When it comes to buying light bulbs these days, the chief tactic may be buy-and-hoard.
"People are coming in and buying $150 worth of incandescent bulbs," said Steve Richmond, co-owner of Richmond Hardware in Braintree. "I was amazed."
What's driving the hoarders are new federal standards, originally meant to go into effect in the new year, requiring 100-watt bulbs to be more energy efficient.
But then Congress, in a bill passed this month to keep the government running, delayed enforcement of the new law until October.
"I see more people grabbing the incandescent one," said Paul Kustka, manager at Curry Hardware in Hanover. "But it's going to come to a point where they'll have to switch."
Retailers will be able to keep selling their supply of 100-watt incandescents until they're out of stock. Manufacturers can't import or make more bulbs that draw the same amount of energy as the existing models, but they are continuing to make a new version of incandescent bulbs that meet the stricter standards.
Four of today's commonly purchased incandescent bulbs – 100-watt, 75-watt, 60-watt and 40-watt – are targeted by a wide-ranging federal law aimed at improved energy efficiency from cars to industry. The incandescent bulbs are considered wasteful because much of the power they consume is released as heat, not light.
As of Sunday, a bulb that puts out the same amount of light as today's 100-watt bulb will be required to draw only 72 watts of power. In January 2013 and January 2014, similar new standards will go into effect for the other three bulb wattages.
Those new, more energy-efficient bulbs are primarily the curly shaped compact fluorescent lamps, known as CFLs, which last 10 times longer than incandescent and, while more expensive, can pay for themselves in nine months.
At Curry Hardware, one 60-watt compact fluorescent bulb was priced at $4.49, compared to a four-pack of the same wattage for $2.50.
Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are about 75 percent to 80 percent more efficient and are meant to last 25 times longer than a regular incandescent light bulb. They're still much more expensive – $25 for a 60-watt-equivalent bulb recently on Home Depot's website, compared with about $5 for a five-pack of CFLs – but prices are expected to drop as more people start using them.
Curry Hardware carried the LEDs for a while but they were so pricey that nobody bought them, said Kustka.
"I think people are totally uninformed and confused about the law," said Richmond in Braintree.
One issue complicating the CFLs is the presence of mercury. The Environmental Protection Agency said that the levels are very small – about 4 milligrams of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – but some consumers worry about it.
"That makes me nervous," said Rose Opanasets of Quincy, who was in the checkout line at Target in South Shore Plaza. "I'm keeping the old stuff until they force me to change."
2011年12月28日星期三
This New Year's, Everyone Get Lit
I was going to write about the Rex Ryan backlash or Giants-Cowboys or new-look Knicks fever but if you don't mind I'm going to swerve and offer an early, bossy, presumptuous New Year's Eve resolution:
Buy some bike lights. Buy some bike lights for someone you love. You can even buy them for someone you merely like.
That's a respectful order. But I'm saying it with a puffed-out chest and a scary Tom Coughlin look on my face. Whether you ride a bike for sport, or to buy chocolate-chip cookie dough at midnight, it's important. Even in winter.
This city is adapting to the bicycle. It's an overdue and necessary transformation. The evolution hasn't been without conflict—cyclists are learning to co-exist with vehicles and pedestrians, and there's too much recklessness on every street—but years from now we'll look back and wonder why anyone thought this wasn't progress.
More people are riding to work. More buildings are accommodating for bikes. Recreational riding is up. Parents feel less anxious putting kids on bikes.
There are plenty of treacherous spots, and too many fatalities occur.
But not long ago, the city's department of transportation announced that the number of cyclists in the city has doubled since 2007. That's an encouraging climb.
But in this improving climate, cyclists need to step up and share responsibility, protecting themselves and everyone else on the road.
And an easy first step is installing some lights. If I sound like I'm wagging a finger it's because I'm wagging a finger. It's such a simple no-brainer.
You need two lights. Sorry, but that's the deal. White light on the front, red one on the back. If you already have lights for your bike, congratulations. When you've stopped patting yourself on the back, put some new batteries in.
If you're buying bike lights for the first time, they come in many sizes and styles. You can spend a lot of money—there are fancy lights that would help you sail a bike across the Atlantic Ocean—but there are plenty under $25. You can hardly do anything in New York for less than $25.
In the city I think it's wise to have lights you can quickly remove from your bike and carry with you. This town still steals anything that's not nailed down. There are quick-release lights made from rubber and silicone that can be installed and removed in two seconds, and fit easily in a jacket, a purse or a Speedo.
Lights that flash are smart—they're easy to see and it saves battery life. If you want to go bonkers, you can buy light cords that wrap around the entire frame and make your bike look like Pee-Wee Herman's Christmas tree.
You could buy all these things on the Internet, but support your neighborhood bike shop. They'll know which lights work the best, and which ones are a waste of dough purchased by idiots who always have to own the most expensive thing. A bike shop employee can be entertainingly honest like that.
Don't let anyone tell you that lights aren't cool. Here's what's not cool: ambulance rides.
This easy resolution may save your life, without you even realizing it.
Buy some bike lights. Buy some bike lights for someone you love. You can even buy them for someone you merely like.
That's a respectful order. But I'm saying it with a puffed-out chest and a scary Tom Coughlin look on my face. Whether you ride a bike for sport, or to buy chocolate-chip cookie dough at midnight, it's important. Even in winter.
This city is adapting to the bicycle. It's an overdue and necessary transformation. The evolution hasn't been without conflict—cyclists are learning to co-exist with vehicles and pedestrians, and there's too much recklessness on every street—but years from now we'll look back and wonder why anyone thought this wasn't progress.
More people are riding to work. More buildings are accommodating for bikes. Recreational riding is up. Parents feel less anxious putting kids on bikes.
There are plenty of treacherous spots, and too many fatalities occur.
But not long ago, the city's department of transportation announced that the number of cyclists in the city has doubled since 2007. That's an encouraging climb.
But in this improving climate, cyclists need to step up and share responsibility, protecting themselves and everyone else on the road.
And an easy first step is installing some lights. If I sound like I'm wagging a finger it's because I'm wagging a finger. It's such a simple no-brainer.
You need two lights. Sorry, but that's the deal. White light on the front, red one on the back. If you already have lights for your bike, congratulations. When you've stopped patting yourself on the back, put some new batteries in.
If you're buying bike lights for the first time, they come in many sizes and styles. You can spend a lot of money—there are fancy lights that would help you sail a bike across the Atlantic Ocean—but there are plenty under $25. You can hardly do anything in New York for less than $25.
In the city I think it's wise to have lights you can quickly remove from your bike and carry with you. This town still steals anything that's not nailed down. There are quick-release lights made from rubber and silicone that can be installed and removed in two seconds, and fit easily in a jacket, a purse or a Speedo.
Lights that flash are smart—they're easy to see and it saves battery life. If you want to go bonkers, you can buy light cords that wrap around the entire frame and make your bike look like Pee-Wee Herman's Christmas tree.
You could buy all these things on the Internet, but support your neighborhood bike shop. They'll know which lights work the best, and which ones are a waste of dough purchased by idiots who always have to own the most expensive thing. A bike shop employee can be entertainingly honest like that.
Don't let anyone tell you that lights aren't cool. Here's what's not cool: ambulance rides.
This easy resolution may save your life, without you even realizing it.
2011年12月27日星期二
Chileans less likely to help the environment on their own
The Center for Sustainability at Universidad Andres Bello has concluded that this year Chileans have become more aware of environmental issues on the grand scale – not only more aware, but more inclined to voice their concern over social media or in protests.
While the awareness and concern on the grand scale has increased, when it comes to the individual, it is a different story. 800 residents of the Metropolitan, Valparaiso and Bio Bio regions were surveyed on a range of topics relating to the environment. These three regions account for 62 percent of Chile's population.
Issues such as HidroAysen have put questions of environment at the forefront of public opinion. While this is true for issues of large-scale debate, when it comes to tasks at home, Chileans have a different stance.
According to the study, 39 percent of respondents said they had never recycled, while 70 percent responded that it was not a habit and considered it cumbersome. As for energy-saving light globes, 90 percent of those surveyed said they used the globes, while only 10 percent said the use was to benefit the environment.
People in positions of executive management were considered by the study to have the worst attitudes towards environmental problems, while young people were the least concerned and less willing to take action to combat pollution.
76 percent of respondents believed the best way to bring companies to task would be to fine polluters, even though there is currently no pollution monitoring authority in Chile and 63 pecent of those polled agreed that the current legislation should be strengthened.
Adriana Palacios, social psychologist at the Universidad Desarrollo told the La Tercera newspaper that "throughout the Chilean identity there is a difference, where the official discourse and practice shows an inconsistency."
Alex Godoy from the Center for Sustainability, the conductors of the research said the key problem was the higher prices of more environmentally friendly products. The high prices locked out low-income earners from making steps towards change, even if they were willing to make a change.
Despite 58 percent saying they would pay more for renewable energy, 62 percent answered that in the next five years more power plants should be built. Less than half of the respondents believed the current energy supplies will be sufficient for the coming years.
41 percent of the respondents said that the lack of motivation from the population stems from a lack of sufficient measures to combat pollution by the government and industry, while only 2 percent of those surveyed said that the environmental problems were over exaggerated.
While the awareness and concern on the grand scale has increased, when it comes to the individual, it is a different story. 800 residents of the Metropolitan, Valparaiso and Bio Bio regions were surveyed on a range of topics relating to the environment. These three regions account for 62 percent of Chile's population.
Issues such as HidroAysen have put questions of environment at the forefront of public opinion. While this is true for issues of large-scale debate, when it comes to tasks at home, Chileans have a different stance.
According to the study, 39 percent of respondents said they had never recycled, while 70 percent responded that it was not a habit and considered it cumbersome. As for energy-saving light globes, 90 percent of those surveyed said they used the globes, while only 10 percent said the use was to benefit the environment.
People in positions of executive management were considered by the study to have the worst attitudes towards environmental problems, while young people were the least concerned and less willing to take action to combat pollution.
76 percent of respondents believed the best way to bring companies to task would be to fine polluters, even though there is currently no pollution monitoring authority in Chile and 63 pecent of those polled agreed that the current legislation should be strengthened.
Adriana Palacios, social psychologist at the Universidad Desarrollo told the La Tercera newspaper that "throughout the Chilean identity there is a difference, where the official discourse and practice shows an inconsistency."
Alex Godoy from the Center for Sustainability, the conductors of the research said the key problem was the higher prices of more environmentally friendly products. The high prices locked out low-income earners from making steps towards change, even if they were willing to make a change.
Despite 58 percent saying they would pay more for renewable energy, 62 percent answered that in the next five years more power plants should be built. Less than half of the respondents believed the current energy supplies will be sufficient for the coming years.
41 percent of the respondents said that the lack of motivation from the population stems from a lack of sufficient measures to combat pollution by the government and industry, while only 2 percent of those surveyed said that the environmental problems were over exaggerated.
2011年12月26日星期一
What next?
The new standards are geared to increase energy efficiency, lower consumers' bills and create less pollution, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
"American consumers are smart enough to determine for themselves which form of light bulb best suits their particular needs," said James Taylor, senior fellow for environmental policy at The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based conservative public policy group. "There is no compelling reason to take this decision away from free individuals, and the House should be applauded for confronting such nonsense."
But opponents have voiced a variety of other concerns.
Some have said they are concerned about compact fluorescents because they contain mercury, a toxic metal linked to birth defects and behavioral disorders. The EPA has said the average bulb has 4 to 5 milligrams of mercury, enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. While no mercury is emitted while the bulbs are in use, vapors can escape if the bulb is broken.
But the Alliance to Save Energy, an energy independence organization, has said that amount of mercury is just a fraction of what was in old-fashioned thermometers.
The conservative Eagle Forum has said it is concerned that the light bulb issue can set a bad precedent.
"If we don't take a stand to save our light bulbs, what will they go after next?" the group wrote in an alert to supporters.
And Americans for Limited Government representatives maintain Congress is overstepping its authority.
"The American people are extremely concerned there won't be any of their favorite bulbs left on the shelves once the new standards go into effect," said Robert Romano, senior editor.
Memories of my sister stirring me from bed at 5:30 in the so cold, so dark morning in order to scamper to the living room to see how Santa transformed the living room, full of warmth, color, and magic, are precious to me to this day.
When I was a child in public schools, each December an evening winter program was performed for parents with all kinds of kids singing traditional Christmas carols (something verboten today). I was never confused by it. I can easily light Sabbath candles and eat my latkes while getting a lump in my throat at the sight of Kris Kringle's cane in the climax of 1947's "Miracle on 34th Street." I'm perfectly comfortable in my Jewish skin.
Both my parents are gone now, but not the traditions they provided for my brother, sister and me. And I proudly pass on these traditions to my two Jewish boys, who I hope continue to embrace the season as they grow older and have their own families.
Of course, kids love presents and, sure, it's commercial.
But it's so much more. Cool weather combined with warm feelings, inspirational music, family togetherness, kindness for strangers - a marvelous medley in a world of ugliness that gets bleaker by the year.
Yes, I'm Jewish and I love Christmas, and I don't care what anyone thinks of that. It's good to feel good. At least one month of the year.
"American consumers are smart enough to determine for themselves which form of light bulb best suits their particular needs," said James Taylor, senior fellow for environmental policy at The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based conservative public policy group. "There is no compelling reason to take this decision away from free individuals, and the House should be applauded for confronting such nonsense."
But opponents have voiced a variety of other concerns.
Some have said they are concerned about compact fluorescents because they contain mercury, a toxic metal linked to birth defects and behavioral disorders. The EPA has said the average bulb has 4 to 5 milligrams of mercury, enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. While no mercury is emitted while the bulbs are in use, vapors can escape if the bulb is broken.
But the Alliance to Save Energy, an energy independence organization, has said that amount of mercury is just a fraction of what was in old-fashioned thermometers.
The conservative Eagle Forum has said it is concerned that the light bulb issue can set a bad precedent.
"If we don't take a stand to save our light bulbs, what will they go after next?" the group wrote in an alert to supporters.
And Americans for Limited Government representatives maintain Congress is overstepping its authority.
"The American people are extremely concerned there won't be any of their favorite bulbs left on the shelves once the new standards go into effect," said Robert Romano, senior editor.
Memories of my sister stirring me from bed at 5:30 in the so cold, so dark morning in order to scamper to the living room to see how Santa transformed the living room, full of warmth, color, and magic, are precious to me to this day.
When I was a child in public schools, each December an evening winter program was performed for parents with all kinds of kids singing traditional Christmas carols (something verboten today). I was never confused by it. I can easily light Sabbath candles and eat my latkes while getting a lump in my throat at the sight of Kris Kringle's cane in the climax of 1947's "Miracle on 34th Street." I'm perfectly comfortable in my Jewish skin.
Both my parents are gone now, but not the traditions they provided for my brother, sister and me. And I proudly pass on these traditions to my two Jewish boys, who I hope continue to embrace the season as they grow older and have their own families.
Of course, kids love presents and, sure, it's commercial.
But it's so much more. Cool weather combined with warm feelings, inspirational music, family togetherness, kindness for strangers - a marvelous medley in a world of ugliness that gets bleaker by the year.
Yes, I'm Jewish and I love Christmas, and I don't care what anyone thinks of that. It's good to feel good. At least one month of the year.
2011年12月25日星期日
PUD a leader in NW energy efficiency
There are not many investments in the public or private sector with that kind of rate of return. Investments in energy efficiency create jobs and significantly lower the cost of meeting current and future energy needs.
Under General Manager Steve Klein's leadership, Snohomish County Public Utility District hit a historic high for energy efficiency in 2010, saving 9.2 average megawatts, or enough to serve 6,500 homes. It is on track for one of its best years again in 2011.
Like many other utilities in the Northwest, Snohomish faces a shrinking number of cost-effective choices to meet future demand for power, and this makes low-cost, zero-carbon energy efficiency an increasingly attractive option. In Snohomish County, as in many other parts of the state, customers can choose from a broad range of energy efficiency programs, cash incentives, low-interest loans, and other resources that address virtually every aspect of electricity use -- both at home and at work. The goal is to make saving energy as easy and attractive as possible.
Like the council, the PUD recognizes the need to complement energy efficiency with new, innovative generating and efficiency technologies. To that end, the PUD is testing a variety of cutting-edge products such as heat-pump water heaters in homes and ultra-efficient ventilation systems in businesses. At the same time, traditional efficiency programs are continuing. Last year, for example, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs sales hit a high mark, with nearly 4.4 million discounted CFLs sold in the last decade through a PUD network of more than 50 local retailers.
Through a partnership with local and regional government, in 2010 the PUD launched a grass-roots program, Community Power, to support energy efficiency measures in underserved areas. To date, more than 5,000 homes and 100 local businesses have taken advantage of energy-saving measures, including efficient windows and lighting retrofits.
While 2010 was a banner year, the Northwest is consistently among the national leaders in energy efficiency. Over the past 40 years, our regional savings have topped 4,600 average megawatts -- enough power for four cities the size of Seattle. Washington ranks fifth in the nation in policies that encourage energy efficiency, according to the 2011 Scorecard Report of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
We represent Washington on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, which works with the Bonneville Power Administration and regional utilities to track energy-efficiency accomplishments every year. This means adding up the savings from compact fluorescent light bulbs, LEDs, home insulation projects, and new efficient home appliances, furnaces, and industrial and agricultural equipment installed in homes, businesses and farms across the region in the past year.
According to the council's regional power plan, if the Northwest continues to invest aggressively in energy efficiency it could reduce the growth of electricity loads by 85 percent over the next 20 years.
