Address: Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail, Trenton, New Jersey Address: Parvin State Park, 701 Almond Rd, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318 Address: New Jersey Botanical Garden, 2 Morris Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456 Address: Saddle River County Park County Pitch, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Address: Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area, Rockaway, NJ 07866 Address: 3rd Avenue, 3rd Ave, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 Address: Laurelwood Arboretum, 725 Pines Lake Dr W, Wayne, NJ 07470 In 2022, energy prices around the world jumped by an enormous 60% following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, leaving many households within the US and around the globe struggling to budget for the sudden increase in energy bills. In 2023, prices are predicted to fall by 11% – leaving many households still struggling to make ends meet to pay off record-high energy bills. Here, MoneyTransfers.com has calculated some of the cheapest and most expensive items to run around the home based on the latest electricity costs regionally in the US. Jonathan Merry, CEO of MoneyTransfers.com, comments: “Many households are looking for ways to save money on their energy bills amidst the rising cost of living worldwide – and our hope is that this data will educate people on what everyday household appliances have the biggest impact on energy usage. While the colder months may see an obvious hike in bills due to the increased use of central heating and electric radiators, it’s very clear that households living in warmer climates in the US need to be just as cautious about their use of air conditioning, which has the highest overall electricity consumption out of any other appliance we reviewed.” Most Expensive Region for Electricity In the US, electricity rates are regulated at a state level, which can mean there is a huge variance in price across different areas in the US – plus, factors such as population density and transmission can also come into play. As of the latest data (released in November 2022) from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, states in the West region are currently experiencing the highest cost of electricity per kilowatt hour (kWh) at $0.18. Within the West, states in the Pacific region in particular are paying the highest prices of all, with the average cost of electricity per kWh in Los Angeles being $0.25. In contrast, states in the South are paying $0.15 per kWh, the Northeast averages $0.16 per kWh, and the Midwest has the cheapest electricity costs at just $0.14. Region Electricity Cost* Northeast $0.16 per kWh Midwest $0.14 per kWh South $0.15 per kWh West $0.18 per kWh Pacific $0.21 per kWh *as of November 2022 Air conditioning puts energy bills on blast We found that the biggest electricity users in American homes are air conditioning units, costing up to $1,062 per year on the assumption they’re switched on for eight hours a day. While a difference of a few cents per kWh across regions may not seem substantial, the effect this can have on energy bills can really be seen when we compare the average cost of air conditioners in different regions. Residents of the Midwest could benefit from an almost $200 reduction in their energy bill running their air conditioner for the same amount of time as those in the West, with an average annual cost of $826. Also taking the top spots for most expensive appliances to run are the more typical household appliances most people use on a daily basis: electric heaters, tumble dryers, washing machines, fridge freezers, and dishwashers all shoulder the lion’s share of household bills. A tumble dryer costs up to $8.64 per month in the West, or $6.72 a month at its cheapest in the Midwest. Meanwhile, a washing machine on average usage for a family of four will cost between $5.04 to $6.48 per month in electricity – with additional costs for the hot water used each cycle, too. LED light bulbs cheapest to run At the bottom of the list is LED lightbulbs, costing an average of $0.29 per month to run (assuming lights are on for 4 hours a day). LED lights may be a more expensive upfront cost, but they produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs, making them a clear choice for anyone looking to save money on energy costs in the long-term. Incandescent light bulbs, by comparison, cost up to an estimated $1.30 per month to run. In total, households could save up to $12.10 per year per lightbulb switching to LEDs. Remote work and increased bills Between 2019 and 2021, the number of people working from home in the US tripled from around 9 million to 27.6 million – a figure that is likely to have increased over 2022 as more and more Americans embrace the flexibility of remote work. One factor that many households may need to consider in 2023, then, is the effect the increase in numbers of people working from home may have on energy bills. For example, our research found that, on average, a laptop being on charge for 5 hours a day everyday uses between $1.06 – $1.22 a month. While this may not sound like a significant amount on it’s own, when you add in additional charge time for recreational use, additional energy use for cooking for home, having lights on for longer, switching the heating on during the day when you would normally be at the office, those smaller figures soon add up to a noticeable increase on energy bills. Electric stoves cheaper than a game console. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced that they are considering a ban on gas stoves amid new research linking them to childhood asthma. With approximately, 38% of US households relying on gas stoves, this announcement has left many wondering just how much their energy bills could change if regulations made switching to an electric stove necessary. With the average electric stove using an average of 3,000 watts per hour, we calculated that using an electric stove for one hour a day, seven days a week would cost between $2.94 and $3.36, per month – cheaper, in fact, that than the cost of running an electric heater for just two hours daily. Saving money on your energy billsIf you’re amongst the millions of households trying to cut costs on energy bills this year, our experts have highlighted a few key areas to focus on:
Cheapest and Most Expensive Appliances to Run Per Year Source: MoneyTransfers.com
