Monthly Archives: May 2012

post by admin | | 0

Tiny Citys Company-Extensive Green Initiative Offers Possibilities for Individuals with Disabilities

Palatine, IL (PRWEB) April 20, 2012

With the goal of creating an organizational culture change, Little City Foundation rolled out green initiatives reducing the carbon footprint of their 56-acre Palatine campus while educating both staff and individuals served.

Already making great strides towards becoming more eco-friendly, Little City changed light bulbs to tube fluorescent bulbs reducing energy usage by 75 percent. In addition, all exterior lighting is operated by timers and campus shower heads are now energy-saving models. Comprehensive inspections also took place in all community-based homes to maximize energy efficiency.

It is important for us to make sure that everyone at Little City has the opportunity to participate in this exciting going green venture. We are strategically planning ways to get the children, students, adults and staff at Little City involved, commented Executive Director Shawn E. Jeffers.

Included in Little Citys Going Green Initiative is the introduction of agency-wide composting. Little City began composting on a small scale more than three years ago, slowly creating enough compost to use in three accessible gardens in their Horticulture Center.

In the future, Little City plans to advance its recycling and composting programs, increase energy efficiency and create an agency-wide culture change towards environmental sustainability.

To support individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, visit http://www.littlecity.org/support.

For complete information, visit http://www.littlecity.org or contact Sally Blake at sblake (at) littlecity (dot) org or 847-221-7831.

About Little City Foundation

For more than 50 years, Little City Foundation has developed innovative and personalized programs to fully assist and empower children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a commitment to attaining a greater quality of life for Illinois most vulnerable citizens, Little City actively promotes choice, person-centered planning and a holistic approach to health and wellness. Little Citys ChildBridge services include in-home personal and family supports, clinical and behavior intervention, 24/7 residential services and special needs foster care and adoption. Little Citys LifePath Adult Services offers a variety of residential options, employment opportunities, home-based services, case management, day supports, Special Olympics, an award-winning Center for the Arts and more. The organization has a 56-acre campus in Palatine and offices in Chicago. Visit http://www.littlecity.org.







post by admin | | 0

Health-related Business Resources Appoints Thomas D. Sidebottom Chief Technological innovation Officer

(PRWEB) May 29, 2012

Medical Business Resources, Inc. (MBR), a comprehensive healthcare revenue management company, announces the appointment of Thomas D. Sidebottom to the position of Chief Technology Officer.

Sidebottom comes to MBR from Navigis where his focus was developing IT business process analytics and application architecture. He brings 25 years of technology sector experience in application architecture, development, and business analytics. In his new role, Sidebottom will focus on leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to deliver MBRs innovative revenue cycle analytics in real-time.

I am very pleased to make this announcement, MBR Founder and CEO Eric Whitrock said. Toms extensive knowledge and experience in technology will support MBRs mission to empower healthcare organizations with business intelligence and revenue cycle solutions to transform their organizations.

Prior to joining Navigis, Sidebottom was part of Oracles senior management team where he led application development and quality assurance through service analytics. He held previous IT senior management positions at PeoplSoft and AT&T.

I am honored to join the senior management team at MBR, Sidebottom said. Their mission is to assist healthcare organizations by improving revenue cycle performance through best-of-breed analytics that have been previously unavailable in healthcare industry. I look forward to working with this innovative organization to expand their offerings as they continue to grow, he said.

MBR is a revenue cycle management company that provides hospitals and physicians with revenue cycle solutions to increase payments from insurers and dramatically improve net cash receipts.







Related qwe href=”http://caseyalt.com/category/information-on-chandeliers/”>LEDs Press Releases

post by Pete | | 0

What Does It Mean To Use Green Energy Sources?

Replace your windows with more energy-efficient ones. Windows with a better seal will reduce your energy bills, keep road noise out of your house, and limit window condensation.

Paint your walls bright, light colors, and you can save electricity. If you use dark colors, it will lead to more electricity being used to lighten the room. This would lead to your home not being as green. Selecting lighter colors will make you home feel brighter, which would mean you can save money because you will use less electricity.

