Month: June 2024

2024-06-18T09:01:00

(BPT) – Customers looking for affordable home Internet may be tempted to switch to a 5G home Internet service. But with spotty service and slow speeds, it usually doesn’t live up to the hype.

What if there was a way to get reliable, consistent Internet and mobile with no long-term contracts, hidden fees or credit checks?

Now there is a new option for affordable, pay-as-you-go Internet and mobile from Xfinity. NOW Internet and NOW Mobile provide reliable service with everyday, all-in low prices, no commitments and all backed by the Xfinity network.

It’s easy to sign up, and with built-in flexibility, you can easily pause or cancel your service anytime online or via the Xfinity app. All-in monthly pricing, no hidden fees or contracts, and no credit checks required — just a simple, low-cost way to get Internet and mobile service, on your own terms. It’s a great option for customers who may be looking to save money, like recent grads, retirees, or those looking for other options as the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program winds down.

Order online, visit an Xfinity store or call to get started. With NOW Internet you’ll get WiFi equipment included with your purchase, along with everything else you need to get connected. Getting started is simple and straightforward. You just download the Xfinity app, and instructions in the app walk you through step by step (available in both English and Spanish), so you can have Internet in 10 minutes.

Reliable Internet

NOW Internet delivers a more consistent and reliable connection at a better price point than 5G home Internet from cellular companies. It’s also backed by the nation’s largest network that delivers 99.9% reliability, uses AI to detect and proactively fix disruptions before consumers experience them, and is built with rigorous security and privacy protocols. Reliability means you won’t experience slowdowns in your connection at peak traffic times, as you can with other Internet services.

Affordable Mobile

You may not realize it, but WiFi is critical to the mobile experience. According to Comcast, upwards of 90% of data traffic from their customers’ smartphones runs over a WiFi connection, not cellular. Unlike existing prepaid providers, NOW Mobile uses WiFi to your advantage by tapping into over 23 million hotspots across the country. NOW Mobile offers the best value for Unlimited 5G prepaid mobile, exclusively for Xfinity and NOW Internet customers.

NOW Products and Services

The NOW portfolio of products offer simple, reliable and flexible service — that you can set up on your own terms.

NOW Internet: Choose between 100 Mbps for $30 all-in per month or 200 Mbps for $45 all-in per month. Unlimited data and an Xfinity gateway are included.

NOW Mobile: Add NOW Mobile to either your Xfinity or NOW Internet and enjoy one of the most affordable unlimited prepaid plans on the market — as low as $55 a month for bundled NOW Internet and Mobile, and $25 a month for each additional Mobile line.

NOW TV: The $20 streaming offering includes over 40 live channels, over two dozen integrated FAST channels, plus Peacock Premium. And it’s easily accessible via the Xfinity Stream app.

NOW WiFi Pass: Unlimited access to more than 23 million fast and reliable Xfinity WiFi hotspots for less than a dollar a day — at $20 for 30 days. No cancellation fees, no equipment and unlimited data.

Learn more about how you can get reliable, affordable and convenient service with NOW Internet and NOW Mobile at Xfinity.com/now.

2024-06-18T08:01:00

(BPT) – Longevity is one of the buzziest trends in wellness today, with a multitude of treatments and influential biohacking gurus promising to combat aging, extend lifespan, and improve the quality of your life. From headlines about “Blue Zones,” which are places where studies show people typically live longer due to their diets and lifestyles, to reports about the latest longevity therapies like cold plunges, many people are interested in finding out how to live longer and healthier as they age.

Short of moving to a Blue Zone like Sardinia, what can the average person do to support longevity? While proper diet and nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management are proven foundations for a healthy lifestyle, it can be a challenge to balance those needs with the demands of everyday life. For example, not everyone is able to eat a balanced, nutritious diet every day to support their wellness goals.

That means supplements can help play a valuable role in meeting your essential nutrition needs. Additionally, when it comes to supporting longevity and healthspan — which is a measure of your healthy, active years — supplements can support key areas of cellular health, mobility support, and cognitive function.

