The Recession Of The United States Economy - 1014 Words

As the U.S. economy continues its struggle to climb out of a deep recession, personal loans remain very difficult to secure. Having shouldered much of the blame for the financial hardships that have befallen consumers across the nation, many banks now require potential borrowers to meet strict criteria for an approval. With the financial institutions being more selective about who they assist, Detroit locals like Ashley Wright are learning that consumers with excellent credit and decent paying jobs are the most likely to make the cut. Getting an approval was definitely a journey, said Wright, who was in search of a personal loan to help out with school and living expenses. Wright found that a private bank was the best place to turn for†¦show more content†¦I also tell them to make sure they start with a card that has a zero balance and to make sure they always pay it off in full every month, he said. This will have a dramatic effect on anyone s score. Lenders closely obse rve a number of factors when considering an applicant for a personal loan. Factors that heavily influence their decision are the prospective borrower s assets and liabilities, a percentage known in the financial world as debt ratio. Debt ratio is calculated by adding up all of your debt and dividing it by the amount of your assets, McCarthy explained. Understanding this calculation can hopefully make someone aware of how they can lower their debt ratio. The best way is to simply pay down the debt you ve currently accumulated. When applying for a personal loan, borrowers often base their hope for approval on things like credit history and collateral. However, as McCarthy mentions, the size of the applicant s down payment has a definite impact on the lender s decision. I advise my students to save as much as possible (when) preparing for applying for their loan, he noted. Having a significant down payment is a big deal in the eyes of the lender. It shows you are willing to risk you r hard-earned money on the purpose of your loan. It significantly increases your chances of getting approved. I alwaysShow MoreRelatedThe Recession Of The United States Economy Essay990 Words   |  4 Pagespressures. Prices were observed to increase slightly. Although the current statistics are insightful, I will explain my view of the longer term trends in the U.S. economy through three primary lenses: GDP growth, unemployment, and inflation. The first area I will examine is GDP growth. Since the Great Recession, the U.S. Economy has been marked by stagnant growth. On average, from 2010 to 2016, the U.S. GDP grew at 2.01%, which is 1.74% less than during previous post-recessionary expansionsRead MoreThe United States Economy Experienced A Recession Essay1747 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The United States economy experienced a recession starting in December 2007 and ending in June 2009 as reported by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 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Introduction The 1980-1982 Double Dip recession brings up the curiosity of how the stagflation of the seventy’s affected the early eighty’s in which it caused the Fed and the USA congress to be switching back and forth from stimulus and restraints causing us to fall to our first recession. Then not till later we will see that Paul Voucher Chairman of the Board of Governors use heavy monetary restraints to control the inflation and ending the first recession only to

Johnson Johnson Green Business Free Essays

Final Individual Research Paper *â€Å"Johnson Johnson Company*† Table of Contents COMPANY DETAILS: 1. 1 Introduction: Johnson Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is a global American pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Johnson Johnson is one among the Fortune 500. We will write a custom essay sample on Johnson Johnson Green Business or any similar topic only for you Order Now The corporation’s headquarters is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. The corporation includes 250 decentralized companies with operations in over 57 countries. Its products are sold in over 175 markets. Johnson Johnson’s brands include numerous household names of medications and first aid supplies. Among its well-known consumer products are the Band-Aid Brand line of bandages, Tylenol medications, Johnson’s baby products, Neutrogena skin and beauty products, Clean Clear facial wash and Acuvue contact lenses {text:bibliography-mark} . The company believes that it is responsible to the communities in which its employees live and work and to the world community as well. As a large, multinational organization, Johnson Johnson’s environmental footprint is complex and far-reaching. The company strives to take action in all its facilities to minimize this footprint. Johnson Johnson has long been committed to energy conservation and improving the health of the planet {text:bibliography-mark} . J has not always been vocal about its socially and environmentally responsible efforts, even it has gotten attention for its sustainability strategies, including being #3 on Newsweek magazine’s Green Rankings List of green companies {text:bibliography-mark} . On a scale of 1 to 100, AstraZeneca and Johnson Johnson lead the first-ever review of the pharmaceutical sectors to rate above 70 in a recent survey of sustainability practices by Climate Counts. Climate count evaluates firms’ commitments in four areas: Whether they have measured their carbon footprint If they reduced their impact on global warming If they have supported or blocked climate legislation or policy To what level they have publicly disclosed their climate actions Johnson Johnson scored highly in all sectors except for measuring its own carbon footprint, an area in which it scored 12 out of 22 {text:bibliography-mark} . Some interesting facts about J: It’s the second largest producer of solar panels in the U. S. it’s the largest corporate user of hybrid vehicles, and it gets 30% of its energy from renewable sources. It’s also done a lot to reduce its water footprint, reduce PVC content in products, sell waste as raw materials, and use recycled paper in product packaging (Gonzalez, 2009). 1. 2 Mission Johnson Johnson does not have any mission statement. For more than 60 years, document known as â€Å"Our Credo† has guided in fulf illing responsibilities to customers, employees, communities and the stockholders {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson’s â€Å"Our Credo† is attached in Appendix- B. The company continues to stand by that credo for 118,700 employees at its facilities in the United States and in 54 countries around the world. It states, â€Å"We are responsible to our employees, the men and women who work with us throughout the world. Everyone must be considered as an individual. We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit. They must have a sense of security in their jobs. Compensation must be fair and adequate, and working conditions clean, orderly and safe. Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints {text:bibliography-mark} . The philosophy at Johnson Johnson is that â€Å"All accidents and injuries are preventable. An accident is the end result of a unique chain of events and conditions. The role of all Johnson Johnson employees is to foresee t hese acts and intercept them before they occur {text:bibliography-mark} . At Johnson Johnson, continuous improvement is the basis for ongoing operations. As per Joseph Van Houten, worldwide director of Planning, Process Design and Delivery, â€Å"Johnson Johnson is never satisfied with maintaining the status quo. Each employee has a responsibility to identify, and has possibility to eliminate hazards. In areas where they cannot be eliminated, employees are expected to be aware of hazards and safeguard themselves and others around them†. As at many companies with stellar safety programs, Johnson Johnson management believes safety is everyone’s responsibility. Employees are expected to be concerned about their own safety and that of fellow employees, families, customers, contractors, visitors and the communities in which Johnson Johnson operates. Johnson Johnson’s vision is: bringing science to the art of healthy living. † The safety tenets embodied in the credo have been translated into a safety vision for the corporation that commits Johnson Johnson to being the world leader in health and safety by creating an injury-free workplace {text:bibliography-mark} . 1. 3 Employee-related activities Johnson Johnson has a wealth of programs and activities to support a div erse, inclusive culture which acts as an essential key to business success. Affinity groups are voluntary, employee-driven groups that typically focus on a shared interest. These groups provide support and networking opportunities such as mentoring, community outreach, career development and cultural awareness activities. Johnson Johnson companies offer formal or informal mentoring programs to expand opportunities and support development of a diverse workforce. A number of affinity groups offer programs that match up new members of the work community with experienced leaders who serve as mentors. Johnson Johnson Diversity University is a dynamic online resource designed to help employees understand and value differences and the benefits of working collaboratively to meet business goals. The Office of Diversity Inclusion was established to foster recognition of unique backgrounds, talents and abilities as an important competitive advantage within Johnson Johnson companies. This helps develop strategies to achieve the global diversity vision, helps operating companies share and leverage their best diversity practices, and reports to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee on diversity within the companies {text:bibliography-mark} . 