GSA Tests Energy-Slashing Technologies To Deploy In 10,000 Federal Buildings

Fleeting scandal aside, the General Services Administration quietly continues to root out government waste and save taxpayer dollars. The GSA announced this week that trials of workstation lighting controls and advanced power strips dramatically reduced electricity use in federal buildings. The agency also announced plans to test an additional dozen energy- and water-saving technologies this year as part of its Green Proving Ground program.

The banality of its name doesn?t hint at the importance of the GSA?s mandate and influence. The GSA is the largest owner of commercial real estate in the United States; it owns and leases 9,600 buildings nationwide. If the GSA were to unleash the full potential of federal procurement across its portfolio, it would expand the market for sustainable technologies.

Regular readers will remember the last time the GSA was featured at this blog. It was April, and GSA was engulfed by blowback from the Las Vegas conference scandal. That post focused on the GSA?s Deep Retrofit Challenge, a partnership with energy service companies under which the GSA aims to achieve ?the maximum energy performance savings possible? by retrofitting 30 federal buildings, totaling nearly 17 million square feet.

The Green Proving Ground complements these efforts by leveraging the GSA?s extensive real estate portfolio to undertake real-world testing of promising energy- and water-saving technologies. Innovations that reduce operating costs and meet the sustainability goals outlined by President Obama for federal agencies (more on this below) are deployed by the GSA. Technologies proven effective in earlier rounds of Green Proving Ground testing, for instance, are being installed as part of building retrofits funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Here are results from the GSA Green Proving Ground trials released this week:

Tackling plug loads with advanced power strips

Plug loads ? the ubiquitous computers, printers, and copy machines that clutter a modern office ? now account for roughly 25% of the electricity consumed in a typical office building. Working with a team from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), GSA indentified eight buildings in its Mid-Atlantic region in which to test advanced power strips (APS) that constrain plug loads. Planners selected three plug-load reduction strategies: schedule timer control, load-sensing control, and a combination of the two. The APS selected for the trial provides Web-based control, monitoring, and data collection.

The schedule timer control was the most effective strategy tested in the Plug Load Control study (PDF), resulting in an average electricity savings of 48%. Giving users the ability to set the day and time when a circuit is powered on and off reaped particularly large energy savings in the printer room and kitchen, where appliances such as coffee makers and water coolers had been powered 24/7. ?Energy savings and low simple payback argue in favor of deployment of APS with schedule time control throughout GSA?s portfolio,? the GSA found.

The GSA's Green Proving Ground program tests the ability of promising technologies, such as the workstation lighting systems pictured above, to slash energy and water waste in federal buildings. Credit: GSA

Workstation lighting controls

Technology tested under the Occupant Responsive Lighting study (PDF) delivered annual electricity savings ranging from 27% to 63%. This time, the GSA partnered with experts at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to identify seven sites at five buildings in California to test a package that included a workstation-specific lighting system, dimmable ballasts, occupancy sensors at each luminaire, and controls. The retrofitted systems are centered over each cubicle; separate ballasts dedicated to ambient and task lighting enable individuals to adjust lighting to preferred levels.

Not surprisingly, the test site with the longest working hours ? a call center at the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles that is occupied 18 hours a day, seven days a week ? demonstrated the largest energy savings. Simple payback at this site was calculated to be less than seven years. The GSA expects costs for workstation lighting systems to fall as the technology matures and reaches scale. Even so, the GSA says that offices operating 14 hours a day or longer, with utility costs of $0.11/kWh or more, offer ?a strong argument for targeted deployment.?

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/09/29/gsa-tests-energy-slashing-technologies-to-deploy-in-10000-federal-buildings/

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No. 1 Alabama eases past Ole Miss, 33-14

Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a 12-yard touchdown pass as Mississippi defensive back Frank Crawford (5) and defensive back Charles Sawyer (3) defend in the first half of an NCAA college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a 12-yard touchdown pass as Mississippi defensive back Frank Crawford (5) and defensive back Charles Sawyer (3) defend in the first half of an NCAA college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace (14) throws a pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a pass for a touchdown over Mississippi defensive back Wesley Pendleton (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

Alabama defensive back Deion Belue (13) intercepts a pass intended for Mississippi wide receiver Donte Moncrief (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

Alabama coach Nick Saban watches his team warm up prior to the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) ? Amari Cooper caught two touchdown passes from AJ McCarron and Christion Jones returned a kickoff 99 yards for another score, leading No. 1 Alabama to a 33-14 victory over Mississippi Saturday night.

The Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed briefly, 7-6, for the first time in regulation since last year's Tennessee game, a span of about 10 games. The Rebels (3-2, 0-1) put up a fight against a team that had been walloping opponents by nearly 37 points on average, but still lost their ninth straight SEC opener.

"It was a hard-fought win for us," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I think people probably don't give Ole Miss enough credit. They played hard. They were physical. Their offense is difficult to defend."

Saban had tried to keep his players focused by broadcasting Tim Tebow's memorable speech after the Rebels upset Florida four years ago in the weight room and meeting rooms. Alabama goes into its open week without needing such a podium prompter.

McCarron completed 22 of 30 passes for 180 yards and Eddie Lacy gained much of his 82 yards in the fourth quarter when Alabama put it away with Jeremy Shelley's third and fourth field goals of the game.

The Tide's defense bailed out an offense that sputtered at times with three interceptions.

Alabama totaled 305 yards against a defense that gave up 66 points and 676 yards to Texas two weeks ago. The Rebels gained 218 yards in a game that was largely controlled by the defenses after days when SEC teams like Texas A&M and Georgia rolled up 50-plus points.

Lacy had 12 carries for 43 yards through three quarters. Cooper collected eight catches for 84 yards.

McCarron broke Brodie Croyle's school mark of 190 consecutive passes without an interception. He finished the game with 206 in a row.

Bo Wallace was 15-of-26 passing for 123 yards for Ole Miss and was intercepted twice. Jeff Scott was limited to 49 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown.

Ole Miss did something no other team had done in about 10 games: Got a lead on Alabama in regulation. It lasted only as long as it took Jones to run back the ensuing kick.

Scott cut inside for a 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 7-6 lead. That ended the Tide's streak at 603 minutes, 46 seconds dating back to a 3-0 first quarter deficit against the Volunteers last season.

It was fleeting. Jones raced untouched for a touchdown after grabbing the ball on a high bounce at the goal line and Alabama scored two more TDs before halftime to surge to a 27-7 lead.

It was Alabama's first kick return for a TD since Trent Richardson did it against Duke on Sept. 18, 2010.

Then, Dee Milliner intercepted a pass that Wallace threw right to him. Three plays later, McCarron hit the playmaking freshman Cooper for a 16-yard touchdown. It was ruled incomplete, but a review overturned the call after replays showed he had possession with a foot in bounds and the ball stretched just across the goal line.

Cooper reached over Frank Crawford in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Both his scores were on third-down plays.

The Tide defense picked off passes on consecutive on consecutive drives after Ole Miss scored its first touchdown.

"That was the turning point in the game," Saban said. "We really only put one true drive together. Those turnovers were really the difference in the game."

Ole Miss didn't score again until Randall Mackey's 12-yard touchdown run with 6:35 left in the third quarter trimmed the deficit to 27-14. The Rebels converted two fourth-down plays on the drive, on a Jeff Scott run and catch.

The Rebels had one final chance to stay in the game. They inched across midfield midway through the fourth but had to punt and Alabama ran most of the clock down with a ground game mostly held in check before getting another field goal.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-09-30-FBC-T25-Mississippi-Alabama/id-23976161858948cfa6adf360ba8b219d

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An airlift brings in 40 dogs for new lives in Florida | jacksonville.com

About 40 refugees arrived in small planes at Craig Field on Saturday, furry and panting and wagging, quite happy to be on the ground.

They had no names, just numbers. The names will come later, in their new lives.

They were part of a massive volunteer operation by a group called Pilots N Paws, which on Saturday saw 80 or so pilots ferry more than 300 dogs out of an airport near Charlotte, N.C.