“Cellular health, cognitive health and mobility are all tied to longevity,” explains Brittany Michels, a Registered Dietitian nutritionist with The Vitamin Shoppe. “Cells are the building blocks of the body. The gradual decline of our cells is what ages our bodies and minds. Aging cells begin to lose function, their ability to efficiently respond to nutrients and remove waste, and signal to one another. This makes us more susceptible to physical and mental decline and disease. Diet, exercise, and supplementation are essential in supporting cellular health, and thus longevity.”

While every person has unique wellness goals and should speak to a health professional about their individual supplement use, here are five products Michels recommends from The Vitamin Shoppe to optimize overall longevity and healthspan.

Cellular Health:

Life Extension Super Ubiquinol CoQ10 provides the benefits of CoQ10, an antioxidant that reduces cellular oxidative stress and helps provide energy to cells, in a highly bioavailable form. CoQ10 is important to the proper function of many organs in the body, so it’s essential to maintain healthy levels as you age.

Jarrow Formula L-Carnitine Amino Acid promotes longevity by playing a key role in cellular energy metabolism and production. L-Carnitine is an amino acid found in high concentrations in heart and liver tissues, where it helps transform fats into energy. L-Carnitine works synergistically with CoQ10.

Cognitive Function:

VThrive The Vitamin Shoppe^® KSM-66 Ashwagandha – Stress & Anxiety Support is a premium ashwagandha formula available exclusively at The Vitamin Shoppe. Long used in Ayurveda, a traditional form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing, Ashwagandha is best known for its natural ability to reduce stress, which it does by lowering levels of cortisol (aka the stress hormone) in our body. But Ashwagandha has also been shown to support memory and cognitive function, improve attention span, and boost mental performance.

Mobility Support:

Doctor’s Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM provides three important nutrients to support joints: glucosamine, chondroitin and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Glucosamine supports joint mobility while chondroitin works to enhance joint comfort and lubrication. MSM supplies natural, bioavailable sulfur to support joint health — plus it provides beauty benefits for hair, skin, and nails.

Vibrant Health Joint Vibrance with Collagen & Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM Powder is a powder formula that can be used daily for the maintenance of healthy joints, bones, and cartilage. With an easy-to-drink blend of collagen, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, glucosamine, and MSM, just mix it into your favorite beverage to complement your active lifestyle and help keep your joints functioning smoothly.

Always talk with your doctor about your supplement routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on prescription medications. While there is no magic pill that will turn back the clock, boosting your health with these longevity supplements from The Vitamin Shoppe can support your goals for a longer, more active life.

2024-06-17T11:01:00

(BPT) – Looking for ways to help your family unplug this summer? With smartphones and tablets and social media in the palms of everyone’s hands, it can seem like a nearly impossible task. But there’s an ally that can help your family get away from their devices and into summer fun. Technology itself! It seems counterintuitive, right? But technology can actually be your best friend in the quest to unplug.

The first step is choosing the right tools. Namely, a computer and a printer. But not just any will do. The HP All-In Plan combines a choice of a new printer, automatic ink delivery, continuous printer coverage with a dedicated 24/7 live support team, next-business-day replacement in the event of printer issues, and the option to upgrade your printer after two years. The best part — there’s no up-front cost and plans start as low as $6.99 per month.

Pair that with the powerful HP OMEN Transcend 14 laptop, which features the Intel Core Ultra processor with native AI processing, an ultra-portable and lightweight design, sleek exterior styling, an OLED screen, and enough performance to handle what you need for your family fun this summer, and into the school year, too.

Now that you’ve got the right technology, here are some fun ways to use it.

Get crafty with HP Print Pals, a new line of printable puppets from HP, designed with summer fun in mind. Print out these adorable puppets, have the kids decorate and trick them out, and then put on a puppet show. With this fun, screen-free activity, engage their inner creativity and have them express themselves by merging the magic of printing with the vibrant world of art. Download and print HP Print Pals for free at HP.com/PrintPals. And speaking of getting crafty… whether it’s building a butterfly house, creating an octopus out of sticks, a sunflower out of handprints or a snail out of a paper plate, you can find DIY directions online. Either print out the directions or set up your computer to play a DIY video. You could even print a schedule to make Mondays a Craft Day with a different project each week.

