Fear of 'phase-out' for incandescent bulbs fuels hoarding
Bunny Williams, the no-nonsense decorator known for her lush English-style rooms, is laying in light bulbs like canned goods. Incandescent bulbs, that is — 60 and 75 watters — because she likes a double-cluster lamp with a high- and a low-watt bulb, one for reading, one for mood.
"Every time I go to Costco, I buy more wattage," Williams said the other day. She is as green as anybody, she added, but she can't abide the sickly hue of a twisty compact fluorescent bulb, though she's tried warming it up with shade liners in creams and pinks. Nor does she care for the cool blue of an LED.
It should be noted that, like most decorators, Williams is extremely precise about light. The other day, she reported, she spent six hours fine-tuning the lighting plan of a project, tweaking the mix of ambient, directional and overhead light she had designed, and returning to the house after dusk to add wattage and switch out lamps like a chef adjusting the flavors in a complicated bouillabaisse.
She is aware that there is legislation that is going to affect the manufacture of incandescent bulbs, but she's not clear on the details, and she wants to make sure she has what she needs when she needs it.
So does John Warner, a restaurateur in Washington, D.C., whose new bistro, Le Zinc, will open next month on Wisconsin Avenue. He has signed a 15-year lease on the place, which is layered in warm woods, with lots of art and photographs and 50 light fixtures, 16 of them designed to hold a 40-watt Soft White GE incandescent bulb. By estimating that his lights will be on for 15 hours a day, and factoring in the package's promise of a 2,000-hour life span per bulb, Warner has calculated that he will need 600 of these bulbs to last through his lease.
"I have a light-enough carbon footprint in the other aspects of the design," he said, "so I can allow myself a lighting splurge."
Darren Henault, a Manhattan decorator, has already splurged on light fixtures in his Millbrook, N.Y., farmhouse, which dates from the early 19th century, and he is fearful that the bulbs sold in the future won't be up to snuff.
"We went to great pains to keep it looking like an 1800s farmhouse," he said. "We used reclaimed woods, kept the old hardware and the old doors." He also added a dozen custom light fixtures, he said, including "one in particular that cost an arm and a leg, and only works with these particular incandescent bulbs."
He has filled the basement with antique-style Edison bulbs — the clear bulbs with the fuzzy filaments that restaurant designers are so fond of — as well as silver-bottomed incandescent bulbs, which throw light on the ceiling in an appealing way, both of which he buys in bulk at Gracious Home. (The former cost $19 each; Gracious Home is no Costco.)
"My electrician said they were being phased out," he said. "If he's wrong, I'm going to kill him."
As it happens, Henault's electrician is wrong.
Late in his second term, George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires light bulb makers to improve the efficiency of incandescent bulbs by 25 percent. The details of the law dictated a phase-out of the manufacture of certain bulbs in their current incarnation, starting with 100-watt bulbs next January.
The law does not ban the use or manufacture of all incandescent bulbs, nor does it mandate the use of compact fluorescent ones. It simply requires that companies make some of their incandescent bulbs work a bit better, meeting a series of rolling deadlines between 2012 and 2014.
Furthermore, all sorts of exemptions are written into the law, which means that all sorts of bulbs are getting a free pass and can keep their energy-guzzling ways indefinitely, including "specialty bulbs" like the Edison bulbs favored by Henault, as well as three-way bulbs, silver-bottomed bulbs, chandelier bulbs, refrigerator bulbs, plant lights and many, many others.
Nonetheless, as the deadline for the first phase of the legislation looms, light bulb confusion — even profound light bulb anxiety — is roiling the minds of many. The other day, Ken Henderlong, a sales associate at Oriental Lamp Shade Co. on Lexington Avenue, said that his customers "say they want to stockpile incandescent bulbs, but they are not sure when to start. No one knows when the rules go into effect or what the rules are."
Thursday 26 May 2011
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Concert review: U2 moves Utah fans in ‘Mysterious Ways’
Concert review: U2 moves Utah fans in ‘Mysterious Ways’
Bono and Co. were back at it Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
Back being the operative word – literally.
As Bono himself pointed out during Tuesday’s U2 spectacular at Rice-Eccles Stadium, it was a year ago this week that he underwent emergency back surgery in Germany, forcing the band to reschedule the North American leg of its 360° Tour, which was within a few days of launching with the Salt Lake City date.
“Let me tell you, we are so much better this year,” Bono told the screaming masses after thanking them for their patience. “In all modesty, I’ve got a brand new spine. I have been built with a brand new spine. ... Thank God, and thank the Germans. What do you think of Robo-Bono?”
Judging by their raucous reaction and a stadium-wide standing ovation for all but the most mellow moments, audience members had high praise for the worth-much-more-than-$6 million man and his not quite as bionic bandmates.
In fact, fans’ patience for the year delay paid off as the Irish popsters delivered as stunning a visual concert as has ever been seen along the Wasatch Front during a 2-hour, 20-minute performance. Much has been written about the band’s massive stage structure, dubbed “The Claw,” but, if anything, its utter uniqueness and ability to make a stadium show seem intimate was clearly not over-hyped.
The mammoth stage dwarfed the south end of the stadium, making the Olympic torch, visible in the background outside that end, appear like a mere flashlight. It may measure 150 feet from the bottom of the main stage to the tip of its disco ball-like spire, but it appeared as if nearly every inch of the staging served some functional purpose visually. The four legs of “The Claw” neatly housed all manner of lights and other effects. With most of the equipment suspended in air or perhaps contained underneath, the main stage itself was amazingly uncluttered, leaving pretty much just the musicians and their tools of the trade.
A pair of rotating walkways bridged an inner section of fans and connected the main stage to a circular ramp that brought band members closer to the primary sections of the audience. Bono, guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton all made judicious use of the bridges and walkway to maintain connected with the crowd. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. even took a late-set spin around the ramp while playing a bongo drum during “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.”
The undisputed king of special effects, however, was the out-of-this-world cylindrical video board. The display was so eye-catching that at times it was certainly a distraction to the proceedings on stage – but almost always a welcome one. The board mostly displayed live action from the stage, showing off facial expressions and actions that would otherwise be undetectable by a large portion of the crowd in a stadium setting.
The video device moved into uncharted territory, however, when it started morphing and changing shape late in the main set. The screen actually broke apart into hundreds of separate pieces and started funneling downward toward the band during “Miss Sarajevo.” Following up with “Zooropa,” the video tunnel lowered and actually encased the entire band – with the members intermittently visible behind the separated pieces of video screen behind eye-popping light effects. It was amazing to behold, leaving one to wonder where the next generation of video experimentation will go from here. The bar has been set extremely high.
None of the effects, however, would mean diddly without the music to back it up. U2 has little to worry about in that regard. The band mixed in big hits with more obscure material, but the fans – and are there any more devoted fans than U2 followers? – seemed familiar with everything, singing along at every prompt from Bono and offering cheers of recognition at the beginning strains of every song.
“Get on Your Boots,” “Mysterious Ways” and “Elevation” were early highlights and the tranquil “All I Want is You” was simply beautiful. An ongoing theme emerged at the end of the latter tune as Bono segued into “Love Rescue Me,” a tune co-written by Bob Dylan off the “Rattle and Hum” album. Tuesday marked Dylan’s 70th birthday and at the end of the song, Bono led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to the folk icon.
Bono would add a later Dylan tribute in the encores by playing the first verse and chorus to “Blowin’ in the Wind” while accompanying himself on guitar.
Bono and Co. were back at it Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
Back being the operative word – literally.
As Bono himself pointed out during Tuesday’s U2 spectacular at Rice-Eccles Stadium, it was a year ago this week that he underwent emergency back surgery in Germany, forcing the band to reschedule the North American leg of its 360° Tour, which was within a few days of launching with the Salt Lake City date.
