Be Smart with Your Smartphone's Security

Smartphones and other mobile devices have transformed our use of the Internet, which now touches nearly every aspect of our lives. Nearly half of all Americans are expected to own a mobile device by the end of this year. While these tools provide users with convenient access to information and communications, they also carry risk.

Mobile users have recently captured the attention of cyber criminals who seek to take advantage of everyday citizens. In fact, experts predict that within three years, smartphones and mobile devices will surpass computers as the primary target for cyber crime. If a hacker can gain access to a mobile device, they can easily find e-mail addresses, stored passwords, banking information, social media accounts, and phone numbers – allowing them to steal your information, your money, and even your identity. That’s why practicing good cyber habits is so important.

You can protect yourself from cyber criminals by following the same safety rules you follow on your computer when using your smartphone. These include:

• Access the Internet over a secure network: Only browse the web through your service provider’s network (e.g., 3G) or a secure Wi-Fi network.
• Be suspicious of unknown links or requests sent through email or text message: Do not click on unknown links or answer strange questions sent to your mobile device, regardless of who the sender appears to be.
• Download only trusted applications: Download “apps” from trusted sources or marketplaces that have positive reviews and feedback.
• Be vigilant about online security: Keep anti-virus and malware software up to date, use varying and strong passwords, and never provide your personal or financial information without knowing who’s asking and why they need it.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone. For more information on Stop.Think.Connect., please visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

Source: http://blog.dhs.gov/2011/06/be-smart-with-your-smartphones-security.html

Habitat to Rehab Evansville Neighborhood

The city of Evansville plans to grant $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville Inc. to put together a plan to revitalize the historic Jacobsville neighborhood. As part of the plan, Habitat will build new homes and rehabilitate existing homes in the area.

Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel is pleased to announce the City of Evansville’s intention to grant $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Inc., to lead the development of a comprehensive community development plan for the revitalization of the Jacobsville neighborhood, which is roughly bordered by Division St., Diamond Ave., Garvin St., and First Ave. The grant will come from County Option Income Taxes and is subject to approval by Evansville City Council, with the first reading this evening.

“The Jacobsville neighborhood has a deep history; proud, hard-working residents; and, judging by the number of people coming together on this initiative, a very bright future,” said Mayor Weinzapfel. “I know that Habitat has the leadership, manpower, vision, and passion necessary to bring the Jacobsville community together to make this initiative a resounding success.”

Both the City of Evansville and the Jacobsville Area Community Corporation (JACC) approached Habitat about serving as the lead convener for this project, in part due to the success of a similar planning effort in the Glenwood neighborhood. JACC, a 501(C)(3) formed in 2002 to improve the physical, economic and social environment of the Jacobsville area, has already done extensive work toward developing a comprehensive development plan.

As the lead convener, Habitat will work closely with JACC and other groups actively pursuing the goal of a revitalized, sustainable Jacobsville area to bring key stakeholders together to help ignite the process to push existing revitalization efforts forward. Habitat will facilitate the planning process; conduct a needs assessment, community engagement activities, market analysis, neighborhood surveys, and focus groups; and promote capital investment. In addition, Habitat will build new homes, rehab existing homes, and weatherize existing homeowner-occupied homes in Jacobsville.

After information regarding needs and wants of key stakeholders has been gathered, community discussions will then be held in an effort to frame the primary issues. These community discussions will be held quarterly and will take place over the next two years.

Playing lead convener fits well into the scope of Habitat’s work. In 2010, Habitat International invited Habitat for Humanity of Evansville to join its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI). Habitat is one of about 40 Habitat affiliates working on procedures that will guide neighborhood development at the national level. The initiative involves expanding its housing solutions in an effort to serve more families.

Source: City of Evansville & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=48192

Two-Thirds of Americans Think Now is a Good Time to Buy a Home

Americans are more optimistic about their home buying prospects than residents of other countries, with nearly two-thirds of Americans saying now is a good time to buy a home, according to the new Genworth International Mortgage Trends Report.