Read the book, watch the movie. Choose from any number of children’s books that have been turned into movies. “Little Women,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and so many more, whatever your child might like. Have them settle into a hammock in your backyard or their favorite nook in the house and read the story (or you read to them!). Then, hang a screen or even just a white sheet or curtain, in the backyard, download the movie on your laptop and connect it with a USB port to a projector. Arrange cushions, have everyone change into their jammies, grab the mosquito repellant, pop some popcorn, and settle in to watch the movie outside.

Print photos of summer adventures. When you’re out there having fun in the sun with your family, selfies are mandatory! Go old school and print those fun photos on your HP Envy Inspire printer to enjoy family keepsakes. Have the kids arrange and label them in a photo album — yes, they still exist! — or read on for another fun idea.

Set up a summer fun photo hunt in the backyard. You could spin this several ways. Simply printing out your photos and hiding them in the backyard for your kids to find — whoever finds the most photos gets to choose dessert that night — is one way to go. Or, you could be a little more elaborate and create a “reveal.” Use your computer to search for photos or other images that pertain to something special, like a family trip you have planned for later in the summer. Print those out and spin the activity into a “treasure hunt” for your kids, ending with, for example, a photo of the theme park or beach vacation you’ll be taking them on.

Print out your kids’ activity schedule. One child has softball on Tuesdays and Thursdays, another has swimming five days a week, they both attend a day camp on Saturdays. How do you keep it all straight? Create a spreadsheet of activities for the week or month and print it out to stick on your fridge. Then everyone knows who is doing what, when.

The HP All-In Plan can let you focus on your family and not worry your printer won’t have what it needs, when you need it. Now, get out there and enjoy summer!

2024-06-17T08:01:00

(BPT) – Just about every new tech comes with the promise of making our lives easier or helping us work faster. But often it feels like the opposite is true. More information and more new tools to learn — it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed.

Generative AI (or gen AI) may sound like just another complicated technology, but it’s surprisingly easy to use. For example, with ChatGPT you don’t need to be a professional researcher, database expert or writer. Just type in what you want in your own words and presto — ChatGPT gives you a big head start.

Now gen AI is coming to PDFs (and other document formats, too). With more than 3 trillion PDFs in the world — many of which are long, complex documents like agreements, research and articles — gen AI can help everyone work smarter and do more while saving time.

Helpful Hints from a PDF Expert

Adobe invented the PDF 30 years ago as a way to lock down documents so they could be shared and printed. Since then, Adobe has invented new ways to create, edit and share PDFs and gen AI is opening up a whole new world of possibilities. Here are a few ways you can already use gen AI to do more with your PDFs:

1. Find what you need fast: With gen AI you can generate a summary of your document to get a quick understanding of what’s in it. You can also “talk” to your documents — asking questions by typing in a quick prompt. Gen AI can also help by giving you a few starter questions — generated based on the information in your document so they’re already on-point and relevant. New gen AI capabilities even allow you to ask questions across a single document — and a group of documents — including PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, text and other kinds of documents.
   

2. Go deep on the details: Gen AI can help you explore information in your documents — on your terms. Instead of reading the text in the order it’s laid out, you can use gen AI to find and surface the top takeaways in a document or to surface all the information on a specific topic. New gen AI capabilities will even allow you to work with groups of documents — PDFs as well as other types of documents, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and text documents — locating trends and relationships that they have in common.
3. Verify then trust: Generative AI is an amazing technology — and like all new tech, it’s not perfect. Sometimes you’ll ask a question and get an answer that’s not quite right — these are sometimes call “hallucinations.” At Adobe, we’ve added an extra check-and-balance to our Acrobat generative AI called intelligent citations. Here’s how they work: When you ask a question, the generative AI returns an answer with a citation attached. Clicking on the citation will take you to the source, so that you can verify the information for yourself. Remember, AI is there to help humans, not replace us.
4. Make new content: Another helpful thing gen AI can do is help consolidate information from documents and organize it into different formats. For example, let’s say your boss asked you to brief your team on an important topic — maybe an emerging trend, current news topic or audience segment. You can use generative AI to find the information you need and then ask it to format that information into a draft of an email or slides. You can then take all of the time you saved and focus on adding some analysis or customizing the information for a specific audience.
   