“Let me tell you, we are so much better this year,” Bono told the screaming masses after thanking them for their patience. “In all modesty, I’ve got a brand new spine. I have been built with a brand new spine. ... Thank God, and thank the Germans. What do you think of Robo-Bono?”
Judging by their raucous reaction and a stadium-wide standing ovation for all but the most mellow moments, audience members had high praise for the worth-much-more-than-$6 million man and his not quite as bionic bandmates.
In fact, fans’ patience for the year delay paid off as the Irish popsters delivered as stunning a visual concert as has ever been seen along the Wasatch Front during a 2-hour, 20-minute performance. Much has been written about the band’s massive stage structure, dubbed “The Claw,” but, if anything, its utter uniqueness and ability to make a stadium show seem intimate was clearly not over-hyped.
The mammoth stage dwarfed the south end of the stadium, making the Olympic torch, visible in the background outside that end, appear like a mere flashlight. It may measure 150 feet from the bottom of the main stage to the tip of its disco ball-like spire, but it appeared as if nearly every inch of the staging served some functional purpose visually. The four legs of “The Claw” neatly housed all manner of lights and other effects. With most of the equipment suspended in air or perhaps contained underneath, the main stage itself was amazingly uncluttered, leaving pretty much just the musicians and their tools of the trade.
A pair of rotating walkways bridged an inner section of fans and connected the main stage to a circular ramp that brought band members closer to the primary sections of the audience. Bono, guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton all made judicious use of the bridges and walkway to maintain connected with the crowd. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. even took a late-set spin around the ramp while playing a bongo drum during “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.”
The undisputed king of special effects, however, was the out-of-this-world cylindrical video board. The display was so eye-catching that at times it was certainly a distraction to the proceedings on stage – but almost always a welcome one. The board mostly displayed live action from the stage, showing off facial expressions and actions that would otherwise be undetectable by a large portion of the crowd in a stadium setting.
The video device moved into uncharted territory, however, when it started morphing and changing shape late in the main set. The screen actually broke apart into hundreds of separate pieces and started funneling downward toward the band during “Miss Sarajevo.” Following up with “Zooropa,” the video tunnel lowered and actually encased the entire band – with the members intermittently visible behind the separated pieces of video screen behind eye-popping light effects. It was amazing to behold, leaving one to wonder where the next generation of video experimentation will go from here. The bar has been set extremely high.
None of the effects, however, would mean diddly without the music to back it up. U2 has little to worry about in that regard. The band mixed in big hits with more obscure material, but the fans – and are there any more devoted fans than U2 followers? – seemed familiar with everything, singing along at every prompt from Bono and offering cheers of recognition at the beginning strains of every song.
“Get on Your Boots,” “Mysterious Ways” and “Elevation” were early highlights and the tranquil “All I Want is You” was simply beautiful. An ongoing theme emerged at the end of the latter tune as Bono segued into “Love Rescue Me,” a tune co-written by Bob Dylan off the “Rattle and Hum” album. Tuesday marked Dylan’s 70th birthday and at the end of the song, Bono led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to the folk icon.
Bono would add a later Dylan tribute in the encores by playing the first verse and chorus to “Blowin’ in the Wind” while accompanying himself on guitar.
Wednesday 18 May 2011
の強力な電流ACまたはDCと営業のSpotlight対応のLED
の強力な電流ACまたはDCと営業のSpotlight対応のLEDラーソンエレクトロニクスMagnalight.comは、新しいハイパワーの添加は、頑丈な、プロアプリケーション用に設計されたLEDが点灯しそのシリーズにスポットライトをLEDを発表した。 Magnalight PMLの- 90LED - DPの- 120 90ワットのLEDスポットライトは、光ビームの長さは2400フィートに達することができる8100ルーメンを生成し、120ボルトのAC電源または 12ボルトのDC電流を使用するために機能をユーザーに提供しています。 90 - 295VACから実行することができます耐候インライン変圧器が含まれ、このスポットライトに一般的な120ボルトのAC電源だけでなく9 50VDC、現在と同じように動作する能力を提供し、マウントして動作するこのLEDスポットライトをどこACまたはDCの演算子に多彩な機能を提供しま す電源は入手可能です。九十ワットソウルZ -パワーは、エミッタのLED搭載し、Magnalight PMLの- 90LED - DPの- 120 90ワットのLEDスポットライトは8100ルーメン、光ビーム約2,400フィートの長さと幅が140フィートを生成します。 LED のスポットライトのMagnalightの行にこの強力なほかは、IP68準拠防水定格され車両、建物やヒンジは、ユーザーは一度完全にマウントされてラ ンプを配置できるようにテンション含まれています4インチの正方形の取付板アセンブリを使用して任意の平らな面に取り付けるために設計されています。固体ポリカーボネートは削除したり、任意のピンを設定したり、任意のつまみネジをロックダウンすることなく、代わりにご利用いただけます光の調整が簡単、一度設定調節機能取り付けブラケットに組み込まアセンブリを処理します。必要に応じて、ユーザーは単にライトの方向を調整することができます部は、ユーザが変更するまで、その位置を保持します。 Magnalight は、本機ではIP67定格DCPの- 11 - DPの防水電源コンバータが含まれており、ハイパワーは、典型的な120VAC家庭の現在だけでなく、低電圧を実行することができますスポットライトを LEDの製造には、このLEDスポットライトの電源コードが付属してラインで実行するDC電源より車とボートと共通。このコンバータを含めることは、このスポットライトを完全にACまたはDC電流が可能となりますユーザーのみ電力が供給されているモバイルアプリケーションでは、この光を実行することになりますVDCは、このような車や船などの場所でと同じように12VDCが90から50利用できないか、不便なだけ電力が利用できる通常の120VACです。このLEDスポットライトは、DCだけコンバータからそれを抜いて、9電流50VDCのソースに接続することによって、現在使用して実行することができます。現在の12ボルトで実行して、この90ワットLEDスポットライトは7.5アンペアはまだ同等のハロゲンスポットライトよりもワット当たりのより多くの光を生成する描画します。アルミニウムと粉体塗装の建設は、このユニットのハウジングは、影響と腐食による損傷に抵抗する。固 体ポリカーボネート調整は、めっき鋼板のハードウェアに接続されているハンドルは、取付けベースは重いゲージ鋼で形成されているLEDはすべてが頑丈な使 用や乱用環境なしに立ち上がることができるLEDスポットライトを生成するのに役立ちますポリカーボネートレンズにより保護されていますビートをスキップします。このLEDスポットライトがよく安全保障、法の執行および軍事用だけでなく、任意のユーティリティワーカーまたは重大な機器のアウトドアの配列には理想的なほかにも適しています。
"90 ワットは、我々の最も人気のあるLEDライトは、範囲と消費電力に起因するLEDライトなので、このマウントされたサーチライトのアプリケーションに理想 的なコンポーネントを作り、"ラーソンエレクトロニクスmagnalight.comとロブブレスナハンは言った。 PMLの- LED90は、277V ACおよびそれは非常に多機能です42VのDCの9VのDCに至るまでの低電圧アプリケーション110V AC電源に至るまでの標準電圧に適用されます。 50000での生活時間は、前例のない耐振動性、高出力光出力、兵士たちは、ボート事業者やハイエンドのスポーツマンこのLEDライトのアプリケーションを見つけることになります。
ラーソンエレクトロニクスMagnalight製造し、40年以上にわたり、商業、工業産業への高電力スポットライトや照明器具を配布し、LEDライトバー、LEDのスポットライト、電源トランス、ボートが点灯し、携帯の電源をLEDの包括的な販売を行っています。 Magnalight.comはMagnalightスポットライトの行全体を表示するために、参照してください
"90 ワットは、我々の最も人気のあるLEDライトは、範囲と消費電力に起因するLEDライトなので、このマウントされたサーチライトのアプリケーションに理想 的なコンポーネントを作り、"ラーソンエレクトロニクスmagnalight.comとロブブレスナハンは言った。 PMLの- LED90は、277V ACおよびそれは非常に多機能です42VのDCの9VのDCに至るまでの低電圧アプリケーション110V AC電源に至るまでの標準電圧に適用されます。 50000での生活時間は、前例のない耐振動性、高出力光出力、兵士たちは、ボート事業者やハイエンドのスポーツマンこのLEDライトのアプリケーションを見つけることになります。
ラーソンエレクトロニクスMagnalight製造し、40年以上にわたり、商業、工業産業への高電力スポットライトや照明器具を配布し、LEDライトバー、LEDのスポットライト、電源トランス、ボートが点灯し、携帯の電源をLEDの包括的な販売を行っています。 Magnalight.comはMagnalightスポットライトの行全体を表示するために、参照してください
Monday 16 May 2011
Low-carbon energy-saving doors and windows full analysis of environmental protection - a low-carbon
Low-carbon energy-saving doors and windows full analysis of environmental protection - a low-carbon
Low carbon Environmental protection Has become the trend, China's many places in the implementation of the "low-carbon lifestyle", windows and doors industry is how low-carbon energy saving environmental protection for? Building energy efficiency is a huge systematic project, all aspects of the whole society together. The building itself, the reality of energy-saving shortcut from the "windows" to start. Impact of building energy consumption as one of the four parts of the doors and windows envelope, generally thin-walled lightweight components, is building insulation, heat insulation, sound insulation of the weak links. Especially in insulation properties of the worst, it passes through the radiation, convective transfer, conduction transfer and air infiltration led to the building of four forms of energy loss, the energy of ordinary single-glazed windows heat loss in winter and summer about building cooling energy consumption of 50 % or more. Therefore, to improve the indoor thermal windows and doors, light environment, most important, its performance directly determines the effect of building energy efficiency. Enhanced thermal insulation properties of windows, doors and windows to reduce energy consumption, improve building heat, light, environmental quality, an important step in building energy efficiency goals. Insulation and insulated doors and windows and glass, door window frame materials, construction and air tightness are closely related. Whatever the form of building doors and windows, glass materials to be used, it accounts for more than 70% area of the window glass, energy-efficient doors and windows so they should first consider the factors of glass. This is why Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other big cities have enacted local laws and regulations, Vigorously Promotion and mandatory energy-saving buildings, but also, without exception, the implementation of hollow, inflatable, low-emissivity glass reasons. Promote the use of hollow glass is a sign of the times, building energy efficiency developments . Insulating glass is two or more layers of glass to seal up the air, during layer filling with viscosity coefficient and thermal conductivity coefficient of the inert gas to reduce the convection heat transfer between the layers, the energy-saving features of the key indicators??? Biography thermal coefficient K (refer to steady heat transfer conditions, the glass on both sides of the air temperature difference of 1 ° C when the 1 square meter per unit time through the mass heat insulating glass to W/m2K said. K value is lower, indicating hollow better thermal insulation properties of glass) was 2.7 ~ 3.3, 5.8 and ordinary monolithic glass. Of course, such as hollow glass with LOW-E, or SUN-E glass to match, due to its excellent thermal characteristics of the optical, thermal insulation performance is more prominent. Insulating glass in developed countries has been widely and applications. Application of the U.S. penetration rate has reached 83%. German government has not hollow glass construction of the proposed building shall not be approved, only 80 of the last century before the Federal Republic of Germany to use hollow glass reached 210 million square meters, saving Energy Cost 52 billion marks. Application of European penetration reached 50%. Industry experts believe that the nature and function of the window will be confined mainly to the heat preservation, heat insulation, energy-efficient development. This requires that the window should have considerable product strength, deformation warpage. The gap in the sash handle, the northern parts of the North to the window should double Bolivian facilities. China is a country lacking in energy, energy equivalent to twice that of developed countries. Windows open in the direction of the main push-pull doors and windows of development, the development of new suspension and the suspension of the window, where energy saving and air-conditioning requirements for the room. Window-based development is becoming smaller, flexible technology to meet the requirements of modern small bedroom. Push-pull window, open the convenient, flexible, space is conducive to window details of the deal, such as planters, etc. located. To develop security doors, require security, fire, sound insulation, thermal insulation effect. Size fan proposed development outside the open type with security, insulation, sound insulation triple door. This is beneficial to dry indoor space saving, opening the door fighting, strip changing his shoes and space. Size of the door set, for the daily travel and provide convenience for handling large objects. Key technology is the hinge security measures, a small fan fixed and door seal technology. Hot Recommendation: Watch 09 Hardware Ten selection
Low carbon Environmental protection Has become the trend, China's many places in the implementation of the "low-carbon lifestyle", windows and doors industry is how low-carbon energy saving environmental protection for? Building energy efficiency is a huge systematic project, all aspects of the whole society together. The building itself, the reality of energy-saving shortcut from the "windows" to start. Impact of building energy consumption as one of the four parts of the doors and windows envelope, generally thin-walled lightweight components, is building insulation, heat insulation, sound insulation of the weak links. Especially in insulation properties of the worst, it passes through the radiation, convective transfer, conduction transfer and air infiltration led to the building of four forms of energy loss, the energy of ordinary single-glazed windows heat loss in winter and summer about building cooling energy consumption of 50 % or more. Therefore, to improve the indoor thermal windows and doors, light environment, most important, its performance directly determines the effect of building energy efficiency. Enhanced thermal insulation properties of windows, doors and windows to reduce energy consumption, improve building heat, light, environmental quality, an important step in building energy efficiency goals. Insulation and insulated doors and windows and glass, door window frame materials, construction and air tightness are closely related. Whatever the form of building doors and windows, glass materials to be used, it accounts for more than 70% area of the window glass, energy-efficient doors and windows so they should first consider the factors of glass. This is why Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other big cities have enacted local laws and regulations, Vigorously Promotion and mandatory energy-saving buildings, but also, without exception, the implementation of hollow, inflatable, low-emissivity glass reasons. Promote the use of hollow glass is a sign of the times, building energy efficiency developments . Insulating glass is two or more layers of glass to seal up the air, during layer filling with viscosity coefficient and thermal conductivity coefficient of the inert gas to reduce the convection heat transfer between the layers, the energy-saving features of the key indicators??? Biography thermal coefficient K (refer to steady heat transfer conditions, the glass on both sides of the air temperature difference of 1 ° C when the 1 square meter per unit time through the mass heat insulating glass to W/m2K said. K value is lower, indicating hollow better thermal insulation properties of glass) was 2.7 ~ 3.3, 5.8 and ordinary monolithic glass. Of course, such as hollow glass with LOW-E, or SUN-E glass to match, due to its excellent thermal characteristics of the optical, thermal insulation performance is more prominent. Insulating glass in developed countries has been widely and applications. Application of the U.S. penetration rate has reached 83%. German government has not hollow glass construction of the proposed building shall not be approved, only 80 of the last century before the Federal Republic of Germany to use hollow glass reached 210 million square meters, saving Energy Cost 52 billion marks. Application of European penetration reached 50%. Industry experts believe that the nature and function of the window will be confined mainly to the heat preservation, heat insulation, energy-efficient development. This requires that the window should have considerable product strength, deformation warpage. The gap in the sash handle, the northern parts of the North to the window should double Bolivian facilities. China is a country lacking in energy, energy equivalent to twice that of developed countries. Windows open in the direction of the main push-pull doors and windows of development, the development of new suspension and the suspension of the window, where energy saving and air-conditioning requirements for the room. Window-based development is becoming smaller, flexible technology to meet the requirements of modern small bedroom. Push-pull window, open the convenient, flexible, space is conducive to window details of the deal, such as planters, etc. located. To develop security doors, require security, fire, sound insulation, thermal insulation effect. Size fan proposed development outside the open type with security, insulation, sound insulation triple door. This is beneficial to dry indoor space saving, opening the door fighting, strip changing his shoes and space. Size of the door set, for the daily travel and provide convenience for handling large objects. Key technology is the hinge security measures, a small fan fixed and door seal technology. Hot Recommendation: Watch 09 Hardware Ten selection
Energy saving projects focus on measureabl
Energy saving projects focus on measureable results
Businesses throughout Connecticut are finding innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money on energy expenditures. Many are taking advantage of incentives offered by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund — a Peter Staye, associate director of utilities at Wesleyan University in Middletown, explains an energy monitoring display to Anna Sears, a freshman.partnership between the state’s utility companies designed to help businesses, homeowners and government entities save energy — to implement greener technologies and encourage others to think more carefully about their own energy use.
