Categoría: Geovanny Vicente

NUST MISIS: A New Modifier Increases the Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells

MOSCOW, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The research team from NUST MISIS has presented an improved structure of perovskite solar cells. Scientists have modified perovskite-based solar cells using MXenes — thin two-dimensional titanium carbides with high electrical conductivity. The MXenes-based modified cells showed superior performance, with power conversion efficiency exceeding 19% (the reference demonstrated 17%) and improved stabilized power output with respect to reference devices. The…

MOSCOW, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The research team from NUST MISIS has presented an improved structure of perovskite solar cells. Scientists have modified perovskite-based solar cells using MXenes — thin two-dimensional titanium carbides with high electrical conductivity. The MXenes-based modified cells showed superior performance, with power conversion efficiency exceeding 19% (the reference demonstrated 17%) and improved stabilized power output with respect to reference devices. The results have been published in the Nano energy international scientific journal.

Perovskite solar cells are promising alternative energy technology worldwide. They can be printed on special inkjet or slot die printers with minimal quantity of vacuum processes. This reduces the cost of the device compared to traditional silicon solar cell technology.

Their other advantages are flexibility (the solar cell can be made on substrates of PET, a common material for plastic bottles) and compactness. Perovskite solar cells can be mounted on the walls of buildings and curved surfaces of automobile panoramic roofs, receiving independent power supply.

The perovskite module has a sandwich structure: there is a process of collecting electrons between the layers. As a result, the energy of sunlight is converted into electrical energy. The layers are very thin — from 10 to 50 nanometers, and the «sandwich» itself is thinner than a human hair. The collection of the charge carriers in the solar cells should go with minimal losses during electron transport. The reduction of such losses in the device will increase the power of the solar cell.

A scientific group of physicists from NUST MISIS and the University of Tor Vergata (Rome, Italy) have shown experimentally that the addition of a small amount of titanium carbide-based MXenes to light-absorbing perovskite layers improves the electronic transport process and optimizes the performance of the solar cell. The name — MXenes comes from the synthesis process. The material is made by etching and exfoliation of the atomically thin metal carbides pre-coated with aluminum (MAX phases — layered hexagonal carbides and nitrides).

«The use of two-dimensional materials like MXenes to tune solar cell properties showed to be universal and could be applied to different architecture of perovskite solar cell. A further development will be performed transferring the the gathered knowledge to large-scale perovskite prototyping such as modules, BIPV devices as well as to energy harvesters for indoor light,» – said Aldo Di Carlo, Professor at University of Rome Tor Vergata and team leader of Centre for Hybrid an Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE), Professor at NUST MISIS.

The solar cells developed with the new approach have shown improved characteristics with a power conversion efficiency exceeding 19%. This is 2% more in comparison to the reference devices.

The approach proposed by the developers can be easily scaled to the format of modules and large-area panels. Doping with MXenes does not change the fabrication sequence and integrated only to the initial stage of ink preparation without changes to architecture of the device.

https://en.misis.ru/university/news/science/2021-01/7202/

 

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SOURCE The National University of Science and Technology MISiS

Young Adults Are on an Uncertain Road to Retirement

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — With increasing strain on social security systems globally and the economic effects of the pandemic intensifying, young adults are setting out on an uncertain journey of work and money. They are expecting to self-fund an even greater proportion of their retirement income than previous generations. However, few young adult workers (age 20 to 29) think they are on course to achieve their retirement income needs (20 percent global, 26 percent U.S.), according to a report released today, <a…

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — With increasing strain on social security systems globally and the economic effects of the pandemic intensifying, young adults are setting out on an uncertain journey of work and money. They are expecting to self-fund an even greater proportion of their retirement income than previous generations. However, few young adult workers (age 20 to 29) think they are on course to achieve their retirement income needs (20 percent global, 26 percent U.S.), according to a report released today, The New Social Contract: Young adults reinventing life, work, and retirement.

«Navigating our 20s was a struggle before the pandemic. Now, many of us are in a more precarious financial situation. From high rates of student debt and unemployment to unaffordable housing, a variety of factors are stacking against young Americans’ ability to achieve long-term financial security,» said Heidi Cho, a millennial retirement expert for nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies®.

The new report explores retirement related attitudes and behaviors of workers in their 20s, a cohort straddling Millennials and Generation Z. The survey spans 15 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It was conducted during January and February 2020 at the onset of the pandemic and is a collaboration among nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies® (TCRS), Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement (ACLR), and Instituto de Longevidade Mongeral Aegon.

Life Priorities, Financial Priorities, and Retirement Preparations

«Young adults are reinventing life, work, and retirement to infuse flexibility. With the potential to live longer, we have more time to pursue our passions, embark on different careers, and possibly take gap years,» said Cho. 

Young adult workers are juggling a variety of life priorities including their careers (53 percent global, 56 percent U.S.), enjoying life (53 percent global, 59 percent U.S.), and planning for their financial future (53 percent global, 62 percent U.S.). At the same time, they face competing financial priorities including paying for basic living expenses, enjoying life, home ownership, major life events, supporting family, and paying off debt.

While relatively few young adult workers cite saving for retirement as a financial priority, many have already begun thinking about retirement. The survey finds encouraging news that 32 percent of young adult workers globally are «habitual savers» who make sure they are always saving for retirement (40 percent U.S.). Globally, 17 percent of young adult workers have a written retirement strategy and 42 percent have an unwritten strategy (25 percent, 31 percent respectively U.S.). They estimate that more of their retirement income is likely to come from their own savings and investments (36 percent global, 35 percent U.S.) and the government (36 percent global, 34 percent U.S.), than from employers (28 percent global, 32 percent U.S.).