If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. A lot of the existing systems can be modified with minimal parts or alterations. Bio-diesel fuels burn more efficiently and cleaner than conventional petroleum- based fuel oil.

A tankless water heater that heats water on-demand is a great energy saving device. Old fashioned water heaters would constantly run, heating water even when it is not needed, and therefore wasting energy. This type of point of use heater warms the water as it is required, and can result in significant cost savings.

Is your boiler over 10 years old? Buy a new one to save money! Old boilers were created without considering energy consumption, and new boilers are more efficient. They can reduce your energy bill and they don’t produce as much carbon dioxide.

Check the seal on your oven: heat might be escaping every time you use it. A broken seal can easily cause your oven to use up to 50% more energy, so make sure to check the seal of your oven periodically.

Do things like wash your clothes inside some cold water, if you can. Nearly 90% of the energy that is consumed when you wash your clothes is taken up heating the water. Good detergents wash clothes even in cold water. Only wash when you have a full load of clothes to put in the washer.

Water-saving toilets are easy to find and install. Toilets account for approximately 50 percent of water usage in the average home. Older models of toilets can have a capacity of 5 gallons. That is 5 gallons of wasted water per flush. New water saving models use closer to a gallon and a half of water per flush. This can save 70 percent of the water you used previously.

Demand that watch dog legislation is put into place to get companies to use green energy. Awareness is a great tool to use and is often, not used enough. People may boycott companies that don’t use green energy to increase profit. It is important that all businesses are held accountable for their energy use, so as to encourage others to do the right thing by embracing green energy.

Carpooling doesn’t have to be just for work. Kids can also form carpools to school by alternating parents days. If you live near another family and friends, then synchronize your grocery shopping days and take turns being the driver.

Check your refrigerator seals to avoid wasted energy. A damaged seal will cause your fridge to use more energy than necessary, wasting both energy and money. In order to see if you need to replace the seal, slide a small piece of paper inside the door, and be sure it doesn’t slide back out easily.

Now that you’re aware of green tech, hopefully you begin using it at home. By incorporating the tips and techniques of this article, you too can begin using green energy. You will get thanks from both your wallet and the environment when you convert to green technology.

I was an environmental lover for quite a few years. I am specifically excited about how energy saving light bulbs could make contributions to bettering the environment. The lowest carbon footprint can be accomplished by using LED bulbs and plenty of individuals are now changing halogen light bulbs to get LED MR16 as well as LED GU10 lamps.

post by admin | | 0

Omaha Storm Chasers Appear For Angel (Investors) in The Outfield


(PRWEB) May 27, 2012

When browsing most investment network listings, proposals generally will be calls for investors to become involved in the funding for small business plans or company expansion. However, sometimes business angels are needed for a more niche proposal or investment plan. When browsing the Midwest branch of Angel Investment Network, investors will be surprised by the diversity of entrepreneurs and small business owners registered on the site, the wide variety of sectors and markets included within the network, and the creativity of the proposals listed. It is certainly not your average investment network.

Recently, the Omaha Storm Chasers, a Minor League Baseball team located in Omaha, Nebraska, have used sites such as the Angel Investment Network in their search for potential investors to purchase the team. The Omaha Storm Chasers features and has featured several major league prospects for the Kansas City Royals, has a fantastic legacy as a hard playing team, and is a member of the Pacific Coast League as well. The team states on the networks website, The Omaha Storm Chasers, the AAA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, is up for sale and we’re putting together investors to buy it.

This interest in seeking multiple investors to come together for a large investment goal is known as crowd funding, a form of business fund raising that has become popular in recent years through digital media. Many businesses in entertainment, arts and cultural media are choosing to use group funding as their primary source of capital, which has led to the growth in this form of investments popularity. The general success of this form of fund raising has been well documented all throughout the web and news.

