Ortmann said Skyhaven lucked out last summer and, unlike some local airports, was not in the middle of any major construction project during the temporary FAA shutdown. Still, he said he was pleased to see a long-term funding plan approved for the administration.
"It gives us a blueprint or plan of action for the future," he said.
Ortmann said the SAAC created a master plan for the airport a number of years ago, updated in 2010, and that while some of the projects have already been completed or may not be eligible for federal funding, some of those proposed for the next couple years will be made easier thanks to the new legislation.
"The ability to plan for improvements is one of the bigger benefits," he said.
One of these projects is the rehabilitation of one of the runways, which would include resurfacing and repaving of the area.
The design for this project will be done this year, according to the master plan, 95 percent of which — or about $361,000 — could be paid for by the FAA. The actual construction of this project, which is estimated to cost about $1.8 million, $1.7 million of which could be funded by the FAA, is scheduled for completion in 2013.
Another project slated for the next couple years, Ortmann said, that would be eligible for FAA funding under the new bill, is the installation of new, brighter lights on one of the airport's runways.
This project, slated for 2014 in the master plan, would cost about $80,000, $76,000 of which could be paid for by the FAA.
According to Ortmann, the project would help to make the airport more usable, by working toward decreasing the visibility minimums required for aircraft landing at the airport.
Ortmann said there are certain procedures and requirements a pilot must meet before landing at an airport to ensure the safety of passengers and those on the ground. These requirements include the minimum visibility levels a pilot must have before landing.
For example, pilots flying into Skyhaven, he said, have to be able to see the ground from about 600 to 700 feet and have one mile of visibility ahead of them in order to land. Larger airports, with longer and wider runways and more advanced radar technology — Skyhaven Airport has no control tower and qualifies as uncontrolled air space — have less restrictive minimums, he said.
The new lighting system, however, would help decrease that distance to three-quarters of a mile, making it easier for pilots to land at night and on days with poor weather.
According to the master plan, this decrease would provide operational benefits to aircraft operators and potentially increase the number of aircraft that land at Skyhaven.
2012年2月8日星期三
Albeo Sees 300 Percent Increase in LED Retrofits
The LED lighting revolution isn't quite happening yet in the home, but that doesn't mean it isn't settling into certain commercial and industrial sectors.
For one company, Albeo Technologies, the focus on the industrial sector has reaped a 50-percent increase in revenue in 2011 and an increase in LED retrofits of 300 percent. In the LED space, Albeo is not alone. Redwood Systems, for example, saw year-over-year growth in sales of more than 300 percent, and Lighting Science Group produced 4.5 million LEDs in 2011, a 450-percent increase compared to 2010.
Albeo and others only expect that trend to continue in 2012, as cold storage facilities, data centers and other large retail and industrial sectors embrace LEDs. Jeff Bisberg, CEO of Albeo, said that cold storage and data centers are seeing a 1.5- to 2-year payback for LED lights, which is making them extremely attractive compared to high-bay, high-intensity discharge lamps. The Boulder-based company has lights in more than 7 million square feet of space.
Besides its industrial focus, the Albeo team says the secret to the firm's current success is in the modular solution that can fit any building design. "Light fixtures are the last thing to go into the building," said Bisberg. "It has to conform to whatever is happening below."
To offer customers the flexibility they're looking for, Albeo says its flexible system can fit whatever the needs of the space are. And while Albeo offers controls as well, it is controls-agnostic, rather than focusing on the controls as the selling point. "The control technology is pretty mature," argued Bisberg, "while the LED technology is still changing."
In 2012, Albeo is "cautiously optimistic." The success is expected to continue to come from retrofits, as well as the industrial sector, including food processing, large distribution warehouses and aircraft hangars. Once any sector starts to see about a 1.5-year payback, that's when the mass adoption is happening, as it is with cold storage. A 2010 Enterprise LED Lighting report from Groom Energy and GTM Research also found that the market for LEDs in parking garages should start to mature going into 2012.
Outside of commercial and industrial applications, the interest is still nascent. There will be some groundwork laid in 2012, but GTM Research and Groom Energy see the period of 2013 to 2015 as the breakout years for those markets.
"The market is wide," said Bisberg, "and there's going to be a lot of winners. We're pretty excited about the future."
For one company, Albeo Technologies, the focus on the industrial sector has reaped a 50-percent increase in revenue in 2011 and an increase in LED retrofits of 300 percent. In the LED space, Albeo is not alone. Redwood Systems, for example, saw year-over-year growth in sales of more than 300 percent, and Lighting Science Group produced 4.5 million LEDs in 2011, a 450-percent increase compared to 2010.
Albeo and others only expect that trend to continue in 2012, as cold storage facilities, data centers and other large retail and industrial sectors embrace LEDs. Jeff Bisberg, CEO of Albeo, said that cold storage and data centers are seeing a 1.5- to 2-year payback for LED lights, which is making them extremely attractive compared to high-bay, high-intensity discharge lamps. The Boulder-based company has lights in more than 7 million square feet of space.
Besides its industrial focus, the Albeo team says the secret to the firm's current success is in the modular solution that can fit any building design. "Light fixtures are the last thing to go into the building," said Bisberg. "It has to conform to whatever is happening below."
To offer customers the flexibility they're looking for, Albeo says its flexible system can fit whatever the needs of the space are. And while Albeo offers controls as well, it is controls-agnostic, rather than focusing on the controls as the selling point. "The control technology is pretty mature," argued Bisberg, "while the LED technology is still changing."
In 2012, Albeo is "cautiously optimistic." The success is expected to continue to come from retrofits, as well as the industrial sector, including food processing, large distribution warehouses and aircraft hangars. Once any sector starts to see about a 1.5-year payback, that's when the mass adoption is happening, as it is with cold storage. A 2010 Enterprise LED Lighting report from Groom Energy and GTM Research also found that the market for LEDs in parking garages should start to mature going into 2012.
Outside of commercial and industrial applications, the interest is still nascent. There will be some groundwork laid in 2012, but GTM Research and Groom Energy see the period of 2013 to 2015 as the breakout years for those markets.
"The market is wide," said Bisberg, "and there's going to be a lot of winners. We're pretty excited about the future."
2012年2月5日星期日
Materials for first optical fibers with high-speed electronic function are developed
For the first time, a group of chemists, physicists, and engineers has developed crystalline materials that allow an optical fiber to have integrated, high-speed electronic functions. The potential applications of such optical fibers include improved telecommunications and other hybrid optical and electronic technologies, improved laser technology, and more-accurate remote-sensing devices.
The research was initiated by Rongrui He, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at Penn State University. The international team, led by John Badding, a professor of chemistry at Penn State, will publish its findings in the journal Nature Photonics.
Badding explained that one of the greatest current technological challenges is exchanging information between optics and electronics rapidly and efficiently. Existing technology has resulted in sometimes-clumsy ways of merging optical fibers with electronic chips -- silicon-based integrated circuits that serve as the building blocks for most semiconductor electronic devices such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), computers, and cell phones.
"The optical fiber is usually a passive medium that simply transports light, while the chip is the piece that performs the electrical part of the equation," Badding said. "For example, light is transmitted from London to New York via fiber-optic cables when two people set up a video call on their computers. But the computer screens and associated electronic devices have to take that light and convert it to an image, which is an electrical process. Light and electricity are working in concert in a process called an OEO conversion, or an optical-electrical-optical conversion."
The integration of optical fibers and chips is difficult for many reasons. First, fibers are round and cylindrical, while chips are flat, so simply shaping the connection between the two is a challenge. Another challenge is the alignment of pieces that are so small. "An optical fiber is 10 times smaller than the width of a human hair. On top of that, there are light-guiding pathways that are built onto chips that are even smaller than the fibers by as much as 100 times," Badding said. "So imagine just trying to line those two devices up. That feat is a big challenge for today's technology."
To address these challenges, the team members took a different approach. Rather than merge a flat chip with a round optical fiber, they found a way to build a new kind of optical fiber with its own integrated electronic component, thereby bypassing the need to integrate fiber-optics onto a chip.
To do this, they used high-pressure chemistry techniques to deposit semiconducting materials directly, layer by layer, into tiny holes in optical fibers. "The big breakthrough here is that we don't need the whole chip as part of the finished product. We have managed to build the junction -- the active boundary where all the electronic action takes place -- right into the fiber," said Pier J. A. Sazio of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and one of the team's leaders.
Sazio added that one of the key goals of research in this field is to create a fast, all-fiber network. "If the signal never leaves the fiber, then it is a faster, cheaper, and more efficient technology," said Sazio. "Moving technology off the chip and directly onto the fiber, which is the more-natural place for light, opens up the potential for embedded semiconductors to carry optoelectronic applications to the next level. At present, you still have electrical switching at both ends of the optical fiber. If we can actually generate signals inside a fiber, a whole range of optoelectronic applications becomes possible."
The research was initiated by Rongrui He, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at Penn State University. The international team, led by John Badding, a professor of chemistry at Penn State, will publish its findings in the journal Nature Photonics.
Badding explained that one of the greatest current technological challenges is exchanging information between optics and electronics rapidly and efficiently. Existing technology has resulted in sometimes-clumsy ways of merging optical fibers with electronic chips -- silicon-based integrated circuits that serve as the building blocks for most semiconductor electronic devices such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), computers, and cell phones.
"The optical fiber is usually a passive medium that simply transports light, while the chip is the piece that performs the electrical part of the equation," Badding said. "For example, light is transmitted from London to New York via fiber-optic cables when two people set up a video call on their computers. But the computer screens and associated electronic devices have to take that light and convert it to an image, which is an electrical process. Light and electricity are working in concert in a process called an OEO conversion, or an optical-electrical-optical conversion."
The integration of optical fibers and chips is difficult for many reasons. First, fibers are round and cylindrical, while chips are flat, so simply shaping the connection between the two is a challenge. Another challenge is the alignment of pieces that are so small. "An optical fiber is 10 times smaller than the width of a human hair. On top of that, there are light-guiding pathways that are built onto chips that are even smaller than the fibers by as much as 100 times," Badding said. "So imagine just trying to line those two devices up. That feat is a big challenge for today's technology."
To address these challenges, the team members took a different approach. Rather than merge a flat chip with a round optical fiber, they found a way to build a new kind of optical fiber with its own integrated electronic component, thereby bypassing the need to integrate fiber-optics onto a chip.
To do this, they used high-pressure chemistry techniques to deposit semiconducting materials directly, layer by layer, into tiny holes in optical fibers. "The big breakthrough here is that we don't need the whole chip as part of the finished product. We have managed to build the junction -- the active boundary where all the electronic action takes place -- right into the fiber," said Pier J. A. Sazio of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and one of the team's leaders.
Sazio added that one of the key goals of research in this field is to create a fast, all-fiber network. "If the signal never leaves the fiber, then it is a faster, cheaper, and more efficient technology," said Sazio. "Moving technology off the chip and directly onto the fiber, which is the more-natural place for light, opens up the potential for embedded semiconductors to carry optoelectronic applications to the next level. At present, you still have electrical switching at both ends of the optical fiber. If we can actually generate signals inside a fiber, a whole range of optoelectronic applications becomes possible."
