Success

Posts Tagged ‘Success’

Aquaponics Workshop Success Continues for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems,…

Posted by admin on May 3rd, 2013

Apopka, FL (PRWEB) May 03, 2013

Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. (PAES) recently held another successful Aquaponics Technology and Design Workshop at their 130,000 sq. ft. facility in Apopka, FL. The attendees traveled from far and wide to learn from the PAES staff and featured speakers Dr. James Rakocy, the “Father of Aquaponics,” and Dr. Wilson Lennard, famed Australian aquaponics expert. Yuqing Fan, an entomologist from Epcot® Science at Walt Disney World was a special guest, speaking at length about pest management and control methods for aquaponic farmers.

The four-and-a-half-day course included daily classroom learning and hands-on activities, a tour of Green Sky Growers, PAES’s rooftop aquaponics facility, and concluded with a tour of “The Land” at Epcot®.

Dr. Rakocy offered this statement about the workshops he helps conduct at PAES: “Teaching at the aquaponics course sponsored by [Pentair] Aquatic Eco-Systems (PAES) was a real treat for me because PAES employees have an incredible depth of experience and knowledge that they share with their students as they guide them through all phases of constructing and operating an aquaponic system to establish a successful hobby or business.”

The next Aquaponics Technology and Design Workshop has already been scheduled for November 5–9, 2013, and will be held at PAES’s Orlando-area location. Anyone interested in more information is asked to email PAES.General(at)Pentair(dot)com or call 877-347-4788 and speak to a customer service representative.

About Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems:

Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc. (PAES) of Apopka, FL, is the largest source of aquatic products and systems worldwide. Since it was founded in 1978, PAES has offered unmatched selection, service and solutions to the aquatic community. With over 13,000 products, PAES serves a variety of aquatic interests and industries, from aquaculture and lake management to aquariums and water gardens.

PR Contact: Mitch Manning – Office: 407-886-3939 ext. 191

###

Environment

ITS America’s 2013 Annual Meeting Declared a Major Success, Event Previews Global ITS World Congress to be held in Detroit from September 7-11, 2014

Posted by admin on April 24th, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s (ITS America) 23^rd
Annual Meeting & Exposition concluded today in Nashville, Tenn., with
all parties declaring it a major success. The event brought together
nearly 2,000 of the nation’s top transportation officials, business and
technology leaders, researchers and policymakers.

“We expect the Leadership
Circle to play a key role in influencing the national debate around how
to use technology to address our nation’s transportation challenges.”

Scott Belcher, President and CEO of ITS America, called the meeting one
of the best ever. “This year’s meeting fostered an incredible exchange
of ideas and solutions with levels of collaboration between private
sector and government that are rarely seen,” he said.

During the four-day event, transportation and technology leaders
explored solutions for easing traffic congestion, financing and
improving the nation’s transportation system, advancing life-saving
vehicle technologies, and much more through exhibits, panel discussions,
technology demonstrations, technical tours, training sessions and
networking events.

The event showcased innovative technologies and solutions being
developed and implemented across the U.S. including connected vehicles,
adaptive traffic signals, advanced traffic and incident management
systems, electronic tolling and pricing systems, freight management
systems, smart mobility apps, and real-time traffic, transit, navigation
and parking information.

This year’s Annual Meeting featured more public sector participation
than ever before, including nearly 20 state DOT CEOs and hundreds of
federal, state and local officials from across the country. As
governments at all levels are being asked to do more with less,
transportation leaders are increasingly turning to intelligent
transportation systems (ITS) to make the nation’s roads, public transit
systems and freight network more efficient and cost-effective, while
providing commuters and highway users with more convenient, innovative
travel options.