In the world of artificial intelligence, the idea of “singularity” looms large. This slippery concept describes the moment AI exceeds beyond human control and rapidly transforms society. The tricky thing about AI singularity (and why it borrows terminology from black hole physics) is that it’s enormously difficult to predict where it begins and nearly impossible to know what’s beyond this technological “event horizon.” However, some AI researchers are on the hunt for signs of reaching singularity measured by AI progress approaching the skills and ability comparable to a human. One such metric, defined by Translated, a Rome-based translation company, is an AI’s ability to translate speech at the accuracy of a human. Language is one of the most difficult AI challenges, but a computer that could close that gap could theoretically show signs of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). “That’s because language is the most natural thing for humans,” Translated CEO Marco Trombetti said at a conference in Orlando, Florida, in December. “Nonetheless, the data Translated collected clearly shows that machines are not that far from closing the gap.” The company tracked its AI’s performance from 2014 to 2022 using a metric called “Time to Edit,” or TTE, which calculates the time it takes for professional human editors to fix AI-generated translations compared to human ones. Over that 8-year period and analyzing over 2 billion post-edits, Translated’s AI showed a slow, but undeniable improvement as it slowly closed the gap toward human-level translation quality.
On average, it takes a human translator roughly one second to edit each word of another human translator, according to Translated. In 2015, it took professional editors approximately 3.5 seconds per word to check a machine-translated (MT) suggestion — today that number is just 2 seconds. If the trend continues, Translated’s AI will be as good as human-produced translation by the end of the decade (or even sooner). “The change is so small that every single day you don’t perceive it, but when you see progress … across 10 years, that is impressive,” Trombetti said on a podcast in December. “This is the first time ever that someone in the field of artificial intelligence did a prediction of the speed to singularity.” This article originally appeared on Popular Mechanics. Written by Darren Orf 2022 may have been turbulent, but there was also plenty of good news you may have missed. Sources
With the US aiming for net zero by 2050 and the rising cost of energy bills, you may be wondering how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home.
You may be wondering how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home. Luckily, there is a multitude of ways to do this – some that require a professional but also ones that you can easily DIY. Here are a few suggestions to help you move towards a more sustainable home while saving a bit of money too! Insulation Insulation is key if you are looking to make your home more energy efficient. Around 25% of heat is lost through the roof, so ensuring that you install high-quality roof insulation could significantly increase the energy efficiency of your home. The Energy Saving Trust suggest that an average home could save up to $168 - $288 per year through adequate loft insulation, resulting in over $1,202 worth of savings over just five years. Wall insulation is also important and can result in savings. If your cavity-wall insulation is deemed ‘hard to treat’ you may be able to receive a grant in line with the Energy Company Obligation which can help to fund your insulation. Draught proofing Draught proofing your home is one of the easiest ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency as you will need to use less energy to keep your home warm which helps to reduce your energy bills. A good place to start is by sealing gaps around your home, for example, gaps under doors. This can be done by buying or making your own draught excluder, using flexible sealant or attaching brush strips at the bottom of external doors. Other ways to draught-proof include investing in thermal curtains and blinds, using an internal letterbox brush or cover and adding a chimney cap if you have an open chimney to stop heat from escaping and cold air from entering. Consider alternative energy Making the most of alternative, naturally occurring energy is a great way to keep your energy costs down. Solar panels tend to be a popular choice among homeowners as they also work when it is cloudy, meaning that the some times dreary winter weather isn’t a problem! Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity which is used to power your home. While the initial cost can be expensive, your energy bills will decrease significantly and you can even sell back any leftover energy to your supplier. Air source and ground source heat pumps are also a great way to power your home using alternative energy. Generally, air source pumps are easier to install as they don’t require any digging or drilling but they can be less efficient. Upgrade your boiler Old boilers tend to lose a lot of heat and are significantly less energy efficient than newer models. As such, upgrading your boiler can be a good option if you are wanting to reduce your home’s carbon dioxide emissions, while also saving money. Replacing your old G-rated boiler with a newer A-rated boiler can save you around 20%-30% per year on your gas bill. Currently, in the US, the government are offering grants to cover part of the cost to upgrade your old fossil fuel boiler to a heat pump or biomass boiler. The investment comes from President Biden’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that was signed into law last year to help make your home more energy efficient. ever notice how some people
never learned to do a four way stop? merge in traffic? take their turn? so what? what anyone else is doing how much someone is taking even if it is “more than their fair share” doesn't matter whether it's time, space or some commodity so what? focusing on you what you can control will actually move your needle forward sure you can commiserate with how selfish someone else is how bad and wrong they are for doing their life their way but instead of wasting your one and only precious life on that go and get yours what anyone else is or isn't doing doesn't matter even if it's "not nice" or how you would do it judging, complaining and comparing only keep you right where you are focus on your growth your next steps your best life blow your own damn mind There are a lot of extremely intelligent people out there, but they simply don’t advertise the fact that they are intelligent. It comes natural to them, and they try to live their lives freely and without consciously drawing attention to themselves. Doubt those who display their IQ and achievements publicly, or on various opinion sites.
