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Staff Reporter

Every household to get clean tap water by 2024

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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government was committed to providing clean tap water to every household by the year 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

He directed the officials to prepare an action plan in this regard and take time bound action. He said that the drinking water projects of Bundelkhand and Vindhya region should be completed within stipulated time.

The chief minister was reviewing the works of Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply department in a meeting convened at Lok Bhawan here on Wednesday. Yogi said that he would soon visit the Bundelkhand region to review the works of drinking water projects.

“The Jal Shakti minister and minister of state, departmental officers and senior engineers of Jal Nigam should do a physical review of the works of drinking water projects in Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions from this week,” Yogi said.

He said that works related to drinking water and sanitation should be completed through inter-departmental coordination with Rural Water Supply, Urban Development and Rural Development departments. He said regular online monitoring of water supply works should be done so that people do not face any problem during the summer season. He also directed officials to ensure the provision of pure drinking water in all council schools and Anganwadi centres.

While reviewing the district-wise progress of drinking water projects of Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions, the chief minister said the works related to drinking water supply, water management and water conservation should be reviewed regularly at the divisional and district levels.

He said that due to the efforts of the state government in the last five years, the process of supplying pure drinking water to every household of Bundelkhand and Vindhya region, which was suffering from drought, was progressing at a fast pace.

“Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, pure drinking water is being supplied to the homes of the people through the Har Ghar Nal Yojana. This is a better picture of the changing Uttar Pradesh. Water connection work should be completed in a maximum number of houses in the stipulated time,” the chief minister said.

He said that under the guidance of the prime minister, the state government had completed the irrigation and drinking water projects that had remained incomplete for 40 years in the state in the last five years before the stipulated time. He said the Arjun Sahayak Project was proving to be a boon for the Bundelkhand region.

The chief minister said that pure drinking water was the basis of good health therefore awareness programmes should be organised among the people to inform them about the importance of water management and conservation. He said training and awareness programmes should be conducted especially in areas affected by encephalitis, arsenic and fluoride.

Yogi said by activating the water committee constituted at the gram panchayat level, the accountability of the gram panchayats should be fixed for water supply works. He said emphasis should be laid on the use of technology to save every drop of water. “It is the duty of every responsible citizen to save and preserve water,” he added.

The chief minister said that various works like construction units, overhead tanks, laying of pipelines of drinking water projects should be completed maintaining full quality within the stipulated time. He said to provide continuous drinking water supply to the people, better management of all the works related to water supply should be done and a trained person (fitter) should be selected at the local level to execute the works related to compensation.

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Sustainability investments bounce back – Cooling Post

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IRELAND: The UK, France, Japan and USA are said to be leading the world in plans to increase investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy or smart building technology.

The findings in Johnson Controls’ latest annual Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey reveals that 62% of organisations expect to increase investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, or smart building technology in 2022, indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels.  

Organisations are still facing challenges to accelerate their sustainability efforts in key areas. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents said they struggle to scale sustainability initiatives across buildings, geographies, or business units.

Investing

“In the face of the multiple and continuous shock waves of the last two years, it is very encouraging to see that building owners and operators are driving forward the kinds of investments that deliver the resilience needed to grow their business and attract and retain the best talent,” said Katie McGinty, Johnson Controls’ vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer. 

“Whether it is the damage delivered by climate-charged destructive natural events, or the health threat of the pandemic, or now, the stark demonstration of the insecurity of world energy supplies, it is clear that taking action to cut energy demand while decarbonising and cleaning the air are core strategies for companies, governments and institutions to not only survive but to thrive.”

Planned investment in energy generation or storage has grown significantly over five years, the survey reveals, suggesting that this is likely to be a response to the global focus on decarbonisation, and as part of that effort, electrification. 

More than a third of respondents plan to replace fossil fuel heating equipment with heat pump technology in the next year – 7% more than what was implemented in the year prior. Notably, thermal energy storage jumped from 27% to 42% in the last five years. More than half of respondents implemented electric energy storage in the past year.