However, we don't want to become complacent because of the record results of 2010. In the future we won't have the benefit of the federal stimulus program that provided generous funding for energy-efficiency programs in Washington and other states. But energy efficiency will continue to be a smart investment, and we will continue to rely on homeowners, businesses and local utilities to pursue creative solutions for saving energy and managing future energy bills.
Under General Manager Steve Klein's leadership, Snohomish County Public Utility District hit a historic high for energy efficiency in 2010, saving 9.2 average megawatts, or enough to serve 6,500 homes. It is on track for one of its best years again in 2011.
Like many other utilities in the Northwest, Snohomish faces a shrinking number of cost-effective choices to meet future demand for power, and this makes low-cost, zero-carbon energy efficiency an increasingly attractive option. In Snohomish County, as in many other parts of the state, customers can choose from a broad range of energy efficiency programs, cash incentives, low-interest loans, and other resources that address virtually every aspect of electricity use -- both at home and at work. The goal is to make saving energy as easy and attractive as possible.
Like the council, the PUD recognizes the need to complement energy efficiency with new, innovative generating and efficiency technologies. To that end, the PUD is testing a variety of cutting-edge products such as heat-pump water heaters in homes and ultra-efficient ventilation systems in businesses. At the same time, traditional efficiency programs are continuing. Last year, for example, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs sales hit a high mark, with nearly 4.4 million discounted CFLs sold in the last decade through a PUD network of more than 50 local retailers.
Through a partnership with local and regional government, in 2010 the PUD launched a grass-roots program, Community Power, to support energy efficiency measures in underserved areas. To date, more than 5,000 homes and 100 local businesses have taken advantage of energy-saving measures, including efficient windows and lighting retrofits.
While 2010 was a banner year, the Northwest is consistently among the national leaders in energy efficiency. Over the past 40 years, our regional savings have topped 4,600 average megawatts -- enough power for four cities the size of Seattle. Washington ranks fifth in the nation in policies that encourage energy efficiency, according to the 2011 Scorecard Report of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
We represent Washington on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, which works with the Bonneville Power Administration and regional utilities to track energy-efficiency accomplishments every year. This means adding up the savings from compact fluorescent light bulbs, LEDs, home insulation projects, and new efficient home appliances, furnaces, and industrial and agricultural equipment installed in homes, businesses and farms across the region in the past year.
According to the council's regional power plan, if the Northwest continues to invest aggressively in energy efficiency it could reduce the growth of electricity loads by 85 percent over the next 20 years.
However, we don't want to become complacent because of the record results of 2010. In the future we won't have the benefit of the federal stimulus program that provided generous funding for energy-efficiency programs in Washington and other states. But energy efficiency will continue to be a smart investment, and we will continue to rely on homeowners, businesses and local utilities to pursue creative solutions for saving energy and managing future energy bills.
2011年12月22日星期四
The best Christmas gifts don't come from the mall or online browsing
In the antediluvian era of my childhood, when I was six or so — when there was no TV and listening to adventure "serials" like "The Shadow," "Sky King," and "The Green Hornet" on the Crosley tabletop radio was a highlight of long winter evenings, when the Christmas season began in December rather than August and there were no giant shopping malls, and when ordering was from the Sears Roebuck catalog, not online — the holiday season, wish lists, and Santa's largess were far different, far simpler.
In the limey soils of northeast Mississippi, there were cedar trees galore, so getting a Christmas tree involved simply finding one the right size, with a good shape, hacking it down with a hatchet, and dragging it home. We'd have hooted at the thought of an artificial tree, even were there any.
No LED or twinkly lights; all light strings were of the type that if one bulb went bad, all the lights went out — leading to frequent, extended swapping out of bulbs to find the one that was burned out, and elation when they all finally lit again.
I do not now remember any of the presents Santa brought in those years, not that far removed from the deprivations of the Great Depression and World War II, when the country was still getting back on its feet economically and the average family had little in the way of disposable income.
We got practical things, like socks and hankies and gloves, and there were treats not seen at any other time of year: oranges, tangerines, English walnuts, peppermint sticks, Brazil nuts, cloyingly sweet chocolate covered cherries, plus goodies Mother had baked — the traditional fruitcake, sugar cookies, mincemeat pie, black walnut cake.
There were, of course, a few boy-type gifts for my brothers and me, but from the distance of decades, I have no recollection of them. I do remember the fireworks, which could then, long before OSHA safety regs, be purchased at any grocery store for not much money: whistling red devils, cherry bombs, zebra crackers, skyrockets, Roman candles. What fun!
Today, when our eight-and-under youngest granddaughters compile their three-page single-spaced wish lists of every toy and electronic device they've seen on TV in the last six months, they invariably ask what I want Santa to bring me for Christmas, and my reply is: "Nothing — don't need anything, don't want anything."
In their eager anticipation of a Christmas morning with gifts galore, they cannot, of course, even remotely comprehend that there can come a point in one's life when things no longer have much relevance — that rather, the treasured gifts are having them and those we love in our lives, and being safe in a country that, despite its troubles and divisiveness, is still the envy of most of the rest of the world.
And always, the fervent hope that the long-foretold era of peace and brotherhood that underlies this season can, somehow, be their lifelong gift.
In the limey soils of northeast Mississippi, there were cedar trees galore, so getting a Christmas tree involved simply finding one the right size, with a good shape, hacking it down with a hatchet, and dragging it home. We'd have hooted at the thought of an artificial tree, even were there any.
No LED or twinkly lights; all light strings were of the type that if one bulb went bad, all the lights went out — leading to frequent, extended swapping out of bulbs to find the one that was burned out, and elation when they all finally lit again.
I do not now remember any of the presents Santa brought in those years, not that far removed from the deprivations of the Great Depression and World War II, when the country was still getting back on its feet economically and the average family had little in the way of disposable income.
We got practical things, like socks and hankies and gloves, and there were treats not seen at any other time of year: oranges, tangerines, English walnuts, peppermint sticks, Brazil nuts, cloyingly sweet chocolate covered cherries, plus goodies Mother had baked — the traditional fruitcake, sugar cookies, mincemeat pie, black walnut cake.
There were, of course, a few boy-type gifts for my brothers and me, but from the distance of decades, I have no recollection of them. I do remember the fireworks, which could then, long before OSHA safety regs, be purchased at any grocery store for not much money: whistling red devils, cherry bombs, zebra crackers, skyrockets, Roman candles. What fun!
Today, when our eight-and-under youngest granddaughters compile their three-page single-spaced wish lists of every toy and electronic device they've seen on TV in the last six months, they invariably ask what I want Santa to bring me for Christmas, and my reply is: "Nothing — don't need anything, don't want anything."
In their eager anticipation of a Christmas morning with gifts galore, they cannot, of course, even remotely comprehend that there can come a point in one's life when things no longer have much relevance — that rather, the treasured gifts are having them and those we love in our lives, and being safe in a country that, despite its troubles and divisiveness, is still the envy of most of the rest of the world.
And always, the fervent hope that the long-foretold era of peace and brotherhood that underlies this season can, somehow, be their lifelong gift.
2011年12月21日星期三
Mitsubishi Chemical files LED-phosphor lawsuit against Intematix
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit in Korea against Intematix and a distributor, over red phosphors.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC), the Tokyo, Japan-based phosphor, LED and lamp manufacturer, has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit in Korea against US-based Intematix Corporation and a Korean distributor, GVP.
Filed in Seoul Central District Court, the infringement lawsuit seeks to prohibit the two companies from importing and selling certain red-emitting phosphor products in Korea.
Mitsubishi Chemical claims that the products in question infringe a patent in Korea that covers red-emitting phosphors. The patent is owned by MCC and National Institute of Material Science.
Red-emitting phosphors are commonly used in warm-white LEDs, in combination with other phosphors, to provide the desired emission spectrum.
MCC says that it owns many other patents that are also relevant to CASN and SCASN phosphors, adding: "Should a party infringe any of MCC's patents, we will take every appropriate measure without overlooking it."
If you talk to lighting designers about new technology—as we did recently—it's hard not to conclude that the incandescent bulb is headed for almost certain extinction. The reasons seem obvious: LEDs are a lot more energy efficient and much (much) longer lasting.
What's not to like? Well, for now, price. But once economics of scale are achieved and the cost of LEDs come down, then it's simply a matter of time before the incandescent—at one time, a radical breakthrough in its own right—shuffles off into obsolescence.
"My biggest concern is that the incandescent lamp will completely disappear, and with it the spectrum that it brings," she told our Barbara Eldredge recently.
This means that all of the color that has been devised over my lifetime will no longer be the color that my eye recognizes. LEDs are great—they add to the toolbox. But if you look at the spectrum of an LED and the spectrum of an incandescent, they're just fundamentally different.
LEDs don't produce that warm candlelight glow of the incandescent bulb at a low reading. Unfortunately, this has happened throughout the history of lighting. Each new lamp has been colder than the one before it. Lighting today is very, very cold, tilting almost to the inhuman.
So I guess I'm old fashioned, like the people who complained about missing the glow of gaslights when electricity came in. But I do feel very strongly that the toolbox should be complete, and that you shouldn't entirely give up one thing just to have another.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC), the Tokyo, Japan-based phosphor, LED and lamp manufacturer, has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit in Korea against US-based Intematix Corporation and a Korean distributor, GVP.
Filed in Seoul Central District Court, the infringement lawsuit seeks to prohibit the two companies from importing and selling certain red-emitting phosphor products in Korea.
Mitsubishi Chemical claims that the products in question infringe a patent in Korea that covers red-emitting phosphors. The patent is owned by MCC and National Institute of Material Science.
Red-emitting phosphors are commonly used in warm-white LEDs, in combination with other phosphors, to provide the desired emission spectrum.
MCC says that it owns many other patents that are also relevant to CASN and SCASN phosphors, adding: "Should a party infringe any of MCC's patents, we will take every appropriate measure without overlooking it."
If you talk to lighting designers about new technology—as we did recently—it's hard not to conclude that the incandescent bulb is headed for almost certain extinction. The reasons seem obvious: LEDs are a lot more energy efficient and much (much) longer lasting.
What's not to like? Well, for now, price. But once economics of scale are achieved and the cost of LEDs come down, then it's simply a matter of time before the incandescent—at one time, a radical breakthrough in its own right—shuffles off into obsolescence.
"My biggest concern is that the incandescent lamp will completely disappear, and with it the spectrum that it brings," she told our Barbara Eldredge recently.
This means that all of the color that has been devised over my lifetime will no longer be the color that my eye recognizes. LEDs are great—they add to the toolbox. But if you look at the spectrum of an LED and the spectrum of an incandescent, they're just fundamentally different.
LEDs don't produce that warm candlelight glow of the incandescent bulb at a low reading. Unfortunately, this has happened throughout the history of lighting. Each new lamp has been colder than the one before it. Lighting today is very, very cold, tilting almost to the inhuman.
So I guess I'm old fashioned, like the people who complained about missing the glow of gaslights when electricity came in. But I do feel very strongly that the toolbox should be complete, and that you shouldn't entirely give up one thing just to have another.
2011年12月20日星期二
Tsai calls for a renewed focus on LED industry
The LED industry should be one of the nation's strategic industries and the government should play a lead role in helping the industry with integration and marketing, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen said yesterday in Miaoli.
If elected next month, her administration would actively engage in assisting the industry with its vertical integration and the elimination of trade barriers to improve its global competitiveness, Tsai said on the first of her five-day visit to local industrial centers.
Tsai expressed confidence in the LED industry's global competitiveness when she visited Excellence Optoelectronics Inc, which is located in the Jhunan Science Park in Miaoli County.
However, she said that only 30,000 of the country's 1.5 million street lights had been replaced with LED bulbs during the past three years, which means the government had not done enough to create a domestic market for manufacturers or to phase out traditional bulbs.
Taiwanese LED companies could learn from the bicycle industry, which underwent a successful vertical integration and invested many resources in research and development to improve its global competitiveness, she said.
She also encouraged the industry to adopt international standards, rather than simply using China's industry standards, to improve its global position and benefit the long-term development of its products.
Tsai highlighted a key part of her economic policy, which is the establishment of a professional and effective negotiation team to help Taiwanese businesses eliminate trade barriers overseas and explore new markets.
In Hsinchu, the heart of the nation's information and communication technology development sector, Tsai said, Taiwan should continue to make use of its celebrated technological prowess and, at the same time, integrate technology, culture and humanity, so that technological development could further benefit people's well-being.
She is scheduled to visit the Youth Industrial Park in Taoyuan County today.
In response to questions about the ongoing Yu Chang Biologics Co case, in which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has accused her of improperly profiting from the formation of Yu Chang — now known as TaiMed Biologics Co — when she served as vice premier in 2007, Tsai said she had offered a "thorough explanation" and had nothing more to say.
The presidential campaign "should go back to the arena of policy discussions," she said.
If elected next month, her administration would actively engage in assisting the industry with its vertical integration and the elimination of trade barriers to improve its global competitiveness, Tsai said on the first of her five-day visit to local industrial centers.
Tsai expressed confidence in the LED industry's global competitiveness when she visited Excellence Optoelectronics Inc, which is located in the Jhunan Science Park in Miaoli County.
However, she said that only 30,000 of the country's 1.5 million street lights had been replaced with LED bulbs during the past three years, which means the government had not done enough to create a domestic market for manufacturers or to phase out traditional bulbs.
Taiwanese LED companies could learn from the bicycle industry, which underwent a successful vertical integration and invested many resources in research and development to improve its global competitiveness, she said.
She also encouraged the industry to adopt international standards, rather than simply using China's industry standards, to improve its global position and benefit the long-term development of its products.
Tsai highlighted a key part of her economic policy, which is the establishment of a professional and effective negotiation team to help Taiwanese businesses eliminate trade barriers overseas and explore new markets.
In Hsinchu, the heart of the nation's information and communication technology development sector, Tsai said, Taiwan should continue to make use of its celebrated technological prowess and, at the same time, integrate technology, culture and humanity, so that technological development could further benefit people's well-being.
She is scheduled to visit the Youth Industrial Park in Taoyuan County today.
In response to questions about the ongoing Yu Chang Biologics Co case, in which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has accused her of improperly profiting from the formation of Yu Chang — now known as TaiMed Biologics Co — when she served as vice premier in 2007, Tsai said she had offered a "thorough explanation" and had nothing more to say.
The presidential campaign "should go back to the arena of policy discussions," she said.
2011年12月19日星期一
Initial budget figures are in
Work on the fiscal year 2013 budget is nearly completed. Initial estimates show an increase in the proposed General Fund budget of 5.06 percent. This estimate includes the agency requests as submitted.
It includes the costs for the repairs to the Recreation Center pool area walls, roof, and mechanicals that are to be funded from the voter-approved $680,000. The proposed Highway Fund budget indicates a decrease of 1.78 percent. The Fire Department budget increase is proposed at 3.15 percent.
Department heads worked very hard to minimize increases in the individual department budgets. It is clear they took this task very much to heart. At this writing, the total of all the budgets combined is up 2.96 percent over last year. Our revenues are under review. It is the combined effect of the revenues and expenditures divided by the Grand List that gives us the tax rate.
The temperate weather has been a blessing to the community. Several important projects are underway, even now. The Roaring Branch river channel flood mitigation work continues. A final completion date is mid-January. The water system repair work has been bid and construction to replace the intake in Bolles Brook should be completed in January as well. When this is accomplished, the water system will be fully recovered from the damages Tropical Storm Irene caused.
The town is working with CVPS and Efficiency Vermont to replace the high-pressure sodium street lighting with LED fixtures. This project, when finished, should create savings in the range of 30 percent to the town’s street light electric bills. This would be a savings of $40,000 annually. The LED fixtures focus the light more, thereby reducing the spread of light. The colors are in the blue/white spectrum, eliminating the yellow glow of the sodium lights.
The Park and Ride grant of $44,830 is now expended and awaiting State closeout certification. It helped improve the upper Pleasant Street parking lot by adding solar lighting, signage, improved entrances, and installing pedestrian amenities in concert with the multi-modal transit center work undertaken by the Green Mountain Community Network, our public transportation provider.
The Network is utilizing a federal earmark of $328,000 from the town and funds from USDA to improve the transit facility and renovate the Network’s offices.
The long-awaited Union Street enhancement project has been bid and is now under review. In general, we like to see more bidders at the table because it keeps the process competitive and may mean a lower cost for the project. We had only one bidder on this project.
It is hard to gauge how competitive the bid price is when only one bidder participates. We still hope to begin construction this spring. This project will bring some of the streetscape improvements to the westerly portion of Union Street, Silver Street and Valentine Street. The project was planned, and cost estimates generated for grants, more than five years ago. Today’s costs and available grant funds will dictate how much of the project gets done.
It includes the costs for the repairs to the Recreation Center pool area walls, roof, and mechanicals that are to be funded from the voter-approved $680,000. The proposed Highway Fund budget indicates a decrease of 1.78 percent. The Fire Department budget increase is proposed at 3.15 percent.
Department heads worked very hard to minimize increases in the individual department budgets. It is clear they took this task very much to heart. At this writing, the total of all the budgets combined is up 2.96 percent over last year. Our revenues are under review. It is the combined effect of the revenues and expenditures divided by the Grand List that gives us the tax rate.
The temperate weather has been a blessing to the community. Several important projects are underway, even now. The Roaring Branch river channel flood mitigation work continues. A final completion date is mid-January. The water system repair work has been bid and construction to replace the intake in Bolles Brook should be completed in January as well. When this is accomplished, the water system will be fully recovered from the damages Tropical Storm Irene caused.
The town is working with CVPS and Efficiency Vermont to replace the high-pressure sodium street lighting with LED fixtures. This project, when finished, should create savings in the range of 30 percent to the town’s street light electric bills. This would be a savings of $40,000 annually. The LED fixtures focus the light more, thereby reducing the spread of light. The colors are in the blue/white spectrum, eliminating the yellow glow of the sodium lights.