The local economic outlook, concerns about property affordability, and worries about future unemployment are among the issues listed by survey respondents as obstacles to their purchasing a home.

Yet these economic concerns have not translated into excessive mortgage stress among U.S. home buyers. According to the survey, 87% of Americans who bought their first home in the past 12 months expected to easily meet their mortgage repayment obligations in the coming year, a slight improvement over the 85% who comfortably met their mortgage payments in the 12 months prior to the survey period.

Due to affordability issues — high home prices, higher costs of living, or fear of rising interest rates — the average age of first-time home buyers has risen in all countries except India over the last 40 years. The average age at which a person in the U.S. was able to purchase a first home rose from 27.3 in the 1970s to 31.6 in the 2000s.

“The U.S. is the most optimistic among all the markets surveyed about buying a home,” said Kevin Schneider, Genworth U.S. Mortgage Insurance president. “Nearly two-thirds of Americans surveyed believe now is a good time to buy a home … We hope that federal and state lawmakers recognize this pent-up demand and enact policies that foster prudent home ownership.”

Some key findings from other nations surveyed:

• Consumer confidence is a major factor in home buying. Developing countries are especially optimistic. India was the most positive country, with two thirds of Indian respondents feeling good about their national economy, followed by Mexico, where 42% of respondents were optimists.

• Indebtedness colors how households around the world view their financial situation and how they approach buying a home. Western countries tended to have higher levels of debt, but were also more comfortable taking on debt.

• In almost all of the countries surveyed, housing affordability is keeping first-home buyers out of the property market. The reasons for affordability challenges range from the rising costs of living, a fear of interest rate rises, lack of housing availability to high house prices.

Source: Genworth Financial


Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/news/articles/two-thirds-americans-think-now-good-time-buy-home/#ixzz1P5Wvfrzb

How to Keep Your Passwords Secure

What makes a good password vs. a bad password? You undoubtedly have several passwords that you use to protect your important business information — so how do you make sure those passwords don’t become easy guesses for would-be hackers or make you a victim of cybercrime?

Here are some tips from security experts.

▪ Make your password 10 characters in length: Security researchers have found that a password with 10 characters would take a hacker, on average, 19.24 years at a hundred-billion-guesses-a-second rate to try every combination of those 10 characters to guess your password.

▪ Make sure your passwords are encrypted: If you use a password service to store all of your passwords so you can keep them straight, make sure the company does not store actual passwords but only the encrypted forms of it on the cloud. For example, the password bank LastPass only stores encrypted passwords on the Internet, and the information is only decrypted when you've retrieved it.

▪ Don’t use common words: Steve Gibson, a security expert and chief executive of the Gibson Research Corporation, suggests avoiding commonly used passwords as well as any words found in the dictionary. Instead, he stresses one of the strongest passwords you can make is a bunch of gibberish characters — again, at least 10 characters long.

Source: “Guard That Password (and Make Sure It’s Encrypted),” The New York Times (June 11, 2011)

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011061305?OpenDocument

What to Do if You Get a 1099-C

If you defaulted on a debt, negotiated a reduced pay-off with your lender, or lost a home or other property due to foreclosure or repossession, you may have received a Form 1099-C Cancellation of Debt in the mail. Since the IRS expects you to include in your gross income any forgiven debt—and pay taxes on it (unless you qualify for an exclusion or exception)—this is a form that requires your careful attention.

If you have received one of these forms, you’re not alone. The IRS projects that it will process 2.8 million 1099-Cs for the 2010 tax year, up from nearly 2.7 million for the 2009 tax year. Thus, this week’s infographic is dedicated to the Form 1099-C, the new tax-time mascot of the Great Recession.

For more on the Form 1099-C, see Gerri Detweiler’s article, 1099-C In the Mail? How to Avoid Taxes on Canceled Debt.