Their destinations: No-kill shelters in seven states, where the animals will have a chance to meet the humans who will eventually adopt them.

North Carolina has one of the highest pet euthanasia rates in the country, the group says, so this a life-or-death matter. But that doesn?t mean the people and animals involved weren?t having fun.

Kevin and Susan Saunders of Dawsonville, Ga., were in the first plane to land in Jacksonville. They arrived at 11 a.m., after following the coastline south from Savannah, Ga. Inside pet carriers in their Mooney M20J, they had two big dogs who?d slept the whole way, lulled by the engine noise.

?Who wants out?? Kevin Saunders said, lifting out a long-legged Doberman-shepherd mix, which slid down nervously down the wing, legs splayed in front of him. It seemed happy on solid ground, quickly heading with Susan Saunders toward a patch of grass where it could take care of some urgent business.

Next up was Wells Murphy of Hilton Head, S.C., tooling down the runway in his Beech Baron. In the passenger seat next to him was a blond shepherd mix, sitting up, quite business-like, taking in the sights. The dog had been good company, Murphy said, and seemed to appreciate ?this whole flying business.?

Four other dogs were in pet carriers behind the seats, two of them huge, long-haired Irish wolfhounds. General hilarity ensued as Murphy let them out and then tried to tie their leashes to a metal step below the wing.

Dogs wrapped their leashes around each other. They wrapped their leashes around Murphy?s legs. Heads poked out from under the wolfhounds? bellies, and the last dog in the plane kept barking: Let me out! Every once in a while, one of the passengers unwrapped itself and wandered off to explore, trailing a red leash behind it.

Someone should have filmed it and put it on YouTube. Would have gone viral.

Murphy and other pilots donated their planes, their time and their fuel to the dog airlift. Their motives were simple. ?If these dogs don?t get to a good shelter, they?re gone,? Murphy said. ?That?s enough reason right there.?

The pilots described a ?madhouse? scene Saturday morning at the airport outside Charlotte, with hundreds of dogs in pet carriers lined up inside a hangar and pilots outside itching to go before a rainy front moved in.

The dogs that landed in Jacksonville were bound for 27 acres in Wellington, outside West Palm Beach. There they?d join 200 dogs already living at Big Dog Rescue Ranch. Andrew Diner, manager of the refuge, said he figured they?d all get homes: About 30 are adopted from his place each week.

?People are looking for all kinds of dogs,? he said. ?As long as they?re well-trained and well-behaved, they get homes.?

These dogs were gems, happily licking at any offered hand, tails a-wagging.

Diner, a bit frazzled in the mid-day heat, was busy checking dogs off against the paperwork he had as plane after plane ? 10 in all ? landed, each with new furry cargo. Then he had to figure out how to fit those 40 or so animals into a big van and a Ford Expedition.

He and his co-workers stacked up the pet carriers, filling every inch of their vehicles.

The dogs, with a five-hour road trip ahead of them, sat waiting in the carriers, panting.

No whining. No barking. They should get homes.

?

Matt Soergel: (904) 359-4082

Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-09-29/story/airlift-brings-40-dogs-new-lives-florida

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Obama mixes debate preparation with fundraising

President Barack Obama arrives to speak at a campaign event in Washington, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama arrives to speak at a campaign event in Washington, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event in Washington, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event in Washington, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event in Washington, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama warned Democrats about becoming too complacent with six weeks left before the election. He joked that Democrats tend to believe that the "sky is falling" or that "everything is great."

"This is going to be a close race right down to the wire," he told about 90 donors gathered Friday evening at the Washington home of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat.

The president's remarks came amid public polls that show him gaining advantages in some key battleground states. It also came months after anxious Democrats worried that Obama would not be able to keep up with Republican rival Mitt Romney's fundraising.

In a day partly devoted to a fundraising blitz for himself and other Democrats, Obama also offered themes of political unity, telling another group of donors that the nation is "not as divided as the pundits make it seem."

"I don't know how many folks will vote for me this time around," Obama told an afternoon audience of donors at a hotel near the White House. "But I say the same thing to them (as in 2008): I will be your president, too."