The Park and Ride grant of $44,830 is now expended and awaiting State closeout certification. It helped improve the upper Pleasant Street parking lot by adding solar lighting, signage, improved entrances, and installing pedestrian amenities in concert with the multi-modal transit center work undertaken by the Green Mountain Community Network, our public transportation provider.
The Network is utilizing a federal earmark of $328,000 from the town and funds from USDA to improve the transit facility and renovate the Network’s offices.
The long-awaited Union Street enhancement project has been bid and is now under review. In general, we like to see more bidders at the table because it keeps the process competitive and may mean a lower cost for the project. We had only one bidder on this project.
It is hard to gauge how competitive the bid price is when only one bidder participates. We still hope to begin construction this spring. This project will bring some of the streetscape improvements to the westerly portion of Union Street, Silver Street and Valentine Street. The project was planned, and cost estimates generated for grants, more than five years ago. Today’s costs and available grant funds will dictate how much of the project gets done.
2011年12月18日星期日
St. Laurent is brilliant, but is it art?
The Societe de developpement du boulevard Saint-Laurent sidestepped any holiday controversy this year by flipping the switch on 65 energy-efficient LED installations attached to the lamp posts between Sherbrooke St. and Mont Royal Ave. Instead of the usual, overplayed holiday symbols, they paid a pretty penny, opting for a unique, locally designed and semi-permanent decor that's yearlong, secular, abstract, minimalist and digital.
At the very least, the two six-kilometre rows of radio-controlled, processor-equipped chandeliers made up of 10 one-metre-long LED tubes spaced in a circle, will serve as a new visual signature for St. Laurent, bringing unity to the always eclectic, but recently beleaguered boulevard.
In the eyes of the incoming SDBSL president and owner of the hipster hideaway Laika, Bruno Ricciardi-Rigault, The Main's rows of seemingly hovering illuminated rods are nothing less than a keen bet on a cutting-edge new medium, which avant garde artists living and working on St. Laurent, as well as international talent, will use to rekindle The Main's pulse.
"St. Laurent is not just businesses, it's the spinal cord of Montreal, so it has to be alive," he says. "It's nearly 2012, so this will be something new. The digital video arts scene, formerly VJing, has now evolved very far, blending video, lighting, environments and experiences. This goes way beyond Christmas lights, literal images or even cinema."
While the yet-to-be-named light fixtures will remain static during the holiday shopping season, for Montreal's Nuit Blanche, on Feb. 25, they will spring to life, able to flicker in a programmed sequence, connected via a network by low-frequency radio signals.
"It's like a peer-to-peer network, where each fixture speaks to its neighbours to achieve these large-scale lighting effects and animations," says Vincent Leclerc, principal at Eski, a Point St. Charles-based studio, of their latest innovative technology.
"Our biggest challenge was to be energy efficient in order to meet the city's specifications," Leclerc says. Each fixture's environmental footprint equals that of a regular 100 watt bulb.
Indeed, the yearlong possibilities are dazzling. "Lights chasing each other from pole to pole, red, white and blue for the Habs, the national colours of St. Laurent's communities, colour schemes for each block, red for St. Valentine's, green for St. Patrick's, a wave from top to bottom," Ricciardi-Rigault offers.
Cringing denizens take heart: "The light shows could be more commercial at times, like for the Grand Prix," he says, "But a better approach ongoing for the continuity of the boulevard's culture would be to find real lighting artists, like Rafael Lozano-Hemmer or Axel Morganthaler, who could use the lights to do something really magical."
He remains sanguine about the SDBSL's $125,000 lighting caper planned to last for the next five years, "Annually, it's what we would have spent for something really common in the past."
At the very least, the two six-kilometre rows of radio-controlled, processor-equipped chandeliers made up of 10 one-metre-long LED tubes spaced in a circle, will serve as a new visual signature for St. Laurent, bringing unity to the always eclectic, but recently beleaguered boulevard.
In the eyes of the incoming SDBSL president and owner of the hipster hideaway Laika, Bruno Ricciardi-Rigault, The Main's rows of seemingly hovering illuminated rods are nothing less than a keen bet on a cutting-edge new medium, which avant garde artists living and working on St. Laurent, as well as international talent, will use to rekindle The Main's pulse.
"St. Laurent is not just businesses, it's the spinal cord of Montreal, so it has to be alive," he says. "It's nearly 2012, so this will be something new. The digital video arts scene, formerly VJing, has now evolved very far, blending video, lighting, environments and experiences. This goes way beyond Christmas lights, literal images or even cinema."
While the yet-to-be-named light fixtures will remain static during the holiday shopping season, for Montreal's Nuit Blanche, on Feb. 25, they will spring to life, able to flicker in a programmed sequence, connected via a network by low-frequency radio signals.
"It's like a peer-to-peer network, where each fixture speaks to its neighbours to achieve these large-scale lighting effects and animations," says Vincent Leclerc, principal at Eski, a Point St. Charles-based studio, of their latest innovative technology.
"Our biggest challenge was to be energy efficient in order to meet the city's specifications," Leclerc says. Each fixture's environmental footprint equals that of a regular 100 watt bulb.
Indeed, the yearlong possibilities are dazzling. "Lights chasing each other from pole to pole, red, white and blue for the Habs, the national colours of St. Laurent's communities, colour schemes for each block, red for St. Valentine's, green for St. Patrick's, a wave from top to bottom," Ricciardi-Rigault offers.
Cringing denizens take heart: "The light shows could be more commercial at times, like for the Grand Prix," he says, "But a better approach ongoing for the continuity of the boulevard's culture would be to find real lighting artists, like Rafael Lozano-Hemmer or Axel Morganthaler, who could use the lights to do something really magical."
He remains sanguine about the SDBSL's $125,000 lighting caper planned to last for the next five years, "Annually, it's what we would have spent for something really common in the past."
2011年12月15日星期四
Hanukkah party emphasizes fun
Billed as a"communitywide Hanukkah celebration for children of all ages," the event will feature crafts and candle-lighting, dancing and dreidels.
"Hanukkah is a fun, festive holiday," said Mandy Cheskis, Chisuk Emuna's education director."This program is for the Hebrew schools from the synagogues, the Silver Academy and the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg. It's one big Hanukkah party."
Hanukkah commemorates the military victory of the ancient Jews, led by Judah Maccabee, over the army of the Greek-Syrians who had denied them religious freedom.
When the temple in Jerusalem was reclaimed by the Jews, the Maccabees discovered only enough oil to light the giant menorah for one day. Instead, it lasted eight days.
Jews celebrate the event by lighting candles on a menorah, one for each night, praying in Hebrew and enjoying food cooked in oil. Many families exchange gifts each night.
Locally, the Latkepalooza celebration will include fun and food.
Participants can try their hand at a Maccabi Dreidle tournament in which they spin a dreidel — a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side — and guess which Hebrew letter will be showing when it stops.
They can participate in crafts and games. They also can help raise money in a 45-minute dance-a-thon to raise money for the Save A Child's Heart Foundation. This charity takes children with life-threatening heart conditions from anywhere around the world to Israel for life-saving surgeries.
"The Jewish community is raising money for an operation for a little boy," Cheskis said."The average cost of the heart surgery is $10,000. The whole Jewish community has pledged to raise this in a year.
"The dance-a-thon money from pledges and donations will go toward that."
Those at the party will eat latkes, potato pancakes traditionally fried in oil, as part of the Hanukkah celebration.
"We'll see who makes the best latkes," said Jay Steinberg, CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg."We have a lot of good latke makers in this community. I will be making them for my staff from my mother's recipe."
Later in the afternoon, participants will light two lights on the menorah, a ceremonial candle holder with eight branches or places for candles and a ninth candle holder set a little above the others.
"Jewish kids who celebrate Hanukkah are in the minority in most schools," Cheskis said.
"They celebrate Hanukkah, not Christmas."
She said the Latkepalooza is an opportunity for kids to come together, play games, enjoy food and raise money to help others.
"Hanukkah is a fun, festive holiday," said Mandy Cheskis, Chisuk Emuna's education director."This program is for the Hebrew schools from the synagogues, the Silver Academy and the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg. It's one big Hanukkah party."
Hanukkah commemorates the military victory of the ancient Jews, led by Judah Maccabee, over the army of the Greek-Syrians who had denied them religious freedom.
When the temple in Jerusalem was reclaimed by the Jews, the Maccabees discovered only enough oil to light the giant menorah for one day. Instead, it lasted eight days.
Jews celebrate the event by lighting candles on a menorah, one for each night, praying in Hebrew and enjoying food cooked in oil. Many families exchange gifts each night.
Locally, the Latkepalooza celebration will include fun and food.
Participants can try their hand at a Maccabi Dreidle tournament in which they spin a dreidel — a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side — and guess which Hebrew letter will be showing when it stops.
They can participate in crafts and games. They also can help raise money in a 45-minute dance-a-thon to raise money for the Save A Child's Heart Foundation. This charity takes children with life-threatening heart conditions from anywhere around the world to Israel for life-saving surgeries.
"The Jewish community is raising money for an operation for a little boy," Cheskis said."The average cost of the heart surgery is $10,000. The whole Jewish community has pledged to raise this in a year.
"The dance-a-thon money from pledges and donations will go toward that."
Those at the party will eat latkes, potato pancakes traditionally fried in oil, as part of the Hanukkah celebration.
"We'll see who makes the best latkes," said Jay Steinberg, CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg."We have a lot of good latke makers in this community. I will be making them for my staff from my mother's recipe."
Later in the afternoon, participants will light two lights on the menorah, a ceremonial candle holder with eight branches or places for candles and a ninth candle holder set a little above the others.
"Jewish kids who celebrate Hanukkah are in the minority in most schools," Cheskis said.
"They celebrate Hanukkah, not Christmas."
She said the Latkepalooza is an opportunity for kids to come together, play games, enjoy food and raise money to help others.
2011年12月13日星期二
The future with LEDs
The development of the market for LED lighting presents a variety of hurdles and challenges, beyond the obvious technical ones of making efficient and reliable products at prices competitive with conventional lighting. In this session Marc Ledbetter, Program Manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , will discuss DOE's CALiPER program for independently-testing commercial LED lighting products, with a focus on test results for LED replacement lamps. Both recent results and plans for the future will be presented.
Utility involvement in the adoption of SSL will likely prove to be a key element in market adoption. Carolyn Weiner of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and Jon Linn of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships will give a joint presentation entitled "Transforming the SSL Markets with the Support of Standards and Utility Energy-Efficiency Programs."
Another set of key players in SSL adoption are the electrical contractors, who are often heavily involved in the decision-making process for new lighting installations. John Maisel, Publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine, will discuss recent market-research results that point to a shift in both the role and scope of electrical contractors in implementing LED lighting.
A presentation by Ron Steen, VP of Market Development at Xicato, will address color-quality issues of LED sources, showing practical examples of white-color variation and challenging the audience to define levels of acceptability. Included in the presentation will be a live demonstration of these concepts.
Although museum lighting represents a relatively small niche in the overall lighting market, it is one of the most demanding applications, and represents a rigorous testing environment for the attributes of LED lighting. Naomi Miller, a highly-regarded lighting designer with an extensive background in SSL, and now at PNNL, will present the results of three DOE Gateway demonstration projects on museum lighting.
This session will feature speakers who will discuss their visions of the future of LED lighting, including the opportunities as well as the challenges. Leading off the session will be Mark McClear, Global Director for Applications Engineering at Cree LED Components. His presentation will address "The Next Big Thing" in LED lighting, including new innovations that are on the horizon in the context of what is achievable and affordable, when and why.
Nadarajah Narendran, Director of Research at the LRC, will give a presentation on overcoming the technical and human factors challenges of SSL. He will discuss the recent research findings of the Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) in areas such as light-source flicker, compatibility of LED replacement lamps with residential dimmers, and driver lifetime projections, and the performance of SSL in various applications.
Amy Olay, Senior Engineer with the San Jose Department of Transportation, will discuss the Californian city's program of "smart" street-light systems. Her presentation will review the strategies pursued, the lessons learned, and the city's next steps.
Concluding the session and the LEDs in Lighting track will be Sam Klepper, CMO and Executive VP, Redwood Systems, with a presentation entitled "Introducing the Digital Age of Lighting." Klepper will define what it means to be "digital" and "internet scale" in the context of commercial lighting systems, and will explore the larger impact of this digital shift in lighting on energy-efficient building-management systems.
Utility involvement in the adoption of SSL will likely prove to be a key element in market adoption. Carolyn Weiner of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and Jon Linn of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships will give a joint presentation entitled "Transforming the SSL Markets with the Support of Standards and Utility Energy-Efficiency Programs."
Another set of key players in SSL adoption are the electrical contractors, who are often heavily involved in the decision-making process for new lighting installations. John Maisel, Publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine, will discuss recent market-research results that point to a shift in both the role and scope of electrical contractors in implementing LED lighting.
A presentation by Ron Steen, VP of Market Development at Xicato, will address color-quality issues of LED sources, showing practical examples of white-color variation and challenging the audience to define levels of acceptability. Included in the presentation will be a live demonstration of these concepts.
Although museum lighting represents a relatively small niche in the overall lighting market, it is one of the most demanding applications, and represents a rigorous testing environment for the attributes of LED lighting. Naomi Miller, a highly-regarded lighting designer with an extensive background in SSL, and now at PNNL, will present the results of three DOE Gateway demonstration projects on museum lighting.
This session will feature speakers who will discuss their visions of the future of LED lighting, including the opportunities as well as the challenges. Leading off the session will be Mark McClear, Global Director for Applications Engineering at Cree LED Components. His presentation will address "The Next Big Thing" in LED lighting, including new innovations that are on the horizon in the context of what is achievable and affordable, when and why.
Nadarajah Narendran, Director of Research at the LRC, will give a presentation on overcoming the technical and human factors challenges of SSL. He will discuss the recent research findings of the Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) in areas such as light-source flicker, compatibility of LED replacement lamps with residential dimmers, and driver lifetime projections, and the performance of SSL in various applications.
Amy Olay, Senior Engineer with the San Jose Department of Transportation, will discuss the Californian city's program of "smart" street-light systems. Her presentation will review the strategies pursued, the lessons learned, and the city's next steps.
Concluding the session and the LEDs in Lighting track will be Sam Klepper, CMO and Executive VP, Redwood Systems, with a presentation entitled "Introducing the Digital Age of Lighting." Klepper will define what it means to be "digital" and "internet scale" in the context of commercial lighting systems, and will explore the larger impact of this digital shift in lighting on energy-efficient building-management systems.
2011年12月12日星期一
Seoul Semi launches chip-on-board DC LED
The ZC series, based on Seoul Semi's Z-Power LEDs which are mainly used as a light source of high-brightness and high-power, decreases thermal resistance, resulting in an exponential improvement in LED lighting product life expectancy. What's more, it allows manufacturers to conveniently install and design price competitive products.
The ZC Series is designed as a COB type and removes the need for the LED to be surface-mounted on to a metal plate, allowing manufacturers to bypass the chip connection process before use. Companies can trim manufacturing and management costs and greatly improve end product price competitiveness.
Furthermore the use of highly reflective aluminium substrates in ZC also greatly improves the brightness and significantly prolongs LED bulb life spans. It is possible to use a single ZC from the ZC series to develop a LED light bulb which then allows light to be distributed more evenly than lights that connect several LED packages to a single module.
ZC will be offered in 6W, 10W and 16W, each of which will be appropriate replacements for 40W, 60W incandescent light bulbs and 100W down lights, respectively.
"The ZC will enable manufacturers to easily produce various LED light designs and providing longer-lasting LED lights," explained Sunghoon Bae, Vice President of Seoul Semiconductor. "As with the recent release of our AC LED, Acrich 2, the launch of our DC LED, ZC, is aligned with Seoul Semiconductor's commitment to providing a diverse and innovative product portfolio for consumers alongside continued investment in research and development"
The recently launched ZC Series will begin mass production in December and will subsequently be available to customers.
The 1,600-square-foot store was demolished in September and has been replaced with a 5,000-square-foot store featuring Noco's "store within a store" concept, featuring a kiosk for check-in at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and various green building technologies to reduce energy consumption.
Noco also has hired an additional 14 employees at the new store, bringing the total workforce 21 employees.
The store was constructed with several building technologies to reduce energy consumption, including low watt LED lighting, a refrigeration energy management system and white roofing for increased light reflectivity. A light harvesting system was installed utilizing skylights that allow natural light into the store and an energy management control system that automatically dims the store lighting during the daylight hours.
The store is also equipped with the infrastructure to accommodate electrical charging stations for electric cars.
Due to the proximity to the airport, the new store features a real-time departure and arrival screen for guests to monitor flight times and also a kiosk where one can check in and print boarding passes.
The ZC Series is designed as a COB type and removes the need for the LED to be surface-mounted on to a metal plate, allowing manufacturers to bypass the chip connection process before use. Companies can trim manufacturing and management costs and greatly improve end product price competitiveness.
Furthermore the use of highly reflective aluminium substrates in ZC also greatly improves the brightness and significantly prolongs LED bulb life spans. It is possible to use a single ZC from the ZC series to develop a LED light bulb which then allows light to be distributed more evenly than lights that connect several LED packages to a single module.
ZC will be offered in 6W, 10W and 16W, each of which will be appropriate replacements for 40W, 60W incandescent light bulbs and 100W down lights, respectively.
