Drawn-glass beads have been called Indo-Pacific beads by archeologists who believe they may have been the single most widely traded item in history, unearthed at various sites from the Pacific islands to Zimbabwe.
Ania Kyte, vice-president of the Mission Arts Council and owner of Turtle Beads, is one such artisan who melts rods of glass into the beautiful strings of translucent beads with impressive precision.
Ania, who has been working with beads for 12 years, is also the president of Pacific Pyros, a group of beadmaking artisans whose collective crafts will be on display at the Fraser Valley Bead Show.
She says these sorts of shows are critical for educating the public about the quality of the handmade pieces. It was at a similar show in Seattle in 2001 she saw a woman creating her own beads. Ania was already assembling glass beads for jewelry, but never dreamed she could do it herself.
"I was mesmerized. I watched her for an hour," she says from her studio just off Stave Lake Road, not far from the district's city hall where she used to work as the mayor's assistant.
When she returned from Seattle, she found a bead artisan, Barrie Edwards, who was teaching a three-hour class in Aldergrove. She was immediately hooked.
At first, Ania started with basic tools and a propane torch, practicing six or seven hours a day after work until 2 a.m. trying to get the beads perfect.
"It's like anything else. Practice, practice, patience and then more practice."
The basics of beadmaking involves coloured glass rods which are heated in an intense 760 C flame until they can be melted on a thin stick called a mandrel. As the glass drips on the mandrel, the artisan turns it slowly to find the centre of gravity in the glob and keep the shape round.
Using other glass rods, the artisan can then make shapes, patterns and designs that either melt into the bead or become colourful floral patterns.
Once the glass is cools, the mandrel can be removed and a diamond dremel polishes the hollow interior to allow for the string and assembly of the necklace.
The finished product is artistic and unique, but Ania hesitates to call it art.
"I think of myself as an artisan, not as an artist — yet."
That's because she says what she makes is ultimately functional in both structure and appearance.
2011年9月30日星期五
2011年9月29日星期四
Luxury SUV is roomy with a view
"Our friends think you're nuts to drive in Europe," said my wife. "How are we going to find our way around, especially on those narrow city streets? We don't speak the language and they drive fast."
Mercifully it was too late to change our 10-day circular driving tour through southern Germany and northern Italy, passing through Switzerland and Austria.
There was actually less ground to cover than all those countries would suggest, borders were almost non-existent, the highway system is absolutely brilliant . . . and we were driving a BMW (with navigation!).
The X5 xDrive35i proved an excellent touring vehicle, or as BMW calls it "Sport Activity Vehicle," that was perfect for our little party of four.
Good driving dynamics are a must for any vehicle with a BMW emblem on the hood, even a utility type vehicle like the X5. It drives like a tall version of the 5 Series wagon with a higher seating position, more cargo space in the rear and xDrive all-wheel-drive.
BMW tunes its xDrive system to make the X5 handle with the steering precision of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. In normal driving situations most motive power is sent to the rear wheels. And it cleverly sends even more drive to the rear when it senses the X5 is going around a corner.
Not known for its off-pavement prowess, although surprisingly capable, the xDrive system was developed to cope with slippery paved road conditions and also to offer a sporty driving experience.
And we certainly appreciated the extra traction qualities of the system while traversing an Alpine mountain pass.
Under hood the X5 xDrive35i comes with a new and more powerful version of BMW's award winning inline 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. It features twin, low-mass turbochargers, direct fuel injection and electrified accessory drives, providing a nice blend of power and fuel efficiency.
The other gasoline engine offered in Canada is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 in the 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i. There's also a diesel-powered model, the X5 xDrive35d, with about 10 per cent better fuel economy compared to the gasoline-fuelled six. Topping the line is the high-performance X5 M, which ups the output of the gas V8 to a whopping 555 horsepower.
The headlights are adaptive xenons that are ringed with a cool-looking LED strip that serves as the daytime running lights. The standard fog lights also double as cornering lights, when the turn signal is activated.
In the rear, X5 has a clamshell-style dual-door setup with a smaller drop-down tailgate. It serves as a loading platform that lines-up with the cargo floor and it certainly came in handy when packing or unpacking our heavier suitcases. New tail lights have L-shaped LED lighting.
Mercifully it was too late to change our 10-day circular driving tour through southern Germany and northern Italy, passing through Switzerland and Austria.
There was actually less ground to cover than all those countries would suggest, borders were almost non-existent, the highway system is absolutely brilliant . . . and we were driving a BMW (with navigation!).
The X5 xDrive35i proved an excellent touring vehicle, or as BMW calls it "Sport Activity Vehicle," that was perfect for our little party of four.
Good driving dynamics are a must for any vehicle with a BMW emblem on the hood, even a utility type vehicle like the X5. It drives like a tall version of the 5 Series wagon with a higher seating position, more cargo space in the rear and xDrive all-wheel-drive.
BMW tunes its xDrive system to make the X5 handle with the steering precision of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. In normal driving situations most motive power is sent to the rear wheels. And it cleverly sends even more drive to the rear when it senses the X5 is going around a corner.
Not known for its off-pavement prowess, although surprisingly capable, the xDrive system was developed to cope with slippery paved road conditions and also to offer a sporty driving experience.
And we certainly appreciated the extra traction qualities of the system while traversing an Alpine mountain pass.
Under hood the X5 xDrive35i comes with a new and more powerful version of BMW's award winning inline 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. It features twin, low-mass turbochargers, direct fuel injection and electrified accessory drives, providing a nice blend of power and fuel efficiency.
The other gasoline engine offered in Canada is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 in the 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i. There's also a diesel-powered model, the X5 xDrive35d, with about 10 per cent better fuel economy compared to the gasoline-fuelled six. Topping the line is the high-performance X5 M, which ups the output of the gas V8 to a whopping 555 horsepower.
The headlights are adaptive xenons that are ringed with a cool-looking LED strip that serves as the daytime running lights. The standard fog lights also double as cornering lights, when the turn signal is activated.
In the rear, X5 has a clamshell-style dual-door setup with a smaller drop-down tailgate. It serves as a loading platform that lines-up with the cargo floor and it certainly came in handy when packing or unpacking our heavier suitcases. New tail lights have L-shaped LED lighting.
2011年9月28日星期三
Quantifying Capital Bikeshare's Supposed "Success"
Last week, D.C.'s Capital Bikeshare program celebrated its millionth trip and one-year anniversary. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood celebrated the milestone with a blog post, calling the government-subsidized bicycle system "remarkable." Capital Bikeshare is supposedly revolutionizing transportation in the District, reducing nasty polluting and obesity-causing auto use. I will now explain why this is not the case with some back-of-the-envelope arithmetic, and why Capital Bikeshare should be panned rather than praised.
