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Your natural teeth are worth saving

2019-04-23T07:25:01

(BPT) – The human body is something to marvel at, but sometimes we take it for granted. Some things, like your natural teeth, are truly worth the effort to take care of and preserve. And most Americans agree.

A recent survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists revealed that over 95% of Americans believe it’s important to save your natural teeth. The top two reasons people gave are that it’s healthier and gives you a better appearance. The survey found that young people value saving their natural teeth as much, if not more, than any other aspect of their body. Nearly a quarter of millennials rank their teeth as the No. 1 thing they would save or maintain about their body, compared to baby boomers’ preference for saving their eyesight (37%).

“We tend to take our bodies for granted, so it’s wonderful that younger people understand the importance of dental health,” said Dr. Patrick Taylor, president of The American Association of Endodontists (AAE). “Endodontists take pride in using advanced training, specialized techniques and superior technologies to perform root canal treatment to help people keep their natural teeth.”

Endodontists are considered the experts in performing root canal treatments. They complete two to three additional years of training related to the interior of the tooth after completing dental school. They know how to use the most advanced and specialized technology, and have greater precision and skill in hand-eye coordination to perform even the most complex treatments.

Here are some important tips from endodontists to help protect and save your natural teeth:

Observe oral health care best practices. Daily brushing and flossing are vital to caring for your teeth. Visit your dentist for regular checkups, X-rays and cleanings.

Act on tooth pain. Whether you have cracked or injured teeth, signs of infection, excessive sensitivity to heat or cold, or other persistent pain in or around your teeth, consult an endodontist right away. Endodontic treatment can save a diseased tooth or treat abscessed, cracked or dislodged teeth, but these issues need to be addressed quickly.

Don’t rush to extract. If a dentist recommends extraction for a diseased tooth, ask for a referral to an endodontist to consider treatments to save your tooth. If you think that getting a tooth pulled is easier or less expensive, think again. Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift, affect your ability to chew properly and ruin your smile. Tooth extraction can be more painful than the infection itself, and replacing an extracted tooth with an artificial one requires additional dental visits that can be costly. Even more importantly, with proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.

Eat a well-balanced diet. To ensure the health of your teeth and gums, eat healthy food and avoid drinking excess alcohol, sugary sports drinks or sodas. If you smoke, quit now, as smoking can have a negative impact on your oral health.

Wear a mouthguard for protection. If you participate in sports, from karate and boxing to football, hockey or lacrosse, wear a mouthguard that fully covers your teeth whenever you are practicing your sport. Many teams, particularly those for youth, require mouthguards to protect the teeth, lips, cheeks and tongues of players, and for good reason.

When it comes to tooth pain, it is important to consult an endodontist to accurately diagnose and treat the problem as soon as possible. As the dental specialists that save your natural teeth, endodontists have the training and expertise to keep you smiling — with your own natural teeth.

Visit Findmyendodontist.com to find an endodontist near you.


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Upgrade your space without breaking the bank

2019-04-23T09:01:00

(BPT) – Whether you rent or own, a happy home means finding distinctive ways to continuously improve your space. A full renovation or re-design can be pricey, but making your home feel fresh and current doesn’t have to be. We’ve thought through cost-effective solutions to make your home a place you love.

1) Measure your moolah: Understanding the budget is a crucial first step to any home project and money can be a sensitive subject. To conquer the awkwardness, download a finance app to get a sense of your spending habits. This will give you an accurate measure of how much moolah you have to spend on your home, and could help you save a buck or two on overall spending as well.

2) Score some smart solutions: Once you understand the budget, invest in smart solutions to have the place feeling fresh and updated in no time. If you’re interested in smart temperature control, check with your local energy provider to see if they offer incentive programming or kickbacks for making the switch! Easy changes like Bluetooth-connected plugs, meat thermometers and smart lightbulbs will use less energy and make you more connected to your home.

3) Swap that showerhead: If you’re looking for more of a visual change, swap out a faucet or showerhead — an easy but impactful update regardless of rent/own status. Brands like Peerless Faucet make products specifically designed to be on trend, but easy to manage. As long as you select a faucet that matches the current setup of your countertop (e.g., single handle or double handle, with or without soap dispenser), you can swap out any standard faucet for one that matches your vibe. From the kitchen to the bathroom, investing in a few key pieces for your home will last you a lifetime, especially if you pick multi-functional pieces like the SideKick Shower System.

