Josiah Carter from Below Deck offered a special cocktail recipe so quarantine can be a little more like being on a yacht. Well sort of.

Carter was often seen whipping up special drinks for charter guests when he was on the show. So he decided to treat Instagram fans to an ultra-refreshing version of a gin and tonic. He called the drink the Summer Gin and Tonic that includes fruit and lots of ice.

He posted a video that offers a demonstration and also the special recipe. Carter also told fans that they could make more cocktail requests. Hes been dishing about some special yachting insider secrets, such as how to clean and disinfect surfaces. So how do you make Carters special cocktail?

Instead of just gin, tonic and lime, Carter likes to infuse his cocktail with some fresh or frozen berries. You will need gin, tonic, limes and frozen fruit. You can use fresh fruit, he adds.

First, he rolls one lime to release the juices. He cuts the lime in half and then cuts the halves into threes. This move allows you to create evenly sliced lime wedges. He deposits one of the wedges directly into his tall glass.

Next, he adds that fruit. He doesnt have any fresh fruit left. But you can use fresh fruit, frozen fruit or fruit liqueur, he advises. Carter also has a rolling pin nearby. You would normally muddle it, Im not gonna muddle it, he says. So I just got a little rolling pin. He smashes the fruit to get all the juices going. He then shows the camera the end of the rolling pin too. Nice color, he remarks.

Carter adds huge handfuls of ice to the glass. I like to fill it to the top, he says of the ice. The ice melts less and it makes it just a bit tastier. He then adds two shots of gin. He prefers Tanqueray. And a little more for good luck, he says pouring a little more from the bottle into his glass.

And then simply top it off with tonic water, he says pouring a can of tonic into his glass. Its a bit summery, its a bit nicer, he says. He then uses a spoon to mix it and he is ready to enjoy his cocktail. Carter also shared the specific recipe on his Instagram story too.

Fans loved the cocktail tutorial and begged for more. One person asked for his version of the old fashioned. He made an old fashioned for the final group of charter guests when he was on Below Deck. Chief stew Kate Chastain asks Carter to make the group one of his famous old fashioned cocktails. He delivers but the primary charter guest complains he made the drink with an orange instead of a lemon. This is not a lemon rind, she says to him. I said, No orange! Well get there eventually. Although the primary didnt want an orange, it seems as though fans are craving that drink.

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'Below Deck': Josiah Carter Shares His Special Gin and Tonic Recipe - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. sent an email to its head office staff in early March, asking for volunteers to leave their jobs and work in grocery stores instead.

Angie Kim, a senior director of finance, used to be a store manager years ago, so she knows how they work. She volunteered and has since been working 12-hour days at Toronto-area stores, cleaning carts, stocking shelves and assembling online orders for curbside pickups.

In the middle of the coronavirus crisis, grocery chains are scrambling to bolster their ranks as demand spikes, hiring thousands of people and redeploying hundreds of corporate-office volunteers to pitch in on the front lines, despite the increased risks of getting the virus and being hassled by customers.

I do struggle every day when I wake up, like, Can I do it again? Kim said. Because Im scared. Right? The pandemic is real. I see hundreds of customers every day. I get selfish sometimes thinking, I dont have to do it. I volunteered. No ones expecting me to show up. Can I do it again?

Still, she continues to do it, remembering the words of a colleague who told her that all well remember when the crisis is over is how we treated each other.

I know Ill regret it if I take the easy way out, Kim said. I want to be proud of myself looking back.

Even the chief executive of Longos, an Ontario chain of supermarkets, has made a point of working in the store.

Everyone in our business is all hands on deck, said Anthony Longo, who regularly visits stores and distribution centres, helping to stock shelves if new shipments come in, or bagging groceries when check-out lines are long.

Longos chief financial officer has also jumped in at the call centre to help with a surge in online grocery orders.

Part of the reason Longo and his fellow executives do it is to calm the jitters that are growing in his labour force. About seven or eight per cent of his store staff are healthy, but wont come in.

I do struggle every day when I wake up, like, Can I do it again? Because I'm scared

Angie Kim

We do have quite a number of people who dont feel safe, and thats an issue in the industry, he said. We want people to know that it is safe. Im out there.

At Loblaw, roughly 400 corporate-level staff now work at stores. Walmart Canada said it asked its head-office employees to shift to in-store work in mid-March and has since had dozens of volunteers. And, late last month, Empire Co. Ltd., parent company of the Sobeys, Safeway and FreshCo chains, sent a note asking interested corporate staff to fill out a survey about their relevant experience, so they could be placed in the right job.

Not only can you feel proud of stepping up during this crucial time, youll gain valuable visibility and insight into a different part of the business, the emailed note said.

Ryan Skelton was one of more than 200 employees who, as of Friday, had answered Empires survey. He usually works as a chef, designing take-home meals at head office.

I have so many friends and colleagues currently working at the stores now, he said, so I dont see why I shouldnt also step forward and take those chances.

The transition into the store can be startling.

