|
|
|
Each issue of Directions magazine is coupled with references to web-based resources related to the magazine's articles, departments and columns. The online content and tools work to extend the magazine's coverage, offering a deeper dive into the information that interests you most.
Wind power all starts with the sun. When the sun heats up a certain area of land, the air around that land mass absorbs some of that heat. At a certain temperature, that hotter air begins to rise very quickly because a given volume of hot air is lighter than an equal volume of cooler air. Read more at HowStuffWorks.com
Harnessing the wind is one of the cleanest, most sustainable ways to generate electricity. Wind power produces no toxic emissions and none of the heat trapping emissions that contribute to global warming. This, and the fact that wind power is one of the most abundant and increasingly cost-competitive energy resources, makes it a viable alternative to the fossil fuels that harm our health and threaten the environment. Read more at the Union of Concerned Scientists
Experience with regional power markets suggests that active demand response is crucial to both power system reliability and market efficiency. Efforts to enable demand-side participation in electricity markets are providing significant opportunities for end users and aggregators. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab research projects focus on analysis of demand response policies and programs, adoption of enabling technologies, and technical assistance to independent system operators (ISOs), utilities, and regulatory agencies on program design, implementation, evaluation and measurement and verification. Read more at the U.S. Department of Energy
Buildings account for 70 percent of the nation’s electricity use, and electric power plants, which burn coal to generate electricity, are the main source of global warming. Power plants cause other environmental and health problems, including acid rain, smog, and mercury poisoning in lakes and rivers. We can reduce these hazards by curbing energy use through sustainable building technologies, such as solar and wind power generation, and efficient design. Download Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF)
The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) recently commenced its historic Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS), a far-reaching, ground-breaking energy efficiency initiative that seeks to reverse the pattern of ever-increasing energy use in New York by reducing electric usage 15 percent of projected levels by 2015; one of the most aggressive efficiency programs in the nation. Read more at Power Online
The world’s largest energy consumer the United States on Monday called for a global push for increased energy efficiency to help meet rising demand and alleviate the impact of high prices on economic growth. “We must promote increased energy efficiency,” U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said in a speech to a green energy conference. “The biggest source of immediately available ‘new’ energy is the energy that we waste every day.” Read more at Reuters
NYMEX pioneered the development of energy futures and options contracts in 1978 as a means of bringing price transparency and risk management to the market. Transactions executed on the exchange avoid the risk of counterparty default because the NYMEX clearinghouse acts as the counterparty to every trade. Trading is conducted in energy, metals, softs and environmental commodity futures and options via the CME Globex electronic trading system, open outcry, and NYMEX ClearPort. Read more at NYMEX
This article presents an analysis of price volatility in the spot natural gas market, with particular emphasis on the Henry Hub in Louisiana. The purpose is to address whether natural gas prices have been more volatile in recent years and identify potential market factors that may contribute to price volatility. In addition to a first-order autoregressive error model, several graphical and statistical tools are used to examine trends and determine influencing factors. Although there is no demonstrated long-term trend in volatility, there are seasonal patterns and volatility is correlated strongly with storage dynamics. Download Energy Information Administration (PDF)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed new rules to improve operations in organized electric markets, boost competition and bring additional benefits to consumers. The proposed reforms are designed to ensure just and reasonable rates and to remedy undue discrimination and preference and improve wholesale competition in organized markets. Download FERC News Release (PDF)
Consumers in open market places benefit from the competition among suppliers to provide more and better products and services. This is certainly true in markets for large use customers. However, there is a compelling case that smaller customers, including residential, can, and are, benefiting from the same competition that has brought innovation to larger customer markets. Download Innovation in the Retail Electric Market (PDF)
Google has tapped into the contemporary zeitgeist in particular with its green efforts. The initiative, dubbed RE<C (shorthand for "renewable energy less than coal"), calls for Google to invest in companies developing clean-energy technologies and for Google itself to invest tens of millions in research and development in renewable energy. Read more at E-Commerce Times
Direct Energy offers a range of plans and options based on your business needs. Learn about electricity and natural gas plans, as well as a variety of other options, that can be customized based on your consumption and tolerance for risk. Read more at Direct Energy
Direct Energy can put together a custom energy solution for your business. Where available, we can implement green energy, building automation systems, engineering services, energy management services and more. We offer a total energy solution, specific to the needs of your business. Read more at Direct Energy more...
