Latest news with #climateImpact
Skift
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Skift
Hilton Says EV Chargers Are Top Booking Driver, Beating Pools and Free Breakfast
EV chargers at hotels may also be attracting more eco-conscious travelers - a sign that what's inside the accommodation, and its climate impact, could increasingly influence booking decisions too. Electric vehicle charging stations have become the highest-converting feature on according to Hilton's global head of sustainability, Jean Garris Hand. That means travelers who search for EV charging on Hilton's booking platform are more likely to complete a reservation than those searching for traditional filters like pools, on-site dining, or free breakfast. 'We have EV charging stations in over 1,800 of our hotels across the globe, and it's the number one highest conversion amenity on Garris Hand said in an interview with Skift. 'What that means is that when guests search and find an EV charging station, they're likely to boo
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
The reality of flying in extreme weather
Given the ever-changing patterns of tourism, airline routes tend to come and go pretty regularly. But Wizz Air's announcement last week that it will be scrapping all of its routes from Abu Dhabi (the capital of the United Arab Emirates and a bustling flight hub between Europe and Asia) may have raised more eyebrows than usual. As well as the tough commercial and geopolitical climate in the Middle East, the low-cost carrier also cited the UAE's 'hot and harsh' climate as a reason for grounding the flights, adding that the high concentration of dust in the air was causing damage to its engines. That the Gulf can be punishingly hot won't be news to anyone. But the idea that extreme temperatures can cause complications for planes seems like the sort of thing that frequent flyers might want to know more about – particularly if they plan on jetting to the region any time soon. Too hot to handle Most of the time, hotter temperatures are a matter of simple physics for pilots, says Nick Eades, a veteran captain of the legendary Boeing 747 and the author of several books. As the air heats up, it also gets lighter, which makes it tougher for a plane to get the lift it needs to take off properly. 'In days gone by, airlines had to adjust their schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day, but modern airliners are able to operate in extreme conditions,' he says. At worst, the pilot may have to make some additional calculations, like reducing the amount of fuel on board to lower the plane's weight. Once the plane has taken off, the heat is much less of a concern (although it may well add to turbulence at lower altitudes). Though planes that land in hot weather will usually experience a higher ground speed. 'To compensate, pilots will slow down much earlier and extend the flaps and landing gear earlier than normal,' he says. Where hot weather has led to flight cancellations it's usually down to issues on the ground, rather than with per se. Last year, flights were briefly grounded in Delhi, for example, when safety authorities ruled that the airport tarmac had become too hot for a safe take off. Closer to home, flights from London Luton Airport were cancelled for a day in summer 2022, after high temperatures caused parts of the runway to melt. When the dust settles In the case of Wizz Air's experiences in Abu Dhabi, though, the issue isn't necessarily the heat but the heavy concentration of sand and dust in the air – some of which gets sucked into the engine during take-off. The extreme heat of the engine then means that much of that dust will melt, leaving behind a glass-like residue which can hamper the blades. 'This isn't like volcanic ash, where there is a risk of the plane falling out of the sky,' says Dr Claire Ryder, a meteorologist at the University of Reading who has led studies into the levels of dust around different airports. However, the gradual build-up and abrasion over time will result in performance issues for the aircraft engines, meaning lower fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs. For an ultra-low-cost carrier like Wizz Air, which relies on cutting back any possible costs to offer the cheapest tickets possible, that is a potential headache. Given the massive aviation market in the Middle East, there is a sizeable incentive to develop engines that can better handle dust. At the University of Manchester, a team of researchers is working with Rolls Royce to conduct tests using synthetic dust, with the aim of understanding exactly what happens when it gets sucked into the engine. 