Kim, the Loblaw finance director, was in charge of the lineup outside a No Frills in downtown Toronto last week. The store only allows 30 customers inside at a time now, so she was doing crowd control, only letting someone in when someone else left.

A woman at the front of the line, who had waited maybe 10 or 15 minutes in the cold, didnt look well and was coughing, Kim said. As a result, she had to stop the woman from coming in.

She offered to take the womans grocery list and shop for her. But the woman started cursing, Kim recalled. She was in a motorized scooter and started trying to push past.

Standing there by myself Im 52, 100 lbs Im not the most intimidating person, Kim said. I had to get a little bit of back up because she refused to leave Those interactions leave an impression. It stays with you throughout the day.

What concerns Kim is how often those flare-ups are happening. Customers will be mean or inconsiderate dozens of times a day, upset about the inconvenience of the new rules or angry about a missing product or a long wait to get in. Some ignore social distancing protocols and lean in too close to ask questions of a clerk.

Im used to showing up to work at the head office where everybody is super kind and polite and respectful, she said. Theres zero tolerance of abuse or harassment of any kind.

Kim, concerned about the full-time clerks who seem too used to the cruelty to complain, wrote a post on LinkedIn that asked shoppers to speak up if they see clerks being mistreated.

I am not hiding any stock in the back room, she wrote. I am not making you wait outside the store for fun. Im trying to protect everyone.

Galen Weston, Loblaws executive chairman, is apparently concerned, too. In one of his regular missives to customers last month, he scolded those who were reportedly ignoring requests to keep their distance, or making uncomfortable jokes about being COVID-19 positive while leaning around protective screens.

Fortunately, most customers are just grateful they can still shop.

Theres going to be the odd customer comment or behaviour that may weigh you down, but there are so many more customers who tell us were doing a good job, Kim said.

Last week at a No Frills on Parliament Street in Toronto, a customer gave the store $50 to buy lunch for the staff, just as a thank you. Kim went out and bought pizzas.

There is definitely a sense of fear,Kimsaid. But there is more a sense of pride.

Financial Post

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'All hands on deck': Grocery store executives get a taste of the hard life on coronavirus front lines - Financial Post

UConn Health opened a drive-thru COVID-19 sampling site on its Farmington campus on Monday, March 23. Patients with appointments are able to drive into the testing area and usually within seven minutes, they are on their way.

This type of efficiency is the result of hours of planning and preparation by the entire staff at UConn Health. Virtually every organization area played a role in the establishment of the testing area.

As a state institution, part of our mission is to take care of the community and its citizens and we knew we need to have a sampling center, says Dr. Scott Allen, the interim chief medical officer of UConn John Dempsey Hospital and a professor in medicine. We had an organizational meeting about a week before we opened. We worked with our facilities and campus planning folks and the first hurdle was where to put this thing. We didnt know how long the lines would be and how it would impact our other traffic flow.

The decision was made to set up in Parking Lot 3, which is in a quiet part of the Farmington campus, but that provided other challenges.

During disasters like this, I really believe it brings out the best in people and this is certainly a case where so many people were willing to do whatever was need to make it work, says Deb Abromaitis, the director of the Office of Accreditation and Regulatory Affairs, who worked with the Department of Public Health to make sure the testing site was approved. People came out very early in morning, late at night, working on the weekends, just be able to deliver whatever was needed to make this happen.

The areas of UConn Health involved in the process seem endless: police, fire, nursing, facilities operations, telecommunications and IT, laboratories, parking services, and food services just to name a few.

Allen says that, as UConn Health has cut back on outpatient services during the crisis, staff from that area has volunteered to get trained and be part of the process, whether that means greeting patients in the first tent or getting samples in the second.

Every day another area steps up, says Abromaitis. Its been an unbelievable multidisciplinary effort. Parking, people that do signage, and on and on. Earlier this week, the nurses were having problems breaking the sampling swabs to get them into tubes. Our facilities people were right coming up with shears to make that better.

Abromaitis gave the examples of a nurse who stayed outside after being covered in snow that fell from a tent and of the UConn fire department stepping up.

We realized we needed more heat for our sample takers because they are not able to wear coats with their protective gear, says Abromaitis. We got heaters that had gas tanks, but we need to put barriers up to protect the gas tanks in case a care went into them. The barriers needed to be filled with water and our fire department was there right away to fill the barriers. It has just been one great thing after another from our people.

She also remembers the feeling when the first test case when through the center and the mobile unit staff were all staring out the window; it was just a great positive feeling of how we all worked together.

**

The COVID-19 sampling site is located on the Farmington campus of UConn Health at 263 Farmington Avenue. The site is open from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and is by appointment only. To be tested, patients must make an appointment by calling 860-679-1869 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who plan on coming to the test site must have an appointment and be aware of the following:

UConn Health also has a COVID-19 Call Center to help the community through this ever-changing situation at 860-679-3199, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about the virus.