5. Add or edit images: Visuals are such an important part of getting and keeping someone’s attention. Whether you’re making a flier for your child’s school event or creating a business plan for a client, you need great images to really stand out. However, finding the right images that you also have permission to use isn’t always easy. With generative AI you can easily add, remove and revitalize images in your document in no time. It’s also simple to remove backgrounds, erase, crop and adjust (e.g., lighten, add color, sharpen). You can also use generative AI to create new images simply by describing what you want to see. Acrobat features are powered by Adobe’s Firefly generative AI — and designed to be safe to use publicly and for your business.

Generative AI can help humans be more productive and express their creative ideas more effectively. It’s an exciting time and new features in apps like Adobe Acrobat can help you work smarter and save time on low-value work. Try generative AI on your documents today by visiting here!

2024-06-16T09:01:00

(BPT) – Has your dog been acting differently? Do they seem to be slowing down? What many pet owners don’t realize is that changes in behavior can also mean your four-legged friend is in pain. In fact, osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in dogs.

OA is a painful condition that progresses over time. It is a degenerative disease affecting all components of the joints and eventually can lead to the joints breaking down, causing the bones to rub together. This painful condition can affect your dog’s health and well-being [1], decrease their willingness to be active, and disrupt their interaction with family members, ultimately impacting the bond they share with their people. The good news is that although we cannot reverse OA, we can control the pain, which can provide your dog with an improved quality of life and get her back to being an active member of the family again.

While there is plenty of misinformation about OA and available treatment options, knowing the facts about OA pain and distinguishing between truth and myths can help provide your beloved canine companion with the care and support they need and deserve, giving them more days of play.

1. MYTH: OA pain only impacts older dogs.

FACT: Dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds can experience OA pain.[2] Signs of OA pain may be easier to detect in older dogs because they often have more advanced disease, but the pain can start at a much younger age. Dogs even as young as 1 year old can develop the condition.

In fact, approximately 40% of dogs show signs of OA pain.[3] Yet, despite its prevalence, only 33% of dogs with OA pain are diagnosed and treated for the condition.[4] It’s important to identify the signs and symptoms of OA pain early to give our dogs a better quality of life.

2. MYTH: The only signs of OA pain are limping and whimpering.

FACT: While limping and whimpering are common signs of OA pain, they’re not the only symptoms. Pet owners should also be on the lookout for the following signs of OA pain, including:

• Decreased activity;
• Lagging behind on walks;
• Slowness to rise;
• Hesitation or difficulty in jumping up or down;
• Stiffness;
• Difficulty going up or down stairs;
• Emotional changes, such as becoming more withdrawn or less happy and excited, or even showing signs of aggression or irritated behavior.

Pay attention to your dog’s physical and emotional behaviors and share any changes with your veterinarian to help determine if these are signs of OA pain and how they can be managed. Consider recording videos of your dog too, to help your veterinarian understand the changes you are observing. Waiting until the condition becomes severe can increase the amount of pain and decrease mobility, negatively impacting a dog’s physical and emotional well-being.[1] While OA cannot be cured, long-lasting relief can be provided for the chronic pain associated with OA.

By controlling OA pain, you can help your dog feel better, be more active and improve their overall quality of life.[5],[6]

3. MYTH: Available treatment options are unsafe and have not been tested.

FACT: Like other medical fields, veterinary medicine is always progressing as scientists develop innovative treatments for conditions like OA. While there are many available treatments, including monoclonal antibodies as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), it’s important to make sure that the treatment option selected for your dog is safe and effective. The best way to do that is to consult with a veterinarian.

Your dog’s veterinary healthcare team can work with you on an OA pain management plan that best suits your dog and their lifestyle needs, which may include recommending a treatment like Librela^® (bedinvetmab injection) to control OA pain.

Librela is the first and only FDA-approved monthly injectable monoclonal antibody therapy to control OA pain in dogs. Librela has been tested in hundreds of dogs before being approved as safe and effective for use in the United States in 2023. Additionally, Librela has been available in Europe for more than three years and has been administered to millions of dogs around the world.* [7] Librela works by controlling dogs’ pain, which can lead to increased activity, which can improve quality of life, helping to restore the unique bond that dogs share with their owners.