US and Europe lead

The survey also found that the United States and Europe still lead the way in every metric of green building planning. The US had the most respondents who had already achieved green building certification and expect to have a net zero energy or carbon building in the next ten years. Europe had the most respondents planning to attain green building certifications and the most respondents who have established public energy/carbon reduction goals, with UK leading with 46% established goals.

Compared to its global counterparts, significantly more respondents in the US plan to implement measures such as building controls improvements, onsite renewable energy, and energy management process such as  ISO 50001. Of the countries surveyed, the UK, France, and Japan have the most respondents who expect to increase investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, or smart building technology over the next year. 

Barriers

Although global scale transformation is necessary to course-correct on climate change, organisations are facing barriers to pursuing sustainability initiatives. Almost half of the respondents surveyed say their top barrier to pursue energy and building technology improvements is either a lack of funding to pay for improvements (25%) or uncertainty in their return-on-investment (23%).

Additionally, more than half of respondents pointed to a lack of technology as one of the hindrances to scaling sustainability efforts.

Health

The pandemic has also prompted organisations to rethink their technology investment decision-making. Protecting the health and safety of building occupants during the coronavirus pandemic was the second most significant driver of investments globally. Additionally, 65% of respondents performed an indoor air quality assessment last year.

The Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey collected responses from a 1,000 participants globally between November and December 2021.

Learn more about the survey findings here.

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B&Q house plant costing just £6 helps to prevent mould growing in your home

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Peace Lily plants, which have been recommended by a cleaning expert as effective mould repellents, are available from DIY chain B&Q and cost just £6 for your home

Some plants can significantly reduce the risk of mould in the home

Image: B&Q)

An air-purifying house plant that looks good in your home and will help keep it free of mould is available for just £6 from a high street store.

Peace Lily plants, which have been recommended by a cleaning expert as effective mould repellents, are available from DIY chain B&Q.

The room most prone to becoming mouldy is your bathroom – quite obviously because that’s where you’ll get the most moisture after a bath or shower.

If your bathroom doesn’t have windows, it’s at extra risk of mould due to the lack of ventilation.

According to Checkatrade , it can cost as much as £900 to get mould removed from an entire home.

But what you may not realise, is that there are some plants which can significantly reduce the risk of mould.

The Peace Lily is for sale from B&Q for just £6
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Image:

B&Q)

Cleaning expert Kerry Hale from Mira Showers told The Express : “Because the bathroom is often the most humid room in the house, mould and mildew is a common problem that many – if not all of us – have experienced at some point, mainly caused by lingering moisture, leaky taps, and damp cellulose materials.

“There are a few simple ways that you can prevent mould from appearing though.”

Peace Lily plants are purifying, and don’t need much sunlight to survive – making them a great choice for bathrooms without windows.

Other plants that can help banish mould are:

English Ivy

The English Ivy, which can remove airborne mould from humid spaces, is a great choice for smaller bathrooms. It can be placed in a hanging pot or on top of a cabinet.

Boston Fern

This is a great option for humid bathrooms, as it is a plant that thrives in indirect sunlight and moist soil.

Reed Palms

Reed Palms can keep humidity at bay in the bathroom by absorbing moisture through their leaves. They can survive in low light, so they are perfect for keeping inside the home.

Tillandsia

Tillandsia is more convenient for those bathrooms with windows as they thrive in filtered sunlight and absorb moisture through their leaves. The damp-eating plants absorb moisture through their leaves, so they’re great for combatting persistent humidity problems in the home.

Kerry explained: “Purifying plants can be effective in lowering the humidity in the air, helping break down existing mould and preventing more from developing – English Ivy, Peace Lily, Boston Fern are some nice choices, and Tillandsia can be great too if you have a bright window.”

As well as buying purifying plants, there are other ways you can help to reduce the chance of mould.

Open the window after a shower

Opening the window after having a shower will allow any excess moisture in the air to disperse naturally. Good ventilation reduces the chance of condensation settling on the wall and ceiling.