From solar panels at Webster Bank to a culture change at Wesleyan University, programs are showing measureable results. Here’s a look at a few:
Culture change
Since 2005, Wesleyan University has invested more than $6.5 million in a variety of measures on its 360-acre Middletown campus. The university began by focusing on “the traditional stuff” and now has moved into more innovative measures, said Peter Staye, Wesleyan’s associate director of utilities.
Lighting has been retrofitted with more energy-efficient options, occupancy sensors have been installed, and new management software automatically powers down computers and monitors during the night. The heating and cooling system in the Exley Science Center has been converted to an energy-efficient air volume system with computer-based temperature controls, and the Freeman Athletic Center now injects ozone into the water used by its laundry service, enabling the use of cold water for all laundry while cleaning more efficiently and fighting bacteria.
Through all its combined projects, Wesleyan has reduced energy use by about 22 percent since 2005, but the focus is now shifting to a more challenging initiative, but one with significantly greater potential for savings — changing the culture of energy use on campus.
“Not that long ago, energy was abundant and cheap. Now it’s neither, but there is still the feeling that everyone should have their own refrigerator and coffee machine and so on,” Staye said. Although those conveniences are still allowed, the school has mounted an effort to make students, staff and faculty more aware of the amount of energy they consume.
Wesleyan’s large dorms now have monitors that display information on how much energy is being used. Each month, all dorms compete with each other to achieve the greatest reductions, and they compete with themselves to achieve better numbers than the previous month. Regular reports track energy use in all campus buildings and a Sustainability Advisory Group comprised of students, faculty and staff is working to develop a campus-wide action plan and research additional measures for reducing the school’s impact on the environment.
Effecting culture change in the face of long-held habits and assumptions is “a long haul and we do encounter some resistance from time to time, but we try to take baby steps and never go back,” Staye said. “General concern for the environment is becoming more profound every day, and there is far more opportunity in changing our culture than in any other measures we could take.”
Solar panels
Waterbury-based Webster Bank has also entered the green revolution by installing solar panels on the roof of its New Britain office facility. The building houses 325 employees and includes back-office functions such as human resources and training as well as serving commercial banking customers.
The panels, which have been placed on one-third of the roof on the building’s south side, are expected to produce more than two million kilowatt hours of electricity over the next 25 years, according to Mark Johnson, assistant vice president and manager of corporate real estate. That’s enough energy to supply more than seven homes with electricity for 25 years and the carbon-reduction equivalent of taking more than 11 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
To help raise employees’ awareness of environmental issues, Webster has placed a video display in the building’s lobby showing real-time energy generation from the solar panels along with other information on energy savings.
The decision to go solar also meant putting a new roof on the building, and Webster used the opportunity to do some major recycling. The old roof was a ballasted system using small stones to hold the roofing components in place, so when the stones were removed, they were given to a local landscaper, Johnson said.
Energy conservation
The Massachusetts-based Stop & Shop grocery chain has begun taking steps to reduce energy at its 217 stores, including 93 in Connecticut, by installing energy-efficient lighting and new motors for its freezers.
The project, which is being rolled out as time and budgets allow, also enables the company to take advantage of utility rebates and reduce maintenance expenses, according to Mark Macomber, energy project manager for Ahold USA, Stop & Shop’s parent company.
In 2010, Stop & Shop retrofitted 20 Connecticut stores with LED track lighting throughout the facilities, and the lights will be installed in another 24 stores this year, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in energy use. Fluorescent lights in frozen food cases are also being replaced with LED lighting. Five Connecticut locations are slated to be completed this year, which will bring the total number of retrofittings to 46. Also by the end of 2011, 86 Connecticut stores will have new electronically-commutated motors in its freezers and walk-in coolers, cutting previous energy usage in half.
In addition, solar energy panels have been installed at eight Stop & Shop stores, including the one in Fairfield, three in Massachusetts and four in New Jersey, netting a 9 percent reduction in electricity use, Macomber said.
“We’re anxious to do more solar projects in the future, and also install LED lighting in our parking lots,” he said. “Right now, it’s quite expensive, so we’ll do that once the costs come down.”
Through programs supported by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund in partnership with Connecticut Light and Power, Stop and Shop expects to save nearly 30 million kilowatts and avoid more than 32 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the life of the measures. That’s enough to provide more than 3,500 homes with electricity for a year, according to figures provided by CL&P.
Businesses throughout Connecticut are finding innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money on energy expenditures. Many are taking advantage of incentives offered by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund — a Peter Staye, associate director of utilities at Wesleyan University in Middletown, explains an energy monitoring display to Anna Sears, a freshman.partnership between the state’s utility companies designed to help businesses, homeowners and government entities save energy — to implement greener technologies and encourage others to think more carefully about their own energy use.
From solar panels at Webster Bank to a culture change at Wesleyan University, programs are showing measureable results. Here’s a look at a few:
Culture change
Since 2005, Wesleyan University has invested more than $6.5 million in a variety of measures on its 360-acre Middletown campus. The university began by focusing on “the traditional stuff” and now has moved into more innovative measures, said Peter Staye, Wesleyan’s associate director of utilities.
Lighting has been retrofitted with more energy-efficient options, occupancy sensors have been installed, and new management software automatically powers down computers and monitors during the night. The heating and cooling system in the Exley Science Center has been converted to an energy-efficient air volume system with computer-based temperature controls, and the Freeman Athletic Center now injects ozone into the water used by its laundry service, enabling the use of cold water for all laundry while cleaning more efficiently and fighting bacteria.
Through all its combined projects, Wesleyan has reduced energy use by about 22 percent since 2005, but the focus is now shifting to a more challenging initiative, but one with significantly greater potential for savings — changing the culture of energy use on campus.
“Not that long ago, energy was abundant and cheap. Now it’s neither, but there is still the feeling that everyone should have their own refrigerator and coffee machine and so on,” Staye said. Although those conveniences are still allowed, the school has mounted an effort to make students, staff and faculty more aware of the amount of energy they consume.
Wesleyan’s large dorms now have monitors that display information on how much energy is being used. Each month, all dorms compete with each other to achieve the greatest reductions, and they compete with themselves to achieve better numbers than the previous month. Regular reports track energy use in all campus buildings and a Sustainability Advisory Group comprised of students, faculty and staff is working to develop a campus-wide action plan and research additional measures for reducing the school’s impact on the environment.
Effecting culture change in the face of long-held habits and assumptions is “a long haul and we do encounter some resistance from time to time, but we try to take baby steps and never go back,” Staye said. “General concern for the environment is becoming more profound every day, and there is far more opportunity in changing our culture than in any other measures we could take.”