4) Try subscription solutions: An easy way to spruce up your tables, walls and cabinets is by signing up for subscription services that take the thinking out of upkeep. There are a number of practical subscriptions you can opt in to, like FilterEasy, a service that sends you filters for your HVAC exactly when you need them. Or, if cleaning supplies are something you continuously forget to buy, subscription services take the thought out of having home supplies at the ready, under your sink, whenever you need them. If you’re looking for a simple upgrade, you can receive art that matches your style or fresh flowers. There is a subscription for almost everything and, when used strategically, they are a great way to manage your spending while investing in your space.

5) Spark joy with spring cleaning: Speaking of cleaning, when you make the switch to your summer wardrobe and your annual spring clean, take the time to assess what, as Marie Kondo would say, sparks joy versus what has seen better days. By taking ownership of what must stay, and saying thank you and goodbye to things that are ready to go, your belongings won’t feel like a burden, because everything will have a purpose. When you begin to spring clean, think through new methods of determining what should stay and what should go.

Once you’ve done these things, if you are looking for more, below are some quick fixes:

  • Add new fabrics (e.g., cushions, curtains, throw blankets) in the living area and bedroom.
  • Create an accent wall with adhesive wallpaper.
  • Hang mirrors to create an illusion of a larger space and spread light throughout the space.
  • Go green, add plants.
  • Swap out the knobs on your kitchen/bathroom cabinets.
  • Change the light fixtures.

Try these simple tips to spruce up any room in no time.


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How to make employee engagement a daily habit

2019-04-23T06:01:00

(BPT) – One of the latest business buzzwords this year is EX, or the employee experience. Organizations are beginning to realize that they need to create a positive employee experience in the same way they have focused on the customer experience. In this ever-tightening job market, it’s mission critical to keep employees happy, fulfilled and challenged. Only then can they keep their customers happy. Focusing on EX means evaluating an employee’s entire life cycle with the company, from before they even apply for a job to beyond their last day. It’s so critical that Forbes even dubbed 2018 the Year of the Employee Experience.

What is the EX, exactly? EX is not just about what it’s like to work day-to-day in the office, and it’s not about benefits, half-day Fridays, sleeping pods, beer fridges in the break room and other fun perks, though those things do enter into it. But EX is deeper and more meaningful than that. It’s about truly engaging employees. Employee engagement (EE) and EX are intertwined so closely they can be called one and the same.

The problem with EE: There’s a disconnect

In a recent study, Dale Carnegie found that 70 percent of top executives believe that employee engagement has a strong impact on financial performance. In a similar study, Deloitte found that 85 percent of company leaders say EE is an important strategic priority, but Dale Carnegie found that just 31 percent of front-line employees and managers strongly agreed that their company is actually making engagement a top priority.

Clearly, there’s a disconnect between what execs are saying and what employees are feeling. That’s because there’s a piece left out of this puzzle: the employees’ managers.

The key to aligning executive priorities with what employees are experiencing lies in the management chain. Managers need to be enabled and empowered to engage their teams on a daily basis. It means getting managers the training they need to engage their teams, by making it a strategic priority and creating a culture of engagement. Dale Carnegie programs teach the skills managers need and can help organizations do the right things to increase overall employee engagement.

Ways to increase employee engagement

Focus on getting managers and supervisors the skills they need. Immediate supervisors and managers are on the front lines of employee engagement. Leaders at all levels need to understand that the way they interact with their employees and direct reports matters to the company’s bottom line. Open a dialogue with managers about EE, and listen to what they’re saying about what works and what doesn’t, and if they’re frustrated, give them the tools and training necessary for change.
Get CEO buy-in. If your CEO does not have employee engagement on his or her priority list, the effort is doomed to fail. Make sure the CEO has the facts on employee engagement, and the knowledge that it needs to start at the top. EE needs to be treated like any other strategic priority.

Align policies with EE. You need employee-supportive policies and procedures, such as a standard performance evaluation policy. But it also means changing policies that are barriers to engagement. Are there processes and procedures working at cross-purpose with engagement efforts? If so, change them. How are your rewards and recognition programs designed? What do you reward and recognize? Are they making your employees feel valued? It requires going through your policies with a critical eye, and the willingness to change what’s not working.