If there are no windows in the bathroom, a ventilator fan or dehumidifier could be a good addition in order to get rid of the excess humidity.

Kerry said: “If you have a window in your bathroom, opening it straight after you’ve showered will allow excess moisture in the air to disperse naturally and reduce condensation settling on the walls, ceilings and around the windows.”

Wipe around the shower

To help stop mould from setting into the shower, wipe down the whole area, including shower trays and wall panels, to remove any excess condensation.

Kerry commented: “If you don’t have a window, wiping around the shower will help remove the excess condensation that could turn into mould.”

Stick to a regular cleaning routine

Another important tip is to stick to a cleaning routine as a clean and dry bathroom is less prone to mould.

Washing the towels and bathmats regularly, and hanging wet towels and bathmats in dry, well-ventilated areas also helps prevent mould.

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Lawsuit Would Compel the Environmental Protection Agency to Enforce Air Pollution Law

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(Washington, DC – April 13, 2022) Today, a coalition of environmental organizations filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because it has failed to enforce the Regional Haze Rule as required by the Clean Air Act. Thirty-four states have yet to submit plans to reduce air pollution in our country’s most iconic national parks and wilderness areas, and return natural visibility to these wild places. The EPA amended the Regional Haze Rule in 2017, giving states until July 31, 2021 to complete their plans, which means states and owners of major polluting facilities have had ample time to prepare for compliance. 

The organizations’ lawsuit urges the EPA to fulfill its obligation under the Clean Air Act, lock in retirement dates for coal plants, and require big polluters to reduce emissions to clear up haze and improve public health. Haze impacts 90 percent of our country’s national parks, and the same pollutants responsible for the widespread air pollution also harms public health, particularly in communities targeted by generations of systemic racism. Air pollution from burning fossil fuels and other sources worsens community health, drives up healthcare costs, and makes it harder for kids to learn and play and adults to work. 

The same sources of pollution harming our public lands and communities are also fueling the climate crisis, and the consequences are alarming. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires over natural levels across the western U.S., including at Yosemite and other national parks, raised sea level at the Statue of Liberty and other coastal parks, and is melting glaciers at Glacier Bay and Glacier.

The thirty-four states that have yet to submit a Regional Haze state implementation plan (SIP) include: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, VA, WV, WY. Sixteen states and Washington D.C. have submitted SIPs to EPA to-date.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court and can be found here. The Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association, and Sierra Club filed the lawsuit and are represented by Earthjustice. 

Statement from Stephanie Kodish, Senior Director and Counsel for National Parks Conservation Association’s (NPCA) Clean Air and Climate Programs: 

“Every day that EPA does not act to enforce the law, it puts the health of our national parks and communities at further risk. Facilities across the country are spewing pollution into our air, yet more than 30 states failed to provide plans to reduce this haze pollution and restore clean air at our national parks and beyond. Now, it’s up to EPA, the agency charged with protecting human health and the environment, to hold these states accountable to the law and ensure our national parks, rangers, visitors, wildlife and surrounding communities have clear skies and clean air to breathe. The future of our country’s national parks from Acadia to Yosemite are dependent on EPA action now.”

Statement from Holly Bender, Senior Director for Energy Campaigns at Sierra Club: 

“Coal burning power plants are the primary culprit for soot and smog pollution leading to hazy skies, and the thirty-four states that failed to submit pollution reduction plans at issue in this lawsuit are home to some of the biggest, most dangerous polluters in the country. From Pacificorps’ Hunter and Huntington plants in Utah, to TVA’s Shawnee plant in Kentucky, these coal plants and other fossil fuel facilities not only affect national parks and wilderness areas, they also harm the air we breathe in communities of color, which are disproportionately burdened by pollution. Administrator Regan must act to ensure the failure by these states to regulate pollution is not a windfall to utilities at the expense of public health and the necessary achievement of clean air on our public lands. Justice for communities impacted by soot and smog starts with the EPA enforcing the law.”