The life journeys of young adults require an increasing do-it-yourself approach to retirement preparations, especially given their job-hopping tendencies and expectations. More than half of young adult workers say the longest period of time they have worked for, or expect to work for, any single employer is one to five years (52 percent global, 59 percent U.S.).  

«Saving for retirement may be the last thing that comes to mind for young Americans, especially amid the pandemic. However, it is important that everyone begins saving and planning as early as possible to benefit from the long-term compounding of investments over the course of our lives,» said Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of nonprofit Transamerica Institute® and TCRS, and executive director of ACLR.

How Employers Can Support Young Adult Workers

Employers play a highly influential role in facilitating retirement preparations for workers. When asked what prompted them to start saving for retirement, young adult workers more often cite employer-related reasons (49 percent global, 52 percent U.S.), such as starting a job, the offering of retirement benefits, automatic enrollment, and/or receiving a raise or promotion, than life-stage related reasons (44 percent global and U.S.).

Employers can help their young adult employees by offering meaningful work experience, competitive compensation and benefits packages, flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance, and training and development programs. Because young adults are more likely than preceding generations to switch careers, change employers, and possibly spend time in self-employment, they need portable health, welfare, and retirement benefits that they can maintain on their own after they separate from an employer. 

«Young Americans should join together and make retirement savings a priority, raising our voices and demanding a concerted effort among policymakers, industry, and employers to ensure generational equity in Social Security and a modernized retirement system that will serve us and future generations of retirees,» said Cho.

The New Social Contract: Young adults reinventing life, work, and retirement contains in-depth analysis, country-specific comparisons, and detailed recommendations for young adults, employers, and governments. It is based on findings from the 9th Annual Aegon Retirement Readiness survey. Please visit www.transamericacenter.org to download the report and other global retirement research in The New Social Contract series. Follow TCRS on Twitter @TCRStudies.

Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies®
Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies® (TCRS) is a division of Transamerica Institute®, a nonprofit, private foundation. TCRS is dedicated to conducting research and educating the American public on trends, issues, and opportunities related to saving, planning for, and achieving financial security in retirement. Transamerica Institute is funded by contributions from Transamerica Life Insurance Company and its affiliates and may receive funds from unaffiliated third parties. TCRS and its representatives cannot give ERISA, tax, investment or legal advice. www.transamericacenter.org

Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement
Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement (ACLR) is a collaboration of experts assembled by Aegon with representation from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. ACLR’s mission is to conduct research, educate the public, and inform a global dialogue on trends, issues, and opportunities surrounding longevity, population aging, and retirement security. www.aegon.com/thecenter

Instituto de Longevidade Mongeral Aegon
A champion in the theme of longevity and its social economic impacts in Brazil. With its initiatives, the nonprofit organization tackles the challenges of living longer by integrating governments, companies, schools and people through activities towards income, work, health, and behavior. The Instituto is part of the Mongeral Aegon Group and provides complimentary services to create opportunities for individuals of all ages.
www.institutomongeralaegon.org

Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies®
660 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1980
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Contact: Kristin Elia
kelia@webershandwick.com  
213-293-8586

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SOURCE Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies

Alfa Laval joins the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

LUND, Sweden, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Alfa Laval – a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling – has joined the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping to accelerate and work with the development of low- and zero carbon technologies for the marine industry. As a strategic partner Alfa Laval will be part of the Center’s advisory board, providing strategic and technical guidance for future development projects and activities.  

The…

LUND, Sweden, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Alfa Laval – a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling – has joined the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping to accelerate and work with the development of low- and zero carbon technologies for the marine industry. As a strategic partner Alfa Laval will be part of the Center’s advisory board, providing strategic and technical guidance for future development projects and activities.  

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets a 50 percent reduction of vessel-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To achieve the long-term target of decarbonization the industry must shift to new fuel types and technologies. The development of new technologies requires coordinated efforts by industry leaders to ensure that research and innovations are successfully matured into scalable solutions.

The collaboration with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center will focus on accelerating the development of low- and zero carbon technologies through joint projects and activities. One example is the recently announced `SOFC4Maritime’, which targets solutions for green fuels to generate power onboard marine vessels.

«Collaboration with industry experts is vital to achieve a shift towards more sustainable solutions. We need a common view of the roadmap for the shipping industry, and we will bring our individual expertise to the table to drive and accelerate the development,» says Sameer Kalra, President of the Marine Division. «One of the latest projects `SOFC4Maritime’ (for solid oxide fuel cells) is just one example of activities which stems from that ambition.»

Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center comments: «Alfa Laval shares our vision of a zero-carbon maritime industry and acknowledges the vast effort required to get there. Their vital experience and knowledge will enable the Center to establish the overall narrative of the transition and contribute to the projects and activities which will accelerate the development of tomorrow’s solution.»

Did you know that… since ships have a lifetime of 20 years or more, zero-emission vessels must begin entering the global fleet by 2030 for a 50 percent reduction to be achieved by 2050?

This is Alfa Laval 

Alfa Laval is active in the areas of Energy, Marine, and Food & Water, offering its expertise, products, and service to a wide range of industries in some 100 countries. The company is committed to optimizing processes, creating responsible growth, and driving progress – always going the extra mile to support customers in achieving their business goals and sustainability targets.

Alfa Laval’s innovative technologies are dedicated to purifying, refining, and reusing materials, promoting more responsible use of natural resources. They contribute to improved energy efficiency and heat recovery, better water treatment, and reduced emissions. Thereby, Alfa Laval is not only accelerating success for its customers, but also for people and the planet. Making the world better, every day. It’s all about Advancing better™.

Alfa Laval has 17,500 employees. Annual sales in 2019 were SEK 46.5 billion (approx. EUR 4.4 billion). The company is listed on Nasdaq OMX.

www.alfalaval.com

For more information please contact:

Johan Lundin
Head of Investor Relations
Alfa Laval
Tel: +46 46 36 65 10
Mobile: +46 730 46 30 90

Eva Schiller
PR Manager
Alfa Laval
Tel: + 46 46 36 71 01
Mobile: +46 709 38 71 01

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/alfa-laval/r/alfa-laval-joins-the-maersk-mc-kinney-moller-center-for-zero-carbon-shipping,c3275391

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SOURCE Alfa Laval

GAC Group achieves breakthrough in graphene-based fast-charging battery technology, vehicle model Aion V equipped with the new battery to start production in September

GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — All over the world, new energy vehicles have become a key solution for low-carbon travel, but battery technology has always restricted the development and widespread use of electric vehicles. In recent years, graphene, a new material with excellent electrical conductivity, has been the key to breakthroughs in battery technology.

Recently, GAC Group announced a major achievement in battery technology. The graphene-based super-fast-charging battery…

GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — All over the world, new energy vehicles have become a key solution for low-carbon travel, but battery technology has always restricted the development and widespread use of electric vehicles. In recent years, graphene, a new material with excellent electrical conductivity, has been the key to breakthroughs in battery technology.

Recently, GAC Group announced a major achievement in battery technology. The graphene-based super-fast-charging battery has made breakthrough progress and has now entered the phase of actual vehicle testing. Aion V, the first vehicle to be equipped with the battery, is undergoing winter testing and is initially scheduled for mass production in September this year.

Graphene initially cost up to a few hundred dollars per gram, and was thus called «black gold». At the «2020 GAC Tech Day» held in July, GAC Group demonstrated its 3DG (three-dimensional graphene) production technology with independent intellectual property rights, solving the issue of high costs of graphene. The simple, stable, and efficient production method reduces costs to only one-tenth of the conventional method.

After achieving low-cost and large-scale production of graphene, GAC Group has also made major breakthroughs in the downstream application of its use. Among them, the electric vehicle industry is most interested in the graphene-based super-fast-charging battery. This graphene-based battery has a 6C fast charge capability, combined with a 600A high-power charger, can be recharged to 80% capacity in 8 minutes. The battery has also passed the most stringent safety test – Battery Shooting Test, possessing quality and reliability of the highest standard.

This graphene-based battery technology is an industry leader. It will significantly shorten charging time, as well as greatly extend battery life, solving the current «pain points» of pure electric vehicles. The good news is that this battery technology has come out of the laboratory into real-world production. Aion V, the first vehicle model equipped with this graphene-based battery, has entered the mass production testing phase.

GAC Group’s strategic planning and proactive approach in the field of advanced technology will provide strong support for the global expansion and development of its own brand GAC MOTOR. It is not difficult to predict that with multiple innovative technologies under its belt, GAC MOTOR will be empowered to continue creating a high-quality, high-tech, and pleasant driving experience for consumers.

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SOURCE GAC MOTOR

Britishvolt Appoints Timon Orlob As Chief Operating Officer

LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Britishvolt, the UK’s foremost investor in battery technologies, has further strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Timon Orlob as Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 February 2021. Reporting directly to CEO, Orral Nadjari, Orlob will be responsible for delivering the skills and systems required for Britishvolt to construct and operate the…

LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Britishvolt, the UK’s foremost investor in battery technologies, has further strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Timon Orlob as Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 February 2021. Reporting directly to CEO, Orral Nadjari, Orlob will be responsible for delivering the skills and systems required for Britishvolt to construct and operate the UK’s first battery gigaplant, from the end of 2023. 

Timon Orlob joins Britishvolt from Sunseeker International Ltd, the globally renowned luxury motoryacht manufacturer, where he was COO and formerly Operations Director. Previous roles have included three years at PwC, where he was a global manufacturing and supply chain specialist. He began his career in his native Germany at Bosch in its automotive division and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

Britishvolt CEO, Orral Nadjari: «Britishvolt is rapidly maturing as a business and Timon’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer underpins our progress. He will be a crucial component in our essential mission to deliver a fully operational battery gigaplant in the North East of England at the end of 2023. We remain on track in every way to develop and manufacture strategically important lithium-ion batteries. Timon’s skills and experience will make us even more steadfast, I am looking forward to working closely with him.»

Britishvolt COO, Timon Orlob: «Joining Britishvolt at this time is an exciting challenge and one that I am relishing. I am looking forward to helping deliver the UK’s first battery gigaplant. Putting into place the skills, talents and systems that we need to start seamlessly delivering world-class lithium-ion batteries at the end of 2023. This is a hugely important project and I am proud to be able to contribute to the UK’s electrified future.»

The Britishvolt Gigaplant is set to begin construction in Summer 2021. It will be subject to £2.6BN investment, one of the UK’s biggest-ever industrial investments. When fully operational it will be providing 3000 jobs in the North East of England.