If you're looking for ways to make your business greener, this article offers a chart outlining several different programs, along with websites that can offer additional information. While the content is aimed at small businesses, any company can make use of the resources it offers. Read more at New York Enterprise Report more...
This compendium of "green" articles from Forbes covers the programs companies are putting in place, how the sustainability movement is affecting the labor market, the impact of green in terms of private equity investment and more. Read more at Forbes.com more...
Like Forbes, Fortune created its own special section covering green initiatives in corporate America. The articles include "10 Green Giants," covering the global efforts of several highly regarded companies, and "California Dreamin'," which outlines the state's country-leading efforts. Read more at Fortune.com more...
- During 2006, interest in carbon offsets grew dramatically in the U.S. The role they play in attaining "carbon neutrality" is increasingly important. Clean Air-Cool Planet commissioned this report as a contribution to the discussion about what makes a good retail carbon offset provider and to help provide guidance to those considering the purchase of offsets. more...
- Ecobusiness.com offers this survey of carbon offset providers. The side-by-side comparison includes the name of the provider, pricing, whether it's a nonprofit, type of project it invests in, if you can choose what you'll invest in, offset types and how its projects are validated or certified. more...
- This Department of Energy newsletter breaks down weekly gas prices by NYMEX futures, seasonal issues, storage and other factors. more...
- The more you know about the fluctuating natural gas market, the more you can put that knowledge to work for your business, making better-informed energy decisions. To that end, Direct Energy recently launched MarketWise, a weekly, free online report that provides up-to-date industry information, including NYMEX settlement prices and other critical data that affects natural gas and electricity prices, such as storage, alternative fuel prices and weather. MarketWise contains a summary of the week's natural gas activity and includes graphs and charts clearly outlining market trends.
This article presents an analysis of price volatility in the spot natural gas market, with particular emphasis on the Henry Hub in Louisiana. The purpose is to address whether natural gas prices have been more volatile in recent years and identify potential market factors that may contribute to price volatility. In addition to a first-order autoregressive error model, several graphical and statistical tools are used to examine trends and determine influencing factors. Although there is no demonstrated long-term trend in volatility, there are seasonal patterns and volatility is correlated strongly with storage dynamics. Download Energy Information Administration (PDF)
Buildings account for 70 percent of the nation's electricity use, and electric power plants, which burn coal to generate electricity, are the main source of global warming. Power plants cause other environmental and health problems, including acid rain, smog, and mercury poisoning in lakes and rivers. We can reduce these hazards by curbing energy use through sustainable building technologies, such as solar and wind power generation, and efficient design. Read more at Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF)
The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) recently commenced its historic Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS), a far-reaching, ground-breaking energy efficiency initiative that seeks to reverse the pattern of ever-increasing energy use in New York by reducing electric usage 15 percent of projected levels by 2015; one of the most aggressive efficiency programs in the nation. Read more at Power Online
The world's largest energy consumer the United States on Monday called for a global push for increased energy efficiency to help meet rising demand and alleviate the impact of high prices on economic growth. "We must promote increased energy efficiency,"U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said in a speech to a green energy conference. "The biggest source of immediately available ‘new' energy is the energy that we waste every day."Read more at Reuters
Experience with regional power markets suggests that active demand response is crucial to both power system reliability and market efficiency. Efforts to enable demand-side participation in electricity markets are providing significant opportunities for end users and aggregators. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab research projects focus on analysis of demand response policies and programs, adoption of enabling technologies, and technical assistance to independent system operators (ISOs), utilities, and regulatory agencies on program design, implementation, evaluation and measurement and verification. Read more at the U.S. Department of Energy
Direct Energy offers a range of plans and options based on your business needs. Learn about electricity and natural gas plans, as well as a variety of other options, that can be customized based on your consumption and tolerance for risk. Read more at Direct Energy
- Regulations proposed by the Treasury Dept. and IRS could clarify a few rules related to HSA-compatible limited-purpose and post-deductible flexible spending accounts (FSAs) offered through a Section 125 cafeteria plan. Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code gives employees the ability to make a choice between receiving taxable cash compensation or tax-free employee benefits, such as health care, dependent care and other fringe benefits. The proposed regulations require that employers give employees the option of changing (or revoking) their HSA contributions at least once a month if the HSA is offered through a cafeteria plan. more...