Builders See 'Green' as Answer for Turnaround

The green building sector is offering some hope for the homebuilding industry, which has battled sluggish sales in recent years that has practically brought new-home construction to a halt.

But home builders that have opted for green construction are beating the odds and have even seen their market share rise slightly, according to panelists at a Standard & Poor’s housing summit this week in New York.

Home owners are being lured to green, seeing it as the greatest potential for appreciation of their home, panelists note. Green remodeling has also increased, partially due to federal tax credits available to home owners for energy-efficiency improvements.

In 2010, a third of all commercial real estate construction was green, as was 16 percent of residential construction. Jeff Mezger, president and CEO of KB Home, says one challenge is introducing more “green” products for the starter and move-up markets that won’t increase costs.

Also, some consumers are still not sold on green building, lacking information about energy savings and finding a qualified person to do the upgrade work, panelists noted.

Source: “Housing Panelists See Opportunity in Green Building,” HousingWire (June 9, 2011)

Santa Claus a Finalist for "Most Fun" Town

Santa Claus a Finalist for "Most Fun" Town

June 9, 2011 (Santa Claus, Ind.) - The town of Santa Claus is one of 30 contenders in the Best of the Road contest sponsored by USA Today and Rand McNally. Competing with six other finalists in the category for "Most Fun," Santa Claus, Indiana was selected from over 600 locales.

On June 23, five teams of travelers will journey from New York City to Los Angeles by July 15. Each team will visit six towns in an assigned category: most beautiful, most patriotic, friendliest, most fun, and best food, as well as points of interest en route.

The teams will choose the number one town in each of their respective categories and the towns will be highlighted on the Rand McNally website and in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas, as well as on USA Today's Travel site. Winning towns will be announced on July 22.

"We are so excited that Santa Claus, Indiana, is one of the finalists in the Best of the Road contest," says Melissa Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. "We're proud to be considered one of the "Most Fun" towns in America."

More details about the Rand McNally contest can be found at: http://www.BestOfTheRoad.com www.bestoftheroad.com/> and photos are available upon request.

Source: http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=278197

Market Watch News Letter for June 2011

I have some news and observations this month that I think you will find interesting. First on the national front, housing affordability has reached an all time high. This calculation, released by Wells Fargo and The National Association of Home Builders, says that 74.6% of all homes sold in the first quarter of 2011 were affordable for families earning the national median income of $64,400. This is the highest level in the 20 years this data has been tracked. The two driving factors in this calculation are the price of homes and interest rates, both of which are at very low levels. In fact, according to Corelogic, national home prices have declined 33.8% from their peak. Keep in mind that is a nationwide statistic.

Locally home values never declined that much. In fact from our peak average annual sale price of $129,421 in 2006 prices have only declined only 5% based on the Jan.-May 2011 time period. Average sale price for the first 5 months of this year is $122,939 and has increased from 2009 to 2010 and again so far this year. As I have said several times in this letter not only have prices in our area stabilized they have started to increase.

Homes may never be more affordable and contrary to popular opinion there are not too many homes currently on the market in our area. Based on May sales we only have 8.04 month’s supply of homes currently listed. That is lower than the average annual month’s supply for every year from 2007-2010. There are almost 1000 fewer homes currently listed than there were at our peak in September of 2007. In fact, I’ve heard several buyers mention that there aren’t many potential homes to see.

At FCTuckerEmge.com and TuckerMobile.com we have more tools to help both buyers and sellers than any of our competitors. Go online or call me today, whether you are thinking about buying your next home or selling your current home. The time is right.

We are continuing to improve our new website for TheTrentiniBlog at EvansvilleRealestate.info/ We invite you to visit our site for updates on real estate information as well as information on the Tri-State area.

Kathy and I wish all you happy summer season and safe travels if you are going on your holidays.

Cool Deals on Energy-Efficient Air Conditioners

Consumer Reports’ latest ratings of 39 room air conditioners have found over a dozen top performers that will keep consumers cool as temperatures rise, without burning a hole in their wallets.