Let's look at some data. From January 2011 to July 2011 (the most recent complete data available), Capital Bikeshare averaged 3.35 trips per in-service bike per day in Washington, D.C. According to the most recent National Household Travel Survey (2009), Washington, D.C., averages 1.92 million person trips per day. This can be broken down into modes: 44.3 percent of trips were made by personal automobile, 18.4 percent by transit (rail and bus), 1.9 percent by taxi, 1.6 percent by bike, and 27.9 percent by walking. This means that a few years ago, Washingtonians made 11.5 million trips annually by bicycle.
Let me again be charitable and assume that not only did Capital Bikeshare add 1 million trips (bringing annual bicycle trips to 12.5 million), D.C. cyclists using their own vehicles (myself included) added another 1.3 million additional bicycle trips — bringing the total annual trips to 13.8 million — while holding total trips constant. We've now increased cycling's share of person trips by 20 percent from the 2009 NHTS. Even given these very optimistic assumptions, cycling would only represent a little over 1.9 percent of all trips taken in Washington, D.C. (Capital Bikeshare's mode-share in this scenario: 0.14 percent of all trips.) It would take a pretty twisted view of reality to herald this figure as somehow revolutionizing urban mobility.
But where did these bike trips come from? Presumably, not every new trip was added by a resident that was previously stationary. No good survey data exist on mode-switching, but a paper presented at the previous annual Transportation Research Board meeting can help shed some light on how these people may have previously got around the city. The authors studied Montreal's BIXI bicycle-share program, widely touted as a success by cycling advocates. According to their research, of BIXI's approximately 17,000 daily trips, about 340 replaced personal auto trips and around 1,360 replaced taxi trips. The rest came from people who would have either walked, used existing bus and rail transit, or used their own bikes.
The Capital Bikeshare bikes cost around $1,000 a piece and have a life cycle of six years. Annual operating costs are somewhere closer to $2,000 per bike. In the past two years, I have spent approximately $500 on my personal bike that I commute to work on daily — $250 a year. And I average more trips per day and distance per trip than Capital Bikeshare. The program's costs given the benefits are simply absurd.
Let's look at some data. From January 2011 to July 2011 (the most recent complete data available), Capital Bikeshare averaged 3.35 trips per in-service bike per day in Washington, D.C. According to the most recent National Household Travel Survey (2009), Washington, D.C., averages 1.92 million person trips per day. This can be broken down into modes: 44.3 percent of trips were made by personal automobile, 18.4 percent by transit (rail and bus), 1.9 percent by taxi, 1.6 percent by bike, and 27.9 percent by walking. This means that a few years ago, Washingtonians made 11.5 million trips annually by bicycle.
Let me again be charitable and assume that not only did Capital Bikeshare add 1 million trips (bringing annual bicycle trips to 12.5 million), D.C. cyclists using their own vehicles (myself included) added another 1.3 million additional bicycle trips — bringing the total annual trips to 13.8 million — while holding total trips constant. We've now increased cycling's share of person trips by 20 percent from the 2009 NHTS. Even given these very optimistic assumptions, cycling would only represent a little over 1.9 percent of all trips taken in Washington, D.C. (Capital Bikeshare's mode-share in this scenario: 0.14 percent of all trips.) It would take a pretty twisted view of reality to herald this figure as somehow revolutionizing urban mobility.
But where did these bike trips come from? Presumably, not every new trip was added by a resident that was previously stationary. No good survey data exist on mode-switching, but a paper presented at the previous annual Transportation Research Board meeting can help shed some light on how these people may have previously got around the city. The authors studied Montreal's BIXI bicycle-share program, widely touted as a success by cycling advocates. According to their research, of BIXI's approximately 17,000 daily trips, about 340 replaced personal auto trips and around 1,360 replaced taxi trips. The rest came from people who would have either walked, used existing bus and rail transit, or used their own bikes.
The Capital Bikeshare bikes cost around $1,000 a piece and have a life cycle of six years. Annual operating costs are somewhere closer to $2,000 per bike. In the past two years, I have spent approximately $500 on my personal bike that I commute to work on daily — $250 a year. And I average more trips per day and distance per trip than Capital Bikeshare. The program's costs given the benefits are simply absurd.
2011年9月27日星期二
In Japan, the Summer of Setsuden
After a long, hot and dark summer in Japan, the days are cooler and the nights are brighter. For this the Japanese can give thanks not just to September, but also to setsuden, or “energy saving,” an ambitious and strikingly successful campaign to conserve electricity after the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear-plant disasters.
The destruction of the Fukushima Daiichi plant led Japan to shut down all but 15 of its 54 nuclear reactors. This was a huge blow to a country that depends heavily on nuclear power and has made scant investments in renewable energy. As summer approached, the only way to avoid a national energy emergency was through drastic conservation. And so the Japanese powered down.
The government required big power users to reduce peak consumption by 15 percent. Utilities pleaded with consumers to pitch in. Industries, offices and private households turned lights off and thermostats up, above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Office workers traded suits and ties for kariyushi shirts, the Okinawan version of aloha wear. They moved their shifts to early mornings and weekends, climbed the stairs and worked by the dim glow of computer screens and LED lamps. Families stopped doing laundry every day; department stores and subway stations turned off the air-conditioning. Posters of happy cartoon light bulbs urged everybody to pitch in.
Setsuden worked. This month, the government lifted restrictions on power use, weeks ahead of schedule. Tokyo lit up again, having avoided blackouts and brownouts by keeping peak use well below last year’s levels.
The challenges are far from over. As Japan debates when or whether to bring nuclear plants back to life, it is firing up old oil- and gas-powered plants, a setback in its battle to curb greenhouse emissions. Some worry that the setsuden spirit will wear off this winter.
No one would ever want to go through what the Japanese have had to suffer through this year. Still, Japan has shown what can be done, quickly, to overcome an energy crisis. It’s a good lesson for the United States, with its fragile electric grid, huge power needs and raging fossil-fuel addiction: Consumption doesn’t always have to go up.
The destruction of the Fukushima Daiichi plant led Japan to shut down all but 15 of its 54 nuclear reactors. This was a huge blow to a country that depends heavily on nuclear power and has made scant investments in renewable energy. As summer approached, the only way to avoid a national energy emergency was through drastic conservation. And so the Japanese powered down.
The government required big power users to reduce peak consumption by 15 percent. Utilities pleaded with consumers to pitch in. Industries, offices and private households turned lights off and thermostats up, above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Office workers traded suits and ties for kariyushi shirts, the Okinawan version of aloha wear. They moved their shifts to early mornings and weekends, climbed the stairs and worked by the dim glow of computer screens and LED lamps. Families stopped doing laundry every day; department stores and subway stations turned off the air-conditioning. Posters of happy cartoon light bulbs urged everybody to pitch in.