Statement from Graham McCahan, Senior Attorney for Environmental Defense Fund: 

“It’s critical that we reduce the pollution that causes haze so that we can protect the health of all Americans and the beauty of our national parks. There’s no time to waste.”

Statement from Nicole Horseherder, Executive Director of Tó Nizhóní Ání: 

“Our future is built through care for one another and the planet that sustains us. The Navajo Nation needs the EPA’s Regional Haze Program to work as intended in order to limit air pollution traveling onto Navajo land. All living things are connected to one another and everyone has a right to a healthy and safe community.”

Statement from Elizabeth Loos, Executive Director of the Badlands Conservation Alliance: 

“North Dakota has some of the most egregious haze polluters in the nation, harming air quality in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and other treasured places in the Badlands. Sadly, we’ve noticed a pattern with the state regularly downplaying concerns, delaying action, and failing to require pollution controls to deliver us clean air. Routinely missing deadlines allows the dirtiest coal plants in North Dakota to continue polluting unchecked and EPA must hold them accountable.”

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How Does The Future Workplace Function?

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To demonstrate how today’s healthy workplace can function, Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions recently renovated a 10,000-square-foot workspace on its corporate campus in Lancaster, PA. Dubbed the Living Lab, the new workspace was created in partnership with architectural firm Gensler and designed with optimal acoustics, lighting, cleanliness, comfort, and exceptional air quality in mind. Armstrong employees work in the fully-equipped office space, providing feedback on the functionality of both individual and collaborative areas.

Designed with indoor environmental quality at the forefront, the Living Lab is intended to be a testing ground and to push the limits of innovation of a workplace model that embodies a “healthy spaces” philosophy. Innovations resulting from the Living Lab range from systems creating cleaner air and enhancing effectiveness of HVAC systems to piloting new installation methods, materials, and design concepts.

The Living Lab houses eight distinct areas, including the main entrance, a work lounge and café, 24 open office workstations, an ideation area, a hands-on “maker” space designed to allow teams to work on new products for testing, huddle spaces and focus rooms, conference rooms, and an outdoor working space.

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Filters2Go Offers Premium Quality American Furnace Air Filters at Highly Affordable Prices

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Filters2Go specializes in selling top-tier furnace air filters with free shipping across the United States.

According to data sourced from Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution has immediate and long-term effects, both of which are commonly linked to poorly maintained heating, cooling, and air ventilating systems. According to EPA’s research:

“Some health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposures to a pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, including some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal.”

These problems can be avoided with regular filter maintenance in various appliances, most notably furnaces. Debris, mold spores, allergens, dust, and various bacteria are building up at a fast pace in furnaces operating on the same filters for extended periods. 

Filters2Go, an filter specalists company specializing in retailing furnace air filters, offers a solution to American consumers. 

Filters2Go’s catalog is one of the most eclectic on the North American continent, featuring a host of Nordic Pure furnace filters, vacuums, and air purifiers. What sets Filters2Go apart from its contemporaries is not just the range of available products but also the quality materials from which these are built. 

Of thousands of filters available in Filters2Go’s catalog, Nordic Pure 16x24x1 M HYPERLINK “https://filters2go.com/product/home-furnace-air-filter-16x24x1-merv-13-activated-carbon-hvac-ac-replacement/”ERV HYPERLINK “https://filters2go.com/product/home-furnace-air-filter-16x24x1-merv-13-activated-carbon-hvac-ac-replacement/” 13 stands out as one of the top-selling products. The versatility of this filter allows it to be used in most HVAC systems, including both air conditioning devices and furnaces. 

The brand recommends MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) 13 furnace air filters for their ability to effectively eliminate viruses, bacteria, allergens, and dust particles. Having passed a series of rigorous performance tests, Nordic Pure MERV 13 filters boast a minimum of 75% efficiency when removing viruses and bacteria and a minimum of 90% efficiency when eliminating allergens.  

Filters2Go’s menu of furnace filters comprises a plethora of Nordic Pure products. Manufactured with cutting-edge technologies in the United States, these filters excel in performance while being available at a highly approachable price. 