As has become a tradition at ITS America meetings, the gathering
featured a who’s who of transportation leaders from across the
innovation spectrum including:

Polly Trottenberg – Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, U.S.
Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT)
Victor Mendez – Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. DOT
David Strickland – Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, U.S. DOT
Greg Winfree – Deputy Administrator, Research and Innovative
Technology Administration, U.S. DOT
The Honorable Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Vice Chairman,
House Energy and Commerce Committee
The Honorable Karl Dean – Mayor, City of Nashville
Dan Ferrick – CEO, Agero
Kamyar Moinzadeh – President and CEO, Airbiquity
Tom Taylor – Vice President of Advanced Strategies, Hughes Telematics
(A Verizon Co.)
Dennis Beal – Vice President of Global Vehicles, FedEx Express
John Schroer – Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Transportation
Brad Dennard – National ITS Director, Atkins

The Annual Meeting also marks the first official gathering of the ITS
America Leadership Circle. The Leadership Circle is an important new
initiative with two main goals: to raise the level and creativity of the
intelligent transportation conversation and to unify the industry’s
political and business influence. “As our industry grows, it’s important
to foster disruptive conversation in order to generate space for
innovation to develop,” said Scott Belcher. “We expect the Leadership
Circle to play a key role in influencing the national debate around how
to use technology to address our nation’s transportation challenges.”

In September 2014, ITS America will host the global World Congress on
Intelligent Transport Systems to be held in the home of America’s auto
industry, Detroit, Mich. The event is expected to attract more than
10,000 industry, government and research leaders from the United States,
Europe and Asia and will showcase the latest ITS applications from
around the world.

The
Intelligent Transportation Society of America represents more than
450 member organizations including public agencies, private
corporations, and academic institutions involved in the research,
development, and deployment of technologies that improve safety,
increase mobility, and sustain the environment. For more information,
visit www.itsa.org.

Business Wire Environment News

After five years of success, CEPF commits $10 million more to Indo-Burma hotspot

Posted by admin on March 26th, 2013

Bengal Florican is one of the many species to benefit from CEPF investment in Indochina (Allan Michaud)

Five years ago, in response to the environmental crisis engulfing mainland South-East Asia, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) launched a $ 10 million grants programme to conserve the critical ecosystems of the Indo-Burma Hotspot.

The programme is guided by a strategy developed by hundreds of conservationists and researchers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, and coordinated by a Regional Implementation Team from BirdLife International.

Now grant recipients, donors and government partners from across the region have come together for a three-day workshop, to reflect on the lessons of the first five years, and look forward to an expanded second phase of investment.

To date CEPF has awarded more than 110 grants to international and national NGOs, universities, community groups and other types of civil society organisation. Collectively, the recipients of these grants have strengthened the management of conservation areas covering over 1.5 million hectares; established four new protected areas to fill key gaps in the region’s protected area system; integrated biodiversity-friendly management practices into production landscapes in the fisheries, forestry and agriculture sectors; and delivered tangible livelihood benefits to over 100 rural communities.

“Thanks to CEPF, the last five years have seen the emergence of a broader, more active and more confident conservation community in the Indo-Burma Hotspot”, said Jonathan C. Eames OBE, manager of BirdLife’s Regional Implementation Team. “We see local civil society most active in areas where international organisations are not, such as supporting livelihood-based conservation interventions, advocacy and education. Correspondingly, international organisations can be expected to play continued vital roles in applied conservation science and planning, capacities that local civil society organisations often lack and struggle to build.”

The second phase of CEPF funding will involve a geographic expansion to China and Myanmar, bringing the list of countries eligible for grants to six.

The list of CEPF-funded projects in Indo-Burma

Download the ecosystem profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot

CEPF is a joint program of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank.

BirdLife Community

English Heritage: Lyveden New Bield windfarm challenge a success

Posted by admin on March 8th, 2013

English Heritage, the National Trust and East Northamptonshire Council have been successful in their joint legal challenge against planning permission for a wind farm that would be built within one mile of a Grade I listed building and registered park and garden.

Had the planning permission remained in place, four 126.5 metre wind turbines would have been built within the setting of the Lyveden New Bield site.

