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Wyze unleashes its first air purifier

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Wyze is teeing up its first air purifier, complete with three filter options, app control, “whisper-quiet” operation, and–per usual–a budget price tag.

Shipping now for $130 and up, the 18 inch-tall Wyze Air Purifier comes with a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) of 350 and is designed to clean the air in rooms up to 550 square feet, which is impressive given the price tag.

The air purifier will ship with one of three different filters: an allergen filter for “common pollutants, a “wildfire” filter to clean pollutants from wildfires, traffic, and industrial processes, and a third filter that’s “extra efficient” at dealing with VOCs (volatile organic compounds), such as formaldehyde and other harmful household gasses. 

This story is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best air purifiers, where you’ll find reviews of the competition’s offerings, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product.

All three are “pure” HEPA and granulated carbon filters, says Wyze, which is also promoting a subscription program that offers a new filter every six months for 12-percent off the standard price ($35 and up, depending on the type of filter).

The unit will have a “special launch” price of $130, $135, and $160 for the allergen, wildfire, and formaldehyde filter bundles respectively, while standard pricing for the bundles will be $170, $175, and $190.

A “high-speed, high-precision” laser measures indoor air quality up to 100 times a second, while real-time and “hyper-local” weather data is delivered via the Wyze app.

Speaking of apps, the Wi-Fi-enabled Wyze Air Purifier will offer remote app control, including the ability to set the unit’s mode (auto, sleep, or off) and fan speeds, as well as enable a geofenced “Return to Clean Air” feature that turns the power on when you’re approaching home. You’ll also be able to include the air purifier in Wyze rules and automations, while both Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands are supported.

Finally, Wyze promises that its air purifier will be “whisper” quiet–just 21dB on its lowest setting, or 54dB when cranked all the way up.

We’re expecting to get a sample of the Wyze Air Purifier soon, and we’ll have a full review once we’ve given the unit a thorough once-over.

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Originally Appeared Here

Schneider Electric Named to Fast Company World’s Most Innovative Companies List for 2022

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  • The company ranks #4 in the Consumer Electronics category for innovations in home and building energy management

  • This year’s list honors businesses making the biggest impact on their industries and culture as a whole, thriving in today’s ever-changing world

BOSTON, April 12, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022. Schneider Electric has earned the standing of number four in the Consumer Electronics category for developing innovations that allow homeowners to actively manage their energy use.

Schneider Electric is recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable companies and a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation across homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries, bridging progress and sustainability around the world with a mission to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources.

“With sustainability at our core, we are helping customers move to a more electric and digital world to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Abigail Gabriel, Chief Marketing Officer North America, Schneider Electric. “We’re honored that Fast Company has recognized our innovative solutions that allow homeowners to better understand their energy use and empower them to make positive changes for their homes and the environment.”

This year’s list honors businesses that are making the biggest impact on their industries and culture as a whole—ultimately thriving in today’s ever-changing world. These companies are creating the future today with some of the most inspiring accomplishments of the 21st century. In addition to the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, 528 organizations are recognized across 52 categories.

Innovative strides in the Consumer Electronics space

Story continues

Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies award recognizes Schneider Electric’s latest innovations in the home energy management space, which work together to create a grid-to-plug solution that gives homeowners unprecedented control over their home energy use. These innovations include:

  • The Square D™ Energy Center: Emblematic of Schneider Electric’s goal to make the world a more sustainable place, the Square D™ Energy Center is an industry-first product that completely revamps the traditional electric panel—a household mainstay that hadn’t seen a major design update in decades. By bringing together a smart thermostat, smart meter, backup generator and solar inverter with an AI-driven energy management system, the Energy Center allows homeowners to add solar, EV charging, batteries and generators to their homes with a single device.

  • The Wiser Energy System: Schneider Electric designed the Wiser Energy System to put energy insights in the palms of homeowners’ hands. From accidentally leaving the fridge door open to understanding whether an HVAC system is operating inefficiently or in need of a tune-up, homeowners now have real-time insight into the functionality of their appliances with this technology.

