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Archive | May, 2009

Top Ten Tips on How to Save Electricity and Reduce the Cost of Electricity

by Tj Helm on 05,01,0909 in Family & Parenting

By Will Ung
How I Reduced My Cost of Electricity in One Day
When my wife and I finally decided to look into ways to cut energy costs, we noticed that there are numerous ways to do so. The two biggest things we noticed were that you either implement alternative home energy sources, or you can find ways to reduce the energy you are already using.

You can purchase or make solar panels to store energy for small to midsized appliances. You can also use windmill generators to create and store energy for use like solar panels. I have even seen some setups where combinations of the two systems provide power to naturally heat water. The hot water and steam is then used to power turbine generators that produce even more power.

However, before you begin to budget for a set of solar panels or a windmill for your home, I highly recommend that you start by looking into the basics. There are so many different things you can do right now that will lower your next energy bill.

Here are easy ways my wife and I have saved energy and reduced our bills right away:

1. Control your thermostat
If you don’t already have one, then installing a programmable thermostat can help you manage your heating and cooling systems more efficiently. Turning down the heat or the A/C a few degrees while maintaining comfort can help make a little dent.

2. Turn off your computers and monitor
If you are reading this, then you most likely have a computer at home. When you are done, turn off your computer and monitor. Contrary to popular beliefs, turning them on and off will not damage your systems. If you use your computer intermittently on a frequent basis, try using your computer’s power save or hibernation functions.

3. Use power strips
When you are not using your appliances, you can turn off the power strip (or unplug it if possible) to avoid drawing unnecessary power. When appliances remain plugged in, they draw a constant trickle of electricity even when they are off.

4. Look for the Energy Star symbol when looking for new appliances or home electronics
Buy products that have the Energy Star symbol. Energy Star products meet strict D.O.E guidelines and can help you reduce power loads on a daily basis.

5. Use cold water for your laundry
You won’t need to use extra energy to heat the water, and most clothes won’t know the difference anyway!

6. Lower your water heater temperature
If you lower the temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, your water will still provide enough heat to do shower comfortably and wash your dishes.

7. Use CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs
CFL bulbs last longer than incandescent light bulbs and use less energy in the process. They come in a variety of everyday color temperatures and lumens, so there’s most likely one out there that works for your home.

8. Window coverings
You’d be surprised at how much heat window coverings can hold in. Making sure all of your windows are covered are an excellent way to help make the most out of your heating in the cold.

9. Insulation for hot water storage tanks and piping
By retaining more of the heat, less energy would be expended to maintain a relatively constant temperature.

10. Attic or Wall Insulation
It can be a very big energy energy saver. It can also add to your home’s estimated value. With heat constantly rising, and energy being constantly used to produce more heat, it makes a big difference when your home can retain the most it can. That way there’s no need to produce the extra heat you would need if the energy were to escape through the roof of your house!

In the end, it is completely possible to reduce your energy costs by implementing some of these tips. If you go decide to go the next step and look into using alternative home energy resources, there’s quite a few ways to get into it. With proper planning, it’s even possible to go “off the grid” and never receive an energy bill again.

Good luck going green and off the grid!

Here is a website I have used to help me get started with implementing alternative home energy technology:
http://www.yourhomeenergyguide.com William Ung Thanks to http://www.yourhomeenergyguide.com and my friends at PECO energy for the tips! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Ung

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Vitamin Supplements – General Information

by Tj Helm on 05,01,0909 in Health & Wellness

By David G. Castro
Vitamins are a group of organic food substances or nutrients found only in living things, plants and animals. They can be divided into two classes based on their solubility: the water-soluble ones and the fat-soluble ones.

The first vitamin group (water-soluble) the folate (folic acid), vitamin B12, biotin, vitamin 6, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The second vitamin group (fat-soluble) include the vitamins: vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin K.

Even though vitamins and minerals aren’t an energy source (they have no calories) they assist in metabolizing nutrients in food and are indispensable in keeping body health.

Vitamins are necessary in small amounts for normal metabolism and good health so their depletion or excess can lead to chronic and sometimes acute diseases.

Functions:
Each vitamin has a specific function. For instance, a person may exhibit a typical health problem due to deficiency of a vitamin.

Vitamin A helps the formation and maintenance of teeth, bone and soft tissue, mucous membranes and skin health.

Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine. The more protein a person consumes, the more vitamin B6 is required to help the body use the protein. Vitamin B6 helps, among other things, the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of brain function.

Vitamin B12 like other B vitamins, is important in metabolism and also helps the formation of red blood cells and maintenance of the central nervous system.

Vitamin C also called ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant that promotes healthy teeth and gums. This vitamin helps the body absorb iron and maintain healthy tissue and also promotes wound healing.

Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin” because the body produces after exposure to sunlight. 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure three times a week is sufficient to produce the physical requirements of this vitamin. This vitamin promotes the absorption of calcium in the body, essential for developing and maintaining healthy teeth and bones. It also helps maintain adequate blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.

Vitamin E also known as tocopherol plays an important role in the formation of red blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K.

Vitamin K does not appear in the list of essential vitamins, but without it blood would not clot. Some studies suggest that help maintain strong bones in the elderly.

Niacin is a vitamin B complex that helps maintain healthy skin and nerves and also has effects on cholesterol lowering.

Folate works with vitamin B12 to help in the formation of red blood cells and is necessary for the production of DNA, which controls tissue growth and cell function. Any pregnant woman should make sure to consume adequate amounts of folate, since low levels of this vitamin is associated with birth defects such as spina bifida. Many foods are now fortified with folic acid.

Pantothenic acid is essential for the metabolism of foods and also plays a role in the production of hormones and cholesterol.

Riboflavin (B2) works in conjunction with other B complex vitamins and plays an important role in body growth and the production of red blood cells.

Thiamine (B1) helps the body cells convert carbohydrates into energy. It is also essential for the functioning of the heart and maintaining healthy nerve cells.<br><br><font size=1>

David C. is the author of the Vitamin Supplement Blog, read more about vitamins and supplements at http://www.myvitaminsupplement.net. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_G._Castro

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How to Create a Winning Personal Image

by Tj Helm on 05,01,0909 in Personal Development

By Dr. Raymond Comeau
The image that we project goes a long way to influence people and if we want to have any success in life, influencing people is a prerequisite. To make a sale, we have to influence people, to get a promotion, we must influence people, to implement any agenda that we may have, we must influence people and the image that we project is the medium that will determine, to a large degree, our effectiveness in influencing and motivating others to our way of thinking.

First it must be understood that the personal image is not primarily addressed to the left brain logic but to the right brain emotions. We feel a person’s image much more than we coldly analyze it. A person is “seen” with the heart and not with the brain.

It must also be remembered that our interpretation of a personal images is determined by what is called an “a priori.” An a priori is a deduction made from past observations and conclusion. In other words, we evaluate what a person’s image means to us by automatically comparing it to our previous experience of similar images.

As and example, most people would see a chubby person as being jovial and easy going. Such a conclusion is not based on facts but on previous experience and popular notions. An image is exactly what it says, it’s an image and not a reality so it can be rebuilt, modified and enhanced to our advantage.

When working on the personal image, the first consideration must be the target of the intended image. What will appeal to teenagers will be vastly different than if the business or professional world is targeted. The rock star image will go quite well with teenagers while Donald Trump will be more fitting in the business or professional world.

The image presented will be perceived mostly by the senses and it must appeal to what’s needed and wanted by your targeted community. That is, if you are a businessman, you must look like a prosperous businessman who does not have a care in the world, talk the part and walk it. However, if you are in the community service you cannot afford to go around in a Rolls Royce wearing $3,000 suits. The image must fit the community.

The best role models for the personal image are the people who are successful in your field. These people should be studied, copied and emulated as much as possible.

The personal image is the tribune upon which a person stands to deliver his message. It is the lens through which a person is judged, cataloged and perceived. It is the “you” that the world see, accept, reject or ignore. It is your personal brand for all to see. A lot of your successes and failures depend on it. So, treat it well, improve it as much as possible but don’t get bent out of shape if it happens to be rejected by some.

You can’t please everyone every time. So, don’t overlook the positive many for the negative few. Create the best possible personal image and wear it proudly. It’s your personal trademark for all to see so make it a good one.

Dr. Raymond Comeau aka Shamou is the Author of ShamouBlog http://shamoublog.com/ and Administrator of Personal Development for Personal Success Forums.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Raymond_Comeau

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Who invented matches?

by Tj Helm on 05,01,0909 in Did You Know

By Copyright © http://www.coolquiz.com
The quest for ways to ignite a fire began about 1.5 million years ago, when the caveman discovered that he could start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, and ended with the successful invention of the non-toxic matches we use today.