Employee engagement needs to be on the top of the priority list for top executives, managers and supervisors, and that’s no easy task. But in this ever-tightening job market, with greener grass just a click away on a job seeker’s app, keeping all of your employees happy, engaged and fulfilled is the key to your company’s competitive advantage.


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Home and office furniture: What you don’t know could be toxic

2019-04-22T16:53:01

(BPT) – Awareness of health risks from potentially harmful chemicals has grown exponentially in recent years, leading to a consumer demand for transparency regarding what’s in the food, personal care products and household items we use every day.

But did you know that many home and office furnishings contain chemicals linked to cancer, asthma and other ailments? These chemicals can create potentially toxic air that we breathe inside — where we spend 90 percent of our time — every day. According to the EPA, concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the air are consistently higher — up to 10 times higher — indoors than outdoors.

Materials transparency

Aiming to establish industry standards for reporting building product content and potential health impacts, the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC) created an “Open Standard” through which manufacturing companies can be more transparent about building materials used in furniture and other products for homes and workplaces. The HPDC standard is based on thorough scientific analysis, providing builders, architects, designers and consumers accurate information about the chemicals used in the manufacturing processes of the furniture we live with every day, and how it might affect our health.

With the increased awareness of this issue, many manufacturing companies are joining HPDC to demonstrate their commitment to greater transparency about the materials they use. Included in HPDC membership are companies such as Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, GAF Roofing and Humanscale. Another nonprofit organization dedicated to materials transparency is the International Living Future Institute, which allows companies to “Declare” their products using an online platform, providing a resource for builders and consumers seeking healthier products.

Humanscale makes ergonomic and environmentally sustainable office furniture. Jane Abernethy, its chief sustainability officer, describes the importance of materials transparency in achieving their mission of sustainability: “We’re leading our industry in materials transparency with more Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Declare ingredients than any other company. Inspired by what we’re seeing brands such as sustainability pioneer Patagonia do in apparel, we’re diving deep into our supply chain to create thorough and accurate disclosures. By understanding what goes into our products, we’re creating a healthier environment not only where we live and work but also for the world.”

Cooperation with these transparency and sustainability standards is voluntary, so at the same time that a growing number of manufacturers are joining the effort, there are still many companies making furniture and other products without revealing information about their possible harmful effects on the interior environment.

Abernethy confirms that it’s an ongoing commitment her company is dedicated to making, explaining that with ingredient labels on nearly 70 percent of products, “It’s not only a reflection of our commitment to avoid red-list materials and chemicals of concern; it’s proof that we’re prioritizing ingredients that are healthy and environmentally friendly.”

Environmental education

What can consumers do to protect themselves? One step is to educate yourself about the issue. Learn about products you plan to bring into your home. Check with the HPDC or Living Future websites to see if the products you’re buying or companies you’re purchasing from are listed. Ask about products and furniture at your workplace, and help inform your employer about the issue of environmental health.

To learn more about product safety in general, you can take four new online courses available to everyone at the Parsons School of Design. Alison Mears, head of the Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons, explains the importance of education for consumers, saying, “If you want to understand more about the paint for your baby’s bedroom, you could actually start taking these courses and would be pretty well informed and know where to look for more.”

Becoming more educated about household products, furnishings and labels helps consumers concerned about everyday exposure to chemicals make smarter, healthier choices. Companies wanting to grow their business, particularly with the younger generation, also need to pay attention to these concerns. According to research from Nielsen, millennials and members of Generation Z are much more willing to patronize companies that demonstrate a commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact. So what’s good for the consumer and the planet is also good for their bottom line.


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Get ahead of the storm: Check your coverage before hurricane season

2019-04-22T09:01:00

(BPT) – Hurricanes provide little advance notice of their arrival, and as landfall approaches, insurance companies may temporarily suspend new coverage and coverage changes.

That means it’s usually a good idea to review your insurance coverage yearly to make sure it matches your needs.

An insurance representative can review your policy, explain limits and deductibles, and help you identify coverage gaps. “You should ask your representative for tips on hurricane risk mitigation that may lower your insurance premiums and better protect your property,” said Tom Woods, assistant vice president of property underwriting for USAA.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety offer numerous suggestions for improving the resiliency of your home during a hurricane.

