Weighing Roofing Materials Can Benefit From Understanding How Each Option Handles Winter Conditions

WILMINGTON, Vt., Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Which roofing material performs better through the demanding winters of Wilmington, Vermont, and what should homeowners consider when making that choice? A HelloNation article compares metal and asphalt options and explains how each holds up through Vermont’s seasonal extremes.

Asphalt shingles are by far the most common roofing material in the Wilmington area, and the article explains why they remain a practical choice for many homeowners. Architectural shingles offer solid weather resistance at a cost that fits most residential budgets, with warranties ranging from thirty to fifty years under standard conditions. In cold climates, however, the article notes that longevity depends heavily on installation quality, particularly the use of ice and water shield along the eaves and in roof valleys.

The main vulnerability of asphalt in Vermont is its performance under temperature extremes. Shingles become brittle in very cold weather and can crack under heavy snow loads or the stress of ice dam formation. The article explains that roofs with inadequate ventilation are especially prone to this problem, since heat escaping from the living space can warm the roof unevenly and promote ice dam development at the eaves.

Metal roofing is identified in the article as an increasingly popular choice in Vermont and other cold-weather regions. Standing-seam metal roofs shed snow efficiently due to their smooth surface, which reduces structural load and minimizes the conditions that allow ice dams to form. Metal is also highly resistant to moisture intrusion, a significant advantage in a climate where freeze-thaw cycles stress other materials throughout the entire winter season. Roofing Expert Ryan Adams is based in a region where metal roofing Vermont homeowners are exploring has become a more frequent topic of conversation.

The article notes that a properly installed metal roof in Wilmington can last forty to seventy years, significantly longer than asphalt. The upfront cost is higher, often two to three times that of a comparable asphalt installation, but reduced maintenance and replacement frequency can make it a sound long-term investment. Steel and aluminum are the most common metals used in residential roofing in Vermont, with steel generally the standard recommendation for strength and lasting weather resistance through repeated winters.

Cedar shake and slate are also addressed in the article. Cedar has natural insulating properties, but its oils deplete over time and require periodic treatment to remain effective. In a climate with sustained winter moisture and freeze-thaw stress, cedar demands more active maintenance than metal or quality asphalt. Slate can last more than a century and performs reliably in cold climates, but considerable cost, structural weight requirements, and the need for specialized labor present practical constraints for many homeowners.

Synthetic roofing materials, including engineered slate and composite shingles, have improved considerably and offer a middle path between the cost of natural stone and the limitations of standard asphalt. Some products are specifically rated for cold climates and heavy snow loads. Roofing Expert Ryan Adams represents the type of local expertise that helps homeowners identify the best roofing material Vermont conditions call for in a specific application.

Regardless of material, the article emphasizes that installation quality is the variable that most directly determines how a roof performs in Wilmington’s climate. The best roofing material Vermont winters demand will still underperform if improperly installed, poorly ventilated, or supported by substandard underlayment.

Metal vs. Asphalt Roofing: Which Performs Better in Vermont? features insights from Ryan Adams, Roofing Expert of Wilmington, Vermont, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

www.hellonation.com

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SOURCE HelloNation

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), the leading professional organization for digital health leaders, today released its 2026 Digital Health Most Wired National Trends Report, an in-depth view of the technologies, leadership practices, and organizational capability shaping digital health across the United States. Derived from data from the 2026 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired (DHMW) survey, powered by Digital Health Analytics (DHA), the report provides perspective on industry progress, emerging priorities, and the factors increasingly distinguishing technology adoption from sustained performance and value across healthcare delivery.

The 2026 findings point to an industry entering an exciting new phase of digital development. Technologies once considered emerging are now embedded across clinical and operational environments, and health systems are rapidly embracing AI while building the governance, evaluation and accountability practices to support it. Strong digital foundations continue to ensure that technology investments advance organizational performance and the delivery of safe, effective patient care.

Drawing from over 48,800+ healthcare facilities, representing organizations across 46 U.S. states and five countries, a key finding shows that AI is now embedded across healthcare, with 93.2% of participating organizations using AI in clinical or operational processes. Fully adopted generative AI rose from 31.0% to 54.8% in a single year. As adoption accelerates, 16.4% of AI users already have fully documented processes for monitoring models after deployment, pointing to a clear opportunity for the industry to build on this momentum and strengthen governance and oversight.

“Healthcare has reached an inflection point where technology adoption is giving way to a powerful new focus on how effectively organizations put it to use,” said Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME. “AI and other digital technologies are advancing at extraordinary speed, but lasting value depends on the leadership, governance and infrastructure surrounding them.”

