(NewsUSA) – Whether you live in an urban or rural area, enjoying the outdoors is something many Americans have in common, and we experience it in different ways — both big and small — from growing herbs on the back porch to perusing the community farmer’s market in town.
But why not take it a step further and take action to make your community a little greener? Creating an outdoor oasis helps preserve green space, beautifies neighborhoods, and can also bring together the community through a shared cause.
One way to do this is through The Pepsi Refresh Project, which through the input of people across the country, awards grants to projects, for both individuals and organizations, that do good for the community. This month Pepsi is challenging America, asking “How can you upgrade your hometown with a new community garden?” Go to www.refresheverything.com and give Pepsi your best answer, or click through the hundreds of other entries to vote on your favorite ideas to help ensure worthy organizations receive the funding they deserve. Since last year, Americans have chosen to award more than 20 million dollars to community-supportive ideas that receive the greatest number of votes through this landmark fundraising effort.
Take Central Elementary Gardens for example, started by teacher Christy Cuthbert, who used the $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant to create an outdoor learning center and garden for her school. Students not only get their hands dirty in the garden, but also learn skills to promote and manage a community farmers market. There’s also the Brigit’s Bounty started by a Colorado resident, Brandi-Lynn Greig. She used her $25,000 grant to provide fencing, seeds, trees, and educational programming for a community garden, which provides fresh vegetables to over 200 families in need each month.
Other ways to get involved are to join an already established community garden or farm in your area. From planting to managing sales, there are several ways you can contribute.
Every action helps to create major impact on communities, whether you choose to vote for your favorite idea or put your own idea into action. Even as the summer days start to shorten and we head back to school, Pepsi will continue to challenge Americans with the next question, asking, “How would you make learning fun?” No matter the season, ideas can always inspire change in communities and the Pepsi Refresh Project encourages just that.
Refreshing Communities Through Outdoor Gardens
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.”
CPA Candidates Prepare to Join Growing Industry
(NewsUSA) – While many industries have shed jobs in the face of a shrinking economy, the historically stable accounting profession is expanding as regulatory scrutiny increases and baby boomers in the field retire.
Bachelor’s degree holders are flooding back to school to advance their careers and secure high-level positions now available in accounting. If you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration with an accounting focus, you can move ahead in your career by acquiring your CPA designation. The first step toward achieving this professional goal is passing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
The CPA exam is extremely challenging, and according to a study conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), approximately 28 percent of candidates who took all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam passed all sections on their first try. To bolster their skill set and increase their chances of success, many CPA candidates enroll in CPA preparation.
But what about CPA candidates who also want to pursue their Master of Business Administration (MBA), or may decide to in the future?
Some higher education providers offer CPA prep coursework that may count toward the 150 hours required to satisfy CPA exam and/or licensing requirements in most states.
Eligible students save time and money by simultaneously preparing for the CPA exam and earning credit toward graduate-level academic degrees, such as an MBA.
For instance, DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management recently began offering an innovative new graduate certificate in CPA Preparation with two tracks: Professional Leadership and Advanced Accounting. This new graduate certificate prepares candidates for the CPA exam while earning academic credits.
“Graduate certificates are a cost-effective way to earn academic credentials and address current industry demand in a short time frame,” explained Jesus Fernandez, associate provost for curriculum at DeVry University.
The 30 credit hour program builds on previous undergraduate accounting studies, educating students through the real world experience of highly knowledgeable faculty. The advanced accounting coursework can stand alone as a relevant academic credential or become a stepping stone to an MBA.
The Keller Graduate School of Management Graduate Certificate in CPA Preparation integrates Becker Professional Education’s CPA Review Methodology. Best of all, it is available on campus, online, or both, an ideal offering for working professionals looking to gain a professional edge with an additional credential.
Keep Real Cooties at Bay
(NewsUSA) – The infectious disease known to children as “cooties” may not really exist, but the idea of advancing germs jumping from classmate to classmate isn’t very far off.