“Our Nordic Pure range of furnace filters are all manufactured from high-quality pleated electrostatic filter material. Positively charged to draw more particles, these furnace filters are a highly evolved progression from the standard pleated air filter. Electrostatic material does not permit the growth of bacteria which is often a problem for other filters. Buy your next furnace air filter through Filters2Go, knowing you will receive a high-quality, affordable filter that will help improve your indoor air quality.”

The company’s catalog of furnace air filters features models with different MERV ratings, allowing furnace owners to purchase according to their model’s size, power, and budget. 

More information about Filters2Go is available on the company’s official website.

Media Contact
Company Name: Filters2Go
Contact Person: Customer Care
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://filters2go.com/

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Horizon Technology Finance Provides First Quarter 2022 Portfolio Update

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– Horizon Platform Originates $132 Million of New Loans in Q1, Including $73 Million of New Loans for HRZN –

– Horizon Platform Ends Quarter with Record Committed Backlog of $172 Million, Including $151 Million in HRZN Commitments –

FARMINGTON, Conn., April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: HRZN) (“HRZN” or the “Company”), a leading specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital backed companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and sustainability industries, today provided its portfolio update for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and an update on the lending platform (“Horizon Platform”) of Horizon Technology Finance Management LLC (“HTFM”), its investment adviser.

“We had a very productive start to 2022, closing $132 million of loans originated through our lending platform in the first quarter, including $73 million of loans for HRZN,” said Gerald A. Michaud, President of HTFM. “In addition, the Horizon Platform’s committed backlog grew to a record $172 million of debt investments, including $151 million in HRZN commitments, showcasing the strength of the Horizon brand to attract quality innovative and diverse companies. HRZN also received $12 million in loan prepayments during the quarter, providing additional and accelerated income and continuing to validate our predictive pricing strategy. With a robust backlog and an additional $165 million of new awards to go along with a significant pipeline of new investment opportunities, we believe the Horizon Platform and HRZN remain well positioned to continue growing and delivering additional value to HRZN’s shareholders.”

First Quarter 2022 Portfolio Update

Originations

During the first quarter of 2022, a total of $131.9 million of loans funded through the Horizon Platform, including 16 loans totaling $73.2 million funded by HRZN as follows:

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  • $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, MyForest Foods Co., a producer of sustainable, meat alternative products using mycelium, or the roots of mushrooms.

  • $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, a software-enabled services provider focused on planning, migration, operation and automation of SAP in the cloud.

  • $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, a leader in indoor vertical farming.

  • $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, a developer of prescription digital diagnostic and therapeutic products focused on pediatric behavioral health conditions.

  • $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, a leading grower and marketer of fresh organic culinary herbs, providing sustainable, USDA-certified organic, regionally grown produce to retailers.

  • $5.5 million to an existing portfolio company, NextCar Holding Company, Inc. dba Autonomy, an online platform offering high quality new and used cars to consumers on a subscription basis.

  • $5.0 million to a new portfolio company, Aerobiotix, LLC, a manufacturer of air disinfection systems for medical, healthcare and community facilities that eliminate airborne pathogens to optimize indoor air quality.

  • $5.0 million to a new portfolio company, Secure Transfusion Services, Inc., an operator of commercial blood collection centers that source and distribute vital, in-demand blood components, such as platelets, to hospitals.

  • $5.0 million to an existing portfolio company, Castle Creek Biosciences, Inc., a developer of gene therapies for patients with rare and serious genetic diseases.

  • $5.0 million to an existing portfolio company, a medical data company improving healthcare outcomes with its proprietary smart medical devices.

  • $2.5 million to an existing portfolio company, Spineology, Inc., a developer of anatomy-conserving technology solutions for use in lumbar spinal fusion procedures.

  • $2.5 million to an existing portfolio company, Dropoff, Inc., a same-day delivery service for healthcare and other companies.

  • $2.5 million to an existing portfolio company, a builder of conservation memorial forests that offer sustainable alternatives to cemeteries.