“Many of these things don’t cost a lot of money,” Woods said.

During your annual coverage review, consider the following:

* Flooding. Flood insurance, which covers losses from rising water, isn’t provided in routine homeowners insurance policies. However, it is available from USAA through the National Flood Insurance Program. Premiums vary depending on how flood-prone the covered property is and how much coverage you desire. Members can use USAA’s Property Risk Assessment Tool to see what flood risk their home faces. Typically, flood insurance doesn’t become effective until 30 days after purchase.

* Windstorm damage. Windstorm damage is covered with its own deductible in some homeowners insurance policies, and a separate wind policy might be required in some places. Hurricane and windstorm damage in high-risk coastal areas may only be available through a state-managed insurance pool. It too may have a waiting period before coverage begins.

* Temporary living expenses. Review your policy’s coverage for temporary living expenses. See how much your policy will pay and how long it will pay after the storm ends.

* High-value personal possessions. Coverage under USAA’s Valuable Personal Property policies helps replace a homeowner’s costliest possessions, including jewelry and artwork. Typical homeowners policies provide some coverage for those belongings, but it is limited and could keep you from reacquiring the full value of lost items.

* Personal belongings. Renters insurance can cover the loss of renters’ personal belongings, which are not covered by the landlord’s insurance. Renters can get temporary living expense coverage in their rental policies, and their belongings should be covered if stolen.


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Finding new ways to address hepatitis C

2019-04-22T07:01:01

(BPT) – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, viral hepatitis is a silent epidemic that affects more than 5 million people in the United States. Additionally, more than half of those living with hepatitis do not know they have the virus, putting them at risk for life-threatening liver disease and cancer and, potentially and unknowingly, transmitting the virus to others.

The hepatitis virus comes in five types, including A, B, C, D and E, all of which attack the liver. According to the World Health Organization, more than half of the hepatitis population (60 percent) in the U.S. develops chronic hepatitis C, a lifelong infection which can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer and even death. Hepatitis C disproportionately affects those on Medicaid, with the Pew Charitable Trusts estimating anywhere from 700,000 to 1 million Medicaid patients are infected with the virus.

“New medications for the treatment of hepatitis C are 95 percent effective, but their success is highly dependent on the patient’s compliance with the treatment protocol, which can be a challenge for our nation’s most vulnerable populations,” said Kelly Munson, executive vice president, Medicaid, WellCare Health Plans, Inc. “Physicians need to treat the whole patient, which includes not only their clinical needs, but also their social needs.”

To examine a new model of treating hepatitis C — while acknowledging that social and cultural elements are critical factors in treatment — WellCare, through Care1st Health Plan Arizona and in partnership with Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS), has launched the Hepatitis C Center of Excellence Program. The program will treat Medicaid members in Arizona with hepatitis C and is estimated to be the first Medicaid plan in the United States to offer bundled payments as part of a value-based agreement for the infectious liver disease. Bundled payments are a departure from the traditional fee-for-service model, as they provide a lump sum to the treating physician, allowing that doctor to customize a treatment protocol that fits the needs of each patient.

All patients enrolled in the program will have access to case managers, as well as WellCare’s Community Connections Help Line, to tap into local social support resources.

According to WellCare, there are three critical factors of bundled payments that are particularly beneficial for the treatment for hepatitis C in the Medicaid population:

  • Success is dependent on a cure. Due to new medicines for hepatitis C, doctors can achieve a cure for most patients who comply with the treatment protocol. As such, bundled payments mean that a doctor can find the right mix of medical and social support to lead each patient to the most successful outcome, without concern about reimbursements.
  • Bundled payments create efficiencies. Within a bundled payment system, the doctor can refer to testing — everything from blood work and ultrasounds — at a facility most convenient for the patient. For those with limited access to transportation, accessibility to appointments is a critical factor in compliance.
  • Go beyond healthcare. It’s difficult to prioritize hepatitis C treatment when you have other social challenges, like housing, food and transportation. Under a bundled arrangement, doctors are incentivized to connect patients with social supports to achieve the best outcomes.

If you are in need of assistance, call WellCare’s Community Connections Help Line at 1-866-775-2192, where someone is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday-Friday.


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5 reasons why egg freezing is right for you

2019-04-22T07:01:01

(BPT) – Do you want to have kids? For many, this question isn’t the easiest to answer. Whether you and your partner aren’t ready, if you haven’t found the “one,” or you wish to focus on your career for a bit before calling the stork, the idea of having a baby isn’t always black and white. No matter where you are in life, it’s important to understand your reproductive health and explore your options — because there are options! Egg freezing is one option that many women are seeking, and although it may seem scary to some, the technology offers women and families more flexibility in their pursuit of pregnancy.

Dr. Jaime M. Knopman, director of fertility preservation at CCRM Fertility New York identifies several reasons why a woman may elect to freeze her eggs:

You’re not getting any younger

Although you may plan on aging like a fine wine, the reality is, women can experience fertility issues as early as in their 20s. Fertility rates drastically decrease with age, as the number and quality of a woman’s eggs decreases over time. Dr. Knopman says, “As a woman’s ovary ages, she will have increasing numbers of eggs with chromosomal abnormalities. These chromosomal abnormalities are the main culprit for miscarriage and infertility in older women. At age 35, about half of a woman’s eggs are chromosomally normal. By the time a woman reaches 40, only around 10-15% of her eggs are chromosomally normal. This is why the younger you freeze your eggs, the better your chances are of having children using those eggs in the future.”

Single AF & haven’t met Mr. or Miss Right

Whether you’re single and ready to mingle or you just haven’t found your perfect match, having children may feel like a distant priority. According to recent research, single women (never married, no children) between 30–45 rank living independently (44%) and developing their career (34%) as their top two priorities. Having children ranked a lowly seventh on that list at 8%. While finding the one may take some time, your reproductive health is a bit more impatient. It’s no secret that the longer you wait, the more challenging it will be to start a family. If you’re still swiping left more than you’re swiping right, freezing your eggs will give you peace of mind and more time to find your match.

On the career grind

In this day and age, boss ladies are just about as common as our male leader counterparts. For those that are busy climbing the corporate and professional ladder, having children might have to wait. In a recent survey conducted by CCRM, results indicated 57% of women are interested in egg freezing because they’re either focused on their career or not ready to have kids. Family planning and career planning can be a delicate tightrope, and while many companies are making strides in maternity leave benefits, we can’t deny that starting a family is a lifestyle change. If you’re not quite ready to juggle kids, work, sleep and everything in between, but dream of it one day, freezing your eggs may be a great solution.

You just don’t want kids … YET

For couples in more serious relationships, pressure may start to mount as more friends begin to tie the knot and have kids. But that doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. While it is more challenging to get pregnant as you move into your 30s, egg freezing can help you put those plans “on ice” for several years. In the same survey, CCRM found that almost two-thirds of women predict that they’ll thaw and use their eggs within one to five years of freezing them — so while you may not want to have kids ASAP, you can plan ahead for the day that you do.

Health conditions

Unfortunately, there are a number of health conditions that can impact female fertility. While infertility affects men and women equally — 40% of infertility cases are due to the female, 40% of infertility cases are due to the male and 20% of cases are unknown (for heterosexual couples), women need to be aware that conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can all lead to difficulties in conception. Dr. Knopman comments, “Some of these conditions may result in an accelerated loss of egg quantity, and as a result, egg freezing at a younger age may be warranted. Therefore, it’s important to not only share your personal history but also the reproductive histories of your mother and your grandmother. Women should talk to a fertility specialist to learn more about their clinical options.”

No matter what your reason is for freezing your eggs, it is important to choose an egg freezing clinic that partners with you throughout the entire process — from freezing to thawing and fertilization. Where you freeze matters, because one day you want those eggs to turn into a baby. A global pioneer in fertility science, research and advancement, CCRM delivers industry-leading outcomes and world-class care, partnering with each individual patient to develop custom-tailored analyses and treatments to ensure the best outcome possible. CCRM physicians retrieve, freeze and fertilize your eggs in the same facility, increasing your chances for a successful outcome. Step one is to seek a consultation to discuss your needs, expectations and the processes involved.


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8 important questions to ask your doctor about surgical pain management

2019-04-22T07:01:01

(BPT) – If you or a loved one has an upcoming surgery, pain management is probably a top concern. Depending on the type of surgery, doctors will recommend different methods to manage your pain so you can heal properly. It’s important to understand what to expect, your options for controlling pain as well as any risks associated with them, particularly when it comes to opioids.

An estimated 50 million surgeries are performed each year and the majority of these patients are prescribed opioids to manage their pain, according to Dr. Roy Soto, director of the anesthesiology residency program for the Beaumont Health System in Michigan. He says to expect surgery to result in short-term pain, but know that you can work with your physician to manage this pain while also minimizing the potential of becoming dependent on opioid pain medications.

“Historically physicians have treated surgical pain with opioids due to their ease of use and relatively cheap cost,” says Dr. Soto. “Patients, however, can become dependent on these medications very quickly and become addicted, especially if large quantities are given after surgery or if prescriptions are refilled.”

He explains that opioids are a class of drugs that bind to receptors in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body. When that binding occurs and the receptors are stimulated by the opioid drug, pain is reduced, relaxation occurs, breathing rate decreases and bowel activity slows. While some of these effects can be good (pain reduction), others can be dangerous or even deadly (slowed breathing, for instance).

“Although patients become tolerant to the pain-relieving effects of opioids, they do not avoid the respiratory depressant effects. Over time, patients will use more and more drugs to control their pain, putting themselves at greater and greater risk of a serious respiratory compromise; that is, they may stop breathing.”

Having leftover opioid medication at home can also be a concern for other members of the family.

“Most patients having surgery in the United States receive opioid prescriptions. However, most of the prescribed pills remain unused. Most of the unused pills stay in the home in unsecure locations,” says Dr. Soto. “This means that children, teenagers, other adults, visitors or others can readily access addictive and potentially dangerous medications without a prescription. A significant portion of people who are addicted to opioids report that their first exposure was to someone else’s leftover pills. Just to put this in context there are roughly 1 billion unused opioid pills leftover every year.”

Dr. Soto suggests having a candid conversation with your doctor about pain management before surgery. Important questions to ask include:

1) What type of pain will I have (burning, throbbing, cramping, etc.)?

2) How severe will my pain be?

3) How long will the pain last?

4) When will the pain be at its worst?

5) At what point should I call you if I am concerned about my pain?

6) What medications can I/should I take for my pain?

7) Can I avoid using opioids? If so, what non-opioid options are available to help manage my pain caused by surgery?

8) What are the side effects of the pain medications you will be giving me?

He also notes that there are many potential advances in the health care field under development to help minimize or eliminate the need for opioids.

One example is Heron Therapeutics’ investigational agent HTX-011, a long-acting, extended-release formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a fixed-dose combination with the anti-inflammatory meloxicam. Heron is seeking an indication for application into the surgical site to reduce postoperative pain for 72 hours and the need for opioids.

In addition to these types of advances, it’s important to consider other opioid alternatives that can be part of a non-opioid multimodal analgesic regimen.

“The simplest medications to use are acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,” says Dr. Soto. “Both have been safely used and sold over the counter at your drug store, can be used together, are inexpensive and have no addiction potential. Other options include medications that quiet nerve-related pain (such as Gabapentin) and anti-depressants that decrease long-term pain. Non-medication alternatives also work, and you should ask your doctor about the utility of relaxation, ice, physical therapy, acupuncture and other holistic treatments,” Dr. Soto says.

Above all else, he stresses it’s important to realize that pain after surgery is normal.

“Many patients expect zero pain, and many expect opioids and opioids alone to treat any pain that might arise,” he says. “Asking your surgeon appropriate questions before surgery is an important way of setting the right expectations so that realistic goals can be set and achieved.”


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Consumers across the country use purchasing power to help the environment

2019-04-19T07:27:00

(BPT) – Recent studies have shown that a record number of Americans understand that climate change is real and their increasing concern for the future of our planet is driving major corporations across the country to go green by setting and fulfilling lofty sustainability goals.

According to a recent survey from global renewable energy company Enel Green Power, over half of Americans assume sustainable products are more expensive. However, operating sustainably goes beyond the brands that are making headlines with buzzworthy products, as other household names are making large commitments that are reducing consumers’ carbon footprint behind the scenes.

The survey also found that two in three Americans would engage in sustainable lifestyle choices by making a purchase from a sustainable brand or a company that donates to an environmental cause. In fact, about half of Americans say they would pay more for a sustainable product, and of those people, half would pay 3% to 5% more. This commitment to making environmentally friendly purchase decisions continues to push companies to invest in climate solutions.

