Cool Roofs Take on Heated Cities

The summer heat has peaked, and blistering temperatures are especially noticeable on scorching city streets. Known as the “urban heat island effect,” this phenomenon labels the way urban environments trap more heat than nearby suburban and rural areas. As a result, increased energy demands and air pollution are often anticipated, yet unavoidable.

“All the concrete and the blacktop warms up faster,” says Lauren Nash, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “So it keeps the city hotter and it stays hotter longer.”

Costly energy bills target apartment and office buildings, condos, warehouses and other storage facilities. To combat the urban heat island effect, city managers across the nation are exploring the benefits of cool roofing systems. For example, New York City’s Department of Buildings started an initiative to paint 1 million square feet of roofs white last summer as a way of cutting the city’s energy costs – roofing manufacturer GAF supplied the reflective coating for one of the many projects of the initiative, as well as materials and labor.

Environmentally friendly and energy-efficient roofing is growing and evolving with the advent of innovative technology like cool roofs and reflective shingles. For those unfamiliar with the concept, cool roofing has a reflective coating that blocks heat and emits the sun’s rays back into the sky. This reduces the levels of heat energy absorption that a roof must handle and then dissipate, not to mention keeping the building cooler inside. Years of 90-degree summers can take a serious toll on roofs with each expansion and contraction.

With cool roof technology proving effective, combining green building technologies, such as cool roofs and solar panels, is logically the next step. Although it may seem counterintuitive, solar panels actually work better when cooler. They produce less energy with higher temperatures, sometimes reducing efficiency by as much as 12 percent. One of the more effective roofing technology accompaniments to solar panels designed to increase solar panel efficiency, GAF’s EverGuard Extreme TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) membrane, has been developed with UV absorbers to achieve an unrivaled weathering performance.

“Cool roofing is widely acknowledged to reduce energy consumption, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” says Martin Grohman, GAF director of sustainability. “In fact, using published energy usage calculators, the installation of one billion square feet of reflective TPO roofing – in place of conventional dark-colored roofing in air conditioned buildings – avoids the emission of approximately 280,000 metric tons of CO2, or the annual equivalent of taking about 27,000 cars off the road.”

To find out more about green roof technologies, visit www.gaf.com/Roofing/Commercial/Green-Roof-Central/Green-Roof-Central.aspx or coolroofs.org.

Keep Your Cool While Saving Money and Energy

(NewsUSA) – When the mercury rises, it is hard to remain comfortable inside your home without running up a huge bill. Fortunately, the solution is much more affordable than investing in a new air conditioner or central air system. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), installing a ceiling fan in each living space will help family members feel cooler while saving energy. And if you have not upgraded your ceiling fans in the past eight years or so, you are missing out on saving even more money as many of today’s models are more efficient than ever.
“A ceiling fan can save homeowners as much as 40 percent on their air conditioning bills by creating a breeze that makes the ambient temperature feel seven or eight degrees cooler than it actually is,” explains John Moody of ceiling fan manufacturer Fanimation. “You can set your thermostat at 80 degrees and it will feel like it is set at 72 degrees.”
How exactly does that work? “A ceiling fan cools the room by creating a ‘wind chill effect.’ It does not lower the room temperature,” Moody says. “This wind chill effect makes you feel cooler by accelerating the evaporation of perspiration on your skin. It’s the same feeling you get when you open the window in a moving car. When used in conjunction with an air conditioner, a ceiling fan can lower energy costs because you can set your air conditioner thermostat at a higher temperature.”
For large homes, installing ceiling fans in laundry rooms and closets is becoming more common, according to Bethany Pirtle of Emerson Ceiling Fans. “Master bathrooms are also a perfect place for smaller ceiling fans, because hair dryers and steam showers can make a bathroom hot and sticky. A small-span fan can quickly and efficiently add comfort,” she says.
Another factor in determining where to install a ceiling fan is the fan’s UL listing. There are three basic UL-listed ratings for indoor, damp and wet locations. Fans that are rated only for indoors should not be used outside — even if the area is mostly covered.
Check out the best ceiling fans for your home at an ALA-member showroom. To find more information and showroom locations, go to www.americanlightingassoc.com.