Simon Thurley, English Heritage Chief Executive said “We are very pleased with the judgment. We brought our joint challenge because we felt the Planning Inspector’s decision did not strike a proper balance between the conservation of outstandingly important historic sites and wind energy. The effect of the proposed turbines on one of the most important, beautiful and unspoilt Elizabethan landscapes in England would be appalling. This is why we pressed this case. We very much welcomed the Government’s earlier concession that the decision lacked adequate reasoning and we now welcome the judgment that the Inspector failed to give ‘proper effect’ to the statutory duty to have special regard for the setting of listed buildings’. We very much hope that this will be the end of the matter.”

info4local Subject Documents

Three Choirs Vineyard – An English Wine Success Story

Posted by admin on January 31st, 2013

Gaze out of the window at Three Choirs Vineyard in Gloucestershire and you could easily be in Southern France, Western Australia or California. Three Choirs is the most awarded single estate wine producer in the UK. Originally the dream of wine lover Alan McKechnie, in 1972 he decided to transform his fruit farm into the thriving vineyard it is today. Now managed by Thomas Shaw, the vineyard has grown alongside England’s reputation for wine.

Three Choirs offers wine and food lovers a choice of overnight accommodation. Choose from the boutique ‘Vineyard’ hotel rooms adjacent to the restaurant and 3 stunning lodges that nestle amongst the vines. You can even enjoy a breakfast hamper on your doorstep each morning or a locally sourced barbeque pack from the restaurant in the summer months. The lodges boast under floor heating, roll top baths, and freshly ground coffee and homemade chocolates.

The restaurant run by General Manager Darren Leonard serves locally sourced, seasonal British dishes all year round; perfectly complemented by the range of Three Choirs wines. To the side of the restaurant is a newly installed log burner surrounded with inviting, luxurious armchairs.

The daily wine tours begin at the courtyard and saunter down to the vines, where you’ll learn about the rich history and different varieties of grape and growing method. Proceed to the winery where the different production methods for sparkling, white and red wine are explained with fascinating detail. The journey from grape to glass ends at the gift shop with an opportunity to sample three of Three Choirs’ finest.

There is also a vineyard audio and numerous nature trails on offer. Three Choirs Vineyard is the perfect base for a tranquil break to explore the nearby Cotswolds and step over the border in to Herefordshire to discover cider country.

www.threechoirs.com

-Ends-

For press information or to arrange a visit please contact Rachel Corcoran from Lily Pad PR

T: 0844 35 11 484 // 07791110910
E: [email protected]

*NOTES TO EDITORS

*English Wine Week is from June 2nd 2013

*The best time to visit is in March/April as the weather improves. The harvest begins around September.

*Wines produced at The Three Choirs are stocked in the UK by Waitrose and the Wine Society – amongst other smaller retailers.

*Whittington Brewery is also situated at the estate, producing premium beer and ale using locally sourced hops and traditional brewing methods.

*Low and high resolution photography from:
http://three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk/shopcontent.asp?type=pre…
Custom Release Wire

“Cans for Pets” Campaign Proving Great Success in Increasing Aluminum Pet Food Can Recycling Rate – and Aiding Homeless Pets

Posted by admin on January 19th, 2013

PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–During the first 10 weeks of the Cans for Pets recycling campaign animal
lovers in Western Pennsylvania have recycled more than 6,500 aluminum
pet food cans – and already raised several hundred dollars to aid
homeless animals at a local shelter.

“Cans for Pets is a simple concept, but it’s definitely a win-win for
everyone involved”

In celebration of the milestone, the campaign’s organizers – Alcoa
Foundation and Pennsylvania Resources Council – today presented a check
to the Animal Rescue League & Wildlife Center to support the shelter’s
efforts.