2012年2月2日星期四
ST Micro to improve smartphone cameras with 40W LED flash
STMicroelectronics hopes to make blurry low-light images from smartphone cameras a thing of the past with a new chip designed to boost light output from LED-based flashes.
The ideal camera flash delivers a lot of light in a short time, freezing action and illuminating more distant objects. Professional cameras use a xenon strobe light to produce a brief burst - or flash - of light, but the lighting on smartphone cameras is typically provided by an LED.
The light output of a battery-powered LED is continuous, and much lower in intensity than a flash, leading to longer exposure times and darker, blurrier pictures.
But ST hopes to change that with its new STCF04 multifunction chip, which it says can control flash power up to 40W, compared to perhaps 2W for typical LED flashes today.
The key is the chip's ability to control the charging and discharging of a supercapacitor, which it uses to gradually store energy from the phone's battery and then deliver it to the LED in a short burst. That's similar to the way that xenon strobes work, but the LED-supercap combination does the job with just a few volts, making it much safer - and the components more compact -than the hundreds or thousands of volts needed to drive a xenon strobe.
ST's chip, just 3 millimeters square, will add US$2 or less to the cost of a cell phone, it said.
It contains a charger to store energy in a supercap, and a driver for an external transistor used to deliver 40 watts or more of peak power from the supercapacitor to a bank of LEDs. It also contains a temperature sensor to detect when the LEDs are in danger of overheating - useful if they are being used as a torch rather than a flash; a light sensor for setting the exposure and flash intensity, and a driver for an auxiliary LED used either as a privacy indicator (you're on camera) or perhaps to help autofocus systems in low light.
The chip's built-in timer can be used to set the flash duration in steps of around one-100,000th of a second, although it takes around one-3,000th of a second for the LED to reach full power, according to ST. The controller can also discharge the supercap in stages to produce several flash pulses in a row, useful for red-eye reduction.
The ideal camera flash delivers a lot of light in a short time, freezing action and illuminating more distant objects. Professional cameras use a xenon strobe light to produce a brief burst - or flash - of light, but the lighting on smartphone cameras is typically provided by an LED.
The light output of a battery-powered LED is continuous, and much lower in intensity than a flash, leading to longer exposure times and darker, blurrier pictures.
But ST hopes to change that with its new STCF04 multifunction chip, which it says can control flash power up to 40W, compared to perhaps 2W for typical LED flashes today.
The key is the chip's ability to control the charging and discharging of a supercapacitor, which it uses to gradually store energy from the phone's battery and then deliver it to the LED in a short burst. That's similar to the way that xenon strobes work, but the LED-supercap combination does the job with just a few volts, making it much safer - and the components more compact -than the hundreds or thousands of volts needed to drive a xenon strobe.
ST's chip, just 3 millimeters square, will add US$2 or less to the cost of a cell phone, it said.
It contains a charger to store energy in a supercap, and a driver for an external transistor used to deliver 40 watts or more of peak power from the supercapacitor to a bank of LEDs. It also contains a temperature sensor to detect when the LEDs are in danger of overheating - useful if they are being used as a torch rather than a flash; a light sensor for setting the exposure and flash intensity, and a driver for an auxiliary LED used either as a privacy indicator (you're on camera) or perhaps to help autofocus systems in low light.
The chip's built-in timer can be used to set the flash duration in steps of around one-100,000th of a second, although it takes around one-3,000th of a second for the LED to reach full power, according to ST. The controller can also discharge the supercap in stages to produce several flash pulses in a row, useful for red-eye reduction.
2012年2月1日星期三
Powin Energy hones in on battery technology
The renewable energy-focused unit also took credit for securing revenues for a sister subsidiary — Quality Bending and Fabrication — of about $259,000.
Company officials said 79 percent of the Powin Energy's total revenues for 2011 were earned in the fourth quarter.
The uptick in sales, which appears to be carrying over into the first quarter, officials say, comes from an emphasis on energy storage as Powin Energy narrows its focus to its battery products.
The company still manufactures fluorescent lighting and wind energy components but has recently honed in on its line of lithium-ion batteries and aggressively marketed the scalable technology.
Powin Energy has not posted a profit yet, and has been a drag on parent company Powin Corp., which manufactures a range of products from gun safes to fitness equipment. But Powin Energy officials say its backing by the 20-year-old global manufacturer and access to Powin Corp. production facilities on three continents is giving the subsidiary an ability to move quickly into energy storage.
Leveraging a partnership with Shandong RealForce Enterprises Co. Ltd, which supplies battery cells, Powin Energy has marketed the technology paired with its own software.
The units range from a 2-kilowatt-hour capacity battery to full utility-scale storage and Powin Energy's software provides an interface to control the battery systems via the web. The systems are targeted for use in the electric vehicle sector, in solar and wind energy storage, in energy storage for telecommunications and in power stations.
"There is an opportunity now in the energy storage business to be a leader," said Mike Morse, vice president of operations for Powin Energy. "The window is now and we are trying to market ourselves as one of the industry leaders in scalable energy storage."
Morse said the company will make a strong showing in the first quarter of 2012 with an announcement of its first major energy storage project pending.
"We are close to signing an agreement to provide energy storage solutions to a major university research department" in Australia, he said.
Powin Energy is also scheduled to receive grant money in February to produce five batteries for buses for a consultant to a major transit provider in the United States, a project that is generating interest from other transit providers.
"We think that the transit industry is really going to be a good market for us," said Morse. "We think once there is success with this first one, the others that are waiting will be a pretty good windfall."
The 2011 revenues celebrated at Powin did not reach the 10 percent projections officials estimated Powin Energy could add to Powin Corp's annual revenue this year, or about $4.8 million. Powin Corp. reported a sharp drop in first-half profits last year as investments in Powin Energy and other new business drove expenses.
Company officials said 79 percent of the Powin Energy's total revenues for 2011 were earned in the fourth quarter.
The uptick in sales, which appears to be carrying over into the first quarter, officials say, comes from an emphasis on energy storage as Powin Energy narrows its focus to its battery products.
The company still manufactures fluorescent lighting and wind energy components but has recently honed in on its line of lithium-ion batteries and aggressively marketed the scalable technology.
Powin Energy has not posted a profit yet, and has been a drag on parent company Powin Corp., which manufactures a range of products from gun safes to fitness equipment. But Powin Energy officials say its backing by the 20-year-old global manufacturer and access to Powin Corp. production facilities on three continents is giving the subsidiary an ability to move quickly into energy storage.
Leveraging a partnership with Shandong RealForce Enterprises Co. Ltd, which supplies battery cells, Powin Energy has marketed the technology paired with its own software.
The units range from a 2-kilowatt-hour capacity battery to full utility-scale storage and Powin Energy's software provides an interface to control the battery systems via the web. The systems are targeted for use in the electric vehicle sector, in solar and wind energy storage, in energy storage for telecommunications and in power stations.
"There is an opportunity now in the energy storage business to be a leader," said Mike Morse, vice president of operations for Powin Energy. "The window is now and we are trying to market ourselves as one of the industry leaders in scalable energy storage."
Morse said the company will make a strong showing in the first quarter of 2012 with an announcement of its first major energy storage project pending.
"We are close to signing an agreement to provide energy storage solutions to a major university research department" in Australia, he said.
Powin Energy is also scheduled to receive grant money in February to produce five batteries for buses for a consultant to a major transit provider in the United States, a project that is generating interest from other transit providers.
"We think that the transit industry is really going to be a good market for us," said Morse. "We think once there is success with this first one, the others that are waiting will be a pretty good windfall."
The 2011 revenues celebrated at Powin did not reach the 10 percent projections officials estimated Powin Energy could add to Powin Corp's annual revenue this year, or about $4.8 million. Powin Corp. reported a sharp drop in first-half profits last year as investments in Powin Energy and other new business drove expenses.
2012年1月31日星期二
New LED stoplights to save Huntington $200K
Huntington motorists will soon see a decrease in the amount of time they spend sitting at traffic lights.
The City of Huntington began installing the light system in Fall 2011. David Hagley, public works directors, said the new light system would be installed at 55 intersections by the end of 2012.
The light system has been commonly referred to as a "smart system." There are no bulbs — the traffic lights and displays are all energy efficient LED lighting.
"All new lights will be LED, all communication will be controlled wirelessly from the Rahall Transportation Institute," Hagley said.
The new system will alleviate problems experienced with the old traffic system. Each new light will communicate wirelessly. In the past, wires have not adapted to years of wear and tear.
"Over time, wires were severed and broke down," Hagley said. "The old lights had sensor wires in the pavement that were easily torn up."
Aside from communicating wirelessly, the new light system would have a camera system that will sense traffic patterns. Hagley said the system will make for a safer commute, drivers will be less aggravated, as sitting at a pointless red light will be a thing of the past.
"It should alleviate frustrations," Hagley said. "There are camera sensors that will get people moving through red lights. There will be less idle time ‘cause the lights are going to work as a system instead of individually."
Hagley said aside from cutting down road rage, less idle time in traffic means the new system will cut down harmful emissions.
Kim Wolfe, Huntington mayor said the new lights are going to save the city quite a bit of money.
"There will be approximately a $200,000 savings in energy costs, ‘cause these are the modern LED lighting," Wolfe said. "Fewer repairs on the smart system would also save the city in labor costs."
Wolfe said the new system is being funded by an air quality grant. The wireless communication allows the city to direct traffic flow for disasters or special events from one location.
The lights have been installed at major intersections downtown. Hagley said the system will improve the overall commuting experience for Huntington.
"It's going to make things better," Wolfe said. "I'm glad to see the improvement coming."
The City of Huntington began installing the light system in Fall 2011. David Hagley, public works directors, said the new light system would be installed at 55 intersections by the end of 2012.
The light system has been commonly referred to as a "smart system." There are no bulbs — the traffic lights and displays are all energy efficient LED lighting.
"All new lights will be LED, all communication will be controlled wirelessly from the Rahall Transportation Institute," Hagley said.
The new system will alleviate problems experienced with the old traffic system. Each new light will communicate wirelessly. In the past, wires have not adapted to years of wear and tear.
"Over time, wires were severed and broke down," Hagley said. "The old lights had sensor wires in the pavement that were easily torn up."
Aside from communicating wirelessly, the new light system would have a camera system that will sense traffic patterns. Hagley said the system will make for a safer commute, drivers will be less aggravated, as sitting at a pointless red light will be a thing of the past.
"It should alleviate frustrations," Hagley said. "There are camera sensors that will get people moving through red lights. There will be less idle time ‘cause the lights are going to work as a system instead of individually."
Hagley said aside from cutting down road rage, less idle time in traffic means the new system will cut down harmful emissions.
Kim Wolfe, Huntington mayor said the new lights are going to save the city quite a bit of money.
"There will be approximately a $200,000 savings in energy costs, ‘cause these are the modern LED lighting," Wolfe said. "Fewer repairs on the smart system would also save the city in labor costs."
Wolfe said the new system is being funded by an air quality grant. The wireless communication allows the city to direct traffic flow for disasters or special events from one location.
The lights have been installed at major intersections downtown. Hagley said the system will improve the overall commuting experience for Huntington.