"The ZC will enable manufacturers to easily produce various LED light designs and providing longer-lasting LED lights," explained Sunghoon Bae, Vice President of Seoul Semiconductor. "As with the recent release of our AC LED, Acrich 2, the launch of our DC LED, ZC, is aligned with Seoul Semiconductor's commitment to providing a diverse and innovative product portfolio for consumers alongside continued investment in research and development"
The recently launched ZC Series will begin mass production in December and will subsequently be available to customers.
The 1,600-square-foot store was demolished in September and has been replaced with a 5,000-square-foot store featuring Noco's "store within a store" concept, featuring a kiosk for check-in at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and various green building technologies to reduce energy consumption.
Noco also has hired an additional 14 employees at the new store, bringing the total workforce 21 employees.
The store was constructed with several building technologies to reduce energy consumption, including low watt LED lighting, a refrigeration energy management system and white roofing for increased light reflectivity. A light harvesting system was installed utilizing skylights that allow natural light into the store and an energy management control system that automatically dims the store lighting during the daylight hours.
The store is also equipped with the infrastructure to accommodate electrical charging stations for electric cars.
Due to the proximity to the airport, the new store features a real-time departure and arrival screen for guests to monitor flight times and also a kiosk where one can check in and print boarding passes.
Seoul Semi launches chip-on-board DC LED
The ZC series, based on Seoul Semi's Z-Power LEDs which are mainly used as a light source of high-brightness and high-power, decreases thermal resistance, resulting in an exponential improvement in LED lighting product life expectancy. What's more, it allows manufacturers to conveniently install and design price competitive products.
The ZC Series is designed as a COB type and removes the need for the LED to be surface-mounted on to a metal plate, allowing manufacturers to bypass the chip connection process before use. Companies can trim manufacturing and management costs and greatly improve end product price competitiveness.
Furthermore the use of highly reflective aluminium substrates in ZC also greatly improves the brightness and significantly prolongs LED bulb life spans. It is possible to use a single ZC from the ZC series to develop a LED light bulb which then allows light to be distributed more evenly than lights that connect several LED packages to a single module.
ZC will be offered in 6W, 10W and 16W, each of which will be appropriate replacements for 40W, 60W incandescent light bulbs and 100W down lights, respectively.
"The ZC will enable manufacturers to easily produce various LED light designs and providing longer-lasting LED lights," explained Sunghoon Bae, Vice President of Seoul Semiconductor. "As with the recent release of our AC LED, Acrich 2, the launch of our DC LED, ZC, is aligned with Seoul Semiconductor's commitment to providing a diverse and innovative product portfolio for consumers alongside continued investment in research and development"
The recently launched ZC Series will begin mass production in December and will subsequently be available to customers.
The 1,600-square-foot store was demolished in September and has been replaced with a 5,000-square-foot store featuring Noco's "store within a store" concept, featuring a kiosk for check-in at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and various green building technologies to reduce energy consumption.
Noco also has hired an additional 14 employees at the new store, bringing the total workforce 21 employees.
The store was constructed with several building technologies to reduce energy consumption, including low watt LED lighting, a refrigeration energy management system and white roofing for increased light reflectivity. A light harvesting system was installed utilizing skylights that allow natural light into the store and an energy management control system that automatically dims the store lighting during the daylight hours.
The store is also equipped with the infrastructure to accommodate electrical charging stations for electric cars.
Due to the proximity to the airport, the new store features a real-time departure and arrival screen for guests to monitor flight times and also a kiosk where one can check in and print boarding passes.
The ZC Series is designed as a COB type and removes the need for the LED to be surface-mounted on to a metal plate, allowing manufacturers to bypass the chip connection process before use. Companies can trim manufacturing and management costs and greatly improve end product price competitiveness.
Furthermore the use of highly reflective aluminium substrates in ZC also greatly improves the brightness and significantly prolongs LED bulb life spans. It is possible to use a single ZC from the ZC series to develop a LED light bulb which then allows light to be distributed more evenly than lights that connect several LED packages to a single module.
ZC will be offered in 6W, 10W and 16W, each of which will be appropriate replacements for 40W, 60W incandescent light bulbs and 100W down lights, respectively.
"The ZC will enable manufacturers to easily produce various LED light designs and providing longer-lasting LED lights," explained Sunghoon Bae, Vice President of Seoul Semiconductor. "As with the recent release of our AC LED, Acrich 2, the launch of our DC LED, ZC, is aligned with Seoul Semiconductor's commitment to providing a diverse and innovative product portfolio for consumers alongside continued investment in research and development"
The recently launched ZC Series will begin mass production in December and will subsequently be available to customers.
The 1,600-square-foot store was demolished in September and has been replaced with a 5,000-square-foot store featuring Noco's "store within a store" concept, featuring a kiosk for check-in at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and various green building technologies to reduce energy consumption.
Noco also has hired an additional 14 employees at the new store, bringing the total workforce 21 employees.
The store was constructed with several building technologies to reduce energy consumption, including low watt LED lighting, a refrigeration energy management system and white roofing for increased light reflectivity. A light harvesting system was installed utilizing skylights that allow natural light into the store and an energy management control system that automatically dims the store lighting during the daylight hours.
The store is also equipped with the infrastructure to accommodate electrical charging stations for electric cars.
Due to the proximity to the airport, the new store features a real-time departure and arrival screen for guests to monitor flight times and also a kiosk where one can check in and print boarding passes.
2011年12月11日星期日
Holiday spirits are bright with either kind of light
As holiday festivities prompt decking of halls and stringing of lights, energy-conscious merry-makers may wonder just how much electricity it takes to be so jolly.
The answer is, some, but not as much as it once did, thanks to light-emitting diode, or LED, lights, which use 87 percent less energy than traditional incandescent Christmas lights.
Even so, some Houston residents still opt for the lower upfront investment of old-fashioned incandescent lights, both for economic and aesthetic reasons.
"I'm putting up the regular Christmas lights," said Glen Sementelli, who lives in Woodland Heights, northwest of downtown. "I haven't gotten to the LED lights yet. Even the older-style Christmas lights don't draw all that much amperage. I figure it's something you do, and it costs you a couple of extra dollars."
Running 10 strings of 25 conventional lights every night for five hours would cost $1.02 per night, while the LED lights would cost 14 cents per night, based on an electricity price of 11.7 percent kilowatt-hour - the average price according to the most recent U.S. Energy Department data.
That added efficiency carries an upfront cost. A pack of 25 C9 incandescent clear 7-watt bulbs costs $4.39 at 1000bulbs, while the same package of LED bulbs is priced at $32.30, but each bulb uses less than 1 watt to run.
Another consideration is the traditional look of incandescent bulbs.
"We wanted a simple elegance, a very nice lighting, not flashy," said Tom Hennen, who has decorated his Houston-area yard with holiday decorations that include 625 incandescent lights. "The lights have a soft yellowish-gold glow to them."
Celeste and Ralph Long, who live near Katy and make big-time decorating part of their holiday tradition, agree that LED lights have a different look, so they concentrate them in one portion of their yard display.
They've been converting to LED lights as incandescent bulbs and strings burn out, and now have about an equal number of each.
"LED lights are really bright, in some ways they are almost too bright, but I think they show up well and the colors are rich," Celeste Long said. "They do really make it bright. The regular white lights, it's a very different color from the LED lights."
Their Christmas "yardscape" ranges from an inflatable Santa and reindeer on the roof to light-wrapped trees.
"Any sort of branch on every tree that could support lights, has lights on it," Celeste Long said.
Chad Wilson, who owns Houston-based Christmas Lights Installed, said LED lights are just starting to catch on with his customers. Wilson, who has been installing lights professionally for eight years, said only about 10 percent of his clients use LED lights, because of their higher upfront cost and less conventional look. The higher cost can be harder to justify for the short holiday season than when selecting year-round light bulbs.
"LED lights are going to be the most energy-efficient lights, but you are going to pay for them," Wilson said. "They are made of ceramic glass. They don't break that often, unlike the glass ones, but you get a different look. For a more traditional style, I would want the glass lights on my house."
Celeste Long said she doesn't pay much attention to incremental power bill changes in December.
"It's nothing that makes it prohibitive," she said. "The tricky part is to get it all hooked up and not blow a bunch of breakers."
It turns out LED lights can help with that, too. Because they consume less power, LEDs used in large displays are less likely to require special wiring or installation of circuit break subpanels, which can cost up to $2,000, said Tim Hunter, owner of Christmas Lights Up Texas.
The answer is, some, but not as much as it once did, thanks to light-emitting diode, or LED, lights, which use 87 percent less energy than traditional incandescent Christmas lights.
Even so, some Houston residents still opt for the lower upfront investment of old-fashioned incandescent lights, both for economic and aesthetic reasons.
"I'm putting up the regular Christmas lights," said Glen Sementelli, who lives in Woodland Heights, northwest of downtown. "I haven't gotten to the LED lights yet. Even the older-style Christmas lights don't draw all that much amperage. I figure it's something you do, and it costs you a couple of extra dollars."
Running 10 strings of 25 conventional lights every night for five hours would cost $1.02 per night, while the LED lights would cost 14 cents per night, based on an electricity price of 11.7 percent kilowatt-hour - the average price according to the most recent U.S. Energy Department data.
That added efficiency carries an upfront cost. A pack of 25 C9 incandescent clear 7-watt bulbs costs $4.39 at 1000bulbs, while the same package of LED bulbs is priced at $32.30, but each bulb uses less than 1 watt to run.
Another consideration is the traditional look of incandescent bulbs.
"We wanted a simple elegance, a very nice lighting, not flashy," said Tom Hennen, who has decorated his Houston-area yard with holiday decorations that include 625 incandescent lights. "The lights have a soft yellowish-gold glow to them."
Celeste and Ralph Long, who live near Katy and make big-time decorating part of their holiday tradition, agree that LED lights have a different look, so they concentrate them in one portion of their yard display.
They've been converting to LED lights as incandescent bulbs and strings burn out, and now have about an equal number of each.
"LED lights are really bright, in some ways they are almost too bright, but I think they show up well and the colors are rich," Celeste Long said. "They do really make it bright. The regular white lights, it's a very different color from the LED lights."
Their Christmas "yardscape" ranges from an inflatable Santa and reindeer on the roof to light-wrapped trees.
"Any sort of branch on every tree that could support lights, has lights on it," Celeste Long said.
Chad Wilson, who owns Houston-based Christmas Lights Installed, said LED lights are just starting to catch on with his customers. Wilson, who has been installing lights professionally for eight years, said only about 10 percent of his clients use LED lights, because of their higher upfront cost and less conventional look. The higher cost can be harder to justify for the short holiday season than when selecting year-round light bulbs.
"LED lights are going to be the most energy-efficient lights, but you are going to pay for them," Wilson said. "They are made of ceramic glass. They don't break that often, unlike the glass ones, but you get a different look. For a more traditional style, I would want the glass lights on my house."
Celeste Long said she doesn't pay much attention to incremental power bill changes in December.
"It's nothing that makes it prohibitive," she said. "The tricky part is to get it all hooked up and not blow a bunch of breakers."
It turns out LED lights can help with that, too. Because they consume less power, LEDs used in large displays are less likely to require special wiring or installation of circuit break subpanels, which can cost up to $2,000, said Tim Hunter, owner of Christmas Lights Up Texas.
2011年12月8日星期四
Magneti Marelli Wins the AutoData Award in Brazil
Magneti Marelli has been presented with an important award in the automotive sector of the South-American market for its robotized gearbox and LED lighting.
For the third time in a row, Magneti Marelli has won the "AutoData Award," one of Brazil's most prestigious awards in the automotive sector. The company took home the award in the "Sistemista" (System Supplier) category – which includes the best system suppliers to carmakers – for the development of the FreeChoice automated transmission and the introduction of LED rear lights in the Brazilian market.
The award ceremony was held last week in Sao Paulo in the presence of leading representatives of the Brazilian automotive sector.
In Brazil, AutoData is one of the most important awards in the sector, according to Magneti Marelli. Every year, AutoData showcases the best carmakers and suppliers in the categories of technological innovation, sustainability and marketing strategy. The award is sponsored by AutoData Editora, a communication company specializing in the automotive sector.
Since 2003, Magneti Marelli has won the AutoData award in various categories: in 2007, 2009 and 2011 as "System Supplier." In 2010, the company won the award in the "Sustainability" category, and in 2008 as "Supplier of Parts and Components." In addition, Magneti Marelli won the award in the "Technological Innovation" category for four years in a row, from 2003 to 2006.
This year, Magneti Marelli says it won the sought-after prize for two main reasons: doubling the production capacity for the FreeChoice automated transmission in Hortolandia by the end of 2012; and the introduction of LED lighting in the Brazilian market.
Thanks to the significant growth in volumes posted in recent years, the FreeChoice production line reached its maximum capacity in 2010. FreeChoice (or AMT, Automated Manual Transmission) is an electro-hydraulic technology used to automate the manual transmission and derived from Formula 1, that combines driver comfort and lower fuel consumption.
The company's LED lighting technology has been offered in Magneti Marelli's global products portfolio for quite some time now but it was adapted for the first time and successfully applied in Brazil for the rear lights on the Fiat Idea, requiring a new production line to be built in the plant located in Contagem (MG).
Magneti Marelli has been operating in Brazil since 1978 and currently employs about 8,000 workers. It has 13 production plants and five R&D Centers located in Minas Gerais (Contagem, Itauna and Lavras) and San Paolo (Amparo, Hortolandia, Maua, Santo Andre and Sao Bernardo), in addition to commercial facilities for the aftermarket in Brazil's main cities (Curitiba, Goiania, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo).
Magneti Marelli says its constant expansion of its operational facilities bears witness to the company's nonstop growth, as it closed 2010 with a 12 percent increase in the turnover compared to the previous year, for a total turnover of 2.4 billion R$.
For the third time in a row, Magneti Marelli has won the "AutoData Award," one of Brazil's most prestigious awards in the automotive sector. The company took home the award in the "Sistemista" (System Supplier) category – which includes the best system suppliers to carmakers – for the development of the FreeChoice automated transmission and the introduction of LED rear lights in the Brazilian market.
The award ceremony was held last week in Sao Paulo in the presence of leading representatives of the Brazilian automotive sector.
In Brazil, AutoData is one of the most important awards in the sector, according to Magneti Marelli. Every year, AutoData showcases the best carmakers and suppliers in the categories of technological innovation, sustainability and marketing strategy. The award is sponsored by AutoData Editora, a communication company specializing in the automotive sector.
Since 2003, Magneti Marelli has won the AutoData award in various categories: in 2007, 2009 and 2011 as "System Supplier." In 2010, the company won the award in the "Sustainability" category, and in 2008 as "Supplier of Parts and Components." In addition, Magneti Marelli won the award in the "Technological Innovation" category for four years in a row, from 2003 to 2006.
This year, Magneti Marelli says it won the sought-after prize for two main reasons: doubling the production capacity for the FreeChoice automated transmission in Hortolandia by the end of 2012; and the introduction of LED lighting in the Brazilian market.
Thanks to the significant growth in volumes posted in recent years, the FreeChoice production line reached its maximum capacity in 2010. FreeChoice (or AMT, Automated Manual Transmission) is an electro-hydraulic technology used to automate the manual transmission and derived from Formula 1, that combines driver comfort and lower fuel consumption.
The company's LED lighting technology has been offered in Magneti Marelli's global products portfolio for quite some time now but it was adapted for the first time and successfully applied in Brazil for the rear lights on the Fiat Idea, requiring a new production line to be built in the plant located in Contagem (MG).
Magneti Marelli has been operating in Brazil since 1978 and currently employs about 8,000 workers. It has 13 production plants and five R&D Centers located in Minas Gerais (Contagem, Itauna and Lavras) and San Paolo (Amparo, Hortolandia, Maua, Santo Andre and Sao Bernardo), in addition to commercial facilities for the aftermarket in Brazil's main cities (Curitiba, Goiania, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo).
Magneti Marelli says its constant expansion of its operational facilities bears witness to the company's nonstop growth, as it closed 2010 with a 12 percent increase in the turnover compared to the previous year, for a total turnover of 2.4 billion R$.
2011年12月7日星期三
Holiday boat parades in the Southland
When Santa comes to Southern California, more often than not he's on a boat. We don't have white Christmases, but what we do have can be even better: sandy beaches, comfortable temperatures and the backdrop of spirited holiday boat parades.
On Saturday, the 49th annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade circling the channel will comprise sailboats, yachts and charters decked out in holiday lights and decorations, blasting music and sporting spirited sailors. The event will kick off with a fireworks show, promptly followed by the two-hour parade and concluding with judging in categories such as best sail, music and spirit. This year's theme is "Christmas Carnivale."
"Each year the theme is different; you never know what the boaters will do with that theme. It's always new and exciting for everyone," explains Cindy Williams, president of the Holiday Boat Parade.
This year, the Marina parade's Williams is expecting about 50 boats to participate, and while the theme varies every year, boaters go all-out to show what can be done to liven up watercraft. Last year's winner in the best overall category was a boat displaying an Elvis figure and the words "Elvis Rocks" in bright lights; off to the side of the boat was a lighted-up elf that would pull down a lever, replacing the words with "Elves Rock." It is this element of innocent fun, imagination and holiday spirit that keeps drawing crowds.
"I love it because it's a real family event," Williams adds. "You talk to some people and they've been coming to this event for years. Then you've got people who live in the marina or work at the hotels and they're all having parties all night. The marina truly becomes alive."
To view the parade, attendees can take a seat at Marina del Rey's Burton Chace Park, where music will be played during the parade and live commentary will be provided by radio newscaster Lisa Osborn and cartoon voice-over actor Mickey Laszlo.
Christmas boating rises to a whole new level at the 103rd annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, starting Dec. 14. For five nights, about 100 boats, canoes, kayaks and multimillion-dollar yachts will start at Bay Island and make a tour lighting up the entire harbor for over two hours.
