Investors are taking a deeper dive into corporations, looking beyond financial metrics and into a company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards as a measure of its commitment to all stakeholders, including a healthier planet.

Last year, Laurence Fink, the Founder and CEO of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, sent a letter to the CEOs of its invested companies and a second letter to its clients, addressing a focused mandate on sustainable investing. BlackRock sees climate risk as investment risk and plans to act ahead of the serious impacts of climate change by doubling its number of ESG funds.

Below are four companies where ESG has become a critical part of their business or a core belief in building a more sustainable business environment.

1. Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (CSE: CMC | OTCQB: CWSFF | FSE: C36)

Cielo is literally turning garbage into gas; it doesn’t get much greener than that!

Cielo, a waste to renewable fuel company, has a patented technology that converts landfill garbage into renewable high-grade diesel used in transport trucks and kerosene used for aviation jet and marine fuel.

After 16 years and C$75 million in research and development, and now a fully functional plant, Cielo is currently riding the “green wave” of investor interest in environmental tech, and the stock price has responded accordingly, up over 1,000% year-to-date.

Cielo is currently rolling out 10 facilities in North America over the next couple of years but with revenues expected from its first plant this year.

Read the latest story about Cielo here.

2. mCloud Technologies Corp. (TSXV: MCLD | OTCQB: MCLDF)

mCloud helps businesses reduce energy waste, maximize energy production and get the most out of critical energy infrastructure. It focuses on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to curb energy waste in buildings, maximize the energy production of wind turbines and extend the lifespan of critical energy infrastructure in a variety of different industries.

mCloud recently rolled out a new service that detects the leakage of gases during oil and gas production that will drive major carbon emission reductions for its customers in Alberta and the Middle East.

And yesterday, mCloud announced a partnership with three North American energy utility providers to offer its energy-saving solutions for HVAC and improved indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring solutions that could target over one million commercial buildings in the U.S. and Canada.

Read about yesterday’s news release here.

3. Nano One Materials Corp. (TSXV: NNO)

Nano One Materials is a technology company with a patented and scalable industrial process for the production of low-cost, high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries.

The cathode determines the battery’s capacity and voltage, and can comprise 20% or more of the costs of a lithium-ion battery.

Nano One’s proprietary “One Pot” furnace process creates a coated single crystal powder that protects the cathode from side reactions while allowing the transfer of lithium ions between electrolyte and cathode.

And, importantly, the process addresses ESG concerns around energy, waste, and carbon footprint in the lithium-ion battery supply chain. It is an environmentally friendly process using limited water, and as it eliminates intermediate steps, it eliminates expensive and energy-intensive metal conversions and does not have a hazardous waste stream.

See the latest video about Nano One Materials here.

4. Neo Lithium Corp. (TSXV: NLC | OTCQX: NTTHF)

Neo Lithium is advancing its 100% owned Tres Quebradas (3Q) project, a high-grade lithium brine lake and salar complex in Argentina. The 3Q Project is located in Latin America’s “Lithium Triangle” and covers 350 KM2 (~86,500 acres) in the largest lithium-producing area in Argentina.

Last week, Neo Lithium announced that it engaged Golder Associates and the Argentinean National University of San Martin, to help with the ESG program as part of its Feasibility Study for 3Q project.

Waldo Perez, CEO of Neo Lithium said, “We take very seriously our compromise with all of our stakeholders and future generations, which in large part includes all aspects of ESG.”

Neo Lithium wants to be at the low end of the CO₂ emission footprint when compared with other lithium brine projects.

Read the latest story about Neo Lithium here.

 Happy Earth Day, Do Something Nice for Mother Earth.

“I think what we bring to the table that is really different from anybody else is that we are looking at how we control efficiency through the power electronics, but working with the motor. We are looking at that complete system optimization. By doing that we have got this huge market that is interested in what we are doing. It doesn’t matter if you are into green technology or motors or power electronics. We are kind of covering all three of it.” States Sue Ozdemir, CEO of Exro Technologies Inc. (CSE: XRO | OTCQB: EXROF), in an interview with InvestorIntel’s Tracy Weslosky.

Sue went on to provide an update on Exro’s collaboration and supply agreement with Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd. to integrate Exro’s technology into Clean Seed’s high-tech agricultural seeder and planter platforms, advancing the electrification of heavy-farm equipment. Sue said that Clean Seed is an industry expert in the agricultural segment. Agriculture still has 45% of the industry using non electric methods. With the Clean Seed deal, Sue said, Exro will be able to show scalability of its technology for the entire mobility industry. Sue also provided an update on Exro’s partnership with Motorino Electric. She said that Exro has delivered the first Exro-powered e-Bike to Motorino. Exro’s engineered technology provided a torque and acceleration increase of greater than 25% for the Motorino e-Bike.

To access the complete interview, click here

Disclaimer: Exro Technologies Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

“We have done two installations. They (Knight Frank) have asked us to do proposals on 21 buildings and it was on the back of an installation that we had done early last year where they monitored results, got great results and that’s leading them to incorporate this as a part of their overall strategy for carbon reduction.” States Ted Konyi, President and CEO of Smartcool Systems Inc. (TSXV: SSC), in an interview with InvestorIntel Corp. CEO Tracy Weslosky.

Tracy Weslosky: There is so much news coming out. I think I counted four news releases since the new year?

Ted Konyi: Yes, that is right. We have had four news releases since the new year. Its been a good start to the year. Lots more to come.