Of the small, midsized, and large air conditioners that made Consumer Reports’ Recommended list, many are priced at or below $300, including the small-sized Kenmore 70051, which starts at just $150. The full report on air conditioners appears in the July issue of the magazine.

“Our tests found several window air conditioners that really deliver more cooling for the money,” said Bob Markovich, home and yard editor at Consumer Reports. “However, when buying an A/C, it’s not all about cooling capacity or energy consumption. Noise and ease of use are also important and our ratings recognize that.”

Lower prices help make small room air conditioners the hottest sellers, but Consumer Reports also looked for models with superb cooling, quiet running, and a high energy-efficiency ratio. Then, testers dropped the voltage, as utilities often do during a heat wave, to mimic brownout conditions in order to separate the so-so models from the true standouts. The Friedrich Kuhl SS08M10 is one such standout in the midsized model category and is even available in seven color options such as Pink Diamond and Cobalt Blue, but those options come with a hefty price tag starting at $800.

What shoppers need to know

• More isn’t necessarily better. An air conditioner that’s too powerful for its space will cool quickly without removing enough humidity.

• Check the airflow. Most units are better at directing air to the left or right. Determine which way the air will blow (facing the unit) from where the air conditioner is mounted.

• Look for convenient controls. All of Consumer Reports’ top picks have a remote control and digital temperature readouts instead of vague settings labeled “cold” and “coldest.”

• Cash in on energy savings. The 14 recommended models all meet federal Energy Star standards and typically have an energy-saver mode.

Source: Consumer Reports


Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/news/articles/cool-deals-energy-efficient-air-conditioners/#ixzz1OhTzhokp

Toyota Ramps up Production in Princeton

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana Inc. in Princeton is expected to return to 100 percent production today. The facility had been running at 30 percent capacity because of part shortages after the earthquake in Japan. The automaker announced plans last month to add 40 workers when full production resumed.

Because of an improved parts pipeline, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana announced on May 11 that full production would resume at the plant beginning on June 6. In May, the plant was running at approximately 30 percent capacity to conserve the parts supply.

With production returning to 100 percent, TMMI also announced the addition of 40 new Aerotek members to the production team. Aerotek provides variable staffing services to the Indiana plant.

Individuals interested applying for positions with Aerotek should visit its website at aerotekin.com.

TMMI has paid more than $48 million in local property taxes since 1997 and donated more than $13 million since 1996 to local community organizations that support youth and education, health and human services, civic and community and arts and culture.


Source: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=48047

Home Remodeling Activity Picks Up

Construction spending in April posted its biggest gain in six months — getting a boost by spending on home remodeling.

While overall construction spending increased only slightly by 0.4 percent in April, the increase in spending on home improvements helped offset some drops in single-family homes and apartment construction, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Construction spending for residential homes increased 3.1 percent in April mostly due to the uptick in home remodeling, the Commerce Department noted. Instead of buying a new home, more people seem to be opting to remodel their existing home. The National Association of Home Builders recently reported that the home remodeling industry saw some of its biggest gains in more than four years. NAHB’s remodeling index recently reached its highest level since the fourth quarter of 2006.

Meanwhile, construction of single-family homes dropped 1 percent in April, the Commerce Department noted. On the other hand, nonresidential construction increased slightly by 0.4 percent for the month, with the increase mostly attributed to a rise in spending on health care, schools, and power plants.

Overall spending on construction projects in April remains far below the $1.5 trillion annual amount that economists consider healthy for the sector. In April, construction projects totaled a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $765 billion — only slightly above the 11-year low reached in February of $761 billion.

"The overall story here is that housing is hugely depressed, but it has probably hit bottom," says Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.