The theme for this year's parade is "Feelin' Christmas — Sea in Newport Beach!" and some boat owners have spent over than $50,000 dollars on decorations. Many of the boats will be decorated in animated Christmas scenes, accompanied by music and costumed carolers.
Richard Luehrs, president and chief executive of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, says, "The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is the oldest running Christmas boat parade in the nation."
The first Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade began at the turn of the century and consisted of one gondola and eight canoes following, all bearing lights. As the years went on, the size and scope of the parade grew, with the exception of a few years during World War I and World War II. During WWII, Luehrs explains, the last thing they wanted to do was light up the harbor and subject it to enemy attack.
Luehrs continues, "There are very few other harbors in the country that offer the opportunity for such a parade — the geographic asset that we have, along with the restaurants, yacht clubs or charters makes this a very accessible parade."
On Saturday, the 49th annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade circling the channel will comprise sailboats, yachts and charters decked out in holiday lights and decorations, blasting music and sporting spirited sailors. The event will kick off with a fireworks show, promptly followed by the two-hour parade and concluding with judging in categories such as best sail, music and spirit. This year's theme is "Christmas Carnivale."
"Each year the theme is different; you never know what the boaters will do with that theme. It's always new and exciting for everyone," explains Cindy Williams, president of the Holiday Boat Parade.
This year, the Marina parade's Williams is expecting about 50 boats to participate, and while the theme varies every year, boaters go all-out to show what can be done to liven up watercraft. Last year's winner in the best overall category was a boat displaying an Elvis figure and the words "Elvis Rocks" in bright lights; off to the side of the boat was a lighted-up elf that would pull down a lever, replacing the words with "Elves Rock." It is this element of innocent fun, imagination and holiday spirit that keeps drawing crowds.
"I love it because it's a real family event," Williams adds. "You talk to some people and they've been coming to this event for years. Then you've got people who live in the marina or work at the hotels and they're all having parties all night. The marina truly becomes alive."
To view the parade, attendees can take a seat at Marina del Rey's Burton Chace Park, where music will be played during the parade and live commentary will be provided by radio newscaster Lisa Osborn and cartoon voice-over actor Mickey Laszlo.
Christmas boating rises to a whole new level at the 103rd annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, starting Dec. 14. For five nights, about 100 boats, canoes, kayaks and multimillion-dollar yachts will start at Bay Island and make a tour lighting up the entire harbor for over two hours.
The theme for this year's parade is "Feelin' Christmas — Sea in Newport Beach!" and some boat owners have spent over than $50,000 dollars on decorations. Many of the boats will be decorated in animated Christmas scenes, accompanied by music and costumed carolers.
Richard Luehrs, president and chief executive of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, says, "The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is the oldest running Christmas boat parade in the nation."
The first Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade began at the turn of the century and consisted of one gondola and eight canoes following, all bearing lights. As the years went on, the size and scope of the parade grew, with the exception of a few years during World War I and World War II. During WWII, Luehrs explains, the last thing they wanted to do was light up the harbor and subject it to enemy attack.
Luehrs continues, "There are very few other harbors in the country that offer the opportunity for such a parade — the geographic asset that we have, along with the restaurants, yacht clubs or charters makes this a very accessible parade."
2011年12月6日星期二
Lumenpulse's Headquarters: "Evolution of Light"
Lumenpulse Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer of high performance, architectural LED-based lighting solutions for commercial, institutional, and urban environments, today unveiled its completed Corporate Headquarters located in Montreal, Canada.
The office debut was celebrated on the evening of December 1, with an exclusive event titled the "Evolution of Light." A select guest list, including architects, lighting designers, agents and partners, investors and members of the media were treated to a facility tour and a night of celebration. Entertainers guided groups of guests through the office space, and a short video traced the history and evolution of light from the Edison era to the present day.
After the tour and welcoming speeches, over 500 guests were able to enjoy an evening of food, drinks and music. A four-piece jazz band entertained guests in the early part of the evening, before a song—specially commissioned for the event—was used as a transition to a DJ for the latter part of the event.
The office space is custom designed to reflect the Lumenpulse brand and culture, and is exclusively illuminated by Lumenpulse's own award-winning architectural LED lighting fixtures.
The move to the new headquarters accommodates the rapid expansion of Lumenpulse, which has grown its personnel count by 112% over twelve months. The company was named to the PROFIT HOT 50 of Canada's Top New Growth Companies in August and is focussed on addressing the growing worldwide LED fixtures market, which is estimated to reach $9 billion by 2014 according to Strategies Unlimited.
"We have experienced rapid growth as we continue to see increasing demand for our LED fixtures from around the world," said Francois-Xavier Souvay, president, CEO and founder of Lumenpulse, "The new Corporate Headquarters exemplifies what Lumenpulse is all about—innovation, performance and the future evolution of light. Lumenpulse DNA runs through the building, and it positions us well to become the next architectural LED lighting global leader."
Lumenpulse's award-winning fixtures are already in use at venues like Vancouver's BC Place stadium, Yale-New Hospital in Connecticut, and the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
LED light technology in certain wavelengths and colors can improve your skin drastically and in many different ways. These wavelengths have the ability to penetrate into your skin producing visible results. The two types of light therapy promote healthy skin but in significantly diverse ways. So what is the difference between blue and red light therapy?
Red light therapy penetrates deep into the layers of the skin and tissue repairing, renewing, regenerating, and most importantly healing damage that has occurred. Red light therapy systems, such as the DPL Light or the DPL Nuve, rejuvenate the skin and alleviate pain and inflammation. They are simple to use and over time will help you obtain younger looking skin.
Red light therapy has been shown to reduce wrinkles, diminish scarring, shrink pores, reduce discoloration, and speed up the healing time of blemishes. It is a technology that can be used to renew your complexion, making you look younger.
The office debut was celebrated on the evening of December 1, with an exclusive event titled the "Evolution of Light." A select guest list, including architects, lighting designers, agents and partners, investors and members of the media were treated to a facility tour and a night of celebration. Entertainers guided groups of guests through the office space, and a short video traced the history and evolution of light from the Edison era to the present day.
After the tour and welcoming speeches, over 500 guests were able to enjoy an evening of food, drinks and music. A four-piece jazz band entertained guests in the early part of the evening, before a song—specially commissioned for the event—was used as a transition to a DJ for the latter part of the event.
The office space is custom designed to reflect the Lumenpulse brand and culture, and is exclusively illuminated by Lumenpulse's own award-winning architectural LED lighting fixtures.
The move to the new headquarters accommodates the rapid expansion of Lumenpulse, which has grown its personnel count by 112% over twelve months. The company was named to the PROFIT HOT 50 of Canada's Top New Growth Companies in August and is focussed on addressing the growing worldwide LED fixtures market, which is estimated to reach $9 billion by 2014 according to Strategies Unlimited.
"We have experienced rapid growth as we continue to see increasing demand for our LED fixtures from around the world," said Francois-Xavier Souvay, president, CEO and founder of Lumenpulse, "The new Corporate Headquarters exemplifies what Lumenpulse is all about—innovation, performance and the future evolution of light. Lumenpulse DNA runs through the building, and it positions us well to become the next architectural LED lighting global leader."
Lumenpulse's award-winning fixtures are already in use at venues like Vancouver's BC Place stadium, Yale-New Hospital in Connecticut, and the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
LED light technology in certain wavelengths and colors can improve your skin drastically and in many different ways. These wavelengths have the ability to penetrate into your skin producing visible results. The two types of light therapy promote healthy skin but in significantly diverse ways. So what is the difference between blue and red light therapy?
Red light therapy penetrates deep into the layers of the skin and tissue repairing, renewing, regenerating, and most importantly healing damage that has occurred. Red light therapy systems, such as the DPL Light or the DPL Nuve, rejuvenate the skin and alleviate pain and inflammation. They are simple to use and over time will help you obtain younger looking skin.
Red light therapy has been shown to reduce wrinkles, diminish scarring, shrink pores, reduce discoloration, and speed up the healing time of blemishes. It is a technology that can be used to renew your complexion, making you look younger.
2011年12月5日星期一
Great Falls aglow from warmth of lights
Every year, they come. They come in the cold and the dark in hopes of feeling a little warmth and light as the name of their deceased loved one is read out loud into the night sky.
The annual Community Beautification Association tree lighting ceremony on Sunday evening at Overlook Park in Great Falls featured reading the names of more than 400 deceased community members before the switch was flipped and a Christmas wonderland appeared, as nearly every tree in the park was adorned in lights.
"It's magic. It just warms the heart," said Linda Say, vice president of the Community Beautification Association.
The Community Beautification Association pays for the electricity that runs the lights. People can contact the association to have names of lost loved ones read aloud during the lighting ceremony. Donations to the CBA are accepted, but not required to participate.
Don and Jo Lorang needed to feel some of that warmth. Not quite a year ago, they lost their 37-year-old son Keith Lorang to complications from diabetes.
"I don't even remember Christmas last year," Jo Lorang said.
But Christmas was their son's favorite time of year and this year, the Lorang family is hoping it can not only be a time to remember Keith, but to celebrate the joy of the season with their granddaughters.
"We all have special ornaments in his memory and we light candles in his memory," Jo Lorang said.
Now, there's a Christmas light — or thousands — twinkling in his name.
"It doesn't seem real after a year," said Keith's brother Jason Lorang. "Keith was always excited about Christmas. This was actually one of his favorite places to drive by."
Lily Allen's 48-year-old son Kirk "Randy" Allen died two years ago from a sudden heart attack. It's still hard for her to believe her son's no longer here.
"I don't think any parent should have to lose a child," she said.
She wasn't able to have her son's name read during last year's ceremony, but this year she started asking around early and got Kirk's name on the list as soon as she could.
"Christmas was important to him," she said. "He made sure everyone had two or three presents. It's part of inclusion for me."
She tries to keep the memory of her son alive as much as she can, which is why Allen said it was important to her on Sunday to hear her son's name.
City Commissioner Bill Bronson started reading the names after Great Falls High's Delphian Choir sang the first verse of "Silent Night."
In the quiet and the dark he started: "Stanley Ackerman."
Soon after came Kirk "Randy" Allen's name, then the name of Keith Lorang and hundreds of others.
Then at last Bronson said, "Troy Zindell," as nearly every tree in the park, branches wound with strands and strands of lights, started to glow.
The annual Community Beautification Association tree lighting ceremony on Sunday evening at Overlook Park in Great Falls featured reading the names of more than 400 deceased community members before the switch was flipped and a Christmas wonderland appeared, as nearly every tree in the park was adorned in lights.
"It's magic. It just warms the heart," said Linda Say, vice president of the Community Beautification Association.
The Community Beautification Association pays for the electricity that runs the lights. People can contact the association to have names of lost loved ones read aloud during the lighting ceremony. Donations to the CBA are accepted, but not required to participate.
Don and Jo Lorang needed to feel some of that warmth. Not quite a year ago, they lost their 37-year-old son Keith Lorang to complications from diabetes.
"I don't even remember Christmas last year," Jo Lorang said.
But Christmas was their son's favorite time of year and this year, the Lorang family is hoping it can not only be a time to remember Keith, but to celebrate the joy of the season with their granddaughters.
"We all have special ornaments in his memory and we light candles in his memory," Jo Lorang said.
Now, there's a Christmas light — or thousands — twinkling in his name.
"It doesn't seem real after a year," said Keith's brother Jason Lorang. "Keith was always excited about Christmas. This was actually one of his favorite places to drive by."
Lily Allen's 48-year-old son Kirk "Randy" Allen died two years ago from a sudden heart attack. It's still hard for her to believe her son's no longer here.
"I don't think any parent should have to lose a child," she said.
She wasn't able to have her son's name read during last year's ceremony, but this year she started asking around early and got Kirk's name on the list as soon as she could.
"Christmas was important to him," she said. "He made sure everyone had two or three presents. It's part of inclusion for me."
She tries to keep the memory of her son alive as much as she can, which is why Allen said it was important to her on Sunday to hear her son's name.
City Commissioner Bill Bronson started reading the names after Great Falls High's Delphian Choir sang the first verse of "Silent Night."
In the quiet and the dark he started: "Stanley Ackerman."
Soon after came Kirk "Randy" Allen's name, then the name of Keith Lorang and hundreds of others.
Then at last Bronson said, "Troy Zindell," as nearly every tree in the park, branches wound with strands and strands of lights, started to glow.
2011年12月4日星期日
Illicit drug tunnels are a fact of life in Tijuana
The tunnel ran for almost half a mile, with wooden planks holding off the earth on all sides. Energy-saving light bulbs illuminated the route. A motorized sled on metal rails ensured quick passage, while a steel elevator hidden beneath the floor tiles in a warehouse made the 40-foot descent to the tunnel's entrance feel like the slow drop into an unregulated mine shaft.
And yet, here is the simple fact obscured by superlatives like "the most elaborate" and "the most sophisticated," which officials seem to lather on each new find.
Tunnels are Tijuana. They have become an inevitable, always-under-construction or always-operating part of city life, as entrenched as cheap pharmacies and strip clubs.
"If you have a lot of money, you can do anything," Blanca Samaniego, 36, said as she walked by the warehouse where Mexican officials unveiled the tunnel Wednesday. "It will never change. It will never stop."
The ground beneath her neighborhood in the hills — near the airport and the upgraded, shimmering border fence patrolled 24/7 by U.S. agents — has been punched full of holes for years. Almost every kind of building has been used to hide a logistical operation that is as much about the U.S. taste for a high as it is about the low-down removal of dirt.
Just a few weeks ago, below a more rudimentary warehouse nearby, the authorities found a different tunnel with an elaborate ventilation system. A few blocks from that, there sits an empty flophouse, where thick concrete now caps a passageway discovered by authorities last year. Farther east, residents note a tunnel found in 2008, and just past the next major intersection, there are two more tunnels: one under a small home and the other below a bodega across from a factory.
Other tunnels have been found downtown, near the main border crossing. Indeed, wherever there is a border fence climbing high, there seems to have been an attempt to burrow below, usually to a parking lot in California where drugs can be hauled through a manhole cover, or to a business that almost looks legitimate.
In the latest case, the tunnel ran to Hernandez Produce Warehouse, a fruit and vegetable company in California whose only product seemed to be green and best when smoked.
Luis Ituarte, 69, an artist who runs a gallery here called La Casa del Tunel — where a tunnel was found about decade ago — said Tijuana officials would be smart to move beyond publicizing their subterranean finds and then shutting them down. He argued that Tijuana should capitalize on its historic identity as a city that has been serving up vice since 1907, when President Porfirio Diaz legalized gambling, or 1920, when the United States made alcohol illegal.
"Las Vegas, Tijuana and Havana were all built by the same kind of people," Ituarte said. "Only Vegas has taken on its bad reputation."
And yet, here is the simple fact obscured by superlatives like "the most elaborate" and "the most sophisticated," which officials seem to lather on each new find.
Tunnels are Tijuana. They have become an inevitable, always-under-construction or always-operating part of city life, as entrenched as cheap pharmacies and strip clubs.
"If you have a lot of money, you can do anything," Blanca Samaniego, 36, said as she walked by the warehouse where Mexican officials unveiled the tunnel Wednesday. "It will never change. It will never stop."
The ground beneath her neighborhood in the hills — near the airport and the upgraded, shimmering border fence patrolled 24/7 by U.S. agents — has been punched full of holes for years. Almost every kind of building has been used to hide a logistical operation that is as much about the U.S. taste for a high as it is about the low-down removal of dirt.
Just a few weeks ago, below a more rudimentary warehouse nearby, the authorities found a different tunnel with an elaborate ventilation system. A few blocks from that, there sits an empty flophouse, where thick concrete now caps a passageway discovered by authorities last year. Farther east, residents note a tunnel found in 2008, and just past the next major intersection, there are two more tunnels: one under a small home and the other below a bodega across from a factory.
Other tunnels have been found downtown, near the main border crossing. Indeed, wherever there is a border fence climbing high, there seems to have been an attempt to burrow below, usually to a parking lot in California where drugs can be hauled through a manhole cover, or to a business that almost looks legitimate.
In the latest case, the tunnel ran to Hernandez Produce Warehouse, a fruit and vegetable company in California whose only product seemed to be green and best when smoked.
Luis Ituarte, 69, an artist who runs a gallery here called La Casa del Tunel — where a tunnel was found about decade ago — said Tijuana officials would be smart to move beyond publicizing their subterranean finds and then shutting them down. He argued that Tijuana should capitalize on its historic identity as a city that has been serving up vice since 1907, when President Porfirio Diaz legalized gambling, or 1920, when the United States made alcohol illegal.
"Las Vegas, Tijuana and Havana were all built by the same kind of people," Ituarte said. "Only Vegas has taken on its bad reputation."
2011年12月1日星期四
MillerCoors Holiday Lites display starts Friday in Milwaukee
A Milwaukee Christmastime tradition lights up the night sky again, starting Friday.
For years, MillerCoors has put up its Holiday Lites show at its facilities, and they're doing it again.
"We have more than 300,000 LED lights. We started installing them in the middle of October," said Ed Hanrahan of Open Road Events.
His crew of nearly a dozen people uses more than 15 miles of cable to make the holidays brighter in Miller Valley.
"We try to do something new every year," he explained, and things have changed dramatically when it comes to the technology.
"When we started seven years ago, producing the show for MillerCoors, we had generators and generators. We used all the power in this area, but with the advent of LED lights, we really are down to the equivalent of eight toasters."
Some things, however, remain the same.
"We introduce the girl on the moon," explained Kindra Loferski of MillerCoors Guest Relations. "She's the icon that dons the Miller High Life bottle and has since around 1907. She actually tells her story at the beginning of the tour, and you might even catch a glimpse of her during the holiday lights show."