Setsuden worked. This month, the government lifted restrictions on power use, weeks ahead of schedule. Tokyo lit up again, having avoided blackouts and brownouts by keeping peak use well below last year’s levels.
The challenges are far from over. As Japan debates when or whether to bring nuclear plants back to life, it is firing up old oil- and gas-powered plants, a setback in its battle to curb greenhouse emissions. Some worry that the setsuden spirit will wear off this winter.
No one would ever want to go through what the Japanese have had to suffer through this year. Still, Japan has shown what can be done, quickly, to overcome an energy crisis. It’s a good lesson for the United States, with its fragile electric grid, huge power needs and raging fossil-fuel addiction: Consumption doesn’t always have to go up.
2011年9月25日星期日
Afghanistan Warns Pakistan Over Flare-Ups at Border
Afghan defense officials warned Pakistan on Sunday to stop firing rockets and heavy artillery into the northeast of the country or the military will respond with force. Pakistan denied it was responsible.
In its strongest condemnation to date, the Afghan Defense Ministry accused the Pakistani army of firing more than 300 artillery rounds and rockets into Kunar and Nuristan provinces during the past five days.
The area is a haven for hardcore insurgent groups fighting in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. U.S.-led coalition forces have a light footprint in the area and the cross-border fighting highlights NATO's struggles to pacify the remote region. It also underscores the lack of cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan against their common foes.
The ministry said an unknown number of Afghan civilians have been killed by the shelling coming from Pakistani territory. Several houses and mosques have been destroyed and hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes, the ministry said.
"Once again, the Pakistani army started firing heavy artillery and rockets over innocent Afghan people from the other side of the Durand Line," the statement said, referring to the disputed 19th century demarcation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said he had asked security officials in the area of the reported shelling about the allegations and was waiting for a reply. He said those officials were surprised by the accusations since no activity had been reported in the area.
"I assume this is not correct news," said Abbas, in reference to the Afghan reports.
Pakistan complained earlier this summer that militants coming from Afghanistan killed at least 55 members of its security forces and tribal police and demanded that U.S. and Afghan forces do more to stem the flow of fighters.
Afghan defense officials said that according to their forces on the ground, more than 100 rockets or mortars rained down on the two provinces Saturday night.
"It's a clear attack on civilian residential areas," the ministry statement said.
"The Afghan Defense Ministry is strongly condemning the attack and is giving strong warnings that such violations (of sovereignty) will have their effect on the brotherly, friendly relations of two neighboring countries," the statement said. "There is no reason for continuing such attacks. The Pakistan government should know that Afghan National Army, with the support of the Afghan people, is ready to respond if such attacks continues."
The top U.S. military officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, last week accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency of supporting insurgents in planning and executing a 22-hour assault on the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan on Sept. 13 as well as a truck bomb days earlier that wounded 77 American troops.
The insurgents, from the Haqqani network, are affiliated with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The group primarily operates in eastern Afghanistan and is often blamed for attacks in Kabul.
In its strongest condemnation to date, the Afghan Defense Ministry accused the Pakistani army of firing more than 300 artillery rounds and rockets into Kunar and Nuristan provinces during the past five days.
The area is a haven for hardcore insurgent groups fighting in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. U.S.-led coalition forces have a light footprint in the area and the cross-border fighting highlights NATO's struggles to pacify the remote region. It also underscores the lack of cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan against their common foes.
The ministry said an unknown number of Afghan civilians have been killed by the shelling coming from Pakistani territory. Several houses and mosques have been destroyed and hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes, the ministry said.
"Once again, the Pakistani army started firing heavy artillery and rockets over innocent Afghan people from the other side of the Durand Line," the statement said, referring to the disputed 19th century demarcation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said he had asked security officials in the area of the reported shelling about the allegations and was waiting for a reply. He said those officials were surprised by the accusations since no activity had been reported in the area.
"I assume this is not correct news," said Abbas, in reference to the Afghan reports.
Pakistan complained earlier this summer that militants coming from Afghanistan killed at least 55 members of its security forces and tribal police and demanded that U.S. and Afghan forces do more to stem the flow of fighters.
Afghan defense officials said that according to their forces on the ground, more than 100 rockets or mortars rained down on the two provinces Saturday night.
"It's a clear attack on civilian residential areas," the ministry statement said.
"The Afghan Defense Ministry is strongly condemning the attack and is giving strong warnings that such violations (of sovereignty) will have their effect on the brotherly, friendly relations of two neighboring countries," the statement said. "There is no reason for continuing such attacks. The Pakistan government should know that Afghan National Army, with the support of the Afghan people, is ready to respond if such attacks continues."
The top U.S. military officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, last week accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency of supporting insurgents in planning and executing a 22-hour assault on the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan on Sept. 13 as well as a truck bomb days earlier that wounded 77 American troops.
The insurgents, from the Haqqani network, are affiliated with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The group primarily operates in eastern Afghanistan and is often blamed for attacks in Kabul.
2011年9月22日星期四
5 Watt MR1605WH-V2AN LED Lamp with driver From GlacialLight -With high efficiency Nichia LED
This high efficiency 5W LED lamp and driver are an ideal replacement for older, less-efficient light sources that use a GU5.3 bipin connector. The MR1605WH-V2AN LED lamp and GP-HS05N driver combo is a perfect choice for any location that can benefit from lower energy costs and more satisfied users. Its key advantages are remarkably low energy and maintenance costs.
This lamp's bright natural illumination is great for all interiors. Applications include architectural lighting, spot lighting, cabinet lighting, commercial lighting, retail lighting, accent lighting, hallway lighting, and other indoor spaces. The MR1605WH-V2AN uses Nichia LED technology for long life, low heat, and greatly reduced power costs.
A top priority during the design process for this product was saving money for users. The MR1605WH-V2AN's LED technology slashes maintenance costs, with a rated lifetime of 30,000 hours. Thanks to the specially-designed GP-HS05N driver, the LED lifetime is further prolonged by eliminating the need for an AC transformer and a DC-to-DC LED driver. This single stage power conversion also brings potential savings in cost, space, and thermal output. More energy efficient than traditional light sources, the MR1605WH-V2AN typically offers a luminous efficacy of up to 70, even as it reduces power consumption. This further cuts waste heat, helping to keep indoor temperatures under control and bringing impressive savings on air conditioning and cooling.
The MR1605WH-V2AN brings precision illumination on demand with a non-dimmable 50° beam. Two color variants are available. The GL-MR1605WH-V2AN-CW provides bright daylight illumination at 5000K with a Color Rendering Index of over 70, while the GL-MR1605WH-V2AN-WW illuminates with a warm 3000K beam and a CRI better than 80.