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UConn Health Testing Site Setup Was An All-Hands-On-Deck Effort - UConn Today

The recent performance of Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ:TCBI) stock in the market spoke loud and clear to investors as TCBI saw more than 680.87K shares in trading volumes in the last trading session, way higher than the average trading volume of 680.87K shares by far recorded in the movement of Texas Capital Bancshares (TCBI). At the time the stock opened at the value of $25.17, making it a high for the given period, the value of the stock jumped by 5.03%. After the increase, TCBI touched a low price of $24.06, calling it a day with a closing price of $24.66, which means that the price of TCBI went 0.73 below the opening price on the mentioned day.

Given the most recent momentum in the market in the price movement of TCBI stock, some strong opinions on the matter of investing in the companys stock started to take shape, which is how analysts are predicting an estimated price of $39.30 for TCBI within consensus. The estimated price would demand a set of gains in total of -105241.25%, which goes higher than the most recent closing price, indicating that the stock is in for bullish trends. Other indicators are hinting that the stock could reach an outstanding figure in the market share, which is currently set at 50.13M in the public float and 1.30B US dollars in market capitalization.

When it comes to the technical analysis of TCBI stock, there are more than several important indicators on the companys success in the market, one of those being the Relative Strength Indicator (RSI), which can show, just as Stochastic measures, what is going on with the value of the stock beneath the data. This value may also indicate that the stock will go sideways rather than up or down, also indicating that the price could stay where it is for quite some time. When it comes to Stochastic reading, TCBI stock are showing 73.31% in results, indicating that the stock is neither overbought or oversold at the moment, providing it with a neutral within Stochastic reading as well. Additionally, TCBI with the present state of 200 MA appear to be indicating bearish trends within the movement of the stock in the market. While other metrics within the technical analysis are due to provide an outline into the value of TCBI, the general sentiment in the market is inclined toward negative trends.

With the previous 100-day trading volume average of 631074 shares, On Deck Capital (ONDK) recorded a trading volume of 1.31 million shares, as the stock started the trading session at the value of $1.02, in the end touching the price of $1.09 after jumping by 6.86%.

ONDK stock seem to be going ahead the lowest price in the last 52 weeks with the latest change of 101.85%.Then price of ONDK also went backward in oppose to its average movements recorded in the previous 20 days. The price volatility of ONDK stock during the period of the last months recorded 36.45%, whilst it changed for the week, now showing 23.81% of volatility in the last seven days. The trading distance for this period is set at -9.69% and is presently away from its moving average by -60.32% in the last 50 days. During the period of the last 5 days, ONDK stock lost around -6.84% of its value, now recording a dip by -69.40% reaching an average $3.5475 in the period of the last 200 days.During the period of the last 12 months, On Deck Capital (ONDK) dropped by -73.67%.

According to the Barcharts scale, the companys consensus rating was unchanged to 3.75 from 3.75, showing an overall improvement during the course of a single month.

ONDK shares recorded a trading volume of 1.24 million shares, compared to the volume of 761.42K shares before the last close, presented as its trading average. With the approaching 23.81% during the last seven days, the volatility of ONDK stock remained at 36.45%. During the last trading session, the lost value that ONDK stock recorded was set at the price of $1.09, while the lowest value in the last 52 weeks was set at $0.54. The recovery of the stock in the market has notably added 101.85% of gains since its low value, also recording -56.05% in the period of the last 1 month.

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The Case for Further Gains in Texas Capital Bancshares (TCBI), On Deck Capital (ONDK) - US Post News

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) Mayor Byron Brown said the City of Buffalo was concerned about certain areas that might be hit hard even before the novel coronavirus came to Western New York.

We were concerned there would be communities that would be heavily impacted by this, he said on a call with 7 Eyewitness News.

We have been providing information to community groups, stressing social distancing, removed basketball rims, closed playgrounds, had calls with clergy and block clubs, launched the good neighbors network to help people stay connected.

Brown says he has seen the sharp rise in cases in the 14215 zip code which includes a large portion of the citys Upper East Side, and plans to put every resource available towards helping combat the spread in that neighborhood.

There are things we can do clearly, there are resources we can provide, The City is going to act as a facilitator to do that. It will be all hands on deck to provide resources and we want to be there for our residents, our job is to be there for our residents, and we will do everything we possibly can to do that.

The County Executive and Mayor talk daily, sometimes twice a day, said Brown. And he credits Mark Poloncarz with listening to the needs of trusted voices in the community to help provide more information.

And in any crises, people in Black and impoverished neighborhoods arent necessarily looking to elected leaders, said Brown. Theyre looking to their block club leaders and religious leaders in the community for information.

Brown said its critical to get these people accessible information to disseminate to their neighborhoods.

As we've gotten information from the federal government, state government, county government we've tried to synthesize that information. Make it easier to understand; and we've provided that information in the City of Buffalo in a variety of ways to our residents(we are) certainly doing that in the most impacted areas in the city.

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"All hands on deck": City of Buffalo responds to influx of COVID-19 on Upper East Side - WKBW-TV

EDITORS CHOICE 06.04.20

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Climate change, environmental issues, global warming, carbon emissions, pollution these are all terms we hear every day in the news and something that is starting to be tackled across the world. Amy Wallington finds out how home automation can help reduce our carbon footprint.