SAFE HARBOR

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectation intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the U.S. Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, competition including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, equipment procurement, wage increases, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time contracts or time and material construction contracts, customer concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage international operations, reduced demand, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages related to battery service agreements, the success of the companies in which Britishvolt has made strategic partnerships, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies and unauthorised use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. In addition, please note any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release.

About Britishvolt

Britishvolt is Britain’s foremost investor in battery technologies. It is dedicated to supporting the future of electrified transportation and sustainable energy storage, producing world-leading lithium-ion battery technologies.

Britishvolt’s aim is to establish the UK as the leading force in battery technology. It is working with leading partners and suppliers to achieve this because it is of paramount importance to the future of the UK automotive industry and the overall economic and industrial health of the UK.

The company believes that the UK is the right place for its investments because of the strength of its automotive and energy industry, its expertise and history of industrial and academic battery research and development.

Quarter four of 2023 has been targeted as the start of production in Britain’s first gigaplant in Blyth, Northumberland.

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SOURCE Britishvolt

U.S. Home Seller Profits Soar In 2020 As Prices Set New Records In Spite Of Coronavirus Pandemic

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation’s premier property database, today released its Year-End 2020 U.S. Home Sales Report, which shows that home sellers nationwide in 2020 realized a home-price gain of $68,843 on the typical sale,…

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation’s premier property database, today released its Year-End 2020 U.S. Home Sales Report, which shows that home sellers nationwide in 2020 realized a home-price gain of $68,843 on the typical sale, up from $53,700 in 2019 and $48,500 two years ago. Profits rose in more than 90 percent of housing markets with enough data to analyze and the latest figure, based on median purchase and resale prices, marked the highest level in the United States since at least 2005.

The $68,843 profit on median priced single-family homes and condos represented a 34.7 percent return on investment compared to the original purchase price, up from 29.4 percent last year and 27.2 percent in 2018, to the highest average home-seller return on investment since 2006.

Both raw profits and ROI have improved nationwide for nine straight years. And last year’s gain in ROI – up more than five percentage points – marked the largest annual increase since 2017. Profits shot up as the national median home price rose 12.8 percent in 2020 to $266,250 – a record high.

The combination of rising profits and record prices came during a year when the national housing market fended off damage that afflicted wide swaths of the U.S. economy after the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 began spreading across the country in February. Unemployment rose to levels not seen since the Great Depression as millions of businesses temporarily or permanently closed or cut back. But a housing market boom that began in 2012 continued into its ninth year as a spate of buyers relatively unaffected financially by the pandemic – including a cluster looking to escape virus-prone urban areas – chased a declining supply of houses and pushed prices ever higher.

«Last year marked a unique year in the history of home prices and profits in the United States. A once-in-a-century health crisis tore through much of the nation’s economy but seemed to have the opposite effect on the housing market,» said Todd Teta, chief product officer at ATTOM Data Solutions. «Demand remained strong as people who could afford the space and relative safety of single-family homes did just that, aided by super-low mortgage rates and a strong stock market. But they went after a narrowing supply of housing stock, so prices soared and so did seller profits. While it’s unclear how long that will last, in the annals of history, there will be few years recorded as better for sellers and more challenging for buyers.» 

Among 132 metropolitan statistical areas with a population greater than 200,000 and sufficient sales data, those in western states continued to reap the highest returns on investment, with concentrations on or near the West Coast. The top 10 metro areas with the highest ROIs on typical home sales were all in the West, led by in San Jose, CA (87.3 percent return on investments); Seattle, WA (72.1 percent); Salem, OR (69.6 percent); Spokane, WA (69.2 percent) and San Francisco, CA (68.2 percent).

Historical U.S. Home Seller Gains

Prices rise at least 10 percent in more than half the country as most markets hit new highs
The U.S. median home price increased 12.8 percent in 2020, hitting an all-time annual high of $266,250. The annual home-price appreciation in 2020 outpaced the combined increases of 4.4 percent in 2019 and the 4.8 percent increase in 2018. The increase in 2020 topped all annual gains since at least 2006 in the United States.

Since the U.S. housing market began recovering in 2012 from the Great Recession of the late 2000s, the national median home price has risen 72.3 percent.

All 132 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 200,000 or more and sufficient home price data saw median prices increase in 2020, while 69 saw prices spike at least 10 percent. Those with the biggest year-over-year increases in median home prices were Bridgeport, CT (up 21.4 percent); Myrtle Beach, SC (up 20.5 percent); Crestview–Fort Walton Beach, FL (up 19.6 percent); Boise, ID (up 18.7 percent) and Hilton Head, SC (up 18.3 percent).

The largest median-price increases in metro areas with a population of at least 1 million in 2020 came in Milwaukee, WI (up 15.3 percent); Memphis, TN (up 15.1 percent); Phoenix, AZ (up 14.9 percent); Birmingham, AL (up 13.7 percent) and Seattle, WA (up 12.9 percent).

Home prices in 2020 reached new peaks in 129 of the 132 metros (97 percent) analyzed, including New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX and Houston, TX.

The smallest gains among the 132 metro areas were in Worcester, MA (up 1.9 percent); Harrisburg, PA (up 2 percent); Pittsburgh, PA (up 3.3 percent); Boston, MA (up 3.5 percent) and Daphne–Fairhope, AL (up 4.1 percent).

Profit margins increase in more than 90 percent of nation
Profit margins on typical home sales rose in 121 of the 132 metro areas with sufficient data to analyze in 2020 (92 percent).