  • EcoStruxure Building Advisor: EcoStruxure Building Advisor allows customers to take control of their energy consumption and avoid unnecessary use of energy. Its solutions include the ability to reduce energy consumption through constant assessment of systems and asset performance with clear diagnostics of how to improve, to resolve indoor air quality issues based on recognized guidelines, and to extend the lifetime of equipment through targeted maintenance using the building’s management system.

Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses across the globe and industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.

“The world’s most innovative companies play an essential role in addressing the most pressing issues facing society, whether they’re fighting climate change by spurring decarbonization efforts, ameliorating the strain on supply chains, or helping us reconnect with one another over shared passions,” said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Lidsky.

To view the full list, please visit: https://www.fastcompany.com/90724374/most-innovative-companies-consumer-electronics-2022.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

www.se.com

Discover Life Is On Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Blog

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights

Hashtags: #FCMostInnovative; #LifeIsOn, #Innovation #SmartHome

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005741/en/

Contacts

Schneider Electric Media Relations – Thomas Eck, (919) 266-8623; [email protected]

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Originally Appeared Here

Avian Flu Discovered At Point Pelee National Park

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Point Pelee National Park is a hotspot for migratory birds. It’s in southwestern Ontario on Lake Erie/Parks Canada

Point Pelee National Park has logged one confirmed case of a highly infectious strain of avian influenza.

The park made the announcement April 6 on its Facebook page, noting that Canada has seen outbreaks this year of this naturally occurring virus that affects wild and domestic birds.

Parks Canada says it’s still safe to visit Point Pelee but asks visitors to take the following precautions:

•Never approach or handle wildlife in the park, including sick, injured or dead birds.
•Never allow your pet to approach wildlife, including sick, injured or dead birds.
•If you see sick, injured or deceased wildlife in the park, call 1-877-852-3100 or tell a staff member.
•Never feed wild birds from your hand or try to lure birds with food or seeds.
•Clean all clothing and footwear before coming to the park
•Clean/disinfect footwear before leaving the park, particularly if you raise fowl or have pet birds at home.

The government says avian influenza doesn't pose a risk to humans.

The government says avian influenza doesn’t pose a risk to humans/Parks Canada

The park is in southwestern Ontario, on Lake Erie and just a few hours from two townships where the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), subtype H5N1, in two poultry flocks.

There have been no human cases of avian influenza resulting from exposure to wild birds in North America.

Canada reminds people to spot and report signs of avian influenza, not to touch or feed wild birds by hand, clean backyard bird feeders and baths regularly, separate domestic and wild birds, and conserve migratory bird habitat.

Point Pelee is a hotspot every spring and fall for migrating birds, and its annual Festival of Birds is coming up.

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Panasonic Introduces WhisperAir™ Repair Spot Air Purifier In Canada: A Revolutionary New Air Purification System | Panasonic North America

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Featuring Panasonic’s nanoe™ X technology, the WhisperAir Repair provides advanced air purification and odour elimination, reducing airborne pollutants and allergy triggers

Panasonic, a leading provider of ventilation and healthy indoor living solutions, today announced the new WhisperAir Repair spot air purifier. The latest addition to Panasonic’s indoor air quality solutions lineup, the device is designed to help ensure indoor air is kept clean and fresh.

Panasonic’s WhisperAir Repair utilizes patented nanoe™ X charged water particle generation technology to purify contaminated air.

“Over the past few years, Canadians have increasingly spent more time at home with 90 per cent of our time indoors,” says Kevin Smith, General Manager Life & Device Solutions Division, Panasonic Canada. “Air quality is essential to our wellbeing, with clean air effecting our total health. The unique nanoe X technology of our new WhisperAir Repair Purifier uses existing moisture in the air to neutralize pollutants to help maintain healthy indoor air quality 24 hours a day while you’re at home or away.”

