The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have partnered to help new-car dealers reduce their energy consumption through the Energy Star program.
As part of this effort, NADA and EPA are encouraging dealerships to complete a brief survey that will give the agency a benchmark to better compare the energy usage of dealerships across the country and allow certification of those dealerships that perform well. The survey (www.nada.org/energystar) asks dealers to share their yearly utility bills, square footage—inside and out—and different types of equipment used at the dealership.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53463-nada-launches-energy-ally-program-to-help-dealerships-reduce-energy-use
As spring home buying season picks up, Bank of the West has released a series of educational videos to help consumers understand and navigate the home purchase process.
Mortgages In Brief are short videos available on Bank of the West’s YouTube channel that give consumers some of the essential information on down payments, credit scores, loan costs and documentation. The mortgage videos feature Karen Mayfield, who heads the Bank’s team of mortgage bankers. Mortgages In Brief are the latest videos in the Bank’s popular In Brief Series designed to educate consumers on financial matters.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/61199-bank-of-the-west-releases-homebuyer-videos
Starting today, your smart phone can make you smarter about your health. Cigna is launching a new mobile app to help customers take better control of their health and health spending.
Throughout 2013 Cigna will release upgraded app capabilities, including accurate pricing and quality information on doctors and hospitals for more than 200 medical procedures according to the real-time status of the customer’s health plan and available health account funds.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/59191-cigna-mobile-app/
Blu® Homes, Inc. (“Blu”), the leading builder of premium prefab homes, today announced its Blu in Review Top 10 of 2013 roundup. Highlighting some of the company’s most fun and memorable experiences from the 2013 calendar year, it includes everything from inspired customer requests to its greenest homes, and most award-winning project designs.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53073-blu-homes-reveals-its-top-10-of-2013
Human labor is increasingly becoming superfluous in manufacturing operations as robots and fully automated processes take over. The latest technology-based production solutions reduce unit costs and are often the key to manufacturers’ future survival.
By upgrading to a higher, more energy-efficient motor, facility managers can improve their equipment reliability, increase productivity and reduce downtime and repair costs.
The Copper Development Association (CDA) recommends that individuals involved in the specification, design, selection and installation of electrical motor systems adopt a motor management program, which examines a facility’s needs whether to replace an old worn-out motor or specify a new unit.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60888-copper-development-association-cda-motor-management-best-practices-part-1
At these times when the costs of attending college are outpacing financial support from public and private sectors, The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s largest Hispanic college scholarship awarding organization, raised a record $125,000 and awarded students during its annual Alumni Hall of Fame gala.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58494-hispanic-scholarship-fund-latinos-alumni-hall-of-fame-induction
The world is getting smarter as smart phones, smart cards and now smart buildings are sweeping our cities, according to a report by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) that states smart building investment is expected to triple from $5.5 billion in 2012 to $18 billion by 2017. Buildings controlled by automated monitoring systems are becoming the norm rather than the exception and building owners, managers and investors are supporting the smart revolution as ‘smart’ buildings ultimately save on energy and operating costs.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/63952-jones-lang-lasalle-the-smart-revolution-is-coming-to-a-building-near-you
Based on data provided by the California Solar Initiative (CSI), sales of new production homes with rooftop solar power systems nearly doubled from 2011 to 2012, signaling increasing home buyer demand to control monthly electricity costs using clean, renewable solar power.
An estimated 4,000 new production solar homes were built in California last year, ten times the number built just seven years ago during the housing construction boom. SunPower estimates that strong growth in the sector will continue, with more than 20 percent of new production homes being solar powered this year.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62039-sunpower-solar-systems-power-new-production-homes-partners-with-kb-home
Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is vigorously preparing for Thanksgiving, so you don’t have to. Last year, according to the National Restaurant Association, over 33 million Americans relied on restaurants for at least a part of their Thanksgiving meal. Dickey’s sold 400,000 pounds of holiday turkeys and hams nationwide in 2014 and that number is projected to increase by more than 20% this year.
With the recent bird flu outbreak, many Americans have supply concerns when it comes to their holiday turkey. Some chains have even pulled turkey from their menus nationwide due to the shortage leading to increased costs. The national barbecue chain worked to secure its holiday supply early, prior to the shortage, which is just another way Dickey’s prepares for the holiday season so you don’t have to. Guests can rely on Dickey’s Barbecue Pit to provide holiday meats and complete feasts for an affordable and delicious holiday celebration.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7434753-dickey-s-barbecue-pit-thanksgiving/
Honeywell (NYSE:HON) today announced the next generation of smart building technology, Command and Control Suite, which turns complex facility data into recommendations and easy-to-implement changes that help boost business outcomes — lowering costs, minimizing risk and reducing downtime.
By combining intelligent automation, advanced analytics and visualization with the simplified user experience of today‘s home and mobile electronics, Command and Control Suite links building automation and the enterprise. It can provide a holistic view of a connected building‘s video feeds, access control and fire alarms, for example, and pull in relevant information from human resource applications. Integrating data from these disparate systems could help security personnel track occupants and make sure they exit the facility in the event of an evacuation, improving employee safety.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7525451-honeywell-command-and-control-suite/
Parking crashes usually don’t result in serious injuries, but repair costs can quickly mount, along with the hassle of going without the family vehicle while waiting for the body shop to finish work. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has launched a rear crash prevention ratings program to help consumers identify models with the technology that can prevent or mitigate low-speed backing crashes. Two systems earn the highest rating of superior, and four earn the second-highest rating of advanced.
Rear crash prevention encompasses several technologies. Parking sensors issue warning beeps and/or seat vibrations when the equipped vehicle gets too close to another vehicle or object directly behind it, or, in some cases, in front of it. Rear cross-traffic alert warns drivers of approaching vehicles that might cross their path as they back up. Rear automatic emergency braking systems detect objects behind a reversing vehicle and may automatically brake if the driver doesn’t heed alerts to stop.
IIHS engineers evaluated rear autobrake systems on six popular 2017 model vehicles — the BMW 5 series sedan, Cadillac XT5 SUV, Infiniti QX60 SUV, Jeep Cherokee SUV, Subaru Outback wagon and Toyota Prius hatchback.
Under the three-tier rating scheme, models with optional or standard rear crash prevention systems are rated superior, advanced or basic. Ratings are determined by whether the vehicles have available rear autobrake and, if so, how it performs in a series of car-to-car and car-to-pole tests with different approach angles. The availability of parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert also is factored in.
The Outback and XT5 earn a superior rating when equipped with optional rear autobrake, parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. The Cherokee, 5 series, QX60 and Prius earn an advanced rating with this optional gear.