Survey Reveals Current Trends in Men’s Health

NewsUSA) – Men in the United States may not be as healthy as they say they are. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate cases of testicular and colorectal cancer have been on the rise for more than a decade. According to a recent survey commissioned by the American Academy of Family Physicians and conducted by Harris Interactive, almost one in five men age 55+ have not received the recommended screening for colon cancer. And, while 79 percent of the men surveyed said they are in excellent, very good or good health, 42 percent have been diagnosed with at least one of the following chronic conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, cancer or diabetes. One of the biggest obstacles to improving men’s healthcare is men themselves, the survey indicates. Among the findings: * Twenty-nine percent of men said they wait as long as possible before seeing a doctor when they feel sick, are in pain or are concerned about their health. * Men spend an average of 19 hours a week watching television, and more than 4 hours a week watching sports, but only 38 percent of men exercise on a regular basis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 71 percent of men are overweight. But not all is bad news. Among those men surveyed who indicated they had a spouse/significant other, 78 percent said their spouse or significant other has influence over their decision to go to the doctor. But, what kind of doctor should a man see? The Academy of Family Physicians recommends that all men have a personal family physician who knows their medical history and is their first point of contact for medical care. In addition to diagnosing and treating illnesses, family physicians provide routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening tests, and personalized counseling on healthy lifestyle choices. They also manage chronic illnesses and coordinate care, when necessary, with other specialists. For more information on men’s health, visit www.familydoctor.org. For survey methodology, please contact the Academy of Family Physicians Public Relations Department.

Tips to Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly

(NewsUSA) – Buying a new computer’s always a thrill — but sooner or later, your fast new machine will start to act like a clunker. Or will it?
With a few simple tips, you can keep your computer running smoothly. Sammsoft (www.sammsoft.com), a company that develops and publishes quality software products designed to secure, protect, maintain and enhance computer users’ experience, provides the following tips:
1. Clean out your computer registry. Every Windows Operating System uses a registry, or a central database that contains all of the settings for low-level operating system components, as well as any applications running on the platform. Every time you save something, run a new application or install or uninstall a program, new information is organized into your registry. But occasionally, the registry records something incorrectly. Over time, registry errors pile up and can start slowing down your computer. But running a registry cleaner, such as Advanced Registry Optimizer 2010 by Sammsoft, will fix registry errors and remove faulty files, helping your computer run quickly and smoothly.
2. Keep viruses under wraps. Run a virus checker regularly. If you have a high-speed wireless connection, don’t use the Internet without a firewall. No antivirus strategy is perfect, so stay away from suspicious-looking Web sites and don’t click on strange links in e-mails.
3. Get rid of unnecessary files. If you haven’t used a program in months or years, delete it to reclaim valuable memory. But always back-up applications in case you want to reinstall them later, and don’t delete applications that you don’t recognize, as Windows might need them to run. Never remove WINDOWS or HOT FIX applications. Also delete cookies and clear your Internet cache before you sign-off your computer.
4. Never turn off your computer before Windows has shut down. Doing so so could harm the hard drive or result in lost data or Windows files.
5. Back up Your Computer. Hardware problems occur more that you might think, and you don’t want to deal with the frustration of losing valuable data. Back up photos, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents — anything that you do not want to lose — on external hard drives or CDs.
For more information, visit www.sammsoft.com.

Will Dairy Boost Your Weight-Loss Resolution?

(NewsUSA) – With the many healthy resolutions being made to kick off 2012, wouldn’t it be nice if you actually had a doctor’s opinion to point you toward the healthiest changes you can make?
A new survey of practicing physicians by EverydayHealth.com with MedPage Today reveals the 12 most popular doctor-prescribed resolutions.

Top 12 Doctor-Prescribed New Year’s Resolutions for 2012
1. Monitor your blood pressure
2. Quit smoking
3. Exercise 30 minutes a day
4. Lower your cholesterol
5. Get a diabetes screening
6. Control your portions
7. Get a flu shot
8. Take the stairs whenever possible
9. Sleep at least 7 hours a night
10. Eat whole grains, not refined flour
11. For women, perform a self breast exam every month
12. Spend more time with family and friends

Although not ranked in the top 12, the survey includes some resolutions you may welcome.
The most surprising: Don’t give up coffee. Yes, that’s correct. Coffee actually has health benefits that doctors recommend. Studies show that women who drink a cup of coffee daily have up to a 25 percent lower stroke risk than those who drink it less often. In addition to lowering stroke risk, coffee can also decrease your odds of developing diabetes, skin cancer, cavities, Parkinson’s disease, breast cancer and heart disease.
Three other noteworthy resolutions involved in Everyday Health’s survey are to forgive people, try a once-a-week technology vacation for at least two months and don’t text and drive. All great advice.
However, none of these resolutions can be effective if you can’t stay committed to them.
“About 40 to 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, and only about 60 percent end up keeping them for at least part of the year,” says Everyday Health Medical Director Mallika Marshall, MD. “The key is not to bite off more than you can chew. Pledge to make a change that you can maintain. And try to get friends and family involved. It’s much easier to meet your goal if you have support.”
To view the complete survey, and to gain more tips and tools to live a healthy, happier life every day, visit EverydayHealth.com.