Solar panels
Waterbury-based Webster Bank has also entered the green revolution by installing solar panels on the roof of its New Britain office facility. The building houses 325 employees and includes back-office functions such as human resources and training as well as serving commercial banking customers.
The panels, which have been placed on one-third of the roof on the building’s south side, are expected to produce more than two million kilowatt hours of electricity over the next 25 years, according to Mark Johnson, assistant vice president and manager of corporate real estate. That’s enough energy to supply more than seven homes with electricity for 25 years and the carbon-reduction equivalent of taking more than 11 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
To help raise employees’ awareness of environmental issues, Webster has placed a video display in the building’s lobby showing real-time energy generation from the solar panels along with other information on energy savings.
The decision to go solar also meant putting a new roof on the building, and Webster used the opportunity to do some major recycling. The old roof was a ballasted system using small stones to hold the roofing components in place, so when the stones were removed, they were given to a local landscaper, Johnson said.
Energy conservation
The Massachusetts-based Stop & Shop grocery chain has begun taking steps to reduce energy at its 217 stores, including 93 in Connecticut, by installing energy-efficient lighting and new motors for its freezers.
The project, which is being rolled out as time and budgets allow, also enables the company to take advantage of utility rebates and reduce maintenance expenses, according to Mark Macomber, energy project manager for Ahold USA, Stop & Shop’s parent company.
In 2010, Stop & Shop retrofitted 20 Connecticut stores with LED track lighting throughout the facilities, and the lights will be installed in another 24 stores this year, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in energy use. Fluorescent lights in frozen food cases are also being replaced with LED lighting. Five Connecticut locations are slated to be completed this year, which will bring the total number of retrofittings to 46. Also by the end of 2011, 86 Connecticut stores will have new electronically-commutated motors in its freezers and walk-in coolers, cutting previous energy usage in half.
In addition, solar energy panels have been installed at eight Stop & Shop stores, including the one in Fairfield, three in Massachusetts and four in New Jersey, netting a 9 percent reduction in electricity use, Macomber said.
“We’re anxious to do more solar projects in the future, and also install LED lighting in our parking lots,” he said. “Right now, it’s quite expensive, so we’ll do that once the costs come down.”
Through programs supported by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund in partnership with Connecticut Light and Power, Stop and Shop expects to save nearly 30 million kilowatts and avoid more than 32 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the life of the measures. That’s enough to provide more than 3,500 homes with electricity for a year, according to figures provided by CL&P.
Wednesday 11 May 2011
Some shelters will soon display arrival times
Some shelters will soon display arrival times
Wondering when — or if — another bus is coming?
Soon, 160 bus stops around the city will be able to tell you.
The Chicago Transit Board on Wednesday approved the purchase of 160 LED signs that will display estimated bus arrival times at shelters around the city.
The signs will at first be posted at bus stops with the highest numbers of boardings or at busy transfer and connection locations, CTA officials said. At least one stop per ward will get a sign.
The four-line digital read-outs will contain information from the CTA’s Bus Tracker system, which currently riders can check via the Internet.
Luminator Holding was awarded the one-year, $1 million contract to manufacture the signs. A separate contract to install, maintain and remove the signs was awarded to JC Decaux in the amount of $687,300.
“LED displays are yet another method by which customers can get estimated bus arrival times,” CTA President Richard Rodriguez said.
The board also approved the appointment of Forrest Claypool to replace Rodriguez, who joined the agency in March 2009. Claypool’s first day in the $198,000 post will be Monday
Claypool praised the new signs.
“The more information you can give, the better off the customers are going to be,’’ he said. “I think a lot of it is knowing exactly when the trains and buses are going to be there. If you know that, then you can plan your schedule more accordingly and could avoid some frustrations”
The CTA has the option to purchase an additional 2,050 signs.
The Transit Board also amended two lease agreements that will expand the number of parking spaces for I-GO and Zipcar and extended their contracts for six-months. I-GO and Zipcar are car-sharing services that lease parking spaces near select CTA rail stations and bus stops.
Together, the companies will have more than 50 parking spaces near about 20 CTA locations, the CTA said. The combination of added spaces and the six-month extension is expected to yield more than $31,000 for the CTA.
Wondering when — or if — another bus is coming?
Soon, 160 bus stops around the city will be able to tell you.
The Chicago Transit Board on Wednesday approved the purchase of 160 LED signs that will display estimated bus arrival times at shelters around the city.
The signs will at first be posted at bus stops with the highest numbers of boardings or at busy transfer and connection locations, CTA officials said. At least one stop per ward will get a sign.
The four-line digital read-outs will contain information from the CTA’s Bus Tracker system, which currently riders can check via the Internet.
Luminator Holding was awarded the one-year, $1 million contract to manufacture the signs. A separate contract to install, maintain and remove the signs was awarded to JC Decaux in the amount of $687,300.
“LED displays are yet another method by which customers can get estimated bus arrival times,” CTA President Richard Rodriguez said.
The board also approved the appointment of Forrest Claypool to replace Rodriguez, who joined the agency in March 2009. Claypool’s first day in the $198,000 post will be Monday
Claypool praised the new signs.
“The more information you can give, the better off the customers are going to be,’’ he said. “I think a lot of it is knowing exactly when the trains and buses are going to be there. If you know that, then you can plan your schedule more accordingly and could avoid some frustrations”
The CTA has the option to purchase an additional 2,050 signs.
The Transit Board also amended two lease agreements that will expand the number of parking spaces for I-GO and Zipcar and extended their contracts for six-months. I-GO and Zipcar are car-sharing services that lease parking spaces near select CTA rail stations and bus stops.
Together, the companies will have more than 50 parking spaces near about 20 CTA locations, the CTA said. The combination of added spaces and the six-month extension is expected to yield more than $31,000 for the CTA.
Monday 9 May 2011
Lancers, Spartans Light Up Scoreboard Versus Lupus
Lancers, Spartans Light Up Scoreboard Versus Lupus
On an evening when battling a lesser known disease, lupus, was the theme, cross-town girls’ softball opponents West Springfield and Lee high schools brought their bats out and gave the large group of supportive fans a hitting showcase in an exciting, never dull, 13-12 contest that was won by the home team Lancers. The Patriot District game took place Tuesday evening, May 3 at Lee High School in the heart of Springfield.
“That was absolutely the cherry on top,” said Lancers’ head coach Suzy Willemssen, thrilled with her young team’s triumph that capped a special Lupus Awareness Night benefit in which those in attendance gave more than $400 to the Lupus Foundation of America, an organization that helps fight the disease that affects 80,000 individuals, mostly women, throughout the local metropolitan area.
The guest of honor during pre-game ceremonies which put the spotlight on fighting lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation which can damage major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain and skin, into the forefront of spectators’ minds on the evening was former Lee High girls’ soccer coach Janice Wolfe-Easley, a Fairfax County teacher of 33 years who most recently, before going on medical disability in October 2009, served as an adaptive physical education teacher, for special need students. Wolfe-Easley, diagnosed in May 2009, was on hand to mingle, educate and enjoy the ball game, being played in her honor, along with everyone else in attendance. She even threw out the first pitch, an underhand, softball-style strike to Lancer catcher Manal Assad, much to the pleasure of the fans.
“Aside from tonight’s fundraiser, awareness is what’s so important,” said Wolfe-Easley, who later in the same day in which she was diagnosed with lupus gained permission from her doctor to participate in a benefit walk event for the fight against breast cancer.
But in recent years, Wolfe-Easley, the former Lancers’ head girls’ soccer coach, who led the Lee team to the state crown in 1985, has been unable to be nearly as physically active as she once was as a result of her illness.
