Whiskey could be next big thing for alternative investors, claims AAA

Alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has spoken out in favor of investing in rare Scotch whiskey as an alternative to stocks and shares.

Boston, MA, USA, December 09, 2011 -- Alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has spoken out in favor of investing in rare Scotch whiskey as an alternative to stocks and shares.

AAA's statement comes after a Financial Times article highlighted the asset class as a viable and popular means of diversifying an investment portfolio. For the past 20 years, the article claims, investors have been increasingly interested in rare Scotch as an asset class, as some have seen their values rise hugely in a matter of months.

The FT claims that the top performing 250 bottles could have been purchased in 2008 for £42,508 and would sell today for £94,884, which represents an increase of 123.62 per cent. "Not bad when compared with the stock markets," asserted AAA's analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

AAA added that anyone who bought the top 100 bottles, in terms of their return on investment, would have seen their initial outlay deliver returns of an extremely impressive 162.96 per cent. This is all according to the figures published through the Whiskey Highland Index.

Anthony Johnson added, “Alternative investments are becoming so common these days that those looking for the very best returns are looking past fine wine, art and antiques and are now stepping into the new territory of fine whiskey.”

Some of the best returns are available on less expensive whiskeys, such as those released by big names like Macallan and Glenfiddich, which - even at investment grade - can be bought from less than £100.

AAA is keen to promote a truly alternative view of investment and also to support more ethical investment, such as projects that benefit communities in developing countries. Mr Johnson explained, "As alternatives become more mainstream, more people tend to look for projects that deliver returns while helping to protect communities or the environment, such as Greenwood Management's forestry plantation projects in Brazil."

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

TechNavio Announces the Publication of its Report - Global High-speed Network Port Market 2010-2014

TechNavio today launched its report, Global High-speed Network Port Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions.

London, UK, December 09, 2011 -- TechNavio today launched its report, Global High-speed Network Port Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions. The report aims to aid decision makers understand the current and future landscape of this market.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's Telecom team said, "Exponential rates of adoption of bandwidth-intensive technologies and applications, such as converged network services, video-on-demand, and social networking, are enhancing the demand for a high rate of throughput. As mass-market access to these technologies continues accelerating alongside the introduction of progressively more powerful server architectures, data centers, and network providers, end-users are finding themselves confronted by slow bandwidth issues. Hence, this is driving end-users toward the adoption of high-speed network ports."

The emergence of the IEEE802.3ba standard which supersedes IEEE802.3 will act as the catalyst to unlock innovation across the Ethernet ecosystem. The IEEE802.3ba standard is expected to trigger the further expansion of the 40 Grit and 100 Grit Ethernet groups of technologies by driving new development efforts. The report also discusses the lack of network security.

The study was carried out using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key players.

TechNavio is the market research platform of Infiniti Research publishing periodic reports on multiple areas of niche and emerging technologies. For further information, please visit http://www.technavio.com/content/global-high-speed-network-port-market-2010-2014. Follow us on Twitter @Technavio for daily industry updates.

Media Contact:
Ludmila Berkesova
Program Manager
Technavio
8 Wimpole Street
W1G 9SP London UK
Tel: 0044 207 637 2456
Fax: 0044 845 280 2825

TechNavio Announces the Publication of its Report - Global Hardware One-Time Password Token Authentication Market 2010-2014

TechNavio, a market research leader in the area of IT Security, recently published its report, Global Hardware One-Time Password Token Authentication Market 2010-2014.

London, UK, December 09, 2011 -- TechNavio, a market research leader in the area of IT Security, recently published its report, Global Hardware One-Time Password Token Authentication Market 2010-2014. The report covers the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions, and discusses significant trends impacting the growth of this market. The report is based on an in-depth study of the market with inputs from key industry participants. In addition to profiling key vendors, the report discusses the important drivers, trends, and challenges for the industry.

