RALEIGH - The conservation group American Rivers says the city of Raleigh could cut water use up to 40 percent and save millions of dollars by improving water efficiency.
But a city environmental coordinator says Raleigh has already adopted many of the policies the organization recommends.
American Rivers issued a report Wednesday in which it analyzed how four cities in the Southeast could benefit from water efficiency, as opposed to building new dams and reservoirs. It concluded that Raleigh could save $30 million to $60 million by pursuing efficiency as compared with building dams and reservoirs.
“I don’t know how they developed the numbers,” said Ed Buchan, the city Utilities Department’s environmental coordinator. “We think that a lot of the things we’ve already done have saved us some money.”
Buchan noted, however, that cutting consumption also reduces the city’s revenue from water and sewer charges. And Buchan said that even with efficient use of water, growing communities such as Raleigh must still plan new reservoirs.
Read More:News & Observer
On the Move With a New Breast Cancer Resource
(ARA) – When a woman is first diagnosed with breast cancer, all kinds of questions go through her mind, and not all of them are about the cancer itself. “Will I be able to remain active? What kind of impact will treatment have on my lifestyle? Can I still be intimate with my significant other?”
When California resident Mary Jean Lynberg was first diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer back in 2004, she felt numb and physically ill. “My doctor had informed me that the type of tumor I had was fast growing and as a result, she would be very aggressive with my treatment. She told me that meant several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and maybe even surgery. I was very aware that life as I knew it was going to go through some drastic changes,” Lynberg says.
According to the American Cancer Society, 40,000 women (25 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer) are diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer every year. HER2 is part of a family of genes that play roles in controlling cell growth. In some breast cancers, for reasons no one understands, cancer cells have too much HER2.
Shortly after Lynberg was diagnosed, one of the first things she did was seek information and comfort online. “While I found several support groups that helped me get informed about my special form of breast cancer, I couldn’t find a site that spoke to the rest of my life – those topics that could benefit me on the road back to wellness,” she says. “I wanted to learn more about how to live the type of lifestyle I had before battling the disease. Would I still be able to enjoy my passions, like golf and travel?” Thankfully, Lynberg was able to continue pursuing those passions in one form or another, partly because her treatment included an oral therapy that she could take wherever and whenever she needed it.
Today, Lynberg’s breast cancer is in remission, but she remembers the struggles she faced at the time to figure it all out. However, she is happy to learn that the women who follow in her footsteps will not experience that same struggle. Launched this September, a new online resource is helping women and their loved ones continue to live a healthy, active, on-the-move lifestyle despite their cancer diagnosis.
HER Move (www.hermove.com) is the first ever Web-based, lifestyle program specifically for women in all stages of HER2-positive breast cancer, including the newly diagnosed, those living with advanced or metastatic disease and the long-term survivors. In addition to a unique offering of health and wellness information, there are resources that inspire women with HER2-positive breast cancer to live life to the fullest as best they can by staying on-the-move and living a healthy and active lifestyle.
Marybeth Bond, a travel expert and author of 11 travel books for women, is among the experts who have material posted on the site. “Travel has an uncanny way of taking us back to the simplicity that makes life precious again. A close friend recently told me that her first trip after diagnosis marked the beginning of hope – hope that she could live the life she had pre-cancer.”
But the key, points out Bond, is to recognize that “travel” has many definitions. “An afternoon visit to a botanical garden, a day cruise on a lake, or a walk in the woods with a loved-one can turn your attitude upside-down, change negatives into positives and pain into purpose.”
Those who have questions about intimacy, sexual connection and romance – generally not topics that are easy to discuss with your doctor, let alone their partner – can find answers courtesy of Ruth Peltason, author of the book, “I AM NOT MY BREAST CANCER.” A breast cancer survivor herself, she interviewed hundreds of women from all walks of life to get their take on the topic and shares what she learned on the site.
There’s also a section dedicated to caregivers headed up by HER2 Support Group’s (www.her2support.org) Joe Druther, whose wife, Christine, is a breast cancer survivor. “While being a caregiver can be stressful, there are many support groups made up of people like me who were unexpectedly given the role of caregiver. It can take some time to get adjusted to this new role, but know it is a crucial one – one that may be challenging at times, yet rewarding because you are, after all, helping someone you love.”