"I'm not fighting to create Democrat or Republican jobs," he added. "I'm fighting to create American jobs."

Obama continued to seize on a leaked video in which Romney said that 47 percent of people "will vote for the president no matter what." Romney described them as people who pay no federal income tax and "believe that they are victims."

Obama spoke at the first of three fundraisers after another Friday afternoon of debate prep at Democratic National Committee headquarters. He will face off against Romney in Denver on Wednesday.

The afternoon fundraiser at the Capital Hilton drew an estimated 700 guests with tickets starting at $250.

Tickets for the event at Rockefeller's home cost $20,000 per person.

The final fundraiser, back at the Hilton, drew an estimated 200 people who paid $2,500 or more to attend. The money was set for Obama's campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties.

"If you guys have written all the checks you can," Obama told donors at the final event, "go find some friends."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-09-28-Obama/id-df7a97d24ef748ca84f27a47c0f23703

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Tenn. Christian College Sorry for Suppressing News of Sex Charges

September 29, 2012|10:49 am

"If we have upset or offended anyone relating to this situation, we apologize. It was not our intent," President Stephen Livesay of Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn., said in a statement on Friday. "Our intent was to look at the situation as Christians and do what was right. As humans, we are fallible."

According to Chattanooga Times Free Press, Alex Green, editor of the student paper, the Bryan College Triangle, wrote a story about the resignation of Biblical studies professor David Morgan, who was arrested during an FBI child molestation sting. He was reportedly trying to meet underage girls for sex at a gas station in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

The college head didn't allow the newspaper to publish the story, saying he first needed to confirm the details of the professor's arrest, though the article quoted from public records. However, the editor chose to distribute the story himself, placing fliers across campus with the original story.

"In hindsight, this may have been a mistake," Livesay now admits. "We believed we were doing the right thing to protect the privacy of a man charged, but not convicted, of a crime. We have had no reports of any inappropriate behavior involving Dr. Morgan and our students, faculty or staff during his two years at Bryan. A thorough background check before he was hired showed a clean record."

The college president added he was unwilling to comment on the case earlier because it occurred during the summer when students were not on campus, and the professor resigned on his own. He said the Triangle is produced as part of a class, and students receive academic credit for their participation. Therefore, "the Triangle falls under the supervision and authority of the administration. This being the case, we did not believe the college should put itself or its publications in the position of commenting on pending criminal or judicial matters."

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The goal of Bryan College, he said, "is to teach our students to put Christ above all so that we can make a difference in today's world. It means doing the right thing. This is why we requested that our student paper not publish information regarding the resignation of a faculty member, Dr David Morgan, this past July."

Livesay said the college has learnt from the incident "as we continue to carry out our mission to put Christ above all and make a difference in today's world."

The student editor said the college has taken no punitive action against him and he feels supported by his professors and newspaper colleagues. "I have been treated gracefully," he was quoted as saying.

Source: http://www.christianpost.com/news/tenn-christian-college-sorry-for-suppressing-news-of-sex-charges-82404/

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Bad Credit Personal Loans Funds Despite Of ... - Medical Travel Club

[unable to retrieve full-text content]by Peter Taylor,cheap watches. Bad credit personal loans: funds despite of bad credit records. Other Related Articles. by Geetika Jain. Bad credit personal loans are a fruitful financial option that can be trusted by bad creditors. The borrowers ...

Source: http://www.medicaltravelclub.com/qa/2012/09/bad-credit-personal-loans-funds-despite-of-bad-credit-records-article-finance/

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HBT: Braun, Axford give away 5,000 tickets

Milwaukee?s season more or less came to an end last night thanks to John Axford blowing a save against the Reds, dropping the Brewers to four games out of the second Wild Card spot.

That might make it tough for fans to appreciate a nice gesture from Axford at this point?or at any point this season, considering his nine blown saves?but the closer has partnered with Ryan Braun to purchase 5,000 tickets for Sunday?s game and give them away for free as part of ?Fan Appreciation Weekend? at Miller Park.

Fans can sign up for the free tickets on Brewers.com, although they will ?be responsible for paying a per order processing fee.?