Despite all efforts to the contrary, schools tend to be a receptacle for all kinds of bad bacteria and germs. Most harmful bacteria are absorbed through the mouth, which can lead to ear infections, sore throats, colds, even gum disease.
Kids will be kids, and sometimes it’s impossible to stop them from shoving every little object into their mouths — which is why germ-related illness, like cooties, can spread quickly.
While chants of “circle circle, dot dot, now you have your cootie shot” won’t do much to prevent germs in schools, a real solution has arrived from New Zealand.
Researchers at BLIS Technologies and Otago University in New Zealand recently discovered a new type of probiotic that, in early clinical trials, can help keep cooties away. Unlike current probiotics on grocery store shelves meant for digestion, this probiotic is for the mouth. There, beneficial probiotic bacteria can help defend kids and adults from germs that cause a variety of unpleasant conditions — sore throats, ear aches, persistent sniffles and more.
In the U.S. this new probiotic is now being introduced at
Walgreens stores under the TheraBreath label. TheraBreath Multi Symptom Oral Care Probiotics is the first product that effectively targets hostile bacteria in the oral cavity and throat, where the majority of illness-causing germs enter the body.
The probiotic also protects teeth from bacterial cavities and tooth decay as it reduces plaque and biofilm. The patented strain has been shown to break up the natural glue that allows these substances to stick to tooth and gum tissue. As biofilm is removed, teeth even regain a natural whiter luster. TheraBreath improves overall gum health and strengthens germ resistance. For more info about oral care, visit www.therabreath.com/probiotics.
Help Your Favorite Park Win up to $100,000 This Summer!
Is there a park in your neighborhood that holds fond memories for you and your family? Are you heading to a state or national park this summer for a family vacation? If so, being active in your favorite park this summer could help it win big in the America Is Your Park campaign. Afterall, the title of “America’s Favorite Park” and up to $100,000 are up for grabs!
Balancing Act: Tips for Juggling the Responsibilities of Work and School
(NewsUSA) – While many industries have shed jobs in the face of a shrinking economy, the historically stable accounting profession is expanding as regulatory scrutiny increases and baby boomers in the field retire.
Bachelor’s degree holders are flooding back to school to advance their careers and secure high-level positions now available in accounting. If you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration with an accounting focus, you can move ahead in your career by acquiring your CPA designation. The first step toward achieving this professional goal is passing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
The CPA exam is extremely challenging, and according to a study conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), approximately 28 percent of candidates who took all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam passed all sections on their first try. To bolster their skill set and increase their chances of success, many CPA candidates enroll in CPA preparation.
But what about CPA candidates who also want to pursue their Master of Business Administration (MBA), or may decide to in the future?
Some higher education providers offer CPA prep coursework that may count toward the 150 hours required to satisfy CPA exam and/or licensing requirements in most states.
Eligible students save time and money by simultaneously preparing for the CPA exam and earning credit toward graduate-level academic degrees, such as an MBA.
For instance, DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management recently began offering an innovative new graduate certificate in CPA Preparation with two tracks: Professional Leadership and Advanced Accounting. This new graduate certificate prepares candidates for the CPA exam while earning academic credits.
“Graduate certificates are a cost-effective way to earn academic credentials and address current industry demand in a short time frame,” explained Jesus Fernandez, associate provost for curriculum at DeVry University.
The 30 credit hour program builds on previous undergraduate accounting studies, educating students through the real world experience of highly knowledgeable faculty. The advanced accounting coursework can stand alone as a relevant academic credential or become a stepping stone to an MBA.
The Keller Graduate School of Management Graduate Certificate in CPA Preparation integrates Becker Professional Education’s CPA Review Methodology. Best of all, it is available on campus, online, or both, an ideal offering for working professionals looking to gain a professional edge with an additional credential.