The GP-HS05N AC-to-DC driver accepts a wide range of AC power sources, from 100 volts to 240 volts, and has IP67 ingress protection against dust and water, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of environments, including harsh conditions.
The MR1605WH-V2AN and the HS05N-12C1 driver are carefully designed to work together to bring you outstanding performance. Use of the MR1605WH-V2AN with other drivers or power sources may impair product performance and lifetime, and void the warranty.
GlacialLight has made these products fully RoHS compliant to protect customers and the environment. They do not contain mercury or other hazardous chemicals. Unlike competing lighting products, the MR1605WH-V2AN does not emit harmful UV or IR radiation, making it far more eco-friendly than traditional lighting fixtures and other lighting technologies. Even the packaging can be recycled.
GlacialLight's Mizar Series is the low cost, well-designed choice for a wide range of interior lighting applications. The company backs up the MR1605WH-V2AN with a full two year warranty. GlacialLight is very excited to be bringing these new lamps and drivers to its existing and new partners all around the world.
This lamp's bright natural illumination is great for all interiors. Applications include architectural lighting, spot lighting, cabinet lighting, commercial lighting, retail lighting, accent lighting, hallway lighting, and other indoor spaces. The MR1605WH-V2AN uses Nichia LED technology for long life, low heat, and greatly reduced power costs.
A top priority during the design process for this product was saving money for users. The MR1605WH-V2AN's LED technology slashes maintenance costs, with a rated lifetime of 30,000 hours. Thanks to the specially-designed GP-HS05N driver, the LED lifetime is further prolonged by eliminating the need for an AC transformer and a DC-to-DC LED driver. This single stage power conversion also brings potential savings in cost, space, and thermal output. More energy efficient than traditional light sources, the MR1605WH-V2AN typically offers a luminous efficacy of up to 70, even as it reduces power consumption. This further cuts waste heat, helping to keep indoor temperatures under control and bringing impressive savings on air conditioning and cooling.
The MR1605WH-V2AN brings precision illumination on demand with a non-dimmable 50° beam. Two color variants are available. The GL-MR1605WH-V2AN-CW provides bright daylight illumination at 5000K with a Color Rendering Index of over 70, while the GL-MR1605WH-V2AN-WW illuminates with a warm 3000K beam and a CRI better than 80.
The GP-HS05N AC-to-DC driver accepts a wide range of AC power sources, from 100 volts to 240 volts, and has IP67 ingress protection against dust and water, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of environments, including harsh conditions.
The MR1605WH-V2AN and the HS05N-12C1 driver are carefully designed to work together to bring you outstanding performance. Use of the MR1605WH-V2AN with other drivers or power sources may impair product performance and lifetime, and void the warranty.
GlacialLight has made these products fully RoHS compliant to protect customers and the environment. They do not contain mercury or other hazardous chemicals. Unlike competing lighting products, the MR1605WH-V2AN does not emit harmful UV or IR radiation, making it far more eco-friendly than traditional lighting fixtures and other lighting technologies. Even the packaging can be recycled.
GlacialLight's Mizar Series is the low cost, well-designed choice for a wide range of interior lighting applications. The company backs up the MR1605WH-V2AN with a full two year warranty. GlacialLight is very excited to be bringing these new lamps and drivers to its existing and new partners all around the world.
2011年9月21日星期三
Hanford sewer plant to go solar
Hanford’s wastewater treatment plant — one of the most energy-intensive services for the city — is going solar.
On Tuesday, the Hanford City Council gave the staff the green light to move forward with the concept and draft a formal plan to partner with Chevron Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of Chevron USA, to turn that concept into reality.
Officials say the upgrade will allow the plant to get 60 percent of its power from the sun and will save at least $3.8 million over 20 years.
Doing the project now will help protect the city from rising utility costs in the future, said John Doyel, city deputy public works director.
“It’s the first large-scale city solar project in Hanford. We’re always trying to be conscious of energy conservation and saving money,” Doyel told the City Council. “It really reduces impacts of future electric cost increases. The anticipation with the requirements for utilities to move to renewable energy sources is that rates will rise over time. This will protect you from that.”
Because solar will offset the highest peak usage at the wastewater treatment plant in the middle of the day, the project leads to cost savings over time, Doyel said.
Hanford’s project is not a new concept in the growing world of renewable energy.
With California’s solar initiative rebate funds fast running out, municipalities across the state, including Lemoore and Kings County, are rushing to take on similar projects. Hanford is getting $1.69 million in state incentive funds over the next five years.
A new solar system is under construction at Dinuba’s wastewater treatment plant through a partnership with Chevron Energy Solutions. Parlier is working with Enfinity and Conergy to install solar panels at its plant.
Running a wastewater treatment plant is not cheap. Doyel said it costs the city about $500,000 a year in utilities to operate the plant.
The proposed 1-megawatt solar facility on a 6-acre site on Houston Avenue would supply 60 percent of the Hanford plant’s power need, representing a saving of about $300,000 a year.
The city received proposals from three vendors, including Chevron, Enfinity and SPG. After doing a 20-year cost savings analysis and considering experiences, Chevron came out as the best choice as a partner, Doyel said. The company has worked on Lemoore’s solar project. It is also developing a solar parking shade structure at the county government center.
On Tuesday, the Hanford City Council gave the staff the green light to move forward with the concept and draft a formal plan to partner with Chevron Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of Chevron USA, to turn that concept into reality.
Officials say the upgrade will allow the plant to get 60 percent of its power from the sun and will save at least $3.8 million over 20 years.
Doing the project now will help protect the city from rising utility costs in the future, said John Doyel, city deputy public works director.
“It’s the first large-scale city solar project in Hanford. We’re always trying to be conscious of energy conservation and saving money,” Doyel told the City Council. “It really reduces impacts of future electric cost increases. The anticipation with the requirements for utilities to move to renewable energy sources is that rates will rise over time. This will protect you from that.”
Because solar will offset the highest peak usage at the wastewater treatment plant in the middle of the day, the project leads to cost savings over time, Doyel said.
Hanford’s project is not a new concept in the growing world of renewable energy.
With California’s solar initiative rebate funds fast running out, municipalities across the state, including Lemoore and Kings County, are rushing to take on similar projects. Hanford is getting $1.69 million in state incentive funds over the next five years.
A new solar system is under construction at Dinuba’s wastewater treatment plant through a partnership with Chevron Energy Solutions. Parlier is working with Enfinity and Conergy to install solar panels at its plant.
Running a wastewater treatment plant is not cheap. Doyel said it costs the city about $500,000 a year in utilities to operate the plant.