Midwest Investment Network allows entrepreneurs to cater their business proposals to whichever investment strategy they prefer, whether it is seeking crowd sourcing, a team of active investment partners, or a single silent, or hands off, investment partner. Businesses owners, entrepreneurs, and even baseball teams are using the network to make the most of their business goals and to obtain investment capital. Contacting a business angel or angel group could be a real home run for any prospective business.

Find out more about how to buy the Omaha Storm Chasers here. And to register for your next investment opportunity or to find more information, please visit: http://www.midwestinvestmentnetwork.com







post by Pete | | 0

Tips On How You Can Get The Most Out Of Green Energy

Position solar panels so that they are facing the sun. For instance, the panels on a Northern Hemisphere home should face south at the angle that equals the home’s latitude plus 15 degrees. This will ensure you get as much power as you need.

Consider switching out your home’s older windows with newer ones that are rated for superior energy efficiency. These have many benefits, such as reduced spending on energy bills, a quieter home, and less condensation on the interior of your windows.

If you plan to purchase lighting for your deck or patio, you should give solar-powered lamps a try. They are inexpensive and don’t require electricity. You will not only reduce the energy you use. It means that there is no need to run wires outside to hook up lights.

Take time to read about passive and active solar power. When it comes to active power, the energy is stored for later use, while passive doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power. Active power will require a large installation process and can cost a great deal more. Passive systems simply use the sun’s energy to heat your house or water.

If you want to be green you should invest in a programmable thermostat. These types of thermostats will regulate the temperature in your home when you are not around and when you are sleeping so that your unit is not heating and cooling for no reason. Some models even have the option to program different times for each day, they can be customized to suit your schedule.

If you are unable to completely power your home using solar power, consider installing solar panels to power at least the lighting in your home. You can use solar panels for hot water, for example.

Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home’s water. If you live in a place with normally warm temperatures, try installing a system that uses a solar heater. However, you should still have a traditional water heater as backup for times when the sun won’t come out or if you’re going to be using a lot of hot water.

Look into water saving shower heads. It gives you the exact same feeling as traditional shower heads do, but you save a huge amount of water. Your water bill will soon be reduced, and the planet will see the benefits too.

You can use biofuels as home heating fuels. These fuels use fats, wood or oil to create energy. If you have a propane furnace, sometimes a technician can make modifications to enable you to use a blend of different fuels. Most furnaces use between 20 to 99% bio-diesel fuels. Talk to a professional before you use these types of fuels so you can do it safely.

This article is full of easy, simple tips, which means there is no excuse not to get started. All it takes is some knowledge and time to get that peace of mind. So make some changes now and you will enjoy your future rewards!

My personal genuine interest is actually in saving the surroundings and how various things can affect this specifically energy saving light bulbs. These bulbs along with the LED bulb especially can certainly produce a tremendous effect. My work at the moment is actually on content articles in this field.

post by Pete | | 0

Simple Green Energy Tips Anyone Can Practice

Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Almost ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water for a warm or hot cycle. If your detergent is decent, cold water will be as effective as hot when cleaning your laundry. Additionally, do not run the washer until it is full so as to maximize your energy use.

Did you know that you can save on energy and money while doing laundry? For example use the moisture sensor on your dryer; once the laundry is dry the dryer will automatically shut off. You can also reduce drying time buy using the high-speed spin cycle on your washer. Be sure to clean dryer filters and check for blockages in the dryer vent.

Attach solar panels to the roof of your home to make it greener. Solar panels are a large investment, but the savings you will enjoy by using solar energy will make up for the extra expenditure. Once your solar panels are installed, you can generate lots of free power. It’s also possible to sell some of your excess power to nearby electric companies.

Know the available energy options in your community. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. For example, it may be cheaper for you to heat your home with natural gas as opposed to electricity, or use well water instead of city water.

Turn the lights off when not in use. If you do not need the lights during the day time, keep them off. If you need them at night time, then make sure you switch them off after you exit a room. Unless you need to, do not leave cabinet or porch lights on. This will lower your energy consumption.

