Mes: marzo 2021

BOULDER, Colo., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Eco-friendly startup Sunday announced today that its innovative line of lawn, pest, and yard care products will now be available for purchase at Walmart stores throughout the country.

«At Sunday, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to enjoy healthy, vibrant yards free of harmful chemicals,» said Coulter Lewis, Co-Founder and CEO of Sunday. «That’s why we pioneered an entirely new approach to lawn care.»

Sunday’s spray-on lawn fertilizers, pest control and weed control products work with nature using ingredients like seaweed, potassium, humic and iron to help grow the backyard you want, without any of the chemicals that you don’t.

«The simple truth is that you don’t need hazardous ingredients to grow stronger, more resilient lawns. You can control weeds, repair damage, repel pests, and fortify your yard with easy-to-apply nutrients that deliver real, sustainable results,» Lewis said. 

Consumer demand for safer, more sustainable products has been an ongoing trend that started with food consumption and has expanded to other areas of the home. Innovation in the lawn and garden category to meet this need directly outside the home is the next logical step.

«At Walmart, we are focused on offering our customers exciting brands and quality products at our everyday low prices. As a digitally native brand, we are excited to be Sunday’s first retail partner and offer Sunday lawn care products to our Walmart customers,» said Kaitlyn Shadiow, Vice President of Patio & Garden, Walmart U.S. «Sustainability is a key priority for Sunday which also aligns with Walmart’s commitment to improving the environment.»

While Sunday still provides its subscription plans directly to consumers on www.getsunday.com, the expansion into mass retail with Walmart was a necessary step to making these new lawn and yard care products more accessible to consumers.

«As one of the world’s most impactful retailers, Walmart is uniquely positioned to launch this new generation of lawn and yard care products,» said Lewis. «We’re thrilled to team up with an exclusive retail partner that shares our commitment to making sustainable solutions readily available to consumers all across the country. We’re excited to have Walmart join us in this journey and we look forward to working together to build a better future for our backyards.»

About Sunday
Sunday is a startup on a mission to transform America’s lawns with safer, smarter, and sustainable formulas that work. Sunday is committed to making it easy for Americans to grow a backyard that is better for people, pets, and the planet. Learn more at www.getsunday.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sustainable-lawn-care-startup-sunday-enters-mass-retail-market-301238781.html

SOURCE Sunday

SAN DIEGO, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Today, Rhombus Energy Solutions announces Deanne Davidson is joining the Rhombus executive team as the Vice President and General Manager of the Rhombus Dearborn Michigan site. In this role, Deanne will lead the Rhombus operations and engineering teams as they develop and manufacture Rhombus’ market-leading high-power bi-directional chargers for medium and heavy-duty (M/HD) electric vehicle (EV) fleet operators. Deanne will also coordinate these efforts as the Rhombus teams develop next-generation energy storage and microgrid systems for fleet EV charging infrastructure.

«I am pleased to welcome Deanne to the Rhombus leadership team,» said Rick Sander, CEO of Rhombus Energy Solutions. «Deanne’s leadership skills will be critical as we scale our business to support new medium and heavy-duty electric vehicle customers with our V2X-ready charging systems, and her experience in the development of high-power components and systems will also be valuable as we commercialize our new solutions for energy storage and microgrids.»

Before joining Rhombus Energy Solutions, Ms. Davidson held several leadership roles at Eaton Corporation. These included executive roles in Eaton’s eMobility organization where she spearheaded global program management for new product development, Integration Leader for Eaton-Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies and Director of Program Management for Eaton’s Vehicle Group. Ms. Davidson holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

«I am excited to join the Rhombus leadership team,» said Deanne Davidson, VP & GM of Rhombus Dearborn. «The importance of electric vehicles to improve the environment and to provide backup energy during power outages has never been clearer, and medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles will play a critical role in this. I look forward to this opportunity to contribute with a leader in this segment of the EV infrastructure ecosystem.»

Rhombus has fielded hundreds of high-power, bidirectional, high-reliability fleet EV charging systems and inverters for energy storage and PV solar-based microgrid, for customers in a variety of demanding operational environments. Bi-directional charging enables both significant energy cost savings for EV fleet operators and the ability to provide power to critical infrastructure during power emergencies if needed.