A lightweight and efficient compact ceiling-mount, the WhisperAir Repair Purifier is maintenance-free and easy to install with no ductwork or filter changes required. Whether, remodeling entire spaces or building new construction, the new air purification technology keeps indoor air clean and fresh around the clock for a variety of spaces. The device is ideal for light commercial applications such as in educational facilities, hotels, elevators, medical offices, subways, restaurants and other public spaces, as well as residential applications such as bedrooms, walk in closets, powder rooms, mud rooms and pet areas.

The WhisperAir Repair utilizes Panasonic’s patented nanoe X technology, previously available only in Panasonic’s heating and cooling systems to help improve occupant health through the use of reactive molecules that purify contaminated air, inhibiting the spread of airborne and adhered pollutants. nanoe X technology also helps to maintain skin moisture and deodorizes contaminated air.

“We want Canadians to feel confident about their homes and have peace of mind when it comes to the air, they breathe,” says Kevin Smith, General Manager Life & Device Solutions Division, Panasonic Canada. “With the new WhisperAir Repair and suite of Breathe Well indoor air quality solutions, Panasonic ensures the freshest, cleanest possible air through expertise in ventilation & filtration and air purification & circulation.”

The WhisperAir Repair is CSA certified, tested against North American standards and requirements.

For more information visit WhisperAir Repair to learn more about healthy living solutions. For additional Panasonic indoor air quality solutions, visit https://na.panasonic.com/ca/indoor-air-quality.

About Panasonic Canada Inc.

Panasonic Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions for its business and government clients.  One of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers of 2022 and Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2021, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to its clients across the region. Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at http://www.panasonic.com.

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Originally Appeared Here

Johnson Controls Annual Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey Reveals Investments in Sustainability have Rebounded to Pre-Pandemic Levels, yet Challenges Remain

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Almost two-thirds of survey respondents say they struggle to scale sustainability initiatives

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The latest report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change advised that global scale transformation is urgently needed to combat climate change, however, the Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey found that organizations are still facing challenges to accelerate their sustainability efforts in key areas. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents say they struggle to scale sustainability initiatives across buildings, geographies, or business units.

“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, vice president & chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “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 decarbonizing and cleaning the air are core strategies for companies, governments and institutions to not only survive but to thrive. Our innovative technologies in heat pumps and our OpenBlue digital platform, plus our Net Zero as a Service partnership offering, are exactly the right tools at the right time for leaders determined to stay well ahead of challenges and deliver new opportunities for their business or organization.”

Global Progress has Accelerated in the Last Five Years

The survey revealed that planned investment in energy generation or storage has grown significantly over five years, likely in response to the global focus on decarbonization, 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, which is 7 percent more than what was implemented in the year prior. Notably, thermal energy storage jumped from 27 percent to 42 percent in the last five years. More than half of respondents implemented electric energy storage in the past year.

The survey also found that the United States and Europe still lead the way in every metric of green building planning. The U.S. 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 percent established goals.

Compared to its global counterparts, significantly more respondents in the U.S. 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 U.K., 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. Still, to reach global sustainability and environmental goals, the world must work collectively to plan for a more energy efficient future and make investments today for the generations to come.

Barriers to Scaling Sustainability Efforts

Although global scale transformation is necessary to course-correct on climate change, organizations 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 percent) or uncertainty in their return-on-investment (23 percent).

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

Globally, these top barriers have remained largely the same as they were five years ago, underscoring the opportunity to catalyze accelerated action through innovative solutions like Johnson Controls’ Net Zero as a Service that enables decarbonization with no upfront capital and with reduced operating expenses as well.

Organizations Focused on Harnessing Technology to Keep Building Occupants Healthy and Safe

The pandemic has also prompted organizations 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 percent of respondents performed an indoor air quality assessment last year.

Respondents also said improving occupant health and wellness overall and improving life safety and security were important decision-making factors. Over the next 12 months, almost 60 percent of organizations plan to invest in fire/life safety system and security system improvements to their buildings. Long term, more than two thirds of organizations believe data analytics and cybersecurity will have an extremely or very significant impact on the implementation of smart buildings over the next five years.