1. 4 Products: Johnson Johnson offer products and information targeting baby care, skin and hair care, oral care, nutritionals, women’s health, pain relief, wound care topical, vision care and Over-the-Counter Medicines. Baby products include Baby Powder, Baby Oil, Baby Cream, Baby Lotion, Baby Shampoo, Baby Hair Oil, and Baby Soap {text:bibliography-mark} . Skin Care products include Clean and Clear Face wash, Johnson Buds, Neutrogena, Aveeno and Ambi Skincare. Oral Health Care products include Listerine, Listerine Whitening, Reach, Efferdent, and Rembrandt. Nutritionals include Splenda, Viactiv, Benecol, Lactacid and Sun Crystals. Women’s Health products include Stayfree, Carefree, K-Y, Monistat, e. p. t and O. B. Wound Care * Tropical *products include Band Aid, Savlon, Johnson Plast, Bengay, Caladryl, Neosporin, Cortaid, Tucks Hemorrhoidal Ointment, Daktarin, and Purell. Vision Care products are Visine and Acuvue Brand Contact Lenses. Over-the-Counter Medicines include Tylenol, Sudafed, Mylanta, Zyrtec and Zyrtec-D12-Hour, Motrin, Imodium, Pepcid, Nicorette, Benadryl, Rolaids, and Dolormin {text:bibliography-mark} . The figure 1 in Appendix-A shows some of the different products of Johnson Johnson. JJ’s Strategies in Reducing Environmental *Footprint: Johnson Johnson has high standards for operating divisions in the area of environmental responsibility- striving to reduce its environmental impact. The figure 1 gives an idea on the investments made in lowering its Carbon Energy Efficiency. Highlights of Johnson Johnson green features include: Using renewable, efficient, and clean sources of energy. Reducing Green house gases from manufacturing units Reducing water use on a daily basis. Implementing a forward-looking building design and using natural materials. Purchasing green products/packaging, from cleaning supplies to computers. Reducing Carbon footprint – Implementing a robust recycling program. – Making tools available to help employees implement green practices at work and at home {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 1 Green Power: Johnson Johnson (JJ), a long-time green energy purchaser, has surpassed the 400 million kWh per year mark for its annual renewable energy credit (REC) purchase. The total purchase size of about 435 million kWh per year makes the healthcare products provide the nation’s eighth largest purchaser, according to the EPA’s Green Power Partnership program. The purchase of various RECs from wind and biomass facilities represents about 38% of the company’s U. S. electricity use {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson has won numerous environmental awards over the past 15 years, including the Green Power Partner of the Year in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007and 2009. Among its environmental initiatives is its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 7% below 1990 levels by 2010. The company’s renewable energy portfolio also includes direct purchases of bundled green energy from low-impact hydro and wind power. In addition, the company has now installed 4. 1 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic installations at its U. S. facilities. Lastly, the company’s unique 3 MW onsite landfill gas project In Mountain View, California became fully operational in 2007. Under a 15-year gas purchase agreement with the City of Mountain View, ALZA Pharmaceuticals, a JJ subsidiary, uses the landfill methane gas to power three research and development buildings in the area adjacent to the landfill site {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 2 Heat and Power from Landfill Gas: To address volatile, escalating energy prices and concerns about climate change, many large energy consumers including Johnson Johnson are looking for stable, nonpolluting sources of energy. Besides solar and wind power, landfill gas (LFG) is also an economically viable renewable resource but is often overlooked. 2. 2. 1 Johnson Johnson’s LFG Project: Johnson Johnson committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 7 percent below its 1990 levels by 2010. Each of the company’s business units has an emissions target whose progress is tracked annually {text:bibliography-mark} . ALZA pharmaceuticals, a division of JJ, needed to reduce its GHG emissions by 21. 5 million pounds per year or risk failing meet their target. ALZA’s research and development facilities in California are adjacent to the Shoreline Landfill. The figure 2 in Appendix A shows the layout of ALZA. The LFG produced in the Shoreline Landfill by decaying waste was captures and flares in accordance with EPA regulations for large landfills. ALZA and the city of Mountain View signed a 15-year contract for the sale of the gas, which ALZA uses to power three 970-kilowatt generators at each of its research and development buildings in the area. Electricity from the generators powers the buildings, and the heat captured from the exhaust is used to provide hot water {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 2. 2 The System: ALZA takes possession of the gas before the existing flare and processes it on-site at the landfill using a standard moisture elimination system. Three 60-horsepower blowers maintain the gas at a pressure of 6 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) as it passes through a chiller. The temperature of the gas at the inlet is 70 °F, and when it is exposed to the colder temperatures in the chiller, the moisture in the gas condenses and falls out of the gas as droplets. The system removes 90 percent of the moisture in the gas and is capable of processing 1,300 standard cubic feet of gas per minute. Although the landfill generates gas continuously throughout the year, ALZA’s electricity needs vary, and sometimes during the winter months the system generates more electricity than the buildings need. The system is expected to generate 24,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per hour of natural gas consumption {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 3 Solar Energy: A Solar photovoltaic (PV) system provides the clean, reliable, renewable energy. Johnson Johnson has installed more than 4. MW of solar photovoltaic generation at ten locations in US. According to WRI as of May 2008, JJ is the second largest user of on-site solar energy in the United States {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 3. 1Energy and Atmosphere in JJ PRD, San Diego, California Johnson Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development (JJ PRD) facility in San Diego, California achieved Leadership i n Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and won several awards for their energy and environmental performance. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system provides the clean, renewable energy at JJ PRD as shown in Appendix- Figure 3. JJ PRD achieved a 2. 2 megawatt from co-generation system so far. JJ PRD roof mounted DC solar PV system which generated a 243 Kilowatt (KW) offsetting 10 percent of the annual electricity consumption in addition to its 90 percent offset from the co-generation system. This shows that JJ PRD has completely offset the building’s net annual energy consumption and making the facility carbon neutral. This Solar PV system is expected to generate annual energy savings of approximately $500,000 depending on the electric rates. JJ PRD solar energy generates power equivalent to power consumed by 80 homes {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 4 Green House Gas Reductions: In Johnson Johnson since 1990, various company projects have focused on energy efficiency improvements for lighting, facility building envelopes, HVAC, compressed air, office equipment, fuel sources, and heat recovery. From 1990 to 2000, $12. 5M has been saved through these projects and 107,000 metric tons of CO2 have been prevented. Johnson Johnson’s GHG reduction efforts began with an internal goal adopted in 2000. Each operating company is responsible for meeting GHG reduction goals of 4 percent by 2005 and 7 percent by 2010. Many reductions were identified through Johnson Johnson’s Enhanced Best Practices (EBP), which include 245 energy-saving opportunities for affiliates to consider {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson also partners with organizations aiming to set the standard for GHG management such as EPA’s ENERGY STAR ®, Green Power Partnership, and Performance Track; World Resources Institute (WRI); World Wildlife Fund; and the Carbon Disclosure Project. The company has received numerous energy and environmental awards including EPA’s Green Power Partner of the Year, The California Governor’s Award for Sustainable Practices, New Jersey Clean Energy Business Leader of the Year, and The Climate Group Low Carbon Leader {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 4. 