About Rhombus Energy Solutions
Rhombus develops and manufactures next-generation bi-directional electric vehicle charging infrastructure, high-efficiency power conversion systems and energy management system (EMS) software for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capable electric vehicle fleet charging, energy storage and microgrid applications. The high reliability of our solutions is the result of decades of experience developing high-power systems for a variety of applications and deployment scenarios, including UL-1741-SA system-to-grid solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.RhombusEnergy.com.

Rhombus Press/Media/Analyst Contact:
Carolyn Paynton
Carolyn@RhombusEnergy.com
+1 888 978 6564

Media Contact

Carolyn Paynton, Rhombus Energy Solutions, +1 888 978 6564, Carolyn@RhombusEnergy.com

Kimber Smith Fidler, G2M Inc. for Rhombus Energy, +1 775 298 5260, kimber@g2minc.com

SOURCE Rhombus Energy Solutions

BOULDER, Colo., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — CONTACT: Stephen Conley, Scientific Aviation            
sconley@ScientificAviation.com                            

Scientific Aviation today announced the launch of Project Falcon, a 6-month joint industry partner study that aims to determine the best way to deploy continuous methane monitoring technology that will allow energy companies to find, detect, and repair methane leaks faster.

Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy, ExxonMobil, Pioneer Natural Resources, Shell and TRP Energy will test Scientific Aviation’s SOOFIE (Systematic Observations of Facility Intermittent Emissions) system, an affordable ground-based technology that measures methane emissions 24 hours a day, in real-world environments, and immediately alerts operators about issues. The tests will be conducted in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas starting in March 2021. The data and results will be made available to the industry, regulators and the public through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

«As the scientific community, the United Nations, and countless others have issued dire warnings about the impact of greenhouse gases on earth’s environment, the fight to combat this problem will take energy and technology companies working together to accelerate change,» said Dr. Stephen Conley, President of Scientific Aviation. «These companies have determined that doing all they can to protect the environment requires collaboration. We are excited to see how much can be done when the energy industry joins together to tackle a problem as important as protecting the environment.»

The foundation of Project Falcon is Scientific Aviation’s SOOFIE system: a self-contained leak detection system in which each sensor contains its own solar panel, battery, cellular or WiFi connectivity, and the ability to take five methane measurements per second. SOOFIE also captures atmospheric conditions that are essential to the calculation of actual emission rates, rather than measuring concentration levels which can be susceptible to producing many false alarms. SOOFIE is also able to measure other gases, such as H2S, NO and NO2.

«Methane emissions detection and reduction should be a shared goal that industry works proactively and collaboratively to achieve, which is why we are proud to support efforts like Project Falcon,» said Vanessa Ryan, manager of carbon reduction. «At Chevron we believe the future of energy is lower carbon, and we are actively addressing the reduction of methane emissions by using data, technology and innovation to prioritize the most efficient detection and reduction strategies.»

ConocoPhillips has long been committed to reducing emissions from its facilities, including the development of new technologies designed to better detect where the sources of these emissions are and allowing them to prioritize their resources to address larger leaks faster.

«To battle fugitive methane emissions from our facilities more effectively, we knew we had to employ the latest technologies and use the best tools available to us,» said Khalid Soofi, Geoscience Fellow at ConocoPhillips. «We needed a way to reliably monitor our facilities more effectively, including facilities that aren’t regularly staffed and are often very remote.»

Mike Smith, EHS Advisor for Devon Energy, said «At Devon, we continuously search for innovative ways to help us further reduce our emissions footprint. This program is another way not only to help us more precisely understand, measure, and quantify our emissions, but also to enhance our capacity to rapidly identify and reduce leaks. We are excited to participate in this important initiative that we think will benefit the broader energy industry.»

«ExxonMobil is field-testing multiple technologies to detect and speed repair of methane leaks in the Permian Basin and will begin testing the SOOFIE system as part of Project Falcon» said Bart Cahir, senior vice president of unconventional at ExxonMobil. «This is the latest example of how ExxonMobil is applying scientific rigor and taking meaningful steps to find commercially scalable and affordable solutions that help all operators improve safety and environmental performance.»