In addition to sharing resources, the site also creates a community where women can share their personal stories, anecdotes, recipes and photographs among new friends, and learn from the experiences of others. HER Move was funded and developed by GlaxoSmithKline Oncology.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARA) – Disappearing plant species, endangered wildlife and adverse health effects for humans – all grab headlines whenever talk turns to the impact pollution has on our world. But pollution also affects production of pearls, the gem American pop culture has made an icon of exemplary womanhood.
From June Cleaver to Marge Simpson, a perfect strand of pearls has come to represent the essence of feminine perfection in American culture. The bestowing of an heirloom strand from mother to daughter is a treasured rite of passage in many families. Yet pollution’s effect on the mollusks that produce pearls may mean fewer pearls – and higher prices – in the future.
Pearl production and a pristine environment are tightly linked. Pearl-bearing mollusks are filter-feeders. To get their microscopic food, they filter as much as 106 gallons of seawater a day. Filter-feeding makes the mollusks extremely sensitive to pollutants in the water.
Pearl-bearing mollusks are also very sensitive to water temperature. Mollusks that produce pearls evolved over millions of years to live in very specific environments. Although those that live in temperate latitudes are accustomed to seasonal fluctuations in water temperature, an unusual rise in summer can kill them. Pearl-bearing mollusks that live in tropical latitudes can survive only within a very narrow range of water temperature. A small rise at any time of year can kill them.
People Can and Do Help
The mollusks’ sensitivity to temperature increases and pollutants make people who are dependent on the mollusks’ productivity acutely aware of environmental factors. Pearl farmers — people who grow cultured pearls — have a stake in mollusk health and productivity. That stake makes pearl farmers good stewards of the environment. If water pollution or temperature increases kill their mollusks, pearl farmers lose their livelihood.
Jewelmer, a pearl-farming company in the Philippines, has been especially active in promoting environmental preservation. The company has strongly lobbied the Philippine government to outlaw cyanide and dynamite fishing in the islands. Those fishing techniques produce big, easy catches, but they’re environmentally destructive, and they adversely affect the mollusks on the pearl farms.
“Jewelmer produces some of the finest golden South Sea cultured pearls,” says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, Inc., a leading online pearl-seller, “and the company has been among the most aggressive in protecting the pearl-farming environment.”
Forum for Pearl Lovers
www.Pearl-Guide.com is a pearl forum that has more than 3,000 members, many of whom contribute posts about pearls every day. Since pearls are the members’ passion and reason for participating in the forum, they are naturally concerned with pollution’s and global warming’s effects on pearl culture. Without protecting the delicate environment mollusks need to produce pearls, Pearl-Guide.com members and other pearl lovers around the world would lose their favorite gems.
ARA) - Helping a parent move to senior housing can seem more intimidating than orchestrating a rocket launch.
The death of a spouse, declining health or safety concerns can trigger the need to move. The first phase comes with the realization that what has been home is no longer suitable.
Emotional ties to a place are hard to overcome. Finding a new home that is appealing and appropriate is no easy task, and neither is culling through a lifetime’s accumulation of “stuff.”
It may not take a rocket scientist to work through this multi-phase life change. But finding a professional who knows the ropes can make it easier for the more than 29 percent of home sellers age 65 and older who move into an active-adult community or senior-related housing each year.
That professional may be a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), an agent who receives special training and demonstrates the expertise to navigate the unique housing needs of clients age 50 and older. “Services to seniors are changing to meet the lifestyles we live. Senior communities are changing to meet the expectations of baby boomers and today’s retirees, too,” says Carol Kairis, managing director, SRES Council and Specialties, National Association of Realtors.
“The range of senior housing options is diverse and would surprise many Americans who often think of senior housing as only nursing homes. Assisted living facilities address the needs of those who need support services, and continuing care retirement communities are wonderful options for those who wish to age in place.”
Nationwide, more than 16,000 realtors have attained the SRES designation. In the same way a real estate agent recommends a plumber or landscaper to a client, an SRES agent assembles a team to address client needs — repair companies, professional organizers, estate sales agents, and senior move managers who pack, transport and unpack in the new location.