1 JJ’s way of approach to GHG Management: Johnson Johnson’s Inventory Management Plan (IMP) has been integrated into its internal GHG Protocol. Using the IMP has given the company’s internal protocol much more structure and clarity, making it easier to explain to those employees new to GHG management. Johnson Johnson has various processes in place to track the progress of its goal. The company’s Energy Tracking System (ETS) is solely dedicated to tracking energy and emissions goals. Through this system, affiliates report energy usage, cost, and projects with any applicable savings. The ETS utilizes the latest emissions factors from WRI and EPA, and the system adjusts when new factors are published {text:bibliography-mark} . The largest single component responsible for the emissions reduction is the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) for wind power. The emission reductions due to the RECs purchases in 2004 accounted for 170,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, offsetting 29 percent of the company’s emissions from electricity use and 19 percent of the total corporate emissions in that year. The continued implementation of Johnson Johnson’s energy efficiency best practices and new facility design criteria have also been important contributing factors to its emission reductions {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 4. 2 Energy and Atmosphere in Janssen *H*eadquarters Janssen is a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Johnson. Janssen is driven by dedication to product innovation, customer focus, and organizational excellence. The Janssen Headquarters in Titusville site has been able to reduce energy use by 11% and reduce its carbon footprint by 5,019 metric tons annually; (over 75% reduction) through rigorous building commissioning and maintenance, installation of a 500 kilowatt rooftop solar photovoltaic system as shown in figure 4 in Appendix-A, and the purchase of green power and renewable energy credits (REC). This is the equivalent of planting approximately 1,500 acres of trees or removing almost 1,000 cars from the roadways {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson generates 24 percent of its corporate electricity demand from renewal energy sources. Janssen has offset its CO2 emissions by installing the solar system on its Titusville facility {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 5 Energy Efficiency: Electricity Johnson Johnson World Headquarters building was originally built with an all electric heating and cooling system and limited operating flexibility. The ENERGY STAR project which began in 2002 after an intensive energy audit and facility condition audit yielded an initial energy performance score of 52. The facility management team put in place a long-term strategic capital improvement plan to upgrade the building’s infrastructure with the most technically advanced and energy-efficient equipment available. In addition to installing energy-efficient equipment, the new design enabled facility operators the ability to optimize the indoor environment to match the needs of the occupants {text:bibliography-mark} . A number of projects were completed, including direct digital control (DDC) upgrades to both air handling equipment and variable air volume (VAV) boxes. Central utility upgrades included converting electric boilers to high efficiency natural gas. The chiller plant was upgraded from a constant flow system to a primary/secondary system with high efficiency centrifugal chillers controlled by variable speed drives (VSD). The cooling tower was upgraded; and a condenser water reset program was installed and controlled by variable frequency drives (VFDs). A 232 KW photovoltaic elevated tracking system was installed on the upper level of the parking deck. Additionally, high efficiency motors and VFDs were installed on all major air handling equipment and the hot water reheat and chilled water pumps. Solar window film, high efficiency electrical transformers, and general office lighting occupancy sensors were also installed. All of the 24/7 air conditioning loads supplied by the central chiller plant were evaluated and replaced with smaller dedicated HVAC systems enabling the chiller plant runtime to be reduced by 5,000 hours per year. The operations and maintenance team replaced 300, 175 watt metal halide lamps in the parking deck operating 24 hours a day with 85 watt Phillips QL induction lamps. The cumulative results of these projects enabled the reduction of the building’s overall energy consumption by 25 percent, yielding an improved energy performance score of 85 and qualifying for the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson’s new lab in La Jolla beats California’s energy efficiency standards by 18%. Efficient technologies installed include window glazing and shades, variable speed drives and lights that are all under 60 watts. A 2. 2-megawatt cogeneration system supplies 95% of electricity as well as heating and cooling. The figure 5 in Appendix-A shows the Cogeneration placement in La Jolla. The new lab met Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards. Johnson Johnson was the recipient of a 2005 Flex Your Power Energy Efficiency Award {text:bibliography-mark} . This building itself achieves annual savings of $536,000 on its energy bill, compared to the amount a standard laboratory would expect to pay. According to a model used to estimate energy performance of new buildings employed by the local utility, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE), a standard building would have used $1,432,000 per year, which is 37 percent more than the JJ building. Based upon its exemplary energy performance, the building owners are awarded $143,000 for their inventiveness from SDGE {text:bibliography-mark} . This building resulted in an impressive list of energy efficiency and water conservation features resulted in an annual savings of more than a half million dollars. This translates into: Enough electricity to power 680 homes Enough natural gas to heat 950 homes Reduced power plant emissions of 4. 8 tons of nitrogen oxides per year, 2. 1 tons of sulfur oxides per year, and 4,318 tons of carbon dioxide per year. 2. 5. 1 Building Envelope: The Lab building in La Jolla, California is constructed of steel framing and curtain wall. A white reflective cap sheet was installed on the roof, which both reduces the overall cooling load for facility and extends roof life because of the reduced roof temperature {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 6 Water Efficiency: Diminishing water supplies and decreasing water quality are pressing an environmental challenge, which is looked as a more acute problem at Johnson Johnson. JJ have been reducing water use for many years. It achieved a 16 percent absolute reduction in water use from 2000- 2005, at a time when sales increased by 56 percent. To continue to identify and maximize water conservation, JJ set a Healthy Planet 2010 goal for a further 10 percent absolute reduction in water use from 2005- 2010 {text:bibliography-mark} . PRI provides multi-function support services for government and private facilities. Services include base operations, maintenance, building management, operations and maintenance of equipment, and maintenance of building management systems {text:bibliography-mark} . The figure 7 of Appendix-A shows the dropped level of water usage in JJ. Johnson Johnson implemented a number of water conservation technologies at PRI. These include: Recovering condensate from cooling coils is used as make-up water for the cooling towers. Even though this measure had a 15-year payback, JJ felt that implementing this measure was consistent with their goal of environmental stewardship. Using reclaimed water for landscape irrigation and other uses: Using reclaimed water (which is available through a separate municipal water distribution system in the vicinity of PRI) for landscape irrigation and for providing makeup water to the cooling towers gives JJ a twofold benefit. First, the reclaimed water costs about 10 percent less than regular water. Second, making a commitment to use it may give JJ some beneficial considerations if drought conditions ever necessitate serious curtailment f water use in the future {text:bibliography-mark} Based in Titusville, New Jersey, Johnson Johnson employs cooling condensate recycling that saves approximately 40,000 gallons of water per year. This eliminates the need for storm water discharge of the condensate and reduces chemical treatment needs for the cooling towers. In 2006, the site converted to 100% waterless urinals, which yielded a 12% reduction in water use (700,000 gallons per year) {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johns on’s La Jolla Lab facility is also water efficient, reducing water use by 11 million gallons annually {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 7 Waste Reduction: * Johnson Johnson believes that eliminating or reducing waste will not only help the environment but also reduce the associated costs and risks/liabilities from transportation, treatment and disposal. Johnson Johnson has set a goal to reduce its hazardous and non-hazardous waste by 10 percent against its 2005 baseline levels. So far, JJ’s operating companies have achieved a 10 percent reduction in non-hazardous waste, largely through increased recycling and reuse of their waste and some innovative composting projects. Similarly, increased recycling and reuse of waste have allowed them to achieve a four percent reduction in hazardous waste since 2005 {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 7. 