Preparing the Grid to Deal with the Heat

Preparing the Grid to Deal with the Heat Preparing the Grid to Deal with the Heat Preparing the Grid to Deal with the HeatMany areas of the US and the world in general have experienced periods of hotter-than-usual weather recently, but how those changes will affect the electricity grid within urban areas hasnt really been studied.Until now.As it stands, urban energy grids face significant challenges and uncertainties, including the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves and droughts, says Kristen Cetin, an assistant professor of construction engineering at Iowa State University. No one wants another blackout, much less the specter of commonplace blackouts as grids become overloaded in hot weather.To help cities prepare for increased demand on the electric grid, researchers at two universities recently began collecting and consolidating electricity-use data from areas close to their homes, Cetin says. Shes the principal investigator on the project.In August, researchers at bo th Iowa State and the University of Texas-Austin began sampling consumer data from municipalities in Des Moines, IA, and Austin, TX.The researchers models bring together disparate sources, including historical observations. Cetin and her fellow researchers have collected about 60 years of historical weather data for the areas studied as well as current global and regional climate models.Kristen Cetins research on energy production would impact power plants during times of peak usage. Image Kate Tindall / Iowa State UniversitySynthesizing the data should help them understand what the weather will be like in these locations in the future.You can look at different emission scenarios of the future that have been developed and understand what weather would be like for different locations, Cetin says.Then, theyll produce climate models of extreme conditions those areas could face, she says. The models will depict how an areas power plants will be affected by weather in the future.While cl imate models exist on a national and global scale, few climate models have been created for smaller, more specific areas such as cities. But cities experience unique climate anomalies. Urban heat islandslarge, paved areasdemonstrate how parts of a city can experience vastly different temperatures, Cetin says.The models the researchers will build with the information theyve collected can give a citys energy providersthe types of information they need to make plans for their grids, she adds.A challenge that cities face when you have these extreme weather events is trying to maintain reliability of the electric grid, Cetin says. If youve got uncertainties associated with certain scenarios, theres a higher risk of there being an issue with your grid.Utilities must balance electricity production and consumption at all times, she says. And for that, they need to be prepared for how to respond to times of peak use. If you have higher energy consumption and lower production thats where ther es an issue, she adds. The teams findings and the models they create could significantly impact the way cities and electric utility operators manage electric grids in extreme heatand drought, Cetin says.Utility companies could use the models as an assessment tool to look at the issues they anticipate happening and what they need to plan for, she adds.Todays electrical providers use a system called demand response that adjusts the demand for power rather than the power supply. One of the demand-response techniques involves building owners allowing the electric company to remotely operate thermostats in return for reduced energy costs. During times of peak energyuse, utilities can remotely turn up the thermostat for a certain amount of time.After the researchers city models are complete, a second stage of the project will allow utilities to simulate different demand response scenarios in response to climate forecasts, Cetin says. The utilities can then choose ahead of time how to resp ond to peak energy use, and to heat that could last for longer periods of time than it does now.Utilities may look at raising rates during peak times to discourage energy use, for example.Or maybe theyd look at energy storage, where they store some of the energy prior to peak time and use it to cool the building where they want to consume less electricity form the grid, she adds.Maybe if a utility company was going to raise rates during peak-use times, that would change how a building owner would operate their building.Prof. Kristen Cetin, Iowa State UniversityWhile the project starts with Des Moines and Ames, Cetin hopes models like these will be created for other cities across the United States, Cetin adds.And because Cetins work in general focuses on building and construction, shes thought about how the models will impact building owners as well as utility operators.Maybe if a utility company was going to raise rates during peak-use times, that would change how a building owner w ould operate their building, Cetin says.Utilities cant shy away from the problem of prolonged periods of heat. It needs to be addressed head on. And simulation and modeling gives energy companies a tool to do just that.Jean Thilmany is an independent writer. For Further Discussion

Conformity Assessment Shows Support to Certificate Holders thr...