- Enrollment in high-deductible health plans linked with health savings accounts has continued to increase since they first became available in 2004, but 2008 "could be their breakout year," according to some health care consultants, the Washington Times reports. According to consultants, enrollment in high-deductible health plans linked with HSAs in 2008 is expected to increase by an estimated four million to a total of 10 million as more large companies begin to offer such plans to help reduce health care costs. more...
- largely unpublicized piece of legislation passed late last year created expanded contribution opportunities. But before you start pouring in money, you should know that some of the new rules aren't as tax-friendly as advertised. Here's a look at HSAs and the latest rules that govern them. more...
- Sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plans, a nonprofit, national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage, this pamphlet breaks down what long-term health care coverage is intended to do, how it works and its advantageous tax treatment. more...
- At this site, Martin Bayne, Mr. Long-Term Care—who does not sell insurance or related products, offers users access to consumer long-term care information, quotes, ratings, reviews, product comparisons, Federal pros and cons and a discussion board. more...
- Just as in the case of health care coverage, once a consumer needs the benefits of a long-term care policy they are often physically, mentally and emotionally disabled and unable to assert their rights. This project was undertaken to alert, educate and warn consumers, and their families, now while they have the ability to make intelligent choices. more...
This list of frequently asked WiMAX questions covers a variety of areas, including: general information, technology and standards, equipment and service, applications and more. Read more at WiMAX.com
WiMAX delivers significant business benefits to operators and users in diverse environments (enterprise, consumer, emerging, public service), geographies and demographies (urban, suburban, rural), both over the short and long terms. This paper presents the key technical features and applications of WiMAX, and illustrate them by providing examples of usage scenarios in which WiMAX would be the preferred solution. Download Can WiMAX Address Your Applications? (PDF)
- The IPv6 Forum is a worldwide consortium of worldwide leading web vendors, industry subject matter experts, research and education networks, with a the mission of advocating IPv6 by dramatically improving technology, market, and deployment user and industry awareness of IPv6, creating a quality and secure new-generation web and allowing equitable access to knowledge and technology. more...
- The web 2.0 technology stack offers real, tangible, and measurable benefits to enterprises as a better way to build, deploy and maintain enterprise IT solutions, resulting in better user productivity, lower operations costs and reduced development and maintenance costs. more...
- Developed in mid-2006, Go2web20.net is a directory of web 2.0 applications and services containing some 1,241 participants. Another good resource site is the Web 2.0 Workgroup. more...
- As businesses rush to get involved in Web 2.0, they must think about the security implications of all those blogs, wikis and social networks. They could be putting their networks, employees and customers at risk. "Web 2.0 is all about openness and freedom," says Kris Lamb, director of the IBM Internet Security Systems division's X-Force security research organization. "You're really tearing down the traditional barriers that have kept companies safe." more...
- NCER's site offers a range of information and resources. If you're seeking information about recycling laws in your state, check out the Publications link, where you'll find "A Study of the State-by-State E-waste Patchwork" and "Brand/Manufacturer Differences Across State Programs." Under its Presentation links, you'll find a comprehensive PowerPoint "Electronics Recycling Systems and Policies in the United States" presentation, which offers an overview of current and proposed state and federal e-waste legislation. more...
- Part of the Green Online Initiative and sponsored by NCER, Electronic Recycling offers a wealth of recycling/reuse information representing all industry work groups (e.g., collection, manufacturing, refurbishment/resell, research, recycling). It also provides guidance to households and organizations for promoting recycling and reuse efforts. more...