TechNavio's report highlights that the declining price of hardware one-time password (OTP) tokens is resulting in increased adoption among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Regulatory guidelines that were previously applicable only to large enterprises are now applicable to SMBs as well. Hence, the increasing frequency of attacks, coupled with the growing regulatory requirements, is driving SMBs to adopt strong authentication solutions such as hardware OTP tokens.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's IT Security team said, "One of the major reasons for the growth in the overall IT Security market is strict compliance requirements. However, a key challenge facing this market is the growing preference for software authentication solutions over hardware OTP token solutions. As a result, the Software Authentication market has been witnessing stronger growth."

Key findings from the report:
Price-based Competition Leading to Reduction in Prices
High Initial Deployment and Replacement Costs of Hardware Tokens in Some Regions
Low Regulatory Requirements in Developing Regions

TechNavio is the market research platform of Infiniti Research publishing periodic reports on multiple areas of niche and emerging technologies. For further information, please visit http://www.technavio.com/content/global-hardware-one-time-password-token-authentication-market-2010-2014. Follow us on Twitter @Technavio for daily industry updates.

Media Contact:
Ludmila Berkesova
Program Manager
Technavio
8 Wimpole Street
W1G 9SP London UK
Tel: 0044 207 637 2456
Fax: 0044 845 280 2825

TechNavio Announces the Publication of its Report - Global Graphene Market - Analyst View

TechNavio, a market research leader in the area of Hardware, recently published its report, Global Graphene Market - Analyst View.

London, UK, December 09, 2011 -- TechNavio, a market research leader in the area of Hardware, recently published its report, Global Graphene Market - Analyst View. The report covers the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions, It analyzes the landscape of this market for the period 2015-2020. The report is based on an in-depth study of the market with inputs from key industry participants. In addition to profiling key vendors, the report discusses the important drivers, trends, and challenges for the industry.

TechNavio's report highlights that the industry is yet to develop a technology that can support the production of high-quality graphene on a large scale. In general, the chemical vapor deposition process is used to produce monolayer graphene, which is a far more expensive method than that used in the production of silicon wafers.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's Hardware team said, "Graphene materials can be capitalized on for both electrical and optical technologies. Moreover, graphene is believed to have the potential to improve the efficiency of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which is a fast-growing market, and to support the innovation of advanced devices such as flexible displays and highly sensitive electrical and optical sensors".

Key findings from the report:
Market Still in Early Stages
Heavy Investment Required
Strong Physical Characteristics a Key Driver

TechNavio is the market research platform of Infiniti Research publishing periodic reports on multiple areas of niche and emerging technologies. For further information, please visit http://www.technavio.com/content/global-graphene-market-analyst-view. Follow us on Twitter @Technavio for daily industry updates.

Media Contact:
Ludmila Berkesova
Program Manager
Technavio
8 Wimpole Street
W1G 9SP London UK
Tel: 0044 207 637 2456
Fax: 0044 845 280 2825

HSBC investment in Big Issue fund welcomed by AAA

Alternative Asset Analysis is officially welcoming the news that Big Issue Invest's Social Enterprise Investment Fund has moved closer to its target.

Boston, MA, USA, December 07, 2011 -- Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an advocate of alternative and ethical investments, is officially welcoming the news that Big Issue Invest's Social Enterprise Investment Fund has moved closer to its target.

The target for the social enterprise project, which is being offered and run by the UK-based homeless charity, Big Issue, is £10 million and it recently gained a further £4 million in investment, taking its running total to £8 million.

AAA reports that the latest investment has come from HSBC, with the rest of the £8 million coming from sources including the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, Deutsche Bank, The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Ulster Community Investment Trust.

Big Issue intends to raise the remaining £2 million by March 2012 and will invest in a range of social enterprises to help them grow over the medium term. The projects will be selected for their potential to make a significant social impact and for their potential to generate returns for investors of more than 5 per cent.

The fund has already invested some £1.1 million in four separate enterprises and is on the way to providing a further £1.4 million in funding to three more projects.