Keeping with tradition, you can get involved.
You and your family can take part with Holiday Liltes, as one family will be chosen randomly during every tour to help turn on the lights.
This year, the switch goes high-tech, and becomes a swipe, as they use an iPad to start the show.
People should not forget a light show favorite, the MillerCoors mini-tour, with holiday beer, and everything is free, including parking and limited beer sampling if you are 21 or older.
Thousands are expected to flood the Common tonight to sing carols, be merry, and cheer when the 4,000 lights on the city's Christmas tree are turned on to mark the start of the holiday season.
The tree, a 45-foot-tall white spruce, was sent to Boston by Ken and Donna Spinney of Central Argyle, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has sent a tree to the city for the past 40 years to thank Boston for sending emergency supplies and personnel when its capital, Halifax, was devastated by a munitions ship explosion in December 1917.
For the first time the lights on this tree and the 48,000 lights decorating 60 other trees throughout the Common and Public Garden well be LED lights.
All the trees will light up at once when Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Santa Claus throw the switch.
But it's not all about the tree. Massachusetts natives Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block and American Idol finalist Siobhan Magnus will perform along with the Radio City Rockettes, Rockapella, the Boston Ballet, and the Boston Children's Choir.
After the Boston Common tree is lighted, the trees along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall will be lighted with white lights.
For years, MillerCoors has put up its Holiday Lites show at its facilities, and they're doing it again.
"We have more than 300,000 LED lights. We started installing them in the middle of October," said Ed Hanrahan of Open Road Events.
His crew of nearly a dozen people uses more than 15 miles of cable to make the holidays brighter in Miller Valley.
"We try to do something new every year," he explained, and things have changed dramatically when it comes to the technology.
"When we started seven years ago, producing the show for MillerCoors, we had generators and generators. We used all the power in this area, but with the advent of LED lights, we really are down to the equivalent of eight toasters."
Some things, however, remain the same.
"We introduce the girl on the moon," explained Kindra Loferski of MillerCoors Guest Relations. "She's the icon that dons the Miller High Life bottle and has since around 1907. She actually tells her story at the beginning of the tour, and you might even catch a glimpse of her during the holiday lights show."
Keeping with tradition, you can get involved.
You and your family can take part with Holiday Liltes, as one family will be chosen randomly during every tour to help turn on the lights.
This year, the switch goes high-tech, and becomes a swipe, as they use an iPad to start the show.
People should not forget a light show favorite, the MillerCoors mini-tour, with holiday beer, and everything is free, including parking and limited beer sampling if you are 21 or older.
Thousands are expected to flood the Common tonight to sing carols, be merry, and cheer when the 4,000 lights on the city's Christmas tree are turned on to mark the start of the holiday season.
The tree, a 45-foot-tall white spruce, was sent to Boston by Ken and Donna Spinney of Central Argyle, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has sent a tree to the city for the past 40 years to thank Boston for sending emergency supplies and personnel when its capital, Halifax, was devastated by a munitions ship explosion in December 1917.
For the first time the lights on this tree and the 48,000 lights decorating 60 other trees throughout the Common and Public Garden well be LED lights.
All the trees will light up at once when Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Santa Claus throw the switch.
But it's not all about the tree. Massachusetts natives Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block and American Idol finalist Siobhan Magnus will perform along with the Radio City Rockettes, Rockapella, the Boston Ballet, and the Boston Children's Choir.
After the Boston Common tree is lighted, the trees along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall will be lighted with white lights.
2011年11月30日星期三
North Jersey homes glow for the holidays with cost-saving LEDs
Nothing says Christmas like a shimmering blue and purple peacock standing next to Santa in the front yard. At least the bird's flashing LED lights from those faux feathers send an energy-efficient, low-cost season's greeting.
LED lights are certainly not new. But for those who still think of them disapprovingly from their first couple of years on the market, it's time to look again.
When the lights were introduced, people complained about a blue hue and shimmer effect when the wind blew. These problems have been solved in the latest generations of LED holiday lights, says Rich Narins, owner of Power Wash Seal of Bergen County, a company that does holiday decorating for homes and businesses.
For those who never liked the little lights, there are now LEDs that look like the retro, C9 incandescent bulbs.
But there still are issues, Narins says. The industry does not have standardized lengths, so what would have been one strand of the old lights sometimes requires buying two of the LEDs. The cost upfront is definitely higher, but that should be more than offset down the road.
"The savings is in the seasons to come," Narins says.
There's no denying savings. Denise Brunner and her family go big every Christmas at their Webster Drive home in New Milford. Really big. She estimates they have 50,000 lights.
Brunner stopped doing the display for a decade after a car intentionally crashed through her yard and destroyed much of it. But about five years ago, the family started again. At that point, Brunner purchased only LED lights — and she spends $2,000 to $3,000 a year on commercial-grade lights from overseas. At 99 percent LED, Brunner says, her family barely notices a difference in their electric bill.
"Last year we thought it was maybe a $20 increase," says Brunner, who builds most of the computer-animated display, which is synchronized to music. The lights aren't on all the time. They "blink and dance" to music from 6 to 10 on weeknights and to 11 p.m. on weekends.
She adds new items each year — like a Santa and some reindeer on the roof and a couple of 20-foot trees in the yard this year. She's working on a "Mr. Winter" but doesn't know if she'll get him done for this year's display. For her, it's worth the effort.
"When we're lit up and you see the little kids in the cars, or get out of the cars and just sit there in awe … the smile and the brightness to their faces is just unbelievable," Brunner says.
The LED lights are different than the traditional high pressure sodium or mercury vapor lights that are largely in the fixtures in Brattleboro.
Humphreys said the LED lights are brighter, and more intense, and tend to light a more concentrated area than the traditional lights.
It would probably take three or four months to switch all of the fixtures over if Brattleboro decides to push the project forward.
Efficiency Vermont representative Chuck Clerici said if the decision is made to make the change Brattleboro would be one of the bigger towns in the state to switch over to LEDs.
Clerici said Fairlee and Hartford have switched most of their lights to LED fixtures, and Wilmington will making the change in the near future.
LED lights are certainly not new. But for those who still think of them disapprovingly from their first couple of years on the market, it's time to look again.
When the lights were introduced, people complained about a blue hue and shimmer effect when the wind blew. These problems have been solved in the latest generations of LED holiday lights, says Rich Narins, owner of Power Wash Seal of Bergen County, a company that does holiday decorating for homes and businesses.
For those who never liked the little lights, there are now LEDs that look like the retro, C9 incandescent bulbs.
But there still are issues, Narins says. The industry does not have standardized lengths, so what would have been one strand of the old lights sometimes requires buying two of the LEDs. The cost upfront is definitely higher, but that should be more than offset down the road.
"The savings is in the seasons to come," Narins says.
There's no denying savings. Denise Brunner and her family go big every Christmas at their Webster Drive home in New Milford. Really big. She estimates they have 50,000 lights.
Brunner stopped doing the display for a decade after a car intentionally crashed through her yard and destroyed much of it. But about five years ago, the family started again. At that point, Brunner purchased only LED lights — and she spends $2,000 to $3,000 a year on commercial-grade lights from overseas. At 99 percent LED, Brunner says, her family barely notices a difference in their electric bill.
"Last year we thought it was maybe a $20 increase," says Brunner, who builds most of the computer-animated display, which is synchronized to music. The lights aren't on all the time. They "blink and dance" to music from 6 to 10 on weeknights and to 11 p.m. on weekends.
She adds new items each year — like a Santa and some reindeer on the roof and a couple of 20-foot trees in the yard this year. She's working on a "Mr. Winter" but doesn't know if she'll get him done for this year's display. For her, it's worth the effort.
"When we're lit up and you see the little kids in the cars, or get out of the cars and just sit there in awe … the smile and the brightness to their faces is just unbelievable," Brunner says.
The LED lights are different than the traditional high pressure sodium or mercury vapor lights that are largely in the fixtures in Brattleboro.
Humphreys said the LED lights are brighter, and more intense, and tend to light a more concentrated area than the traditional lights.
It would probably take three or four months to switch all of the fixtures over if Brattleboro decides to push the project forward.
Efficiency Vermont representative Chuck Clerici said if the decision is made to make the change Brattleboro would be one of the bigger towns in the state to switch over to LEDs.
Clerici said Fairlee and Hartford have switched most of their lights to LED fixtures, and Wilmington will making the change in the near future.
2011年11月29日星期二
Resident questions costs of Main Street project
Based on observations of the work between Caledonia and Spring Grove, MnDOT's goal is create a smooth ride, by removing a few inches of existing blacktop and replacing it with new smoothed-out asphalt.
All over Minnesota, cities and counties are chopping their 2012 budgets and anticipating that 2013 is going to have to see further cuts because state aid is likely to decrease or disappear.
People in Spring Grove have just been hit with property tax increases coming both from the loss of the homestead credit and the increase in Spring Grove City's spending. Isn't it time to opt for the simple, no-cost choice for Main Street?
Main Street Width- There have been suggestions to widen Main Street or to narrow it or to remove parking on one side. But we need parking on both sides and the current width is good because one can get out of one's car without getting into the traffic lane. Don't change what works.
Sidewalks- It has been suggested to widen the sidewalks to as much as 14 feet and put in decorative pavers, etc. and to turn the street and the alleys on both sides to a Green Alley Park.
Do we need to replace all the sidewalks or can we just replace these sections, which are uneven? Pavers, etc. make the sidewalk uneven and hazardous to wheelchairs.
We had treescapes on Main Street and they all had to be cut down. We already have a nice park as part of Main Street. There is no need to go overboard and spend more money on fancy sidewalks and more parks.
Streetlights- There is a push to put in fancy, antique-looking, expensive streetlights. As far as I can tell, Spring Grove (in the old days) never had fancy lights so why make Spring Grove into something it never was?
Stewartville and Caledonia both put these lights in years ago and their Main Streets have died anyway. The old-style lights look goofy with the modernistic storefronts.
Many of the Spring Grove streetlights have been replaced by the Public Works Department as the original ones died. As the original ones are replaced, replace them with low-maintenance poles with LED lights, which would decrease the electricity usage. A little bit each year is something we can afford using the existing budgeting.
Roundabout- There is a push for a traffic roundabout at the Main Street/Division Avenue intersection. I hope I am not tempting fate but the last accident was in 2006 and it did not involve traffic coming up in S. Division.
Instead, make Maple Drive one-way (to the east) along the park, with Main Street traffic entering Main Street from the east at the Trinity Lutheran Church intersection.
Spring Grove tried to get a stoplight years ago, but MnDOT apparently said the intersection wasn't dangerous enough. But that would be a less expensive solution, and the red would only be triggered when traffic is entering from Division Avenue.
Sewer and Water Mains- Do the sewer and water mains have to be done at this time? We kept hearing that we needed a new water tower, but investigation proved that the base was sound and an $18,000 repair inside made it good to go for many more years.
All over Minnesota, cities and counties are chopping their 2012 budgets and anticipating that 2013 is going to have to see further cuts because state aid is likely to decrease or disappear.
People in Spring Grove have just been hit with property tax increases coming both from the loss of the homestead credit and the increase in Spring Grove City's spending. Isn't it time to opt for the simple, no-cost choice for Main Street?
Main Street Width- There have been suggestions to widen Main Street or to narrow it or to remove parking on one side. But we need parking on both sides and the current width is good because one can get out of one's car without getting into the traffic lane. Don't change what works.
Sidewalks- It has been suggested to widen the sidewalks to as much as 14 feet and put in decorative pavers, etc. and to turn the street and the alleys on both sides to a Green Alley Park.
Do we need to replace all the sidewalks or can we just replace these sections, which are uneven? Pavers, etc. make the sidewalk uneven and hazardous to wheelchairs.
We had treescapes on Main Street and they all had to be cut down. We already have a nice park as part of Main Street. There is no need to go overboard and spend more money on fancy sidewalks and more parks.
Streetlights- There is a push to put in fancy, antique-looking, expensive streetlights. As far as I can tell, Spring Grove (in the old days) never had fancy lights so why make Spring Grove into something it never was?
Stewartville and Caledonia both put these lights in years ago and their Main Streets have died anyway. The old-style lights look goofy with the modernistic storefronts.
Many of the Spring Grove streetlights have been replaced by the Public Works Department as the original ones died. As the original ones are replaced, replace them with low-maintenance poles with LED lights, which would decrease the electricity usage. A little bit each year is something we can afford using the existing budgeting.
Roundabout- There is a push for a traffic roundabout at the Main Street/Division Avenue intersection. I hope I am not tempting fate but the last accident was in 2006 and it did not involve traffic coming up in S. Division.
Instead, make Maple Drive one-way (to the east) along the park, with Main Street traffic entering Main Street from the east at the Trinity Lutheran Church intersection.
Spring Grove tried to get a stoplight years ago, but MnDOT apparently said the intersection wasn't dangerous enough. But that would be a less expensive solution, and the red would only be triggered when traffic is entering from Division Avenue.
Sewer and Water Mains- Do the sewer and water mains have to be done at this time? We kept hearing that we needed a new water tower, but investigation proved that the base was sound and an $18,000 repair inside made it good to go for many more years.
2011年11月28日星期一
Cash in on holiday savings tips
Conservation is a word most Canadians use every day. It's a word that is repeatedly echoed in television and radio advertisements, and there's an important reason why this word is drilled into our daily thoughts.
Conservation is a tool that everyone is equipped with, but few know how to utilize; it's the act of preserving something and in context to utility companies, it is generally held to include the management of human use of natural resources for current public benefit and sustainable social and economic utilization.
Brant County Power, and similar companies, has numerous conservation programs that are readily available for residents; hence the reason for this column. It is part of Brant County Power's mandate to educate our customers and provide them with the tools necessary to reduce their electrical and water consumption.
The holiday season is around the corner; here's how you can save.
Christmas lights are a sure sign of the impending festive season. They are bright, beautiful and CAN be costly. Keep in mind, LED lights will most definitely save you money. They use 10 times less energy than incandescent mini-lights and 100 times less than standard bulbs. One dollar will get you 15 hours of incandescent holiday lighting or 15 days of LED holiday lighting.
One set of 35 LED lights, operating for six hours a day, will consume less than 5 cents of electricity per month. Be sure to control your outdoor festive lights with a certified outdoor timer to coincide with time-of-use pricing.
Brant County Power has a light exchange taking place during the holiday season. Brant County Power customers can visit the office (on Dundas Street in Paris beside the fire hall) with up to three strands of old lights that will be recycled, and in turn, you will receive three boxes of brand new LED lights. No strings attached, and yes the pun was intended.
Christmas also brings an influx of visitors to your home, and while the company is certainly welcomed, the additional costs of being a host always catch up with you. When you are preparing that big meal, remember that defrosting frozen food in the refrigerator helps keep the fridge cold and is energy efficient because the mass of cold items inside helps the refrigerator recover each time the door is opened.
When you prepare all the fixings for your turkey, use the smallest pan and burner needed for the job. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste more than 40% of the energy. Be sure to use a lid because cooking without one can consume as much as three times the energy that is actually required. Finally, keep in mind that slow cookers and crockpots will cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
When it comes to the all important clean up, be sure to pack that dishwasher full before you use it and take a look at the clock. It's more cost-appropriate to use that dishwasher after 7 p.m.!
The final piece of advice for surviving this busy season is to give your meter a holiday too. If you travel for days on end to visit family out-of-town, give your electrical meter a holiday to save money. Set your electrical water heater to 'vacation' if you are away for more than two days. Lower the thermostats as well.
Conservation is a tool that everyone is equipped with, but few know how to utilize; it's the act of preserving something and in context to utility companies, it is generally held to include the management of human use of natural resources for current public benefit and sustainable social and economic utilization.
Brant County Power, and similar companies, has numerous conservation programs that are readily available for residents; hence the reason for this column. It is part of Brant County Power's mandate to educate our customers and provide them with the tools necessary to reduce their electrical and water consumption.
The holiday season is around the corner; here's how you can save.
Christmas lights are a sure sign of the impending festive season. They are bright, beautiful and CAN be costly. Keep in mind, LED lights will most definitely save you money. They use 10 times less energy than incandescent mini-lights and 100 times less than standard bulbs. One dollar will get you 15 hours of incandescent holiday lighting or 15 days of LED holiday lighting.
One set of 35 LED lights, operating for six hours a day, will consume less than 5 cents of electricity per month. Be sure to control your outdoor festive lights with a certified outdoor timer to coincide with time-of-use pricing.
Brant County Power has a light exchange taking place during the holiday season. Brant County Power customers can visit the office (on Dundas Street in Paris beside the fire hall) with up to three strands of old lights that will be recycled, and in turn, you will receive three boxes of brand new LED lights. No strings attached, and yes the pun was intended.
Christmas also brings an influx of visitors to your home, and while the company is certainly welcomed, the additional costs of being a host always catch up with you. When you are preparing that big meal, remember that defrosting frozen food in the refrigerator helps keep the fridge cold and is energy efficient because the mass of cold items inside helps the refrigerator recover each time the door is opened.
When you prepare all the fixings for your turkey, use the smallest pan and burner needed for the job. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste more than 40% of the energy. Be sure to use a lid because cooking without one can consume as much as three times the energy that is actually required. Finally, keep in mind that slow cookers and crockpots will cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
When it comes to the all important clean up, be sure to pack that dishwasher full before you use it and take a look at the clock. It's more cost-appropriate to use that dishwasher after 7 p.m.!
The final piece of advice for surviving this busy season is to give your meter a holiday too. If you travel for days on end to visit family out-of-town, give your electrical meter a holiday to save money. Set your electrical water heater to 'vacation' if you are away for more than two days. Lower the thermostats as well.