- StEP is a recently formed initiative of various United Nations organizations with the overall aim to solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from industry, governments, international organizations and the science sector, StEP initiates and facilitates approaches toward the sustainable handling of e-waste. Its five Task Forces—Policy & Legislation, ReDesign, ReUse, ReCycle and Capacity Building—are geared toward developing feasible, just and environmentally safe solutions for the e-waste problem are developed through analysis, planning and pilot projects. more...
- Like almost anything else, our friends at Wikipedia are more than willing to pitch in with comprehensive description of online collaborative software products, along with a very extensive list of developers and manufacturers. Its listing includes separate entries for groupware, a comparison chart of applications and a very long list of proprietary software providers. more...
- If you're looking for a smart phone that fits your specific needs, it's best to find solid side-by-side comparisons. Following are several sources you can consult when you're evaluating phones:
- This article offers a perspective on the data you need to calculate lifetime customer value and on how to choose a solid working formula. For more information, check author Melaney Smith's "What Should You Spend to Acquire a Customer?" more...
- How can you find those high-potential customers in a database that contains hundreds of data items for each of millions of customers? Data Mining software can help find the "high-profit" customers buried in mountains of information. Here's how to fit your data mining results into the execution of marketing campaigns that enhance the profitability of customer relationships. more...
- Best-selling authors Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, Ph.D., founders of the Peppers & Rogers Group marketing firm, are famous for having lead the CRM charge with their first book, The One to One Future. Their latest offering, Return on Customer, introduces a new way to measure how your company earns a profit, and at the same time redefines the concept of what it means to be "profitable," as a business in the context of customer retention (Amazon.com price is $16.47, plus shipping). more...
- How can you find those high-potential customers in a database that contains hundreds of data items for each of millions of customers? Data Mining software can help find the "high-profit" customers buried in mountains of information. Here's how to fit your data mining results into the execution of marketing campaigns that enhance the profitability of customer relationships. more...
- Best-selling authors Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, Ph.D., founders of the Peppers & Rogers Group marketing firm, are famous for having lead the CRM charge with their first book, The One to One Future. Their latest offering, Return on Customer, introduces a new way to measure how your company earns a profit, and at the same time redefines the concept of what it means to be "profitable," as a business in the context of customer retention (Amazon.com price is $16.47, plus shipping). more...
- Operated by the U.S. Treasury, this site offers the latest new and information about HSAs. It includes an HSA Basics brochure, information about contribution maximums for 2007, access to the IRS forms needed to implement the accounts and more...
- The IRS puts its own spin on HSAs for tax purposes. In this downloadable publication, you'll learn about what's new in HSAs for 2007, the key benefits of HSAs, what it takes to qualify for one, limits on contributions, how rollovers work, reporting contributions, distributions and proper record-keeping and more...
- Sponsored by Canopy Financial, the HSA Insider features links to objective information about HSA plans based on your area, a comparison tool that allows you to put your plan up against others and a physician search function covering more than 750,000 doctors nationwide. Dig deeper, and you'll find links to HSA Insider, a newsletter covering the industry at large; HSA Road Rules, a downloadable HSA reference guide; an extensive HSA FAQ list; and a quote finder for both individuals and business owners. more...
- Created by independent health insurance firm HSA for America, the HSA Blog offers coverage of the industry and its players. Article topics range from "Congress Did Good with Health Savings Accounts," "2006 Tax Relief Promotes Health Savings Accounts For 2007 Forward" and "Health Savings Accounts and Your Taxes" to "Humana to Cap Health Savings Account Premiums For More Than One Year," "Aetna Introduces New Health Savings Account Options in Colorado" and more...
Here's a quick description of the final IRS rules defining normal retirement age for defined benefit and money purchase pension plans. The rules allow distributions to be made from a plan upon a participant's attainment of normal retirement age prior to severance. Ordinarily, the normal retirement age is 65, but plans may specify a different retirement age if the purpose of a lower age is not to accelerate funding. Read more at the Financial Executives Research Foundation more...
