# STAR Lab Research Partners ## Bank of Ireland The Bank of Ireland is Ireland’s largest bank and one of the world’s oldest financial institutions (it was founded in 1781 and has been in continuous operation since 1783). The Bank has made commitments to empower people to thrive financially by enabling them to make better financial decisions and to support customers and communities in the transition to a resilient, net zero economy by 2050. The Bank is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to develop and test new approaches to helping customers with difficult financial decisions in ways that improve their financial wellbeing. We are also working together on new ways to help customers reduce carbon emissions and transition to using renewable sources of energy. ## Commonwealth Bank of Australia ![Commonwealth Bank of Australia Logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/harvardstarlab/files/320px-commonwealth_bank_logo.png?itok=0AsLXuGM) The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is Australia’s largest public company and its largest retail bank and has made a commitment to improving the financial wellbeing of customers and communities. CBA is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to develop and test new approaches to helping customers, especially those on low incomes and at risk of financial hardship, to make better financial decisions, access support, and improve their financial wellbeing. We are also studying initiatives addressing climate risk and carbon emissions, testing new approaches to helping customers take improve the energy efficiency of their home or business, switch to using renewable sources of energy, and adapt and prepare better for extreme weather events. ## EnergyFit ![Energy Fit Logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/harvardstarlab/files/energyfit-logo-.jpg?itok=io7UhF7z) EnergyFit is a start-up company in Australia with a mission to help people reduce home energy consumption and carbon emissions. EnergyFit provides customers with energy audit of their home and estimates how much they can reduce energy use by making different types of renovations, including replacing older appliances and installing insulation and rooftop solar panels. EnergyFit partners with STAR Lab STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to conduct research on how to optimize communications with potential customers to maximize take-up and reductions in home energy consumption. ## EnergyFlex ![EnergyFlex company logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/2025-03/EF_Logo_fullcolour_registered_RGB.png?itok=wJUTV4S5) EnergyFlex is a new Australian energy data and insights company that uses real-time access to Open Energy data to power its flagship product, the EnergyFlex app, which can analyze a user’s smart meter data and offer personalized insights into their electricity consumption and recommendations for reducing their energy bills and carbon emissions (e.g., by switching energy plans and altering the timing of their energy consumption), highlighting the environmental and financial advantages of shifting electricity usage towards renewable energy sources. EnergyFlex is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to conduct research on how to optimize the design of the EnergyFlex app to maximize take-up and reductions in home energy costs and carbon emissions for customers. ## Greener ![Greener logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/harvardstarlab/files/greener_logo.jpg?itok=8tnvJz3d) Greener is a start-up company in Australia that has a developed a smartphone app with a mission to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint to net neutral or better. The Greener app provides customers with a personal carbon footprint and makes customized recommendations for carbon-neutral products and services. Recommended Greener retail partners have demonstrated commitments to climate action and offset emissions associated with purchases by Greener users. Greener provides a platform for small retail businesses that helps them with track and reduce emissions. Greener is partnering with STAR Lab STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to design and test product features and impacts. ## Hanes ![Hanes Brands Logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/harvardstarlab/files/hanesbrands_stack_2_pos_p.png?itok=B94wXswo) Hanes is a leading American clothing company, founded in 1901, that manages a global supply chain of company-owned facilities. Hanesbrands includes Hanes, Bonds, Playtex, Barely There, Wonderbra and other major clothing brands. Hanes has made commitments to reducing water and energy use, reducing waste-to-landfill, and switching to alternative energy sources to reduce its carbon footprint. Hanes has partnered with STAR Lab STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to test new communications designed to empower its consumers to make better-informed decisions for themselves, their communities, and the environment. ## Momentum Cloud Momentum Cloud is an Australian software development company that builds customized solutions for educational organizations to help improve key educational outcomes, including attendance, performance, and wellbeing among students, especially in disadvantaged communities. The company is committed to generating positive change for the public good by providing software solutions that unlock learning information, build learning support networks and empower students, parents, and teachers to achieve their very best. Momentum Cloud is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to develop and test new approaches to helping students, parents, and teachers by setting individual learning goals and sharing positive feedback. ## Truist ![Truist company logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/2025-04/tru_lg_vrt_rgb_pos_0.jpg?itok=MPszmH0W) The Truist Financial Corporation was formed in 2019 as the result of the merger of Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) and SunTrust Bank. It is currently the ninth-largest bank in the United States, and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Truist supports financial education, affordable homeownership, emergency savings, investing for retirement, expanding access to capital, and other initiatives that help people become more financially secure and knowledgeable about managing their money. Truist is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to develop and test new approaches to helping customers, especially those on low incomes, to make better financial decisions, access support, and improve their financial wellbeing. ## Qantas Airways ![Qantas Logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/harvardstarlab/files/quantas-logo2.png?itok=C541btWY) Qantas Airways is Australia’s flag carrier airline and the third oldest airline in the world (founded in 1920). Qantas is committed to leading the industry in sustainability, focusing on reducing carbon emissions by improving fuel efficiency, introducing sustainable fuel, and operating its world-leading offsets program (Qantas Future Planet). Qantas is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to conduct joint research to maximize the positive impacts of their sustainability initiatives. ## ValAi ![ValAi company logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/2025-03/VALAI_logo_positive%20%281%29.JPG?itok=91tlcD8N) ValAi is an Australian start-up that offers tools for integrating climate action into any customer experience through automated emissions calculations, dynamic whole-of-home sustainability ratings, and household energy efficiency scores, with recommendations for how best to reduce energy costs and lower emissions via renovations (such as installing rooftop solar systems and heat pumps). ValAi is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to examine consumer behavior and to optimize the design of the ValAi user experience to maximize take-up of the ValAi tools and help customers reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions. ## WALK ![WALK company logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum8366/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/2025-03/Logo%20Transparent.PNG?itok=OqjQXjrn) WALK is a boutique Australian consultancy that has created a sophisticated value-alignment tool designed to evaluate and synchronize a company’s social and environmental actions with both the personal values of its collaborators and its own stated purpose and commitments. WALK provides a tool dedicated to empowering individuals and brands to authentically embody their commitment to sustainability. WALK is partnering with STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to conduct research on how to optimize the design of the tool and to maximize take-up and positive impact for brands and customers.