Obviously, the best way to save energy is to use less, but that is not always easy. Consumers might think they are saving energy and money by having a smart meter in their home. That might be the case for some, but it is unlikely that people are using less energy than before just because they know their daily usage.

Instead, home technology can help homeowners save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Often an initial expense will save money in the long run. However, Dean Reddy, product marketing specialist at ABB points out: There is often a misconception as homeowners think that a professionally installed home automation system would cost the earth. On average, a basic install will cost around two per cent of the overall value of the property. Studies have shown that you can save up to 30 per cent on utilities with an automation system compared to a conventional install.

This is a great opportunity for system integrators to use technology to create an efficient ecosystem in homes and actually make a difference. Yasemin Borg is the prescription manager at Schneider Electric and agrees: According to the 2019 Committee on Climate Change report, CO2 and hazardous gasses are mostly emitted from buildings. Considering that such systems and increasing awareness in society can help lower emissions, this is solid proof that a connected smart home is more beneficial than a normal home.

Climate change is a huge issue and we are starting to see the effects take shape through natural disasters, higher temperatures and melting ice caps, just to name a few. Most recently, we have seen the devastation in Australia caused by bushfires due to record high temperatures and no rainfall. Simon Johnson, UK sales manager at EnOcean recognises the problems: In view of the devastation climate change could have on the planet, we all need to do our bit and help reduce energy usage. Unfortunately, the majority of existing homes in the UK do not have any kind of active energy saving devices installed. New builds are improving with more stringent regulations on the actual construction, including better wall and loft insulation, more advanced door and window systems, and the drive away from fossil fuelled heating sources, but with regard to active controls, even new builds are a long way from being slightly clever, never mind smart.

Reddy thinks that the UK is behind the rest of Europe on standardising smart homes. He says: Unfortunately in the UK we are not building homes of the future that are adaptable or intelligent. We really do need to catch up with our European neighbours as they have been using home automation systems for the past 30 years.

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Using natural elementsIntegrator Adrian Brown, technical director of Alpha Touch Limited, thinks that home automation professionals are in a key position to take action against climate change. He recognises: As a tech industry, we should really be taking the lead in finding ways of making the best use of technology to make more efficient use of the energy available and particularly how we can harness the likes of sun, wind, water, and other natural elements.

Brown is experimenting with different smart energy technologies in his own home so that he knows what possibilities he can offer his customers to make their homes more efficient. In terms of smart energy, we have installed solar panels coupled with sonnen battery storage, discloses Brown. The solar panels are giving us free energy eventually, once [the investment is] paid back. Realistically that will probably take about 10 years. Yes, there is an upfront cost, but longer term, it will pay for itself.

In this particular case, Brown recognised that he could use a Loxone system to make more efficient use of the excess energy created from the solar panels. He explains: Rather than exporting the excess energy back to the grid, we can harness it and use it ourselves, and using Loxone, we can prioritise where it goes. Initially, when the solar panels are generating power, the primary source is whatever the house is currently consuming on a day to day basis. Once the house has met its demand from the solar panels, it is creating excess energy which can then be used to charge electric vehicles for example.

In our case, once the solar panels have recharged the battery and the house has met its consumption, we divert the excess energy to an immersion heater, he continues. Rather than heating up the hot water tank from oil which is fossil fuel based, we can use that excess energy to heat the immersion heater to get our hot water, and weve saved on the cost of the oil and its better for the environment.

According to Gavin Stokes, country manager UK, sonnen UK, Brown has the best solution for an energy efficient home: From our point of view, one of the most efficient solutions for a household to become sustainable and energy efficient is to produce its own energy. With a photovoltaic (PV) system, up to 75 per cent of the annual demand can be covered by clean solar power. Additional energy from the grid is only needed in case of long bad weather periods or on shorter days in the winter.

A battery storage system like the sonnenBatterie is the heart of this solution. It integrates a smart energy manager that optimises the usage of the self-produced energy. Therefore, the homeowner doesnt have to change their habits.

He continues: Coming from an energy perspective, the smart control of the sonnenBatterie and its own energy supply has clear advantages over a conventional system. After all, the aim of energy management is to enable households to generate as much solar power as possible themselves. To achieve this, the software synchronises itself with the current weather forecasts, for example, then decides when the electricity should be stored or if it should be consumed in the house. A smart control system can have a very strong positive influence on the efficiency and sustainability of a house.

Adrian Brown, Alpha Touch Limited, had solar panels installed into his own home.

When it comes to home automation and energy efficiency, a lot of the time, it can simply be down to how a system is programmed. Brown recognised Loxones strengths in automation and utilised this to create an efficient home system.

He explains: The most efficient way of running a Loxone system is for it to be zoned, so that rather than having a traditional radiator system which heats up the whole house on one circuit, the Loxone system is zoned so that heat is not diverted to rooms that are not being used. It all comes down to programming how the property is making use of its energy and diverting the energy to where its required the most. Integrators need to think very carefully about how people use their houses, while also making intelligent use of how that house is occupied.