"It's going to make things better," Wolfe said. "I'm glad to see the improvement coming."
2012年1月30日星期一
Pike Research: Building Energy Management Systems to Reach $6B by 2020
Pike Research, a global consulting firm, has issued a new report noting that global revenues from building energy management systems are expected to rise almost 14 percent, year over year, through the end of the decade.
The term building energy management systems, or BEMS, refers to computer hardware or software systems which connect to, monitor, and regulate mechanicals like heating, air-conditioning, lighting and mainframes, or other operations that use energy. Building energy management systems can also be used to monitor water and other resource uses.
According to Pike, this means that actual revenues from BEMS are expected to reach slightly less than $6 billion by 2020 – a hefty sum even in what economists have predicted will be a "shrinking" economy. The information, available at no cost from a press release (and in-depth from a very costly report), highlights the expanding building energy management vertical within the building energy efficiency/LEED/EnergyStar marketplace.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is one metric construction engineers and building efficiency retrofit firms use to certify their structures. These certifications are based on different parameters whether the building is new or old, but come in four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.
Operated under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, LEED ratings represent what some feel is the "best of the best" in terms of building sustainability, since they measure across a broad spectrum: site sustainability and feasibility, water use, energy use, sustainable materials use, indoor air quality, and innovation in design, and encourage both awareness of and education regarding "green" building initiatives.
Energy Star, a building energy efficiency rating program operating under the guidance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and the U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE – and representing an offshoot of the Energy Star appliance energy efficiency certification program – is another system which builders and remodelers use to achieve "green" building status; that is, Energy Star-certified buildings use less energy, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate.
Building efficiency and sustainability are gaining increasing exposure as a perfect storm of rising energy costs, reduced energy supplies, U.S. energy security and the environmental movement all converge, with the help of Information Technology, to address issues never before so completely under the control of building managers.
Also known as Smart Grid innovations, or building automation, these IT innovations are helping to curb the vast amount of energy used by commercial buildings – an energy expenditure which was highlighted by President Obama in his 2011 budget proposal, which provided $28.4 billion for DOE policies, including mitigating environmental (climate) risk and maintaining national security.
Elsewhere, wireless sensor networks and software building energy management tools, being developed both in government laboratories and in private companies like Scientific Conservation, Inc. are also saving cash and energy in U.S. buildings, and this perfect storm couldn't be happening at a more perfect time, given a decision by Obama to boost energy efficiency in government buildings by nearly $4 billion between 2012 and 2014.
The term building energy management systems, or BEMS, refers to computer hardware or software systems which connect to, monitor, and regulate mechanicals like heating, air-conditioning, lighting and mainframes, or other operations that use energy. Building energy management systems can also be used to monitor water and other resource uses.
According to Pike, this means that actual revenues from BEMS are expected to reach slightly less than $6 billion by 2020 – a hefty sum even in what economists have predicted will be a "shrinking" economy. The information, available at no cost from a press release (and in-depth from a very costly report), highlights the expanding building energy management vertical within the building energy efficiency/LEED/EnergyStar marketplace.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is one metric construction engineers and building efficiency retrofit firms use to certify their structures. These certifications are based on different parameters whether the building is new or old, but come in four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.
Operated under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, LEED ratings represent what some feel is the "best of the best" in terms of building sustainability, since they measure across a broad spectrum: site sustainability and feasibility, water use, energy use, sustainable materials use, indoor air quality, and innovation in design, and encourage both awareness of and education regarding "green" building initiatives.
Energy Star, a building energy efficiency rating program operating under the guidance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and the U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE – and representing an offshoot of the Energy Star appliance energy efficiency certification program – is another system which builders and remodelers use to achieve "green" building status; that is, Energy Star-certified buildings use less energy, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate.
Building efficiency and sustainability are gaining increasing exposure as a perfect storm of rising energy costs, reduced energy supplies, U.S. energy security and the environmental movement all converge, with the help of Information Technology, to address issues never before so completely under the control of building managers.
Also known as Smart Grid innovations, or building automation, these IT innovations are helping to curb the vast amount of energy used by commercial buildings – an energy expenditure which was highlighted by President Obama in his 2011 budget proposal, which provided $28.4 billion for DOE policies, including mitigating environmental (climate) risk and maintaining national security.
Elsewhere, wireless sensor networks and software building energy management tools, being developed both in government laboratories and in private companies like Scientific Conservation, Inc. are also saving cash and energy in U.S. buildings, and this perfect storm couldn't be happening at a more perfect time, given a decision by Obama to boost energy efficiency in government buildings by nearly $4 billion between 2012 and 2014.
2012年1月29日星期日
Magnalight Announces Release of 150 Watt Hazardous Location LED Tripod Light
Larson Electronics' Magnalight announced today the release of a 150 watt LED light for hazardous locations that incorporates a single LED light fixture and versatile tripod mounting for convenient and powerful illumination of work areas. Designed to operate in wet areas and stand up to the rigors of the industrial workspace, the HAL-TP-1x150LED-100 tripod mounted LED light is approved Class 1 Division 2, and is an ideal alternative to hot running and less durable 400 watt metal halide tripod mounted lights.
The HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 Tripod Mounted LED Light from Magnalight is designed to provide a powerful alternative to hot running and less durable 400 watt metal halide lights and produces 14,790 lumens of clean white light while using only 400 watts of power.
Approved for, Class 1 Division 2 hazardous locations this tripod mounted LED light is suitable for use in wet areas and resists the effects of rust and corrosion with an aluminum lamp housing finished in a bronze powder coat, stainless steel hardware, and a tripod constructed of copper free and corrosion resistant aluminum. This portable LED light tower is extremely versatile and offers a host of features including folding tripod legs and solid rubber wheels for easy tower deployment and placement, three foot to eight foot height adjustment, a fully adjustable light head, 100 feet of SOOW cord for long placement range, and easy tool free disassembly and reassembly for passing the unit through tight entryways.
The LED design of the lamp assembly provides cool operation and much greater durability than glass incandescent or metal halide work lamps. As well as greater durability, the LED lamp in this unit offers high efficiency and a total lumen output capable of covering 18,000 square feet of work area with high quality illumination while using less energy than standard lighting.
A 50,000 hour LED operational life and 120-277 VAC voltage capability round out this LED lamps' advantages over standard lamps. This LED light tower is constructed of quality materials and uses CREE XLamp XPG to ensure the best LED performance possible. The HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 is ideal for use in marine locations, industrial settings, and anywhere a highly versatile and powerful alternative to fragile and short lived glass lamp based lighting is desired.
"The HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 hazardous area LED tripod is the latest in the line of Magnalight portable LED light towers for hazardous location lights," said Rob Bresnahan with Larson Electronics' Magnalight.
"This 150 watt LED light is an ideal alternative to our 400 watt metal halide configuration, since it generates very little heat, provides 'instant on' light and provides bright white flood light. Most importantly, the HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 Class 1 Division 2 LED light can take substantial abuse and vibration, which makes it more tolerant of high use in demanding environments."
Larson Electronics' Magnalight offers a wide selection of LED light towers, Led work lights, explosion proof LED lights, LED flashlights, intrinsically safe LEDs and LED spotlights.
The HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 Tripod Mounted LED Light from Magnalight is designed to provide a powerful alternative to hot running and less durable 400 watt metal halide lights and produces 14,790 lumens of clean white light while using only 400 watts of power.
Approved for, Class 1 Division 2 hazardous locations this tripod mounted LED light is suitable for use in wet areas and resists the effects of rust and corrosion with an aluminum lamp housing finished in a bronze powder coat, stainless steel hardware, and a tripod constructed of copper free and corrosion resistant aluminum. This portable LED light tower is extremely versatile and offers a host of features including folding tripod legs and solid rubber wheels for easy tower deployment and placement, three foot to eight foot height adjustment, a fully adjustable light head, 100 feet of SOOW cord for long placement range, and easy tool free disassembly and reassembly for passing the unit through tight entryways.
The LED design of the lamp assembly provides cool operation and much greater durability than glass incandescent or metal halide work lamps. As well as greater durability, the LED lamp in this unit offers high efficiency and a total lumen output capable of covering 18,000 square feet of work area with high quality illumination while using less energy than standard lighting.
A 50,000 hour LED operational life and 120-277 VAC voltage capability round out this LED lamps' advantages over standard lamps. This LED light tower is constructed of quality materials and uses CREE XLamp XPG to ensure the best LED performance possible. The HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 is ideal for use in marine locations, industrial settings, and anywhere a highly versatile and powerful alternative to fragile and short lived glass lamp based lighting is desired.
"The HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 hazardous area LED tripod is the latest in the line of Magnalight portable LED light towers for hazardous location lights," said Rob Bresnahan with Larson Electronics' Magnalight.
"This 150 watt LED light is an ideal alternative to our 400 watt metal halide configuration, since it generates very little heat, provides 'instant on' light and provides bright white flood light. Most importantly, the HAL-TP-1X150LED-100 Class 1 Division 2 LED light can take substantial abuse and vibration, which makes it more tolerant of high use in demanding environments."
Larson Electronics' Magnalight offers a wide selection of LED light towers, Led work lights, explosion proof LED lights, LED flashlights, intrinsically safe LEDs and LED spotlights.
2012年1月19日星期四
Printing firm ventures into digital advertising
IN its bid to support Fiji's small business thrive in today's competitive economy, a local family-owned business has ventured out of its core printing business activity to a totally new product advertising.
Well aware of the local business environment and the pricey tags to rent a space in newspapers and or time slots on radio or television, printing company Davui Printery is still confident of the shift.
It is introducing somewhat of a new form of advertising u a digital billboard, both with still or animated advertisements.
Davui Printery managing director Ramesh Sharma told The Fiji Times Business that while his main aim was to support small businesses access opportunities to market and sell its products, it was also an opportunity to bring Fiji on par with other developed economies.
"For me, it is really about seeing how Fiji as a country can move forward," Mr Sharma said.
"And we have small businesses in mind. We are targeting small businesses so we can give them an opportunity to grow and sell what they have for the people in Fiji," he said in an interview yesterday.
At present, Davui Printery has installed two of the digital screens on Viti Levu, a 3 x 3 metre screen at the fast-developing Garden City in Raiwai, Suva; and a 3 x 2 metre screen at the shopping centre at Nakasi.
The screens were bought from China three months ago, with one screen trading at more than $100,000.
Mr Sharma said those screens were eco-friendly in that it chewed less electricity and it did not emit heat rather absorbing lights during the day that it then slowly releases at dusk.
Meanwhile, the company is also working on a proposal to various relevant sporting bodies and government authorities to secure partnership to have those LED outdoor screens erected at sporting tournaments.
"We are planning on acquiring another new LED screen from China, this one will be mobile and we can transport it to any sporting venues and play live feeds of the games.
"But to do this, we need the support from some of the organisations we intend to submit our proposals to, and we intend to submit that proposal sometime next week," he said.
Once this is approved, in the next few months, Davui Printery will be able to show a live game on big screen at the tournament venue.
In the meantime, small businesses can now access the new digital billboard advertising medium where they will access 24 hours per day advertising, with clients expected to share 20 to 30 spots, with flexibility to change featured products within a month at the same price.
For awareness programmes however, by any private or government institution will be free of charge given its corporate social responsibility, particularly for fire safety, environment protection, health awareness, etcetera.
Well aware of the local business environment and the pricey tags to rent a space in newspapers and or time slots on radio or television, printing company Davui Printery is still confident of the shift.
It is introducing somewhat of a new form of advertising u a digital billboard, both with still or animated advertisements.
Davui Printery managing director Ramesh Sharma told The Fiji Times Business that while his main aim was to support small businesses access opportunities to market and sell its products, it was also an opportunity to bring Fiji on par with other developed economies.
"For me, it is really about seeing how Fiji as a country can move forward," Mr Sharma said.
"And we have small businesses in mind. We are targeting small businesses so we can give them an opportunity to grow and sell what they have for the people in Fiji," he said in an interview yesterday.
At present, Davui Printery has installed two of the digital screens on Viti Levu, a 3 x 3 metre screen at the fast-developing Garden City in Raiwai, Suva; and a 3 x 2 metre screen at the shopping centre at Nakasi.
The screens were bought from China three months ago, with one screen trading at more than $100,000.
Mr Sharma said those screens were eco-friendly in that it chewed less electricity and it did not emit heat rather absorbing lights during the day that it then slowly releases at dusk.
Meanwhile, the company is also working on a proposal to various relevant sporting bodies and government authorities to secure partnership to have those LED outdoor screens erected at sporting tournaments.
"We are planning on acquiring another new LED screen from China, this one will be mobile and we can transport it to any sporting venues and play live feeds of the games.
"But to do this, we need the support from some of the organisations we intend to submit our proposals to, and we intend to submit that proposal sometime next week," he said.
Once this is approved, in the next few months, Davui Printery will be able to show a live game on big screen at the tournament venue.
In the meantime, small businesses can now access the new digital billboard advertising medium where they will access 24 hours per day advertising, with clients expected to share 20 to 30 spots, with flexibility to change featured products within a month at the same price.
For awareness programmes however, by any private or government institution will be free of charge given its corporate social responsibility, particularly for fire safety, environment protection, health awareness, etcetera.
2012年1月18日星期三
The Optex BoundaryGard range to be installed by home automation company Finite Solutions
BoundaryGard Detectors from Optex Europe are being installed by a home automation company to switch lights on and off, draw or close blinds and trigger CCTV cameras to start recording - all as part of an innovative security installation that gives the impression that someone is home.
Finite Solutions, based in Leeds, designs and installs top of the range home cinema and home automation systems, including media rooms, CCTV and security, lighting design and control. In properties worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of pounds, the security of the residence, its contents and even the inhabitants is always a primary concern.
Most if not all of the houses they have worked on have external CCTV and lighting systems as part of the security solution, but have a further requirement for a detection system that would reliably alert them 24 hours a day on a tablet or smartphone as soon as anyone was on their premises.
The same detection device needed to be integrated with the Crestron home automation panel to control internal lighting. Anyone approaching the property would activate the external PIR, in this case a number of the VX402 and HX40 BoundaryGard detectors from Optex Europe.
This in turn activates the Crestron panel to switch internal lighting on and off and, where applicable, open and shut blinds and curtains and switch on elements of the audio visual system to give the impression that the house is occupied.
Finite Solutions chose to use the range of BoundaryGard Detectors following recommendations from one of their colleagues who had specified them while working at a previous company, as Matt Wayne, Design Consultant at Finite, explains: "Other external detectors were regularly producing false alarm activations due to environmental issues," he says. "Also they would activate whenever the client's pets were roaming around in the garden, or any other wildlife was present on site."
The Optex Boundarygard range eliminated all of these issues, with a smart, small animal immunity feature and double conductive shielding built-in to each device to prevent activations due to weather conditions.
Different tones were used to indicate activity in different areas, allowing the client to respond accordingly. The system also incorporated an automated part set, night set and an away set, giving the client fully flexible use of the system. Part set and night set activate additional internal sounders and switch lighting on in restricted areas, with night set incorporating external voice warnings and other audible warnings as a deterrent.
When the system is triggered and the owners are home, it will bring up the CCTV on the TV and control panels and give them the option to respond (turn on lights, go to their panic room, call the police) or simply ignore the activation and return to their regular viewing.
"The detectors are all working perfectly and we have no record of any false activations since the system has been installed," Matt adds. "We are extremely satisfied with the performance of the detectors and are in the process of expanding and promoting this business model to all of our existing and future clients."
Finite Solutions, based in Leeds, designs and installs top of the range home cinema and home automation systems, including media rooms, CCTV and security, lighting design and control. In properties worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of pounds, the security of the residence, its contents and even the inhabitants is always a primary concern.
Most if not all of the houses they have worked on have external CCTV and lighting systems as part of the security solution, but have a further requirement for a detection system that would reliably alert them 24 hours a day on a tablet or smartphone as soon as anyone was on their premises.
The same detection device needed to be integrated with the Crestron home automation panel to control internal lighting. Anyone approaching the property would activate the external PIR, in this case a number of the VX402 and HX40 BoundaryGard detectors from Optex Europe.
This in turn activates the Crestron panel to switch internal lighting on and off and, where applicable, open and shut blinds and curtains and switch on elements of the audio visual system to give the impression that the house is occupied.
Finite Solutions chose to use the range of BoundaryGard Detectors following recommendations from one of their colleagues who had specified them while working at a previous company, as Matt Wayne, Design Consultant at Finite, explains: "Other external detectors were regularly producing false alarm activations due to environmental issues," he says. "Also they would activate whenever the client's pets were roaming around in the garden, or any other wildlife was present on site."
The Optex Boundarygard range eliminated all of these issues, with a smart, small animal immunity feature and double conductive shielding built-in to each device to prevent activations due to weather conditions.
Different tones were used to indicate activity in different areas, allowing the client to respond accordingly. The system also incorporated an automated part set, night set and an away set, giving the client fully flexible use of the system. Part set and night set activate additional internal sounders and switch lighting on in restricted areas, with night set incorporating external voice warnings and other audible warnings as a deterrent.
When the system is triggered and the owners are home, it will bring up the CCTV on the TV and control panels and give them the option to respond (turn on lights, go to their panic room, call the police) or simply ignore the activation and return to their regular viewing.
"The detectors are all working perfectly and we have no record of any false activations since the system has been installed," Matt adds. "We are extremely satisfied with the performance of the detectors and are in the process of expanding and promoting this business model to all of our existing and future clients."
2012年1月17日星期二
Picking the Brightest, Most Efficient Bulb
The light bulb used to be one of the simplest hardware-store purchases. Now a walk down the lighting aisle prompts an assortment of questions. Is it energy efficient? Will it switch on fast? Can I put it on a dimmer? What is a lumen? How long will it last? Why so pricey? Why is it a weird color?
Here's a brief guide to some bulb basics, with help from Consumer Reports ratings, and a peek at what the future holds for the light bulb.
Bulbs can be divided into three main categories: incandescents, compact fluorescents (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We're most familiar with incandescents, which make use of technology from over 100 years ago. These cost the least, but emit heat and use up the most energy. An incandescent lasts an average of 1,000 hours, or 125 days when used for eight hours a day.
More recently, halogen incandescent bulbs have become popular. The bulbs, which cost as little as $3 for two, look and behave like incandescents by dimming and turning on immediately, but use less energy. The Philips EcoVantage line, which became available in April, uses 28% less energy: A 72-watt bulb replaces a 100-watt, and a 43-watt bulb replaces a 60-watt. Halogen incandescents last as long as a traditional incandescent bulb.
Compact fluorescents, the spiral bulbs that became popular about five years ago, use less energy than incandescents but made a rough first impression. Compared with incandescents, compact fluorescents can appear harsher in color and most don't turn on immediately. They're made of glass, like incandescents, cost about $5 to $10 each and have an estimated average lifespan of 10,000 hours, or about 3 years at eight hours a day. They contain a small amount of mercury and can be recycled at stores like Home Depot.
LEDs, which look roughly like the incandescents we're used to, are the latest hit in energy-efficient bulbs. They're also the most expensive, costing around $20 to $60 a bulb, though this will drop in coming months as they become more prevalent. These bulbs, which don't contain mercury, turn on immediately, even in cold weather.
Some are made of a durable plastic and many can be dimmed. Their light-emitting surfaces remain cool to the touch. The hue of light from these LED bulbs appears more like that of the traditional incandescents. They are estimated to save up to 85% more energy than standard incandescents, with a lifespan of 20,000 to 50,000 hours, or 20 to 40 years. At seven hours a day, one bulb could last an average of 17 years.
For years, we've measured light bulbs by watts, which indicate how much energy a bulb uses. But bulb brightness is measured in lumens. Many of the new light bulbs' boxes list lumens and include helpful notes about how the bulb compares with the wattage you are looking to replace. An incandescent 40-watt bulb gets replaced with a 450-lumen bulb; a 60-watt bulb with a 800-lumen bulb; a 75-watt bulb by a 1,100 lumen; and a 100 watt by a 1,600 lumen.
Lighting Science Group also has paired with Google to create the Android@Home Intelligent LED bulb, which people will be able to control using an Android smartphone, tablet or a computer. The bulb, which is expected to come out before June, will have an embedded chip and works with a gateway box that hooks into a router.
By June, Philips Lighting North America will debut its L Prize Bulb, an LED bulb that was the first to win the Department of Energy's "L Prize," an award for energy efficiency. Designed to replace a 60-watt incandescent, the LED bulb consumes less than 10 watts, according to Philips. In rigorous testing, the Energy Department said, the bulb had a useful lifetime of more than 25,000 hours. The bulb will likely start out at about $50.
Here's a brief guide to some bulb basics, with help from Consumer Reports ratings, and a peek at what the future holds for the light bulb.
Bulbs can be divided into three main categories: incandescents, compact fluorescents (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We're most familiar with incandescents, which make use of technology from over 100 years ago. These cost the least, but emit heat and use up the most energy. An incandescent lasts an average of 1,000 hours, or 125 days when used for eight hours a day.
More recently, halogen incandescent bulbs have become popular. The bulbs, which cost as little as $3 for two, look and behave like incandescents by dimming and turning on immediately, but use less energy. The Philips EcoVantage line, which became available in April, uses 28% less energy: A 72-watt bulb replaces a 100-watt, and a 43-watt bulb replaces a 60-watt. Halogen incandescents last as long as a traditional incandescent bulb.
Compact fluorescents, the spiral bulbs that became popular about five years ago, use less energy than incandescents but made a rough first impression. Compared with incandescents, compact fluorescents can appear harsher in color and most don't turn on immediately. They're made of glass, like incandescents, cost about $5 to $10 each and have an estimated average lifespan of 10,000 hours, or about 3 years at eight hours a day. They contain a small amount of mercury and can be recycled at stores like Home Depot.
LEDs, which look roughly like the incandescents we're used to, are the latest hit in energy-efficient bulbs. They're also the most expensive, costing around $20 to $60 a bulb, though this will drop in coming months as they become more prevalent. These bulbs, which don't contain mercury, turn on immediately, even in cold weather.