The proposed 1-megawatt solar facility on a 6-acre site on Houston Avenue would supply 60 percent of the Hanford plant’s power need, representing a saving of about $300,000 a year.
The city received proposals from three vendors, including Chevron, Enfinity and SPG. After doing a 20-year cost savings analysis and considering experiences, Chevron came out as the best choice as a partner, Doyel said. The company has worked on Lemoore’s solar project. It is also developing a solar parking shade structure at the county government center.
New Orleans Saints sack Jay Cutler six times in 30-13 win over Chicago Bears
New Orleans' defense held Chicago to 246 yards of offense and only 60 on the ground -- 42 of which came on one run by Matt Forte on the Bears' first-quarter touchdown drive. Saints coach Sean Payton said taking away the run allowed the Saints to keep pressure on Cutler.
"Once a team becomes one-dimensional ... it's challenging in our league," he said. "When that little bit of threat of the run is removed, especially in an environment like this, that ends up being a recipe for a lot of hits."
Brees' bomb to Henderson was the big play of the first half. Chicago had opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Dane Sanzenbacher and the Saints had cut the lead to 7-3 with the first of three field goals by John Kasay, a 31-yarder at the end of the first quarter.
But with the Bears in a Cover 2 on third-and-12, Henderson got behind the secondary down the middle of the field to haul in Brees' pass in stride, slip a tackle and race to the end zone.
"I think Sean did a good job of calling that play at the right time, with that defense," Henderson said of Payton. "And we took advantage of it."
Kasay, who moved past Jason Elam into sixth place on the NFL's all-time field goals list with 438, was good from 29 and 53 yards and Chicago's Robbie Gould hit a 42-yarder on the final play of the first half, as New Orleans led 16-10 at halftime.
Gould added a 38-yard field goal early in the third quarter before the Saints' defense turned the tables, as Turk McBride stripped Cutler and Jonathan Vilma recovered at the Chicago 29. Five plays later, Brees found Meachem in the end zone for the 4-yard score and a 23-13 lead.
"It was, I'd say, the big turning point in the game," Brees said of McBride's strip, "because it was in the second half and that's when we wanted to establish ourselves and pull away."
Brees then found tight end Jimmy Graham with completions of 13, 15 and 7 yards and Mark Ingram ran for gains of 12 and 8 before Sproles took a short pass and sprinted up the right sideline from 12 yards out to make it 30-13 with 12:05 to play.
The defense took over from there, as five of the Saints' six sacks came in the fourth quarter, including two each by Junior Gallette and Roman Harper.
Henderson finished with three catches for 103 yards and the score. Ingram led the Saints on the ground with 51 yards on 14 carries.
Cutler was 19-of-45 for 244 yards and one touchdown for the Bears, who lost tackle Gabe Carimi and receiver Earl Bennett to injuries in the first half.
Forte was Chicago's only consistent weapon, running for 49 yards on 10 carries and catching 10 passes for 117 yards as Cutler repeatedly checked down under pressure.
"It was a long day out there," Cutler said. "I had to throw a lot of balls away before I wanted to. The Saints were the better team today."
"Once a team becomes one-dimensional ... it's challenging in our league," he said. "When that little bit of threat of the run is removed, especially in an environment like this, that ends up being a recipe for a lot of hits."
Brees' bomb to Henderson was the big play of the first half. Chicago had opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Dane Sanzenbacher and the Saints had cut the lead to 7-3 with the first of three field goals by John Kasay, a 31-yarder at the end of the first quarter.
But with the Bears in a Cover 2 on third-and-12, Henderson got behind the secondary down the middle of the field to haul in Brees' pass in stride, slip a tackle and race to the end zone.
"I think Sean did a good job of calling that play at the right time, with that defense," Henderson said of Payton. "And we took advantage of it."
Kasay, who moved past Jason Elam into sixth place on the NFL's all-time field goals list with 438, was good from 29 and 53 yards and Chicago's Robbie Gould hit a 42-yarder on the final play of the first half, as New Orleans led 16-10 at halftime.
Gould added a 38-yard field goal early in the third quarter before the Saints' defense turned the tables, as Turk McBride stripped Cutler and Jonathan Vilma recovered at the Chicago 29. Five plays later, Brees found Meachem in the end zone for the 4-yard score and a 23-13 lead.
"It was, I'd say, the big turning point in the game," Brees said of McBride's strip, "because it was in the second half and that's when we wanted to establish ourselves and pull away."
Brees then found tight end Jimmy Graham with completions of 13, 15 and 7 yards and Mark Ingram ran for gains of 12 and 8 before Sproles took a short pass and sprinted up the right sideline from 12 yards out to make it 30-13 with 12:05 to play.
The defense took over from there, as five of the Saints' six sacks came in the fourth quarter, including two each by Junior Gallette and Roman Harper.
Henderson finished with three catches for 103 yards and the score. Ingram led the Saints on the ground with 51 yards on 14 carries.
Cutler was 19-of-45 for 244 yards and one touchdown for the Bears, who lost tackle Gabe Carimi and receiver Earl Bennett to injuries in the first half.
Forte was Chicago's only consistent weapon, running for 49 yards on 10 carries and catching 10 passes for 117 yards as Cutler repeatedly checked down under pressure.
"It was a long day out there," Cutler said. "I had to throw a lot of balls away before I wanted to. The Saints were the better team today."
2011年9月20日星期二
AEP Offering Discount On Some LED Bulbs
American Electric Power of Ohio said Monday it is offering a $10-$15 discount on some LED bulbs.
According to a news release, AEP is offering the discount on select models of on ENERGY STAR LED -- or light-emitting diode -- bulbs.
The pilot program is part of an overall initiative to reduce the price of select ENERGY STAR-qualified products for AEP Ohio customers.
"LED bulbs approach 80 percent efficiency, which means 80 percent of their electrical energy is converted to light energy. Compare that with incandescent bulbs, which operate at about 20 percent efficiency," the AEP release said.
The discount on LED bulbs is being offered through a pilot program available at nearly 60 retail outlets in Ohio.
"We are offering these in-store discounts on LED bulbs through the end of 2011 at Sam's Club, The Home Depot and Lowe's stores across our Ohio service territory," said Jon Williams, AEP Ohio manager energy efficiency and peak demand response. "Included among the benefits of LEDs are high-energy efficiency, long operating lifetime, reduced radiant heat, directional illumination and aesthetic appearance."
The discount is available on purchases made Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 or until funds are depleted, the AEP release said.
According to the release, the AEP Ohio ENERGY STAR LED Pilot Program is part of the gridSMART initiative offered by the utility to help its residential customers use less energy, lower energy costs, conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
According to a news release, AEP is offering the discount on select models of on ENERGY STAR LED -- or light-emitting diode -- bulbs.