Additional insights from 2026 report include:

Operational resilience remains a priority. Only 39.1% can restore all critical systems within four hours, and organizations that test failover are about twice as likely to meet that bar (45.7% vs. 23.5%).Digital leaders are connecting investment to value. The most digitally advanced organizations are more than twice as likely to monitor cost savings from digital engagement (80.0% vs. 37.1%), while 77.0% of organizations cite ROI uncertainty as their top innovation barrier.Building an AI-ready workforce remains a priority. 15.7% have a comprehensive, role-based data literacy program, and ambient listening is fully adopted for physicians at 60.8% but for nurses at 9.5%.Prior authorization automation continues to advance. 49.4% have automated prior authorization, falling to 28.9% among smaller organizations, as CMS payer API requirements take effect in January 2027.Climate data represents an emerging opportunity. Only 5.6% have fully adopted heat index data, though extreme heat is a growing threat to older, chronically ill and very young patients.

The report highlights priority areas for healthcare leaders, including AI governance, cyber resilience, clinical technology integration, trusted analytics, disaster preparedness, and recovery readiness. Together, the findings offer a clearer view of where focused investment can strengthen organizational performance, inform digital strategy, and support the continued advancement of patient care.

For complete findings, analysis and supporting data from the 2026 Digital Health Most Wired National Trends Report, visit https://chimecentral.org/chime/resource-report/2026-digital-health-most-wired-survey-trends-report.

About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is the leading professional organization for digital health executives and leaders. CHIME provides a trusted, collaborative environment where members and partners connect, share best practices, advance professional development, and advocate for the effective use of information and technology to improve health and care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

About Digital Health Analytics (DHA)
Digital Health Analytics provides healthcare organizations, technology companies, and academic researchers with the data, benchmarking, and market intelligence they need to lead digital transformation — 365 days a year. Powered by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), DHA helps provider organizations supercharge their digital health transformation capabilities. For more information about DHA, visit dhanalytics.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Calli Dretke
Executive Vice President & Chief Digital and Marketing Officer
CHIME
734.665.0000
cdretke@chimecentral.org

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SOURCE College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)

70% worry they or someone they know will fall for a scam while Black Friday or holiday shopping54% say they regularly see posts from fake retailers or brands on social media68% say it’s easy to miss the signs of a scam when they’re rushingRBC bolsters digital security features with new AI-powered Scam Intercept Messages for Interac e-Transfers

TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2026 /CNW/ — Seventy-two per cent of Canadians say AI is making it almost impossible to know what’s real versus fake when shopping online, according to RBC’s 2026 Holiday Shopping Scams Poll. With 71% of Canadians planning to shop online for Black Friday and the holidays, the poll reveals how they’re approaching and preparing for scams this year.

AI is making fake ads harder to spot, especially on social media
While Canadians have often looked for a misspelled word or a messy design as an obvious sign of a scam, 67% of Canadians now believe AI has removed the telltale signs of a scam.

According to the poll:

most feel AI is making fake ads (84%), fake online retailers (82%) and fake celebrity and influencer endorsements (77%) harder to spot76% worry the products, retailers and deals in their social feeds are AI-generated fakes73% worry that AI could recommend a fake retailer, product or dealonly half (50%) are confident they could spot an AI-generated shopping scam

Social media is where many Canadians are seeing these fake ads, retailers and endorsements: more than half (54%) regularly see posts from fake retailers or brands on social media, and a quarter (25%) have seen ads that looked legitimate, only to realize later they were scams. At the same time, 21% assume ads on social media are from legitimate retailers or brands.

“While Canadians are busy shopping and hunting for deals this holiday season, scammers are just as busy looking for opportunities,” said Amit Sadhu, Senior Vice President, Credit and Fraud Management, RBC. “Fake websites, social media ads and marketplace posts, as well as AI-generated content are becoming more convincing, making it harder to know what’s real. If a deal or an unfamiliar retailer pops up in your feed, don’t click through. Look up the retailer yourself, check the website and URL carefully. If you are shopping on second hand marketplaces, be confident about the seller before transferring funds by looking up their reviews and ratings. If something feels off, walk away.”

Scam worries are running high this holiday shopping season
When thinking about Black Friday and holiday shopping, scams are top of mind, with 70% of Canadians saying they’re worried they or someone they know will fall for one.