“An SRES agent can help you develop a strategy, then bring in a team to help take one room at a time to organize and dispose of goods. They can help you decide where you’re going to go, and recommend a mover,” says Armand Christopher, a seasoned SRES real estate broker and member of the SRES National Advisory Board of the National Association of Realtors.
Christopher has an active practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and offers these tips no matter where seniors live:
1. Plan ahead. Don’t wait for a health crisis to start the process. The smoothest transitions occur when the person moving is in the driver’s seat.
2. Engage professionals. SRES agents understand the dynamics of a senior move. They are trained about the benefits and drawbacks of reverse mortgages and can help you understand how to use pensions, 401K accounts and IRAs in real estate transactions. They also know how Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will affect your real estate decisions.
3. Get a full assessment of the current situation. Physical care needs and financial resources are where to start. Consider the costs of staying in place, including renovation and ongoing maintenance. Add the cost of rising utility bills and taxes, and don’t forget transportation and food. Make a list and decide whether it’s cheaper to stay or move to a community designed for seniors.
4. Take a multi-phase approach. Christopher says his customers often take longer than a year to actually make the move. An SRES agent can connect the senior with professionals to help walk through the process.
5. Fully explore new housing options. Senior living offers a broader range of options than ever before. SRES agents have an understanding of the services each type of community can provide and can best match the client with the right place.
Christopher and other SRES professionals use SNAPforSeniors (www.snapforseniors.com), an online search tool that is akin to the Multiple Listing Service for senior housing. The SNAPforSeniors database includes more than 60,000 licensed senior housing facilities in the country and is available at no charge.
“It’s a great tool,” Christopher says. “Especially when adult children live out of state and are working with their parents on a move, I tell them about options I find on SNAPforSeniors. Typically seniors want to relocate close to their children, and the online search allows adult children and their parents to search research options and start the search together.”
CARY, N.C. — SciQuest, Inc., the global leader empowering enterprises to realize the potential of strategic procurement, today announced that U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance (U.S. Communities), a nonprofit instrumentality of government that assists local and state government agencies, school districts, higher education and nonprofit organizations pool their purchasing power nationwide, has partnered with the company.
Through this partnership, select U.S. Communities’ supplier contracts that have been competitively solicited by a lead public agency will be available via the SciQuest Supplier Network. Participating agencies that implement SciQuest’s procurement automation solutions will be able to access U.S. Communities’ contracts through an intuitive online shopping environment that integrates all of the agency’s supplier contracts onto a single platform and enables users to make all of their purchases through one system.
“We provide a forum for public sector and nonprofit organizations to realize the savings that stem from these competitively solicited contracts with the combined purchasing power of our participants,” said Chris Mellis, program manager of U.S. Communities. “SciQuest’s online shopping environment is user-friendly and automates the entire purchasing process. With this technology, it will now be easier than ever to take advantage of U.S. Communities’ contracts.”
U.S. Communities has more than 33,000 participating public agencies and over 400 new organizations register to participate each month. SciQuest’s suite of eprocurement solutions will provide a powerful and intuitive way for participating agencies to drive spending to all of their cost-saving contracts through a single environment for every agency purchase.
“We are excited that SciQuest is now a U.S. Communities partner because it will enable Emory to further leverage the cost and process efficiencies we’ve gained from our SciQuest eprocurement solution with the savings that U.S. Communities’ contracts deliver,” said David Thurston, associate vice president for financial operations at Emory University. “It is the ideal plug-and-play scenario for optimizing procurement, dropping a wide range of contracts negotiated by U.S. Communities into Emory’s private marketplace that’s powered by SciQuest.”
U.S. Communities’ participating agencies spend more than $1.3 billion each year on goods and services purchased through its contracts with world-class suppliers like AutoZone, Haworth, HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, Herman Miller, Office Depot and its technology division Tech Depot, Sportime, and Virco. This partnership will benefit agencies and suppliers alike. SciQuest’s ability to bring spending under management and drive purchases to on-contract items helps participating suppliers secure a greater share of the market and realize process efficiencies.
SciQuest’s eprocurement solutions are designed to enable all individuals across an organization to make purchases easily and quickly on a system that gives procurement and financial professionals unprecedented real-time visibility into organization-wide spending. Among U.S. Communities’ participants, purchases of this kind are often only exceeded by payroll and spending on capital projects.