Save energy by running your laptop on AC current and taking out the battery if you don’t have to be mobile. The battery will continue to draw energy, even at full capacity, so taking it out will save a few kilowatts of power. A bonus is that you will also improve the battery’s life.

Make sure your refrigerator is properly maintained. Refrigerators use a large amount of energy, so they should be taken care of to work their best. Every week, check and see if dust has accumulated near the heating coils. If it has, take the time to remove it. In addition to that, make the seal near the door clean and tight.

Use a laptop for your computing needs rather than a power hungry desktop. These portable machines will reduce your electrical use by 75% while you do everyday tasks. Laptops are also portable which makes them much more functional and handy in times of need.

Now that you have some tips to start using green energy, you will soon be able to see how beneficial it is to you. Of course, green energy is good for the environment, too. Try some of these tips around your home to see how simple and fast going green can be.

My genuine curiosity is in preserving the environment along with how different elements can affect this especially energy saving light bulbs. These lights and also the LED bulb in particular can produce a tremendous effect. My work at the moment is actually on content articles in this industry.

post by Pete | | 0

Green Energy Solutions Everyone Needs To Know

Try to use cold water for washing clothes. Almost 90% of energy used for doing laundry is due to heating the water. As long as the washing detergent you use is reliable, using cold water instead of hot water will wash your clothes just as well. Also, don’t wash your clothes until you can completely fill the washer, as this saves energy over time.

On-demand water heaters work great as a green device. Regular hot water heaters keep hot water at a constant temperature, even if you aren’t using it. A on-demand water heater will only heat your water when you need it, which saves a ton of money and energy.

There are many government incentive programs you can take advantage of when it comes to green energy. If you are interested in getting free money to improve your home you should contact your local government for more information. You may qualify for a free installation or a tax deduction.

If you are a fan of green living and green energy, try using your electric heaters as little as possible during the winter. Instead, invest in some warm clothing and slippers for family members and use a fireplace or pellet stove to heat living areas. Keep in mind that it is actually better to breathe cool air while you sleep, since it keeps your airways from becoming dry.

The extra money that you may spend will quickly come back to you. Even though green technology may be costlier, it pays off in the long run when you see cheaper utility bills. These electronics will also be beneficial to the environment in the future.

Make use of rainwater for washing dishes and flushing the toilet. This can save you some on the water bill and it’s good for the environment. If you wish to collect rainwater it does not have to be too complicated, simply place containers outside during the rain and then lid them when full.

A low flow shower head is a great way to be green. Newer models exert the same range of water pressures, but using much less water. You will realize significant savings on your water bill every month, and your efforts will also greatly benefit the planet.

A good tip for saving energy is to pick bright or light colored walls for your rooms. Dark colors require more light to brighten up the area, which will increase the amount of energy you use, so your home becomes less ‘green’ than it could be. By opting for light-colored walls, your home will feel lighter naturally, reducing your dependence on energy-consuming lights and saving you money.

Install energy-saving lighting in your home. Just replacing the light bulbs in your home with CFL bulbs is a great place to start. They provide an adequate amount of light while using a fraction of the energy necessary for regular bulbs. This can help your home stay environmentally-friendly.

One great piece of advice to help you save energy when cooking is to make sure you use the oven light. Using the oven light to check on food, rather than opening the door, keeps heat in and conserves energy usage.

While sometimes going through a lot of information may not be fun, applying the tips laid out here will be. Each of these simple changes are both easy and affordable, allowing you to start using greener energy right away. The environment and your family will be thankful you did!

I’m currently composing a couple of posts regarding how energy saving light bulbs can assist in saving the planet. Even using green energy if you utilize LED bulbs in that case you will produce far less co2. My personal work about this subject is actually for publications as well as on-line forums.

post by Pete | | 0

Is Your Home As Green As It Can Be? Find Out Here!

An easy way to conserve electricity would be to select lighter colors for your room walls. Using a darker color will mean that you need more electricity for the lightning necessary to be able to see, reducing your energy efficiency. Your home will feel naturally brighter and your energy expenses will be reduced if you choose brighter wall colors for your home.