Start with the basicsThe best and simplest way to start being energy smart using technology is by automating the basics, which not only makes the homeowners life easier, but also makes it more energy efficient without really trying. The aim of home automation is to facilitate processes at home in a smart way, while serving to individual taste, says Borg. You can start being more energy efficient by monitoring, controlling and programming your heating, ventilation, lighting and home entertainment systems.

Something as simple as motion sensors and PIRs can make a big difference when conserving energy in the home. With many of them being battery-less, its an even better solution to install into peoples homes.

Connected things allow people to easily automate tasks that were once manual, and this automation allows for objects to easily follow schedules or occupants based on sensing technologies, explains Chris LaPr, solutions architect, Zigbee Alliance. For example, using motion features of smart thermostats and switches, temperatures can be lowered or lights turned off when rooms are deemed unoccupied. Gone are the days when people waste energy by leaving lights or devices on when leaving a room or the house.

Taking advantage of greener methods of creating power, Zigbee Alliance has a feature called Green Power, which allows battery-less devices to quickly join Zigbee PRO networks. These types of sensors that dont rely on batteries are extremely eco-friendly and keep waste out of landfills, LaPr says. Rather than relying on batteries, smart switches can be powered using energy resources that are often overlooked such as motion, light or vibration.

For example, Green Power takes advantage of the energy thats used to flip a light switch. That tiny burst of energy is actually powerful enough to send on/off commands to a wireless network, removing the need to use batteries. Today, we primarily see Green Power integrated into smart homes via smart switches, which can often be an easy retrofit option to have a switch wherever its desired.

Built around energy harvesting wireless technology, EnOcean also creates battery-less solutions for an eco-friendly home. Johnson agrees that sensors are a vital element of an eco-friendly home. EnOcean creates a sensor that is positioned near a window. It then senses that the window is open and doesnt allow the heating to be turned on until the window is closed. In Europe, and especially in Germany, thats common place. But in the UK, the amount of buildings you go into where the windows are open and the heating is on, its madness and it shouldnt be allowed to happen. Using a simple window contact that links back to an actuator on the boiler for example, means that if someone opens a window, it automatically turns the heating off. Its common sense when you think about it, but we are slow to adopt it in the UK.

Johnson also suggests that another basic and inexpensive thing to do is to have an ALL ON/OFF switch near the front door or near a bedroom for night use. This can be programmed to control everything that does not need to be on when youre not home or asleep realistically, anything other than the fridge freezer and security alarm as a simple way of turning all appliances off, rather than leaving them on standby.

From an integrators perspective, these solutions are not particularly expensive and it may not be a huge money maker, but these small and simple changes make ethical sense. It also opens the market up to the middle and lower ends, which could in turn increase your business.

Set it and forget itAs previously mentioned, despite containing a lot more technology, smart homes are naturally more eco-friendly and energy efficient than an un-smart home. LaPr agrees with this and thinks the set it and forget it system is the reason why.

He states: Evolving smart technologies brings a host of new possibilities to not only make humans more efficient with their energy use, but more efficient with their time around the home too. The ability to create rules such as, turn the light off in room after 30 minutes of no motion or, turn down the thermostat when an area is unoccupied for 30 minutes can reduce energy waste.

Adrian Brown's energy monitor shows how much energy is produced through solar panels.

Smart shades offer another option to save energy by automatically raising and drawing shades depending on the weather, temperature inside or outside, or time of day. This ability to set it and forget it delivers rewards in both energy savings, comfort and an overall satisfying smart home experience. Leveraging the convenience of your phone and the cloud, consumers can check on devices, or be alerted, and adjust accordingly. These are things you cannot do in a non-connected home.

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a big part in energy efficient smart homes, and again, is more appealing to the lower ends of the market as a more affordable, off-the-shelf solution that can help them to reduce energy waste. This is also something that the government has recognised, hence the roll out of smart meters. Although smart meters wont necessarily save you energy and money, it does make homeowners more aware of what they are using.

The benefits of IoT in terms of sustainability and efficiency has increased greatly over the last 20 years, explains Borg. Our devices now communicate with each other as we communicate with them. This growth in connectivity is only expected to increase.

The home automation market is currently considered to be in an early high development growth stage, which is forecasted to grow by a further 50 per cent between 2019 and 2023. The government has also officially signed the Net Zero target, which is to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

She continues: There is over 400 million to be invested in public and private buildings, which includes the smart meters program and other innovations bringing energy efficient solutions to the residential space. While the government is publishing policies, investing in infrastructure development and technology is key to be part of this social change.Europe vs. USDont worry, this isnt going to become a political debate! But there is a point to be made that energy prices across Europe are a lot higher than in the US. That might sound like a bad thing to us on this side of the pond but it actually encourages consumers across Europe to invest in smart home technology to make it cheaper for themselves.

According to LaPr: Right now there is a dichotomy between Europe and America. Europeans pay three times as much for energy as the US, so an investment in smart devices for energy savings has a higher return of investment (ROI) for homeowners.

We have all heard Trumps fake news claims about climate change, but all the while the American government are subsidising energy costs, consumers are not encouraged to think about solutions to create a more energy efficient solution.