  • $1.25 million to an existing portfolio company, Unagi, Inc., a developer of premium portable electric scooters that are offered for sale and on an affordable monthly subscription program.

  • $1.0 million to an existing portfolio company, Alula, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of security systems sold exclusively to professional distributors and dealers.

  • $0.4 million to an existing company, MacuLogix, Inc., a medical device company in the optometry and ophthalmology industry.

Liquidity Events

HRZN experienced liquidity events from two portfolio companies in the first quarter of 2022, including principal prepayments of $12.0 million, compared to $55.0 million of principal prepayments and $0.4 million of warrant and equity proceeds during the fourth quarter of 2021:

  • In February, LiquiGlide, Inc. prepaid its outstanding principal balance of $2.0 million on its venture loan, plus interest, end-of-term payment and prepayment fee. HRZN continues to hold warrants in the company.

  • In February, Quip NYC Inc. prepaid its outstanding principal balance of $10.0 million on its venture loan, plus interest, end-of-term payment and prepayment fee. HRZN continues to hold warrants in the company.

Principal Payments Received

During the first quarter of 2022, HRZN received regularly scheduled principal payments on investments totaling $1.9 million, compared to regularly scheduled principal payments totaling $2.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Commitments

During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, HRZN closed new loan commitments totaling $100.4 million to 11 companies, compared to new loan commitments of $114.9 million to 10 companies in the fourth quarter of 2021. HTFM’s other managed funds, during the quarter, closed new loan commitments totaling $60.0 million of unfunded loan approvals and commitments.

Pipeline and Term Sheets

As of March 31, 2022, HRZN’s unfunded loan approvals and commitments (“Committed Backlog”) were $150.8 million to 20 companies. This compares to a Committed Backlog of $124.5 million to 23 companies as of December 31, 2021. HRZN’s portfolio companies have discretion whether to draw down such commitments and the right of a portfolio company to draw down its commitment is often subject to achievement of specific milestones and other conditions to borrowing. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any or all of these transactions will be funded by HRZN. HTFM’s other managed funds ended the quarter with a total of $20.8 million of unfunded loan approvals and commitments.

During the quarter, HTFM received signed term sheets that are in the approval process, which may result in the Horizon Platform providing up to an aggregate of $165.0 million of new debt investments. These opportunities are subject to underwriting conditions including, but not limited to, the completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive documentation and investment committee approval, as well as compliance with HTFM’s allocation policy. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any or all of these transactions will be completed or funded by HRZN.

Warrant and Equity Portfolio

As of March 31, 2022, HRZN held a portfolio of warrant and equity positions in 85 portfolio companies, including 71 private companies, which provides the potential for future additional returns to HRZN’s shareholders.

About Horizon Technology Finance

Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: HRZN) is a leading specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital backed companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and sustainability industries. The investment objective of HRZN is to maximize its investment portfolio’s return by generating current income from the debt investments it makes and capital appreciation from the warrants it receives when making such debt investments. Horizon Technology Finance Management LLC is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, with a regional office in Pleasanton, California, and investment professionals located in Portland, Maine, Austin, Texas, and Reston, Virginia. To learn more, please visit www.horizontechfinance.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Horizon’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Horizon undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:
ICR
Garrett Edson
[email protected]
(860) 284-6450

Media Relations:
ICR
Chris Gillick
[email protected]
(646) 677-1819

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/horizon-technology-finance-provides-first-quarter-2022-portfolio-update-301524880.html

SOURCE Horizon Technology Finance Corporation

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Old City residents get polluted ‘drinking’ water

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Hyderabad: Residents in several areas of Old City were in for a shock on Wednesday when they got visibly polluted water from taps.

The issue was flagged by a citizen, Mohd Ahmed, on Twitter, who uploaded a picture of the polluted water coming from the tap meant for drinking water supply. The tweet stated that such water was coming in Shalibanda, Qazipura and Sutanshahi. He tagged the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) in his tweet.