Conformity Assessment Shows Support to Certificate Holders thr... Conformity Assessment Shows Support to Certificate Holders thr... Conformity Assessment Shows Support to Certificate Holders through Certification 360 WorkshopsASMEs Conformity Assessment department will host three ASME Certification 360 Workshops (go.asme.org/cert360) in 2016. The first will be offered in Shanghai, China (go.asme.org/cert360shanghai), on April 11 and 12, to be followed by workshops in Columbus, Ohio, from Aug. 9 to 12, and Bergamo, Italy, from Sept. 26 to 30.Intended for ASME certificate holders, authorized inspection agencies, government agencies, and companies that are interested in becoming certified, the workshops have been designed to help attendees understand the certification and renewal process, interact with ASME Conformity Assessment representatives, and network with certificate holders and others in the field who are dedicated to ensuring public safety. The workshops also offer attend ees the opportunity to learn the roles of the major players in the certification process and to enhance their standing within the certification community. We created these workshops because we value our certificate holders and want to provide them better support and guidance in the areas where they live, said ASME Director of Auditing and Inspection Paul Lang. Its important that we work together to apply ASME best practices, efficiency, and sustainability - with the overall goal of enhancing public safety.The program for the Certification 360 Workshop in China, to be held at the Parkyard Hotel Shanghai, will be comprised of three sessions an informational session, ASME Standards and You a second session consisting of three workshops addressing requirements for welding and non-destructive evaluation, boilers and pressure vessels, and the ASME Section III Nuclear Code and a final segment concentrating on the conformity assessment process. For more information and to reg ister, visit http//go.asme.org/cert360shanghai. Workshops will be customized according to issues relevant at each particular geographical region. For more information on the ASME Certification 360 Workshop program, visit http//go.asme.org/cert360 or contact Bibi W. Rahim, manager, Conformity Assessment Operations, at (212) 591-7575 or by e-mail at caasme.org.

When to Submit DOC or PDF Resumes

When to Submit DOC or portable document format ResumesWhen to Submit DOC or portable document format ResumesYou see the selection offered on almost every online job application,Submit yourresume as a DOC or PDF.Most people have a copy of both a DOC and PDF resume. You probably do as well, so how do you know which one is best to submit?The answer is a little more complicated than most realizeReasons for submitting a PDF resumeA PDF resume removes the possibility of your resume accidentally being altered by unknown parties during the application process. You do not want to give strangers the ability to edit all the hard work you put into your resume. This way, people who receive your resume will get the polished resume you want them to see all of the time. In addition, a PDF resume will guarantee the formatting and design of your resume will remain unchanged.Reasons for submitting a DOC resumeIt is hard to argue with any reasoning based on fear of what strangers might do with your resu me, but there are reasons to use DOC files, too.Most importantly, applicant tracking systems have an easier time scanning all the words in DOC files. Some ATS software may have a difficult time scanning your PDF file, which means your PDF resume may fail to reach an actual person. Of course, as software improves this will no longer be an issue but for now, the problem still exists. Only about 80% of all ATS software can handle PDF while nearly 100% can handle DOC files.ConclusionIt is a good idea to have a PDF and DOC version of your resume. PDFs will be better for sending to people you know, will be virus-free and much better looking in format than a DOC file. PDFs are great resumes to send to referrals and they will look the same each time.A DOC file is a better choice when using online applications that will go through an ATS of some kind. You want to make sure all the important keywords are scanned properly. DOC files are also size-friendly for those online job application websi tes that have size limits on file attachments. If your PDF is too big, it is great to have the same resume on DOC. At the end of the day, you are going to need both because finding work requires a combination of networking with people and applying through online job applications.