Source: “Builders Began More Remodeling Projects in April, But Construction Spending Near 11-Year Low,” Associated Press (June 1, 2011) and “Renovations Lift U.S. April Construction Spending,” Reuters

Ferdinand Indiana Furniture Maker to Receive National Honor

The chairman and chief executive officer of Ferdinand-based Keith Fritz Fine Furniture will receive a national award on Capitol Hill July 4. Keith Fritz will be honored with MADE: In America's inaugural William Thornton Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship. The company employs 12 craftsmen, who produce a collection of 40 standard pieces. Keith Fritz Fine Furniture has created tables for two former presidents and congressmen.

MADE: In America today announces that Keith Fritz is the winner of the inaugural William Thornton Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship. The award will be presented at the annual Take Pride in America celebration held at the United States Capitol on July 4, 2011. The William Thornton Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in craftsmanship by an American artisan. MADE: In America joins industry professionals in recognizing Keith Fritz as singular in the field of furniture design and construction, and congratulates the company and its employees for their long standing commitment to making --in America-- the finest hand-crafted furniture.

ABOUT KEITH FRITZ: Established in 1999, Keith Fritz Fine Furniture today employs 12 skilled craftsmen, who produce a collection of 40 standard pieces and work regularly with interior designers to customize individual commissions. Every piece of furniture in the Keith Fritz line is lovingly hand made by these American craftsmen. Dining tables are one of their specialties and they have had the honor of creating tables for two former presidents as well as congressmen, industry leaders and celebrities. The company also designs and crafts occasional tables, cabinets and distinctive mirrors.

Keith Fritz Fine Furniture is known for its modern interpretations of the best of 18th, 19th and early 20th century furniture design and for the use of exotic woods, as well as woods lumbered and milled in its own backyard. The company is represented in high-end decorative showrooms in Chicago, New York, Boston, Atlanta and Dallas, as well as the Michael Cleary showroom in Washington

“I am truly honored to have Keith Fritz Fine Furniture recognized in this way,” says owner Keith Fritz, “and to have the opportunity to share our American success story. I want to do everything I can to promote craft and craftsmanship in America. Our craftsmen in Southern Indiana love preserving the traditions of wood working and putting fine American furniture in the hands of interior designers and architects.”


ABOUT MADE: IN AMERICA: MADE: In America is a not-for-profit educational organization based in Washington, D.C. The group’s mission is foster a business climate conducive to the free exchange of ideas and information for the purpose of revitalizing and sustaining the competitiveness of American commerce and industry in a global economy. Made: In America is a coalition of business leaders, public policy makers, educators and concerned citizens dedicated to designing and articulating new and innovative ways to promote American enterprise in the 21st Century. The organization’s annual BEST: Made in America and Build it in America awards are the culmination of a deliberative year-long search to identify and honor America’s best businesses. The award was created to heighten public awareness of American- made products and a showcase the companies and individuals who create them.
In addition, MADE: In America also conducts the American Treasures Award program, established to recognizing and honor individuals making significant contributions to the American enterprise system. Beyond the awards programs, MADE: In America undertakes a wide range of other educational programs and services in cooperation with a network of coalition partners through the American Enterprise Initiative and In Service to American Business. These strategic educational initiatives are created for both manufacturers and consumers in order to shape public discourse and policy.

Source: Fritz Fine Furniture & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=48012

Storm Resistant Homes Get More Attention

After the recent tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and even here in the Tri-State storm resistant homes are getting a lot of attention. In fact, a construction company in Perry County says more and more people are asking about these strong homes.

It's the place you go to during severe weather. A place that should be your safest bet.

"Mother Nature does what Mother Nature wants to do, however, what we do with ICF is give our customers the best chance at survival," Josh Harris said.

Josh Harris builds energy efficient homes using Insulated Concrete Forms. His Perry County Company started building these homes five years ago. So far, they have built eight homes, a chapel, and several basements using ICF.

Inside the foam is a solid wall of concrete. A wall so strong, Harris says it can protect your family from flying debris during a tornado.

So far this year, there have been 1,403 tornado reports in the U.S., at least 15 of those were reported in the Tri-State.

"When you see all the storm devastation with these helicopter photos, you can see the foundations left. Our walls are the foundation," Harris said.