Today, approximately 500 billion matches are used each year and about 200 billion of these come from matchbooks.

In 1669, an alchemist, one who mistakenly believes that he can change base metals into gold, mixed up a batch of something which was, surprisingly, not gold, but a substance he named phosphorous. Since his recipe did not produce the gold he desired, he tossed it onto the heap of history.

Next was Robert Boyle, an English physicist, after whom Boyle’s Law was named. He cleverly coated a piece of paper with phosphorous and, armed with a splinter of sulfur-coated wood, bravely bulled the wood through the paper, which burst into flames.

Much later, in 1826, John Walker stumbled upon a chemical concoction that produced fire. After stirring together a mixture of chemicals, which did not contain phosphorous, John removed the stick he used, only to find a dried lump at its end. When he scraped the stick against the floor to rid it of the lump, the stick ignited. His mixture of antimony sulfide, potassium chlorate, gum, and starch could produce fire. In his rush to demonstrate his discovery to others, John bypassed the patent office.

In no time, a person at one of John’s demonstrations, Samuel Jones, spotted an overlooked, golden opportunity, and patented the invention under his name. Mr. Jones produced matches he named Lucifers, which produced phenomenal sales. The widespread availability of the matches actually led to a significant increase in smoking.

The dark side to Lucifers was their ungodly odor, and the fireworks display they gave when ignited. In fact, Lucifers carried a warning label stating that they, not the cigarettes they lit, were dangerous to one’s health!

In the 1830s, Charles Sauria, a French chemist, decided to improve upon the existing formula by adding white phosphorous to do away with the stench of the matches. What Mr. Sauria did not know, was that white phosphorous was lethal to those who came into contact with it.

Unknowingly, he created a deadly monster by adding the white phosphorous. The phosphorous was responsible for a nearly epidemic disease known as “phossy jaw,” match factory workers developed poisoned bones, and children who sucked on the matches developed infant skeletal deformities. Even the amount of white phosphorous contained in one pack of matches could kill a person, and actually did, through numerous suicides and murders.

Finally, by 1910, the general public’s awareness of the dangers of the white phosphorous in these matches led to a worldwide campaign to ban them. Thankfully, Diamond Match Company obtained an U.S. patent for the first nonpoisonous match, which used the harmless chemical sesquisulfide of phosphorous in place of the deadly white phosphorous.

So critical was Diamond Match Company’s discovery to public health, that U.S. President Taft made a public plea to the Company voluntarily to surrender their patent rights to the invention. Despite the enormous moneymaking potential of the patent, Diamond Match Company granted President Taft’s request on January 28, 1911. Congress followed suit by passing a law that raised the tax on white phosphorous matches to a level so high that their production soon ceased.

Discussion of the match would be incomplete without mention of the matchbook. John Pusey, in 1892, invented something he named the matchbook. He had the right idea, but had it backwards, as he placed the striking surface for the match on the inside of the book of 50 matches, so when one match was struck, the remaining 49 also ignited!

Once again, Diamond Match Company intervened and saved the day, by purchasing the patent to the matchbook, by moving the striking surface to the outside of the cover where it belonged, and by marketing the revamped match as the “safety match.”

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Lean Office – The Competitive Edge

by Tj Helm on 05,01,0909 in Business Building

By Cynthia Marsh-Croll
During my journey of increasing value to my clients and expanding my skills, I have embarked on a quest for reducing waste in office processes. On this journey I discovered something that is truly amazing – “Lean Office”. Why is this so incredible? Because it addresses the fact “that 60 to 80 percent of all costs associated with meeting a customer demand…is an administrative function” – Value Stream Management for the Lean Office, Don Tapping and Tom Shuker. Why is this significant? By becoming a Lean organization you can produce a better quality product for less and have a competitive edge; and best of all an increased profit margin. Wow all this from eliminating waste.

Lean is a whole system that I could not even attempt to explain implementing in this short article. However, I can give you an overview to decide if Lean is something you should research further.

Lean’s whole premise is to add value to your customer and eliminating waste. The customer is the central focus when determining waste. In fact, when analyzing your workflow, value stream, you begin with the customer and work backwards. As a professional organizer it is my inclination to start from the other end. It takes a bit to wrap your mind around that. But if everything you do revolves around value to the customer then starting with the customer makes complete sense. The traditional thinking for determining the price of a product is cost + profit = price. In a Lean organization it is price – cost = profit. Therefore, price is determined by the market (ergo your customer). The key component to increasing your profits is reducing your cost. I call that a very good incentive for being efficient.

“The office waste may be compartmentalized into four elements – information, process, physical environment and people.” – Flow in the Office, Carlos Venegas. A broken down grid with specific examples of each of these types of waste is available in “Flow in the Office” by Carlos Venegas. The grid gives you indicators to determine if one of these is a problem in your office. When implementing Lean Office is not about picking and choosing but changing the whole way your work and think.

Another powerful element of implementing this system is the involvement of everyone who is part of or affected by the value stream. Coming up with solutions is a team effort. The experts about the work are those people who are performing it everyday. They know what is causing the bottlenecks and frustration with their workflow. The atmosphere is one of discovery not blame. Giving the people on the front lines the ability to do continuous improvements on a process is a great use of resources. There is a continuous flow of information from the bottom to the top and vise versa. Creating an environment of open communication.

The more I learn about Lean Office the more I am amazed at the difference it can make in productivity. I would recommend any management or owner who is unhappy with the overall performance and competitiveness of their business take a look at Lean and see if it would work for your organization.

Cynthia Marsh-Croll Turning Business Piles Into Profits! Croll Organizing, LLC PO Box 98 Westtown, NY 10998 845-649-2778 cmc@crollorganizing.com http://www.crollorganizing.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cynthia_Marsh-Croll

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How to Create Perfect Business Email Communications

by Tj Helm on 05,01,0909 in Workplace Support

By Michael Roberts Jr
There are different levels of business etiquette and email business communications. When emailing people there are different ideas and ways to convey messages in your email. Learning the tricks of perfecting a email is a great opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills and business communication etiquette.

FORMALITY
There is a certain level of formality that needs to be considered and remember when sending emails. When you are sending an email from a business address then keep the email about whatever your business was when you contacted the person. Keep all business emails formal!

SHORT
It’s been proven that after ten seconds people lose focus. A seven page email will not be read in its entirety. Be short, sweet and to the point. Cover the area that is pertinent of you to cover– leave the rest for later if at all possible. Craft from the top to the bottom, then check to see if your most important information is in the top 1/3 of the message.

BE QUICK
Don’t let the receiver have to guess who you are because you’re using a nick name and not the name that you go by in business. In the subject field be specific about why you are writing, while in the body of the email, as mentioned before get to the point. Be concise and polite always ending by thanking the individual for taking the time out of their day to read the email. Last– but not least, make sure the person knows that it is ok to contact you concerning the message.

When you sit down in the mornings (or whatever time you read your emails) to read your email make sure that you make time to respond to the email promptly. There is a chance if you put it off for later you will forget about making a response.

SENSITIVITY
Don’t handle any sensitive issues with an email. Making a phone call or speaking to the individual is important when handling these types of situations. Email is permanent– it is not the place for delicate matters that could trigger emotional responses.

ERRORS
Check, check and recheck the email for any and all errors! Once you press send the email represents you and your company. You lose the hands on, face to face relationship that you would have if a person was in your office. So once you send the email you don’t have the opportunity to go back and change it or correct yourself as you would in person. You must remember to do spell and grammar checks before sending all emails. Setup Outlook to do an automatic spell check for you… That one move could be a career saver.

This article was written by Michael Roberts Jr. the founder of Manage Up.net
His website is dedicated to developing better organizational leadership. The website has eBooks, articles, and online training for managers. Don’t miss the opportunity to sharpen your skills and take your career to new levels using insightful knowledge from an expert in management. Visit http://www.manageup.net/ today and receive a FREE eBook to get you started.

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Top Ten Tips on How to Save Electricity and Reduce the Cost of Electricity

Vitamin Supplements – General Information

How to Create a Winning Personal Image

Who invented matches?

Lean Office – The Competitive Edge

How to Create Perfect Business Email Communications

Stop success from hiding!

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> Home > Blog > News > Events

Top Ten Tips on How to Save Electricity and Reduce the Cost of Electricity

Vitamin Supplements – General Information

How to Create a Winning Personal Image

Who invented matches?

Lean Office – The Competitive Edge

How to Create Perfect Business Email Communications

Stop success from hiding!

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