Flexible Work Schedules Are the Future - The Muse

Flexible Work Schedules Are the Future - The MuseFlexible Work Schedules Are the FutureSeveral months ago, I was talking to a college senior about her career plans. She wanted a job with flexible hours, and I asked why. The young woman said she wanted the freedom to take a short nap right after lunch when her energy flagged the most and the ability to work late at night when her brain was sharpest.If I had made a comment like this when looking for my first job 16 years ago, I would have been laughed out of the room. But coming from a college student today, the request doesnt sound all that strange. According to a new study by Bentley University, 77% of Millennials say that flexible work hours would make the workplace more productive for people their age. Given their comfort with digital technology that allows them to work anytime and anywhere, this statistic hardly comes as a surprise. But as the Millennial generation becomes the majority, we can expect flex time and telecommuting to become a common workplace practice rather than a special privilege.In fact, by around 2030, the Millennial majority will likely have done away with the 9-to-5 workday entirely. Here are four key reasons why Millennials will insist that flex-work hours happen sooner rather than later. 1. Work-Family BalanceLeslie Doolittle, assistant dean and director of academic support services at Bentley University, has found that work doesnt define Millennials as much as it does older generations. Doolittle says family, friends, and making a difference in the community are more central to Millennials than they are to older people. Given this, demands on Millennials personal time are bound to increase as they balance work commitments with raising young children. And, as they are closely connected to their parents, they are likely to be personally involved in caring for them as they age. The trade-off, of course, is catching up on email at 10 PM or finishing a project on a Saturday morning to make up the time, but in my experience, thats one that most Millennials are fine with making. 2. Continuing Skills EducationAccording to research conducted by The Hartford, 50% of Millennials desire training and development from their employer. And companies are listening. Bersin by Deloitte said that U.S. spending on corporate training grew by 15% in 2013 (the highest growth rate in seven years).In addition, many companies are fulfilling the Millennial desire for experience-hopping through leadership rotation programs that allow them to test out different areas of a company. The renowned General Electric rotation program is a great example, which allows young employees to experience various functions within GE, such as finance, sales, manufacturing, and engineering. In any case, Millennials will be spending time taking classes and working additional jobs to skill up, and some of this activity is bound to occur during the classic workday.3. The Disappearing Corporate OfficeBy 2030, prof essionals will work mostly from home using super-fast data terminals. Most companies will have nixed their permanent physical office locations in favor of chains of interconnected hubs with different plans for individuals to access space. Meetings will routinely occur virtually and across geographies and time zones, rendering air travel to visit clients or partners unnecessary. And if the office isnt necessary- why are set office hours?4. The (Companys) Bottom LineThe fact is, Millennials are right- flexible work hours do make employees more productive. Research by Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom found that working remotely increases productivity, overall work hours, and employee satisfaction. Over a nine-month period, Bloom observed 250 employees at Ctrip, a Chinese travel website. Half of the employees worked from home, and half worked in the office. Turns out, removing the time it takes to physically commute to work and the distractions of the in-office environment made a huge difference The telecommuters completed 13.5% more calls than the office workers, performed 10% more work overall, left the company at half the rate of people in the office, reported feeling more fulfilled at work, and saved the company $1,900 per employee.Evolving to a Flexible WorkplaceWere not there yet- so what will the transition look like? My guess is that well start with easier to swallow flex-work arrangements, such as job-sharing (two employees split the workload and time commitments of one 40-hour per week job), day shifting (some employees work from 7 AM to 3 PM while others work from 10 AM to 6 PM), and on-peak/off-peak work schedules (employees work more hours during their busy season and vice versa). In the meantime, more and more people will convince their bosses the let them work from home one or more days a week.With Millennial employees entering the workforce in droves, the momentum behind making flex-work a reality for all will grow. Is your company ready?Photo of man with computer courtesy of Shutterstock.