“So many don’t know what lupus is. I didn’t until two years ago,” said Wolfe-Easley, who, during her 11-year head-coaching career, also coached and led the W.T. Woodson High girls’ soccer team to a state finals appearance.
Joan Tadlock, who coached Lee High softball the past few years and is currently an assistant coach for the Lancers, was thrilled to have Wolfe-Easley on-hand. The two originally got to know one another in their work as adaptive P.E. teachers. The popular and loved Tadlock, an advocate for both her special education students as well as for causes such as lupus and breast cancer, set up the benefit night in honor of Wolfe-Easley, her good friend. She was the emcee of the pre-game awareness night program and introduced Wolfe-Easley, along with the guest’s husband and sister, to the crowd.
Also introduced was Lori Barb, the Lee High director of student activities, and Lee junior softball player Alissa Fetterholf, who spear-headed the effort to design and wear special home style softball T-shirts, designed with a whirlwind color scheme of purple, the color that symbolizes the hope and determination to one day conquer the debilitating lupus disease, and white. Players themselves wrote their handwritten names and numbers on back of the special, one-day uniform tops.
THE LEE HIGH TEAM, throughout the high-scoring game, played with the enthusiasm and energy befitting of the night’s special meaning. The visiting Spartans did the same, creating a game, which, while far from being mistake-free, was entertaining and played with passion.
With the game tied at 10-10, Lee, which at one time had led West Springfield, 10-3, came up with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 13-10 lead. Jess Harmon led off the inning with an infield single and ultimately came around to score the go-ahead run. Later that inning, a key two-run single into center field off the bat of senior Sarah Wilber plated two more runs to give the Lancers a three-run advantage.
West Springfield, though, kept the game exciting by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Alissa Dwyer started the rally with an infield base hit and later scored on a groundout RBI by teammate Carisa Chaplin to make the score 13-11. Later in the inning, Hannah Tomey singled and ultimately scored from third on a wild pitch to get the Spartans within 13-12.
West Springfield pitcher Marissa Johnson, who pitched the entire game for the Spartans and got better and better as the contest went on, held Lee scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
That set up West Springfield’s final at-bats. With one out, Calli Douglas, the potential tying run, earned a walk and stole both second and third base. But Lee pitcher Ashley Robinson, who entered the game in the fourth inning after Lancer starting pitcher Amanda Layton had gone the first three innings, buckled down, coaxing an infield pop-up for the second out and a groundball out to end the ball game. Lancer second baseman Beth Clay made all three put-outs — two groundball outs, one pop-up catch — in that final inning, including a scorching groundball pick-up and throw-out on a ball hit off the bat of Lindsey Kellogg to begin the inning.
Following the final out, the Lee players celebrated on the field, hugging one another and jumping up and down excitedly. It was the Lancers’ sixth win of the season to 10 losses.
“They never quit, and they fought back,” said Willemssen, the Lee coach, of her team’s mindset during both the game and season. “They know they have to play as a team. On this team everyone has an impact, instead of having that one stud pitcher with everyone standing back. Everyone on this team counts.”
Robinson, who pitched the final four innings for Lee, earned the win on the mound.
Lee, defensively, came up with some sparkling plays throughout the game. Robinson, who played center field over the first three innings, made a stellar first inning catch, swiftly moving to her left, on a ball hit by Johnson. In the third inning, the Lancers’ cut down a run at the plate when third baseman Natalie Heinitz, with Spartan runners on second and third, fielded a groundball and quickly threw home to catcher Assad, who applied the tag of a sliding runner. Then, on a ball hit into left field by the next batter, Lancer outfielder Fetterholf came up with a difficult, reaching catch. Late in the game, Harmon, who had been inserted in left field, caught a sizzling liner off the bat of Chandler Cole.
On an evening when battling a lesser known disease, lupus, was the theme, cross-town girls’ softball opponents West Springfield and Lee high schools brought their bats out and gave the large group of supportive fans a hitting showcase in an exciting, never dull, 13-12 contest that was won by the home team Lancers. The Patriot District game took place Tuesday evening, May 3 at Lee High School in the heart of Springfield.
“That was absolutely the cherry on top,” said Lancers’ head coach Suzy Willemssen, thrilled with her young team’s triumph that capped a special Lupus Awareness Night benefit in which those in attendance gave more than $400 to the Lupus Foundation of America, an organization that helps fight the disease that affects 80,000 individuals, mostly women, throughout the local metropolitan area.
The guest of honor during pre-game ceremonies which put the spotlight on fighting lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation which can damage major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain and skin, into the forefront of spectators’ minds on the evening was former Lee High girls’ soccer coach Janice Wolfe-Easley, a Fairfax County teacher of 33 years who most recently, before going on medical disability in October 2009, served as an adaptive physical education teacher, for special need students. Wolfe-Easley, diagnosed in May 2009, was on hand to mingle, educate and enjoy the ball game, being played in her honor, along with everyone else in attendance. She even threw out the first pitch, an underhand, softball-style strike to Lancer catcher Manal Assad, much to the pleasure of the fans.
“Aside from tonight’s fundraiser, awareness is what’s so important,” said Wolfe-Easley, who later in the same day in which she was diagnosed with lupus gained permission from her doctor to participate in a benefit walk event for the fight against breast cancer.
But in recent years, Wolfe-Easley, the former Lancers’ head girls’ soccer coach, who led the Lee team to the state crown in 1985, has been unable to be nearly as physically active as she once was as a result of her illness.
“So many don’t know what lupus is. I didn’t until two years ago,” said Wolfe-Easley, who, during her 11-year head-coaching career, also coached and led the W.T. Woodson High girls’ soccer team to a state finals appearance.
Joan Tadlock, who coached Lee High softball the past few years and is currently an assistant coach for the Lancers, was thrilled to have Wolfe-Easley on-hand. The two originally got to know one another in their work as adaptive P.E. teachers. The popular and loved Tadlock, an advocate for both her special education students as well as for causes such as lupus and breast cancer, set up the benefit night in honor of Wolfe-Easley, her good friend. She was the emcee of the pre-game awareness night program and introduced Wolfe-Easley, along with the guest’s husband and sister, to the crowd.
Also introduced was Lori Barb, the Lee High director of student activities, and Lee junior softball player Alissa Fetterholf, who spear-headed the effort to design and wear special home style softball T-shirts, designed with a whirlwind color scheme of purple, the color that symbolizes the hope and determination to one day conquer the debilitating lupus disease, and white. Players themselves wrote their handwritten names and numbers on back of the special, one-day uniform tops.
THE LEE HIGH TEAM, throughout the high-scoring game, played with the enthusiasm and energy befitting of the night’s special meaning. The visiting Spartans did the same, creating a game, which, while far from being mistake-free, was entertaining and played with passion.
With the game tied at 10-10, Lee, which at one time had led West Springfield, 10-3, came up with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 13-10 lead. Jess Harmon led off the inning with an infield single and ultimately came around to score the go-ahead run. Later that inning, a key two-run single into center field off the bat of senior Sarah Wilber plated two more runs to give the Lancers a three-run advantage.
West Springfield, though, kept the game exciting by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Alissa Dwyer started the rally with an infield base hit and later scored on a groundout RBI by teammate Carisa Chaplin to make the score 13-11. Later in the inning, Hannah Tomey singled and ultimately scored from third on a wild pitch to get the Spartans within 13-12.