1 At Johnson Johnson’s Division in Titusville, New Jersey: Initiatives to improve recycling compliance, combined with the elimination 70 percent of cafeteria disposables, have lead to a 29 percent reduction of non-hazardous solid waste which is 106,745kg per year. An innovative program to recycle all used carpet began in 2003 and 34,000 kg of carpet has been recycled till today {text:bibliography-mark} . . 8 Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Although the vast majority of pharmaceutical and other compounds found in water systems arise from normal patient and consumer use, Johnson Johnson operating companies are taking steps to evaluate and minimize or eliminate these compounds from their wastewater. Periodic wastewater monitoring has been used to determine potential toxicity to aquatic organisms, to conduct ri sk assessments, and to develop safe levels for Active pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) {text:bibliography-mark} . Another way pharmaceutical compounds can reach the environment is through consumer disposal of unused or expired medicines. Johnson Johnson supports the U. S. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for the Proper Disposal of Prescription Pharmaceuticals. This policy suggests a combination of take-back programs when they are available, trash disposal for most medicines, and flushing for some specific pharmaceuticals, such as narcotics {text:bibliography-mark} . For Example: Johnson Johnson is also participating in an educational effort, called SMARTxT Disposal, being led by phRMA, the U. S. Fish Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association to inform consumers about proper disposal of unused or expired medicines. 2. 9 Indoor Environmental Quality: Like most Johnson Johnson’s buildings that reach an exemplary level of energy efficiency, the PRI facility features a high efficient interior lighting system in its lab division in La Jolla, California. This building’s efficiency lies on two reasons. Lighting energy use is huge. Lighting is the single largest energy end use in most commercial buildings, accounting for anywhere in between 25 and 50 percent of overall energy use. Through a combination of good design and efficient technology like using T5 lamps and electronic ballasts will result in load reduction of 0. 30 to 0. 50 watts per square foot. Lighting efficiency leads to downstream savings. The ample load reductions that result from efficient lighting lead to reduced cooling loads as well. As a result of reduced cooling and airflow requirements, a series of â€Å"downstream† savings are generated, including smaller ductwork, piping, air-handling units, and chillers. All of these down-stream efficiency gains translate into reduced operating cost, as well as construction cost savings for the smaller systems. The interior lighting system at the PRI facility is designed around high-quality fluorescent sources that are applied to balance efficiency with visual comfort. Other features of the lighting system include occupancy sensors throughout the building and the use of radioactive exit signs that glow without a wired power source {text:bibliography-mark} . Looking at Johnson Johnson’s division in Titusville, New Jersey, an innovative program to reduce air contamination inside the building was implemented that utilizes ultraviolet lights in all air handlers. This system ensures the cleanest air supply possible, while eliminating the need for chemicals to purify air handler condensate. The site has also implemented low environmental impact housekeeping procedures since 2003, including compliance with Green seal cleaning product standards {text:bibliography-mark} . *2. 10 Carbon Footprint:* Johnson Johnson has established a CO2 Reduction Capital Funding Process at the Group Finance level in 2004. The company targeted at $40 million per year for its energy and GHG reduction projects. Each JJ affiliated divisions apply for funding relief for these projects. The company completed 31 projects by the end of 2007. As of year-end 2008, 51 projects were completed and the company saved 90,044 tons of CO2 annually. JJ budgeted $99 million for the projects and expects an average 16. 3 percent rate of return {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson’s headquarters located in New Jersey is located near the train station with intent to reduce the carbon footprint. The major source for Johnson Johnson’s carbon emissions is their fleets of roughly 36,000 vehicles worldwide. With the goal to improve fuel efficiency per mile by over 30% they have adapted their vehicle buying habits. It now boasts 2,100 hybrid vehicles in their fleet by March, 2008. Despite these measures, the company has not yet seen an overall improvement in distance per distance driven {text:bibliography-mark} . The figure 6 of Appendix-A shows the investments made in lower carbon energy efficiency. *2. 11 Packaging*: Johnson Johnson primarily in the health care products. Since virtually all its products require some type of packaging for protection and preservation, Johnson Johnson has found significant benefits by reducing packaging materials {text:bibliography-mark} . It began developing its waste reduction program in 1988. Since then, the company has reduced its packaging by 2,750 tons per year, including a reduction in its use of paper by 1,600 tons, plastic by 1,000 tons, metal by 100 tons, and other materials by over 50 tons. Over the first 2 ? years of the program, these reductions saved Johnson Johnson an estimated $2. 8 million in material costs alone {text:bibliography-mark} . So far JJ achieved 93 percent of packaging and 83 percent of office paper to contain more than 30 percent PCR or fiber from certified forests {text:bibliography-mark} . The company began its program by comprehensively reviewing its product packaging, looking for ways to cut back on the amount of materials it purchased, as well as the amount of waste associated with the manufacture and use of these products. One measure Johnson Johnson adopted was to reduce the weight of paper used to package one of its gauze products. Millions of these particular products are sold every year and the company realized that even a small change would make a big difference. The company reduced from 30-pound paper to 28-pound paper, Johnson Johnson faced dramatic results: a reduction in waste of 115 tons of paper, saving $450,000 annually {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 11. 1 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Packaging: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has long been used in packaging for drugs, medical devices and personal care products because of its desirable physical characteristics for protecting product quality, including impermeability to moisture, gas and flavor. But Johnson Johnson operating companies also understand concerns about the ability to dispose of PVC in an environmentally sound manner and the difficulties with recycling PVC. Its consumer franchise had a goal for 100 percent removal of PVC in primary packaging as well as secondary and tertiary packaging throughout the company. So far JJ has eliminated 84 percent of secondary and tertiary packaging across the company {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 11. 2 JJ Initiatives: Johnson Johnson also has initiated more complex waste prevention initiatives. As one example, the company eliminated an aluminum pouch that surrounded a plastic layer used to contain Prolene medical sutures. This new procedure was implemented without causing any loss of sterility {text:bibliography-mark} . Band Aid brand adhesives bandages were originally packages in the metal â€Å"tin box. By converting 50 percent of the total packaging to recycled paperboard, i. e. , 35-percent post-consumer, the company significantly reduced the quantity of packaging material required {text:bibliography-mark} . Acuvue contact lenses were previously packaged in polypropylene blisters and polypropylene storage boxes. To reduce polypropylene usage and waste, JJ completely redesigned the blister holding the lenses and their fluid to permit opposing blisters to nest. This change reduced the amount of polypropylene generated as waste during the manufacturing process and the size of the packaging required for the lenses {text:bibliography-mark} Stayfree feminine hygiene product was previously packaged in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bag topped with a cotton drawstring and a â€Å"cuff† to carry the drawstring. The bag was redesigned to use a lower gauge LDPE, and the cuff and the drawstring were eliminated {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 11. 3 Waste Reduced: Prolene: 16,000 pounds of very high grade aluminum foil reduced annually, a 52 percent reduction {text:bibliography-mark} Band Aid brand adhesives bandages: 1. 6 million pounds of metal packaging are saved annually {text:bibliography-mark} Acuvue: Blisters – 264,000 pounds of polypropylene reduced annually, a 33 percent reduction {text:bibliography-mark} Stayfree: 440,000 pounds of LDPE and cotton string reduced annually, a 24 percent reduction {text:bibliography-mark} 2. 11. 4 Annual Savings: Packaging redesigns for Prolene, Band Aid, Acuvue and Stayfree save Johnson Johnson over $3. million annually {text:bibliography-mark} . The annual cost savings associated with reduced packaging for each product are indicated below: 2. 