When I observe people, who behave in one or more of the following ways, I presume they are likely to be intelligent.
To live a long, happy, and fulfilled life, our day-to-day habits have a significant impact. We only have the body we live in, so it’s your responsibility to take excellent care of both your physical and mental wellbeing to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, there are many habits we get ourselves into which aren’t the best for our general health. Whether it’s eating too much junk food or not getting enough exercise, if you have any concerns and want to make changes, we’ve got you covered. Here are some simple and effective healthy habits you can put in place today that are sure to change your life and help you on the journey to becoming a happier and healthier you. Get more exercise in Be honest with yourself. How much exercise do you do every day? If the answer is not a lot, it’s time to get off the couch and get your sweat on! 30 minutes of physical activity is brilliant for your health and wellbeing. Whether you play a sport, go to the gym, or do exercise from home, as you get your heart pumping, this can be brilliant for reducing your risk of a stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. The notion of exercise may fill you with fear. However, it doesn’t have to feel like a chore! Start off slow and steady and find an activity that works for you. To give you a much-needed push, you may like to work out with a loved one. As you spur each other on, you’ll have the motivation to keep going. As you exercise, prepare to see benefits not only to your mental health but to your waistline too. Eat more fruits and veg There are so many temptations around us when it comes to food. With apps like Just Eat and UberEats, you can order a takeaway with a few clicks of a button. Take a look at your diet. If takeaways are the norm rather than a treat, it’s time for a change. One of the best things you can do today is to eat more fruits and vegetables. Whether you’re a lover of strawberries, apples, carrots, or broccoli, there are no excuses when it comes to packing more fruit and veg on your plate. This is because the choice is endless! There are hundreds of tasty fruits and veg that can support your health and wellbeing. Instead of your toast and morning coffee, why not swap it for a tasty smoothie? It’s little changes like this that will make it easier to get your 5 a day in. Cut back on smoking
If you’re a smoker, you’re likely already aware of all the dangers the habit presents both to yourself and those around you. Whether you picked up smoking decades ago or in recent years, cigarettes aren’t only bad for your physical health but your finances too. For those who don’t like the idea of quitting cold turkey, cutting back on how much you smoke is the next best thing. Many smokers take up vaping as a way to quit the habit for good. If you’re a current vaper who has recently stopped smoking, check out Just Juice. They have nic salts that mimic the form of nicotine found in tobacco leaves. Their nic salts are available in a wide array of fruity flavours, allowing you to create your own unique e-liquids. This means there is something for everyone and you can find something that matches your specific tastes. Vapes are a great alternative to smoking, as the liquids can come in different levels of nicotine, which means some are stronger than others. This means you are able to slowly reduce the amount of nicotine you have over time, which is ideal for quitting and being healthier. Start meditating Many of us are under constant stress. Whether you’re having trouble at the office or have little children to fend for, too much stress on your shoulders can hinder your quality of life, lead to burnout, and increase your risk of a heart attack. If you’re looking at ways to combat stress, meditating may be the answer. There are millions of people who try out this relaxation technique. When you meditate, this gives you an opportunity to zone out from what’s going on around you and help you find inner peace. You don’t have the be an expert at it either. There are different types of meditation that serve different purposes. What we can promise is when you start, you’ll feel your stress levels drop. Drink more water This may sound like an obvious one, but you’ll be surprised how many people don’t drink water. Sure, you may have your regular cups of tea and coffee each day which do include water. However, these drinks can do the opposite in terms of hydration. Something as simple as upping your water intake can be hugely beneficial for your health. As you hydrate, you’ll find it’s easier to concentrate on your workload, and there’s a lower risk of developing headaches and migraines. Regardless of who you are or your age, you deserve to live your best life. For this to happen, it may be time to make some lifestyle changes. From getting off the couch and working out to changing what you put on your plate, little alterations like those above can yield fantastic results for your overall health and wellbeing. |
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