The survey revealed that actionable policies are also important for progressing energy efficiency goals. 85 and 72 percent of respondents, respectively, reported that performance benchmarking/certifications and performance standards for energy codes are critical to improving energy efficiency efforts.

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

To learn more about the survey findings, visit: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/2021EEI

Johnson Controls continues to place technology to be at the forefront of innovation for the development of solutions and services through its OpenBlue digital offering, in particular its Net Zero Buildings solution. To find out more, please visit: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/openblue/net-zero-buildings

About Johnson Controls:

At Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.

With a history of more than 135 years of innovation, Johnson Controls delivers the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through its comprehensive digital offering, OpenBlue. With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology, software as well as service solutions with some of the most trusted names in the industry. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc

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Originally Appeared Here

! Spanish News Today – Free Tap Water Must Now Be Offered In Restaurants In Spain

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Date Published: 12/04/2022

The initiative aims to cut down on single-use water bottles in Spain

Customers of bars and restaurants in Spain can wave goodbye to forking out for expensive bottled water as from Sunday April 10, the hospitality industry is obliged to offer patrons free tap water. The new regulation has come about thanks to the Law on Waste and Contaminated Soil for a Circular Economy, which aims to reduce the number of single-use bottles sold in Spain.

 

Likewise, shops and supermarkets will have to encourage bulk purchases of water while local authorities will be tasked with providing ample drinking fountains and reusable containers.

 

Along the same thread, retailers with a space in excess of 400 square metres are obliged from January 1 next year to dedicate at least 20% of their stores to products without packaging, bulk-buy items and those with reusable containers. In addition, they must accept reusable bags, Tupperware and bottles from customers, once they are clean.

 

 

In addition to the regulations on water, local governments will now have to provide separate bins for paper, metals, plastics, glass and bio-waste at a minimum by June 30 2022 in municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants and before December 31 next year for areas with larger populations.

 

They must also guarantee separate collection of textile waste, used cooking oil and hazardous household waste before December 31 2024.

 

In short, by 2035, the percentage of municipal waste collected separately in Spain must be “at least” 50% of the total waste generated by communities.

 

Although the bulk of the new rules were approved after they were published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on Saturday April 9, two new taxes which will eventually be applied on the production of single-use plastics and the use of landfills, have been postponed until January 1 of next year.

 

 

Image: Archive

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EPA Proposes “Good Neighbor” Plan Addressing Regional Ozone Transport For The 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard – Environment

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United States:

EPA Proposes “Good Neighbor” Plan Addressing Regional Ozone Transport For The 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard

11 April 2022

Sidley Austin LLP

To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is scheduled to publish its proposed Federal Implementation Plan
Addressing Ozone Transport for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS), otherwise known as the latest iteration
of EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule or “Good
Neighbor” Plan. The proposal would subject 26 upwind states to
the “good neighbor” or “interstate transport”
provision of the Clean Air Act because EPA is proposing to find
that nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which are a precursor to ozone
formation, from the upwind states significantly contribute to
downwind states’ attaining and maintaining the 2015 ozone
NAAQS.

The good neighbor provision directs states to restrict emissions
that will “contribute significantly” to nonattainment or
interfere with maintenance in any other state with respect to any
primary or secondary NAAQS in a state implementation plan (SIP). If
an upwind state fails to submit a SIP that complies with the good
neighbor requirement, or if EPA disapproves a SIP, then EPA may
issue a federal implementation plan to protect downwind states.
This requirement involves a long history of EPA rules that have
been the subject of considerable litigation.

EPA’s current proposal has two major elements, which address
two categories of emissions sources: (1) electric generating units
(EGUs) and (2) nonelectric generating units (non-EGUs). First,
beginning in 2023, 25 states would be subject to revised emissions
budgets for fossil-fuel-fired power plants in the NOx Ozone Season
Group 3 Trading Program. The EGUs would be subject to proposed
requirements to operate existing NOx emission controls and
retrofits of new controls by the 2026 ozone season. Daily emissions
rate limits would serve as a backstop control measure.

