AI & Technology

As Walmart continues to seek to provide convenient services for its customers and contribute to reducing emissions in the communities where it operates, the retailer announced on Wednesday the installation of eight Electrify America electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its Ooltewah Supercenter at 5588 Little Debbie Parkway. The EV chargers are Walmart’s first in the state, and are operational and ready for customers to use.

Avery Dennison will be the first pressure sensitive labelling material supplier to introduce liner made from recycled PET (rPET) commercially in Europe. This move reflects the firm’s commitment to finding more sustainable solutions for the labelling industry.

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) announced today a philanthropic commitment of $5 million over three years to support solar projects in tribal communities across the U.S.

The Curiosity Cube made a stop at the Milton Library Saturday. The Curiosity Cube was created with the goal to inspire children with hands-on science to children. MilliporeSigma, a life-science company with a facility in Oakville, created the cube by converting a 22x10-foot shipping container into a mobile science lab.

It’s been a headache-inducing nexus of active regulation, distributed energy and environmentalism for some electric utilities. Plunging costs of solar power and growing concerns of climate change are inspiring swelling ranks of the largest private and Fortune 500 companies pursuing not only aggressive renewable energy goals for sustainability purposes but also cost effectiveness and resiliency. Now utilities are facing the sobering question of whether to significantly invest in green infrastructure to keep these large customers and risk controversial rate cases, or watch helplessly as that caravan of large, rate-paying customers defects, taking considerable revenue with them.

The concept of “new energy” has ushered in a global movement dedicated to cost-effective sustainability, clean energy technology and grid innovation. Today more than ever, we’re seeing stakeholders and industry giants from all sectors — finance, manufacturing, retail, utilities, technology, even academia — come together in combined efforts.

The energy ecosystem is changing, driven by the advent of distributed clean energy, increased competition from new technologies and service providers, the evolving expectations of customers, and new opportunities for serving those customers. As the traditional business model changes, utilities are seeking new opportunities for revenue as they establish themselves as the “Preferred Energy Partner.” But getting there is another story, requiring a comprehensive category of innovative products and services that will define the future of revenue generation in the energy space.

Nominations are being accepted for the World Environment Center’s (WEC) 2019 Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. The Gold Medal Award is presented annually to a global company that demonstrates deep, organization-wide commitment to sustainability in its business practice and beyond.

Just as California's climate policies have driven innovation in energy efficiency, renewable energy and battery storage – creating 500,000 new jobs – many of the state’s recently enacted bills are beginning to drive innovation in water technology. State policymakers should take note.

Energy and sustainability expert Schneider Electric today announced new external reporting features in the company's cloud-based enterprise software platform EcoStruxure™ Resource Advisor. The updates will enable organizations to turn sustainability disclosure into an ongoing process and better use data collected throughout the year, reducing the stress and associated expense of reporting season.