Tracy Weslosky: I have here your most recent news. You just made a deal with Knight Frank to collaborate to reduce energy consumption in the UK. Some Canadians, North Americans may not be familiar with how large Knight Frank is. So why not we start there?

Ted Konyi: It’s a great relationship that we have developed. I got a chance to meet David Goatman for the first time in November. Our guys in the UK have been working with him for a long time. Knight Frank is a global real estate consultancy firm. I think they have 523 offices in 60 different countries. They also manage properties on behalf of their commercial customers. I think its 750 million square feet of property that they manage. David Goatman is the Partner and Head of Energy and Sustainability for all of Knight Frank. He has become quite a champion for Smartcool. He is leading us in the door to a lot of their managed properties as well as to their customers that they work with on a consultancy basis…to access the complete interview, click here

Disclaimer: Smartcool Systems Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

Earlier this week, Vancouver-based Smartcool Systems Inc. (TSXV: SSC) (“Smartcool”) announced that it had completed installations of its HVAC optimization technologies in two UK office buildings managed by Knight Frank LLP, in London and Bristol. Already, these installations have shown a 20% savings on energy costs. This follows news of Smartcool completing three installations in January for SSE, one of the UK’s largest and fastest growing energy companies earlier in January.

Knight Frank, which is the world’s largest privately-owned real estate consultancy, is taking an active approach to reducing its overall carbon footprint, as well as energy costs for its clients, who represent more than 750 million square feet of real property ownership globally. With demonstrated success of Smartcool’s technologies in its existing office building installations, Smartcool has performed surveys of an additional 18 buildings on Knight Frank’s recommendation, foreshadowing additional installations in the near future.

David Goatman, Knight Frank’s Head of Energy and Sustainability commented that he is very impressed with Smartcool’s technologies and he is looking forward to continuing collaboration and proceeding with further roll-outs. Smartcool CEO Ted Konyi shared these sentiments, stating that Knight Frank’s dedication to its efforts has been very clear, and that the outcome of this rollout will equally benefit Knight Frank’s clients, as well as the environment.

Smartcool’s product line consists of energy retrofit solutions for both residential and commercial properties, addressing the natural inefficiencies of HVAC systems, with the ability to save as much as 40% of energy expenses. The solutions are engineered to be compatible with existing HVAC configurations for easy installation with no downtime. The solutions have undergone rigorous third-party testing, to include testing by Oak Ridge National Laboratories, which is part of the United States Department of Energy.

Smartcool has put out 4 news releases since the new year:

• Smartcool and Knight Frank Collaborate to Reduce Energy Consumption in the UK – February 05, 2019
• Smartcool Begin Hall Hunter Partnership Installations across UK Sites – January 29, 2019
• Smartcool and SSE Continue to Install Energy Solutions Across Sites in the UK – January 23, 2019
• Smartcool Announces that 2018 4th Quarter Sales Exceed 2.4 Million Dollars – January 09, 2019

“We are dealing with some of the largest industrial energy users, some of the largest building owners. The industry that we are serving is about $200 billion annual energy industry. About 30% of that energy is wasted due to inefficiencies. That is about $60 billion annual industry that is growing at about twice the pace of inflation.” States Paul Ghezzi, CEO of Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR), in an interview with InvestorIntel Corp. CEO Tracy Weslosky.

Tracy Weslosky: Paul, I love the Kontrol Energy story. This story makes sense to me. Can you just introduce some of the InvestorIntel audience that may not know who you are to what Kontrol Energy is please?

Paul Ghezzi: Sure. Kontrol Energy is an energy technology company in the IoT, cloud and blockchain space and we are solving one of the largest energy challenges for North America

Tracy Weslosky: Okay. I find this fascinating. I know our audience would love to hear a refreshing change of pace, no offense to our cannabis friends, on what this can do to actually solve some big cleantech, greentech issues on our planet. Can you just kind of give us an overview about who your clients are because you are basically a new company for all intents and purposes?

Paul Ghezzi: Yes. We are dealing with some of the largest industrial energy users, some of the largest building owners. The industry that we are serving is about a $200 billion dollar annual energy industry. About 30% of that energy is wasted due to inefficiencies. That is about a $60 billion dollar annual industry that is growing at about twice the pace of inflation.    

Tracy Weslosky: Okay. I am going to back up. How old is Kontrol Energy? I mean, you are relatively new and you are picking up these Fortune 500 companies. Give us a timeline please.

Paul Ghezzi: Sure. Kontrol is about 3 years old now. 2015 was the private entry into the market. 2016 we went public on the CSE. We have been trading for about 2 years now. We have done a couple of nice acquisitions in a vertical integration strategy. Our revenues growth has been off the charts and we expect that to continue. 

Tracy Weslosky: Can you tell us what off the charts mean? I see you are ranked number 7 in the 2018 Start Up 50. What kind of revenue numbers are we actually talking about Paul?

Paul Ghezzi: We entered 2016 with about $400,000 in revenue. We finished at about $1.9 million. Last year was about $6.9. This year we are on track for about $10.5. We expect next year to be close to $30 million. The growth has been phenomenal. We are very pleased. That is something that we are driving towards, faster growth on a very nice share structure.

Tracy Weslosky: Paul, what percentage of your clients are American and what percentage are Canadian presently?

Paul Ghezzi: Currently we are running at about 80% Canadian, 20% U.S. We expect that to shift to about 60/40 over the next 2 years. The U.S. is a natural market for us in terms of energy consumption being 10 times bigger than Canada..to access the complete interview, click here

Disclaimer: Kontrol Energy Corp. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.