In countries like the US, the government subsidises much of the energy costs and Americans dont feel the savings impact right now, continues LaPr. If the subsidising stops for any reason in the future and energy prices skyrocket, Americans would probably become more aware and interested in smart energy device investments within their homes.

Statistics from the last few years show that Germany usually pays the most in Europe in energy costs. However it has one of the highest levels of energy efficiency in Europe, according to a 2018 KfW Research report.

Supporting this, Stokes explains how sonnen works in the country: In Germany, we digitally connect the households with each other, so that the surplus of energy which is not needed or stored by the households themselves can be shared with other households in the sonnenCommunity. The remaining grid electricity in return that the household cannot produce itself also comes from renewable energy sources. In recent years, the largest decentralised energy-sharing platform in the world has thus been grown.

We also use a virtual power plant to offer the available storage capacity of the digitally networked sonnenBatteries as a buffer for the power grid. This way, fluctuations in the production of renewable energy can be balanced out in a matter of seconds.

Regional variationsThe UK is also playing a big part in the race to being green, although more can be done. Sonnen recognises the fact that each country has different needs and policies. In principle, it is possible for a household to have its own energy supply with a PV system and a storage system all over Europe, explains Stokes. However, the regulations on the energy market are different in each country, so we adapt our offering.

In addition to Germany, we already have virtual power plants from decentralised home storage systems in Italy and the UK. In the UK we are working with Centrica as part of the local energy management project as well as with a wide range of other forward thinking companies.

One of the biggest things stopping people having smart energy in their homes is the cost, and many say that the government should be doing a lot more to utilise the technology and expertise to help in the fight against climate change.

Theres a lot in the news at the moment about climate change and I think its becoming more and more urgent that we do something, states Brown. As a tech industry, we should be taking the lead in harnessing technology in the best possible way, not just in this country but around the world, to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and make the best of renewables. I think technology can do that.

He continues: I think the government can do a lot more in helping the industry. We decided to install solar panels last summer because we knew that on the 1st October 2019, the VAT on renewables was going to increase from five per cent to 20 per cent. By very stark contrast, fossil fuels coal, oil, etc the VAT was going to stay the same. That doesnt give people an incentive to invest in technology to make their homes more eco-friendly. I strongly believe that the government could do a lot more and reverse that; either reduce the VAT back to where is was or abolish it altogether and put high VAT rates on coal and oil.

Reddy agrees but also thinks builders should play a part too. He states: Although we work with various departments to ensure the technology is considered for government projects, we would certainly like to see the government driving this change. We would welcome a change in legislation so all new builds and rewires have to include an element of control. People are more conscious of the environment and are always looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Homeowners are also becoming more aware and accepting of technology and the benefits it can bring. In the future, I see home automation systems being installed as standard by developers alongside smart appliances.

Stokes thinks the investment in self-sufficient energy supplies is worthwhile. A current generation sonnenBatterie can be used for up to 20 years and a PV system for more than 30 years. In Germany, the investment is paid off after 9-12 years for the average household. After that, they produce and use their clean electricity free of charge.

He continues: There are regional subsidy programmes that provide financial support for investing in own energy supplies. The background to such government support is often that storage is the key technology for a successful energy transition in every country. This is because they can balance out fluctuations in the production of wind and solar energy in a matter of seconds and thus make renewable energy suitable for base load to some extent.

Old habits die hardThe move to have more smart energy in homes is definitely beginning to happen. It needs more development, investment and education but its certainly starting to take some sort of shape. Our everyday devices and utilities are now being built with energy saving features or some sort of intelligence to make it more eco-friendly and efficient.

Johnson points out: I think a lot of appliances going forward will have some sort of intelligence built in. Appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, fridge freezers and so one will become intelligent and turn themselves on or off depending on when they are most likely to be used, for example.

He also thinks that old habits die hard and we need to work harder to educate consumers about home automation and the environment. Ultimately, I think cost will always hold people back. We are also very traditional in the way we wire houses so I think anyone who tries to divert too much away from the standard system that we have got will probably struggle because we are frightened of change. If we can use an existing system and just stick bits on to make it intelligent, I think thats probably the way to go. Maybe in the future, houses will be wired totally different, but history would say probably not; we have been doing it this way for 50-60 years. I think the way forward is sticking things to the end that will make it intelligent, I dont think anything will change with regard to that.

However, technology companies are recognising the issues and finding ways they can make a difference. Many are entering into partnerships to create new innovations that will make new technologies that are energy efficient.

Apart from the legislation driving home energy automation, 24 of the largest and most innovative electrotechnical manufacturing companies, including Schneider Electric, are announcing a major commitment to reduce their emissions to net zero by 2050, Borg admits. This is an industry-wide campaign and will influence market trends of the future.

Ultimately, as Borg says: To reduce the effects of climate change, home automation will become a serious requirement, rather than being a luxury investment.

Original post:
Saving the planet one smart home at a time - HiddenWires

Issued on: 09/04/2020 - 03:44

Rio de Janeiro (AFP)

There are no good options these days in City of God.