West Springfield pitcher Marissa Johnson, who pitched the entire game for the Spartans and got better and better as the contest went on, held Lee scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
That set up West Springfield’s final at-bats. With one out, Calli Douglas, the potential tying run, earned a walk and stole both second and third base. But Lee pitcher Ashley Robinson, who entered the game in the fourth inning after Lancer starting pitcher Amanda Layton had gone the first three innings, buckled down, coaxing an infield pop-up for the second out and a groundball out to end the ball game. Lancer second baseman Beth Clay made all three put-outs — two groundball outs, one pop-up catch — in that final inning, including a scorching groundball pick-up and throw-out on a ball hit off the bat of Lindsey Kellogg to begin the inning.
Following the final out, the Lee players celebrated on the field, hugging one another and jumping up and down excitedly. It was the Lancers’ sixth win of the season to 10 losses.
“They never quit, and they fought back,” said Willemssen, the Lee coach, of her team’s mindset during both the game and season. “They know they have to play as a team. On this team everyone has an impact, instead of having that one stud pitcher with everyone standing back. Everyone on this team counts.”
Robinson, who pitched the final four innings for Lee, earned the win on the mound.
Lee, defensively, came up with some sparkling plays throughout the game. Robinson, who played center field over the first three innings, made a stellar first inning catch, swiftly moving to her left, on a ball hit by Johnson. In the third inning, the Lancers’ cut down a run at the plate when third baseman Natalie Heinitz, with Spartan runners on second and third, fielded a groundball and quickly threw home to catcher Assad, who applied the tag of a sliding runner. Then, on a ball hit into left field by the next batter, Lancer outfielder Fetterholf came up with a difficult, reaching catch. Late in the game, Harmon, who had been inserted in left field, caught a sizzling liner off the bat of Chandler Cole.
Gekko Technology Reports Accelerating Demand For LED Lighting At NAB
Gekko Technology Reports Accelerating Demand For LED Lighting At NAB
Gekko Technology, a leading provider of LED lighting for film, television and photographic applications, has reported a buoyant and successful NAB 2011.
Exhibiting with US distribution partner PRG in the Central Hall of the April 11-14 show, Gekko demonstrated recent additions to its expanding range of location and studio luminaires.
David Amphlett, Gekko Technology Founder and Managing Director, commented: "Demand for LED lighting continues to grow as content producers become increasingly aware of its many inherent advantages over traditional light sources. NAB 2011 was notable for the increasing popularity of DSLR cameras which combine remarkably good quality and outstanding value for money in a very compact size.
"Our product demonstration included the smallest Gekko ringlight, lenslite, mounted on a DSLR rig. lenslite is a controllable on-axis light which can fulfil a number of functions. With an integral filter housing, it can be mounted directly on the lens or 15 millimetre bars, and powered from any source which produces between 12 and 40 volts."
Ian Muir, Gekko Technology's Business Development Manager, added: "We have seen a good cross-section of people from the broadcast and film industries. NAB is becoming a very global show. We talked with existing and potential clients not only from the US but also many other countries including Britain, France, Belgium, the Middle East and Far East. We experienced a lot of interest in the kezia 50 and 200 tunable-white sources. The karesslite 6006 DD has also proved very popular because it generates a large volume of light. We can light medium size studios now quite comfortably though we would struggle to emulate the light output of the larger HMI heads employed on film sets. But give it time!"
Gekko Technology's karesslite 6006 DD is populated with twice the number of LEDs as the standard 6006 unit. Available as tungsten or daylight, it has a peak output of 4,500 lux at 10 feet. All karesslite fixtures can be operated under local control from the luminaire itself, from wires remote dimmer, or DMX. Powering options include a single V-Lock battery, 12 to 40 volts DC via an industry standard XLR4 connection, or mains transformer.
Gekko Technology, a leading provider of LED lighting for film, television and photographic applications, has reported a buoyant and successful NAB 2011.
Exhibiting with US distribution partner PRG in the Central Hall of the April 11-14 show, Gekko demonstrated recent additions to its expanding range of location and studio luminaires.
David Amphlett, Gekko Technology Founder and Managing Director, commented: "Demand for LED lighting continues to grow as content producers become increasingly aware of its many inherent advantages over traditional light sources. NAB 2011 was notable for the increasing popularity of DSLR cameras which combine remarkably good quality and outstanding value for money in a very compact size.
"Our product demonstration included the smallest Gekko ringlight, lenslite, mounted on a DSLR rig. lenslite is a controllable on-axis light which can fulfil a number of functions. With an integral filter housing, it can be mounted directly on the lens or 15 millimetre bars, and powered from any source which produces between 12 and 40 volts."
Ian Muir, Gekko Technology's Business Development Manager, added: "We have seen a good cross-section of people from the broadcast and film industries. NAB is becoming a very global show. We talked with existing and potential clients not only from the US but also many other countries including Britain, France, Belgium, the Middle East and Far East. We experienced a lot of interest in the kezia 50 and 200 tunable-white sources. The karesslite 6006 DD has also proved very popular because it generates a large volume of light. We can light medium size studios now quite comfortably though we would struggle to emulate the light output of the larger HMI heads employed on film sets. But give it time!"
Gekko Technology's karesslite 6006 DD is populated with twice the number of LEDs as the standard 6006 unit. Available as tungsten or daylight, it has a peak output of 4,500 lux at 10 feet. All karesslite fixtures can be operated under local control from the luminaire itself, from wires remote dimmer, or DMX. Powering options include a single V-Lock battery, 12 to 40 volts DC via an industry standard XLR4 connection, or mains transformer.
Tuesday 3 May 2011
MIT Team Wins Berkeley-Stanford Green Entrepreneurship Competition
MIT Team Wins Berkeley-Stanford Green Entrepreneurship Competition
A team of MIT students took home the grand prize at the 2011 Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech (BSC) Launchpad, a prestigious green entrepreneurship competition.
The PolyChroma team includes Marnix Hollander (LGO '12), Kurtis McKenney (SB '01, LGO '12), Chunguang Charlotte Wang (SDM '11) and Jon Garrity (SB '11). Their venture is developing optics for next-generation LED lighting.
The theme of this year's competition was "Creating Jobs for a Green Economy." As the winners, PolyChroma received $10,000 in cash and services, the opportunity to pitch U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and a personal meeting with leading cleantech venture capital firms.
PolyChroma also placed first in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Executive Summary Contest in February.
"We were elated to win BSC Launchpad," said Hollander. "It was a big risk for all four of us to fly out there. But thanks to the support of the Leaders for Global Operations and System Design and Management programs, we were able to make it.
"It was a great competition, and we're pleased we could keep riding this wave of success following the Executive Summary Contest."
Identifying a promising technology
The PolyChroma team came together at the onset of last fall's Energy Ventures course. Students in this course assemble teams around promising technologies in the energy sector and then build business plans to bring them to market.
In summer 2010, Hollander worked with the course TA and MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO) to investigate possible ideas. He found one technology to be particularly intriguing: an optics system that enables high-quality white light in LED lamps and full-color tunability in multicolored LED lamps.
Hollander pitched the idea to his Energy Ventures classmates, and McKenney, Wang and Garrity quickly signed on. The quartet worked on their business plan throughout the fall semester, meeting with venture capitalists and angel investors, legal professionals, future customers and potential partners along the way.
Wang, who was charged with exploring energy and green entrepreneurship competitions, thought BSC Launchpad would be worth entering. After submitting a video pitch and executive summary, PolyChroma survived the competition's first round (an online popular vote) and second round (in which a panel of industry experts narrowed the field from 20 to six).
Pitching the U.S. energy secretary
The final round took place April 8. Garrity gave PolyChroma's five-minute pitch to the judges and the crowd gathered at Stanford University's Old Union Courtyard. The victor was determined by the judging panel (50 percent) and the audience (50 percent).
Hollander wasn't sure which way the vote would go, but he could tell the judges and audience members were paying close attention during Garrity's pitch. So when PolyChroma won, he wasn't shocked. A whirlwind of activity immediately followed.
"The next day, we gave our pitch to the entire BSC Conference [attended by professionals in academia, policy/government and venture capitalists]," said Hollander. "There was a lot of interest and some great questions from audience members.
"We also had the opportunity to pitch to Steven Chu during a special VIP conference. Afterwards, he expressed interest in our plan and in the idea of LED lighting as a huge opportunity for the U.S. to reduce its energy consumption."
Support and understanding from classmates
According to Hollander, the winnings from the BSC Cleantech and MIT $100K competitions are going right back into PolyChroma. "We're putting the money toward a general fund pool for the company," he said. "We can use it to pay for any expenses we feel are important. Right now, that means generating interest in our venture and funding a developmental prototype."
The only major competition on the near horizon is the MIT $100K's Business Plan Contest, which ends May 11. And that's probably a good thing, as Hollander and company have some catching up to do.
"Our academics are definitely suffering a bit," he said. "It's been a juggling act to keep everything together. We've had to lean more on members of our class teams, and we've been fortunate to get a lot of support and understanding from our classmates."
A team of MIT students took home the grand prize at the 2011 Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech (BSC) Launchpad, a prestigious green entrepreneurship competition.
The PolyChroma team includes Marnix Hollander (LGO '12), Kurtis McKenney (SB '01, LGO '12), Chunguang Charlotte Wang (SDM '11) and Jon Garrity (SB '11). Their venture is developing optics for next-generation LED lighting.
The theme of this year's competition was "Creating Jobs for a Green Economy." As the winners, PolyChroma received $10,000 in cash and services, the opportunity to pitch U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and a personal meeting with leading cleantech venture capital firms.
PolyChroma also placed first in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Executive Summary Contest in February.
"We were elated to win BSC Launchpad," said Hollander. "It was a big risk for all four of us to fly out there. But thanks to the support of the Leaders for Global Operations and System Design and Management programs, we were able to make it.
"It was a great competition, and we're pleased we could keep riding this wave of success following the Executive Summary Contest."
Identifying a promising technology
The PolyChroma team came together at the onset of last fall's Energy Ventures course. Students in this course assemble teams around promising technologies in the energy sector and then build business plans to bring them to market.
In summer 2010, Hollander worked with the course TA and MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO) to investigate possible ideas. He found one technology to be particularly intriguing: an optics system that enables high-quality white light in LED lamps and full-color tunability in multicolored LED lamps.
Hollander pitched the idea to his Energy Ventures classmates, and McKenney, Wang and Garrity quickly signed on. The quartet worked on their business plan throughout the fall semester, meeting with venture capitalists and angel investors, legal professionals, future customers and potential partners along the way.
Wang, who was charged with exploring energy and green entrepreneurship competitions, thought BSC Launchpad would be worth entering. After submitting a video pitch and executive summary, PolyChroma survived the competition's first round (an online popular vote) and second round (in which a panel of industry experts narrowed the field from 20 to six).
Pitching the U.S. energy secretary
The final round took place April 8. Garrity gave PolyChroma's five-minute pitch to the judges and the crowd gathered at Stanford University's Old Union Courtyard. The victor was determined by the judging panel (50 percent) and the audience (50 percent).
Hollander wasn't sure which way the vote would go, but he could tell the judges and audience members were paying close attention during Garrity's pitch. So when PolyChroma won, he wasn't shocked. A whirlwind of activity immediately followed.
"The next day, we gave our pitch to the entire BSC Conference [attended by professionals in academia, policy/government and venture capitalists]," said Hollander. "There was a lot of interest and some great questions from audience members.
"We also had the opportunity to pitch to Steven Chu during a special VIP conference. Afterwards, he expressed interest in our plan and in the idea of LED lighting as a huge opportunity for the U.S. to reduce its energy consumption."
Support and understanding from classmates
According to Hollander, the winnings from the BSC Cleantech and MIT $100K competitions are going right back into PolyChroma. "We're putting the money toward a general fund pool for the company," he said. "We can use it to pay for any expenses we feel are important. Right now, that means generating interest in our venture and funding a developmental prototype."
The only major competition on the near horizon is the MIT $100K's Business Plan Contest, which ends May 11. And that's probably a good thing, as Hollander and company have some catching up to do.
"Our academics are definitely suffering a bit," he said. "It's been a juggling act to keep everything together. We've had to lean more on members of our class teams, and we've been fortunate to get a lot of support and understanding from our classmates."
Monday 2 May 2011
Made of clear plastic, each contains a colored LED.
If nothing else, give Laser Pegs credit for being a really good idea. In fact, they’re actually a truly incredible idea: This set of modular construction pieces light up internally when connected to a power source.
If only the implementation worked as well as the concept.
These bastard children of Legos and Lite-Brite are bigger than you think, about the size of a typical Tinkertoy block. Made of clear plastic, each contains a colored LED. When connected to the included power source, a circuit is completed, and the Laser Pegs light up like Christmas lights. Just keep adding pieces and your glowing construction is automatically illuminated.
Tinker Toys are an apt comparison: Remember how hard it could be to wedge a Tinker Toy rod into the receiving hole in a block? Laser Pegs are almost as tricky. They’re (obviously) made of plastic, so variable drill hole sizes aren’t the issue, but the connections are tight nonetheless — they have to be to make the wiring work. There are several different shapes in the kit.
I put Laser Pegs in front of my kids: a 5-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl, though technically these are intended for ages 7 and up. They often struggled getting the pieces together, especially when multiple connections to a single block were involved.
Once their constructions were complete — guns, spaceships and lightsabers were, of course, the most popular concepts — Laser Pegs revealed more trouble.
Those connections which seem so tight when you just have two pieces to deal with turn out to be extremely rickety when you string a dozen or more together. Larger constructions start to bend and sway at the connecting points, and this makes the electrical connections built into the joints extremely temperamental. Breathe funny and the lights will go out on half your design until you jiggle it back together just so.
That’s a bummer, because it means that unlike Legos, kids can’t really play with their finished creations. They have to lay them on the ground and admire them from afar lest their lighting fail and the waterworks begin. If your house is the look-don’t-touch type where the furniture is wrapped in plastic, well, they’ll probably fit right in.
If only the implementation worked as well as the concept.
These bastard children of Legos and Lite-Brite are bigger than you think, about the size of a typical Tinkertoy block. Made of clear plastic, each contains a colored LED. When connected to the included power source, a circuit is completed, and the Laser Pegs light up like Christmas lights. Just keep adding pieces and your glowing construction is automatically illuminated.
Tinker Toys are an apt comparison: Remember how hard it could be to wedge a Tinker Toy rod into the receiving hole in a block? Laser Pegs are almost as tricky. They’re (obviously) made of plastic, so variable drill hole sizes aren’t the issue, but the connections are tight nonetheless — they have to be to make the wiring work. There are several different shapes in the kit.
I put Laser Pegs in front of my kids: a 5-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl, though technically these are intended for ages 7 and up. They often struggled getting the pieces together, especially when multiple connections to a single block were involved.
Once their constructions were complete — guns, spaceships and lightsabers were, of course, the most popular concepts — Laser Pegs revealed more trouble.
Those connections which seem so tight when you just have two pieces to deal with turn out to be extremely rickety when you string a dozen or more together. Larger constructions start to bend and sway at the connecting points, and this makes the electrical connections built into the joints extremely temperamental. Breathe funny and the lights will go out on half your design until you jiggle it back together just so.
That’s a bummer, because it means that unlike Legos, kids can’t really play with their finished creations. They have to lay them on the ground and admire them from afar lest their lighting fail and the waterworks begin. If your house is the look-don’t-touch type where the furniture is wrapped in plastic, well, they’ll probably fit right in.
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