The IRS offers a complete description of the new, final regulations under sections 401(a) and 411(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. These regulations provide rules permitting distributions to be made from a pension plan on the attainment of normal retirement age prior to a participant's severance from employment with the employer maintaining the plan. Read more at the Federal Register more...
If you're interested in previewing Daniel Cable's book, Change to Strange: Create a Great Organization by Building a Strange Workforce, Wharton School Publishing offers this sample chapter, "Strange Mechanics." In it, Cable asserts that you need your workforce to impress customers deeply and profoundly if you want to build a great organization. And a strange workforce is what makes customers notice your organization and want to give you their money. Read more at Wharton School Publishing more...
Two human resources pros put together this list of 20 questions designed to help readers build their own mentoring programs. The expertise is based on the mentoring program developed for spirits giant Brown-Forman Corporation. The two authors assert that "the difference between mentoring success and failure lies in the ability to build capacity and integrate learning continuously." Read more at CareerJournal more...
If you're looking for help in developing and implementing a mentoring program, your state may be able to help. Mentor, an organization devoted to helping guide children, offers this list of state organizations with resources geared toward helping businesses put mentoring programs in place. Read more at Mentor more...- This pamphlet, produced by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, highlights knowledge about the causes of stress at work and outlines steps that can be taken to prevent job stress. more...
- It's been proven: A stress-free worker is a happy worker, and a happy worker is a productive worker. So how do you keep stress down without hurting your productivity, all the while keeping everyone happy? It's not an easy balancing act, but here are some tips that may prove useful. more...
- Geared toward individual employees, this article outlines the specific things they can do to help you reduce stress at work and better cope with it (e.g., better time management, taking breaks, improved listening skills, etc.). more...
- Legal information site FindLaw.com offers a nuts-and-bolts explanation of overtime rules, including exemptions and employees' rights. more...
- Co-authored by Andrew Sum, Director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, this white paper explores the historic trends for teens in the labor market over a 22-year period. In addition, Sum and co-author Joseph McLaughlin make a strong case for the "major job creation strategy for the nation's teens." more...
- The report's findings reflect employers' growing frustrations over the preparedness of new entrants to the workforce. Employers expect young people to arrive with a core set of basic knowledge and the ability to apply their skills in the workplace—and the reality is not matching the expectation. more...
- In this Chicago Fed Letter, the authors provide an overview of the decline in teen labor force participation and its driving factors. more...
- The U.S. Department of Labor offers this state-by-state listing of minimum wage levels. (Note: In cases where the Federal and state laws feature different minimum wage rates, the higher standard applies.) With the Federal minimum wage potentially going to $7.25 per hour, it's interesting to note that Washington has the highest current rate, at $7.93 per hour, where Kansas has the lowest, at $2.65. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have no state-mandated minimum wage. more...
- The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) produced this guide. Looking at its "Facts at a Glance" link offers a fee for the EPI's direction, which, by and large, is supportive of the current hike, stating that it offers a range of advantages for working families, disadvantaged workers and others.more...
- This position paper, produced by the Heritage Foundation, looks at the other side of the minimum wage debate. It posits that, while many support raising the minimum wage because they want to help low-income Americans get ahead, minimum-wage earners are not much more likely to live in poverty than most Americans.more...
- Depending on the type of business you operate, there are a wide range of ethics policies that might work for you. Talk to your attorney or a qualified labor attorney about the appropriate one for your organization. A couple of sample policies—each with a differing level of complexity—appear below:
- Corporate code of ethics—Offered by FindLaw, this comprehensive sample policy dictates appropriate behavior in a wide range of situations and outlines disciplinary actions for those who violate it.
- Ethics policy for nonprofits—This policy focuses strongly on behavior of organization members without getting too deeply involved with specifics or consequences for breaking the policy. more...
- Much of what we're seeing in business planning today goes back to the "open-book management" concept developed by author and business owner Jack Stack in the 1990s. This article discusses the organizational benefits of open-book management, as well as the keys to its success. It also offers a sidebar, "The OBM 12-Step Plan," a step-by-step implementation process outline. more...