This kind of impact investing is the future as far as we are concerned,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

He continued, “An increasing number of investors are keen to ensure their cash is contributing to projects that are both environmentally and socially responsible, hence the popularity of alternative investments like forestry plantations, run by firms such as Greenwood Management in developing countries like Brazil.

Individuals and institutional investors are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of social impact investing, both from an ethical perspective and a financial one,” concluded Johnson.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

Industry Titans come together to form New PEO

Engage PEO Sharpens Competitive Advantage for Businesses.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., December 07, 2011 -- With more than 20 years of combined experience, Jay Starkman, the former CEO of AlphaStaff Group, and Marjorie "Midge" Seltzer, the former President of Modern Business Associates, today announced that they have joined forces to form Engage PEO, a new professional employment organization. According to the veteran human resource industry executives, the PEO industry needs to be re-imagined with a strong emphasis on service.

"Midge and I surveyed the current state of the industry and didn't like what we saw," explained Starkman. "More and more PEOs were focusing on the bottom line and asking clients to expect less. Combined with a practice of over selling, customer satisfaction in PEO services nationally is at a low point, and that’s just not right. Clients should expect more from an outsourcing partner."

At Engage PEO, the quality of service is the focus of everything,” said Seltzer. “The formula is simple. We don't over sell. We invest in all aspects of service delivery, including state-of-the-art human resource information system, products from A-rated insurance carriers, leadership and people. In fact, unique to the industry, every one of our human resource representatives not only is highly trained in human resources, but they each have a law degree.”

The company is based in St. Petersburg, with an additional office in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and offers a full suite of PEO services nationwide, including payroll, technology, employee benefits, workers’ compensation and risk management, tax administration, and human resource services. Engage will leverage a national network of insurance agents and brokers to deliver its products directly to small and medium-size businesses.

During Starkman's tenure at AlphaStaff, the company was recognized as the fastest growing PEO in the industry. During Seltzer's tenure at MBA, the company was noted as providing the top service in the industry. The two leaders leverage each of their respective strengths in the new company, with Starkman, as CEO, focusing on sales and marketing, and Seltzer, as president, managing service delivery and client satisfaction.

Great HR programs engage employees and promote greater productivity, which translates to stronger business performance. That’s what Engage is all about,” added Starkman. “Clients will expect more and Engage will not only meet, but exceed those higher expectations.”

About Engage PEO
Engage PEO delivers comprehensive HR solutions to small and medium-size businesses, sharpening their competitive advantage. Comprised of the industry’s most respected veteran professional employer organization executives, certified HR professionals and attorneys, Engage PEO provides hands-on, expert HR services and counsel to help clients minimize cost and maximize efficiency for stronger business performance. The company’s superior service offering includes a full range of health and worker’s compensation insurance products, payroll technology and tax administration, risk management services and best-of-breed technology as part of an extensive suite of HR services. For more information visit http://www.EngagePEO.com.

Media Contact:
Aileen Perdomo
Engage PEO
3001 Executive Drive Suite 340
St. Petersburg, FL 33762
(305) 785-4122

TechNavio Announces the Publication of its Report - Global Glucose Monitoring Device Market 2010-2014

TechNavio today launched its report, Global Glucose Monitoring Device Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions.

London, UK, December 07, 2011 -- TechNavio today launched its report, Global Glucose Monitoring Device Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions. The report aims to aid decision makers understand the road map of this market.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio’s Healthcare team said, “The Global Blood Glucose Monitoring Device market is witnessing is a paradigm shift from invasive to non-invasive glucose meters. Vendors have realized the opportunity in the Painless Glucose Monitoring segment and are launching non-invasive or minimally invasive monitoring devices.”

According to the report, the main driver for the Global Blood Glucose Monitoring Device market is the worldwide rise in diabetic patients. The reasons for the increasing number of diabetic patients are hereditary and/or related to changes in lifestyle. This increase in the patient population is encouraging the need to monitor glucose levels at regular intervals to prevent long-term problems.