'We know that the dust gets smaller the further it gets into the engine, but we are also looking at how it changes in its chemical structure,' says Dr Nicholas Bojdo, who is leading the project. The issue becomes more pertinent as engines get more powerful, as the increased capacity means that the temperatures get even hotter inside – thus exceeding the melting point for more minerals. While temperature may be rising, the climate change models aren't particularly well equipped to estimate the impact on dust, says Dr Claire Ryder. Though some studies show a correlation between rising temperatures and dust storms – the latter having led to flight cancellations (particularly in India) due to poor visibility. Snowed under Hot weather and dust are one issue, but what about the other end of the spectrum, when planes have to operate in harsh cold snaps? For all the disruption caused by snow storms and arctic blasts, the impact on the planes themselves is nowhere near as dramatic. The typical cruising altitude of passenger jets means that they are already built to handle some seriously sub-zero temperatures. If anything, colder ground temperatures can make the engines more efficient. The wings can also be treated with a special anti-freeze to ensure they aren't affected by the outside temperatures. If cold weather is going to cause problems it's likely to be on the ground. For example, snow blizzards can compromise air traffic control's visibility. In those circumstances, it's common for controllers to impose stricter safety limits, increasing the spacing between take-offs and arrivals. This usually means that some flights will inevitably be cancelled entirely. Extreme cold weather may also cause runways to be closed off, as happened at four UK airports (Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester) back in January, when much of the country was under an amber warning for snow and ice. As a rule of thumb, aviation authorities warn against attempting take-off when the surface is more than 25 per cent ice or snow. Perhaps Wizz Air won't be rushing to launch a Greenland or Alaska service any time soon, then. But it's good to know that, for those airlines prepared to splash the cash, the marvels of modern engineering can deal with extreme weather conditions – even if the airports themselves may not be so lucky.
Irish Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Amazon Web Services to build three data centres in north Dublin
Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to construct three new data centres in north Dublin that 'will have no significant impact on climate'. That is according to planning consultant, John Spain Associates, on behalf of AWS firm, Universal Developers LLC, which has secured planning permission from Fingal Co Council for three data centres on a 65 acre land-holding at Cruiserath Road, Dublin 15. The plans have been stalled however following five third-party appeals lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP). ACP has also asked the Amazon firm to clarify the scheme's impact on climate. Mr Spain said that 'the proposed development involves significant and effective measures to mitigate climate impact and the result is a development which will have no significant impact on climate'. He said that the scheme would 'also support the delivery of additional renewable energy in line with Government policy'. Mr Spain also enclosed a connection agreement between the AWS company and EirGrid which he says would provide sufficient power to serve the proposed development in its entirety. The enclosed connection documentation running to 189 pages is mainly redacted for commercial sensitivity reasons. The agreement was reached in 2017 and modified in February of this year. Mr Spain told ACP that the connection agreement with EirGrid and the AWS firm covered already permitted and potential future phases at Cruiserath Road. Universal Developers LLC first lodged plans for the data centres more than two-and-a half-years ago in December 2022. The five third parties who lodged appeals against the grant of planning permission issued by Fingal Co Council are Friends of the Earth, the Fingal One Future Group, Dr Colin Doyle, John Conway and Louth Environmental Group and Mannix Coyne. On the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, Mr Spain said that the proposed development would not contribute to any exceedance of the sectoral emission ceiling for the electricity sector. In a report for AWS, environmental consultants AWN Consulting said that the estimated greenhouse gas emissions for the permitted development range from 213,840 tonnes of carbon dioxide this year to 132,164 tonnes in 2030 which would then equate to 4.4 per cent of the Electricity Sector Emission ceiling. The consultants said that the greenhouse gas emissions for the overall data campus project at Cruiserath would be 262,535 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030 which would equate to 8.8 per cent of the 2030 Electoral Sectoral emission ceiling. AWN Consulting said that the assessment of the proposed development and overall project had taken into account the relevant national and sectoral adaptation plans and the environmental assessment process 'has ensured that the proposed development and overall project is climate proofed'.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Banner Bank Releases 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report