Download form [html]
- This CFO white paper summarizes the findings of a mail survey of finance executives at 287 midsize companies project sought to determine the point at which midsize companies perceive a need for more sophisticated software tools than spreadsheet-dependent planning, budgeting and forecasting. Download [pdf]
- Geared more toward the small-business owner, this article still covers territory for any company, outlining the pros and cons of hiring family and friends, but adding a section on managing the disadvantages. more...
- While MEDITECH has done well by fostering a truly family atmosphere, hiring family members, particularly your own family, offers a range of benefits. Advantages cover every area from taxes to income splitting, child care and savings programs. more...
- If you're looking for benchmarking best practices information, the Benchmark Network offers studies and related data across a wide range of industries and organizational functions. The Benchmarking Exchange (http://www.benchnet.com) is a membership-based site offering similar information. more...
- There are a number of sites dedicated helping you find M&A opportunities. Examples include eMergers (link: http://www.emergers.com) and the Merger Network. There are also sites, like that for the M&A Advisor newsletter that offer e-mail alerts regarding new opportunities.
GM. Ford. AT&T. Sears. Firestone. Krispy Kreme. Digital. Kodak. Once, they were riding high, the exemplars of business excellence. Then, disaster. Is your company headed for the same fate? The Self-Destructive Habits of Good Companies … And How to Break Them answers the questions "How do you know?" and "How do you change course?" Read more at LeadershipNow.com
While all the CEOs have the same title on their business cards, they are not remotely playing the same game or getting the same results. There is a profound difference in the speed with which a Chief Executive creates substantial, sustainable, economic value. Exceptional CEOs (in the top 5%) usually create 10 times or more economic value than their average CEO peer. This immense difference in CEO skill level and its effect on business performance is dramatic but seldom analyzed. Read more at The CEO Project
Mention strategic cost management (SCM) and most people nod their heads and think it’s unequivocally a good thing. While there have been textbooks written on the topic, legions of management consultants who make their living off of it, and even New Yorker articles razzing Wal-Mart executives for their decidedly brown bag (or fast-food takeout) lunches, strategic cost management is a business practice still not entirely well understood, even by those who purportedly swear by it. Read more at Compass on Business
China is used as an example, but the principles in this article can apply to any outsourcing model. In today’s economy, the driving force behind global competition can be summarized in a single equation: Value = (Quality + Technology + Service + Cycle Time)/Price. By delivering value through continued progress in reducing costs, and thereby improving profit margins and return on assets for enterprises, purchasing is truly becoming a force of its own within the executive boardroom. Read more at Supply Chain Management
- The CEO Project is a leading national exchange of knowledge, tools and best practices for CEOs of fast-growing companies. In addition to information, the site houses the results of the firm's years of in-depth research. Publications available include: "The 10X CEO: What Exceptional CEOs do Differently," "CEO Behaviors," "Fast-Growth Companies" and "Ventured-Backed CEOs: What Is Different." more...
- This summary of the study coauthored by Judi Brownell, Ph.D., Professor of Organizational Communication at Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, outlines the key elements in building trusted supplier relationships, with a focus on open-ended communication and flexible collaboration. more...
- This article explores in depth the keys to building deeper supplier relationships. The multi-part piece breaks down into:
- Get quality service from your suppliers—Creating mutual performance standards.
- Building good relationships with suppliers—Where to invest your time and energy in developing the bonds.
- How you can help your key suppliers—Tactics that can streamline and improve both your businesses.
- Use technology to improve efficiency—Share plans, forecasts and consumer data.
- Service level agreements—Clearly state for both sides what's being provided.
- Review your suppliers' performance—Creating regular intervals for benchmarking performance.
- Ending supplier contracts—Making sure you've covered your bases prior to termination.
Here's how I reduced supplier costs—A case study of cost-cutting by Ros Lee, Administration Director for contract publishing company McMillan-Scott. more...
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) has become a hot buzzword during the past few years. Article author Key Sloan, Principal at Tompkins Associates, advocates the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based) system of developing performance metrics for supplier relationships. He then goes onto describe specifically how each area works as it relates to building and tracking these metrics. more...