Josh Clark has lived in his tornado resistant home for two years.

"I wanted the family to not have to worry in the middle of the night, have to listen to the radio and get up and run to the basement. I feel very confident that we're safe in any room in the house," Josh Clark said.

He says he would encourage others to build one of these in a heart beat.

"Basically, when I hear there's a tornado coming, I call the neighbors up and invite them to come over and sit in the safe house because I don't have any problems, I don't feel, like I need to run to the basement, I just feel very safe and content," Clark said.

A shield from the danger outside, a home many say can save lives.

Harris says these houses cost about 5% more than a stick frame house, but they are so energy efficient, owners gain that money back because of lower energy bills.

Source: http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=276137

7 Burglary Prevention Tips for Your Summer Vacation

Warm weather means summer vacation. Before you pack up, follow these tips from Hydreon Corp. to ensure your possessions are still there when you get back.

1. Don’t post about your vacation on Facebook until after you get back. If that takes more discipline than you can muster, at the very least keep your location status off any public social networking pages. Many burglars use these sites to identify “safe” targets.

2. Make your home look lived in. A light on a timer is a great first step. Hydreon Corp. sells a sensing device, Fake TV, that mimics the glow of a TV to deter burglars.

3. Don’t leave obvious signs that the house is unoccupied. Stop the mail and paper, or have a neighbor take it in. Arrange for lawn care as needed. And don’t leave notes on the door! (“Dear thieves …”)

4. Make your home hard to get into. You need good locks. Your hidden outdoor key is probably not as cleverly hidden as you think it is. So, get to know your neighbors, and leave the key with them. Let them know you’ll be gone, and have them keep an eye out during your absence. If you have an alarm system, by all means use it. Amazingly, many people forget to set the alarm.

Conversely, don’t think that an alarm system makes you invulnerable. Burglars can still cause you a great deal of misery in a smash-and-grab robbery, leaving before the police can respond. Park a car in the driveway, but be sure to take out the garage door opener first.

5. Remove obvious temptations. Take a walk around your property and make sure you can’t see any easily pawned valuables through uncovered windows. Are there any ladders left out, or particularly easy or well-concealed access points?

6. Prepare for the worst. If your computer were stolen, what might the consequences be? For most of us, this would be dire indeed. So, back up and password protect. Make a quick run-through around the house with a video recorder, listing off the valuables. This could save a lot of hassle with the insurance company if you should need to file a claim.

7. Strike the right balance. Only you can make the trade-off between security measures and the burdens they impose. You may wish to place irreplaceable items in a secure location, such as a fireproof safe. This can include expensive jewelry, family photos, and financial records. Your insurance policy is up to date, right? Also, label your possessions with your name. An engraver is best, but a Sharpie is a lot better than nothing.

The good news is that only two out of a hundred homes will be burglarized in any given year. The bad news, and this is intended to jump-start you into a bit of action, is that for those two homes that are burglarized, the effects of the intrusion are often devastating. The average burglary costs $1,750, and a whole lot of peace of mind. Ask anyone who has had a break-in; they never look at their home quite the same again.

Security is a mindset, and need not be a great burden. Fortunately, your security measures do not need to be perfect. Most crime is opportunistic, and if the guy down the street failed to take a few simple precautions, his house (poor chap!) is more likely to draw the attention of the thief than yours. And frankly, there are no measures that can stop the most determined criminals. So, just take a few simple steps to improve your odds and peace of mind. It will make your getaway that much more relaxing.


Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/news/articles/7-burglary-prevention-tips-your-summer-vacation/#ixzz1O3ttmOr8

Evansville Takes Steps to Reduce Water, Sewer Costs

The city of Evansville is hoping to save around $3 million through a project development agreement with Johnson Controls Inc. The company will lead an effort to make energy, water infrastructure and operational improvements as part of the deal with the city's water and sewer utility board.