Some are made of a durable plastic and many can be dimmed. Their light-emitting surfaces remain cool to the touch. The hue of light from these LED bulbs appears more like that of the traditional incandescents. They are estimated to save up to 85% more energy than standard incandescents, with a lifespan of 20,000 to 50,000 hours, or 20 to 40 years. At seven hours a day, one bulb could last an average of 17 years.
For years, we've measured light bulbs by watts, which indicate how much energy a bulb uses. But bulb brightness is measured in lumens. Many of the new light bulbs' boxes list lumens and include helpful notes about how the bulb compares with the wattage you are looking to replace. An incandescent 40-watt bulb gets replaced with a 450-lumen bulb; a 60-watt bulb with a 800-lumen bulb; a 75-watt bulb by a 1,100 lumen; and a 100 watt by a 1,600 lumen.
Lighting Science Group also has paired with Google to create the Android@Home Intelligent LED bulb, which people will be able to control using an Android smartphone, tablet or a computer. The bulb, which is expected to come out before June, will have an embedded chip and works with a gateway box that hooks into a router.
By June, Philips Lighting North America will debut its L Prize Bulb, an LED bulb that was the first to win the Department of Energy's "L Prize," an award for energy efficiency. Designed to replace a 60-watt incandescent, the LED bulb consumes less than 10 watts, according to Philips. In rigorous testing, the Energy Department said, the bulb had a useful lifetime of more than 25,000 hours. The bulb will likely start out at about $50.
2012年1月16日星期一
Sewer nightmare for Tyrone home-owners
They have discovered that the newly built homes they bought and paid for were never connected to a proper sewer system and never received building approval.
They have now been given 14 days by the local council to sort the matter out or face possible legal action.
The problem began after they purchased the houses.
The builder went bankrupt having just completed a dozen homes. It had been planned to build more than 100 houses and apartments.
What none of the home-owners realised at the time was that a proper sewer system had never been built.
The road to their homes is a no-man's land as it hasn't been finished, with manhole covers sticking far above the surface.
They have no street lighting and the water supply for some homes comes from a neighbour's outside tap.
When the builder went bust, the residents were left with no-one to seek legal redress from. To sort the problem out they also need access to land that is now in the hands of a receiver.
Francie Molloy, Sinn Fein assembly member for the area, said the residents simply could not afford to solve the problem.
"A sewer system and a treatment works are required. It needs a pumping station that costs a lot of money and it's in the ground of the receiver, so it's not actually on the residents' property.
"So they can do absolutely nothing as far as that goes. But the problem is that as the sewerage builds up, it backs up towards their houses and it could create a massive problem for them."
At this stage the residents can't see a way forward. For Joe O'Neill and his family, this was their first home.
"For your first house you have an ideal image of what it would be like, that everything would be OK. Obviously it's not and it's been a nightmare," Mr O'Neill said.
"Who does the buck stop with and who is going to solve this problem? That is the big question."
Custom kitchen designer Gail Drury, CMKBD, answered that question with an emphatic yes. Winning first place in the large kitchenand large bath categories, two very different design visions come together to compliment this Burr Ridge, Illinois home's architecture.
White cabinets surround a walnut-stained island, balancing simple lines with rich details. An intricate tile design incorporates a mix of stainless steel tiles, marble tiles and metal liner strips for a stunning result.
Challenged to fit a myriad of appliances and upgrade storage while staying within the existing kitchen's footprint, intelligent design solutions define the space. A furniture-like island divides the kitchen space from the living area for a better traffic flow. A Lutron lighting system conceals all electrical outlets.
Creating a calming retreat with a luxurious, spa-type feeling was the main objective for the master bath design.
They have now been given 14 days by the local council to sort the matter out or face possible legal action.
The problem began after they purchased the houses.
The builder went bankrupt having just completed a dozen homes. It had been planned to build more than 100 houses and apartments.
What none of the home-owners realised at the time was that a proper sewer system had never been built.
The road to their homes is a no-man's land as it hasn't been finished, with manhole covers sticking far above the surface.
They have no street lighting and the water supply for some homes comes from a neighbour's outside tap.
When the builder went bust, the residents were left with no-one to seek legal redress from. To sort the problem out they also need access to land that is now in the hands of a receiver.
Francie Molloy, Sinn Fein assembly member for the area, said the residents simply could not afford to solve the problem.
"A sewer system and a treatment works are required. It needs a pumping station that costs a lot of money and it's in the ground of the receiver, so it's not actually on the residents' property.
"So they can do absolutely nothing as far as that goes. But the problem is that as the sewerage builds up, it backs up towards their houses and it could create a massive problem for them."
At this stage the residents can't see a way forward. For Joe O'Neill and his family, this was their first home.
"For your first house you have an ideal image of what it would be like, that everything would be OK. Obviously it's not and it's been a nightmare," Mr O'Neill said.
"Who does the buck stop with and who is going to solve this problem? That is the big question."
Custom kitchen designer Gail Drury, CMKBD, answered that question with an emphatic yes. Winning first place in the large kitchenand large bath categories, two very different design visions come together to compliment this Burr Ridge, Illinois home's architecture.
White cabinets surround a walnut-stained island, balancing simple lines with rich details. An intricate tile design incorporates a mix of stainless steel tiles, marble tiles and metal liner strips for a stunning result.
Challenged to fit a myriad of appliances and upgrade storage while staying within the existing kitchen's footprint, intelligent design solutions define the space. A furniture-like island divides the kitchen space from the living area for a better traffic flow. A Lutron lighting system conceals all electrical outlets.
Creating a calming retreat with a luxurious, spa-type feeling was the main objective for the master bath design.
2012年1月15日星期日
GE Lighting's Sylvester Says LEDs May Be 80% of Market by 2020
General Electric Co. expects most light bulbs, including the incandescent invented by founder Thomas Edison, to be replaced within a decade by light-emitting diodes that can last from a child's birth through college.
"People are starting to talk about LEDs for general lighting for indoors," Maryrose Sylvester, who was appointed head of the lighting unit in March, said in an interview in New York. "By 2020, about 70 to 80 percent of the general lighting market is going to be enabled by LEDs."
Siemens AG's Osram unit and Royal Philips NA, GE's traditional rivals, have both predicted similar growth rates as new regulations combine with declining LED prices to make the lighting systems more attractive to individual and commercial buyers.
To take advantage of that, GE's lighting unit has doubled its research and development spending on LED technology over the past five years, Sylvester said without providing a specific figure.
Munich-based Siemens is expecting the market to grow to $13 billion by 2013 and rise another 44 percent by 2016. Philips, based in Amsterdam, predicted in September that 45 percent of the market will be LED-based by 2015.
Because LED systems are more expensive on the front end, demonstrating to customers how the investment pays off with lower maintenance costs and energy savings is critical, Sylvester said.
"As we go into this technology shift, we're seeing customers much more aware today about energy consumption, much more interested in terms of improving their energy bills, whether they're a commercial building owner or business owner or a consumer," Sylvester said.
Though LEDs remain more expensive than other bulbs, prices have dropped as environmental regulations target less energy- efficient lamps. In the U.S., a 2007 law phases out 100-watt incandescent bulbs starting next year by setting efficiency standards they don't meet, followed by 75-watt lamps in 2013 and 40- and 60-watt bulbs in 2014.
Edison's 19th-century invention won a reprieve under a spending deal reached last week by Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress that would block the Energy Department from enforcing the law. GE said it's still obligated to comply with the legal standard, which remains on the books.
An LED bulb's efficiency is directly related to how it generates light. With an incandescent bulb, electricity heats a filament for illumination, with some energy spent on unwanted heat.
With an LED, connecting an electric power source to a lamp stimulates electrons in a semiconductor chip so that they move, giving off light.
Because efficiency lies in the LED package and how it's configured, GE is concentrating on system designs for its commercial customers rather than making the LED equivalent of an incandescent bulb. It's relying on suppliers such as Cree Inc. for the semiconductor chip.
"Our expertise is in how you put the whole application together and configure it for a key application," Sylvester said.
In the commercial lighting segment alone, LED illumination may make up 52 percent of the market by 2021, Pike Research forecasts. The market may reach $42 billion this year and peak at nearly $54 billion in 2012 before gradually declining to about $30 billion by 2021 as usage of the longer-lasting systems increases.
"People are starting to talk about LEDs for general lighting for indoors," Maryrose Sylvester, who was appointed head of the lighting unit in March, said in an interview in New York. "By 2020, about 70 to 80 percent of the general lighting market is going to be enabled by LEDs."
Siemens AG's Osram unit and Royal Philips NA, GE's traditional rivals, have both predicted similar growth rates as new regulations combine with declining LED prices to make the lighting systems more attractive to individual and commercial buyers.
To take advantage of that, GE's lighting unit has doubled its research and development spending on LED technology over the past five years, Sylvester said without providing a specific figure.
Munich-based Siemens is expecting the market to grow to $13 billion by 2013 and rise another 44 percent by 2016. Philips, based in Amsterdam, predicted in September that 45 percent of the market will be LED-based by 2015.
Because LED systems are more expensive on the front end, demonstrating to customers how the investment pays off with lower maintenance costs and energy savings is critical, Sylvester said.
"As we go into this technology shift, we're seeing customers much more aware today about energy consumption, much more interested in terms of improving their energy bills, whether they're a commercial building owner or business owner or a consumer," Sylvester said.
Though LEDs remain more expensive than other bulbs, prices have dropped as environmental regulations target less energy- efficient lamps. In the U.S., a 2007 law phases out 100-watt incandescent bulbs starting next year by setting efficiency standards they don't meet, followed by 75-watt lamps in 2013 and 40- and 60-watt bulbs in 2014.
Edison's 19th-century invention won a reprieve under a spending deal reached last week by Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress that would block the Energy Department from enforcing the law. GE said it's still obligated to comply with the legal standard, which remains on the books.
An LED bulb's efficiency is directly related to how it generates light. With an incandescent bulb, electricity heats a filament for illumination, with some energy spent on unwanted heat.
With an LED, connecting an electric power source to a lamp stimulates electrons in a semiconductor chip so that they move, giving off light.
Because efficiency lies in the LED package and how it's configured, GE is concentrating on system designs for its commercial customers rather than making the LED equivalent of an incandescent bulb. It's relying on suppliers such as Cree Inc. for the semiconductor chip.
"Our expertise is in how you put the whole application together and configure it for a key application," Sylvester said.
In the commercial lighting segment alone, LED illumination may make up 52 percent of the market by 2021, Pike Research forecasts. The market may reach $42 billion this year and peak at nearly $54 billion in 2012 before gradually declining to about $30 billion by 2021 as usage of the longer-lasting systems increases.
2012年1月11日星期三
The 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser V8
The 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 is due to go on sale in March 2012 in the UK, with prices to be confirmed.
The V8 Toyota Land Cruiser is powered by a 4,461cc turbo diesel engine which produces 286 bhp and can deliver 650Nm of torque between 1,600 and 2,800rpm. The diesel V8 engine meets Euro 5 emissions standards
The Land Cruiser's exterior has been tweaked for 2012 to add LED lighting technology with the incorporation of LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights and LED indicators in the door mirrors. The mirrors also incorporate the side view cameras, which compliment the forward and reverse cameras to give the driver near 360 degree low down vision, which is benenfical off road, reversing and linking up to trailers.