Second, for non-EGUs, beginning in 2026, 23 states would be
subject to new NOx emission standards for certain emissions units
in select industrial facilities, including:

  • reciprocating internal combustion engines in pipeline
    transportation of natural gas
  • kilns in concrete and cement product manufacturing
  • boilers and furnaces in iron and steel mills and ferroalloy
    manufacturing
  • furnaces in glass and glass product manufacturing
  • high-emitting equipment and large boilers in basic chemical
    manufacturing, petroleum and coal products manufacturing, and pulp,
    paper, and paperboard mills

EPA proposed to select these emissions controls, in part, based
on an estimated cost-effectiveness threshold for non-EGU sources at
$7,500 per ton of emissions reduction.

Publication in the Federal Register as
scheduled on April 6, 2022, will trigger a 60-day period for public
comments to EPA on the proposal. EPA will also hold a virtual
public hearing on April 21, 2022.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.

POPULAR ARTICLES ON: Environment from United States

The It Couple: Environmental Justice And PFAS

Williams Mullen

EPA recently held its first of two public meetings to garner input on environmental justice considerations related to the development of the proposed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)…

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Drew Barrymore invests in Grove Collaborative

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Dive Brief:

  • Actress and entrepreneur Drew Barrymore has become an investor in Grove Collaborative and will serve as its first global brand and sustainability advocate, the company announced on Thursday. 
  • As part of the partnership, Grove Collaborative will feature Barrymore in its new “Wish-cycling” campaign, which aims to inform consumers about the ineffectiveness of plastic recycling. The company will share the campaign across TV, social media, radio and Out of Home, according to the announcement. 
  • Barrymore will also work with Grove Collaborative’s product development team to inform product innovation and help the company progress toward its goal of being plastic-free. 

Dive Insight:

Grove Collaborative’s partnership with Drew Barrymore comes amid expansion for the company, which has plans to go public and has been working to bolster its product assortment. The company said it released almost 100 new Grove Co. and Peach Not Plastic products over the past year. Grove has recently expanded into the kids personal care space, and entered the pets space in December. Last May, Grove unveiled a refillable system for its deodorant, body lotion and balm sticks.

Two years ago, the company created the Plastic Working Group, a collection of more than 85 brands aiming to shift the industry away from plastic. Grove’s work with Barrymore is similarly aimed at transitioning the industry away from single-use plastic.

“Drew is such a positive and authentic person, and she is an incredible example of someone who strives to affect change by inspiring and educating others,” Stu Landesberg, CEO and co-founder of Grove Collaborative, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome Drew to the team to work together towards a common goal of creating a more sustainable plastic-free future.”

As the company works to scale, it has been plotting a wholesale expansion and a SPAC merger. The DTC brand is planning to go public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GROV” in the first half of this year and has big plans for its long-term growth. The company expects to make $600 million by 2024, and aims to grow its wholesale footprint after a successful partnership with Target. Last year, Grove entered physical stores for the first time with Target and released an exclusive citron and white rose scent for the big-box retailer in addition to its regular product offerings.

However, as Grove collaborative prepares to go public, the company has recently trimmed its workforce and fallen slightly short of revenue goals. The company laid off about 17% of its corporate staffers to cut operating costs and “strengthen key strategic areas across the business.” It generated $383.7 million in revenue in 2021, slightly less than the $385 million it expected to make. The company attributed the results to supply chain issues, the changing demand for disinfecting products and a shift in marketing spending that affected customer acquisition.

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Originally Appeared Here

Irrigation dept demolished wrong road to install pipes for drinking water, Jal Jeevan mission, Irrigation department

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Kalikavu: Irrigation Department fell into confusion in laying water supply pipes in Kalikavu grama panchayat. The road was dug and a pipe was laid on the nearby Thalikkuzhi road instead of the Cheringappadi colony to bring drinking water. The grama panchayat had submitted a plan to the irrigation department to provide drinking water to the Cheringappadi colony as part of the Jal Jeevan mission.

The authorities did not verify the name of the colony and the name of the road before starting the work.