The pilot program is part of an overall initiative to reduce the price of select ENERGY STAR-qualified products for AEP Ohio customers.
"LED bulbs approach 80 percent efficiency, which means 80 percent of their electrical energy is converted to light energy. Compare that with incandescent bulbs, which operate at about 20 percent efficiency," the AEP release said.
The discount on LED bulbs is being offered through a pilot program available at nearly 60 retail outlets in Ohio.
"We are offering these in-store discounts on LED bulbs through the end of 2011 at Sam's Club, The Home Depot and Lowe's stores across our Ohio service territory," said Jon Williams, AEP Ohio manager energy efficiency and peak demand response. "Included among the benefits of LEDs are high-energy efficiency, long operating lifetime, reduced radiant heat, directional illumination and aesthetic appearance."
The discount is available on purchases made Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 or until funds are depleted, the AEP release said.
According to the release, the AEP Ohio ENERGY STAR LED Pilot Program is part of the gridSMART initiative offered by the utility to help its residential customers use less energy, lower energy costs, conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
2011年9月19日星期一
College Football Sunday Rewind: The post-championship moments edition
Every college football season provides moments that shed Diving lamp on whether a team is championship-worthy or not. We saw two of those in Week 3 by LSU and Oklahoma.
With cowbells clanging Thursday night in Starkville, LSU led Mississippi State 9-6 entering the fourth quarter. Then Jarrett Lee, the once-maligned quarterback as a freshman, and LSU's power running game with Spencer Ware wore down the Bulldogs. LSU outgained Mississippi State in total yards 128 to 59 in the fourth quarter.
"We played the No. 1 team in the country, which I'm sure they are," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen told reporters afterward.
On Saturday night in Tallahassee, Oklahoma -- the actual No. 1 right now in both polls --had a championship moment of its own. Florida State, rebuilding its glory days with a talented defense, had just tied the game on a third-and-28 heave for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma faced third-and-12 on its next drive at the Sooners' 41-yard line. Landry Jones completed it to Ryan Broyles for a 22-yard gain. One play later, Kenny Stills made a leaping touchdown grab to put Oklahoma ahead for good.
LSU-Oklahoma may not be the BCS Championship Game matchup in New Orleans in January, as it was in the 2003 season. Alabama and a couple other schools will factor into the equation, too. But if either LSU or Oklahoma reach New Orleans, they can look back at championship moments from Week 3 as a big reason why.
These rankings aren't necessarily who I believe are the top 10 teams. Rather, it's who I think has accomplished the most to date. The better the opponent a team beats, the higher they'll be ranked. Road wins carry extra weight in my eyes. These rankings will look odd at times, especially early in the season.
The Tigers have the best resume with a neutral-site win over Oregon and a road win at Mississippi State. The offense may not be great, but it may not have to with the power running game and the talent on defense. Now all the Tigers have to do is go to Morgantown this week for a game against West Virginia.
With cowbells clanging Thursday night in Starkville, LSU led Mississippi State 9-6 entering the fourth quarter. Then Jarrett Lee, the once-maligned quarterback as a freshman, and LSU's power running game with Spencer Ware wore down the Bulldogs. LSU outgained Mississippi State in total yards 128 to 59 in the fourth quarter.
"We played the No. 1 team in the country, which I'm sure they are," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen told reporters afterward.
On Saturday night in Tallahassee, Oklahoma -- the actual No. 1 right now in both polls --had a championship moment of its own. Florida State, rebuilding its glory days with a talented defense, had just tied the game on a third-and-28 heave for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma faced third-and-12 on its next drive at the Sooners' 41-yard line. Landry Jones completed it to Ryan Broyles for a 22-yard gain. One play later, Kenny Stills made a leaping touchdown grab to put Oklahoma ahead for good.
LSU-Oklahoma may not be the BCS Championship Game matchup in New Orleans in January, as it was in the 2003 season. Alabama and a couple other schools will factor into the equation, too. But if either LSU or Oklahoma reach New Orleans, they can look back at championship moments from Week 3 as a big reason why.
These rankings aren't necessarily who I believe are the top 10 teams. Rather, it's who I think has accomplished the most to date. The better the opponent a team beats, the higher they'll be ranked. Road wins carry extra weight in my eyes. These rankings will look odd at times, especially early in the season.
The Tigers have the best resume with a neutral-site win over Oregon and a road win at Mississippi State. The offense may not be great, but it may not have to with the power running game and the talent on defense. Now all the Tigers have to do is go to Morgantown this week for a game against West Virginia.
2011年9月16日星期五
LED Spotlight With Ergonomic Handle
Designed to operate on a variety of voltages ranging from Capable 9 to 48 Volts DC simply by connecting the unit to a suitable power source, this industrial grade spotlight is equipped with a solid composite plastic handle with an ergonomic design for easy handling and a sure grip. Connection to power sources includes a variety of optional cords including 16 and 25 foot straight cords with cigarette plugs, a 21 foot cord with battery clamps, and a 16 foot straight cord ending in battery ring terminals or a cigarette plug. A single heavy duty tension hinge connects the lamp to the handle, and the lamp housing is constructed of heavy extruded aluminum for serious durability.
The LED and reflector assembly is protected by an unbreakable shatterproof polycarbonate lens and produces a tightly focused light beam reaching over 600 feet in length. Unlike other LED spotlights, the LED and reflector assembly on this unit produces a very tightly focused light beam with little of the spread or wide angle fade of other similar units. The LEDs in this unit are rated at 50,000 hours of life expectancy and run cool enough to touch during operation, removing the possibility of the accidental burns associated with incandescent lamps.
This LED spotlight is IP68 rated waterproof and dustproof and will withstand full submersion in water up to 3 meters, making it well suited for marine applications. The high output, low power requirements, and extreme durability and versatility of this LED spotlight makes it ideal for security, law enforcement, hunting, and cable/power/utility work applications where operators need an effective and well focused light source than can run for extended periods without draining a vehicles batteries.
“The HL-7LED-3C is a very tough, durable LED light with a focused spot beam,” said Rob Bresnahan. “This LED light with a cast aluminum head and watertight construction can be used for inspection in and around boats, vehicles and heavy equipment. You can drop this LED light into 3 feet of water, pick it up and get back to work. Plus, this handheld LED light is cool to the touch and can run 24/7 for 5.5 years straight without needing a bulb change. We really see this as a lifetime 12/24 volt LED work light that is completely maintenance free.”
Magnalight by Larson Electronics carries a wide array of LED spotlights, Law Enforcement spotlights, LED light bars, 12/24 Volt LED lights, and industrial grade work lights, and offers a comprehensive selection of the latest in industrial/commercial lighting technology.