Frequently check the condition of the seal on your refrigerator and freezer doors. A seal that’s broken will result in your fridge running more than it needs to. This is a waste of money and energy. You can test your seal easily with a piece of paper placed in the door. Be sure that it doesn’t slide out easily.

Try to turn off things you are not using. When you exit a room, be sure to turn off any unused electronics or lights. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.

When installing solar panels, ensure that the energy-storing batteries are installed as close to the cells as possible. This helps prevent power loss in the cables. It also reduces the chances of the cable shading the cells and reducing their generation capability.

Collect rainwater to use to flush your toilet. This can save you some on the water bill and it’s good for the environment. Collecting rainwater is not difficult; purchase and install rain barrels to capture the water that would otherwise drain away from your home through the gutters.

A simple way to save energy is by thawing all your frozen items in the refrigerator. This can thaw food safely and reduce energy consumption for the refrigerator.

Think about using a geothermal system to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency. Unlike normal HVAC systems, these systems rely on underground pipes that carry refrigerant and water. All these pipes lead to a machine that provides heat to the home, or cools it if required. By taking advantage of the cooler, more consistent temperatures underground, the HVAC will provide higher efficiency.

Consumers can help lower the cost of green technology by demanding energy efficient and environmentally friendly products. Consumer demand helps increase environmental technologies. The more it is demanded, the more incentive manufacturers have to invest in creating more green products. This will also encourage companies to align their processes in order to maintain profitable manufacturing practices.

Make energy efficiency a priority by buying products to assist you to reduce energy. There are a variety of products, including eco-friendly doors and double-glazed windows that will make your home run far more efficiently. With these products, cooling and heating costs are decreased.

Air flow is controlled best in homes with storm windows and doors. Storm doors and windows stop drafts from letting in so much cold air. Homeowners will see a significant savings on their electric bill and will benefit from an increase in the energy efficiency of their home by up to 45 percent once stormed windows and doors are installed in their homes.

You can easily help the environment and have an energy efficient home by using these green energy tips. Saving money should be a big incentive!

Now i’m currently creating a collection of content articles regarding how energy saving light bulbs might help in preserving the environment. Even with natural electricity if you are using LED bulbs subsequently you will generate a great deal less carbon. My work on this topic is for magazines as well as on-line community forums.

post by admin | | 0

Smart Software package Gives Surveillance Eyes a ‘Brain’

(PRWEB) March 18, 2004

“Compared to paying a human, computer time is cheap and getting cheaper,” says Randal Nelson, associate professor of computer science and creator of the software “brain”. “If we can get intelligent machines to stand in for people in observation tasks, we can achieve knowledge about our environment that would otherwise be unaffordable.”

Far from being an electronic “Big Brother,” the software would only focus on things for which it was trained to look—like a gun in an airport, or the absence of a piece of equipment in a lab. Nelson has even created a prototype system that helps a person find things around the house, such as where reading glasses were left.

Nelson set about experimenting with how to differentiate various objects in a simple black-and-white video image like that used in a typical surveillance camera. The software initially looks for changes that happen within the image, such as someone placing a cola can on a desk. The change in the image is immediately highlighted as the software begins trying to figure out if the change in the image is a new object in the scene, or the absence of an object that was there before. Using numerous methods, such as matching up background lines that were broken when the new object was set in front of them, the prototype system is accurate most of the time. It then takes an inventory of all the colors of the object so that an operator can ask the software to “zoom in on that red thing” and the software will comply, even though the soda can in question may be red and silver and overlaid with shadows.

The next step, however, is where Nelson’s software really shines. Nelson has been working for years on ways to get a computer to recognize an object on sight. He began this line of research over a decade ago as he wrote software to help a robot “shop”—picking out a single item, like a box of cereal, from several similar items. One of the tasks he recently gave his students was to set up a game where teams tried to “steal” objects from one another’s table while the tables were monitored by smart cameras. The students would find new ways to defeat the software, and consequently develop new upgrades to the system so it couldn’t be fooled again.