12 Usage of Chemicals*, *Ingredients/ Materials: Johnson Johnson maintains a list of regulated chemicals. In addition, the company works to anticipate chemicals that are not currently regulated but may be regulated in the future. The corporation has crea ted an â€Å"emerging issues process†, headed by an environmental toxicologist who is part of the worldwide corporate Environmental Health and Safety group and has the responsibility to evaluate new reports on chemicals. From this review process, the company has created a â€Å"Watch List† of chemicals that have been identified as being of concern by non-government organizations (NGOs) {text:bibliography-mark} . *2. 12. 1 Design tools for evaluating chemicals of concern and designing greener products:* chemicals file Johnson Johnson has developed several tools to assist product designers in eliminating chemicals and materials of concern. The first tool is a â€Å"Design for Environment† software tool. Designers can input a chemical and see whether it is heavily or lightly regulated. There is a color-coded scheme which indicates the regulatory level. Red indicates the chemical is banned by a government agency somewhere in the world; black means highly regulated or on the â€Å"Watch List†; grey indicates the chemical is less regulated; yellow indicates minimal regulation; and, green indicates the chemical is not regulated. The goal is to evaluate the product lifecycle and to identify and reduce impacts from raw material selection, use and disposal {text:bibliography-mark} . The consumer segment of Johnson Johnson convened an Ingredients Issue Task Force that has developed a rating system for greener materials. This group has reviewed every ingredient in Johnson Johnson’s consumer products and has used resources such as the US EPA’s PBT profiler and other tools to identify chemical hazards {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 13 Recycling: Johnson Johnson has a goal to have 90 percent of office paper and 75 percent of paper-based packaging containing more than 30 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content or containing fiber from certified forests by the end of 2010 {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson believes that all its employees have an impact on the sustainable results. It has undertaken measures to best utilize the every product in their daily business activities. JJ has increased recycling by 25 percent. JJ has achieved it with the following steps: Encourages employees to recycle material using two side copying feature Using a reusable cups for beverages Encouraging staff members who purge old files to re-use folders again Recycling paper clips, binder clips, envelopes, cardboards, newspaper, magazines and other similar items. These items are collected from the recycle bins right next to the employee desks and re-used. Recycles computers, carpets, furniture etc {text:bibliography-mark} 2. 14 Maintenance of Scoreboard: In 2009, the corporation has rolled out a scorecard for green products. This scorecard was developed to give designers and marketers a â€Å"cleaner line of sight† in creating new products and goes beyond tools that assess chemical hazards. A product receives points along five dimensions. Seven points are needed to be identified as a â€Å"greener† product. The dimensions include: materials/ingredients, energy, waste, water, and packaging. This process includes a high level life cycle assessment to identify the areas of greatest environmental impact {text:bibliography-mark} . *2. 15 Climate Savers: Elements *of Fulfillment Strategies Johnson Johnson identifies and extreme weather event that disrupts business as the greatest climate related risk the firm faces. Each major operation has a business continuity strategy in place and each business segment manufacture its products in more than one location {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson is tracking and publicizing its CO2 reduction goal worldwide to every level of management. The goal is also being included in the company’s annual environmental report {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson has joined the following external initiatives: The Climate Group (UK); The Climate Registry; US EPA Green Power Partnership; WWF’s Climate Savers; WRI’s Green Power market Development Group; CDP’s Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration; and US climate Action Partnership {text:bibliography-mark} The company covering buildings, equipment, management practices, maintenance practices, and operational practices developed a comprehensive set of energy efficiency best practices. Sixty-seven percent of the best practices have been completed worldwide. JJ is participating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program for existing buildings with its world headquarters building serving as a pilot project. A task force has also been developed to create guidelines that will allow the company to obtain LEED certification for all new facilities. On-site renewable generation: Installation of four solar systems for a total of 1193 kW at California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania facilities. International on-site generation includes a solar hot water system at JJ Brazil providing 20,240 kWh/yr. of hot water and a solar hot water system at Janssen-Cilag, Portugal providing 8400 kWh/yr. of hot water. Purchasing of Renewable Energy: All Texas operations: 15 percent wind power, 10. 6 Million kWh/year. Cordis, Netherlands: 10 percent wind power, 1. 1 Million kWh/year. Centocor, Netherlands: 100 percent wind power, 12 Million kWh/year. An annual energy week is conducted worldwide to improve employee awareness. The theme last year was â€Å"You Have the Power to Save Energy for a Brighter Future. Activities to increase awareness include conferences in different regions and an active energy Web site, which includes a renewable site and graphics depicting CO2 reduction levels {text:bibliography-mark} . Johnson Johnson conduct environmental campaigns every year and every facility created a five-year education plan to educate employees about climate change, sustainable forestry e tc {text:bibliography-mark} . 2. 16 Johnson Johnson’s Green Chemistry Initiatives Johnson Johnson’s pharmaceutical segment participates in the Pharmaceutical Green Chemistry Roundtable and is investing in green chemistry approaches. Because of the high costs of drug development, an investment in a green chemistry approach generally does not occur until a new drug has been approved. Johnson Johnson entered the US EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award Program in 2008 for its work to scale up a pharmaceutical ingredient called Darunavir, a new protease inhibitor. The goal of the project was to reduce health, safety and environmental impacts in manufacturing and to reduce sots. This approach resulted in reduced solvent usage, hydrogen gas formation was eliminated, and methylene chloride was replaced with a more benign solvent. This increased the yield of the drug by 40% and reduced manufacturing costs by 81%. The company eliminated 96 tons of methylene chloride, reduced hydrogen gas by 4800 cubic meters and reduced raw materials hazardous waste by 46 tons {text:bibliography-mark} . Green Suggestions and Recommendations: I believe Johnson Johnson needs to step up instead of waiting for the clients to take the further lead on sustainability. The company should always make wise material choices and to make sure its best utilizing the environmentally friendly materials before it undertakes any new project by posing some questions like: Is the project designed to minimize waste? Can it be smaller, lighter, or made from fewer materials? Does it use renewable resources? Is reuse practical and encouraged? Are the products and packaging refillable, recyclable, or repairable? Is it made with post-consumer recycled or reclaimed materials? How much? Are the materials available in a less toxic form? Can it be made with less toxic materials? Are materials available from a socially and environmentally responsible company? Is it made locally? There are some small gestures which are worth doing to create a sustainable environment. The daily used printing ink must be environmentally friendly: It must reduce emissions, create less toxic waste, use a renewable resource, be easily de-inked, produce less hazardous sludge, and be more biodegradable than conventional ink. Design decisions like reducing the number of colors used to print a job is better on the environment as well as saves the company’s budget. Recycled content is just one of the ways defined to make a good paper. When choosing papers, company should look beyond recycled content and consider recyclability, raw materials, and how the paper is bleached and manufactured. Packing and shipping are also important to think about. Instead of simply accepting the suggested size for a printed piece, company should consider what size will result in the least waste on press. Instead of specking on an easy-to-find, standard material that happens to release VOCs (volatile organic compounds), progressive material choices must be made as part of the initial presentation. Johnson Johnson should start conducting some recycling programs and should let its consumers know about it through advertisements. The recycle programs are designed in such a way that consumers are encouraged to buy more and more environmental friendly products like plastics that are easily recyclable, boxes or products that are packaged in paper materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or