By the time the locals and the Gram Panchayat member reached the spot to stop the work, about 100 metres of pipe had been placed. Authorities have assured the restoration of the road. The supply of water to the Cheringapara colony, where the drinking water shortage is critical, will be delayed further.

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Opinion: I caught COVID in my third trimester – here’s what it’s like

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Day 0

The Ministry of Health counts this as the day you either test positive or first develop symptoms. This is Sunday. I feel drained and uncertain if I have the phantom pandemic sore throat or an actual sore throat. I’m not sure if the tiredness was just being pregnant. I take a rapid antigen test (RAT), which is negative. 

Day 1

Wake up feeling like I have tonsillitis. I get an immediate, strong positive result on a RAT – as in, it shows up within seconds. I register the result online and follow the process to kickstart Bluetooth tracing. My partner and sister both get pings. Others I saw at the office on Friday don’t. By evening, both my midwife and my GP have called me, and my midwife notifies the obstetrics team at the hospital just in case. I’m told to be mindful of the baby’s movements, but both the GP and my midwife tell me what we have seen play out in the statistics – that because I’m boosted, it’s likely to be mild enough to treat at home.

My partner is testing negative and feels fine. We are renting an apartment with no way to isolate from each other so we decide to stay with my partner’s parents so I can attempt to not pass it on to him. We will share a bathroom but wear masks and disinfect surfaces after use. I just want to eat ice and Frujus. I’m taking panadol for the sore throat but Ibuprofen is on the banned list. 

Day 2

It seems to have shifted from my throat to my lungs. I think this is the snottiest I’ve ever been in my life. Wheezing too, which is super-unusual for me. Bouts of coughing. Waking up for a few hours at a time in the night just needing to sit up and have a cup of tea and try to clear the airways. My boss has encouraged me to take the whole week off work. I’m having all meals brought to me and lots of people checking in. The baby is moving lots – more than usual. Or maybe I am just noticing it more because I’m doing nothing?

Day 3

My lungs and abs are getting pretty sore. When you’re pregnant your abs split down the middle. I kind of hold them in with my hands when I cough. I’m also battling reflux. It’s tragicomic holding my abs in and trying to keep down stomach acid during coughing fits. I think you would call this a ‘productive cough’ – I’m coughing up phlegm. Another wakeful night. If you were trying to work from home through this, wakeful nights might be stressful, but it’s great knowing I have all day to read and sleep. Everyone else still testing negative.

Day 4

Today is just the same again. Lying around snotty, coughing, reading, and watching QI clips on YouTube.

Day 5

Worst day. Feels like it might not end? I don’t even do the Wordle. 

Day 6

I’m 36 weeks pregnant today. A mozzie bit me on the eyelid in the night. Feels personal. But I’ve turned a corner. I’m not as snotty, not coughing as much, just generally feeling less viral. I do get a taste for that brain fog. I can’t concentrate on anything the first half of the day. I had lost my hunger but now I’m getting that back. It’s an astonishing difference since yesterday. But I’m still just lying in bed all day. Someone calls me from the health response and asks whether I have enough food and whether I’m coping with isolating from everyone else.

Day 7

Still a little snotty but NOTHING like before. Now just tired. Everyone else is negative. 

Day 8

I am feeling much better. Still tired. I stay in isolation. Took a RAT test out of curiosity. Strong, immediate positive.

Day 9

Other than the physical tiredness, I’m feeling really well. The midwife did a home visit and everything looks good.

‘Please, listen to them’

I hear way too much about pregnant people not wanting to get their boosters because it feels like “too much”. Everyone is telling you to get the shots because they want the best for you and the baby. Please, listen to them. You want a mild case like mine, treated with herbal teas, Frujus and Panadol, not hospitalisation.

I haven’t shared this for sympathy – I had a mild case. I have shared it because I wanted to know what it was like for others catching Omicron late in their pregnancy, and I appreciated their advice. Hopefully, this is helpful to someone else out there. The main thing is to rest.

Anna Bracewell-Worrall is a reporter for Newshub Nation, Saturday 9:30am on TV3.

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Originally Appeared Here