Though a six-month-old baby can distinguish different objects from different angles, getting a computer to do it is a Herculean task of processing, and more complicated still is identifying a simple object in a complicated natural setting like a room bustling with activity.

Unlike the baby, the software needs to be told a lot about an object before it’s able to discern it. Depending on how complex an object is, the software may need anywhere from one to 100 photos of the object from different angles. Something very simple, like a piece of paper, can be “grasped” by the program with a single picture; a soda can may take half a dozen, while a complex object like an ornate lamp may need many photographs taken from different angles to capture all its facets. With those images in mind, the software matches the new object it sees with its database of object to determine what the new object is.

The technology for this ‘smart camera’ has already been licensed to the local company PL E-Communications, LLC., which has plans to develop the technology to control video cameras for security applications. For instance, CEO Paul Simpson is looking into using linked cameras covering a wide area to exchange information about certain objects, be they suspicious packages in an airport or a suspicious truck driving through a city under military control. Even unmanned aerial reconnaissance drones like the Predator that made headlines during the current Iraqi war can use the technology to keep an eye on an area for days at a time, noting when and where objects move.

“We’re hoping to make this technology do things that were long thought impossible—making things more secure without the need to have a human operator on hand every second.” says Simpson.

Nelson and PL E-Communications were connected through the Center for Electronic Imaging Systems (CEIS), a NYSTAR-sponsored Center for Advanced Technology (CATs) devoted to promoting economic development in the greater Rochester region and New York State. CEIS develops and transfers technology from local universities to industry for commercialization, and by educating the next generation of leaders in the fields of electronic imaging and microelectronics design.



Find More qwe href=”http://caseyalt.com/category/information-on-chandeliers/”>PL Lamp Press Releases

post by Pete | | 0

Simple things you can Do To Use Green Energy

A straw bale home offers a unique option for the very green consumer. Straw offers an excellent form of insulation and it is a very inexpensive product to use too. If you’re unwilling to commit to building a straw home, make a small straw building on your property.

If you don’t know about investing a lot into green energy in your home, hire pros, such as heating experts and plumbers, to give you an assessment of your current systems. These professionals can point out inefficient appliances and systems, and they can also help you determine how much it might cost to upgrade them.

The initial cost of green technology is overshadowed by the long term savings. Even though green technology may be costlier, it pays off in the long run when you see cheaper utility bills. It will also have a positive effect on the environment over the long term.

Adjust your thermostat as the seasons change. During cold winter months, drop the thermostat a degree or two, and for the hotter summer days, raise it a bit. Doing this in conjunction with utilizing layers of clothing can help you use less energy while maintaining a temperature setting that is within reason.

When looking at solar power, know the difference between passive solar power and active. When it comes to active power, the energy is stored for later use, while passive doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power. You need to install solar panels and systems if you want active solar power. Passive systems simply use the sun’s energy to heat your house or water.

Purchase a home energy monitor to keep tabs on the energy your home uses. This way, you can get a real-time estimate of your energy use. This can be used to predict your electric bills or to size a renewable energy system for your home. You may find it easier to reduce your energy consumption if you can monitor which devices use the most power.

A tankless water heater that heats water on-demand is a great energy saving device. Regular hot water heaters keep hot water at a constant temperature, even if you aren’t using it. The on-demand water heaters will instantly heat the water when it is needed, and save you a bundle in energy cost as well.

When you consider solar heat for your home calculate potential hours of sunshine for energy generation during the winter months. You will avoid unpleasant surprises during winter, and you will also ensure your energy needs are met in summer. Also, if you make use of the net usage plan from your electric company, you will get returns from your utility company for generating energy during summer.

Starting to use green energy means that you will save yourself money today, and save the planet tomorrow. This article has shown that it is neither expensive nor difficult to go green.

I am presently publishing a set of posts about how energy saving light bulbs might help in preserving the environment. Even with eco-friendly energy if you are using LED bulbs subsequently you will produce a great deal less carbon dioxide. My personal work on this particular topic is actually for magazines and on-line forums.