Veritatis Advisors | Climate Change

10 Apr 2018

Energy Efficiency, Technology, and Startup Incubation in the Heartland

Energy Efficiency, Technology, and Startup Incubation in the Heartland Executive Summary Northwestern University, McCormack School of Engineering graduates Nikita Jain, Rushi Shah, and Ben Wagner recently concluded a three month co- sponsored (by, Veritatis Advisors Chief Don Macdonald and Vissant Capital Director Doug McConnell) market cluster analysis to pinpoint midwestern energy efficiency (EE) free market, policy, and startup incubation hurdles and opportunities. This ground breaking piece, the team considers Midwestern economic engine capabilities, workforce capabilities,

12 Feb 2018

Green Bonds free-up capital and enable treasury side climate leverage

By Don Macdonald

A Bank of America analysis found that more investors were interested in the green bond tranche. Fortune 100 company is able to pay a reduced rate and not have to worry about the capital costs really frees them up on the corporate sustainability side and the treasury side in innovative ways, according to BoA and Citi. Internal carbon taxes and self-directed controls that pay for many efficiency and renewable energy projects is the key. Not

9 Aug 2017

Simplicity Matters – Utilities and Work Force Development

By Don Macdonald

Steve Jobs through sheer tenacity and resilience, focused on simplicity. Fired from Apple, created NEXT, rehired by Apple because he knew above all else simplicity matters. Eric Burke The Utility industry work force is passing this ephemeral moment in technology development. Jobs' vision while transformative was painful, knowing beforehand 'NEXT' was never to be successful. He was not creating gadgets, but rather an ecosystem and few saw it for what it was. Utilities like the

6 Sep 2016

Utilities begin to realize Efficiency as an Energy Resource

By Don Macdonald

Utility adoption of energy efficiency programs is an outsourced model of engagement perhaps until now. According to AEEE, utilities a bit counter-intuitive in their market adoption thinking, are now seeing energy efficiency as a resource. With the confluence of proper GHG's and energy benchmarking, baselines Wall Streets acceptance of metrics for investment profiling have become standardized and with that AEEE found that it is third in the electric generation segment. And it may top the list

18 Jul 2016

Clean Power Plan – Incentives begin to roll-out

By Don Macdonald

Clean Power Plan - Incentives begin to roll-out Incentives from EPA to do "states heavy lifting" launched. Incentives for renewables and those adopting, investing, building such assets are now being spoon fed from EPA to the nation. "As in any government program that receives underwhelming reviews, eventually Washington gets the message and does the work for the nations States and thereby primes the pump for corporations to get behind the CPP." said Veritatis' Don

17 May 2016

Embedding Sustainability in Every Day Life

By Don Macdonald

Veritatis InSights Sustainability has yet to Become Embedded in Our Every Day Lives If you look closely at the Google search word trend graph for the word "Sustainability" over time, a telltale pattern emerges which belays a lack of behavioral engagement to the level of everyday life similar to the word "Green," especially in retail segments. So how do we Embed Sustainability in Every Day Life? The hills and valleys repeat and you will note

Veritatis Advisors Sponsors Water Quality Improvement at Chicago River

By Don Macdonald

Veritatis Advisors Sponsors Chicago River Water Quality Chicago River Day 2016 Water Quality is an ever increasing issue globally and in the Chicago region. Growing urban lifestyles river-walk, water taxi and transit, kayaking, and Canoe, Kayak and Swim events planned, the Chicago River is coming back to life. With recent infrastructure and MWRD improvements, City and private investment has made these opportunities a reality. Chicago River Day, the flagship river clean-up event

9 Apr 2016

Risk Management borne of Experience

By Don Macdonald

Managing Risk and the sport of Open Water Marathon Swimming ... You would be surprised to learn of the correlation between managing risk and the sport of Open Water Marathon Swimming. This exploding sport, fueled by triathletes, but started by a hardy core of tougher swimmers that embrace speedo only rules in cold water to build character and resilience not often found today. Many of these OW swimmers are surprisingly corporate leaders, business savvy

16 Apr 2016

49 percent of North American supply-chain executives don’t view sustainability as a strategic priority

By Don Macdonald

In an exert taken from Supply Chain Brain, Veritatis Advisors Partner West Monroe Partners, David South Head of Sustainability, highlights some of the out-takes from COP21 and study implications coming into focus. West Monroe Partners found that 49 percent of North American supply chain executives don't view sustainability as a strategic priority. And 64 percent have no plans to adopt sustainability initiatives in the coming years. Like it or not, though, they're going to have to take steps

31 Dec 2015

Climate Change: A Faceless Villain

By Don Macdonald

Climate Change: A Faceless Villain In this Article reprinted from Mindful, Author Sharon Begley nails it when talking about why humans avoid making Climate change a priority. Climate Change: A Faceless Villain. Climate Change Why do so many of us persist in doing nothing about global warming? Blame it on psychology. If only global warming were caused by ISIS declaring a “weather war” on the west, perhaps by gleefully releasing 18 tons of greenhouse gases