Green Jobs are Growing
A combination of legislation and activism is inspiring companies to consider the “green” side to their business.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows environmentally related occupations are projected to grow 38 percent more than all other occupations combined by 2016. The report, “Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S. Economy,” predicts the highest growth of green jobs will be in renewable power generation, retrofitting residential and commercial areas and in renewable transportation fuels. As a result, universities are increasingly integrating economic, environmental and social issues into their curriculum.
Paper or Plastic — How About Neither?
(NewsUSA) – “Paper or plastic?” That is the major question that shoppers usually face as they check out at the supermarket. However, both options take a major toll on the environment. It’s estimated that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are used each year throughout the world — many of them winding up in landfills, where it can take hundreds or thousands of years for them to decompose. And about 14 million trees are cut down each year to make paper grocery bags.
Increasingly, both by personal choice and by law, consumers worldwide are moving away from using paper or plastic bags. And they’re choosing reusable grocery bags as a convenient and environmentally friendly option.
California Innovations has leveraged their knowledge of insulated technology to develop a quality line of durable, reusable grocery totes. Their 45 Can Freezer Tote features high-density thermal insulation plus Therma-Flect Radiant Barrier, so groceries stay cold for hours. The interior is easy to wipe clean and has Microban, which helps protect the lining from bacteria that cause odors and stains. All of these grocery totes carry the Ultra Safe designation, which means that the interior of the bags is PVC free and lead and phthalate safe.
California Innovations’ innovative grocery totes help protect the environment because they can be used over and over — unlike both paper and plastic bags, which are often used once and discarded. Aside from the environmental benefits, reusable tote bags are far more durable, carry more groceries, and can easily double as a beach or picnic tote.
Practical, environmentally friendly and insulated to keep food cold — seems like an easy choice for consumers.
To see more reusable grocery bags, coolers and lunch bags, go to www.californiainnovations.com.
Tips to Make Your Whites Green
div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/GreenClothes.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – Laundry’s one of those never-ending chores, and it does more than eat into your schedule. According to Energy Star, the average household does 400 …/div/div
Tips to Make Your Whites Green
(NewsUSA) – Laundry’s one of those never-ending chores, and it does more than eat into your schedule. According to Energy Star, the average household does 400 loads of laundry each year, consuming 13,500 gallons of water in the process. Those clothes need to be dried -; the U.S. Department of Energy says that the average household spends $70 a year just to operate dryers. And that’s before the waste created by detergent bottles and the environmental effects of phosphates, which create destructive algae blooms, are considered.
Luckily, there are ways to save resources and money while still enjoying fresh, clean clothing. Dropps (www.droppstv.com), a brand of pre-measured packs of liquid laundry detergent manufactured and licensed by Pak-It LLC, a subsidiary of JBI, Inc. (OTCQX: JBII – News), uses a biodegradable, phosphate-free formula to clean clothes without contributing to algae blooms or landfill waste. The formula works equally well in hot or cold water, so those laundering their clothes can save energy by using cold water instead of hot water. Better yet, Dropps is safe for all colors and fabrics, including delicate materials like silk, and works in both high-efficiency and standard washing machines.
Not sure what else you can do to save money and the environment while you do your laundry? Dropps offers the following tips:
* Try air drying your clothes. Your dryer is the second largest energy hog in your home after your refrigerator. Even if you only cut back on drying once in a while, you’ll end up saving money. Try using a clothesline or a drying rack instead. Dry similar types of clothing together. Bath towels will take longer to dry than synthetic fabrics, so make sure they don’t touch when you put them out to dry.
* Only wash full loads of laundry. Washing one large load uses less energy than washing two smaller loads, even if you wash the small loads on low or medium settings.
* Use lower temperature settings. Wash clothes using warm or cold water instead of hot, and use cold water for all rinses. You may find that presoaking heavily soiled or greasy clothing will allow you to wash out stains with a lower temperature of water.
For more information and tips, visit www.droppstv.com, www.pakit.com and the JBI website www.jbiglobal.com.