This is exactly how much coffee Kelly Ripa drinks before her very long day

This is exactly how much coffee Kelly Ripa drinks before herbei very long dayThis is exactly how much coffee Kelly Ripa drinks before her very long dayIt is one thing to get up in the morning, be half-asleep during your commute (hopefully you arent driving) and then waddle into work and not speak to anyone (grunting suffices) until youve had four cups of coffee. But what if your job literally required you to be perky in the morning? Well, thats exactly what Kelly Ripa has had to do for the last since 2001 when she became the co-host of the morning show staple LiveShe is there to wake viewers up both in the audience and at home and get them pumped for their day. And she does it so well as she is beloved by audiences for her wit, sense of humor and boundless energy.So how does she do it? Does she just hook herself up to a coffee IV the minute she wakes up every morning (at 530 mind you)? Does she use a magic potion? Well, according to a revealing interview with The Cut, it is a little bit of both. After waking up at 530 or 6 Ripa says, I make a Bullet Coffee at home in the morning - its coffee, two shots of espresso and a tablespoon of ghee and then a packet of collagen powder.Ryans Seacrest girlfriend got me hooked on it and I just sort of believe that if I drink it every day, my hair will be as thick as hers, Ripa said. Then I blend it all together and have this frosty thick beverage. I have a Starbucks latte when I get toLive.Then I will have a half a coffee after the show wraps.Why this combination of coffee? Its perfect for a long, jam-packed morning. Dave Asprey, Founder and CEO ofBulletproof, told Ladders If youve been drinking Bulletproof Coffee for a while, you know the impact that it has on your energy levels and mental focus. Combining medium-chain triglycerides likeourBrain Octane Oil with other liquids increases its fat-burning effects. Caffeine also increases your bodys ability to burn fat for energy, making coffee and Brain OctaneOila formidable te am. The fats from the grass-fed butter and Brain OctaneOilalso slow the absorption of the caffeine, giving you a gentler, steadier dose of energy throughout the morning. No napsSo that is a lot of caffeine, but her day is hardly over after the taping wraps. Ripa serves as executive producer of the show now as well so the rest of her day is spent in production meetings. She also regularly exercises, keeping the 48-year-old is in tip-top physical shape. Her workout regime is a mixture of AKT (cardio-based dance), SoulCycle and running.I was talking to a cardiologist and he said to make sure your heart beats out of your chest every day. The more you exercise, the healthier it is, she told The Cut.But what is her other hack for keeping up her energy levels throughout the day? No naps. Though some studies show that a short power nap can help improve your productivity levels, that is not the case for Ripa.I have a great energy level. I dont nap, and I fear that if I did nap it would proba bly make me stay awake all night, she said.

The Battle Over Entry Level Human Resources Resume and How to Win It

The Battle Over Entry Level Human Resurces Resume and How to Win It In the same way, the future will differ from what were practicing at this time. When its something that doesnt bother youor hinder your work performanceit might not be a huge deal. A proactive problem-solver and determined achiever whos searching for a chance to prove himself. There are many career tracks, and there are rarely two individuals who follow the same path. Entry Level Human Resources Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone A number of our entry-level human resources resume samples include hobby info, so if youre hesitant to include it, review the job posting youre applying to, so you may secure a better feel for if the corporation would view it as welcome info. To begin with, the amount of folks working in human resources is anticipated to grow during the next decade at a faster pace than other occupations. Use the thorough human resources job description that will help you with your human resources resum es. Human resource generalists handle all characteristics of the human resources department. A HR employer doesnt care you have five decades of experience as a ballet dancer. While its the case that theres a great deal of administrative work to be done, an HR Assistant does much mora Many HR departments utilize cloud based technology to control their employee records. HR is a profession thats best learned on-the-job. The Meaning of Entry Level Human Resources Resume Companies want to employ employees who understand their legal and ethical obligations to the geschftlicher umgang and its employees, which explains why discretion is a significant skill to improve your resume. In the majority of instances, human resources serves as an intermediary between the business and its employees. Recruiters always mention that finding the perfect candidate just by taking a look at the resume is tough. It is a chance to learn and to grow within the business. Make it simple to find out wh at a terrific Human Resources manager youre. Sales representatives must maintain great relationships with existing clients and cold-call prospective clients, which necessitates someone whos an excellent people person. If you are searching for a career in Human Resources than you may wish to assemble a resume that tells the employer just what you need to offer. Governors State University is an excellent place to do the job. For example below the description you are going to have to write that human resource manager has to manage all types of staffing. Be certain to include your last 3 places of employment, the amount of time you were employed there and their contact info. Not only do you have to manage all that for yourself, but you must help the remainder of the company deal with it also. If youre successful, they will surely learn more about the remainder of your resume and surely extend an invite for the all-important interview. Things You Wont Like About Entry Level Hum an Resources Resume and Things You Will It is critical to bring any certification you might have to the career objective section. If you get a high school diploma and would like to enter an internship program, acquiring a GED rating will help your case. Give us 7 minutes and you will find out how to compose a job-winning HR resume. Its crucial that you dont simply apply these resumes verbatim. Because most managers spend under a minute scanning your resume, make sure that the very first thing they read ties straight to the work description. Go right ahead and ask for several written recommendations so you may choose which ones are strongest and most best for your position. The career goal is the very first bit of information your prospective employer will find, so its important to come from the gate swinging. Furthermore, its important to bear in mind that many of entry-level jobs can be overwhelming initiallyyoure unlikely to be supplied plum assignments when starting out a nd it always requires some time to acquire the hang of things. Introducing Entry Level Human Resources Resume Thus the reverse chronological type is the greatest Human Resources Assistant resume format it is possible to utilize. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that may assist you with your work search. To get the best targeted results, you need to do efficient resume search. A simple erreichbar search will render results for the many OWLs that are available free of charge on the web.