 

The Water Board responded to the tweet and replied that a complaint had been registered and the issue had been informed to the Misrigunj section manager, who was the concerned person. The section manager, Abdul Hakeem, too replied, saying that he would check the water supply the next day and take necessary action.

Ahmed said that these localities were getting only polluted water for the past 15 days, and hence were purchasing drinking water.

…

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When this Marion mom was told her 19-month-old son couldn’t wear a mask in day care, she fought the

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Erin Oldfield, left, and her husband Kyle McGettigan smile as their one-year-old Lochlan McGettigan laughs after making his school bus make noises during playtime after school at their home in Marion, Iowa on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The family recently had issues with changing mask guidelines set by DHS that left them scrambling for a few days for child care. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Erin Oldfield smiles as she watches her 1-year-old son Lachlan McGettigan play on his school bus at their home in Marion, Iowa on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Oldfield says she was told by DHS that her son could not wear a mask at his day care center on March 24th, but reversed their guidelines a few days later. The family was left trying to find a new day care center and fight the DHS guidelines. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Kyle McGettigan plays with his four-year-old daughter Lyra McGettigan after school at their home in Marion, Iowa on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The family usually hangs out for playtime to relax after school. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Erin Oldfield, left, and her husband Kyle McGettigan play with their children four-year-old Lyra McGettigan and 1-year-old Lochlan McGettigan after school at their home in Marion, Iowa on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Erin and Kyle had to scramble for child care for their son after DHS told them he wouldn’t be able to wear his mask on March 24th, but changed the guidelines a few days later. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

MARION — When a Erin McGettigan’s 19-month-old son, Lachlan, started at a new day care center last month, she was told by the Iowa Department of Human Services that he was not allowed to wear a mask.

In an email to McGettigan, shared with the Gazette, the Iowa Department of Human Services said her son was too young to be wearing a mask, describing him as an “infant,” and that it is “dangerous practice.”

“Anyone with a toddler knows you can’t make them do anything they don’t want to do,” said McGettigan of her almost two-year-old. “The safety concerns of an infant wearing a mask weren’t relevant here.”

McGettigan got a letter from her son’s pediatrician — who checked his oxygen levels while he was wearing a mask — saying it was safe for him to continue wearing a mask. She implored the Department of Human Resources to reverse its guidance.

In an email to McGettigan last month, Todd Savage, child care licensing bureau chief with the Iowa Department of Human Services, said her child can continue to wear a mask.

“It is my intention to take no position and any variance of your current practice would be a result of the centers preference to ensure safety and manage liability,” Savage said in an email to McGettigan shared with The Gazette.

While McGettigan is happy Lachlan can continue to wear a mask at day care, she’s unsettled by the experience.

In the three days last month McGettigan was told her son could not wear a mask, she was “scrambling” to find a day care center in the area where he would be able to wear a mask, she said.

She received the same response — that children under two-years-old are not permitted to wear a mask.

There is still not a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. While children are less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, at least 400 children four-years-old and younger have died from the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Linn and Johnson counties. Earlier this month, Linn County reported 122 new cases in seven days, almost double the 56 case reported the previous week.

As of March 31, the COVID-19 transmission level for all 99 Iowa counties remained in the “low” category, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under federal guidelines, people living in areas rated as medium or low no longer need to wear masks indoors or in public spaces.

At previous day care centers, McGettigan said her daughter Lyra, 4, was “bullied” by other kids for wearing a mask and the teachers were not supportive of the family’s choice.

“I know other parents that have recently taken their students out (of day care) and decided to be home with them because they felt like they couldn’t keep their children safe otherwise,” McGettigan said.

McGettigan and her husband are immune-compromised, putting them more at risk if they were to get COVID-19, she said.

“Here in Cedar Rapids and Marion, area day care teachers and staff are not masking, are not required to have vaccines and COVID cases at day cares have remained high,” McGettigan said.

Last year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law banning Iowa schools from requiring students or staff to wear masks.

Reynolds said the law puts parents “back in control” of their child’s education by letting them make their own health care decisions.