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/28/ryan-braun-and-john-axford-thank-brewers-fans-by-giving-away-5000-tickets/related/

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Lexus LF-CC Concept shows the future of touchscreen interiors

We're boots on the ground at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and Lexus is one of the first auto makers to roll out its concept hardware for the show. The company had a few machines to unveil, but the highlight is definitely the curvaceous LF-CC. It is, alas, just a concept that is intended more to show the future design direction of the company than give a clue into an actual production model to come, but more interesting is the clues this is hinting about both interior design and electrification on the powertrain front. Join us after the break for more details -- and more pictures.

Gallery: Lexus LF-CC

Continue reading Lexus LF-CC Concept shows the future of touchscreen interiors

Lexus LF-CC Concept shows the future of touchscreen interiors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 04:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TV: Syrian rebels briefly entered army compound

Free Syrian Army fighter carry the body of their comrade away from the front line during clashes against Syrian Army in Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. Syria's unrest began in March 2011 when protests calling for political change met a violent government crackdown. Many in the opposition have since taken up arms as the conflict morphed into a civil war that activists say has killed nearly 30,000 people. Over the past few months, the rebels have increasingly targeted security sites and symbols of regime power in a bid to turn the tide in the fighting.(AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

Free Syrian Army fighter carry the body of their comrade away from the front line during clashes against Syrian Army in Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. Syria's unrest began in March 2011 when protests calling for political change met a violent government crackdown. Many in the opposition have since taken up arms as the conflict morphed into a civil war that activists say has killed nearly 30,000 people. Over the past few months, the rebels have increasingly targeted security sites and symbols of regime power in a bid to turn the tide in the fighting.(AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

BEIRUT (AP) ? A Lebanese TV station has broadcast footage of Syrian government troops driving rebels from a building they had occupied after a military compound in Damascus was attacked by car bombs.

The images came from Lebanon's Al Manar TV station, whose correspondent was with Syrian troops on Wednesday on what was described as an assault to retake army command headquarters.

Flames engulfed the headquarters after rebels detonated two car bombs in carefully orchestrated attacks followed by over three hours of gunbattles in and around the compound. Four Syrian guards and a reporter for Iranian TV were killed.

The footage showed the bodies of three rebels inside the building after government troops took control. The bomb attacks highlighted the regime's growing vulnerability as rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Assad grow bolder.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-27-Syria/id-e216d8940cb84cd1ba97fd84f256fbcb

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Kentucky Health News: Kentucky has the nation's third highest rate ...

September 29 is World Heart Day, and, according to the most recent edition of the United Health Foundation?s America?s Health Rankings, Kentucky has the third highest percentage of adults with cardiac disease. Arizona and West Virginia were the only states that ranked worse than Kentucky. It is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women.

According to the Heart Disease and Stroke Action Plan for the State report for 2011-2016, Kentucky women also have a higher heart disease age-adjusted death rate of 205 per 100,000 as compared to a national average of 176 per 100,000.? Further, 41 percent of adult women in Kentucky have high cholesterol, a leading indicator for the disease. To read the state action plan, go here. For more on World Heart Day and the World Heart Federation, go here.

Source: http://kyhealthnews.blogspot.com/2012/09/kentucky-has-nations-third-highest-rate.html

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6 ways to promote a healthy workspace | Dynamic Business ? Small ...

In the first series of the Small Business Success series AAMI presents instalment eight: ?Avoiding the 9 to 5 Health Hammer.?

For those spending more time in the office than they do at home it is imperative to create and maintain an optimal working space that?s complimentary to health, and to the general welfare of the working environment. Those who work from home are in a better position to manipulate their environment to cultivate health and safety around their work station, however there are still ways of optimising work place well-being, whether you are a sole trader working independently from your own office or a contractor sharing office premises.

When you spend almost 40 hours a week (or more) doing work in a repetitive manner it can become problematic to health, especially when it is work involving a computer. There are basic workstation steps that can act as preventative measures against office-induced injuries such as eye-strain, and repetitive strain syndrome.?