The most common side effects of Librela in a clinical study were urinary tract infections, bacterial skin infections and dermatitis.[8]

Another option, NSAIDS have been used to treat canine OA pain for over 25 years. They also control the pain associated with osteoarthritis and are given as a once- or twice-daily oral medication. These drugs also have been approved as safe and effective. The most common side effects include appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhea, which could indicate gastrointestinal kidney or liver disease. Dogs should be evaluated for pre-existing conditions and regularly monitored.[9]

4. MYTH: Social media and online forums are the best source for pet health information.

FACT: It is natural to search for answers when your pet is sick and lean into other pet owners’ experiences to help make decisions for your dog. While online platforms can be a valuable source for pet owners to gather information and advice, community experiences such as those provided by social media groups and forums are not a substitute for accurate answers from veterinary experts. It’s also important to remember that each dog’s experience with pain and medications are different. As professional experts with many years of education and experience, you can trust your veterinarian to offer the best advice, treatment options, and care for your dog.

All medications come with risks and it’s important to talk about the risk and benefits of any treatment option with your veterinarian. They know your pet’s health history and can accurately diagnose OA and determine if Librela is right for your dog.

Visit Librela.com to learn more about the signs of OA pain and how to manage your dog’s care.

*Number of dogs treated estimated assuming that each dog receives 2 vials.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: See full LIBRELA Prescribing Information at LibrelaPI.com. For use in dogs only. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding should take extreme care to avoid self-injection. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, could potentially occur with self-injection. LIBRELA should not be used in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs. LIBRELA should not be administered to dogs with known hypersensitivity to bedinvetmab. The most common adverse events reported in a clinical study were urinary tract infections, bacterial skin infections and dermatitis.

+++

____________________________

[1] Lascelles BDX, Brown DC, Conzemius MG, Gill M, Oshinsky ML, Sharkey M. Measurement of chronic pain in companion animals: discussions from the Pain in Animals Workshop (PAW) 2017. Vet J. 2019;250:71-78. doi:10.1016/j. tvjl.2019.07.001.

[2] Anderson KL, Zulch H, O’Neill DG, Meeson RL, Collins LM. Risk factors for canine osteoarthritis and its predisposing arthropathies: a systematic review. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:200. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00220

[3] IHS Markit. (2021) Canine and Feline Pain Market 2021: Animal Health Market Analysis; Wright A, et al. Identification of canine osteoarthritis using an owner-reported questionnaire and treatment monitoring using functional mobility tests. J Small Anim Pract, 2022. http://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13500

[4] ZMR: PetTrak US Pain Factored National January 2023.

[5] Brown DC, Boston RC, Coyne JC, Farrar JT. Development and psychometric testing of an instrument designed to measure chronic pain in dogs with osteoarthritis. Am J Vet Res. 2007;68(6):631-637. doi:10.2460/ajvr.68.6.631.

[6] Brown DC, Boston RC, Coyne JC, Farrar JT. Ability of the Canine Brief Pain Inventory to detect response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008;233(8):1278-1283. doi:10.2460/ javma.233.8.1278.

[7] Global pharmacovigilance data on file.

[8] Librela (bedinvetmab injection). Prescribing information. NADA 141-562. Zoetis Inc; March 2023.

[9] Monteiro, B.P., et al. 2022 WSAVA guidelines for the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13566

______________________________________________________________________________

All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted.

© 2024 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. LIB-00374

2024-06-15T10:01:00

(BPT) – Have you ever received a call or message from someone claiming to be from a governmental agency like the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security, or even claiming to be your grandchild? Did they ask for money, demand immediate payment, or say you’ve won the lottery? Did it make you feel threatened, scared, or suspicious? Trust your gut. It’s likely a scam.

Scammers can target anyone, but some of their favorite targets are older Americans. In 2023, reports show people over 60 years of age lost $3.4 billion to scammers.

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2024, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service offers these tips to help you outsmart the scammers. It’s about recognizing the “Four Ps” that are the hallmarks of a scam.

Recognize the 4Ps of a scam

1. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.

Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.

They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID, so the name and number you see is the same or close to the information from a legitimate company.

2. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.

They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify your information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes, but you first need to pay a fee to get it.

3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.

Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.

4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.

They often insist that you can only pay by using cryptocurrency, wiring money, using a payment app, or putting money on a gift card and then giving them the numbers on the back of the card. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), then tell you to deposit it and send them money.

What to do about it

If you hear any of these Four Ps, or if your gut just tells you something’s wrong, trust your gut instinct. It is not a legitimate call; it’s probably a scam. The IRS, Social Security or any governmental agency will never call you to pressure you for payment. The same goes for your utility company. Remember, these are scams.

You may think, then what should I do? The U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommends that you:

Hang up immediately. If you’re on the phone with a scammer, hang up. If they’ve left a message, ignore it, delete it, and block the number. If you’re in doubt, never call back the number that left the message. Instead, look up the real number of the legitimate agency, company or whoever the scammer is pretending to be. Call that number to verify.

Report this to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC wants to stay on top of what’s happening out there to keep ahead of it.

Never pay a scammer! Remember, if they’re asking you for some odd way to pay, just hang up and forget about it. Examples of unusual payment methods include, and are not limited to, using cryptocurrency, money orders, a payment app, and gift cards.

Create an “emergency word” with your grandchildren. The “grandparent scam” is extremely prevalent. Someone claims to be your grandchild in trouble, needing cash immediately to get them out of jail or some other contrived situation. Thwart this by making a plan with your grandchildren. Choose an unusual word your grandchildren can use if they are legitimately in trouble and really calling for your help.

By recognizing the 4Ps and knowing what to do, you can stop scammers in their tracks. For more information, visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

2024-06-14T08:19:00

(BPT) – As a homeowner, you may have heard about incentives to tackle climate change that are available as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a large piece of legislation that was passed last year. Many of its opportunities focus directly on your personal slice of the American dream — your home. The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program just launched a new tool that can help you find all of the savings available to you.

The idea behind these incentives is to lower this country’s carbon emissions by helping homeowners make essential, energy saving upgrades to their homes, particularly for the biggest energy users, like your heating and cooling system and water heater. Many households struggle to afford these energy-efficient home upgrades, so the IRA allocated funding for this effort, a portion of which goes toward rebates and tax credits for homeowners. For many middle- and lower-income families, this means the chance to save big on essential upgrades for your home.

To help homeowners take advantage of these opportunities, ENERGY STAR is rolling out a new home improvement savings web tool that addresses the largest barriers Americans face when it comes to making these upgrades — cost and navigating the complexity of these projects. This handy online tool is a one-stop shop that allows you to pop in your ZIP code and find information on incentives that are available to you. Right now, it features generous tax credits and utility rebates that can help you substantially lower costs on qualifying products. Later, it will include information on state energy efficiency rebates for low-income communities as these state programs begin to come online — starting in 2024.

What projects qualify? These incentives cover projects that tackle your home’s biggest energy users, such as your heating and cooling system, water heater, insulation, and more. These areas of your home are not only the biggest energy users, they’re essential systems that are also expensive to upgrade. Almost half of your energy bill goes toward heating and cooling your home — which, for the average American household, is almost $900 a year. Similarly, your water heater is the second biggest energy user in your home. Finding ways to make these systems more efficient, particularly by upgrading to heat pump technology, can help you live comfortably while also drastically reducing your energy bills.

Why the focus on heat pump technology? Heat pump technology has been around for decades, but there have been some exciting technology improvements, particularly for HVAC and water heating products, that provide unmatched energy savings.

• Heat Pump HVAC is essentially an air conditioner and a heater all in one. Yes, despite their name, heat pumps also cool the air in your home. And new heat pumps are extremely efficient. ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump HVAC is so efficient it can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. This is possible because a heat pump moves heat rather than converting it from a fuel, as combustion heating systems do. In the summer, it cools your home in the same way. Replacing your older central AC with an ENERGY STAR certified heat pump could save you nearly $600 over the life of the product, on cooling costs alone.
• Heat Pump Water Heaters that have been ENERGY STAR certified use about one quarter of the energy of a standard water heater and can save a household of four approximately $550 per year and more than $5,600 over its lifetime on electric bills. Similar to heat pump HVAC, it moves heat from the surrounding air rather than creating it — which heats your water for a fraction of the energy.