“Since the Cans for Pets campaign launched on November 1, concerned pet
owners have dropped off 6,500 clean, empty aluminum pet food cans at our
designated locations,” said PRC Regional Director Dave Mazza. “Through
the generous support of the Alcoa Foundation, a nickel for every
aluminum pet food can recycled is being donated to the Animal Rescue
League to aid animals in our area.”

After accepting the check, ARL Executive Director Dan Rossi stated, “The
Cans for Pets program is a great motivator for citizens and businesses
to get involved in an effort that will help thousands of animals and
enrich the lives of new adopting families. This first donation of $ 325
will provide funding for the shelter to purchase more than 450 cans of
pet food to feed the animals in our care.”

The Alcoa Foundation launched the Cans for Pets campaign in partnership
with PRC as a two-year effort to raise awareness while increasing the
total number of aluminum pet food cans recycled each year. According to
an industry survey, the recycling rates for aluminum pet food cans is
significantly less than that of aluminum beverage cans: a 20% rate for
pet food cans vs 65% rate for beverage cans.

“There’s no limit to how many times an aluminum pet food can may be
recycled, which means that an aluminum pet food can that someone
recycles today can be made into a new pet food can and be back on store
shelves in as little as 60 days,” according to Alcoa’s Director of
Corporate Communications, Kevin Lowery. “We see tremendous potential for
recycling aluminum pet food cans and hope that rinsing and saving these
containers soon becomes as routine as any other commitment to recycling.”

Individuals can drop off clean, empty aluminum pet food cans at the
following locations:

ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE SHELTER
6620 Hamilton Avenue,
Pittsburgh (East End)

ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE WILDLIFE CENTER
6000 Verona Road, Penn
Hills

PENNSYLVANIA RESOURCES COUNCIL
64 S. 14^th Street,
Pittsburgh (South Side)

THE DOG STOP
2858 Banksville Road, Pittsburgh (Banksville)

For hours of operation and maps to these collection sites, visit www.prc.org/petcan.

“Cans for Pets is a simple concept, but it’s definitely a win-win for
everyone involved,” according to Mazza. “Fluffy and Fido get to enjoy
their favorite meals, pet lovers get a chance to keep empty aluminum pet
food cans out of local landfills, and the Animal Rescue League receives
a nickel for every aluminum pet food can collected as part of this
project.”

Cans for Pets is made possible thanks to the generous support of the
Alcoa Foundation in partnership with PRC, Animal Rescue League Shelter &
Wildlife Center, Petco and the City of Pittsburgh.

PET FOOD CAN RECYCLING

The simple act of recycling aluminum pet food cans has tremendous
benefits:

Recycling one 3 oz aluminum pet food can saves enough energy to power
a 60-watt light bulb for over 2 hours.
Recycling one 5.5 oz. aluminum pet food can saves enough energy to
power a 30-inch (95W) TV for over 2 hours.
Recycling aluminum cans saves 95 percent of the energy used to make
aluminum cans from virgin materials.

ALCOA’s website: http://www.alcoa.com/recycling/en/info_page/why_recycle.asp

Energy saved from recycling one pound of aluminum could power an
average home for four days.
Aluminum is the most valuable material in the recycling bin. Although
by weight it is less than 2% of the USA’s recycled stream, aluminum
generates 40% of the revenue to sustain all recycling programs.
The United States is the world’s biggest consumer of aluminum cans,
but lags behind other industrialized nations in the percentage of
these cans that we recycle. Alcoa has a goal to help the U.S. raise
its recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans to 75% by 2015.

THE PENNSYLVANIA RESOURCES COUNCIL, established in 1939, is one
of the Commonwealth’s oldest citizen action environmental organizations.
Recognized as a state and national leader in waste reduction and
recycling, the remainder of PRC’s work focuses on litter and visual
blight prevention, watershed awareness, and composting. The strength of
PRC’s programs is derived from its continuing efforts to bring people,
businesses, and government together to prevent and solve environmental
problems. For more information, visit www.prc.org.