Why You Should Have More than Free Lunches To Hire The Best Talent - Spark Hire

Why You Should Have More than Free Lunches To Hire The Best Talent - Spark HirePerks are a popular thing circulating work sekretariats across the globe these days. In fact, we just discussed how outside-the-box ideas can enhance your company culture and bring better talent your way. Who wouldnt want to bring Fido to hang out in the office all day? It may seem a bit odd, but offering great perks to your employees is becoming mora and more important. After all, if you dont offer anything creative to your prospects, its likely they will choose the company that does instead. To expand on that idea, lets take a look at a few things you can do for your employees, and prospective employees, to keep them on board and happy.Some companies think that offering free lunches for their employees is more than enough. This may be true, but you dont always have to spend a ton of money to keep your employees happy. At the top of your list should be activities and events that promote teamwork within yo ur office.TeamworkIf theres one thing you should know about young talent in the workforce these days, its that they love working in teams. Gen-Y, or Millenials, are a team-oriented generation. They love to collaborate and bounce ideas off one another. Therefore, sparking activities that incite teamwork is really important to them. A great way to hold onto great talent, and to bring more great talent in, is to be sure that collaboration in your office exists. Generation X, or the Baby Boomers, are way more content with working on their own and being left alone. To be sure, Millenials get their work done on their own but are seen collaborating with each other much more often and working together to generate even better ideas. Exuding this kind of team attitude in your company will likely bring in those talented Millenials you seek.Open-Space OfficeTo build upon the previous idea of working as a team, nothing spells boring and stifling more than cubicles. If you want to have a creative and open team that is constantly generating new, fresh ideas then its best to leave the cubicles in the box. Having an open work space where all of your employees can easily interact and communicate is much more effective than stuffy, talent draining cubes. If you take a look at the layout of some of the most successful and flourishing companies, they have their employees sitting together in a general, open space. The super successful startup Pinterest, for example, offered a peek into their offices in Palo Alto and showed that their open-space loft is the way to go.Break RoomOffering a relaxing place for your employees to unwind and chill-out for a short period of time can do wonders for morale. You can do this easily by having a simple break room. You dont have to go all out with leather couches and wide-screen TVs, but having a space to escape is somewhat necessary. Paint the walls a nice color and make sure its known that the space is for quiet time or for a nice recharge.Socia l EventsHaving monthly social events that involve the whole team/office is a great way to strengthen the bonds of your employees. People like to feel as though they are parte of something- whether it be an important project or just part of a team that works together towards a common goal. If you think about it, you see the same people every day all day when you come into the office. Its usually always in a work setting and everyone has their own goals to attend to. The atmosphere and general attitude of your office will change for the better if you can spend some time with these people outside of the office setting. Stronger bonds will be built and your employees will be much happier at work.So you see, all office perks dont necessarily have to be pricey. Sure, having a pool table or a foosball table in the office is an awesome perk, but you dont have to spend a ton of money to make your employees happy. If you actually have their best interests at heart and truly want to see them h appy, then making your office- and the work you have- look appealing shouldnt be so difficult.IMAGE Courtesy of Vitra