Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2018-04-03T10:15:00

(BPT) – Throughout the month of April — National Volunteer Month — L’Oréal Paris is calling on men and women throughout the country to nominate extraordinary women who find beauty and strength in giving back to their communities. Women like Shandra Woworuntu, a survivor of human trafficking, who founded the program Mentari to provide resources, advocacy, education and mentoring initiatives to help other survivors reintegrate into society.

For 13 years the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth program has championed passionate women like Shandra, who are as multifaceted as the communities they serve — providing them with the platform, resources, and support they need to make an even bigger impact with their voice and vision.

National Volunteer Month is about shining a light on the incredible people who devote their time and talents to changing the world and inspiring others to take action. And whether it’s spearheading anti-bullying projects, providing meals to neighbors who are food insecure, or showing women and children impacted by incarceration how to move on with their lives, L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honorees bring to life the brand’s philosophy “because you’re worth it,” and prove that there is no limit to what women are able to achieve when they set out to make a difference.

“Women of Worth is the cornerstone of the L’Oréal Paris brand and embodies our mission to empower women across the country to celebrate their worth,” said Tim Coolican, L’Oréal Paris USA President. “Now, during National Volunteer Month, we’re asking for people to nominate fearless women who are championing life-changing work and making an impactful difference.”

“National Volunteer Month is a reminder that every individual has the power to ignite change and make the world a better place,” said Karen T. Fondu, President Emeritus and Chairwoman of L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth. “Through Women of Worth, we have the opportunity to honor the heroic women in our lives — our family, friends, and neighbors — whose courage and strength empower and inspire worth within others.”

L’Oréal Paris, in partnership with Points of Light, the world’s largest volunteer service organization, is calling for nominations through May 1, 2018. Anyone can nominate women who are philanthropists, volunteers and change-makers for a chance to become a Woman of Worth Honoree and receive up to $35,000 in donations for her cause at WomenofWorth.com.

In addition to receiving financial support for her organization, each Women of Worth Honoree will also have a platform to elevate her story and opportunities to build her network, foster connections and touch even more lives with her work.

The final 10 honorees will each be awarded a $10,000 donation for her cause. One honoree, chosen by popular vote, will be selected as the National Honoree and awarded an additional $25,000 donation for a total of $35,000 to support her organization. All 10 of the 2018 honorees will be recognized in December at an awards ceremony hosted by L’Oréal Paris in New York.

For more information about the Women of Worth program, to nominate a woman making a difference or to learn more about past Honorees, visit www.WomenofWorth.com.

2018-03-30T07:01:00

(BPT) – When it comes to business travel, more women are taking to the road and sky to get to their destinations. In fact, women account for 47 percent of all business travel worldwide, reports the Global Business Travel Association.

With female business travel on the rise, many brands are taking note of this growing consumer group. This year, Hertz is continuing its heritage of supporting the needs of female road warriors through award-winning customer service with its new “Her in Hertz” campaign.

Before your next trip, take note of these savvy travel tips and expert advice from frequent traveler Kristina Portillo, founder of BusinessTravelLife.com.

Plan ahead

“Productive business travel starts before I leave for the airport. I can save hours during my travel day by simply planning ahead and not wasting time. Many of my travel accessories never leave my luggage. I have two sets of chargers, headphones, toiletries, etc., so the ones in my bag stay in my bag. I also pack items I need during transit on top. I always travel with a few healthy snacks, so I don’t have to waste time finding snacks at airports.”

Choose reliable brands

“In addition to planning ahead, who you chose for your business travel is equally important. As a mom and frequent business traveler, I need brands that have earned my trust and provide dependable, consistent service. That is why I, and so many other women, choose Hertz, a six-time consecutive winner of the annual Women’s Choice Award.”

Carry-on only

“I save at least an hour by traveling with only a carry-on. If I were to check my bag, I would wait in line at the airport to check it (10 minutes), then wait for it to come to baggage claim (20 minutes) when I reach my destination, and then repeat when I fly home. Traveling with only a carry-on also significantly reduces my chances of luggage being lost.”

Join travel loyalty programs

“Travel loyalty programs reward travelers for their business. These programs come with perks that make travel more efficient and enjoyable. Travel programs also reward their members with upgrades and expedited services (aka less time spent waiting in line).”

Download and use travel apps

“Travel apps are a huge time saver. I use TripIt to organize my itinerary. I use OpenTable and TripAdvisor to find places to dine. And of course, I use airline, car rental and hotel apps during my trip. My airline app will allow me to check in online, serve as a mobile boarding pass and notify me of gate changes and delays. Many hotels now have apps that offer digital check-in and digital keys.

“The goal of a productive business trip is to complete my work before I get home. Therefore, I channel my inner Rihanna and ‘Work, work, work, work, work, work’ as much as possible during my trip. Once I get through security, I find a quiet place to work (preferably a lounge). If my flight has Wi-Fi, I work during my flight. Even without Wi-Fi, I clean out my inbox and reply to email (they will send once I connect to Wi-Fi). Once I get to my hotel, I do not turn on the TV unless I’m caught up on work. As we all know, watching TV is a major distraction and time suck. On the way home, I wrap up any reports and reply to necessary emails to close out my trip.”

2018-03-28T09:01:01

(BPT) – Everyone wants the inside scoop on how to get the best deal. Ironically, consumers will do a bunch of research over a $500 smart phone and relatively little for the largest purchase of their lives, their homes.

Most home buyers focus on price and payments, however, factoring in a home’s energy consumption costs could save tens of thousands of dollars over years of ownership. Comparing the performance and construction quality of one home to another is often not apples to apples. Newly built homes tend to be more energy efficient than older homes, but total performance is also influenced by the builder and design, said CR Herro, a building scientist and vice president of environmental affairs for Meritage Homes.

Home Energy Rating Score

When buying a new or resale home, buyers can use a shopping tool to help them understand the anticipated costs of a home’s energy bills. The Home Energy Rating Score, or HERS, is the industry standard for measuring a home’s energy efficiency. It was created by the not-for-profit Residential Energy Services Network (RESNet), an independent consortium of building scientists and construction experts.

Think of HERS like miles-per-gallon fuel economy for your car, except that a lower HERS is better:

* According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical resale home in the U.S. rates a HERS 130 and costs approximately $200,000 in utilities over a 30-year mortgage.

* Utilities for a home that scores 100 would cost 30 percent less, saving $60,000 in operating cost.

* Utilities for a home that scores 65 would cost approximately half, saving $100,000 in operating cost over 30 years.

Some builders, such as Meritage Homes, design homes to capitalize on energy efficiency and can achieve HERS scores lower than the 2016 U.S. average of 62 by including high-efficiency heating, cooling, windows, lighting and insulation in all their homes.

How to know the score

“Knowing the HERS score of your home can be the difference between a European vacation every few years or a kiddie pool in the driveway,” said Herro. “A lower HERS score could also raise the value of your home because the rating is being added to home appraisal standards.” Proposed federal legislation also could provide mortgage borrowing advantages for homes with low HERS, he added.

More than 2 million homes in the U.S. have been HERS rated for energy efficiency, generating energy savings of $268 million in 2016 alone, according to RESNet. More homes are being rated as home builders increase their participation in the HERS program and post the ratings for the homes they build. To find the HERS for a home, a list of participating home builders and tips for improving the energy efficiency of your home, go online to: http://www.hersindex.com/knowthescore/.