ALCOA FOUNDATION is one of the largest corporate foundations in
the U.S., with assets of approximately US$ 446 million. Founded 60 years
ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$ 570 million since 1952.
In 2012, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than US$ 21 million to
nonprofit organizations throughout the world, building innovative
partnerships, engaging its people to improve the environment and
educating tomorrow’s leaders. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further
enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers who share their
energy, passion and purpose to make a difference in the communities
where Alcoa operates. Through the company’s signature Month of Service
program, in 2012, a record 60 percent of Alcoa employees took part in
more than 1,050 events across 24 countries, reaching 36,000 children,
serving 13,000 meals, recycling 265,000 aluminum cans, and supporting
2,050 nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.alcoafoundation.com

THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF WESTERN PA’s mission is to
provide temporary shelter, food, medical attention, and comfort to all
abandoned, neglected and injured animals brought to us by the community;
to restore lost animals to their owners or seek new homes for them; and
to educate the public about the humane care of animals with a goal of
reducing overpopulation. For more information, visit www.animalrescue.org.

Business Wire Environment News

Success for the UK at EU fish negotiations

Posted by admin on December 21st, 2012

The UK Government has secured a deal that is good for both the health of our seas and the UK fishing industry at this year’s annual round of fisheries talks.

In negotiations that went through the night and into the morning, the UK managed to fight huge cuts to quotas across a number of different fish stocks. These proposed cuts, which the UK successfully pushed back against, were not backed up by scientific evidence, and could have contributed to an increase in the discarding of perfectly edible fish.

This positive news follows another major success, achieved during the first day of negotiations, when the UK successfully stopped a cut in the number of days that fishermen are allowed to spend fishing at sea.

Before these negotiations began, UK fishermen faced the prospect of having the number of days they could spend fishing cut by a quarter. However the UK government overturned this agreement, made as part of the Cod Recovery Plan. Scientific advice showed that these automatic reductions were only serving to increase cod mortality and discards, rather than help conserve stocks.

Without this agreement many fishermen would not have had the necessary time available to get to where cod fishing would prove most sustainable and may have been forced to target young fish closer to shore.

While the quota for cod in 2013 will be decided in January, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon will be arguing against the Commissions proposed 20% cut, and instead will be calling for the quota to be set based on scientific evidence to recover the stock by 2015 whilst also working to significantly reduce discards.

Speaking from Brussels, Richard Benyon, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, said:

“This has been my third year attending these frustrating negotiations and I am delighted that we were able to secure the best possible deal for the UK fishing industry.

“The current Cod Recovery Plan has failed to deliver. It was my one of my priorities to ensure that days at sea for fishermen would remain the same next year and that is exactly what has been achieved.

“I always enter these discussions clear in my mind that any decisions on quotas, or days spent at sea, need to be based on three clear principles; following scientific advice, fishing sustainability and the need for continued discard reduction. We stuck to these principles throughout.”

The UK also successfully negotiated a number of further concessions. These include:

Days at sea kept at 2012 levels rather than reduced.
Removed threat to continued success of the catch quota trial by taking away proposed restrictions on the movement of quota.
Fighting off large cuts to a number of important fish quotas, including data poor stocks, by providing sound scientific evidence to the Council including:

Celtic Sea: 55% cut to Haddock reduced to 15%
South West: 20% cut to Megrim avoided
West of Scotland: 40% cut to megrim reduced to 7%

Increased quotas for fishermen in many areas, including the following:

Channel: 26% Plaice; 6% Sole
West of Scotland & Irish Sea: 18% and 6% Nephrops
Celtic Sea: 29% Whiting
Irish Sea: 5% Herring

Defra News

Government secures success in fisheries negotiations

Posted by admin on December 18th, 2012

The UK Government has successfully stopped an automatic cut in quota for North Sea cod and the number of days that fishermen are allowed to spend at sea following negotiations in Brussels.