Interior wise emphasis has been placed on quality with better ergonomics – the front seats gain cool air and seat heaters whilst the dashboard has been given a complete makeover. The driver's instrument binnacle has white Optitron dials that are backlit with blue illumination and a large, colour TFT multi-information display.
Off Road technology now includes Crawl Control with Turn Assist, a system which has been developed so that it can help drivers execute very tight turns without having to reverse mid-bend. Operating at speeds below 6mph (10km/h), it reacts to the driver's steering inputs, braking the rear wheel on the same side of the vehicle as the direction of turn. The wheel braking force automatically increases with the steering angle, reducing the vehicle's turning radius.
Plus there Multi-terrain Select (MTS) which automatically modifies the throttle, braking and traction control to suit off-road conditions and deliver the best possible traction and vehicle control.
MTS offers a choice of five terrain modes: Mud and Sand; Loose Rock; Mogul; Rock; and Dirt and Rock. The new Multi-terrain Monitor automatically displays a view of the vehicle's immediate surroundings on the multi-information screen.
If you need to know where you are going the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 will use Toyota's Touch Pro system which covers the multimedia functions and pan-European satellite navigation systems. The system incorporates a double tuner DAB/DAB+/DMB digital radio, making it compatible with the advanced TPEG (Transport Protocol Expert Group) traffic information system, which has a much greater information capacity than the TMC-RDS analogue system. Toyota Touch Pro can also read DVD audio and video files.
UK specifications are still to be announced, but the list of items newly available for the model include a heated steering wheel, front seats with cooling and heating functions, a cooled box in the centre console, a powered upper tailgate section, bi-xenon headlamps and a 200V power outlet in the luggage compartment.
The V8 Toyota Land Cruiser is powered by a 4,461cc turbo diesel engine which produces 286 bhp and can deliver 650Nm of torque between 1,600 and 2,800rpm. The diesel V8 engine meets Euro 5 emissions standards
The Land Cruiser's exterior has been tweaked for 2012 to add LED lighting technology with the incorporation of LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights and LED indicators in the door mirrors. The mirrors also incorporate the side view cameras, which compliment the forward and reverse cameras to give the driver near 360 degree low down vision, which is benenfical off road, reversing and linking up to trailers.
Interior wise emphasis has been placed on quality with better ergonomics – the front seats gain cool air and seat heaters whilst the dashboard has been given a complete makeover. The driver's instrument binnacle has white Optitron dials that are backlit with blue illumination and a large, colour TFT multi-information display.
Off Road technology now includes Crawl Control with Turn Assist, a system which has been developed so that it can help drivers execute very tight turns without having to reverse mid-bend. Operating at speeds below 6mph (10km/h), it reacts to the driver's steering inputs, braking the rear wheel on the same side of the vehicle as the direction of turn. The wheel braking force automatically increases with the steering angle, reducing the vehicle's turning radius.
Plus there Multi-terrain Select (MTS) which automatically modifies the throttle, braking and traction control to suit off-road conditions and deliver the best possible traction and vehicle control.
MTS offers a choice of five terrain modes: Mud and Sand; Loose Rock; Mogul; Rock; and Dirt and Rock. The new Multi-terrain Monitor automatically displays a view of the vehicle's immediate surroundings on the multi-information screen.
If you need to know where you are going the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 will use Toyota's Touch Pro system which covers the multimedia functions and pan-European satellite navigation systems. The system incorporates a double tuner DAB/DAB+/DMB digital radio, making it compatible with the advanced TPEG (Transport Protocol Expert Group) traffic information system, which has a much greater information capacity than the TMC-RDS analogue system. Toyota Touch Pro can also read DVD audio and video files.
UK specifications are still to be announced, but the list of items newly available for the model include a heated steering wheel, front seats with cooling and heating functions, a cooled box in the centre console, a powered upper tailgate section, bi-xenon headlamps and a 200V power outlet in the luggage compartment.
2012年1月10日星期二
Choose carefully
Well, that's not quite the only difference between the old bulbs and their replacements, notes Steve Walker, manager of the Batteries Plus store in Elgin. The store's owner decided a few weeks ago that this would be an opportune time to start selling a large selection of light bulbs in addition to its line of batteries.
Yes, the new styles will use less electricity and save big on your ComEd bill, Walker notes. But they also will cost more up front. They don't all provide the same kind of warm-feeling, all-around colors we have gotten used to. And some types have enough mercury to require them to be recycled as semi-hazardous waste rather than just being tossed into the trash.
Halogen incandescent bulbs, which also use a material that glows hot and bright when an electric current passes through it but use a different kind of material than the tungsten filaments typically used in old-style bulbs. These use less power than the old bulbs but more than the other alternatives. For example, one halogen bulb offered for sale at Batteries Plus gives the same amount of light as an old-style 75-watter but draws only 53 watts.
Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, which are similar to the long tubes used for decades in office and store lighting and use hot gases to generate their light. The compact ones typically have a small tube wrapped into a spiral shape. If you think that's ugly, or you have a lampshade designed to snap onto the old-style incandescent, CFLs now also come in a rounded shape that looks much like the old-style bulbs on the outside.
CFLs use less power than halogen incandescents. The one equivalent to an old-style 75 uses just 20 watts, in effect cutting your electric bill for using it by three-fourths. CFLs are the type that contain a small amount of mercury, an environmental hazard, but hardware stores and Batteries Plus will accept them for recycling.
LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs, which are the most high tech bulbs of all. They are similar to the LEDs used in electronic dials and some brake lights, flashlights and traffic signals.
They're the most efficient type of all from the standpoint of power use, but also are the least well developed at this point. Remember how dim those LED Christmas decorations seem to be? LEDs strain to achieve the same kind of brightness as a living-room lamp, and in fact the brightest LED available at Batteries Plus puts out only one-third as much light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb.
But the new styles may last so long that over the life of a lamp, the purchase price looks more reasonable. According to the website of Phillips Electronics, if an old-style bulb burns out in a given usage in one year, a halogen bulb in the same usage will last two years, a CFL will last seven to 11 years, and an LED bulb will burn on and on and on for at least 15 years.
Walker said some users have complained that CFLs burn out sooner than that, but he thinks that depends on how the bulb is being used.
"You need the right bulb for the right application," Walker said. "If someone has a closet light that they switch on and off all the time for just a few seconds at a time, that will be hard on a CFL. But for a porch light that turns on once a day and stays on for hours, a CFL will last a long, long time."
Add in the savings on your electric bill, and ComEd and the Alliance to Save Energy argue that using the newfangled, expensive-to-buy bulbs usually ends up saving money over the long run.
Also, ComEd will help you some with the purchase cost. Just a few years ago, the utility would provide its customers with free replacement bulbs that they could pick up at grocery stores such as Gromer's in return for paying just a few dollars a year more on their power bills.
Yes, the new styles will use less electricity and save big on your ComEd bill, Walker notes. But they also will cost more up front. They don't all provide the same kind of warm-feeling, all-around colors we have gotten used to. And some types have enough mercury to require them to be recycled as semi-hazardous waste rather than just being tossed into the trash.
Halogen incandescent bulbs, which also use a material that glows hot and bright when an electric current passes through it but use a different kind of material than the tungsten filaments typically used in old-style bulbs. These use less power than the old bulbs but more than the other alternatives. For example, one halogen bulb offered for sale at Batteries Plus gives the same amount of light as an old-style 75-watter but draws only 53 watts.
Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, which are similar to the long tubes used for decades in office and store lighting and use hot gases to generate their light. The compact ones typically have a small tube wrapped into a spiral shape. If you think that's ugly, or you have a lampshade designed to snap onto the old-style incandescent, CFLs now also come in a rounded shape that looks much like the old-style bulbs on the outside.
CFLs use less power than halogen incandescents. The one equivalent to an old-style 75 uses just 20 watts, in effect cutting your electric bill for using it by three-fourths. CFLs are the type that contain a small amount of mercury, an environmental hazard, but hardware stores and Batteries Plus will accept them for recycling.
LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs, which are the most high tech bulbs of all. They are similar to the LEDs used in electronic dials and some brake lights, flashlights and traffic signals.
They're the most efficient type of all from the standpoint of power use, but also are the least well developed at this point. Remember how dim those LED Christmas decorations seem to be? LEDs strain to achieve the same kind of brightness as a living-room lamp, and in fact the brightest LED available at Batteries Plus puts out only one-third as much light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb.
But the new styles may last so long that over the life of a lamp, the purchase price looks more reasonable. According to the website of Phillips Electronics, if an old-style bulb burns out in a given usage in one year, a halogen bulb in the same usage will last two years, a CFL will last seven to 11 years, and an LED bulb will burn on and on and on for at least 15 years.
Walker said some users have complained that CFLs burn out sooner than that, but he thinks that depends on how the bulb is being used.
"You need the right bulb for the right application," Walker said. "If someone has a closet light that they switch on and off all the time for just a few seconds at a time, that will be hard on a CFL. But for a porch light that turns on once a day and stays on for hours, a CFL will last a long, long time."
Add in the savings on your electric bill, and ComEd and the Alliance to Save Energy argue that using the newfangled, expensive-to-buy bulbs usually ends up saving money over the long run.
Also, ComEd will help you some with the purchase cost. Just a few years ago, the utility would provide its customers with free replacement bulbs that they could pick up at grocery stores such as Gromer's in return for paying just a few dollars a year more on their power bills.
2012年1月9日星期一
History Mystery: Badger Brass illuminated bicycles and autos
Last week's History Mystery question: What was the main product made at the Badger Brass Manufacturing Co. Inc. located in Kenosha around the turn of the 20th century?
Answer: The product was a Solar Bicycle Lamp, and there are a few collectors in the area who have these babies.
The lamps were initially manufactured at the Badger Brass Manufacturing Co., which was founded in 1898 by four businessmen, Charles N. Frost, George A. Yule, Richard Welles and E.L. Williams.
The factory was located initially on the corner of Elizabeth Street (63rd Street) and Pleasant Street (18th Avenue), but a new plant was built one block west on Lyman Avenue (20th Avenue) in 1905.
The product that started out lighting the way for bicycles did the same for motorized vehicles.
The factory employed 200 people in 1917 and boasted annual sales near the $1 million mark with an annual production of 100,000 cycle/bicycle and 400,000 auto lamps.
The Solar Lamps were known all over the world. They were adopted as standard equipment of the Cycle Division of the Dutch Army.
The lamps were standard on at least two automobiles — the Lancia, made in Turin, Italy, and the Berliet, made in Lyons, France.
Shipments of lamps were also sent to England, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, India, Australia, New Zealand, Cuba and the West Indies.
Throw out your conceptions of today's sun-powered solar lamps, as they were named Solar only because of the equivalent brightness of the light they shed.
Antique collector John Davison of Bristol has a couple of these lamps, and one has been in his family for about almost 100 years.
Based on the same concept as a miner's lamp, pieces of carbide are spaced in the lower compartment of the lamp. The small tank at the back is filled with water and the flow is regulated, drop by drop, by a key valve on the side of the lamp.