Venture out in this densely populated Rio de Janeiro favela, and residents risk exposing themselves to coronavirus.

Stay in, and many have nothing to eat.

The Brazilian slum rose to fame in 2002, when an acclaimed film of the same name chronicled the violence, crime and stark choices facing young people growing up on its streets.

"If you run, the beast will get you. If you stay, the beast will eat you," went the film's tagline.

It could just as well apply to the era of COVID-19.

Like 40 percent of Brazil's labor force, people in favelas tend to work in the informal sector, the kind of jobs that become impossible under the stay-at-home measures adopted to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

"A lot of them are self-employed. They style hair, give manicures, collect cans to recycle, guard people's cars, sell things at the beach," says Samantha Messiades, founder of a charitable organization called Ligacao Cultural (Cultural Connection).

"All these people have lost their income. And they urgently need help," she says, wearing a pink face mask as she watches workers hand out food to needy residents in the slum of 37,000 people.

- A shadow of itself -

Rio de Janeiro is a shadow of itself under coronavirus isolation measures. A hush reigns over its usually jam-packed streets, and authorities have closed non-essential businesses, as well as the city's iconic beaches and tourist attractions.

That means hard times for the 1.5 million people who live in favelas -- a quarter of the city's population.

Messiades originally launched her organization to bring music, theater, dance and other cultural opportunities to children in City of God.

But now she has reinvented it as a food pantry to help people get through the coronavirus crisis.

It is supplying food, soap and basic hygiene supplies to 800 families, thanks to donations from churches, associations and private citizens.

"This is very important and valuable to people here," says Monica Oliveira da Silva, a cleaner among those waiting in a closely-packed line, many with babies and young children.

"The poor have no income and no savings. My children aren't working because they can't. They work in transportation. Everyone needs help," says Maria de Fatima Santos, a retiree.

Favela residents are also living in fear of the destruction a big outbreak could bring to their crowded, under-served communities.

On a street outside the community center where workers handed out boxes of food, a banner gives the global death toll and urges: "Stay home and save lives."

City of God has confirmed only one case of the new virus so far, authorities say.

2020 AFP

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Coronavirus adds to struggles in City of God favela - RFI

Tuesday has brought another welcome rise across global stock markets. The FTSE 100 is up by triple-digits as I type as infection rates slow and there are hopes that the world economy might not be hit as badly as first feared.

It still pays to dig out top defensive shares to protect your portfolio though. Those with resilient profits that should be able to ride out the worst of the coronavirus crisis. A growth hero with such characteristics Id be happy to buy today is Homeserve (LSE: HSV). And fresh financials released today illustrate why.

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Profits have been powering higher at the emergency callout specialist despite severe Covid-19-related lockdowns in many of its territories. Homeserve says that adjusted pre-tax profits are expected to have soared 12% during the fiscal year to March 2020, to 181m. This is also above analysts expectations.

The FTSE 250 growth stock continues to operate resolutely despite the coronavirus crisis. It has resisted the temptation to either furlough or make redundant its employees, it said. Around 6,000 of its office-based workers are now operating from home, while its emergency repair teams continue to answer around 150 callouts every hour.

The safe-haven appeal of utilities stocks is no secret. It doesnt matter how badly the economy is performing or whatever political chaos is raging. It also matters not whether other crises like public health disasters are developing. We all need running water to wash, electricity to boil the kettle and gas to put the heating on. And this keeps profits rising at these growth heroes. Its what makes the likes of FTSE 100 giants National Grid and Severn Trent such brilliant buys for turbulent times like these, I feel.

Its clear, too that Homeserve can be added to the list. If your plumbing is blocked or leaking, your boiler is kaput, or your homes wiring system shorts out, this companys services remain in demand, whatever troubles are going on outside.

The essential nature of its services has helped keep annual earnings barrelling higher at Homeserve in recent times. But this is not the only story. Through a steady stream of acquisitions and partner agreements, customer numbers continue to boom, rising by 100,000 year-on-year to stand at 8.3m as of March. It is making huge waves in the gigantic North American marketplace in particular. Its client base here swelled to 4.4m from 4m over the same period.

City analysts expect earnings at the growth stock to rise 8% in fiscal 2021, and by 15% the following year. And this creates expectations of more meaty dividend growth, resulting in yields of 2.2% and 2.5% for this year and next. It might be expensive on paper, sure. At current prices Homeserve commands a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26.1 times. I consider this to be a fair price considering its exceptional defensive characteristics and ambitious growth plans, however.

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Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Homeserve. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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Here's a growth stock I'd buy and hold for 10 years - Motley Fool UK

What You Should Know:

Scammers may be trafficking counterfeit or faulty protective equipment (PPE) duringCOVID-19 in what is now known as the grey market.

Premier outlines five common types of COVID-19 grey market scams for hospitals to avoid and key best practices to avoid them as hospital brace for the surge in COVID-19 patients.