«Pioneer has committed to environmental stewardship in everything we do, every day, through our Stewardship 365 initiative,» says Sri Sridharan, Sustainability and Environmental Programs Advisor for Pioneer Natural Resources. «We remain committed to doing the right thing, every day, and part of that is actively finding new solutions rather than just waiting for those solutions to present themselves. When we heard about Project Falcon and its goals of helping develop and optimize the next generation of technology for detecting methane emissions, we were 100% on board.»

Shell has announced a target to maintain methane emissions below .2% by 2025. «We are working hard in the Permian to reduce methane emissions and are looking for ways to enhance our existing leak detection program through collaborations with the scientific community and testing of new technologies, such as SOOFIE,» says Steven Craig, Safety and Sustainability Manager at Shell. «While several detection technologies are being developed, the industry needs to guide the innovation process to solutions that are most effective.»

«Efforts to decarbonize the global energy supply are underway, but the oil and gas industry remains the backbone, providing affordable energy that improves the quality of life in both emerging and developed economies. As a responsible energy producer, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint as we supply vital oil and gas,» said Randy Dolan, co-CEO of TRP Energy. «We’ve always sought out partnerships with environmental thought leaders to gain perspective and find effective solutions to lower our full-cycle environmental impact. In that spirit, Project Falcon allows us to utilize cutting edge methane detection technology, collaborate with industry leaders, and share best practices with others.»

While Project Falcon specifically focuses on the use of SOOFIE sensors, the findings of the group will be useful regardless of which continuous monitoring system an operator may implement in the future. The goal of this project is to test and optimize implementation of real-time monitoring of methane emissions at the facility level. The results of Project Falcon will complement other efforts investigating sensor networks for continuous monitoring of emissions at a regional level.

«Despite being part of Scientific Aviation, I am first and foremost an atmospheric scientist,» said Dr. Stephen Conley, president of Scientific Aviation. «And while myself and the other PhD scientists at Scientific Aviation are fully confident in the capabilities of SOOFIE, we don’t want the fight to protect the environment to be us against other companies with this type of technology. The findings of Project Falcon will be peer reviewed by the scientific community and published for everyone to see, providing valuable insights to operators around the world about how to best implement and utilize continuous methane monitoring, regardless of which solution they choose.»

About Scientific Aviation

Scientific Aviation, a leader in airborne research, is a scientific research company specializing in atmospheric measurements and emissions flux quantifications of methane, CO2, and other trace gases, with applications for air quality, climate, leak detection and repair (LDAR), and atmospheric research. Our services and expertise provide our clients and collaborators with advanced capabilities to better understand our impacts on the atmosphere, and the sound data needed to make informed decisions. To learn more, visit http://www.scientificaviation.com.

Media Contact

Michael Conley, Scientific Aviation, Inc., +1 7204084022, mconley@scientificaviation.com

SOURCE Scientific Aviation, Inc.

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Donor-advised fund account holders at U.S. community foundations stepped up their giving to support communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 — granting record amounts to help their neighbors in need.

According to a survey by the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative, donor-advised funds (DAFs) at 84 U.S. community foundations granted more than $6.7 billion to nonprofits in 2020.

This figure outpaced the $6.2 billion contributed into DAFs at community foundations in 2019. This means community foundation DAF donors granted $1.08 in 2020 for every dollar they contributed into their funds the previous year.

The $6.7 billion granted to nonprofits from community foundation DAFs in 2020 also represented an increase of nearly $2 billion, or 41.1 percent, from the $4.75 billion granted from community foundation DAFs in 2019.

These grants provided critical support to local nonprofits working to help families facing issues such as lost income, unstable housing, food insecurity, and more.

Donors use DAFs as a tool to contribute assets such as money, investment income, and real estate and then directly grant those assets to charities. Once an asset is placed in a DAF, it must ultimately be given to IRS-recognized nonprofits. Donors have discretion over which charities receive grants – and when they receive them.

In 2020, donors choose to grant money out from their DAFs swiftly to meet the scale of the COVID-19 crisis.

«We have always said that donor-advised funds allow charitable people to prepare for the needs of the future. Well, that future kicked us in the face last year,» said Jennifer Leonard, president and CEO of the Rochester Area (N.Y.) Community Foundation.

The foundation took in $22.9 million in new gifts in 2020 and awarded $22.5 million in grants. «It was a tremendous outpouring of support for the unprecedented challenges of 2020,» Leonard added.

About the Survey

Community foundations are grantmaking public charities that mobilize the assets of past and current donors to improve the lives of people in a defined geographic area. They use the resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities.

The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative survey includes results from community foundations in every region of the country, covering 28 states, plus the District of Columbia. It includes data provided by all of the 15 largest U.S. community foundations, as well as data provided by smaller and mid-size foundations.

The U.S. is home to nearly 800 community foundations – meaning the total granted through donor-advised funds at all community foundations during this period exceeds the $6.7 billion granted by those who responded to the survey.

Historically, donor-advised fund holders have stepped up to support their communities during difficult economic times.

A 2019 study by Dan Heist, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Danielle Vance-McMullen, an assistant professor at the University of Memphis, found that donors who manage DAFs tend to be more generous with their grantmaking during recessions, especially when compared with other forms of giving.

An Unprecedented Response
The response of community foundation donors to address COVID-19 is unprecedented in its size and scope.

Although community foundations stepped up their efforts to educate and connect with their donor-advised fund holders about the scope and uniqueness of Covid-19-related community needs, many foundations reported that their donors did not need much convincing to act urgently.

The Oregon Community Foundation’s donors responded quickly to their communities’ «cascading crises» in 2020 — COVID-19, wildfires over Labor Day weekend, and the «increased visibility of historical and current systems of racial injustices,» said the foundation’s chief philanthropy officer Kirsten Kilchenstein.

The foundation’s donors distributed a record $220 million to more than 3,000 nonprofits throughout Oregon in 2020, which reflected a 44 percent increase in donor-advised fund grantmaking from the previous year.

«OCF donors stepped up time and again, responding to calls for support as each crisis appeared,» Kilchenstein added. «Moreover, the breadth of response was remarkable: long-time OCF donors; individuals new to OCF; corporate donors; families — the generosity reflected in the extraordinary increase in grantmaking was truly remarkable.»

Donors at the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Community Foundation granted more than $2 million from DAFs in 2020 –a seven-fold jump from the $284,000 granted in 2019.

«Within a few weeks of activating our Community Urgent Relief Fund, donor advisors made more than $1 million in grant suggestions to support our Covid-19 relief efforts,» said Kalamazoo Community Foundation vice president of donor relations Joanna Donnelly Dales.

Eileen Connolly-Keesler, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Collier County (Fla.), said the foundation’s work with donor-advised fund holders «to make them aware of our local nonprofits’ needs» paid off in 2020. With the foundation’s encouragement, many DAF holders also granted directly to nonprofits. «We see part of our job as educators,» she said.

Frank Fernandez, the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, emphasized the unique capability of community foundation to address the kinds of structural inequalities brought to light in the crisis at the local level. Donors in Atlanta increased their DAF giving at the community foundation by more than $10 million in 2020, granting more than $123 million.

«Across the Atlanta region, as around the world, Covid-19 laid bare hard, harsh truths and we cannot unsee them,» Fernandez said. «At the Community Foundation we are committed to using our resources — grant investments, influence, programs, our voice and more — to help break down these barriers that prevent so many from pursuing their concept of the good life, whatever that may be, and are thankful to our fellow community foundations across the nation for their parallel efforts towards a more equitable world.»

Resources for Reporters
The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative can connect reporters with donors who are giving generously to support those impacted by Covid-19.

Our network of community foundation leaders is also available to discuss community needs, donor behavior, and how their communities are working together to address the most pressing issues related to Covid-19.

Contact: Peter Panepento
peter@turn-two.co
(202) 531-3886

Media Contact

Peter Panepento, Turn Two Communications, 2025313886, peter@turn-two.co

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SOURCE Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative