Easy Water Conservation in Your Kitchen

By Joshua Vadney

We’ve all heard about conserving water on the evening news. Water shortages and drought conditions in several counties across the country and local municipalities invoking rate hikes and water restrictions that can affect you and your family. Whether or not you live in an affected area, there are several easy steps families can take to reduce their water consumption just in the kitchen alone.

Here are 8 easy tips to get you started.

1. Only run the dishwasher when its completely FULL. Half loads waste water and your machine runs more efficiently when fully loaded.

2. When handwashing dishes only fill the sink half full of water. You don’t need to completely fill the sink to scrub the dishes or pans. Don’t run the water as you wash the dishes. And don’t rinse the dishes until you are done. Then rinse them all at once.

3. When cooking with water ( boiling eggs, pasta, or vegetables ) don’t throw it out when you are done. Let it cool and use it to water your plants. The nutrients in the water are better for your plants and then you don’t have to use fresh water from your faucet.

4. Do not run the faucet to get a few cups of hot water. It takes less energy to microwave a few cups of water than to waste gallons of water waiting for it to get hot.

5. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge so you always a cold glass of water without running the faucet.

6. Fix leaky faucets. If you have a faucet that drips you are wasting gallons of water every day. Usually, its something as simple as replacing a simple o ring in the faucet handle or tightening the screw that holds it together that can stop the leak. There are many online fix it websites that will show you step by step how to fix simple leaks.

7. If you live in an older home make sure your plumbing is kept up to date whenever possible as most leaky pipes are caused by poor plumbing maintenance or improper connections.

8. If you are planning to update your kitchen appliances (dishwasher, refrigerator, etc) be sure to check their energy rating and buy the most efficient one possible. Most manufacturers have the ratings listed right on the door of the appliance so it is easy to comparison shop. It may cost you extra to buy a higher, more efficient model but you will save money over the long run.

RJ & Makay Easy Water Conservation

Recycle - Plastic Bottle Recycling Can Help the Environment

RJ & Makay on why recycling helps the environment.

By Bryan Burbank

Plastic bottles are everywhere and they make it much easier for us to get the products we want in lighter bottle than glass. It is important to the environment that we recycle so that we can keep the plastic bottles out of our land fields. You need to remember that plastic does not go away it will sit in a field and never decompose and this can cause a lot of problems. Greenhouse Gas Emissions can be greatly improved when you recycle and the best part is you will be helping to improve the world we live in.

You will also save in many other ways as well such as oil because it takes oil to make those plastic bottles that we use. If instead of throwing them away so they can sit in a land field then you can reuse them and you will use less oil. This is a positive thing because there is only so much oil available to us. We can also reduce green house gasses because it takes more energy to make new bottles from oil then to recycle old bottles. Make sure you have a place in your house that you designated as a bin that the recycled bottles go and this will make it easier for all of your family to get involved.

Remember that recycling is a crucial part of saving the world we live in and with making a few changes it is easy to start recycling. It is important to make it fun and get your whole family involved so that they will be making a difference.

Posted by RJ & Makay

RJ & Makay Recycling

Fuel Conservation Tips

By Anne Clarke

Even if you do not consider yourself an environmentalist, a little fuel conservation can really help not just the environment, but also your wallet! The price of petrol seems to always be on the rise. The best defense against rising gas prices is fuel conservation.

Map out a good plan of fuel conservation by following these helpful ways to conserve fuel:

Great fuel conservation starts before you even hit the road:

· Keep your vehicle properly tuned, and it can get from 6 to 20 percent better gas mileage.

· Keep your tires aligned and inflated properly. You should check your tire pressure once a month. Having tire pressures that are too low can increase your use of fuel by 3%

· Replace your air filter.

· If you are not using your roof-racks, take them off! They add to drag. Unnecessary weight in your car can also take away from good gas mileage (this does not mean that you can throw your sister out of the car to conserve fuel… although, it would help!)

· Another way to start good fuel conservation is to plan ahead. Combine your errands into one trip. Think about riding your bike, walking, riding the bus, or carpooling when possible and reasonable.

Fuel conservation can greatly be improved while you are driving or at the pump:

· Slow down! There is a reason why you coast to a gas station when your vehicle is on empty – you are not going to get to a gas station faster by driving faster when the faster you drive the more gas you use! In simpler terms, your fuel usage will greatly decrease when you are driving at speeds above 55 mph. Besides, you will have a safer drive when you slow down, too.

· Avoid rapid accelerating. In fact, you ought to let up on the accelerator (by driving slower), and when you use the accelerator, use it gently. There is a reason why it is called “stepping on the gas.” The harder you step on the gas, the faster you use up your gas. Relax your driving style. Do not drive aggressively. Accelerate slowly. Driving aggressively can lessen your fuel conservation by 30-40 percent.

· Do not tailgate because it will lead to unnecessary braking and then acceleration.

· Do not idle. Modern cars no longer need to warm up to run.

· Turn off your car when you are waiting for someone.

· Your cruise control will add to your fuel conservation (of course, it is unreasonable to use it while just driving around town.)

· Your use of the air conditioner lessens your fuel economy, as well, especially if you use it at 40 mph or more. Why not just open the window to cool off? Park your vehicle in the shade.

· Using overdrive will lessen your fuel consumption while on the highway.

· Drive at the highest appropriate gear.