- VolunteerMatch offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. The organization represents more 40,000 nonprofit organizations. The site lets users easily find the volunteer opportunity that suits them, offering search tools by region or by matching users' skills against specifically requested nonprofit requirements. Users can also create personal pages designed to help nonprofits and other organizations review their volunteer work and contact them directly. more...
- Founded in 2001 by America Online, Cisco Systems and Yahoo!, Network for Good allows users to donate to more than a million charities and search from among over 36,000 volunteer opportunities. In addition, nonprofits can access tools for fundraising, volunteer recruitment and donor communication. Like VolunteerMatch, the site allows users to create their own profiles designed to help charities more easily find them. more...
- The Points of Light Corporate Volunteer Councils (CVCs) are local networks that businesses can join to share effective practices and address community needs through workplace volunteering. CVCs respond to community needs by providing valuable resources to help strengthen a business' community investment strategy. CVCs are typically affiliated with local community-based agencies, such as volunteer centers or United Way agencies. Some Councils have also incorporated as independent nonprofits. more...
- This article posits that businesses have begun to realize that their bottom line, delivery of profitable products and services, reputation and retention of high-quality employees depend, to some degree, on their commitment to responsible, community-centered business practices. In that vein, it goes on to highlight the benefits of corporate volunteering for the company, employees and the community, backed up by real-world statistics, and discusses the building blocks of good programs. more...
- Created by Fortune magazine, BusinessInnovationInsider.com, is a daily showcase for interviews, case studies and commentary on the theme of business innovation. Its focus is on those factors that impact innovation—competition, customer experience, intellectual property and design more...
- This magazine is all about using technology as a platform for innovation. Content covers such issues as IT optimization, information management, business agility and related content. more...
- Author Adam Messeiger offers this brief roundup of innovative business models (e.g., Southwest Airlines, Google and others), with a focus on what makes them unique. Perhaps the most interesting part of the piece are the many follow-up comments he's received. more...
- CThis brochure, offered by MPP&W, a CPA and business advisory firm, offers information about what it takes to qualify for the R&E Tax Credit, but also explodes several myths, helping readers understand that the credit is available to a much larger range of businesses than they might have assumed. more...
- The renewal, which is retroactive to January 1, 2006, doesn't leave companies much time to figure out the numbers, though few are complaining. The tax credit is worth an estimated $16.5 billion over the next 10 years. more...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed new rules to improve operations in organized electric markets, boost competition and bring additional benefits to consumers. The proposed reforms are designed to ensure just and reasonable rates and to remedy undue discrimination and preference and improve wholesale competition in organized markets. Download FERC News Release (PDF)
Consumers in open market places benefit from the competition among suppliers to provide more and better products and services. This is certainly true in markets for large use customers. However, there is a compelling case that smaller customers, including residential, can, and are, benefiting from the same competition that has brought innovation to larger customer markets. Download Innovation in the Retail Electric Market (PDF)
Here's a quick description of the final IRS rules defining normal retirement age for defined benefit and money purchase pension plans. The rules allow distributions to be made from a plan upon a participant's attainment of normal retirement age prior to severance. Ordinarily, the normal retirement age is 65, but plans may specify a different retirement age if the purpose of a lower age is not to accelerate funding. Read more at the Financial Executives Research Foundation more...
The IRS offers a complete description of the new, final regulations under sections 401(a) and 411(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. These regulations provide rules permitting distributions to be made from a pension plan on the attainment of normal retirement age prior to a participant's severance from employment with the employer maintaining the plan. Read more at the Federal Register more...
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Direct Energy and the Energy Bolt Design are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Direct Energy Marketing Limited in the
United States and Canada. Use of such trademarks has been licensed by
Direct Energy Marketing Limited to its various subsidiaries and
affiliates.
© 2004-2006 Direct Energy Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of Centrica
plc. Centrica was created following the demerger of British Gas plc in
1997 and is now a leading supplier of energy and related services. To
read more about Centrica plc please visit
www.centrica.com
Privacy Policy |
Terms of Use |
Global Sitemap
|
| |
|