made from post-consumer waste. This recycling program should make the consumers to return the empty packages and receive discounts or free products in return. Conclusion: All modern buildings are constructed under a number of particularly stringent environmental constraints. These buildings use much less energy and are easy to maintain. The building’s success depended on a combination of J design philosophy which is reflected in the company’s â€Å"New Facilities Design Criteria†, careful modeling of building systems to envision how each works on its own and what its impact is on the others, and a steadfast vision of the need to produce a robust structure that will function well for many decades. Hardheaded cost benefits methods were applied to every system in the buildings. Most often focused on the importance of reliability and smooth operation over the long term. For example: Both of the two large chillers in New Jersey and La Jolla, California had VSDs installed to facilitate maintenance and provide flexibility with controls, though cost/benefit analysis did not support this decision. A condensate recycling system was installed in spite of showing a 15-year payback because J wants to be a good corporate citizen. Using reclaimed water provided cost savings, improved environmental performance, and also reduces the chances of future water crisis. One hundred percent completion of best practices does not guarantee Johnson Johnson with a cost effective and energy efficient design. Firstly, it is important to setup ambitious goals to provide a compass for an organization. Johnson Johnson Healthy planet 2010 goal that all operating companies have a plan to improve their product and process environmental profiles and eliminate high priority chemicals is a useful way to encourage improvements and track progress in a highly decentralized organization. Secondly, green design tools are important in implementing these goals. Johnson Johnson has developed a number of valuable tools to help in designing greener products including a design for environment tool and a rating system for greener ingredients. Thirdly, it is necessary to maintain a scoreboard to measure greener products in an additional means of clarifying and implementing these board goals. Johnson Johnson has developed a scoreboard for greener products with 5 dimensions: materials/ingredients, energy, waste, water, and packaging. Fourthly, participation is a valuable opportunity for information exchange. The company’s active participation in Product Sustainability Roundtable, a cross sector initiative, has been a valuable way to share information on improving product sustainability. Bibliography Appendix -A Figure 1: {draw:frame} Figure 2: {draw:frame} Figure 3: {draw:frame} Figure 4: {draw:frame} Figure 5: {draw:frame} Figure 6: {draw:frame} Figure 7: {draw:frame} Appendix B: {draw:frame} {draw:frame} How to cite Johnson Johnson Green Business, Papers

The world of classical art Essay Example

The world of classical art Essay In a city known for artifice and family-friendly pleasure seeking, it seems to make sense that the world of classical art would collide with the world of the strangely fantastic.   While there are some that claim buildings such as the ones in Las Vegas, with its full-size replicas of pyramids and Venetian waterways, are devoid of artistic value or significance.   To a large degree, this perception is true, for there is little artistic value in simply copying the work of another for mass marketing purposes.   However, the building that houses Wonderworks in Orlando, Florida is far more than a mass marketed copy.   It is an original structure used to pique interest in science, and its building surely reflects its function.Walking down the tourist strip in Orlando is always an interesting thing to do, to see all the shops, restaurants, and various other attractions designed to pull the eye and the money of entertainment seekers.   While many think that Orlando is nothing but a n ode to Disney, the strip on International Drive is touristy, but largely free of the Disney magic.   However, there is a little magic on the strip, and it was on a trip down this stretch of artificial structures that I saw the most original structure of all in the form of the building created as the educational/recreational playground known as Wonderworks.Amongst the many other cookie-cutter tourist traps on the strip, Wonderworks sticks out like a sore, but highly interesting, thumb.   It is not meant to harmonize with its surroundings at all, but rather seeks to call attention to itself and the types of things that go on inside its walls.   The structure itself is situated right along the road, a multistory plantation-style white building, complete with four columns in the front and large arched windows.   It looks similar to the White House, and its tight symmetry suggests a heavy neoclassical influence.   A few special touches are the few palm trees positioned in the front and along the sides that give it a tropical feel so indicative of its Florida home, with all eyes drawn to the top of the building, which also just so happens to be its bottom.The building for Wonderworks is made to look like a giant colonial mansion dropped at a canted angle on top of a smaller, one-story brick warehouse from the 1930s.   The entrance to the main building is ground level, and cut into the top of the upside-down building.   Artistic embellishments such as cracks in the columns and the face of the building, along with a few feet of foundation at the top of the building make it seem as if it were just uprooted and slammed down.   The palm trees hang from this upside-down foundation, as well as lampposts near the upside-down door.   Real palm trees and manicured grass surround the entire structure, which faces one corner of the intersection, while the warehouse faces the other.   The fact that it is a perfectly normal-looking building that may be nothi ng more than a striking, old mansion on the strip is completely turned on its head, just like the building.   The result is something similar to the wonder that its name suggests, and the fact that it is so different is part of its disharmonious appeal.The nature of the Wonderworks building, as well as its location in the middle of tourist heaven, suggests that it was designed most likely by an anonymous designer working for a large firm sometime in the past few decades.   As there are a few other Wonderworks buildings scattered across the country, the design suggests that its form was consciously designed to echo the many scientific and interesting things that happened within its walls.   It is an example of form perfectly matching function, and makes the view question not only the creativity and architectural science that went into it, but also the line between art and homogenized culture.   Indeed, Wonderworks can be argued to be art or lowbrow entertainment, but the natu re of what it tries to accomplish can only be respected in its ideals, and therefore the building itself becomes far more credible and charming than any of the buildings by Vegas or Disney, as impressive as both locales are.Inside the Wonderworks building, there are many things, scientific and entertaining, that kids and adults will find interesting and educational.   The interior of the main building is also upside-down, and adds to the overall feeling of eccentricity and whimsy.   There are exhibits inside that allow a person to make giant bubbles, lay on a bed of nails, wear an astronaut suit, and scores of other interesting activities.   The unusual design of the building compliments perfectly its unique position the most offbeat attraction on the tourist strip, as well as the strange information it provides through its exhibits, like the number of teeth a mosquito has.   Though the building for Wonderworks was built in 1998, it recalls the classical style, and then turn s it upside-down in a post-modern way.   The fictional story behind the building is that it was once a top-secret lab from the Bermuda Triangle brought by a tornado to its final spot on top of the brick building.   While the story may be fictional, the impact the building has on those who see it is very real.Seeing the upside-down building immediately makes people feel happy when they see it, young and old, and it is difficult not to try to figure out exactly how they built it.   Because the attraction is in the middle of the touristiest part of Orlando, Florida, it is surrounded by a plethora of other attractions, including the many famous amusement parks only short drives down the highway.   However, the building for Wonderworks provides an experience that makes it one of the hidden gems of the area.   It is hard to visit Wonderworks and not come out feeling gratified that the day was spent exploring its interesting exhibits and architecture.Not only does the building in side and out echo its true purpose, but the nature of the building itself echoes its location in the middle of a city known for artifice, special effects, and entertainment.   But, still, Wonderworks manages to become something far more than another amusement for tourists, almost in the way a poem takes on different meanings to different readers.   Some may see it as an amusement park, a fake building, a mass-produced symbol of homogenized entertainment, while some may see it as an allegorical about American society.   And, even still, some may just see it as an interesting place to visit.