The largest annual increases in investment returns came in Mobile, AL (margin up 181.1 percent); Augusta, GA (up 112.8 percent); Huntsville, AL (up 84.4 percent); Davenport, IA (up 75.6 percent) and New Haven, CT (up 73.4 percent).

Among metro areas with a population of at least 1 million in 2020, the largest annual ROI increases were in Birmingham, AL (up 71.5 percent); Hartford, CT (up 56.9 percent); Cleveland, OH (up 52.2 percent); Rochester, NY (up 49.9 percent) and St. Louis, MO (up 45.7 percent).

The biggest annual decreases in investment returns in 2020 came in Honolulu, HI (down 11.8 percent); Greeley, CO (down 8.9 percent); Miami, FL (down 7.7 percent); Cape Coral, FL (down 7.4 percent) and San Francisco, CA (down 5.7 percent).

Aside from Miami and San Francisco, the only metro areas with a population of at least 1 million and declining profit margins in 2020 were Pittsburgh, PA (down 4.1 percent); Denver, CO (down 3.3 percent) and Dallas, TX (down 0.9 percent).

Homeownership tenure hits another record nationwide
Homeowners who sold in the fourth quarter of 2020 had owned their homes an average of 8.33 years, up from 7.98 years in the previous quarter and 7.96 years in the fourth quarter of 2019. The latest figure represented the longest average home-seller tenure since at least the first quarter of 2000, the earliest period of available data. Tenures were up, year over year, in 73, or 68 percent, of the 107 metro areas with a population of at least 200,000 and sufficient historical data.

As in the third quarter of 2020, the top tenures for home sellers in the fourth quarter of 2020 were all in Connecticut: Bridgeport, CT (13.15 years); Norwich, CT (12.98 years); Torrington, CT (12.83 years); New Haven, CT (12.47 years) and Hartford, CT (12.23 years).

Average U.S. Homeownership Tenure

Counter to the national trend, 34 of the 107 metro areas (32 percent) posted a year-over-year decrease in average home-seller tenure, led by Madera, CA (down 10 percent); Champaign, IL (down 9 percent); Salem, OR (down 9 percent); Boston, MA (down 8 percent) and Cincinnati, OH (down 8 percent.

Cash sales at 13-year low in 2020
Nationwide, all-cash purchases accounted for 23.5 percent of single-family home and condo sales in 2020, the lowest level since 2007. The latest figure was down from 25.2 percent in 2019 and 27 percent in 2018, and was well off the 38.4 percent peaks in 2011 and 2012.

Among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000 and sufficient cash-sales data, those where cash sales represented the largest share of all transactions in 2020 were the same as in 2019: Macon, GA (48.7 percent of sales); Naples, FL (47.2 percent); Chico, CA (46 percent); Fort Smith, AR (43 percent) and Montgomery, AL (41.8 percent).

U.S. distressed sales share at 15-year low
Distressed home sales — including bank-owned (REO) sales, third-party foreclosure auction sales and short sales — accounted for 7.8 percent of all U.S. single-family home and condo sales in 2020, down from 11.1 percent in 2019 and 12.4 percent in 2018. The latest figure was less than one-quarter of the peak of 38.6 percent in 2011 and marked the lowest point since 2005.

States where distressed sales comprised the largest portion of total sales in 2020 were Connecticut (15.3 percent of sales), Rhode Island (14.7 percent), Delaware (13.8 percent), Illinois (12.6 percent) and Maryland (12.6 percent). Those with the lowest were Utah (2.1 percent), Maine (2.2 percent), Idaho (2.6 percent), Montana (3.2 percent) and Mississippi (3.5 percent).

Among 196 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000 and with sufficient data, those where distressed sales represented the largest portion of all sales in 2020 were Chico, CA (18 percent of sales); Atlantic City, NJ (17.6 percent); Peoria, IL (16.8 percent); New Haven, CT (16.2 percent) and Norwich, CT (16.2 percent).

Those with the smallest shares were Provo, UT (1.8 percent of sales); Salt Lake City, UT (1.9 percent); Ogden, UT (2.1 percent); Savannah, GA (2.3 percent) and San Jose, CA (2.9 percent).

Among 53 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 1 million, those with the highest levels of distressed sales in 2020 were Hartford, CT (15.5 percent of sales); Providence, RI (14.9 percent); Baltimore, MD (13.9 percent); Cleveland, OH (13.5 percent) and Chicago, IL (12.2 percent).

Aside from San Jose and Salt Lake City, metro areas with at least 1 million people that had the lowest shares were Austin, TX (3.1 percent of sales); San Francisco, CA (3.6 percent) and Seattle, WA (3.8 percent).

U.S. Total Distressed Sales

Institutional investing at lowest level this century
Institutional investors nationwide accounted for 2.2 percent of all single-family home and condo sales in 2020 – the lowest level since at least 2000. The latest figure was down from 3.2 percent in 2019 and 3 percent in 2018.

Among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000 and sufficient institutional-investor sales data, those with the highest levels of institutional-investor transactions in 2020 were Memphis, TN (7 percent of sales); Atlanta, GA (6.8 percent); Laredo, TX (6.2 percent); Fort Wayne, IN (6.2 percent) and Montgomery, AL (6.1 percent).

Historical U.S. Home Sales By Type

FHA sales remain low as portion of all transactions
Nationwide, buyers using Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans accounted for 11.9 percent of all single-family home and condo purchases in 2020, down from 12 percent in 2019 but up from 10.6 percent in 2018. Still, the 2020 percentage marked the second-lowest annual level since 2008.

