric aircrafts and run on aviation biofuel.
Chevron and Microsoft team up to create carbon negative power
Chevron Corporation announced March 4 a new collaboration with Microsoft that will focus on developing carbon negative power using carbon capture and sequestration technology.
Salesforce vows to advocate for better climate policies
Salesforce announced March 8 that it has incorporated climate action into its public policy platform of the company's top priorities and is committed to advocating for policies that call for net-zero emissions by 2050.
Canadian Pacific to source fuel cells for hydrogen-powered locomotive
Canadian Pacific (CP) announced March 9 that it will be receiving 1.2 MW of electricity for its locomotive by employing fuel cell modules from Ballard Power Systems for its Hydrogen Locomotive Program.
Wells Fargo targets net zero financed emissions by 2050
Wells Fargo announced March 8 that it plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across business operations and in its financed emissions by 2050.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries tests carbon capture at Norwegian facility
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering (MHIENG) announced March 5 that it entered into an agreement that will allow it to begin testing its carbon capture technology at a plant in Mongstad, Norway.
Aflac issues $400 million sustainability bond
Aflac Incorporated announced March 8 that it has issued its first sustainability bond at $400 million to finance existing or future investments in environmental or social projects.
Santa Fe to see $88.6K in savings from energy efficiency overhaul
The City of Santa Fe, N.M., announced March 9 the competition of an energy efficiency project that is expected to save the city $88,649 in annual electricity and natural gas costs.
Larry Fink’s 2021 letter to CEOs
In his annual letter to CEOs, Larry Fink noted that the pandemic has presented such an existential crisis that it has driven us to confront the global threat of climate change more forcefully and to consider how, like the pandemic, it will alter our lives. Read the letter to find out why there is no company whose business model won’t be profoundly affected by the transition to a net zero economy and how sustainability and deeper connections to stakeholders will drive better returns.
Abercrombie & Fitch to source 100% renewable energy
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. recently announced its commitment to power its global headquarters in Ohio and its distribution centers with 100% renewable energy from 2023, and subsequently signed a 13-year agreement to source all the clean electricity necessary to achieve that goal.
Bridgestone installs first solar array
Bridgestone, a global provider of tires and sustainable mobility solutions, announced on March 2 that it has installed its first ground-mounted solar array, providing power directly to its manufacturing process.
Chipotle ties executive compensation to sustainability metrics
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced last week a new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) structure that will hold its executives more accountable to its goals by tying executive compensation to its ESG accomplishments.
Chevron promises higher returns, lower carbon
Chevron Corporation announced plans to increase return on capital employed and lower carbon intensity. During its annual inventory meeting on March 9, Michael Wirth, Chevron's chairman and CEO said, "We're building on our track record of capital and cost discipline to deliver higher returns. And we're taking action to advance a lower carbon future."
Mastercard issues $600 million sustainability bond
Mastercard announced March 3 that it successfully priced a $600 million Sustainability Bond that will fund projects in carbon reduction, supporting environmental choices for customers and fostering inclusive growth.
Rayonier captured 5.7 million tons of CO2
Rayonier announced March 1 that in 2019 its timberland assets sequestered an estimated 5.7 million tons of CO2 equivalents from the atmosphere, after accounting for carbon emitted through operations and carbon removed to customers through harvest activity.
City of Santa Monica creates zero-emissions delivery zone
The City of Santa Monica announced on Feb. 25 that it deployed a zero-emissions delivery zone within a one-square mile voluntary area by partnering with tech and delivery companies and community organizations.
A.P. Moller - Maersk reveals the world's first carbon neutral vessel
A.P. Moller - Maersk recently announced that it will be launching the world’s first carbon neutral liner vessel in 2023, seven years ahead of its original target date.
EnergyOps: Reducing Cisco’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
Within Cisco’s direct operations, the main source of emissions is the energy required to operate labs and data centers. Catherine Paquette of Cisco explains in this column how the unique approach of the company's Global Energy Management and Sustainability (GEMS) team has driven progress toward achieving their Scope 1 and 2 GHG reduction goals.
Weekend reads: Discovering Amazon's EV company; The woman at the helm of Biden's climate plan
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
Goldman Sachs completed $156B in sustainable financing in 2020
Goldman Sachs announced March 4 that it achieved a fifth of its 2030 sustainable financing goal that it set in 2020, with $156 billion completed and $93 billion of that dedicated to climate transition.
RBC sets sustainable finance target of $500 billion by 2025
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced its intent to increase its sustainable financing by $500 billion by 2025 and achieve net zero emissions in its lending by 2050.
Smart Energy Voices Podcast - Episode 25: The Future of GM, EVs and Renewables with Rob Threlkeld
The future of decarbonization is in re-inventing the transportation industry. John speaks about the potential of electric vehicles with General Motors’ Global Manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply, and Reliability, Rob Threlkeld. John and Rob discuss GM’s incredible carbon neutrality goal and how every company can join the movement to create a cleaner future.