Free Essays on Bahama Mama

Bahama Mamma Some people consider me very lucky, but I just see it as a trip to Grandma’s house. Yes, that’s right†¦my Grandparents live in Bahamas. Others may give their right hand to go there, but to me it’s just a plane ticket away. That’s where I went this summer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and the summer before that†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and the summer before that. But what made it special this time around was that I got to bring my friend, Courtney, with me and there were no parents! Imagine that†¦a whole week without parents. It was just my brother, Kyle, Courtney, and I together all week. I’ve never had so much fun before. To clue you in, my week went a little something like this†¦ We arrived in the main harbor of Abaco, Bahamas on Sunday afternoon. From there, my Grandparents took us to their tiny island of Hopetown. Hopetown is a place where everyone knows everyone, and the houses have names such as â€Å"Rocky Bay†, instead of numbers. Their town consists of the maximum of about 20 stores and people get around the island by cruising in the golf cart. It’s like a little taste of heaven you could say. We got everything settled in by Sunday night and Grandma made her famous dish of delicious homemade spaghetti (my brothers favorite). We were all exhausted from the plane trip, so we called it a night and went to sleep, preparing for our exciting tomorrow. Monday morning, I was awoken by the sound of the exhilarating ocean at my ears. I turned and smiled at Courtney and said, â€Å"Are you ready for this?† and she replied â€Å"More than you know!† Grandma cooked us some bacon, eggs, and homemade cinnamon bread for our breakfast. We couldn’t wait to get out there, so Grandma took us on a trip of the town and showed us around. The hurricane that came through their island last year destroyed everything, so they had to almost start over from scratch. The town lo... Free Essays on Bahama Mama Free Essays on Bahama Mama Bahama Mamma Some people consider me very lucky, but I just see it as a trip to Grandma’s house. Yes, that’s right†¦my Grandparents live in Bahamas. Others may give their right hand to go there, but to me it’s just a plane ticket away. That’s where I went this summer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and the summer before that†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and the summer before that. But what made it special this time around was that I got to bring my friend, Courtney, with me and there were no parents! Imagine that†¦a whole week without parents. It was just my brother, Kyle, Courtney, and I together all week. I’ve never had so much fun before. To clue you in, my week went a little something like this†¦ We arrived in the main harbor of Abaco, Bahamas on Sunday afternoon. From there, my Grandparents took us to their tiny island of Hopetown. Hopetown is a place where everyone knows everyone, and the houses have names such as â€Å"Rocky Bay†, instead of numbers. Their town consists of the maximum of about 20 stores and people get around the island by cruising in the golf cart. It’s like a little taste of heaven you could say. We got everything settled in by Sunday night and Grandma made her famous dish of delicious homemade spaghetti (my brothers favorite). We were all exhausted from the plane trip, so we called it a night and went to sleep, preparing for our exciting tomorrow. Monday morning, I was awoken by the sound of the exhilarating ocean at my ears. I turned and smiled at Courtney and said, â€Å"Are you ready for this?† and she replied â€Å"More than you know!† Grandma cooked us some bacon, eggs, and homemade cinnamon bread for our breakfast. We couldn’t wait to get out there, so Grandma took us on a trip of the town and showed us around. The hurricane that came through their island last year destroyed everything, so they had to almost start over from scratch. The town lo...

Robert the Bruce Biography

Robert the Bruce Biography Robert the Bruce (July 11, 1274–June 7, 1329) was king of Scotland for the last two decades of his life. An ardent proponent of Scottish independence and a contemporary of William Wallace, Robert remains one of Scotlands most beloved national heroes. Early Years and Family Born into an Anglo-Norman family, Robert was no stranger to royalty. His father, Robert de Brus, was the 6th Lord of Annandale and a great-great-grandson of King David mac Mail Choluim, or David I of Scotland. His mother, Marjorie, was the Countess of Carrick, descended from the Irish King Brian Boru. His sister Isabel became the Queen of Norway by marrying King Eric II, long before Robert ascended to the Scottish throne. Robert’s grandfather, also named Robert, was the 5th Earl of Annandale. In the autumn of 1290, Margaret, the Maid of Norway, who was the seven-year-old heiress to the Scottish throne, died at sea. Her death set off a whirlwind of disputes regarding who should succeed to the throne, and the 5th Earl of Annandale (Roberts grandfather) was one of the claimants. Robert V, with the aid of his son Robert VI, captured a number of strongholds in the southwest of Scotland during the period between 1290 – 1292. Naturally, young Robert supported his grandfather’s claim to the throne, but ultimately, the role of king was given to John Balliol. Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images Association With William Wallace King Edward I of England was known as the Hammer of the Scots, and worked diligently during his reign to turn Scotland into a feudal tributary state. Naturally, this did not sit well with the Scots, and soon Edward found himself having to deal with uprisings and rebellions. William Wallace led a revolt against Edward, and Robert joined in, believing that Scotland needed to remain independent of England. The Battle of Stirling Bridge, in September 1297, was a devastating blow for the English. Shortly afterwards, Bruce family lands were sacked by Edwards troops in retaliation for the familys role in the rebellion. In 1298, Robert succeeded Wallace as one of the Guardians of Scotland. He served alongside John Comyn, who would become his chief rival for the country’s throne. Robert resigned his seat after just two years, when the conflicts with Comyn escalated. In addition, there were rumors that John Balliol would be restored as king despite his abdication in 1296. Instead, Scotland functioned without a monarch, and under the guidance of the countrys Guardians, until 1306, one year after Wallace was captured, tortured, and executed. Rise to the Throne In early 1306, two very important events took place that would shape the future of Scotland. In February, matters came to a head between John Comyn and Robert. During an argument, Robert stabbed Comyn at a church in Dumfries, killing him. When word of Comyn’s death reached King Edward, he was livid; Comyn had been distantly related to the king, and Edward saw this as a deliberate plot to stir up dissent. Comyn’s son, John IV, was immediately whisked off to England for his own safety, and put into the care of a nobleman who was raising Edward’s own children. John Comyn was stabbed by Robert the Bruce in 1306. Print Collector / Getty Images Just a few weeks later, at the beginning of March, Robert’s father, the 6th Earl of Annandale, died. With his father now dead, and Comyn also out of the way, Robert was the chief claimant to the Scottish throne. He moved rapidly to take power. Robert was crowned king on March 25, but an attack by Edward’s army pushed him out of the country. For a year, Robert hid out in Ireland, raising a loyal army of his own, and in 1307 he returned to Scotland. In addition to battling Edward’s troops, he laid waste to the lands of Scottish nobles who supported the English king’s claim to rule Scotland. In 1309, Robert the Bruce held his first parliament. Bannockburn and Border Raids Over the next few years, Robert continued to fight against the English, and was able to reclaim much of Scotlands land. Perhaps his most famous victory of all took place at Bannockburn in the summer of 1314. That spring, Roberts younger brother Edward had laid siege to Stirling Castle, and King Edward II decided it was time to move up north and take Stirling back. Robert, upon hearing of these plans, rounded up his army and moved into position above the marshy area that surrounded the Bannock Burn (a burn is a creek), intending to stop English troops from reclaiming Stirling. The Scottish army was thoroughly outnumbered, with an estimated five to ten thousand men, compared to an English force of more than twice that size. However, despite the larger numbers, the English were not expecting to encounter any Scottish resistance, so they were caught completely by surprise in the narrow, low-lying area of the marsh, as Roberts spearmen attacked from the wooded hillside. With English archers at the far back of the marching formation, the cavalry was rapidly decimated, and the army retreated. King Edward is said to have barely escaped with his life. Following the victory at Bannockburn, Robert grew bolder in his attacks on England. No longer content to just wait around defending Scotland, he led incursions into the border regions of northern England, as well as into Yorkshire. By 1315, he had attacked English troops in Ireland, at the request of Donall ONeill, the king of Tyrone, one of Gaelic Irelands eastern