2011年11月27日星期日
Okla. convention center improves with lights
Tulsa Convention Center operators SMG and the BOK Center received a $71,000 incentive payment from Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
The money is enough to pay for further improvements at the convention center, said John Crosson, TCC engineering manager.
"That check is from PSO's wattage reduction incentive," Crosson said. "We spent $52,000 on the project, received $71,000 back, so we'll take that additional money and roll it into the next project. As long as I can keep them (SMG) in the green, we're not paying for fixtures."
The project to install high-efficiency lighting at TCC paid dividends — on top of more than 700,000 kilowatt-hours in anticipated annual energy savings — for the city-owned building, said Paige Reese, director of sales and marketing for the BOK Center.
The project involved the removal of 576 500-watt floodlights and fixtures in the convention center's first-floor exhibit hall, Crosson said.
"We replaced them with 144 360-watt dimmable fluorescent lights and fixtures," Crosson said.
Convention center and BOK Center General Manager John Bolton said in a statement that long-term reduction of energy costs drove the decision to move forward with the lighting project.
Along with the energy savings, PSO Consumer Programs Coordinator Micah Burdge said the convention center project improved lighting levels, increased versatility of the lighting, and has reduced maintenance costs.
The lighting is brighter, Reese said.
Crosson agreed, adding that the previous bulbs cast a yellowish tint.
"These bulbs burn brighter, they resemble daylight light," Crosson said.
Reese said the switch gives a modern look to the convention center.
"It offers us more versatility with our lighting options," Reese said. "It also reduces maintenance costs."
Clients want different light levels, Crosson said.
"In order to establish different moods for a building," Crosson said. "Say, if a vendor wants that bright overall functioning wattage, we can do that."
Every vendor is different, Reese said.
"Indian gaming, for example, does not want full illumination because their machines are self-illuminated," Reese said.
"Trade shows, dinners, concerts, they all want custom lighting," Crosson said.
Making the switch to the more energy-efficient lights will reduce the electrical demand in the 102,600-square-foot room by 162 kilowatts and is expected to save an estimated 729,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
The PSO incentive program is virtually identical to the electric utility's Smart Schools and Model Cities programs, said Stan Whiteford, PSO spokesman.
"It is part of the package of energy-efficiency programs we offer," Whiteford said.
The program offers incentives to commercial and industrial customers for making energy-efficiency improvements, Whiteford said.
The money is enough to pay for further improvements at the convention center, said John Crosson, TCC engineering manager.
"That check is from PSO's wattage reduction incentive," Crosson said. "We spent $52,000 on the project, received $71,000 back, so we'll take that additional money and roll it into the next project. As long as I can keep them (SMG) in the green, we're not paying for fixtures."
The project to install high-efficiency lighting at TCC paid dividends — on top of more than 700,000 kilowatt-hours in anticipated annual energy savings — for the city-owned building, said Paige Reese, director of sales and marketing for the BOK Center.
The project involved the removal of 576 500-watt floodlights and fixtures in the convention center's first-floor exhibit hall, Crosson said.
"We replaced them with 144 360-watt dimmable fluorescent lights and fixtures," Crosson said.
Convention center and BOK Center General Manager John Bolton said in a statement that long-term reduction of energy costs drove the decision to move forward with the lighting project.
Along with the energy savings, PSO Consumer Programs Coordinator Micah Burdge said the convention center project improved lighting levels, increased versatility of the lighting, and has reduced maintenance costs.
The lighting is brighter, Reese said.
Crosson agreed, adding that the previous bulbs cast a yellowish tint.
"These bulbs burn brighter, they resemble daylight light," Crosson said.
Reese said the switch gives a modern look to the convention center.
"It offers us more versatility with our lighting options," Reese said. "It also reduces maintenance costs."
Clients want different light levels, Crosson said.
"In order to establish different moods for a building," Crosson said. "Say, if a vendor wants that bright overall functioning wattage, we can do that."
Every vendor is different, Reese said.
"Indian gaming, for example, does not want full illumination because their machines are self-illuminated," Reese said.
"Trade shows, dinners, concerts, they all want custom lighting," Crosson said.
Making the switch to the more energy-efficient lights will reduce the electrical demand in the 102,600-square-foot room by 162 kilowatts and is expected to save an estimated 729,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
The PSO incentive program is virtually identical to the electric utility's Smart Schools and Model Cities programs, said Stan Whiteford, PSO spokesman.
"It is part of the package of energy-efficiency programs we offer," Whiteford said.
The program offers incentives to commercial and industrial customers for making energy-efficiency improvements, Whiteford said.
2011年11月24日星期四
Lights out for $1.1-million Hydro Ottawa investment
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. has lost almost all its $1.1-million investment in a Victoria technology firm.
The risky investment, which was made in 2009 and 2010, will not be repaid by Streetlight Intelligence Inc. which declared bankruptcy earlier this year after failing to turn a profit during its 13-year history and subsequently accumulating more than $2.5 million in debt.
The company, which made technology to improve the energy efficiency of street light standards, was once considered to be a firm "that is taking off," according to Rosemarie Leclair, Hydro Ottawa's chief executive officer at the time the publicly owned utility decided to invest in Streetlight Intelligence.
Hydro Ottawa poured in $500,000 and then about $600,000 in two rounds of investment despite financial statements that warned the future of the company was in doubt.
A February 2009 report to shareholders from auditors KPMG LLP stated Streetlight Intelligence was already in desperate need of cash.
"If the company is unable to attain suitable financing in the near future, it may be necessary for the company to examine other strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including seeking creditor protection, the possible sale of some or all of the company's assets, or the merger sale of the company with a larger, better financed entity."
Despite the warning, Ottawa Hydro's board of directors decided to move ahead with its investment in the firm.
Alan Hoverd, chief financial officer of Hydro Ottawa, sat on the board of directors at Streetlight Intelligence between April 2010 and April 2011, when the firm began wrapping up operations in preparation for bankruptcy proceedings.
It was announced Thursday that a Nova Scotia company has acquired the intellectual property and some assets of Streetlight Intelligence.
Nova Scotia's LED Roadway Lighting Ltd., based in Amherst and Halifax, said the acquisition of Streetlight's Lumen IQ technology gives it a decided edge as the first company in Canada to combine energy-efficient high-pressure sodium and LED street lighting with smart wireless technology.
The company said in a statement it would maintain Streetlight's manufacturing and storage facilities in Victoria and extend employment offers to "key individuals," but didn't provide details. More than a dozen employees were laid off in April.
LED Roadway paid $700,000 for Streetlight, according to receiver G. Powroznik Group Inc. — a price observers say was a bargain.
Most of the proceeds of the sale will be used to cover costs of the receivership, statutory secured claims from former employees and a partial payment to the first-priority creditor Hydro Ottawa, which will receive just a fraction of the cash it is owed, according to Ali Pourdad, an an accountant with the receiver.
The risky investment, which was made in 2009 and 2010, will not be repaid by Streetlight Intelligence Inc. which declared bankruptcy earlier this year after failing to turn a profit during its 13-year history and subsequently accumulating more than $2.5 million in debt.
The company, which made technology to improve the energy efficiency of street light standards, was once considered to be a firm "that is taking off," according to Rosemarie Leclair, Hydro Ottawa's chief executive officer at the time the publicly owned utility decided to invest in Streetlight Intelligence.
Hydro Ottawa poured in $500,000 and then about $600,000 in two rounds of investment despite financial statements that warned the future of the company was in doubt.
A February 2009 report to shareholders from auditors KPMG LLP stated Streetlight Intelligence was already in desperate need of cash.
"If the company is unable to attain suitable financing in the near future, it may be necessary for the company to examine other strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including seeking creditor protection, the possible sale of some or all of the company's assets, or the merger sale of the company with a larger, better financed entity."
Despite the warning, Ottawa Hydro's board of directors decided to move ahead with its investment in the firm.
Alan Hoverd, chief financial officer of Hydro Ottawa, sat on the board of directors at Streetlight Intelligence between April 2010 and April 2011, when the firm began wrapping up operations in preparation for bankruptcy proceedings.
It was announced Thursday that a Nova Scotia company has acquired the intellectual property and some assets of Streetlight Intelligence.
Nova Scotia's LED Roadway Lighting Ltd., based in Amherst and Halifax, said the acquisition of Streetlight's Lumen IQ technology gives it a decided edge as the first company in Canada to combine energy-efficient high-pressure sodium and LED street lighting with smart wireless technology.
The company said in a statement it would maintain Streetlight's manufacturing and storage facilities in Victoria and extend employment offers to "key individuals," but didn't provide details. More than a dozen employees were laid off in April.
LED Roadway paid $700,000 for Streetlight, according to receiver G. Powroznik Group Inc. — a price observers say was a bargain.
Most of the proceeds of the sale will be used to cover costs of the receivership, statutory secured claims from former employees and a partial payment to the first-priority creditor Hydro Ottawa, which will receive just a fraction of the cash it is owed, according to Ali Pourdad, an an accountant with the receiver.
2011年11月23日星期三
That's quite a bit of money for a small building
"It's one of those things we embrace because we not only want to be good citizens, but there's not a lot of money to support upgrades of buildings so we want to try to do our share to make sure that the performing arts center is run as efficiently and effectively as possible. And we do it as individual citizens as well. We see it as our way to make things better here in this building and this community," Harbour said.
Bigger savings can be done on a larger scale, too. The Juneau School District has saved more than $2 million, or about 28 percent, since the energy conservation program started in 2007.
The Juneau district's program involves mandatory guidelines like turning off lights and equipment not in use, regulating building temperatures and making changes to current equipment and lights.
Small businesses can reap big savings too. The Bear Square in Anchorage revamped its air blower and motor system, since that was the biggest power drain. Light switches were connected to motion sensors while the exterior lighting was put on a new timer. Some lights, like Christmas tree lights, are controlled by photocells.
Other energy-saving tricks involve changing stoves from electric to gas and retrofitting fixtures for narrower, more efficient florescent lights.
Owner Mary Rohlfing said these modifications have resulted in average savings of $500 each month.
"So that's quite a bit of money for a small building," she said.
The Bear Square occupies 20,000 square feet divided into two floors. It employs 20 during the summer and half that during the off-season.
In Fairbanks, MacCheyne's Carpet Plus has a similar view. Owner John MacCheyne said that cutting power costs for the 14,000-square-foot building are necessary due to the area's high utility rates.
Most of his lights were recently changed to LEDs. There are plans for additional LED lights for an auxiliary warehouse.
MacCheyne consulted with Genesis Energy to understand how much the conversion from traditional and high-pressure lights would save. The savings are about $6,000 a year, judging from savings so far. He estimates the expense of the conversion will be paid off within three years, allowing the savings after that to go back into the business.
"In an area where energy is so expensive, businesses cannot afford to have that type of expense eating away at their bottom line," he said.
Anchorage Municipal Light and Power General Manager Jim Posey said most businesses haven't looked at energy conversions yet, although those that have retrofitted their homes or business have seen "phenomenal" savings. ML&P is working with other utilities to try to get the word out.
Utilities often encourage efficiency and even offer incentives. Fairbanks' Golden Valley Electric Association has special conservation incentives. One is its Business$ense program offers rebates up to $20,000 to commercial business who revamp their electric systems. This is something that MacCheyne worked with for his operation.
However, the very conservation efforts utilities encourage can give everyone a little jolt later on, with higher rates.
Bigger savings can be done on a larger scale, too. The Juneau School District has saved more than $2 million, or about 28 percent, since the energy conservation program started in 2007.
The Juneau district's program involves mandatory guidelines like turning off lights and equipment not in use, regulating building temperatures and making changes to current equipment and lights.
Small businesses can reap big savings too. The Bear Square in Anchorage revamped its air blower and motor system, since that was the biggest power drain. Light switches were connected to motion sensors while the exterior lighting was put on a new timer. Some lights, like Christmas tree lights, are controlled by photocells.
Other energy-saving tricks involve changing stoves from electric to gas and retrofitting fixtures for narrower, more efficient florescent lights.
Owner Mary Rohlfing said these modifications have resulted in average savings of $500 each month.
"So that's quite a bit of money for a small building," she said.
The Bear Square occupies 20,000 square feet divided into two floors. It employs 20 during the summer and half that during the off-season.
In Fairbanks, MacCheyne's Carpet Plus has a similar view. Owner John MacCheyne said that cutting power costs for the 14,000-square-foot building are necessary due to the area's high utility rates.
Most of his lights were recently changed to LEDs. There are plans for additional LED lights for an auxiliary warehouse.
MacCheyne consulted with Genesis Energy to understand how much the conversion from traditional and high-pressure lights would save. The savings are about $6,000 a year, judging from savings so far. He estimates the expense of the conversion will be paid off within three years, allowing the savings after that to go back into the business.
"In an area where energy is so expensive, businesses cannot afford to have that type of expense eating away at their bottom line," he said.
Anchorage Municipal Light and Power General Manager Jim Posey said most businesses haven't looked at energy conversions yet, although those that have retrofitted their homes or business have seen "phenomenal" savings. ML&P is working with other utilities to try to get the word out.
Utilities often encourage efficiency and even offer incentives. Fairbanks' Golden Valley Electric Association has special conservation incentives. One is its Business$ense program offers rebates up to $20,000 to commercial business who revamp their electric systems. This is something that MacCheyne worked with for his operation.
However, the very conservation efforts utilities encourage can give everyone a little jolt later on, with higher rates.
2011年11月22日星期二
Energy efficiency: a price worth paying
Concern about spiralling energy prices has peaked in recent weeks, with many analysts predicting double-digit rises over the next few years. Much of the focus has been on how this will affect homes during the winter months but the impact on the UK's growing businesses also needs to be addressed.
Peach Pubs is a group of 15 gastro-pubs and like many in the hospitality industry, certain parts of our operations are particularly energy-intensive. The lighting and air-conditioning in our restaurants, for example, and the running of our kitchens, many of which maintain several hobs for up to 12 hours a day, use a lot of energy. Our business is expanding but with our energy costs at just under 500,000 per annum, this represents a significant amount of money which we'd prefer to spend on supporting growth.
The majority of business owners are only too aware of the need to cut energy bills but according to new research by the Carbon Trust, there are three main barriers limiting their ability to act: insufficient time and resources; being able to quantify the expected returns; and energy efficiency taking a lower priority than other business considerations. Access to capital to purchase new energy-efficient equipment is also a challenge as banks are often unwilling to lend and any project needs a clearly defined, short payback period.
These barriers are certainly familiar to our business. We want to focus on ensuring that guests enjoy our pubs rather than spending time evaluating different aspects of our energy consumption. But work in this area must go on. We have recently installed, for example, new induction hobs in our kitchens, which only heat up when a pan is put on them – this will make a big difference compared to gas hobs running throughout a shift. However, evaluating the different parameters and calculating the business case for implementation took over four weeks.
We've also looked to encourage behavioural change among our team. This has little or no capital cost but does require management time and training budgets. Some examples of this include "Peach Heroes" which offers recognition and 200 vouchers as rewards for staff for new ideas which enhance our business, including suggestions about energy and sustainability. Investment in energy efficiency equipment does require capital expenditure but delivers tangible, long-term returns and requires internal resource to deliver.
The key to overcoming barriers is to simplify energy efficiency: to provide an objective means of comparing technologies and different approaches and making it easy to quantify the returns. Every business has its own distinctive pattern of energy use and certain measures will have a quicker impact in each instance.
At our Brookmans pub near Potters Bar, we've carried out detailed analysis and decided to install LED lighting throughout the premises. Although the initial costs are 26,000 compared to 13,000 for traditional lighting, the running costs drop from 9,000 per year to just 900, meaning it will pay for itself in just over a year.
Over three-quarters of companies (76%) are more concerned than they were six months ago by rising energy costs and are very worried about its impact on business.
Peach Pubs is a group of 15 gastro-pubs and like many in the hospitality industry, certain parts of our operations are particularly energy-intensive. The lighting and air-conditioning in our restaurants, for example, and the running of our kitchens, many of which maintain several hobs for up to 12 hours a day, use a lot of energy. Our business is expanding but with our energy costs at just under 500,000 per annum, this represents a significant amount of money which we'd prefer to spend on supporting growth.
The majority of business owners are only too aware of the need to cut energy bills but according to new research by the Carbon Trust, there are three main barriers limiting their ability to act: insufficient time and resources; being able to quantify the expected returns; and energy efficiency taking a lower priority than other business considerations. Access to capital to purchase new energy-efficient equipment is also a challenge as banks are often unwilling to lend and any project needs a clearly defined, short payback period.
These barriers are certainly familiar to our business. We want to focus on ensuring that guests enjoy our pubs rather than spending time evaluating different aspects of our energy consumption. But work in this area must go on. We have recently installed, for example, new induction hobs in our kitchens, which only heat up when a pan is put on them – this will make a big difference compared to gas hobs running throughout a shift. However, evaluating the different parameters and calculating the business case for implementation took over four weeks.
We've also looked to encourage behavioural change among our team. This has little or no capital cost but does require management time and training budgets. Some examples of this include "Peach Heroes" which offers recognition and 200 vouchers as rewards for staff for new ideas which enhance our business, including suggestions about energy and sustainability. Investment in energy efficiency equipment does require capital expenditure but delivers tangible, long-term returns and requires internal resource to deliver.
The key to overcoming barriers is to simplify energy efficiency: to provide an objective means of comparing technologies and different approaches and making it easy to quantify the returns. Every business has its own distinctive pattern of energy use and certain measures will have a quicker impact in each instance.
At our Brookmans pub near Potters Bar, we've carried out detailed analysis and decided to install LED lighting throughout the premises. Although the initial costs are 26,000 compared to 13,000 for traditional lighting, the running costs drop from 9,000 per year to just 900, meaning it will pay for itself in just over a year.