The study was carried out using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key players.

TechNavio is the market research platform of Infiniti Research publishing periodic reports on multiple areas of niche and emerging technologies. For further information, please visit http://www.technavio.com/content/global-glucose-monitoring-device-market-2010-2014. Follow us on Twitter @Technavio for daily industry updates.

Media Contact:
Ludmila Berkesova
Program Manager
Technavio
8 Wimpole Street
W1G 9SP London UK
Tel: 0044 207 637 2456
Fax: 0044 845 280 2825

TechNavio Announces the Publication of its Report - Global FTTH Equipment Market 2010-2014

TechNavio today launched its report, Global FTTH Equipment Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions.

London, UK, December 07, 2011 -- TechNavio today launched its report, Global FTTH Equipment Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions. The report aims to aid decision makers understand the road map of this market.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio’s Telecom team said, “The APAC region takes the lion’s share of the global FTTH ports that are shipped across the globe. Japan and South Korea have been the top countries in the APAC region market, but China has been catching up by investing significantly in replacing existing copper lines with fiber lines.”

According to the report, the most important driver in the Global FTTH Equipment market is the need for higher bandwidth for broadband applications such as web surfing, e-mail, file downloading, online gaming, IPVOD, and videophones. The market penetration of bandwidth-hungry equipment has increased and hence end-users are demanding more bandwidth. The report also discusses the lack of infrastructure in this market.

The study was carried out using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key players.

TechNavio is the market research platform of Infiniti Research publishing periodic reports on multiple areas of niche and emerging technologies. For further information, please visit http://www.technavio.com/content/global-ftth-equipment-market-2010-2014. Follow us on Twitter @Technavio for daily industry updates.

Media Contact:
Ludmila Berkesova
Program Manager
Technavio
8 Wimpole Street
W1G 9SP London UK
Tel: 0044 207 637 2456
Fax: 0044 845 280 2825

TechNavio Announces the Publication of its Report - Global Fiber Optic Sensor Market 2010-2014

TechNavio today launched its report, Global Fiber Optic Sensor Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions.

London, UK, December 07, 2011 -- TechNavio today launched its report, Global Fiber Optic Sensor Market 2010-2014, which is based on an in-depth study of the Americas and the EMEA and APAC regions. The report aims to aid decision makers understand the key trends impacting the growth of this market.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio’s Hardware team said, “Fiber optic sensors are being developed with increased sensing capabilities and smaller size. With the increase in globalization, several companies are adopting fiber optic-based sensors for increased efficiency.”

According to the report, fiber optic sensors play an important role in the seamless flow of operations in industries working with high-temperature environments. With the ever-increasing number of vehicles and the need for more power and energy resources, several oil and gas companies are increasing their operations to meet the demand. These oil and gas plants have several applications that pertain to higher temperature operations. Thus to increase the overall performance of the plant and pertaining to safety, several organizations are installing fiber optic sensors to leverage the advantages of high heat bearing capabilities.

The report also discusses the increasing concerns about the short lifespan of fiber optic cables which is affecting the deployment of these sensors.

The study was carried out using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key players.

TechNavio is the market research platform of Infiniti Research publishing periodic reports on multiple areas of niche and emerging technologies. For further information, please visit http://www.technavio.com/content/global-fibre-optic-sensor-market-2010-2014. Follow us on Twitter @Technavio for daily industry updates.

Media Contact:
Ludmila Berkesova
Program Manager
Technavio
8 Wimpole Street
W1G 9SP London UK
Tel: 0044 207 637 2456
Fax: 0044 845 280 2825

Computerworld Names Rosendin Electric's CIO Sam Lamonica to Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2012

Lamonica Singled Out for Innovative Work in Harnessing Mobile Technology for the Job Site and Automating Back Office Operations.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (December 06, 2011) -- Sam Lamonica, CIO of Rosendin Electric (http://www.rosendin.com), the nation’s largest private electrical contractor and a 100% employee-owned company, has been named to IDG’s Computerworld list of the Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2012. Lamonica was singled out for his innovation in adapting mobile computing technology to give construction site employees access to enterprise applications and data, and for his work promoting a paperless back office environment and streamlining procurement.

Under Sam’s leadership, Rosendin Electric has found new ways to optimize operations using enterprise technology. By deploying consumer mobile applications, mobile construction solutions from vendors like Vela, and installing remote access solutions like Citrix, Sam has been able to provide field personnel with remote access to business-critical applications. Using secure cellular and wireless technology, such as smart phones and iPads, job site personnel can now remotely access materials lists, blueprints, QA/QC and safety checklists, vendor data, and much more. Handheld devices can be used to check and markup drawings, take and transmit photos, conduct commissioning processes, or as virtual remote terminals to access corporate email, calendars, the company Intranet, etc. For the first time, field personnel armed with mobile tablets can access all the information they need without having to rely on stacks of paper or taking that extra trip to the office.

Sam was also instrumental in implementing new procurement processes and integration with key suppliers that resulted in significant savings for the company. The new paperless procurement system handles orders, billing, and invoices using electronic data interchange (EDI). Sam and his team have extended the same paperless process to Rosendin Electric’s HR department to manage benefits administration. As a result, Rosendin Electric’s back office processes are more efficient and in line with the company’s commitment to green business practices.

Sam has transformed the way Rosendin Electric works, making our staff more efficient and saving us a lot of money in the process,” said Tom Sorely, CEO of Rosendin Electric. “Using mobile technology to bring enterprise access to the field personnel and streamlining procurement and in-house operations gives us a leg up on our competitors by allowing us to respond faster with greater accuracy. And Sam continues to get rave reviews from the staff for his innovative thinking, his positive attitude, and his empowering management style. This honor from Computerworld is certainly deserved.”

About the Premier 100
The Premier 100 program was created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have had a positive impact on their organizations through technology. These are individuals who manage internal IT organizations, mentor and motivate their IT teams and business colleagues, create a positive work environment, envision innovative solutions to business challenges and effectively manage and execute IT strategies. Each year nominees are invited to complete a survey that addresses a number of topics, including their background and experience and their attitude toward risk and innovation. Using Computerworld’s IT Leader Index, which is a measurement of how closely an individual matches our definition of the IT Leader, we analyze the data. Each year, 100 honorees are selected to receive this life-time recognition award. Information on previous honorees can be viewed at: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9065479/Premier_100_IT_Leaders

About Computerworld
Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide, providing peer perspective, IT leadership and business results. Computerworld's award-winning web site (http://www.computerworld.com), bi-weekly publication, focused conference series and custom research forms the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards, including Magazine of the Year by American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) awards in 2010, the 2009 Best Blog from the Neal awards, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from ASBPE. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 3.5 million unique, monthly visitors (Omniture, September 2011). Computerworld is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, events and research company. Company information is available at http://www.idgenterprise.com.

About Rosendin Electric
Rosendin Electric, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, is a 100% employee-owned electrical engineering, power and communications provider and is the largest privately held electrical contractor in the United States. With over 2,500 employees and experience nationwide, Rosendin Electric has built upon a 90-year reputation for quality design and installations. For additional information, visit http://www.rosendin.com.

Contact:
Shelly Goulart
Marketing Manager
Rosendin Electric
880 Mabury Road
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 534-2819

Pacific Crest Group helps Blue Frog Quadruple its Profits

Interim CFO Services Help Custom Embroidery and Commercial Screen Print Company Master Key Performance Indicators to Promote Growth.

LARKSPUR, Calif. (December 06, 2011) -- Pacific Crest Group (http://www.pcg-services.com), the Bay Area service firm that optimizes finance, human resources, and IT so their clients can build their business, has just completed a project for Blue Frog, a commercial screen printing and embroidery company in San Leandro, California, that has resulted in a four-fold increase in company profits. By using Pacific Crest Group’s outsourced controller and interim CFO services, Blue Frog was able to refine its profit-and-loss reporting, resolve a chronic cash flow issue, and optimize operations to ensure ongoing profitability.

Pacific Crest Group was instrumental in redefining the business systems needed to give Blue Frog CEO Mike Givvin control over operating costs and profits. Blue Frog was founded in 2001, and for more than a decade has been outpacing its competitors in sales growth at the same time it was underperforming in profits. The company also consistently wrestled with cash flow concerns, so to address those problems, Givvin retained Pacific Crest Group to provide accounting, controller, and CFO support.

Pacific Crest Group’s team of accounting experts first reviewed the company’s financials and accounting systems. As part of this process, Pacific Crest Group implemented new data entry and data tracking procedures to standardize expense tracking. Ultimately, the results required reorganizing Blue Frog’s income and expenses to provide consistent data for analysis. The next step was to create a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) report to determine what factors were affecting the company’s bottom line.

TJ Van Voorhees, CEO of Pacific Crest Group and filling the role of interim CFO for Blue Frog, assessed the company’s profits and losses and determined that the company’s staff-to-revenue ratio was off. The company had grown to nearly 100 employees in 10 years, and the assessment showed that staff costs made up more than two-thirds of the company’s overhead. Adjusting the employee headcount by one or two staff members meant the difference between profit and loss.

Van Voorhees created financial models supported by KPIs that allowed Givvin insight into operational costs that he could more effectively manage. Now Givvin had a few numbers where he could implement real change to his operations. The result was an immediate improvement in cash flow and a four-fold increase in profitability. Simply stated the fog was lifted from the confusion of too much data.

The KPI model was the missing piece,” Givvin said. “Now I have an operational dashboard in place that summarizes the important numbers on the P&L, available cash, and critical performance metrics. I can use it every month to make adjustments to be sure the company is on track. Most importantly, I don't go home with headaches anymore.”

About Pacific Crest Group
Pacific Crest Group works with entrepreneurial organizations to help them unleash their potential by eliminating the friction and chaos caused by business processes. Founded by a team of entrepreneurs with expertise in accounting and finance, Pacific Crest Group has built its reputation by identifying organizational needs and opportunities for improvement, and optimizing financial procedures, computer systems, and human resources so clients can focus on their core business. Pacific Crest Group approaches financial and business management like a consulting physician, with an understanding that some problems can be isolated and fixed while others need a more holistic approach.

The firm is based in Larkspur, California. For more information, visit Pacific Crest Group online at http://www.pcg-services.com.

-Ends-

Contact:
Franka Winchester
Pacific Crest Group
(415) 461-2586

Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
(415) 259-5638

FPL rings in the Holiday Season with tips for Energy Savings

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) provides information about the common causes of high bills and solutions to reduce energy costs this holiday season.

Juno Beach, FL, December 03, 2011 -- A sparkling holiday display is the perfect setting for seasonal celebrations where you'll be exchanging gifts and cooking up a storm for friends and family. But are your holiday lights, gifts and cooking methods on the naughty or nice energy-efficiency list? Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) provides information about the common causes of high bills and solutions to reduce energy costs this holiday season.

Holiday Decor
When it comes to holiday lighting, LED (light-emitting diodes) lights shine in more ways than one - they can save you money and energy. Make the bright choice and opt for LED lighting this season. Outshine your neighbors using these tips as your guide to holiday lighting and lower bills.

Get more light for your money. If you're having trouble quantifying the energy savings of LED lights, consider this: The amount of power it takes to operate just one 7-watt incandescent holiday bulb could power two 24-foot LED strings - enough to light a six foot tree. Additionally, LED light strings last about 10 times longer.

Save energy and the environment. Supplement your holiday displays with ornaments such as wreaths, ribbons and other decorations that don't consume energy.

All-in-one money saver. Plug holiday lights and other electronic decorations into a power strip to make it convenient to turn them all off before bedtime and boost energy savings. New “smart” power strips allow you to selectively turn some lights on, and others off.

Time is on your side. Set timers for your holiday displays to turn off before bedtime so there is no need to burn the lights all night long.

Hosting Guests and Entertaining
It takes a lot of energy - both physical and electrical - to host guests and prepare meals for family and friends during the season. Whether you're cooking holiday dinners for relatives or baking cookies for an office potluck, keep these tips in mind to minimize your electricity usage in the kitchen:

Keep the oven door closed. Ovens lose lots of heat when opened and require significant energy to heat back up to the appropriate temperature. Instead of opening the door to check on your food, turn on the interior light and look through the oven’s window.

Choose glass or ceramic pans for the oven. These pans heat faster than metal ones and allow you to set the temperature 25 degrees lower than a recipe suggests for the same cooking time.

Use smaller appliances such as crock-pots, microwaves and toaster ovens when possible. These can be much more energy-efficient for side dishes or small meals.

Gently remind guests to turn off lights and fans when they leave the room. Stopping one ceiling fan from running all the time and turning at least one light off when you leave the room can save you more than $7 a month in energy costs. Remember, fans do not actually cool your home. Fans only improve the circulation of air, making you feel cooler.

Before overnight guests arrive, switch out guest room and common area lighting to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Each CFL bulb you install will save you about $50 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

Holiday Gift Buying
Making a list? Checking it twice? Before you head to the store, check FPL’s list of gifts that are on the “nice” energy list.

The ENERGY STAR shines bright. Newer ENERGY STAR models meet stricter requirements and can save up to 30 percent on energy over standard models.

Opt for a laptop computer over a desktop computer. The amount of energy one desktop computer uses could power three laptop computers.

Warm up savings with new washer or dryer. Ninety percent of energy used doing laundry comes from heating the dryer. To save energy and money, look for more efficient models -newer washers spin faster, which reduces drying time and uses energy more efficiently.

Smaller doesn't necessarily mean less power usage. The same amount of power used to charge one MP3 player could charge both a cell phone and a digital camera.

FPL customers have the lowest bills in the state but there are still more ways to save. Visit http://www.FPL.com/myplan to take FPL’s free online home energy survey to save energy throughout the year. For more ideas, view a video of holiday tips at http://tinyurl.com/7y7rsbv.

Media Contact:
Kristy Kennedy
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-448-5839

BusinessVibes showcases New Portal to connect Non-Profit Organizations

Industry portals have been added to the website one by one, this time BusinessVibes gave the possibility to connect and interact to non profit organisations.

London, UK, December 02, 2011 -- BusinessVibes (http://www.businessvibes.com), is a new global B2B networking site which helps companies and associations from all over the world to search for new business contacts, new deals and partnerships. Industry portals have been added to the website one by one, this time BusinessVibes gave the possibility to connect and interact to non profit organisations.

Non profit organisations - new industry portal added to BusinessVibes website consists of 140 different, international companies using the website to invite and communicate with numbers of other bodies on the market. This database includes also religious organizations. Companies being a part of this industry portal represent around 20 countries. Many of them are located mainly in United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Members of this global directory have access to database of 33 unique events.

Described industry profile gathers all companies and associations uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends. They can distribute its revenue on whatever needed to expand their activity. The group includes foundations, charity and religious associations and many more created not to raise the income of owner but to develop certain ideas and achieve its goals.

BusinessVibes attracts its users mostly by access to international database of companies, sellers and suppliers in different industry. Such kind of access may significantly help in forming new multilateral partnerships. Additionally every company willing to join the website needs to be verified and categorized by one of BusinessVibes team members. It ensures that listings are trustworthy and useful for its members.

Industries already added to BusinessVibes include: Chemistry, Automotive, Textiles, Plastic Products, Renewable Energy, Food Processing, Electronics and Electricals, Hotel Supplies, Metal Mining, and many more.

Contact:
Marta Munia
Marketing Executive - Europe
Infiniti Research Limited
8 Wimpole Street
London W1G 9SP
Tel: +44 20 7291 0883
Follow us on Twitter: @businessvibes

Extra Scottish woodland creation grants welcomed by FRA

Forestry Research Associates, (FRA) has announced that it welcomes a new woodland creation grant scheme that has been introduced in Scotland.

Seattle, United States, December 02, 2011 -- Forestry Research Associates, (FRA) has announced that it welcomes a new woodland creation grant scheme that has been introduced in Scotland.

Anyone looking to create woodland in the northern and western isles of Scotland will be given grants under a news scheme that intends to encourage people to increase the amount of woodland in the region.

FRA, a research and analysis consultancy, explained that payments of £4,160 per hectare will be offered for woodland creation, providing it is over 0.25 acres. Then, another bonus payment of £360 per year for five years will also be offered.

FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, said that the grants will be an effective incentive to get people in the less populated regions of Scotland to invest in forestry and woodland creation, despite the fact that the extra payment is made for the first hectare only. Mr Collins said, “The Forestry Commission Scotland grant will go some way to increasing the amount of woodland in Scotland, but more could be done. Forested regions provide essential habitats for wildlife, valuable carbon sequestration and, if managed sustainably, can produce timber that can be sold on for a good profit.”

Applications for the cash can be made online and will be assessed by a panel who are appointed through the previous Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme.

FRA supports projects all over the world that help to increase the amount of land given over to managed forestry. Projects such as Greenwood Management’s plantations of non-native timber in Brazil are effective as they encourage foreign investors to put their cash into sustainable forestry.

The demand for timber is increasing at the moment, along with timber prices in light of the industrialisation of India and China, which are both buying up huge stocks of timber to help grow their infrastructure.

About Forestry Research Associates

Forestry Research Associates is a research and advisory consultancy that focuses on forestry management, sustainability issues and forestry investment around the globe.

Media Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Tel: (206) 316 8394

BusinessVibes hosts Webinar for Textile Professionals

BusinessVibes, the B2B networking platform, hosted a webinar for its members in the Textile industry on Tuesday, November 29th. The webinar archive is available on BusinessVibes.

London, UK, December 02, 2011 -- BusinessVibes (http://www.businessvibes.com), the B2B networking platform, hosted a webinar for its members in the Textile industry on Tuesday, November 29th. The webinar archive is available on BusinessVibes.

The first speaker was Mr. H. L. Vijaykumar - Chairman for Karnataka region from The Textile Association of India, which is the largest textile professional entity of India, striving for the growth of India’s largest single Textile Industry and also largest in the world textiles. He discussed problems and challenges of Textile Industry in India.

The second speaker was Mr. Faruque Hassan - Vice-President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association. The mission of the association is to establish good business environment for a mutually beneficial relationships among the manufacturers, exporters and importers in Bangladesh. It associates a lot of Textile Industry companies. Mr Hassan discussed problems and challenges of Textile Industry in Bangladesh.

Attendees were able to submit questions to the speakers over a live chat, and also communicate with each other about business opportunities. Mission of BusinessVibes is to make it simple for businesses to find international buyers, suppliers, joint venture partners and more. There are over 500,000 members worldwide, interacting via profiles, messaging, and participation in live and virtual events.

BusinessVibes also works with event planners, providing a platform for promotion, registration, and payment for industry conferences, trade shows, and webinars. The event management features complement the online connections possible on the service, by encouraging members to interact in person or in real time.

One more webinar, this time for professionals acting in IT industry, is planned for 2011. BusinessVibes has also hosted webinars covering the Gems & Jewellery, the Renewable Energy and Rubber&Plastics industries, and it plans to cover other ones in the upcoming months.

If you are interested in participating in our webinars or if you want to learn more, visit http://www.businessvibes.com.

Contact:
Marta Munia
Marketing Executive - Europe
Infiniti Research Limited
8 Wimpole Street
London W1G 9SP
Tel: +44 20 7291 0883
Follow us on Twitter: @businessvibes