WALLA WALLA, Wash., June 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Banner Bank released its 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report identifies ongoing practices and recent accomplishments creating long-term value and driving progress while staying deeply connected to the needs of all the company's stakeholders. It includes examples in the areas of environmental risk and impact management, social responsibility and governance, including: Increasing our focus on continuous improvement, which assists us in identifying new opportunities that benefit our corporate responsibility strategy as well as our overall organization. As we move to the next stage of this strategy, we are building on a clearer understanding of our climate impact, the tools at our disposal, and how we can maintain a sustainable business strategy in the years ahead. Identifying new ways to engage our employees through the launch of a leadership development program and more focused support of internal mobility and career advancement. Tangible impacts on our business include a highly engaged workforce and low voluntary turnover rates. Financing additional projects that reduce housing insecurity as well as provide vital capital to businesses in the form of loans. This helps drive the economic engine of our local and regional economies, which is especially important during periods of change and market turbulence. Making strides integrating climate risk into our broader risk management framework. This is not just a recognition that the risk profile of our business is shifting— it's fundamental to our ability to make responsible, long-term decisions and remain a trusted part of our communities. Continuing to evolve our strong governance structure, including refining our Generative AI policy to better facilitate innovation in day-to-day work while maintaining our security and risk management standards. Additionally, the 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report includes disclosures prepared using the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards for the financial sector that we determined to be most relevant to our business, as well as a link to our full SASB report. Our Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) disclosures are also included in this year's report. "For 135 years, we've demonstrated our company can and does evolve to meet the changing needs of our clients and communities while staying true to our core values," said Mark Grescovich, President and CEO of Banner Corporation and Banner Bank. "We believe our achievements outlined in this report demonstrate that doing the right thing remains good business and creates long-term value for all our stakeholders." To view the full report, please visit About the Company Banner Corporation (NASDAQ: BANR) is a $16.2 billion bank holding company operating one commercial bank—Banner Bank—in four Western states through a network of branches offering a full range of deposit services and business, commercial real estate, construction, residential, agricultural and consumer loans. Visit Banner Bank at View source version on Contacts Kelly McPhee, Banner Bank Senior Vice President, PR & Communications, 509-232-1968 or
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The shortest day of your life could be this summer – here's when
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. We could soon be living through the shortest day of our lives. According to reports, Earth is continuingly spinning faster on its axis. While we've known about this phenomenon for a few years now, scientists are paying close attention to the length of the days this summer. According to a report from Time and Date, July 9, July 22, or August 5 could be the shortest days in recent years. We know for a fact that Earth's rotational speed has been increasing since at least 2020. And each year, we see slightly shorter days during the middle of the year. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 Now, it's worth noting that the shortest day of our lives won't be noticeably shorter in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the difference in the Earth's rotational speed that day won't even be noticeable, except when looking at it through the perspective of the atomic clock. That's because while technically shorter, the day will only be around 1.51 milliseconds shorter, at most. Exactly why the Earth's rotation has accelerated is unclear, but scientists believe it could have a lasting impact. Not only will it shorten our days, but that can also affect a slew of other things, like the global climate and more. While we don't know the exact reason why, we do know that tidal forces from the Moon and Sun contribute to the Earth's rotation. However, the list of things that can affect the speed of the Earth's rotation, and thus the length of the day, is longer than you'd expect. Most believe that the change is driven by forces within the Earth, but it's impossible to completely rule out atmospheric conditions, too. Still, knowing when the shortest day of our lives will occur is important information if we want to stay up to date with how the Earth is doing as a whole. It's no secret that the Earth will one day be swallowed up by the Sun. However, until that happens, the Earth will continue to survive as it has for billions of years. And as it survives, the rotational speed that drives our days will shorten and even increase as the forces affecting it change and evolve. While we don't know which of the three days listed above will turn out to be the shortest day of our lives, we know it's very likely to happen again, at least until the Earth slows down. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