kingdoms. A year later, Roberts younger brother Edward was crowned as High King of Ireland, temporarily cementing the bond between Ireland and Scotland. Robert attempted for several years to bring about an alliance between the two countries, but eventually it crumbled, as the Irish saw Scottish occupation as no different than English occupation. The Declaration of Arbroath In 1320, Robert decided that diplomacy rather than military force might be a viable method of asserting Scottish independence. The Declaration of Arbroath, which later served as the template for Americas Declaration of Independence, was sent to Pope John XXII. The document outlined all of the reasons that Scotland should be considered an independent nation. In addition to detailing the atrocities committed upon the countrys people by King Edward II, the declaration specifically said that although Robert the Bruce had saved the country from English dominion, the nobility would not hesitate to replace him if he became unfit to rule. One of the results of the declaration was that the Pope lifted Roberts excommunication, which had been in place since he murdered John Comyn in 1306. Some eight years after the Declaration of Arbroath was sealed by more than fifty Scottish nobles and dignitaries, King Edward III, the fourteen-year-old son of Edward II, signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton. This treaty declared peace between England and Scotland, and recognized Robert the Bruce as Scotlands lawful king. Statue of Robert the Bruce at Stirling. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images Death and Legacy After a two-year-long illness, Robert the Bruce died at the age of fifty-four. Although there has been speculation that his death was caused by leprosy, there is no evidence to indicate that he suffered from the disease. Western University anthropology professor Andrew Nelson studied Roberts skull and foot bone in 2016, and concluded: The anterior nasal spine (the bone support around the nose) in a healthy person is teardrop-shaped; in a person with leprosy, that structure is eroded and almost circular. King Robert’s nasal spine is teardrop-shaped... In a person with leprosy, the end of th[e] metatarsal bone [from the foot] would be pointed, as if inserted into a pencil sharpener. This bone shows no sign of â€Å"pencilling.† After his death, Roberts heart was removed and buried at Melrose Abbey, Roxburghshire. The rest of his body was embalmed and interred at Dunfermline Abbey in Fife, but was not discovered until construction workers found the casket in 1818. Statues in his honor exist in several Scottish cities, including Stirling. Robert the Bruce Fast Facts Full Name:  Robert I, also Robert the Bruce, Roibert a Briuis in medieval Gaelic.Known for:  King of Scotland and a celebrated warrior in the Scottish fight for independence from England.Born:  July 11, 1274 in Ayrshire, Scotland.Died:  June 7, 1329 at Cardross Manor, Dunbartonshire, Scotland.Parents’ Names:  Robert de Brus, the 6th Earl of Annandale, and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. Sources Letter from Robert the Bruce to Edward II Reveals Power Struggle in the Build Up to Bannockburn. University of Glasgow, 1 June 2013, www.gla.ac.uk/news/archiveofnews/2013/june/headline_279405_en.html.Macdonald, Ken. â€Å"Reconstructed Face of Robert the Bruce Is Unveiled - BBC News.†Ã‚  BBC, BBC, 8 Dec. 2016, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38242781.Murray, James. â€Å"Robert the Bruce in Battle: A Battlefield Trail from Methven to Bannockburn.†Ã‚  30 Aug. 2018, www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/military-history/pre-20th-century-conflict/art487284-Robert-the-Bruce-in-Battle-A-battlefield-trail-from-Methven-to-Bannockburn.Watson, Fiona. â€Å"Great Scot, Its Robert the Bruce!†Ã‚  The History Press, www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/great-scot-it-s-robert-the-bruce/.

No Country for Old Men Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

No Country for Old Men - Movie Review Example This can be substantiated through his killing of the boss and other rivals coming his way concerning money. Moss tries to keep away from the drug dealer, although what follows is extensive blood spills while he tries to get Moss to give him the lost money. It comes as a surprise for Moss as he tries to run away from the relentless Chigurh (Chisholm). In the meantime, Sherriff Bell supervises and directs all the investigations concerning the case in order to prevent similar crimes that had been on the argument within the region. In the movie, Bell has managed miniature, concerning delivery of justice in one case that the convicted person got death row judgment. He considers that the region has a different viewpoint although while handling the case a lot seems to have changed (Chisholm). Every aspect of the society had considerably transformed into something that cannot be explained in a more profound manner than what is depicted. Chigurh dispatches his hit men to kill Moss and his you ng wife and take the satchel back. However, they are unable to execute the plan since Moss and wife manage to run away from the hit men dispatched to recuperate the lost satchel. The events that transpire in the region catch Bell by surprise since, in the time that he has lived in that region, there were little cases of violence (Chisholm). The region gets marred with violence in the period that Chigurh and his gunmen undertake the task of recapturing their moneybag. The community that Bell knew was quiet and peaceful with little misfortunes although, at that time, it had turned into something majorly dissimilar. The source of the violence that the region experiences are from Aton Chigurh as he tries to repossess the satchel with the assistance of a radio transponder that had been implanted on the bag. The transponder allows Chigurh, and the other gunmen to track the movement of Moss although Moss is unconscious of the device on the satchel. Chigurh is considered a psychopath since, in previous dealings, he had killed many people who he considered having ties with his monies. The violence that occurs within the movie can be profoundly linked to the actuality that he has access to homemade weapons for instance, silencer guns that allow him to execute people with little attention to the locals and authorities (Chisholm). The character is considered the most creations according to critics because most themes are linked to him especially the genre of violence. Violence dominates most scenes of the movie with other genres being considered inferior to violence, which is contemplated principal in the creation of the story. Chigurh not only kills the people who mess with his money but also individuals who offer comments that he does not like. Bell informs Moss and his wife about the violence that ensues within the region as well as the peril that the couple has to face with the drug dealers and other arsonists. However, Moss is convinced that he can take Chigurh and h is clue down through the experiences and intelligence that he had earlier obtained in Vietnam as a war veteran (Chisholm). Moss seems experienced through numerous tasks that he undertakes in Vietnam with other war veterans. However, the violence that ensues around the place that Bell seeks to reexamine the situation concerning his capacities to undertake certain measures. He feels obliged to deal with the fresh criminal brutality that ensues in his place of

Organic solar cells Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organic solar cells - Literature review Example The development of the photovoltaic cell is important for the future alternative energy production in the global community (Mihailetchi, 2005; Williams, 2010). Due to the importance of harvesting solar energy, the continuous development of solar cells is one of the most important developments in the conversion of solar energy. Dendrimer is a significant technology in light-harvesting due to the efficiency (Andrews et al., 2009). Organic solar cells are photovoltaic cells with organic make-up used due to different advantages for the light absorption process and transfer of energy. Initially, the photovoltaic cells are made with crystal silicon photovoltaic are used. Due to the fixed bandgap energy and high cost of production, new materials for solar cells had been developed. The organic solar cells are referred to as second generation photovoltaics which had different advantages such as lower manufacturing costs and higher power conversion efficiency (Williams, 2010, p.2). Organic solar cells are solar cell consisting of organic materials. A solar cell is a composed of one or more light-absorbing layers between two electrodes. One of the layers is for passage of light. The active layer can release free carriers upon the absorption of light which then gather at the electrodes. In the organic solar cells, the main difference is the material for the active layers. It is composed of thin films of organic semiconductors formed through solution-based polymeric materials or through thermal evaporation for small-molecule materials (William, 2010, p.3). Photovoltaic behaviour of organic solar cells is the main basis of the function and the advantage of the said type of thin film solar cells. Organic semiconductors, such as lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), use plastic or glass substrates with