Among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000 and sufficient FHA-buyer data in 2020, those with the highest share of purchases made with FHA loans again were in Texas. They were led by McAllen, TX (31.5 percent of sales); El Paso, TX (26.6 percent); Beaumont, TX (26.6 percent); Amarillo, TX (24.9 percent); and Visalia, CA (24.7 percent).

Report methodology
The ATTOM Data Solutions U.S. Home Sales Report provides percentages of distressed sales and all sales that are sold to investors, institutional investors and cash buyers, a state and metropolitan statistical area. Data is also available at the county and zip code level upon request. The data is derived from recorded sales deeds, foreclosure filings and loan data. Statistics for previous quarters are revised when each new report is issued as more deed data becomes available.

Definitions
All-cash purchase: sale where no loan is recorded at the time of sale and where ATTOM has coverage of loan data.

Homeownership tenure: for a given market and given quarter, the average time between the most recent sale date and the previous sale date, expressed in years.

Home seller price gains: the difference between the median sales price of homes in a given market in a given quarter and the median sales price of the previous sale of those same homes, expressed both in a dollar amount and as a percentage of the previous median sales price.

Institutional investor purchases: residential property sales to non-lending entities that purchased at least 10 properties in a calendar year.

REO sale: a sale of a property that occurs while the property is actively bank owned (REO).

Short sale: a sale of a property where the sale price is less than (short) the combined amount of loans secured by the property.

Third-party foreclosure auction sale: a sale of a property that occurs at the public foreclosure auction (trustee’s sale or sheriff’s sale) in which the property is sold to a third-party buyer and does not transfer back to the foreclosing bank.

About ATTOM Data Solutions
ATTOM Data Solutions provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation’s population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes and enhances the data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 20TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, marketing lists, match & append and introducing the first property data delivery solution, a cloud-based data platform that streamlines data management – Data-as-a-Service (DaaS).

Media Contact:
Christine Stricker
949.748.8428
christine.stricker@attomdata.com

Data and Report Licensing:
949.502.8313
datareports@attomdata.com

 

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SOURCE ATTOM Data Solutions

Land Trust Alliance Statement on the U.S. President’s 30×30 Executive Order

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, today welcomed the United States president’s executive order that commits to the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030. The following statement can be attributed to Andrew Bowman, president…

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, today welcomed the United States president’s executive order that commits to the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030. The following statement can be attributed to Andrew Bowman, president & CEO of the Land Trust Alliance:

«President Biden’s executive order calling for conservation of at least 30 percent of the U.S. land base by 2030 is one the Land Trust Alliance applauds. This is an audacious and timely conservation challenge that requires the conservation of millions of acres of land in private ownership. The nation’s land trusts are ready and willing to help private landowners conserve their lands at this ambitious scale.

«With a new sense of urgency, the land trust community will do its part together with farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, fishermen, tribes, states, territories, local officials and landowners across the country to help make the 30×30 goal a reality.»

More information about this issue is available from the American Nature Campaign at https://natureamerica.squarespace.com/why-30×30. The Alliance is an official supporter of this campaign’s Thirty by Thirty Resolution to Save Nature.

About the Land Trust Alliance

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at http://www.landtrustalliance.org.

Media Contact

Joshua Lynsen, Land Trust Alliance, 202-800-2239, jlynsen@lta.org

 

SOURCE Land Trust Alliance

MPOWER Financing recauda una ronda de inversión de USD 25 millones para fomentar el acceso a la educación para estudiantes internacionales y pertenecientes al programa DACA

WASHINGTON, 27 de enero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MPOWER Financing, una innovadora plataforma fintech y <a target="_blank"…

WASHINGTON, 27 de enero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MPOWER Financing, una innovadora plataforma fintech y el proveedor líder de créditos educacionales para estudiantes destacados internacionales y pertenecientes al programa DACA, anunció que recientemente recaudó USD 25 millones de Tilden Park Capital Management LP, una firma de gestión de inversiones con sede en Nueva York.

«Nos honra trabajar con Tilden Park, y nos beneficiaremos sustancialmente de sus mercados de capitales y experiencia crediticia, así como de su experiencia en inversiones globales», afirmó Manu Smadja, director ejecutivo y cofundador de MPOWER Financing. «A Tilden Park le llamó la atención la sólida calidad crediticia y la misión social de MPOWER», agregó Manu.

Estos fondos se suman al monto de USD 9 millones recaudados por MPOWER el año pasado y serán invertidos para conseguir una mayor automatización en la plataforma de créditos digitales de MPOWER, que se apoya en una tecnología de suscripción patentada que ofrece a los estudiantes decisiones de préstamos en minutos. Los fondos también ayudarán a MPOWER a ampliar su equipo en Washington, DC y Bangalore, India, donde planea contratarmás de 50 empleados este año para las áreas de ingeniería, marketing, operaciones, suscripciones, analítica, talento humano y finanzas.

MPOWER fue nombrada una de las mejores empresas para trabajar en Washington DC, una de las mejores empresas de tecnología para trabajar en términos de diversidad y, según American Banker, una de las principales firmas fintech para trabajar por tercer año consecutivo. Dado que los miembros del equipo de MPOWER en su mayoría son exalumnos internacionales, ellos no son ajenos a los desafíos que enfrentan los estudiantes internacionales a causa de la Covid y las políticas migratorias que cambian con rapidez, y la compañía se enorgullece por apoyarlos en este momento crucial de la historia.