“In today’s challenging economic environment, government agencies, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations are under unprecedented pressure to stretch the value of their financial resources,” said Stephen Wiehe, president and CEO of SciQuest. “This partnership will enable U.S. Communities’ participants to utilize a system that encourages the user participation and adoption required to realize the full potential of negotiated contracts.”
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
(ARA) – If you’re torn between your concern for the environment and your need to make a living, good news is on the horizon. Rising demand for environmentally friendly alternatives for fossil fuels is opening up new career opportunities for professionals in a variety of fields.
Growing environmental concern and limited fossil fuel supplies are driving the growth of domestic and international markets for renewable energy systems, the U.S. Department of Energy reports. Rising demand for cleaner energy directly affects career opportunities in industries related to renewable resources.
“The 2008 economic forecast suggests that one of the newest, fastest growing markets for jobs will be alternative energy,” says Sheryl Decker, director of career services at Brown Mackie College – South Bend, Ind. Decker recently attended a business outlook panel presented by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “Growth opportunities appear in companies that are exploring the use of wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and bioenergy power technologies.”
Millions of professionals already work in alternative energy industries, yet more are needed, including:
* chemists
* engineers
* sales and marketing professionals
* administrators
* managers
* clerical workers
* human resources
* information technology
* business
* finance
* law
“Professionals who are already in the workforce, and students seeking to enter into a green career, can prepare with a number of degree programs and continuing education courses,” Decker says. “Many different types of skills can be applied to these upcoming industries.”
“Alternative energy companies are seeking professionals to fill a wide variety of positions, including mechanical engineer, project manager, programmer analyst, IT sourcing specialist, administrative assistant and marketing director,” she says.
”Business Week” magazine reports that a growing number of professionals are moving to jobs in renewable energy fields to promote their own personal environmental concerns. While some intend to transfer existing skills to a different industry, others are making a mid-life career change simply to become part of the solution for the many environmental issues we face today.
The rising cost of oil is proving to be a catalyst for the further development of alternative energy sources. While substantial growth is happening now, Decker points out that many people don’t yet realize the opportunities it affords.
“People tend to overlook many untapped markets and job opportunities in their local employment arenas,” she says. “Networking can be an effective way to gauge the hiring needs in your area. I encourage everyone to join industry-specific organizations, volunteer in community activities, and become involved with the Chamber of Commerce. By becoming involved in the community and networking, you will see new doors opening with different job opportunities.”
To learn more about career training opportunities in alternative energy, and how to prepare for working in this quickly growing business sector, visit www.brownmackie.edu.
Inexpensive electric vehicles, like the Zap truck, eliminate expensive fuel costs.
(NewsUSA) - What’s the best way to save money on gas? Stop buying gas and use electric cars.
According to a new AAA survey, gas prices are becoming a chief concern for consumers. But for Americans with long commutes, walking and biking between work, home and children’s soccer games might not be a viable option.
Electric cars - the ones that run without gasoline engines - are no longer science fiction.
One electric car maker, Zap, has put affordable electric cars and trucks on the market. Zap vehicles use rechargeable batteries and plug into standard outlets. All you do is plug it in like a cell phone.
These vehicles are even becoming a viable option for dealerships to stimulate sales in a down economy. Zap cars provide a gas-free way to get to work, pick up the kids and run errands. They also make an economical addition to your business or government fleet.
Zap city cars and trucks might cost around $11,000, while electronic scooters sell for as little as $3,000. Along with their low initial cost, electric cars also save drivers money on the roads. You can even qualify for 100 percent financing on these vehicles.
As gas prices climb, more Americans are spending over $60.00 just to fill their vehicles’ fuel tanks. Recharging an electric car costs around 60 cents.
According to the California Air Resources Board, a person driving an electric car for 30 miles each day can save 750 gallons of gas - and around $2,500 - each year.
Electric vehicles have no tailpipe exhaust. They don’t emit greenhouses gases. Even after factoring in the pollution from electric power plants, electric cars still cause 90 percent less pollution than gasoline-powered cars.
State and federal governments understand electric cars’ value. Many offer financial incentives for people purchasing electric cars.
Electric cars can include a solar option that helps save even more. Solar panels can extend your range if parked on a sunny day and can double the life of the battery before it needs replacing. Plus, nothing makes an environmental statement like a solar-charged electric car.