When the water hits the carbide, acetylene gas is formed and is forced into the upper camber burner.
The front glass is mounted on a hinged frame, so you can open up the chamber to light it. A flick of a match to the burner and ... Bumph!
The light produced is extremely bright (picture the flame of a cutting torch), and the front glass is actually a magnifying lens, increasing the power of the lamp.
Answer: The product was a Solar Bicycle Lamp, and there are a few collectors in the area who have these babies.
The lamps were initially manufactured at the Badger Brass Manufacturing Co., which was founded in 1898 by four businessmen, Charles N. Frost, George A. Yule, Richard Welles and E.L. Williams.
The factory was located initially on the corner of Elizabeth Street (63rd Street) and Pleasant Street (18th Avenue), but a new plant was built one block west on Lyman Avenue (20th Avenue) in 1905.
The product that started out lighting the way for bicycles did the same for motorized vehicles.
The factory employed 200 people in 1917 and boasted annual sales near the $1 million mark with an annual production of 100,000 cycle/bicycle and 400,000 auto lamps.
The Solar Lamps were known all over the world. They were adopted as standard equipment of the Cycle Division of the Dutch Army.
The lamps were standard on at least two automobiles — the Lancia, made in Turin, Italy, and the Berliet, made in Lyons, France.
Shipments of lamps were also sent to England, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, India, Australia, New Zealand, Cuba and the West Indies.
Throw out your conceptions of today's sun-powered solar lamps, as they were named Solar only because of the equivalent brightness of the light they shed.
Antique collector John Davison of Bristol has a couple of these lamps, and one has been in his family for about almost 100 years.
Based on the same concept as a miner's lamp, pieces of carbide are spaced in the lower compartment of the lamp. The small tank at the back is filled with water and the flow is regulated, drop by drop, by a key valve on the side of the lamp.
When the water hits the carbide, acetylene gas is formed and is forced into the upper camber burner.
The front glass is mounted on a hinged frame, so you can open up the chamber to light it. A flick of a match to the burner and ... Bumph!
The light produced is extremely bright (picture the flame of a cutting torch), and the front glass is actually a magnifying lens, increasing the power of the lamp.
2012年1月8日星期日
Flap over light bulb fires up many readers
A week ago today, I warned the government to keep its hands off the bright white 100-watt light bulb that I was about to screw into my brass desk lamp.
I was angered at bureaucrats who decreed that by October of this year, the manufacture of conventional 100-watt bulbs would be stopped in favor of more energy-efficient bulbs. They supposedly will cast a warmer glow, cost more and last longer.
My thoughts produced response and a gift of four dozen present-style 100-watt light bulbs.
As a spoof, the president of a Quad-City company, which I will not name, left off a box of 48 new 100-watt Sylvania Standard incandescent bulbs. He wanted me to be sure that I would never run out of brilliant 100-watt bulbs for my brass lamp.
If each bulb has a lifespan of 750 hours, his gift of those 48 100-watt bulbs will last for 36,000 hours. They should constantly burn, one after another, for 4.1 years. I will be lucky to live that long.
If any charitable group would like a box of 48 bulbs, call me within the next few days. Take all of them, not one at a time.
Here's what others who are irritated have to say about new light bulbs:
"I bought one of those corkscrew bulbs several years ago for the family room lamp. It made the room dark and dreary. I paid nearly $10 for it," says Juanita Schillig, Bettendorf. "It lasted only six months! It was to last five years. I had to dispose of it at a county recycle center because of the hazardous material contained in it."
"About the light bulb column, I couldn't agree more," says Mary Stebbins, Savanna, Ill. "With all the important issues of the day, couldn't our legislators' time be spent more wisely?"
"I have two problems with the newly mandated bulbs," says Terry Sullivan, Davenport. "First, I have a light fixture in which they will not fit. The other problem is the short-sightedness of a government mandate. I had one of the new bulbs burn out and it is sitting in my basement. These new bulbs cannot be thrown in the regular trash because of some of their contents. I am sure there are others like myself who have stocked up on the old bulbs. I have three globe bulbs, seven 75-watt bulbs, eight 40-watters, 14 three-way bulbs and what I use the most - 40 of the 60-watt bulbs."
"Your column reminded me of a search for 100-watt bulbs. I totally agree with you. Everybody in our house (with the new bulbs) look like they have yellow jaundice. Do you know a light bulb bootlegger? Not kidding," writes a 65-year-old grandma.
I was angered at bureaucrats who decreed that by October of this year, the manufacture of conventional 100-watt bulbs would be stopped in favor of more energy-efficient bulbs. They supposedly will cast a warmer glow, cost more and last longer.
My thoughts produced response and a gift of four dozen present-style 100-watt light bulbs.
As a spoof, the president of a Quad-City company, which I will not name, left off a box of 48 new 100-watt Sylvania Standard incandescent bulbs. He wanted me to be sure that I would never run out of brilliant 100-watt bulbs for my brass lamp.
If each bulb has a lifespan of 750 hours, his gift of those 48 100-watt bulbs will last for 36,000 hours. They should constantly burn, one after another, for 4.1 years. I will be lucky to live that long.
If any charitable group would like a box of 48 bulbs, call me within the next few days. Take all of them, not one at a time.
Here's what others who are irritated have to say about new light bulbs:
"I bought one of those corkscrew bulbs several years ago for the family room lamp. It made the room dark and dreary. I paid nearly $10 for it," says Juanita Schillig, Bettendorf. "It lasted only six months! It was to last five years. I had to dispose of it at a county recycle center because of the hazardous material contained in it."
"About the light bulb column, I couldn't agree more," says Mary Stebbins, Savanna, Ill. "With all the important issues of the day, couldn't our legislators' time be spent more wisely?"
"I have two problems with the newly mandated bulbs," says Terry Sullivan, Davenport. "First, I have a light fixture in which they will not fit. The other problem is the short-sightedness of a government mandate. I had one of the new bulbs burn out and it is sitting in my basement. These new bulbs cannot be thrown in the regular trash because of some of their contents. I am sure there are others like myself who have stocked up on the old bulbs. I have three globe bulbs, seven 75-watt bulbs, eight 40-watters, 14 three-way bulbs and what I use the most - 40 of the 60-watt bulbs."
"Your column reminded me of a search for 100-watt bulbs. I totally agree with you. Everybody in our house (with the new bulbs) look like they have yellow jaundice. Do you know a light bulb bootlegger? Not kidding," writes a 65-year-old grandma.
2012年1月5日星期四
New light bulb regulations could create long-term savings
Because of government regulations that took effect Jan. 1, more efficient bulbs will be making their way into millions of homes across the country.
Gone are the 100-watt incandescent bulbs everyone has become so familiar with. They are no longer being produced or sold in the United States. Within the next two years, 75-watt and 60-watt models will be phased out too.
The changes have sent people rushing for the greener options, LED and CFL bulbs. So, Consumer Reports tested dozens of different LED and CFL models to see which ones provide the best light for the best price.
According to Consumer Reports expert Celia Lehman, understanding what to look for in LED and CFL bulbs is the key to making the right choice. All of the models will save money, but different models do it in different ways.
LEDs last the longest, but they are also the more expensive option to replace incandescent bulbs. CFLs don't last quite as long as LEDs, but they are still a more efficient option and can use up to 70 percent less power.
Another thing to consider when buying bulbs is how they are packaged. The wording has changed, making the standard wattage ratings a thing of the past.
"What you really need to start doing is looking at lumens," Lehman said. "Lumens will measure the brightness."
Eight hundred lumens is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. Another thing to check is the color temperature, which will be listed in kelvins. The higher the kelvin rating, the bluer the light.
"If you're looking for general illumination, you're really looking for about 2,800 kelvin," Lehman said.
LEDs are still expensive, with some costing up to $25, but according to Consumer Reports, the price is worth it in the long run. LEDs can last up to a decade and will save the consumer hundreds of dollars.
CFLs can save $100 or more over the lifetime of the bulb.
"All of the bulbs at the store are going to be more efficient, which is a really good thing," Lehman said.
For folks still looking for a 100-watt equivalent, Consumer Reports recommends the ECObulb Plus from Feit Electric. It will cost about $2 per bulb.
For even less, the Utilitech Soft White from Lowe's and the EcoSmart Soft White from Home Depot are the best options.
Gone are the 100-watt incandescent bulbs everyone has become so familiar with. They are no longer being produced or sold in the United States. Within the next two years, 75-watt and 60-watt models will be phased out too.
The changes have sent people rushing for the greener options, LED and CFL bulbs. So, Consumer Reports tested dozens of different LED and CFL models to see which ones provide the best light for the best price.
According to Consumer Reports expert Celia Lehman, understanding what to look for in LED and CFL bulbs is the key to making the right choice. All of the models will save money, but different models do it in different ways.
LEDs last the longest, but they are also the more expensive option to replace incandescent bulbs. CFLs don't last quite as long as LEDs, but they are still a more efficient option and can use up to 70 percent less power.
Another thing to consider when buying bulbs is how they are packaged. The wording has changed, making the standard wattage ratings a thing of the past.
"What you really need to start doing is looking at lumens," Lehman said. "Lumens will measure the brightness."
Eight hundred lumens is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. Another thing to check is the color temperature, which will be listed in kelvins. The higher the kelvin rating, the bluer the light.
"If you're looking for general illumination, you're really looking for about 2,800 kelvin," Lehman said.
LEDs are still expensive, with some costing up to $25, but according to Consumer Reports, the price is worth it in the long run. LEDs can last up to a decade and will save the consumer hundreds of dollars.
CFLs can save $100 or more over the lifetime of the bulb.
"All of the bulbs at the store are going to be more efficient, which is a really good thing," Lehman said.
For folks still looking for a 100-watt equivalent, Consumer Reports recommends the ECObulb Plus from Feit Electric. It will cost about $2 per bulb.
For even less, the Utilitech Soft White from Lowe's and the EcoSmart Soft White from Home Depot are the best options.
2012年1月4日星期三
Clifton Ave. home earns top marks
The winners of the Town of Windsor's Residential Christmas Decorating Contest will be illuminating Clifton Avenue at sundown until about a week after New Year's Eve.
VanEssa Roberts, Windsor's director of Community Development, Tourism and Recreation, says Garey Pridham and Susan Sheehy's 512 Clifton Avenue home won top marks for being decorated with a unique style that suggested every element of the display was meticulously arranged.
"First place… was about elegance with lights," Roberts said.
Judges toured the town for two hours the night of Dec. 11 and found that about 65 per cent of the dwellings in Windsor were decorated.
Roberts said the second place prize was awarded to home owners who used a minimal amount of lights to perfect their display and third place was reserved for a well-lit, colourful home that screamed family fun.
Second place winners Pam and John Edgecomb, at 850 Clifton Avenue, were awarded a free skating party for 40 friends at the Windsor Exhibition Arena. Wanda and Brian Lavers, at 13 Burgess Crescent, received a $50 gift certificate to a downtown merchant of their choosing, compliments of the Windsor Business Enhancement Society.
Pridham and Sheehy won a $300 prize package, including Beauti-tone paint and supplies, donated by Windsor Home Hardware. The hardware store will foot the bill for a professional paint consultant to tour their home and offer suggestions.
Pridham, an award-winning photographer, says he didn't decorate his home with the intent of winning any contests this year; it's simply something he loves to do.
"You know what's funny? We didn't even have it all done. I still had more lights to put up," he said with a laugh.
The display relies on the proper use of three main festive colours — red, green and white — and the tasteful placement of every light source. This year, Pridham illuminated the trees on his front and side lawns with red and green spotlights, outlined his house with white, and framed his front door and windows in red.
"I'm looking forward to next year because I've got bigger and better things all planned," he said.
It takes about two weeks for Pridham to be happy with his exterior Christmas decorations.
"I just do it because I enjoy it and our neighbours and people who walk by say, ‘Thank you so much for all you do. It's like you brighten up the street,'" he said.
VanEssa Roberts, Windsor's director of Community Development, Tourism and Recreation, says Garey Pridham and Susan Sheehy's 512 Clifton Avenue home won top marks for being decorated with a unique style that suggested every element of the display was meticulously arranged.
"First place… was about elegance with lights," Roberts said.
Judges toured the town for two hours the night of Dec. 11 and found that about 65 per cent of the dwellings in Windsor were decorated.
Roberts said the second place prize was awarded to home owners who used a minimal amount of lights to perfect their display and third place was reserved for a well-lit, colourful home that screamed family fun.
Second place winners Pam and John Edgecomb, at 850 Clifton Avenue, were awarded a free skating party for 40 friends at the Windsor Exhibition Arena. Wanda and Brian Lavers, at 13 Burgess Crescent, received a $50 gift certificate to a downtown merchant of their choosing, compliments of the Windsor Business Enhancement Society.
Pridham and Sheehy won a $300 prize package, including Beauti-tone paint and supplies, donated by Windsor Home Hardware. The hardware store will foot the bill for a professional paint consultant to tour their home and offer suggestions.
Pridham, an award-winning photographer, says he didn't decorate his home with the intent of winning any contests this year; it's simply something he loves to do.
"You know what's funny? We didn't even have it all done. I still had more lights to put up," he said with a laugh.
The display relies on the proper use of three main festive colours — red, green and white — and the tasteful placement of every light source. This year, Pridham illuminated the trees on his front and side lawns with red and green spotlights, outlined his house with white, and framed his front door and windows in red.
"I'm looking forward to next year because I've got bigger and better things all planned," he said.
It takes about two weeks for Pridham to be happy with his exterior Christmas decorations.
"I just do it because I enjoy it and our neighbours and people who walk by say, ‘Thank you so much for all you do. It's like you brighten up the street,'" he said.
2012年1月3日星期二
The Hypocrisy And Stupidity Of The GOP's Hatred Of The EPA
GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum has taken advantage of his newfound popularity to get on board the Republican war against clean air and water.
According to Santorum, the new EPA rule that will finally place limits on how much mercury the nation's coal and oil fired power plants can spew into the air —a regulation specifically created to protect young children and developing fetuses from the damage known to be caused by mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin—will shut down 60 power plants in the US and is "not based on any kind of science."
What Santorum is not telling you is that we have long had regulations on mercury emissions for other types of emission sources such as waste incinerators. Why? Because it is no secret that mercury is highly damaging to our health, particularly the health of children and developing fetuses. Yet, coat and oil fired power plants, the single-largest source of mercury emissions, were never included in the limits —until now.
Indeed, the only thing not based on any kind of science is Santorum's determination that causing some private power plant operators to install the technology required to stay within the new emission limits is more important than the estimated 11,000 premature deaths and 130,000 asthma attacks that will be prevented each and every year as a result lowering the level of mercury in the air.
While it may not play well with the GOP base and Tea Party members committed to ending federal government regulations—even when they make sense—the new EPA rules are the result of a peer-reviewed study that has taken twenty years to complete.
But it's not like one requires a degree in chemical engineering to appreciate that mercury in the air can't be a good thing.
If you doubt this, just listen to the never-ending GOP complaints over the dangers of mercury escaping from the compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs the government will soon require us to use in place of the highly inefficient incandescent bulbs.
While the supposed dangers of mercury from a broken CFL bulb falling to the carpet is enough to motivate conservatives to fill their basements with stockpiles of old-school style light bulbs as if they were preparing for electric-Armageddon, they don't seem to have a problem with coal plants pouring this neurotoxin into the air where it can cause all sorts of serious health problems for the entire population.
How does that make any sense? You would think that these Republicans and their children breathe different air than the rest of us.
But then, maybe they do. You don't find a lot of coal burning power plants in upper-class neighborhoods – only the people who own the plants and would prefer not to have to spend the money to upgrade their technology to meet the new standards to protect the rest of their fellow citizens.
According to Santorum, the new EPA rule that will finally place limits on how much mercury the nation's coal and oil fired power plants can spew into the air —a regulation specifically created to protect young children and developing fetuses from the damage known to be caused by mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin—will shut down 60 power plants in the US and is "not based on any kind of science."
What Santorum is not telling you is that we have long had regulations on mercury emissions for other types of emission sources such as waste incinerators. Why? Because it is no secret that mercury is highly damaging to our health, particularly the health of children and developing fetuses. Yet, coat and oil fired power plants, the single-largest source of mercury emissions, were never included in the limits —until now.
Indeed, the only thing not based on any kind of science is Santorum's determination that causing some private power plant operators to install the technology required to stay within the new emission limits is more important than the estimated 11,000 premature deaths and 130,000 asthma attacks that will be prevented each and every year as a result lowering the level of mercury in the air.
While it may not play well with the GOP base and Tea Party members committed to ending federal government regulations—even when they make sense—the new EPA rules are the result of a peer-reviewed study that has taken twenty years to complete.
But it's not like one requires a degree in chemical engineering to appreciate that mercury in the air can't be a good thing.
If you doubt this, just listen to the never-ending GOP complaints over the dangers of mercury escaping from the compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs the government will soon require us to use in place of the highly inefficient incandescent bulbs.
While the supposed dangers of mercury from a broken CFL bulb falling to the carpet is enough to motivate conservatives to fill their basements with stockpiles of old-school style light bulbs as if they were preparing for electric-Armageddon, they don't seem to have a problem with coal plants pouring this neurotoxin into the air where it can cause all sorts of serious health problems for the entire population.
How does that make any sense? You would think that these Republicans and their children breathe different air than the rest of us.
But then, maybe they do. You don't find a lot of coal burning power plants in upper-class neighborhoods – only the people who own the plants and would prefer not to have to spend the money to upgrade their technology to meet the new standards to protect the rest of their fellow citizens.
2012年1月2日星期一
Honda Civic UK drive
Competition is so fierce in the family hatchback market, any new entrant has to stand out. With excellent choices in the shape of the VW Golf and Ford Focus, not to mention upstarts such as the new Hyundai i30 and Kia Cee'd, there's no room for a me-too product. So how does the new Honda Civic fit into that mix? We got hold of one of the first right-hand-drive cars in the UK to find out.
Since its launch in 1973, Honda has sold more than 650,000 Civics. The previous generation really hit on a winning formula – striking looks, a futuristic yet practical cabin and a fun driving experience. The new model seeks to build on that reputation, while offering a more comfortable ride and a better-quality interior.
This time around, Honda has been less daring with the car's shape. The more you look at it, the more it feels as if it has lost some of its personality.
LED running lights add some show to the front end, but although the shape has been smoothed off and updated, the rear window is still split awkwardly and hampers vision.
What about comfort? Honda engineers have spent many hours testing the new Civic on UK roads, and you can tell straight away their hard work has paid off. New fluid-filled suspension bushes make it much more compliant, so it soaks up potholes well. Big bumps still send a jolt through the cabin, but it's generally comfier than the outgoing car.
Overall, it feels more grown up. The body may not be as distinctive but it's far more aerodynamic and, as a result, wind noise is reduced – the Civic is much quieter at any speed.
Quality has improved, too. Out go the brittle plastics of the old car, and in comes a new soft-touch material for the dash. The digital display has also been simplified, but still looks a bit busy. Equipment levels are excellent, even on basic SE-trimmed cars. Climate control, an ECON button (which modifies throttle response to improve economy), stop-start and alloy wheels are all standard. Our EX GT flagship had leather upholstery on its very comfortable seats, xenon headlights, a parking camera and sat-nav.
On the move, the 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel we tested had quite a narrow power band – you need to change gear quickly and often to maintain acceleration – and it sounded a little gruffer than similarly powerful engines from VW and Ford. It's capable of 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds, while Honda claims 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km, making road tax free in the first year.
Our advice, however, would be to hold out for the new 1.6-litre diesel, which will be even more economical and has sub-100g/km CO2 emissions. This engine is due at the end of the year.
The Civic is still fun to drive on a twisty road. With retuned suspension and a rear trailing arm that's stiffer than that of the old Type R hot hatch, it's a pretty agile machine, with decent turn-in and good grip. The new electric power-steering is precise, if a bit light. That's fine at low speed, but it could do with more weight as the pace quickens.
Since its launch in 1973, Honda has sold more than 650,000 Civics. The previous generation really hit on a winning formula – striking looks, a futuristic yet practical cabin and a fun driving experience. The new model seeks to build on that reputation, while offering a more comfortable ride and a better-quality interior.
This time around, Honda has been less daring with the car's shape. The more you look at it, the more it feels as if it has lost some of its personality.
LED running lights add some show to the front end, but although the shape has been smoothed off and updated, the rear window is still split awkwardly and hampers vision.
What about comfort? Honda engineers have spent many hours testing the new Civic on UK roads, and you can tell straight away their hard work has paid off. New fluid-filled suspension bushes make it much more compliant, so it soaks up potholes well. Big bumps still send a jolt through the cabin, but it's generally comfier than the outgoing car.
Overall, it feels more grown up. The body may not be as distinctive but it's far more aerodynamic and, as a result, wind noise is reduced – the Civic is much quieter at any speed.
Quality has improved, too. Out go the brittle plastics of the old car, and in comes a new soft-touch material for the dash. The digital display has also been simplified, but still looks a bit busy. Equipment levels are excellent, even on basic SE-trimmed cars. Climate control, an ECON button (which modifies throttle response to improve economy), stop-start and alloy wheels are all standard. Our EX GT flagship had leather upholstery on its very comfortable seats, xenon headlights, a parking camera and sat-nav.
On the move, the 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel we tested had quite a narrow power band – you need to change gear quickly and often to maintain acceleration – and it sounded a little gruffer than similarly powerful engines from VW and Ford. It's capable of 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds, while Honda claims 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km, making road tax free in the first year.
Our advice, however, would be to hold out for the new 1.6-litre diesel, which will be even more economical and has sub-100g/km CO2 emissions. This engine is due at the end of the year.
The Civic is still fun to drive on a twisty road. With retuned suspension and a rear trailing arm that's stiffer than that of the old Type R hot hatch, it's a pretty agile machine, with decent turn-in and good grip. The new electric power-steering is precise, if a bit light. That's fine at low speed, but it could do with more weight as the pace quickens.
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