Fishermen were facing severe reductions to the amount of time they could spend at sea catching their quota as part of the Cod Recovery Plan. Additionally they were also facing automatic reductions in the amount of cod they could catch in the North Sea. The planned reductions would have threatened the livelihoods of UK fishermen and led to increased discards.

Following difficult negotiations in Brussels, the UK joined other Member States in agreeing to remove these unscientific automatic cuts and instead use the best available evidence to set quota levels and the amount of time fishermen can spend at sea.

Speaking from Brussels Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon said:

“I have been arguing for a long time that reducing the amount of time that fishermen have to catch their cod quota is bad for sustainability as it forces fishermen to catch closer to shore, often on spawning grounds.

“That is why this change is a major step forward as it will allow cod quota and the amount of time fishermen can spend at sea to be based on solid scientific evidence rather than an out of date plan.

“What we have negotiated today has removed the immediate threat of automatic reductions but we will continue to work with the EU Parliament to reform the broken Common Fisheries Policy.”

Defra News

Dow extends XENERGY insulation range after launch success

Posted by admin on November 7th, 2012

Dow Building Solutions has extended its range of XENERGY extruded polystyrene (XPS) products in response to industry interest.

XENERGY XPS combines the features of STYROFOAM XPS – durability, reliability and strength – with improved insulation performance, thanks to the addition of infra-red blocking particles to scatter and reflect heat radiation within the foam board.

XENERGY SL – designed for insulation of inverted flat roofs – was launched in spring 2012 as an extension to Dow’s well-established ROOFMATE SL-A product range.

Initially available in single extruded thicknesses of 100mm, 120mm, 140mm and 160mm, two more thicknesses have been added to the XENERGY SL range in response to interest from building designers and roofing contractors: 180mm and 200mm.

With declared thermal conductivity of 0.032 W/mK, 4mW gains are possible at 140mm,160mm, 180mm and 200mm thicknesses, an 11% improved insulation performance compared with ROOFMATE SL-A.

“There’s been a huge amount of interest in XENERGY SL since its launch, primarily due to the fact that it can help building designers to achieve the thermal performance they are looking for at thinner thicknesses without compromising on the benefits of XPS,” said Richard Powell, Roofing Manager for Dow Building Solutions.

“We’re delighted that our investment in research and development has resulted in greater choice in the market place, and are pleased to be able to offer an extension to the range already.”

XENERGY XPS is blown with CO2, giving it a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five. It offers low water absorption and excellent freeze/thaw performance – important attributes in inverted flat roof applications – as well as durability and high compressive strength.

For more information, visit www.dowxenergy.co.uk or contact Dow Building Solutions on [email protected] and one of the account managers will be in touch.

End

Notes to editors:

Dow Building Solutions is a division of The Dow Chemical Company. The UK business supplies systems and products which help construction professionals to design and build energy efficient, high performance buildings from residential to commercial, supporting Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM and Passivhaus design criteria.

The product range includes STYROFOAM™ blue extruded foamed polystyrene insulation, new XENERGY™ extruded polystyrene insulation in steel grey, GREAT-STUFF™ polyurethane foam sealant, FROTH-PAK™ polyurethane foam spray systems, INSTA-STIK™ polyurethane adhesives and a range of accessories.

For media information contact:
[email protected]
01295 780152

Customer contact:
Dow Building Solutions
Diamond House, Lotus Park,
Kingsbury Crescent, Staines,
Middlesex, TW18 3AG
Tel.: 020 3139 4190
Fax: 020 3139 4013

®™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow.

Custom Release Wire

Spoon-billed sandpiper “headstarting” success

Posted by admin on October 5th, 2012

With only about 100 breeding pairs remaining in the wild, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) is in crisis. To help save this species from extinction, SOS – Save Our Species, in which IUCN is a partner, is supporting an innovative conservation project to boost the numbers of juvenile Spoon-billed Sandpipers at their summer breeding grounds in Chukotka, Russia.

IUCN – News