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As Arctic permafrost deteriorates, EPA elects to lift coal emission rules
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is lifting coal emissions limits in the U.S.' latest environmental deregulation move. This comes at a time when scientists from northerly latitudes have released sensitive data regarding the planet's warming. You've heard the word "permafrost" but aren't sure why it’s important, right? Arctic permafrost is the frozen layer beneath the ground surface that remains frozen for two years or longer. Described as "the glue that holds the northern landscape together," scientists and climate change activists have been sounding the alarm. The glue is disappearing before our eyes: some even suggest up to 70 years earlier than expected.
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What’s wrong with American RVs today?
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureLet’s be honest. There are a lot of articles talking about how wonderful RV life is. There aren’t as many discussing the problems of newer American RVs. I don’t know if it is only American models but that is where I see the complaints online. While it is true you can buy an RV and have no issues, you are taking your chances every time you buy a brand-new RV. 3 out of every 10 RVs require serious repair by their second year. But this doesn’t define "serious." Many "minor" issues can prevent you from camping for the weekend or can be a major hassle if you are living full-time in an RV.
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EPA’s Energy Star program gets updates, new building certifications
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsThere have been several updates to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, including changes to the Star score. The score ranges from one to 100, which is the current national benchmark for energy performance. Per program guidance, facility managers and users enter information about their buildings into Portfolio Manager, the EPA’s online resource management tool that is used to assess the status of the application submitted. Then, using this information, which includes key operational details and actual energy use, Portfolio Manager calculates a score that compares a building’s energy performance to similar buildings nationwide.
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How to recognize employees when summer Fridays aren’t practical
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementSummer Fridays refer to the practice that employees get to leave early or work remotely on Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While this can be a fantastic benefit for office workers, it can be extremely impractical to implement outside of standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. offices and cost-prohibitive to offer to nonexempt employees. This does not mean our hands are tied as leaders when it comes to giving employees a break during the summer months. Here are some other options to consider when summer Fridays are not practical.
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Airport slot allocation management is about to get better
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveA new governing structure over the way airport slots are allocated and managed has been agreed upon by three industry associations. It is hoped that this arrangement will benefit passengers as air travel increases and more airports feel the pressure of demand. The agreement came at a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, and sees Airports Council International (ACI) World, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Worldwide Airport Coordinators Group (WWACG) agreeing to the new structure for the Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG) — a set of standards published by IATA for the management of airport slots.
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The rise of tech-augmented hospitality
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAccording to Amadeus’ Drivers of Change in Hospitality report, tech-augmented hospitality will be a major driver of travel trends. This is crucial for the future, as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says there will be a whopping 8.2 billion air travelers worldwide by 2037. Next-generation hospitality services will need to keep in mind that many travelers are expecting experiential, personalized, and seamless experiences at all steps of their journeys. Hospitality companies need to invest in technology solutions to meet the evolving needs of travelers and hotel guests of the future.
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Youth climate change lawsuit controversy continues
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalSeven-generation sustainability is the idea that we should only impact the earth in a manner that can sustain itself seven generations into the future. We may be far from that sensibility today, and time is running out, but young people are making a notable contribution to nothing short of planetary survival. From jobs to health to education, many issues connect to the planet’s future, and the young will bear the greatest brunt of any negative ecological developments.
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Texas’ bighorn license plate boosts more than funding
Chester Moore Jr. Recreation & LeisureThe desert bighorn sheep is now officially a celebrity in Texas. A new conservation license plate features a stunning bighorn image. Those who purchase it for $30 get the satisfaction of knowing $22 goes directly to sheep conservation efforts of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The new plate design is a first for TPWD. "Our longtime plate artist, Clemente Guzman, retired, so we decided to use a photograph of a majestic bighorn sheep proudly looking into the desert — and perhaps its future," said Janis Johnson with the TPWD Conservation License Plate program.
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6 simple ways to boost your hospital’s hand-washing compliance
Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied HealthcareYour hospital staff knows that hand-washing is essential for reducing infection rates, but sometimes they may cut corners when it comes to compliance. Stress, fatigue, and high workloads can lead to your doctors, nurses and workers skipping proper and continual hygiene steps. Also, patients very rarely wash their hands when they're in bed — and their visitors almost never make it a practice to so, either. Yet, boosting compliance rates can be much easier than you think. Here are six surprising (and easy) ways to identify hygiene risk situations and quickly fix them to protect everyone in your care environment.
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Walmart joins worldwide effort to reduce its plastic consumption
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe war on plastic continues. In April, the Oregon Senate approved a limited ban on plastic straws. Its passage would make the state the second after California to enact measures limiting single-use plastic straws. Several individual cities, including Seattle; New York City; and Portland, Oregon, have also implemented their own policies to curb plastic straw usage. Not to be outdone, retail giant Walmart announced a "bold" plastic waste reduction commitment by "leveraging its massive private brand program." In addition to reducing plastic packaging, it is doing away with plastic bags.
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