The LED and reflector assembly is protected by an unbreakable shatterproof polycarbonate lens and produces a tightly focused light beam reaching over 600 feet in length. Unlike other LED spotlights, the LED and reflector assembly on this unit produces a very tightly focused light beam with little of the spread or wide angle fade of other similar units. The LEDs in this unit are rated at 50,000 hours of life expectancy and run cool enough to touch during operation, removing the possibility of the accidental burns associated with incandescent lamps.
This LED spotlight is IP68 rated waterproof and dustproof and will withstand full submersion in water up to 3 meters, making it well suited for marine applications. The high output, low power requirements, and extreme durability and versatility of this LED spotlight makes it ideal for security, law enforcement, hunting, and cable/power/utility work applications where operators need an effective and well focused light source than can run for extended periods without draining a vehicles batteries.
“The HL-7LED-3C is a very tough, durable LED light with a focused spot beam,” said Rob Bresnahan. “This LED light with a cast aluminum head and watertight construction can be used for inspection in and around boats, vehicles and heavy equipment. You can drop this LED light into 3 feet of water, pick it up and get back to work. Plus, this handheld LED light is cool to the touch and can run 24/7 for 5.5 years straight without needing a bulb change. We really see this as a lifetime 12/24 volt LED work light that is completely maintenance free.”
Magnalight by Larson Electronics carries a wide array of LED spotlights, Law Enforcement spotlights, LED light bars, 12/24 Volt LED lights, and industrial grade work lights, and offers a comprehensive selection of the latest in industrial/commercial lighting technology.
2011年9月15日星期四
New accessories from Lezyne and SKS
Accessory company Lezyne is branching out into yet another product category for 2012: self-contained LED lights. While that segment of the market is already highly saturated, Lezyne has infused its trio of models with its own design flair and some rather unique features.
The claimed outputs are impressive considering the size and weight. The top-end Super Drive model churns out 450 lumens – good enough for legitimate trail riding – while weighing just 126g and yet will still supposedly run for 90 minutes at full power. The mid-range Power Drive supposedly produces 300 lumens at 120g, and the smallest Mini Drive model still pumps out 150 lumens at a measly 66g. All of the lights have various output settings to extend the burn time along with blinking modes for high visibility.
All three models also use extruded aluminum housings, highly polished reflectors, and tightly threaded-on caps at both ends that render them virtually waterproof (Lezyne doesn't bill them as such but the company says all of the lights have been successfully tested underwater). The USB-rechargeable batteries are easily removable and also non-proprietary, meaning that users can also simply buy spares as necessary at local hardware or electronics stores to extend the run time.
Lezyne will include both 25.4mm and 31.8mm-diameter bar mounts with each light and a helmet mount option is currently in development.
Lezyne hasn't neglected its bread-and-butter pump category, however. Major news includes a lower-priced floor pump built with an alloy body, wooden handle, and a new composite base. All of Lezyne's floor pumps will get new heads, too, with a trick Air Bleed System that depressurizes the hose for easier chuck removal plus a press-fit right-angle head that works with non-threaded valve stems or disc wheels.
That ABS design even makes its way into Lezyne's superb range of mini-pumps, while road versions get a new reversible Presta-specific hose with a threaded chuck at one end and a press-fit head at the other one.
The ultra-shiny CNC Rod is essentially just an extruded section of aluminum but with a hexagonal receptacle at one end that accepts a variety of forged steel inserts: a reversible Shimano-type splined bottom bracket and cassette tool, a reversible bottom bracket tool for eight-point external or ISIS internal-spline cups, and finally a single-purpose tool just for Shimano-type bottom brackets.
The claimed outputs are impressive considering the size and weight. The top-end Super Drive model churns out 450 lumens – good enough for legitimate trail riding – while weighing just 126g and yet will still supposedly run for 90 minutes at full power. The mid-range Power Drive supposedly produces 300 lumens at 120g, and the smallest Mini Drive model still pumps out 150 lumens at a measly 66g. All of the lights have various output settings to extend the burn time along with blinking modes for high visibility.
All three models also use extruded aluminum housings, highly polished reflectors, and tightly threaded-on caps at both ends that render them virtually waterproof (Lezyne doesn't bill them as such but the company says all of the lights have been successfully tested underwater). The USB-rechargeable batteries are easily removable and also non-proprietary, meaning that users can also simply buy spares as necessary at local hardware or electronics stores to extend the run time.
Lezyne will include both 25.4mm and 31.8mm-diameter bar mounts with each light and a helmet mount option is currently in development.
Lezyne hasn't neglected its bread-and-butter pump category, however. Major news includes a lower-priced floor pump built with an alloy body, wooden handle, and a new composite base. All of Lezyne's floor pumps will get new heads, too, with a trick Air Bleed System that depressurizes the hose for easier chuck removal plus a press-fit right-angle head that works with non-threaded valve stems or disc wheels.
That ABS design even makes its way into Lezyne's superb range of mini-pumps, while road versions get a new reversible Presta-specific hose with a threaded chuck at one end and a press-fit head at the other one.
The ultra-shiny CNC Rod is essentially just an extruded section of aluminum but with a hexagonal receptacle at one end that accepts a variety of forged steel inserts: a reversible Shimano-type splined bottom bracket and cassette tool, a reversible bottom bracket tool for eight-point external or ISIS internal-spline cups, and finally a single-purpose tool just for Shimano-type bottom brackets.
2011年9月13日星期二
Fight The Flop: Join The Movement To Eradicate Diving From Football
The penalty for diving is a yellow card. It seems like a risk worth taking when unfairly winning a penalty kick could swing the game. But why would a professional want to cheat in the first place?
“Flopping compromises the integrity of the sport and the honor. There are very few ways to compromise football. Other sports have trick plays or ways to cheat but with football it has always been cut and dry.”
Start here – the more a team wins, the higher the market value of the players, and more bank for the club’s coffers. And when has football ever been about fairness? The ball lands over the goal line and no camera is there to correct the blind ref; FIFA itself is recognised as an organization packed with cheats and chancers; match fixing and corruption is widespread throughout the football world. In this light, it’s easy to see why players are willing to take a dive. Why shouldn’t they throw themselves down and try for a bigger cut of the pie?
“There is a big disconnect between the game’s governing bodies, the fans and the players,” says Amarante. “It is as if they have hidden agendas. Fight the Flop wants to blow this up, we want to bring attention to diving, and shed a negative light on it. Fans are upset about it. We want to get fan backing for this and rally support from some folks higher up in football, who do respect the originality of the game, and force FIFA to do something about it.”
But do fans want football to be sanitized? Cleanliness could rob the game of enduring grudges. If every player were a saint, then when would the fans get to whistle down the enemy? Trickery and deception exist naturally in parts of the soccer world, in South America it is accepted as the spirit of the game. The challenge for teams is to be smarter about cheating than your opponents. Amarante admits that these are issues fans “would have to debate, to decide what type of game we want.”
“Flopping compromises the integrity of the sport and the honor. There are very few ways to compromise football. Other sports have trick plays or ways to cheat but with football it has always been cut and dry.”
Start here – the more a team wins, the higher the market value of the players, and more bank for the club’s coffers. And when has football ever been about fairness? The ball lands over the goal line and no camera is there to correct the blind ref; FIFA itself is recognised as an organization packed with cheats and chancers; match fixing and corruption is widespread throughout the football world. In this light, it’s easy to see why players are willing to take a dive. Why shouldn’t they throw themselves down and try for a bigger cut of the pie?
“There is a big disconnect between the game’s governing bodies, the fans and the players,” says Amarante. “It is as if they have hidden agendas. Fight the Flop wants to blow this up, we want to bring attention to diving, and shed a negative light on it. Fans are upset about it. We want to get fan backing for this and rally support from some folks higher up in football, who do respect the originality of the game, and force FIFA to do something about it.”
But do fans want football to be sanitized? Cleanliness could rob the game of enduring grudges. If every player were a saint, then when would the fans get to whistle down the enemy? Trickery and deception exist naturally in parts of the soccer world, in South America it is accepted as the spirit of the game. The challenge for teams is to be smarter about cheating than your opponents. Amarante admits that these are issues fans “would have to debate, to decide what type of game we want.”
Many blunders in a short tenure
Yoshio Hachiro's lamentable remarks concerning radiation were not an isolated incident during his nine-day tenure as economy, trade and industry minister; his inconsistent comments on energy and trade policies also confused ministry officials, it has been learned.
At a press conference on Friday to explain the third supplementary budget in the current fiscal year, Hachiro stated that the eco point system for electricity-saving devices would not resume. The eco point system was introduced in 2009 as an economic stimulus measure.
But only two days prior on Wednesday, Hachiro told reporters: "The eco point system was successful. I'd like to encourage the public to be more conscious about saving electricity; for example, to change existinglights to Diving lamp [through the eco point system]."
Hachiro changed his tune after a briefing about the system from ministry officials. According to sources, Hachiro backed away from his initial remarks after hearing of the costs involved, and that many consumers would not use the obtained points to buy eco-friendly items.
"After the economic minister mentioned resuming the eco point system, concerns about consumer reluctance to buy home electrical appliances began to grow," a senior official said.
Hachiro caused yet another controversy in an interview on Sept. 5., when asked to comment on the government's energy policy. "We'll not build new. Basically, nuclear power plants will be zero," Hachiro said.
Hachiro made the remark before providing concrete plans on how the government planned to break away from the country's dependence on nuclear power generation.
The timing of this remark caused concern among local municipalities that house nuclear power plants.
Industry sectors were also shocked by Hachiro's unexpected remarks on energy policy.
Hachiro's resignation may also have an impact on discussions over whether Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade agreement.
Hachiro was knowledgeable about agricultural administration and well connected with farmers organizations. Economic ministry officials therefore had high expectations for Hachiro's performance.
A senior official said the appointment of Hachiro as economic minister "would encourage promotion of the TPP."
At a press conference on Friday to explain the third supplementary budget in the current fiscal year, Hachiro stated that the eco point system for electricity-saving devices would not resume. The eco point system was introduced in 2009 as an economic stimulus measure.
But only two days prior on Wednesday, Hachiro told reporters: "The eco point system was successful. I'd like to encourage the public to be more conscious about saving electricity; for example, to change existinglights to Diving lamp [through the eco point system]."
Hachiro changed his tune after a briefing about the system from ministry officials. According to sources, Hachiro backed away from his initial remarks after hearing of the costs involved, and that many consumers would not use the obtained points to buy eco-friendly items.
"After the economic minister mentioned resuming the eco point system, concerns about consumer reluctance to buy home electrical appliances began to grow," a senior official said.
Hachiro caused yet another controversy in an interview on Sept. 5., when asked to comment on the government's energy policy. "We'll not build new. Basically, nuclear power plants will be zero," Hachiro said.
Hachiro made the remark before providing concrete plans on how the government planned to break away from the country's dependence on nuclear power generation.
The timing of this remark caused concern among local municipalities that house nuclear power plants.
Industry sectors were also shocked by Hachiro's unexpected remarks on energy policy.
Hachiro's resignation may also have an impact on discussions over whether Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade agreement.
Hachiro was knowledgeable about agricultural administration and well connected with farmers organizations. Economic ministry officials therefore had high expectations for Hachiro's performance.
A senior official said the appointment of Hachiro as economic minister "would encourage promotion of the TPP."
2011年9月1日星期四
Better Lights
University of Florida researchers are flipping the switch on a bright idea that might outshine both incandescent bulbs and fluorescent Diving lamp. A team of engineers is developing a new type of light from light-emitting-diode or LED technology. This high-performance, hybrid LED utilizes quantum dots, tiny nano-sized crystals that emit an array of colored lights when excited by electricity.
Jiangeng Xue/UF material science researcher: “The specific LED devices we have been making, the maximum brightness can be about 70,000. So at least one other magnitude brighter than the fluorescent light lamps we are using.”
Since these LED devices can achieve at least ten times more light emission compared to a fluorescent fixture, less space is needed to emit the same amount of light on one given spot. Researchers say their work could pave the way for the manufacture of efficient and stable quantum dot-based LEDs at a low cost.
Jiangeng Xue/UF material science researcher: “So, I imagine that in the future the cost for these nanoparticle synthesis will be coming down dramatically and that’ll get to the level that we can actually use large quantity to do mass production.“
Researchers say these new devices will be efficient, inexpensive and have a lifetime of about 50,000 hours.
Jiangeng Xue/UF material science researcher: “The specific LED devices we have been making, the maximum brightness can be about 70,000. So at least one other magnitude brighter than the fluorescent light lamps we are using.”
Since these LED devices can achieve at least ten times more light emission compared to a fluorescent fixture, less space is needed to emit the same amount of light on one given spot. Researchers say their work could pave the way for the manufacture of efficient and stable quantum dot-based LEDs at a low cost.
Jiangeng Xue/UF material science researcher: “So, I imagine that in the future the cost for these nanoparticle synthesis will be coming down dramatically and that’ll get to the level that we can actually use large quantity to do mass production.“
Researchers say these new devices will be efficient, inexpensive and have a lifetime of about 50,000 hours.
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