What savings are available? There are numerous savings opportunities that homeowners can take advantage of to make essential energy-saving upgrades more affordable — and you can learn about all that apply to you using the home savings tool.

• Federal tax credits: Tax credits provide annual discounts of 30% of project costs, up to $3,200, for products such as heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heaters, windows, and insulation.
• State rebates: Starting in May 2024, state rebate programs will offer incentives targeted to low- to moderate-income households. These rebates will vary by state and are rolling out throughout 2024. New York is the first state to launch with several other states following closely behind. You can find rebates offered in New York on the home savings tool and learn the status of other state programs here.
• Utility rebates: In addition to the Inflation Reduction Act incentives, many utilities offer rebates on ENERGY STAR certified appliances and equipment.

ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions.

2024-06-14T08:01:00

(BPT) – Summer has arrived! If you’re lucky enough to find a pool to spend the summer by, a pool party is a must. Whether you’re taking advantage of the sunshine and hot weather during the day or enjoying a warm evening, all it takes is a little bit of planning to upgrade your poolside bash.

Set the mood

Nothing makes a party more fun than the right playlist. Whether you’re going for a retro beach vibe, throwback party tunes, or current hits to get everyone up and dancing, taking time to create the mood you want will level up the energy and fun factor.

Something to sip on

Hot summer days mean you’ll need to provide plenty of refreshing beverage options. Live like the sun’s always out by filling up your cooler with 8-packs of High Noon Hard Seltzer, made with real spirits, real juice and no added sugar. The Limited Edition High Noon Pool Pack, made with real vodka, includes fan-favorite flavors Lime and Peach, as well as limited-time flavors Kiwi and Guava, so everyone at the party can find a summery flavor they’ll love.

One fun alternative to coolers? Get a small inflatable pool, fill it with ice and beverages, then set it out for guests to enjoy. Be sure to include some water and non-alcoholic options as well to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Visit HighNoonSpirits.com and find High Noon Pool Pack near you here.

Let the games begin

Make your party even more fun with games — in and out of the pool — everyone will love. Yard games like corn hole, badminton, bocce ball and ladder toss are favorites, as is yard (or pool) pong. In the water, you can set up a game of pool volleyball or start a cannonball contest. Be sure to provide lounge chairs, extra towels and pool floats for guests to rest up on and catch some rays between games. Make sure to provide extra sunscreen!

Pick a theme

Everyone loves a theme! Parties can be even more fun if you center the festivities around a theme such as a favorite decade, popular movie/TV show, or go with a particular sport. Your theme will help inspire your music and food choices — and you could even set up an outdoor projector to watch a game or movie during the party once the sun goes down.

Above all, relax and let yourself enjoy a day under the sun. Summer always goes by too fast!

Grill it up

If you can eat it, you can probably grill it. Use your grill to cook up a variety of tasty items for your friends to enjoy. You can’t go wrong with old-school burgers and brats, but you can also use foil packets and skewers to grill up fish, veggies and fruits of all kinds.

Corn on the cob is easy (and popular, for good reason), but you can also try grilling items like pineapple or Portobello mushroom steaks to provide your guests with some unexpected and elevated options as well. Guests with specific dietary preferences and needs will especially love making build-your-own kebabs.

Have a fire pit? Offer all the fixings for making s’mores which is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a great way to wind down the festivities.

For more summer sips inspiration, visit HighNoonSpirits.com and check out @HighNoonSunSips on Instagram.

Drinking alcohol may be harmful to your health and addictive. Please drink responsibly. If you have a problem with alcohol, please visit Responsibility.org.

2024-06-13T13:47:00

(BPT) – In the summertime across America, there’s one thing that brings us together — cheeseburgers. Sure, we all make them differently, but when it comes to their favorite topping, the choice is easy — Sargento 100% real, natural cheese. And who better than Sargento to set you up with 100% real, natural cheese slices!

Whether you’re a Smashburger supporter or a Cowboy Chili Burger enthusiast, there’s nothing more American than a beautifully crafted cheeseburger. And Sargento has all the varieties of 100% real, natural cheese slices that you need to craft your favorite cheeseburger this summer!

Check out Sargento’s America the Burgerful campaign to find your region’s favorite burger and discover how others throughout the country are grilling up their burgers this summer!