MPOWER Financing, con sede en Washington, D.C., y oficinas en todo el mundo, es una compañía fintech impulsada por su misión que provee créditos educacionales a nivel global. Es la única entidad de financiamiento estudiantil en el mundo que toma en consideración datos crediticios extranjeros y nacionales, así como el potencial de ingresos futuros, para atender a estudiantes destacados internacionales y del programa DACA. MPOWER Financing trabaja con más de 350 importantes universidades de los Estados Unidos y Canadá para proporcionar financiamiento a estudiantes de más de 200 países. Desde 2014 ha recibido más de USD 2.000 millones en volumen de solicitudes de créditos en su plataforma. MPOWER Financing ayuda a los estudiantes a construir su historial de crédito y les ofrece educación en finanzas personales y apoyo profesional para prepararse para la vida después de la escuela.

Tilden Park Capital Management LP es un administrador de activos alternativos multiestrategia enfocado en ingresos fijos con sede en la ciudad de Nueva York.  La firma se concentra principalmente en productos estructurados e hipotecas, valor relativo de ingresos fijos y estrategias conexas de crédito y capital corporativo.  Tilden Park es dirigido por Josh Birnbaum, director de inversiones, quien anteriormente cogerenciaba operaciones comerciales para el Grupo de Productos Estructurados de Goldman Sachs. 

Contacto para medios:
Sasha Ramani
202-417-3800
sasha.ramani@mpowerfinancing.com

Fotografía: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1426781/MPOWER_Financing.jpg

FUENTE MPOWER Financing

Encuesta nacional encuentra retraso en la detección del cáncer de cuello uterino y en la información para las hispanas y afroamericanas

WASHINGTON, 27 de enero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — «Estos hallazgos nacionales demuestran la necesidad crítica de garantizar que la equidad sea parte de todos los esfuerzos para garantizar la información y el acceso a los servicios para todas las mujeres. Nuestros hallazgos revelan que las mujeres hispanas y las afroamericanas no están obteniendo la información que necesitan para su salud», dijo Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de la Alianza Nacional para…

WASHINGTON, 27 de enero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — «Estos hallazgos nacionales demuestran la necesidad crítica de garantizar que la equidad sea parte de todos los esfuerzos para garantizar la información y el acceso a los servicios para todas las mujeres. Nuestros hallazgos revelan que las mujeres hispanas y las afroamericanas no están obteniendo la información que necesitan para su salud», dijo Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de la Alianza Nacional para la Salud Hispana, el principal grupo de defensa de las comunidades hispanas en el país. «Este nuevo estudio demuestra la importancia de brindar a todas las mujeres información que puedan utilizar en tantas plataformas como sea posible. Ninguna fuente de información es suficiente. Necesitamos reconocer la importancia de ampliar la información sobre las pruebas de Papanicolaou, el VPH y el riesgo de cáncer de cuello uterino», continuó la Dra. Delgado.

El cáncer de cuello uterino es el único cáncer ginecológico para el cual existe una prueba de detección: la prueba de Papanicolaou. No obstante, las afroamericanas e hispanas continúan teniendo las tasas de incidencia más altas de cáncer de cuello uterino y las tasas de mortalidad ajustadas por edad más altas (3,2 y 2,4 por 100.000 respectivamente) por cáncer de cuello uterino. Un estudio reciente de La Fundación para la Salud de las Américas y la Alianza Nacional para la Salud de los Hispanos (La Alianza), encontró que una mayor proporción de mujeres hispanas (13,5%) nunca se han hecho una prueba de Papanicolaou, en comparación con las afroamericanas (11,7%) y las mujeres blancas que no son hispanas (5,9%). Consulte la figura a continuación.

Dadas las tasas de cáncer de cuello uterino entre las mujeres hispanas, es preocupante que tengan menos probabilidades que las mujeres blancas y afroamericanas que no son hispanas (NH), de que un proveedor de atención médica les hable sobre la prueba de Papanicolaou o el VPH. Además, las mujeres afroamericanas NH son las que tienen menos probabilidades de que un proveedor de atención médica les hable sobre el cáncer de cuello uterino. Un hallazgo preocupante fue que entre las mujeres que se han hecho una prueba de Papanicolaou, las mujeres hispanas reciben su primera prueba de Papanicolaou a edades posteriores, con un 9,1% de las mujeres hispanas que se hacen su primera prueba de Papanicolaou por encima de los 30 años, en comparación con el 7,2% y el 6,2% de las mujeres afroamericanas NH y blancas NH, respectivamente (consulte la figura a continuación.

El estudio también sondeó a los proveedores de salud sobre sus posiciones con respecto a la detección y al cáncer de cuello uterino. Encontró que el 99% de los proveedores dicen que, con muy pocas excepciones debido a la edad de la paciente o al nivel de actividad sexual, las mujeres deben hacerse pruebas de Papanicolaou y VPH. Además, el 96% de los proveedores dicen que es beneficioso realizar ambos en la misma visita y solo el 18% dice que la detección del VPH es suficiente por sí sola para detectar el cáncer de cuello uterino. Por lo tanto, es crucial que todas las mujeres adultas se realicen una prueba de detección de cáncer de cuello uterino con pruebas de Papanicolaou y VPH, y especialmente para que esta información llegue a las comunidades hispanas y afroamericanas.