Business Do’s and Don’ts for a Prosperous Startup

Everyone has a dream — it’s the one thing they would rather be doing more than anything else (and are sure they could succeed at). Yet, it’s something entirely different from what it is they do to pay the bills.

What many fail to understand, however, is that enthusiasm for a product or service may not be enough to guarantee success when starting a business.

“So often, would-be entrepreneurs believe they have that one idea that will make them a millionaire, and in fact it may be a very good idea, but what they don’t understand is that there’s so much more involved for a business to succeed,” says Heidi Ganahl, CEO of Camp Bow Wow, a dog day care franchise and boarding authority. The business saw 20 percent year- over-year growth last year in revenues across Camps (individual franchise locations), which opened pre-2011. “Unfortunately,” Ganahl adds, “passion alone will not dictate or ensure success.”

To this end, the following do’s and don’ts may help you assess whether your idea is ready:

• Do your research and prepare. So often, failure comes from a lack of preparation. According to Ganahl’s book “Tales From the Bark Side,” every good idea must come with the right support to make it profitable, including writing a winning business proposal. Ganahl says that lending or investing individuals will only consider an investment after a thorough review of your project.

• Don’ t go into business if you’ re not committed. Convinced that they have a good idea, but unprepared to be completely committed, people will try to have their feet in both the corporate world and their new business venture. If you feel the inability to put your all into your new venture, cut your losses.

• Do ensure you have enough capital. Business analysts report that poor management is the main reason for business failure and poor cash management is probably the most frequent stumbling block for entrepreneurs. Understanding the basic ideas of cash flow will help you plan for the unforeseen eventualities that face nearly every small business.

• Do consider owning a franchise. With thousands of systems operating in dozens of industries, there is no shortage of choices here for the would-be entrepreneur. The down side? The plethora of choices can make that decision a challenge, so be clear about what you want, what you’re willing to do and how much you need to make. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit www.campbowwow.com/franchise.

The Most Tragic Mistake a New Marketer Almost Always Makes

By: Richard Meredith

So... you're a new marketer, and you want to make extra money or even perhaps a great living! One of the first things you do is join an affiliate program or downline club of some sort. Or maybe even you are trying your hand at Ebay or another auction service by marketing some nicely profitable product. Now, once you have some sort of online business vehicle, your mind must gravitate to exactly what kind of advertising to generate sales or memberships.

Online business is an awful lot like regular advertising. What draws you to a business in your home town? Coupons? Specials? Give-aways? A personal recommendation from a friend or trusted associate?

Oh yes - and here is a little secret that is often not known or ignored:

When it comes to building any kind of business online you do the same thing! Give away a free report, an informative ebook, a trial software, an online course, or maybe a subscription to a free newsletter or ezine. This is just simply the way it is done with online business, period. But here is the most critical part... you MUST capture the name and email address FIRST before you give access to it!

It is widely known by all of the top marketers online that your PRIMARY task to be successful is to compile a list of people (prospective customers) that are interested in the type of thing you are giving away! This is so easy to do with an autoresponder. They just fill a form, and they are automatically added to your list, and then are redirected to your download page or membership site.

Then the next task is to automatically send a series of messages with that autoresponder that tell more about the reasons why your product or products (or membership program) are BENEFICIAL to them! WHY? Because it is infinitely better to contact a prospect several times rather than only once. It is a proven fact that most people will NOT buy from you or join your program until they have been approached at least 5 to 7 times. This is done as I said, automatically, on a timed basis slowly tapering off until it is a slow drip of messages until they buy or join- or unsubscribe from your list. And when you run special promotions of any kind, a feature of the best autoresponders allows you to broadcast to your entire list any time you want. This is how many marketers can make huge amounts of money and sales ON DEMAND- whenever and as often as they like!

Details about which autoresponders are best, and the techniques of developing a list and how often to mail to that list are subjects that deserve more time and attention than can be given here... but suffice it to say that if YOU are not FIRST developing a list, and then marketing to your list AFTERWARDS- you're just missing the boat!

Pure and simple!

So if you are advertising an affiliate link, or your products' sale page... or anything other than your free subscription, report, ebook, or course - it can indeed be the most tragic mistake you can make in your online business strategy!

If this is you, pull back and regroup, and completely re-think your marketing strategy now before you lose too much time, money, energy, or motivation.

And remember... BUILD your LIST!

Author Bio
Richard Meredith is the author of the critically acclaimed ebook "The BLACK BOOK of Online Business"- the must-have source book for anyone doing business online... or even THINKING about it!
www.straight-talkmarketing.com

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