“All businesses, from world-leading big brands to small manufacturers, can play a role in operating sustainably and consumers have a say through their purchasing decisions,” said Georgios Papadimitriou, Head of Enel Green Power North America. “We are proud to work with companies that make the conscious decision to better our planet by greening their business and encourage consumers to use their purchasing power to continue this momentum.”

For example, last year, Budweiser announced its commitment to brew its beer with 100% renewable electricity. The amount of renewable electricity that the company uses is enough to produce more than 20 billion 12 oz. servings of beer annually.

Kohler aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 3% year over year to be net zero by 2035 and the company uses wind energy to supply 100% of the power needed to operate Kohler’s U.S. and Canadian manufacturing operations. The power generated is enough to power nearly 40,000 homes, and globally, the project will reduce Kohler’s greenhouse gas emissions footprint by 26%.

And telecommunications company T-Mobile turned magenta green last year, announcing its transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2021. T-Mobile is well on its way to achieving this aggressive goal and takes environmental stewardship one step further by engaging its community in conservation and reforestation efforts with its #TreeMobile campaign to plant up to half a million trees for Earth Day in partnership with The Nature Conservancy.

Adopting a sustainable lifestyle in tactical ways like driving an electric vehicle or installing solar panels on your roof has clear benefits for the environment. However, energy consumption goes far beyond turning your lights on and getting behind the wheel. The products we use in our daily lives require immense amounts of energy and materials for production, making our responsible purchasing decisions more influential than ever. Businesses are in a unique position to lead the charge against climate change. Americans’ demand for a more sustainable future will continue to influence companies’ sustainability commitments.


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Half of Americans are ‘C’ students at best when it comes to understanding finances

2019-04-19T04:01:00

(BPT) – When it comes to education, we instinctively understand the link between performance and opportunity — a college graduate is likely to have more job opportunities than someone who didn’t finish high school. Similarly, the high school valedictorian may be courted by more colleges and universities than a poorly performing student. In fact, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that higher levels of literacy and more advanced education tend to correlate to positive outcomes in wage growth and job opportunities. Because we know the importance of education, we push ourselves and our children to learn and grow, in the hopes of better opportunities in the future.

But when it comes to financial literacy and financial wellness, we seem to lose sight of the connection, contenting ourselves with barely passing grades. In fact, more than half of Americans say they’d earn a “C” or lower if tested on their financial literacy, according to a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Prudential Financial.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) take responsibility for their own grade, according to the survey. Why don’t we change our behaviors and work to improve our knowledge of a topic we know to be so critical to our lives?

Information overload may be at fault. While the survey shows nearly half of American adults (46%) spend more than two hours on social media each week, fewer than one in five (17%) spend that much time managing their finances. In addition, two-thirds of Americans (66%) say the list of things they need to learn to successfully manage their finances keeps on growing, not shrinking.

“The financial industry as a whole needs to drive home the importance of financial education to help clear a path toward financial wellness,” said Caroline Feeney, head of Individual Solutions at Prudential. “It’s important for us to help Americans understand how to manage day-to-day finances, achieve important financial goals and protect against future financial risks.”

Previous data from Prudential’s Financial Wellness Census shows more than a quarter of Americans (29%) have a skewed sense of their financial health, with many optimistic about their financial future despite objective measures showing them falling behind in achieving their financial goals. In fact, the Census data showed less than half of Americans are on track to meet their goals, including planning for retirement.

The challenge, then, is how to translate retirement uncertainty and financial insecurity into actions that help build financial wellness before and into retirement. That’s where financial literacy programs and professional financial advice can play a key role.

Today, people can access advice along the spectrum, from self-directed methods to hybrid advisors who serve as coaches to full-service, high-touch advice. “Our lifelong personal financial wellness journeys often require a combination of smart solutions, good advice and guidance about appropriate investment tools or products,” says Feeney.

Planning is critical to meeting financial goals (whether it’s buying a car or a house, paying for college or planning for retirement), so it’s important to find the method that works best for you. Life stage and personal preference will play a role in determining your path to financial wellness, but financial education, professional guidance and access to the right products and investments at the right stage of the journey are key components of the financial wellness journey.