Declaración de metodología. NORC en la Universidad de Chicago llevó a cabo el Estudio de Cáncer Cervical en nombre de La Fundación para la Salud de las Américas y La Alianza Nacional para la Salud Hispana utilizando el Panel AmeriSpeak® de NORC y el panel de participación en línea de no probabilidad de Dynata para las fuentes de muestra. El estudio también utilizó el panel de proveedores de salud de Dynata para entrevistar a los médicos de cabecera y obstetras. El estudio obtuvo una muestra representativa de mujeres blancas que no son hispanas, Afroamericanas e hispanas de entre 21 y 65 años y una muestra de proveedores de atención médica para medir opiniones y actitudes con respecto al cáncer de cuello uterino, la prueba de Papanicolaou, la detección del VPH y las vacunas contra el VPH. AmeriSpeak®, es un gran panel basado en probabilidades financiado y operado por NORC en la Universidad de Chicago. La encuesta de diciembre incluyó 1900 entrevistas: 534 mujeres blancas que no son hispanas (de 21 a 65 años), 587 mujeres Afroamericanas (de 21 a 65 años), 470 mujeres hispanas (de 30 a 65 años) y 309 mujeres hispanas (de 21 a 29 años). Para el estudio de proveedores de atención médica se recopilaron 558 entrevistas.

Acerca de la Alianza Nacional para la Salud Hispana (La Alianza) es la principal fuente de información basada en la ciencia de la nación y un defensor confiable de la salud de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos cuya misión de lograr una mejor salud para todos. Para obtener más información, visítenos en www.nuestrasalud.org 

La Fundación para la salud de las Américas (HAF por sus siglas en inglés) es una organización no gubernamental nacional 501(c)(3) con sede en los Estados Unidos, que se esfuerza por mejorar y promover la salud de las personas y las familias en sus comunidades. www.buenasaludparatodos.org 

Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428450/Graph_spanish_large.jpg

 

FUENTE National Alliance for Hispanic Health

National Survey Finds Lag in Cervical Cancer Screening and Information for Hispanic and Black Women

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — «These national findings demonstrate the critical need to ensure that equity is a part of all efforts to ensure information and access to services for women. Our findings reveal that Hispanic and Black women are not getting the information they need for their health,» said Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation’s leading Hispanic health…

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — «These national findings demonstrate the critical need to ensure that equity is a part of all efforts to ensure information and access to services for women. Our findings reveal that Hispanic and Black women are not getting the information they need for their health,» said Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

«This new study demonstrates the importance in giving all women information that they can use in as many platforms as possible. No one source of information is sufficient.  We need to recognize the importance of expanding information about Pap tests, HPV and Cervical cancer risk,» concluded Dr. Delgado.

Cervical cancer is the only gynecological cancer for which there is a screening test — the Pap test. Nevertheless, Black and Hispanic women continue to have the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer1 and the highest age adjusted mortality rates (3.2 and 2.4 per 100,000 respectively) for cervical cancer.2  A recent national study by the Healthy Americas Foundation and the Alliance found that a larger proportion of Hispanic women (13.5%) have never had a Pap test, compared to non-Hispanic Black (11.7%) and non-Hispanic White (5.9%) women. 

Given the rates of cervical cancer among Hispanic women it is concerning that Hispanic women are less likely than non-Hispanic Black and White women to have a healthcare provider talk to them about a Pap test or HPV. Additionally, non-Hispanic Black women are the least likely to have a healthcare provider talk to them about cervical cancer.  Furthermore, among women who have had a Pap test, Hispanic women receive their first Pap test at later ages, with 9.1% of Hispanic women getting their first Pap above the age of 30, compared to 7.2% and 6.2% for non-Hispanic Black and White women, respectively (see figure below).

The study also surveyed health providers on their positions regarding screening and cervical cancer. It found that 99% of providers say that, with some very few exceptions due to patient age or level of sexual activity, women should have both Pap and HPV tests. Further, 96% of providers say it is beneficial to get both done in the same visit and only 18% say HPV screening is sufficient alone to screen for cervical cancer. Thus, it is crucial for all adult women to get screened for cervical cancer with both Pap and HPV tests, and especially for this information to get to Hispanic and Black communities.

Methodology Statement. NORC at the University of Chicago conducted the Cervical Cancer Study on behalf of the Healthy Americas Foundation and the National Alliance of Hispanic Health using NORC’s AmeriSpeak® Panel and Dynata’s nonprobability online opt-in panel for the sample sources. The study also utilized the Dynata Health Provider panel to interview GPs and OBGYNs. The study obtained a representative sample of white, Black, and Hispanic women between the ages of 21-65 and a sample of health care providers in order to measure opinions and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, Pap testing, HPV screening, and HPV vaccines. AmeriSpeak®, is a large probability-based panel funded and operated by NORC at the University of Chicago. The December Survey included 1900 interviews: 534 White females (ages 21-65), 587 Black females (ages 21-65), 470 Hispanic females (ages 30-65), and 309 Hispanic females (ages 21-29). For the healthcare providers study 558 interviews were collected.

About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance).
The Alliance is the nation’s foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the best health for all. For more information, about the Alliance please visit www.healthyamericas.org or call the Alliance’s Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.

About the Healthy Americas Foundation.
The Healthy Americas Foundation (HAF) is a U.S. based national non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization that strives to improve and further the health of individuals and families in their communities throughout the Americas. For more information about HAF, please visit www.healthyamericasfund.org.

1 https://bit.ly/36hImR8
2https://bit.ly/3t50I1B  

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428446/Graph.jpg

 

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health