· While at the gas pump, use the lowest octane petrol suitable for your car – check your owner’s manual.

· Fill up your car with gas early in the morning and on cooler days. The colder the gasoline is, the more compact it is… you will therefore end up getting more bang for your buck.

This may seem like a long road to fuel conservation, but even just doing a few of these things can really help improve your gas mileage. You could possible improve your fuel conservation by 40% or so by following some of these tips.

If all of these suggestions seem overwhelming, just take a few at a time. The road to great fuel conservation can be a long one. Most all of the tips that we have given as of yet can be found in greater detail at the U.S. Department of Energy.

All of the tips on fuel conservation that we have given you so far have to do with the vehicle that you already have. If you are planning on going out and buying a new vehicle, consider a vehicle that conserves fuel by design.

Check out the hybrids or smaller cars. A hybrid vehicle may cost more at the onset, but you will surely save money in the end, especially if gas prices continue to rise. If you do not need a ton of horsepower, abandon it – you will get better gas mileage.

Fuel Conservation RJ & Makay Tips

RJ & Makay is North America’s top recruiting and human capital consulting firm exclusively devoted to the financial services industry. We have more than 100 financial industry recruiting specialists providing “human capital for the capital markets.” RJ & Makay works on a retainer basis but does selected contingency and contract work, as well.

About half of the financial services firms in the Fortune Top 100 utilize RJ & Makay for their recruiting needs.  We represent top tier boutiques and highly respected mid-size and large firms as well.

Diversity just isn’t a buzz word at RJ & Makay, it is our very culture. Over 75% of our RJ & Makay professionals are female, a minority, or both.

RJ & Makay® is North America’s leading recruiting firm dedicated solely to the financial services industry. We have more than 200 financial industry recruiting specialists providing “human capital for the capital markets.” More than half of the financial services firms in the Fortune Top 50, and over a third of the Fortune Top 100, utilize RJ & Makay® for their recruiting needs. We represent top tier boutiques and respected mid-size and large firms as well. Our philosophy in practice is founded on unwavering integrity; built upon our extensive expertise in financial services; secured by our total commitment to confidentiality; and finally, propelled forward by our relentless pursuit to be the best at what we do. Through the thousands of relationships we have had the privilege to build over the years we are reminded daily that our success has been perpetuated by our fundamental principle of treating each financial professional as if they were our only client. This business, as so many others, is built around relationships. We not only understand this we have embraced this philosophy for years. Many of the people we have placed have come after years of developing and cultivating trusting relationships. We’re honored that each month hundreds of professionals choose us to represent them to the best firms in the financial services industry.

RJ & Makay’s New Video: ‘Non-First-Quartile’ Financial Advisors Getting Some ‘Love’

RJ & Makay’s New Video: ‘Non-First-Quartile’ Financial Advisors Getting Some
‘Love’

DENVER, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ — This is the most challenging market most
Financial Advisors have ever seen. They’ve seen their client’s assets take a
hit — their deferred comp plummet, the reputations of their firm and industry
dragged through the mud, and have witnessed failures and mergers which would
have been unimaginable even a year ago; from Merrill Lynch and Bank of America
(BAC), to Morgan Stanley (MS) and Smith Barney (C). Now there are even rumors
about UBS (UBS) and Wachovia brokerage combining.
    To add insult to injury many firms are either neglecting or putting the
squeeze on the bottom half of the industry broker producers, through nominal
or no retention packages, transition packages that pale in comparison to those
the top producers get, annual cuts in commission payouts, or being targeted
for layoffs.
    If you’re a third or fourth quartile advisor who feels your clients and
your family would be better off in a different situation what are your
options?
    “Our message is that there are compelling choices and opportunities,” says
financial recruiting firm RJ & Makay CEO Darin Manis. “Just because your
current firm doesn’t love you doesn’t mean another firm wouldn’t love to have
you,” says Manis.
    RJ & Makay just released an entertaining two-minute video about
alternative opportunities. http://www.rjandmakay.com/featured-video It is the
third video in a series targeting FAs. Previous videos have received more than
15,000 views.
    “We’ve never seen such a strong interest in alternative opportunities.
We’re setting hundreds of monthly interviews with advisors looking at
independents, hybrid models, banking brokerage and investment management
options,” says Manis.
    “There will always be an interest in apples-to-apples moves like a
wirehouse-to-wirehouse. However, alternative options which have either warm
leads, higher payouts, or different structures and cultures are red hot right
now with FAs.”
    Advisors making low to mid 20’s on their payout are seriously evaluating
what they are getting for the 80% they are giving up.
    “If you can go from a net income of $75,000 to $180,000 without adding a
single additional client you just have to investigate the opportunity. $75K to
$180K is not just a different tax bracket, it’s an entirely different
lifestyle,” says Manis.
    “When FAs hear they can double or triple their income and get around a
25-50% transition package they raise their eyebrows,” says Manis.
    It looks as if non-first quartile brokers are loved after all. It just may
not be coming from their current firm.
    About RJ & Makay
    RJ & Makay is a financial recruiting firm exclusively servicing the
financial sector. About half of the financial firms in the Fortune Top 100
utilize RJ & Makay for various recruiting and consulting services. To learn
more visit www.rjandmakay.com.
SOURCE  RJ & Makay

Scott Lorenz, +1-734-667-2090, or cell, +1-248-705-2214, for RJ & Makay