Over three-quarters of companies (76%) are more concerned than they were six months ago by rising energy costs and are very worried about its impact on business.
Italian Arredoclassic inaugurates first Home flagship boutique
Arredoclassic first Home Boutique in India opens its doors at Blues Home, The Gallery On MG, one of the most prestigious shopping destination in New Delhi.
The Arredoclassic Home flagship boutique covers over 230 square meters of area and reflects the European DNA: originality, quality and elegance. Particular attention has been given to the layout of the Showroom with the main purpose of showcasing a "total Look" Home style.
By Visiting Arredclassic boutique one can immediately realize how one can enjoy the pleasure of living a coordinated ambience with a particular attention given to the smallest and original details, far from the proposal of an overstocked and flatten market. Arredoclassic boutique showcases the complete theme based interior collections under the heading- Bedroom, Living room & Dining furniture, in a diverse series of classic elegance. Special highlight includes one of its kind collections
Mythos, designed to offer an evolution of the brand's pure classic design, which still carries the unmistakable style and elegance of Made in Italy. The best handicraft technique, such as the golden leaf application, and most innovative technology, as the Real Mother of Pearl Finissage and Glitter Serigraphy making this collection as one of Arredcolassic's Top Line.
Raffaello Collection comes from the original Idea of Arredoclassic' Designers to create a "piece of Art". Each element of this collection is surrounded by a rich and precious frame such as an important painting is teamed up with entire look. This frame characterizes all items of this collection, starting from the Button Back Bed to the dining table and Sofa set collection.
Giotto collection, offers to the customer a more traditional choice for those who are looking for Wooden Classical Style.
Liberty Collection, the newest 2011 Collection which has been given a particular attention and a special window display at Arredo Classic boutique where Bedroom, Dining and Living room are characterized by the elegant silver and gold frame inspired by Ancient Greek Ornaments from Magna Grecia Empire.
Each element stands out for its elegance, Style and Opulence depicting typical values of that historic Age. Light pastel tone surfaces are enriched with gold leaf ornaments and 24 carat gold plated handles designed specifically for this Collection which reminds of the Arredoclassic Brand logo.
Each product of Arredoclassic collections is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Guarantee that testifies the 100% "Made in Italy" Production.
Fine furniture accessories by Cearmiche TREA and Italservice enhance the 'Home Style' proposed by Arredoclassic. Jewelery boxes, soup tureens, lamps and center pieces from TREA Ceramica are all hand painted with 24 carat Gold and represent pure "made in Veneto" passion and genius.
Italservice provided Crystal Glasses and table sets together with Classical Paintings, all rigorously made In Tuscany area, known all over the world to one of the land of Italian Artisanship.
The Arredoclassic Home flagship boutique covers over 230 square meters of area and reflects the European DNA: originality, quality and elegance. Particular attention has been given to the layout of the Showroom with the main purpose of showcasing a "total Look" Home style.
By Visiting Arredclassic boutique one can immediately realize how one can enjoy the pleasure of living a coordinated ambience with a particular attention given to the smallest and original details, far from the proposal of an overstocked and flatten market. Arredoclassic boutique showcases the complete theme based interior collections under the heading- Bedroom, Living room & Dining furniture, in a diverse series of classic elegance. Special highlight includes one of its kind collections
Mythos, designed to offer an evolution of the brand's pure classic design, which still carries the unmistakable style and elegance of Made in Italy. The best handicraft technique, such as the golden leaf application, and most innovative technology, as the Real Mother of Pearl Finissage and Glitter Serigraphy making this collection as one of Arredcolassic's Top Line.
Raffaello Collection comes from the original Idea of Arredoclassic' Designers to create a "piece of Art". Each element of this collection is surrounded by a rich and precious frame such as an important painting is teamed up with entire look. This frame characterizes all items of this collection, starting from the Button Back Bed to the dining table and Sofa set collection.
Giotto collection, offers to the customer a more traditional choice for those who are looking for Wooden Classical Style.
Liberty Collection, the newest 2011 Collection which has been given a particular attention and a special window display at Arredo Classic boutique where Bedroom, Dining and Living room are characterized by the elegant silver and gold frame inspired by Ancient Greek Ornaments from Magna Grecia Empire.
Each element stands out for its elegance, Style and Opulence depicting typical values of that historic Age. Light pastel tone surfaces are enriched with gold leaf ornaments and 24 carat gold plated handles designed specifically for this Collection which reminds of the Arredoclassic Brand logo.
Each product of Arredoclassic collections is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Guarantee that testifies the 100% "Made in Italy" Production.
Fine furniture accessories by Cearmiche TREA and Italservice enhance the 'Home Style' proposed by Arredoclassic. Jewelery boxes, soup tureens, lamps and center pieces from TREA Ceramica are all hand painted with 24 carat Gold and represent pure "made in Veneto" passion and genius.
Italservice provided Crystal Glasses and table sets together with Classical Paintings, all rigorously made In Tuscany area, known all over the world to one of the land of Italian Artisanship.
2011年11月20日星期日
Hartford's Annual Holiday Event To Be 'Brighter, Lighter, More Festive'
The traditional twinkle lights that were so popular at the Festival of Light in past years will return for this year's holiday event in Bushnell Park, though many other aspects of the 48-year-old celebration will change.
The display moved to Bushnell Park from Constitution Plaza last year, and the outdoor skating rink, with free admission and skate rental, was a new feature. The rink was judged a success, but the light display drew mixed reviews.
This season, organizers said they worked to highlight the festival's most popular aspects.
"Skating is going to be the primary focus," said Jane Penfield, assistant director for workplace giving at the Greater Hartford Arts Council and project director for Winterfest. "It was such a howling success last year. We were very pleased with the public reception of it."
Last winter, the rink drew more than 20,000 visitors during about four weeks of operation. This year, the rink will be open longer — from Nov. 25 to Feb. 20 — and it will be bigger. At 80-by-90 feet, it will have twice the square footage of last year's 40-by-90-foot rink and accommodate 140 skaters at a time, up from 70.
This winter's event will not include a traditional tree-lighting. Trees and entrances to the park will be illuminated with the traditional twinkle lights, which weren't included last year, but the ceremonial turning on of the lights won't happen, organizers said. Instead, the park will be lit up by the time spectators arrive.
"We want the park to be a family-friendly, warm, lighted atmosphere that people feel welcome to come to any time of the day or night," Penfield said. "We also want the real focus of this event to be on the active, outdoor participation rather than the passive viewing of the holiday lights. We want people to be able to get right to the skating."
The revamped event drew some criticism last year after organizers decided to decorate the park with colored spotlights and searchlights rather than the twinkle lights seen previously at Constitution Plaza.
"It was very clear that that's what everybody knows and loves, and we're happy to be able to provide that," Penfield said.
The event will begin Nov. 25 with a short procession at 4 p.m. from the Bushnell Park carousel to the skating rink, in front of the Pump House across the park. The procession will be led by Mayor Pedro Segarra; Pucky, the mascot of the Connecticut Whale hockey team; and cast members of "A Christmas Carol" at Hartford Stage.
Bob Crawford, the event director, said Winterfest will be "brighter, lighter and more festive" this year.
"People love the outdoors and they love the activity," he said. "With the skating rink, we intend to encourage that again."
The event costs about $400,000, city officials said, and will be paid for by sponsors including the city, The Travelers, United Technologies Corp., Mohegan Sun, Aetna, The Hartford and others.
The display moved to Bushnell Park from Constitution Plaza last year, and the outdoor skating rink, with free admission and skate rental, was a new feature. The rink was judged a success, but the light display drew mixed reviews.
This season, organizers said they worked to highlight the festival's most popular aspects.
"Skating is going to be the primary focus," said Jane Penfield, assistant director for workplace giving at the Greater Hartford Arts Council and project director for Winterfest. "It was such a howling success last year. We were very pleased with the public reception of it."
Last winter, the rink drew more than 20,000 visitors during about four weeks of operation. This year, the rink will be open longer — from Nov. 25 to Feb. 20 — and it will be bigger. At 80-by-90 feet, it will have twice the square footage of last year's 40-by-90-foot rink and accommodate 140 skaters at a time, up from 70.
This winter's event will not include a traditional tree-lighting. Trees and entrances to the park will be illuminated with the traditional twinkle lights, which weren't included last year, but the ceremonial turning on of the lights won't happen, organizers said. Instead, the park will be lit up by the time spectators arrive.
"We want the park to be a family-friendly, warm, lighted atmosphere that people feel welcome to come to any time of the day or night," Penfield said. "We also want the real focus of this event to be on the active, outdoor participation rather than the passive viewing of the holiday lights. We want people to be able to get right to the skating."
The revamped event drew some criticism last year after organizers decided to decorate the park with colored spotlights and searchlights rather than the twinkle lights seen previously at Constitution Plaza.
"It was very clear that that's what everybody knows and loves, and we're happy to be able to provide that," Penfield said.
The event will begin Nov. 25 with a short procession at 4 p.m. from the Bushnell Park carousel to the skating rink, in front of the Pump House across the park. The procession will be led by Mayor Pedro Segarra; Pucky, the mascot of the Connecticut Whale hockey team; and cast members of "A Christmas Carol" at Hartford Stage.
Bob Crawford, the event director, said Winterfest will be "brighter, lighter and more festive" this year.
"People love the outdoors and they love the activity," he said. "With the skating rink, we intend to encourage that again."
The event costs about $400,000, city officials said, and will be paid for by sponsors including the city, The Travelers, United Technologies Corp., Mohegan Sun, Aetna, The Hartford and others.
2011年11月17日星期四
New Spa Opens in Bedford Village
After a double-whammy of storms and power outages in the past few months, who couldn't use a little R&R? Bedford Village residents don't have far to go now that Vrai Nord has moved into town.
Owner Gail Urbach had been looking for a space here for a few years, after locals who knew her from her seasonal business in Martha's Vineyard suggested she open up shop in Bedford.
When the Bedford Village Frame Shop vacated the storefront to move across the street, Urbach, a licensed esthetician, made her plans. The renovated space bathed in soft lights and calming neutrals now offers skincare products, cosmetics and a spa room where she performs treatments like chemical peels and LED light therapy.
"I'm a product junkie," said Urbach, a Waccabuc native who now lives in Pawling. "There's a lot of stuff on the market and it's hard to differentiate what works and what doesn't."
It was her love of beauty products and experimentation that led her to change careers from managing a real estate investment trust to completing advanced training at the International Dermal Institute in New York.
Skincare doesn't have to be complicated, she said.
"I try to teach people that there are four basic essentials to skincare: Cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing and protection—and 90 percent of that can be done at home," said Urbach, her own 51-year-old skin glowing and practically wrinkle-free.
She said "you can't do enough for your skin as you get older," but there was plenty to do without "going under the knife." Urbach recommends monthly chemical peels, which she said are not as harsh as microderm abrasions and LED light therapy, which treats blemishes, acne and roseacea.
The spa store carries Dermologica and PCASkin, among other skin care products, some of which have been endorsed by the American Cancer Society as beneficial for chemotherapy patients. Cosmetic offerings include the Youngblood Mineral line, sold only at Henri Bendel's she said, noting that the make-up was paraben free and "not found at Sephora."
She also stocks candles and lotions and accessories like handbags and makeup kits.
And the meaning of Vrai Nord?
"It means 'true north' in French," said Urbach. "It represents achieving the optimum balance in life."
Owner Gail Urbach had been looking for a space here for a few years, after locals who knew her from her seasonal business in Martha's Vineyard suggested she open up shop in Bedford.
When the Bedford Village Frame Shop vacated the storefront to move across the street, Urbach, a licensed esthetician, made her plans. The renovated space bathed in soft lights and calming neutrals now offers skincare products, cosmetics and a spa room where she performs treatments like chemical peels and LED light therapy.
"I'm a product junkie," said Urbach, a Waccabuc native who now lives in Pawling. "There's a lot of stuff on the market and it's hard to differentiate what works and what doesn't."
It was her love of beauty products and experimentation that led her to change careers from managing a real estate investment trust to completing advanced training at the International Dermal Institute in New York.
Skincare doesn't have to be complicated, she said.
"I try to teach people that there are four basic essentials to skincare: Cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing and protection—and 90 percent of that can be done at home," said Urbach, her own 51-year-old skin glowing and practically wrinkle-free.
She said "you can't do enough for your skin as you get older," but there was plenty to do without "going under the knife." Urbach recommends monthly chemical peels, which she said are not as harsh as microderm abrasions and LED light therapy, which treats blemishes, acne and roseacea.
The spa store carries Dermologica and PCASkin, among other skin care products, some of which have been endorsed by the American Cancer Society as beneficial for chemotherapy patients. Cosmetic offerings include the Youngblood Mineral line, sold only at Henri Bendel's she said, noting that the make-up was paraben free and "not found at Sephora."
She also stocks candles and lotions and accessories like handbags and makeup kits.
And the meaning of Vrai Nord?
"It means 'true north' in French," said Urbach. "It represents achieving the optimum balance in life."
2011年11月16日星期三
Bedroom Lighting Ideas To Set The Mood!
Lighting defines the decoration of the room and also change the look completely. Lighting in the bedroom is also necessary. Generally, people think dim light is good to enhance the sleepy mood but you actually require light at times when you are working or reading lazily on the bed. Ceiling lights are ideal for bedroom as these ceilings are most highly viewed than other ceilings in the whole house. To have the perfect brightness in your bedroom, here are few home decor ideas for bedroom lighting which are soothing to the eyes and create an ambiance too!
Lamps: You can have portable lamps on the two sides of the bed. These are bright and can be easily turned on and off. You can opt for different lamp designs to decorate the bedroom. Select the brightness according to the requirements. If you want dim light, reduce the watt of the bulb inside the lamp.
Ceiling lights: Spot lights are great to highlight the decoration of the bedroom. Depending on the wall colour, you can either select yellow or silver lights for your bedroom ceiling. Recessed lighting and wall fixtures are also good home decor lighting ideas for your bedroom.
Pendants: Pendants are stylish and gives a different look to your bedroom. This lighting design has a hanging pattern. The light is suspended from the ceiling through a wire. You can go for various pendant designs in oval, rectangular or round shape. Apart from kitchen, you can use pendant lighting in your bedroom too!
Concealed lighting: If you don't want to show the light fixture or lamps, then concealed lighting is the best home decor design for your bedroom. In this lighting, the fixture is not visible at all. Lights fall on the walls and spread in the room.
Dim lights: To create a cozy and romantic ambiance in the bedroom, you should have dim lights. This lighting design is also useful to spread very dim light the whole night if you are scared to sleep in the dark. Many couples prefer making love in dim light rather than too bright or no light. So, decorate your bedroom with dim lights. Depending on the bedroom wall paint, you can select dim light colours!
CFL lightbulbs are horrible. They're often cold, they take an age to get up to full light output and when they finally die, they need to be disposed of properly so they don't spill their toxic innards. It's enough to make you stick with incandescents.
But what about this incandescent-style LED bulb from Panasonic? It just won a Good Design Award, and rightly so. The LED lamp inside is hooked up with wiring that mimics the filaments in a traditional bulb, and yet it uses a fraction of the power, can be switched on and off 100,000 before it begins to wilt, and should last you for around 40 years with moderate use. LEDs are instant-on, so no waiting around for enough light to take aim at the toilet bowl, and they're also efficient, saving you money.
My last run-in with an LED bulb resulted in a light that made even the most tanned visitor look like Murnau's Nosferatu, so if the color is warm enough, I'm in. Now we just have to wait and see if Panasonic will actually start selling the things.
Lamps: You can have portable lamps on the two sides of the bed. These are bright and can be easily turned on and off. You can opt for different lamp designs to decorate the bedroom. Select the brightness according to the requirements. If you want dim light, reduce the watt of the bulb inside the lamp.
Ceiling lights: Spot lights are great to highlight the decoration of the bedroom. Depending on the wall colour, you can either select yellow or silver lights for your bedroom ceiling. Recessed lighting and wall fixtures are also good home decor lighting ideas for your bedroom.
Pendants: Pendants are stylish and gives a different look to your bedroom. This lighting design has a hanging pattern. The light is suspended from the ceiling through a wire. You can go for various pendant designs in oval, rectangular or round shape. Apart from kitchen, you can use pendant lighting in your bedroom too!
Concealed lighting: If you don't want to show the light fixture or lamps, then concealed lighting is the best home decor design for your bedroom. In this lighting, the fixture is not visible at all. Lights fall on the walls and spread in the room.
Dim lights: To create a cozy and romantic ambiance in the bedroom, you should have dim lights. This lighting design is also useful to spread very dim light the whole night if you are scared to sleep in the dark. Many couples prefer making love in dim light rather than too bright or no light. So, decorate your bedroom with dim lights. Depending on the bedroom wall paint, you can select dim light colours!
CFL lightbulbs are horrible. They're often cold, they take an age to get up to full light output and when they finally die, they need to be disposed of properly so they don't spill their toxic innards. It's enough to make you stick with incandescents.
But what about this incandescent-style LED bulb from Panasonic? It just won a Good Design Award, and rightly so. The LED lamp inside is hooked up with wiring that mimics the filaments in a traditional bulb, and yet it uses a fraction of the power, can be switched on and off 100,000 before it begins to wilt, and should last you for around 40 years with moderate use. LEDs are instant-on, so no waiting around for enough light to take aim at the toilet bowl, and they're also efficient, saving you money.
My last run-in with an LED bulb resulted in a light that made even the most tanned visitor look like Murnau's Nosferatu, so if the color is warm enough, I'm in. Now we just have to wait and see if Panasonic will actually start selling the things.
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