Zap dealerships are being set up across the U.S. To find one or to register to test drive a Zap, call 800-251-4555 or visit www.zapworld.com.
(NewsUSA) - America’s private, job-based benefits system is one of the most successful in the world. The benefit plans within the system hold more than $6.1 trillion in assets and cover approximately 150 million workers, retirees and their families. The job-based benefits that give millions of workers health coverage and the opportunity to enjoy a financially secure retirement are more critical than ever.
Since 2001, the Labor Department has made great gains in its efforts to safeguard the pension, health and other employee benefits crucial to millions of workers. And we are continuing to improve the system to make benefits more accessible and secure.
This administration succeeded in enacting the Pension Protection Act of 2006 - the most sweeping reforms of retirement plan rules in over three decades. These reforms have improved the solvency and the transparency of traditional pension plans, better ensuring that retirement promises made to workers are kept.
We are boosting participation in 401(k) and similar plans through automatic enrollment, helping many more workers and their families build a nest egg for a secure and comfortable retirement. We are also making it easier for workers to get quality, professional investment advice to inform their retirement savings decisions.
And the Labor Department’s efforts have produced record-setting results. Since 2001, our enforcement and outreach programs have yielded monetary results of nearly $11 billion on behalf of workers and retirees and have led to the indictment of more than 800 individuals for crimes involving benefit plans.
In addition, the participant assistance program handled nearly 1.3 million inquiries that helped individuals understand their benefit programs and recovered nearly $545 million to pay pension and health benefits of working families.
The Department’s successful stewardship benefits millions of Americans, both as workers and investors. The Department of Labor put the tools in place for workers to plan and save for their retirement, and now it is up to each of us to save so we can achieve our retirement dreams. For more information or assistance, call 1-866-444-3272 or visit the Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa today.
Raleigh, NC – Business Technology Solutions, a Raleigh based business consulting firm, announces today that the firm was named in the Business Leader’s Top 100 North Carolina Small Businesses. The rankings were published in the June issue of Business Leader Magazine.
“We are delighted to be included along with these other great organizations on the list of North Carolina’s Top 100 Small Businesses,” states Lissa Johnsen, President / CEO. “We feel this honor affirms our commitment to providing small and medium sized businesses exceptional services to solve their unique needs in accounting systems, business management, technology management and human resource systems.”
The rankings for the top 100 small companies were decided primarily on company growth and community involvement. Other criteria included staff size and the percentage of work completed within the state of North Carolina.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
With food prices rising, consumers could be hit hardest when crops like corn experience drought. Every step possible needs to be taken to conserve water.
(NewsUSA) - Crops are struggling, and lawns are turning brown. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 36 states anticipate water shortages by 2013.
For the millions affected by drought, every drop makes a difference. Personal water consumption remains a serious issue -; the EPA states that the average American consumes the equivalent of 1,600 glasses of water a day. Extended dry spells impact consumers, who are now turning to smart products that save water without sacrificing performance. Here are some products that help conserve water:
- The Shark Steam Mop cleans a 1,000 square foot floor surface with one pint of water, compared to the four gallons used in mop-and-bucket cleaning, according to the company. By turning a small amount of water into powerful steam, the Shark Steam Mop outcleans other solutions, and because it does not use any chemicals, nothing needs to be diluted or rinsed like with traditional mopping -; saving gallons of water.
- The Energy Star-rated LG SteamWasher uses TrueSteam technology to enhance cleaning performance and conserves water usage by up to 97 percent.
- The ASKO Encore Dishwasher uses dramatically less water than hand-washing and other dishwashers. The dishwasher uses only four gallons of water per load. According to the American Water Works Association, most dishwashers use nine to 12 gallons, while hand-washing dishes consumes approximately 20 gallons.
- In general, 30 percent of water consumption goes down the toilet each year. Gerber’s Ultra Dual-Flush Toilet features a pressure-assist flushing system to save water. The toilet uses 1.1 and 1.6 gallons per flush, saving 12,000 gallons of water each year, according to its manufacturer.
The U.S. is expected to account for more than 10 percent of the world’s household water consumption by 2025, according to the 5th World Water Forum. As the situation escalates, consumers and manufacturers continue to reduce household usage with more efficient products.