Healthcare providers are working around the clock to safelycare for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,and the last thing they need to worry about is whether their protectiveequipment (PPE) are reliable, safe and legitimate. Premier, a healthcare improvementcompany finds that scammers are now preying on hospitals by peddling counterfeitor faulty PPE includingsurgical masks, face shields, surgical gloves and gowns, isolation gowns, capsand shoe covers.

Defining Grey Market

Premier defines gray market as a supply channel that isunofficial, unauthorized or unintended by the original manufacturer. In marketswhere the products are scarce or in short supply, gray markets may crop up to sellthe item at any price the market will bear. In the case of COVID-19, where morethan 2,000 unique stock-keeping units (SKUs) are on allocation fromdistributors, gray market vendors are attempting to capitalize on providersneeds, offering difficult to obtain supplies at a 50X markup.

According to a survey of our members, 60 percent of facilities have received at least one of these offers, and Premier itself has received hundreds of these solicitations. Regardless of the form, these scams typically end with providers losing time, money and/or resources. Others find themselves the recipients of substandard or unsafe products if they receive anything at all.

5 Common Types of COVID-19 Grey Market Scams

Premieroutlinethe following five common types of COVID-19 grey market scams for hospitals:

1. Pay ahead.A broker requests and receives a deposit from hospitals for PPE such as medical-grade N95 masks. After wiring the funds, the broker vanishes, ceasing all communications.

2. One certificate, infinite masks.Multiple brokers have suggested they have millions (upon millions) of masks and all point to the same fraudulent certification documents.

3. Or just infinite masks.One broker reached out to Premier with the promise of a number of masks so high, that when we called the manufacturer to check the claim, we were told that it would have taken years of dedicated, international production without a single sale to reach that kind of stockpile.

4. Product exists, but it doesnt work.Weve had members pay for and receive products, as advertised, only to learn that the entire batch has to be discarded after they fail basic quality and authenticity tests.

5. Welcome to their humble abode.Solicitations sometimes come with an address. A quick Google Earth check will show that more often than not, the address isnt for a factory, a warehouse or even an office. Its usually home. That should serve as a warning that the product being offered is illegitimate if it even exists.

4 Best Practices for Hospitals to Avoid COVID-19 Grey Market Scams

In order for hospitals to avoid these common COVID-19 grey market scams, Premier recommends the following best practices:

1. Demand access to the physical item before paying for it.Not only does this require the seller to send proof that the item exists, it also allows an opportunity to vet the product through a trusted partner like Premier or the manufacturer to confirm its legitimacy.

2. Do homework on parties involved.Google their addresses, check with peers or Premier on the legitimacy of goods theyve delivered and ask questions. Err on the side of caution and be skeptical; if the seller has trouble answering questions or seems cagey in responses, walk away immediately.

3. Thoroughly vet vendors,including checking registrations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Be wary of links embedded in email offers, which could be aphishing cyber scam.

4. Take monetary precautions.For those that choose to buy, at a minimum provide funds via an escrow account to avoid theft.

The rest is here:
5 Common Types of COVID-19 Grey Market Scams for Hospitals to Avoid - HIT Consultant

Bobby Berk may not be home, but hes making the most of his situation.

Today, the Queer Eye starcaught up with Daily Pops Justin Sylvester over Instagram Live. While chatting about the current Coronavirus pandemic, the famed interior designer confirmed hes sheltering-in-place in Austin, TX.

Why? Well, as Berk explained, his Netflix show was down in the Lone Star State filming season six when everything began shutting down.

So, we were here filming season sixand we got through almost one episode when production got shut down, Berk shared with Sylvester. Me and a few of the other boys just decided to stay here, because we didnt really know how long we were gonna be shut down.

In hindsight, Berk said he feels like he maybe shouldve head home. Nonetheless, Berk couldnt be happier in Austin, a city which he really like[s]. In fact, per Berk, the rental hes in looks and feels like my house.

It probably helps that Berks husband Dewey Do is social distancing with him in Austin. As Berk noted, his doctor spouse had been in New York for work and Queer Eyes design expert demanded he come to Texas.

He went to New York for work. Hes a doctor, he goes back and teaches at Elmhurst Hospital once a month, Berk detailed. He was supposed to be there a week longer and I made him leave and come here to Austin. So, hes been here with me, which is great. Luckily, we werent quarantined separately.

As E! readers surely know, Berk and Do have been together for 16 years. Thus, it wasnt surprising when Berk said he didnt have any qualms about being with his spouse all day, every day.

His advice? Fight the pressure to constantly be engaged, its ok to sit in silence.

As for what people can do in their homes during this time? Berk encouraged viewers to organize and clean.

Organize it! Clean it! You know, you dont need to buy anything to do that, Berk wisely expressed. Get rid of the stuff that you dont need, go through those drawers and those closets and under the bed. All those things that youre like, Ah! One day when I have time, Im gonna do that! All you have is time now.

However, if you are looking for inspiration, be sure to check out BobbyBerk.com!

Be sure to catch Berks full chat with Sylvester on the Daily Pops Instagram account, which you can find HERE.

Read the original:
Queer Eye's Bobby Berk Reveals the One Thing You Should Be Doing at Home - Brinkwire