But when McGettigan was told her son was not allowed to wear a mask, it took away her parental choice to protect her child, she said.

Lyra and Lachlan have been practicing wearing a mask for the last several months for when they are in public. McGettigan said she and her husband worked with their children on wearing a mask before they went on vacation.

When Lachlan is at day care, he takes off his mask to eat, nap and when he’s outside, which is in alignment with guidance from the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Alex Carfrae, public information officer for the Department of Human Services, said they recommend child care providers in Iowa follow Department of Human Services guidelines for infection control in child care settings.

“DHS understands some parents would like their child to continue wearing a mask when not required or advised by public health authorities,“ Carfrae said in an email. ”In those cases, DHS defers to the parents, the child’s health care provider, and the child care provider to make decisions in the best interest of the child.

Department of Human Services guidelines for infection control in child care settings includes information about screening for illness or disease upon arrival at the child care center, proper hygiene, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Masks and face coverings are mentioned as a tool to prevent the spread of respiratory illness. All children younger than two years of age should not wear a face covering, the guidance states.

The Department of Human Services has provided technical assistance to child care providers regarding COVID-19 safety and precautions for more than two years, Carfrae said. “Our child care team can’t think of a case similar to the one you inquired about,” he said.

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Mechanistic modeling study shows the combination of physical distancing, increased ventilation, and face coverings is highly effective — ScienceDaily

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As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, a team at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory set out to better understand how well face masks, ventilation, and physical distancing can cut down transmission of airborne pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Using a new computational model that simulates the life cycle of pathogen-laden particles, the researchers found that a combination of distancing of six feet, universal mask-wearing, and increased room ventilation could reduce the risk of infection by more than 98 percent in more than 95 percent of scenarios studied.

“Wide adoption of layered controls dramatically reduces exposure to existing airborne viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, and will be critical to control outbreaks of novel airborne viruses in the future,” said Laura Fierce, an atmospheric scientist formerly with Brookhaven Lab, now at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. “These nonpharmaceutical interventions can be applied in combination with vaccinations.”

The study is published in the journal Indoor Air. It focuses on how face masks and ventilation work alone and in combination with distancing to reduce the likelihood of someone inhaling virus-laden aerosol particles in particular scenarios — namely, where an infectious person is speaking continuously in an indoor space for three-hours — while also accounting for uncertainty in factors governing airborne transmission.

Fierce collaborated with Alison Robey and Catherine Hamilton — who were participants in the DOE’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program at Brookhaven — to develop the model of respiratory aerosols and droplets used in the study. The model simulates how virus-laden particles move through the jet of air expelled by an infectious person and within the larger indoor space. It considers how expelled particles change in size as water evaporates, how pathogens within those particles become inactive, and how particles are removed through ventilation, deposition on surfaces, and gravitational settling.

The researchers’ simulations showed that exposure to airborne pathogens is significantly lowered by individual controls, such as face masks. But layering controls — that is, using them in combination — can be even more effective. According to the study, the combination of universal mask-wearing and distancing of even just three feet reduced a susceptible person’s risk of infection by 99 percent. On the other hand, without the use of face masks, distancing of at least six feet was needed to avoid increased exposure to respiratory pathogens near an infectious person. The team also showed that increasing ventilation rates by completely replacing the air in a room with fresh or filtered air four times per hour reduces the risk of transmission by more than 70 percent, so long as the infectious person and susceptible person are distanced by at least six feet. On the other hand, ventilation does little to reduce the risk of infection when the infectious person is close by.

“Our detailed modeling of respiratory particles shows how different controls on airborne transmission work in combination, which is important for prioritizing mitigation strategies for different indoor spaces,” Fierce said.

This research was supported by the DOE Office of Science through the National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, a consortium of DOE national laboratories focused on response to COVID-19, with funding provided by the Coronavirus CARES Act. This project was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) under the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships Program (SULI). The quadrature-based model was originally developed with support from the DOE Atmospheric System Research program.

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Materials provided by DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory. Original written by Kelly Zegers. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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