1. Optimising your workspace

How many times a day do you sit for more than one hour a day at your desk without standing up? Did you know that this may be problematic to your back, neck or shoulders? According to WorkSafe nearly 20 percent of all workplace related injuries stem from computer use and repetitive operational activities. These injuries are related to neck, shoulder, forearm, back, wrist and fingers.

Assuming that all chairs, monitors and monitor rests have an adjustment option, the worker should ensure that their thighs are parallel to the floor and their knees and elbow height to desk make a 90 degree angle to ensure that the back is not tilted.

Providing headsets and wireless mouses will ensure workers have less strain on their wrists and posture, allowing ease of use throughout their work day.

WorkCover also suggests that the desk layout should allow minimal strain, requiring less twisting movements on the back and should be around 6.25 square metres in size, allocating enough room for personal and work space.

Computer monitors should be at least 3-4 feet away from the seated position and a mouse should be positioned next to the edge of the keyboard to avoid arm strain.

2. Eye care

There is no hard evidence to suggest that using computers casually can be a harmful practice, however it is the prolonged usage and eye focusing which can cause problems such as red eye, headache, and shoulder and neck pain.

Strain on the eyes (Computer Vision Syndrome) is particularly problematic for the younger generations who have grown up using computers from an early age, as they have been raised using technology and looking at screens for prolonged periods of time. The best eye care method for looking at computer screens for long periods of time is to keep the eyes lubricated. This can involve frequent blinking, as we often forget to do this as often when looking at computer monitor. Also keeping eyes drops on hand can be handy for long periods of eye strain.

3. Hygiene

During the colder months a cold or flu virus can spread through an office environment like wildfire. And knowing how quickly germs can spread via touching equipment and sharing communal appliances, many instances of sickness can probably be avoided if workers remember to wash hands for at least 20 seconds when visiting the bathroom. Unwashed hands can often pass on germs to the mouth, face, and eyes throughout the day from desktop use, touching telephones and touching the face.

Antibacterial liquid or alcoholic wipes are recommended for wiping down hands and work spaces frequently as they eliminate much of the germs that may be hiding on fingers and residing on desktop spaces. These sanitisers are normally available as a wipe or in a bottle, and may also be handy for high traffic areas such as appliance handles.

4. Keeping hydrated

Surprisingly, drinking more water can actually keep you alert as the body is constantly being hydrated. If workers are engaging in frequent caffeine drinking, they are also advised to up their water intake as they will become dehydrated and therefore fatigued quickly.?

5. Lighting

If you?re in a position to manipulate the lighting of your workspace, take advantage of this. This is easier accomplished if working from home as you can experiment with dimmers and lamps. Also make sure that there is no light reflected on your monitor screen as it disturbs your vision. Screen glare can disturb the eyes in long term situations, so if you are seated near a window consider a tinted monitor screen to cut out sun light.

6. Rest

What most workers may not realise is that every hour of sleep received before midnight is actually worth twice as much those hours received after 12. Getting a set amount of sleep every night can ensure that you are working at your optimum capacity during the next working day and not lagging behind the computer. It is more a matter of going to bed around the same time each night than it is getting the same amount of hours every night.

When the small business owner wears the OH&S hat

Small business owners may not have access to an OH&S officer which means they inherit the tasks of overseeing the work safety of themselves and their staff. Even if you are only a sole person enterprise, you still need to mindful of safe workstation practices even if you think that it may not be relevant. RMIT University offers a free checklist for correctly setting up a workstation for chair, desk, computer, telephone, and desk stationery. If you are a small business owner seeking additional advice around office health visit WorkSafe.

With small businesses running on less core staff the level of productivity is less conducive when workplace health is compromised. A missed day of work is potentially highly disruptive if you are a sole trader. Long term office-related injuries can be avoided by paying attention to basic office procedures and monitoring the day-to-day health practices of workers.

This article is presented by Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd (AAMI, ABN 92 004 791 744), the issuer of AAMI property insurance products. AAMI has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or insurance needs. Please consider the relevant PDS at aami.com.au

Source: http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/hr-and-staff/6-ways-to-promote-a-healthy-workspace-28092012.html

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