The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) Board approved a project development agreement (PDA) yesterday with Johnson Controls, Inc. which is expected to create operational efficiencies and save the City of Evansville millions of dollars.

Under the terms of the PDA, Johnson Controls will lead an overall effort to pursue energy, water, network infrastructure, and operational improvements; and will work in concert with Energy Systems Group on these efforts.

“The goals of this project are to reduce costs while offering improved services to citizens and ratepayers, and to meet the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

The PDA calls for upgrades to the water and wastewater plants and an assessment of automated meter reading (AMR) devices that send meter readings electronically to the EWSU. The AMR system could lead to the creation of a wireless communication network that may also provide benefits to the Police Department, Fire Department, Building Commission, Department of Metropolitan Development, and other City and County departments. Such projects are expected to produce more than $3 million in savings and new revenue streams. The EWSU will evaluate the results of the assessment in collaboration with the City/County Computer Services Department. The City then expects to enter into a performance-based contract to execute projects deemed most beneficial to the City of Evansville.

“Performance-based contracting offers a unique approach to funding capital improvement projects by using a portion of the energy savings expected to result from a capital improvement project to pay for the project itself – without rate increases,” added Weinzapfel.

This self-funded program, projected to be completed almost entirely with local workforce, has the potential to create jobs for the area, improve services to utility ratepayers, improve working environments for City employees, reduce CO2 emissions from EWSU facilities, and provide a wireless network for several City and County departments.

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company’s 142,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through its growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

About Energy Systems Group:
Energy Systems Group (ESG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC), is an award-winning energy services company that specializes in delivering sustainable energy solutions which allow building owners to maximize their energy efficiency and operational performance, while reducing their carbon footprint. Through its core business of performance contracting, ESG provides customers with innovative energy efficiency, technology, and long-term financing solutions for modernization of their facilities and energy infrastructure.

To learn more about ESG, visit www.energysystemsgroup.com.

Source: InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=47890

Evansville Indiana School Shines in National Rankings

The Signature School in Evansville is eighth on the 2011 best public high schools in the nation list compiled by The Washington Post. The charter school is ranked as the top high school in the Midwest.

Evansville’s Signature School has been ranked by “The Washington Post” as the number one high school in the Midwest, the number three charter school in the nation, and number eight high school in the country. The school will be featured in the May 22 edition of the Post.

Columnist Jay Mathews, who formerly published the Challenge Index in “Newsweek,” gathers data to measure how effectively a school prepares its students for college. By dividing the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other college-level tests a school gave in 2010 by the number of graduating seniors, Mathews seeks to measure the level of challenge for all students in a given high school. According to Mathews, the rating can reveal the level of a high school’s commitment to preparing average students for college. Schools with especially high SAT or ACT scores, indicating an elite student body, are included in a separate Challenge Index.

“Overall, we’re just students who want to learn,” said junior Bailey Trela.

Signature achieved 100 percent Equity and Excellence score in the rating, indicating that 100 percent of all graduating seniors achieved a passing score in AP or IB testing. Signature is also ranked as the number one school in Indiana on Equity and Excellence for AP testing.


Under the Indiana Charter School Law, charter schools are public schools that are established to provide innovative and autonomous programs. The law “allows these public schools freedom and flexibility in exchange for exceptional levels of accountability.” Signature receives 35% less funding than traditional schools.

The President of the Signature School Board of Directors, Mr. Robert L. Koch II said, “I am proud of the staff and the students for achieving this outstanding recognition. I believe it reflects positively on the Evansville community as well as the state of Indiana.” Vicki Snyder, Executive Director of Signature School said the school’s accomplishments over the past several years would not be possible without the support of the parents. “They are an integral part of our program.” She goes on to say that “Signature has also been fortunate for the support given to the school by the Signature’s Board of Directors, the business community, and the Signature School Foundation.”

You can view The Washington Post ranking of Indiana schools by clicking here.

You can view the national rankings by clicking here.

Source: Signature School & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=47836