More specifically, the poll found that Canadians are worried about:

scammers collecting their personal or financial information (68%)paying for something that never arrives (50%)not realizing they’ve been scammed until it’s too late (47%)losing money to a scam (45%)not being able to spot a fake retailer or shopping site (43%)buying something from an ad that turns out to be a scam (38%)

Rushed and scam-fatigued Canadians may miss the signs of a scam
Over two-thirds (68%) say it’s easy to miss the signs of a scam when they’re rushing and nearly a quarter (23%) admit to at least sometimes skipping the safety checks they know they should be doing if they feel rushed when shopping online.

Many Canadians are also tired of scams altogether. While 83% say they’re more aware of scams than ever before, many are feeling overwhelmed:

60% don’t think they can keep up with all the new scams54% feel they can’t get away from scam attempts52% don’t want to think about scams when holiday shopping

One in five (21%) also say they don’t know what they can do to make sure they won’t fall for a scam during the Black Friday and holiday shopping season.

Canadians may be putting themselves at risk when shopping unfamiliar brands
Despite concerns that scams are getting harder to spot, most Canadians don’t consistently vet unfamiliar retailers or brands they find online or through social media. Fewer than half say they would always take each of the following steps before buying:

search the retailer or brand name separately, look for reviews from other sources or check that the website is secure (42% each)check the URL closely (37%)confirm the address or phone number is real (32%)search the retailer’s name with words like “scam,” “reviews” or “complaints” (31%)check the retailer or brand’s social media accounts (24%)

Whether taking the above steps or not, nearly half (49%) of Canadians have trusted their instincts and decided against an online purchase because something felt off.

RBC launches Scam Intercept Messages
Risks extend beyond traditional retail, with many Canadians also shopping second-hand online and sending money by Interac e-Transfer to people they don’t know.

To further support clients, RBC is the first bank in Canada to introduce real-time, AI-powered Scam Intercept Messages for Interac e-Transfers in the RBC Mobile app and Online Banking.

Canadians can miss the warning signs of a scam when faced with urgency, fear or misplaced trust. When RBC’s internal scam rules detect a suspicious Interac e-Transfer, Scam Intercept Messages can be triggered to help clients recognize potential warning signs.

“Scammers count on people being busy, distracted and worn out,” said Geoffrey Morton, Vice President, Fraud Management, RBC. “RBC purposely designed Scam Intercept Messages to provide scam warnings and ask clients questions about their payment and recipient as an opportunity to pause and think twice before sending money via e-Transfer. Clients can also choose to connect with an RBC Fraud Advisor for additional guidance, helping clients make informed decisions, with additional support when needed.”

How can Canadians help protect themselves from scams this Black Friday and holiday shopping season? RBC recommends five tips:

Add additional layers of protection. Use strong, unique passwords, regularly review your banking and credit card transactions, set up real-time account alerts, use two-step verification whenever possible and never share verification codes or approve a sign-in request you didn’t initiate. RBC clients can also complete a new security checkup in the Security Centre of the RBC Mobile app. Review your settings, take additional security actions, plus get details on common scams and links to additional support in the Security Education section of the app. Clients can also use the “Chat with us” feature in the RBC Mobile app to connect with an advisor for support.

Don’t let urgency cloud your judgment. Scammers use pressure, fear, urgency and too-good-to-be-true offers to get you to act before you check. Whether you’re shopping for holiday deals or responding to an unexpected message, take a moment to look for warning signs. When in doubt, stop, check and talk to someone you trust before you buy, click or share personal information.

Stay vigilant when shopping online. Fake websites can look real, and a padlock icon or “https” alone doesn’t guarantee a site is legitimate. Look up retailer websites on your own instead of clicking on a link that appears in your social feed or at the top of a search engine. Search for the retailer’s name plus “reviews” before you buy, especially if it’s a retailer you’ve never shopped with before.

Lock your card instantly if it is misplaced: Use Card Lock to freeze your card in the RBC Mobile app or online while you look for it. While locked, online and in-store buys are declined, along with cash advances and withdrawals.

Stay informed about new scams. Learn how to identify common scams through RBC Scam Alerts and help protect yourself from scams at RBC’s My Money Matters. Visit StandAgainstScams.ca for additional resources from the Canadian Anti-Scam Coalition (CASC), a collaboration between Canada’s financial, telecommunications, and technology sectors, alongside government and law enforcement.

In addition, RBC is also part of the Cross-Sector Anti-Fraud Exchange (CSAFE), a collective effort to help prevent repeat fraud.

Fast Facts: RBC Holiday Shopping Scams Poll
(Selected Findings)

About the RBC 2026 Holiday Shopping Scams Poll
These findings are from a survey conducted by RBC from October 6 to 13, 2026, among a representative sample of 1,503 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of ±2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

For more information, please contact:
Michaela DiMarcantonio, RBC Corporate Communications

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank