2011 Honda Fury IMS Project Bike

Motorcycle USA was both excited and nervous when we learned we were going to be a primary sponsor of the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Shows being held in conjunction with the International Motorcycle Shows. As a sponsor, we would be giving away a custom 2011 Honda Fury, which we were excited about. We've had a bunch of parts off our prior Honda Fury project laying around the office with killer old-school gold metal flake and pinstriping by the talented troupe up at Cutting Edge Illusions out of Eugene, Oregon, just begging to be put on display. The paint catches every glimmer of sunlight and the striping is edgy and clean.

Unfortunately, we had to return our prior project before we had a chance to get everything reassembled, so we were excited for a chance to finally see the parts actually on a bike. But we were nervous because we only had three weeks to get the bike up to our HQ in Oregon from LA and get the work on it done. This didn't allow for much time to scramble for parts, get some powder coating done, and get everything put together in time to deliver the bike to San Mateo for the first round of the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Shows.

The stock 2011 Honda Fury fortunately came with a black frame and wheels, which matched up well with the gold metal flake, so we had a solid starting point. Our first goal then was to tidy up the look of the rear end. For this, we looked to our friend Chris Hagest over at Low and Mean for a little help. Low and Mean is at the forefront of creating aftermarket parts for metric cruisers and came through in a big way by sending over the L&M Honda Fury Lowered Rear Spring, its Honda Fury Reaper front fender, rear fender, and LED brake light. 

To keep the new fender clean, we ditched the stock turn signals sticking out on both sides for Low and Mean's Honda Fury LED brake light because the rear fender is already cut to accommodate the thin LED strip. What a difference. The rear end looks ultra-clean now and the LED strip is almost unnoticeable until you hit the brakes or flip on the turn signals.

The final touch was relocating the license plate holder from hanging off the rear fender to the left side and replacing the stock one for an Accutronix side mount license plate holder. Attaching the Accutronix license plate holder required removing the swingarm bolt and washer so we could slide the mounting block and small spacer onto the swingarm, but the Accutronix plate holder uses the stock mounting bolt and washer to simplify the process. The wiring was then routed up and under the seat where it was attached to the factory license plate light wires.

The stock master cylinder mount had to come off, too, and then the wires to the brake light switch had to be cut. This allowed the brake line adapter to be installed and the braided line to be attached. The controls were then screwed into place and Loctited down.

The brake hose was reattached to the master cylinder and wire terminals were attached to the wires we cut earlier so they could be heat shrunk and plugged into the new brake light switch. After that, the brakes were bled and the brake lights were checked to make sure we hooked everything up correctly. Installation on the shift side required removal of the big plastic transmission side cover before we could start.

The swap overall was fairly straight forward with a little finesse required to thread the shift linkage and lining up the heim joints. But what a dramatic difference the Accutronix foot controls make. The “Night Series” means they're black and tie in perfectly to the color scheme of the bike, they make the bike look classier, and action at the new shift lever is smooth and deliberate.

Designed for Zhaga

In reality, there are already modules on the market that are based on Zhaga standards, or more correctly that were the basis for a couple of the completed Zhaga specifications. Remember that Zhaga's process is based on merging proposals from multiple companies. When asked if individual companies were behind any of the Zhaga specifications, Treffers said, "In all cases there were multiple companies involved." Still it's pretty clear that in some cases a single company has provided the majority of the technical input.

For example, photos that Zhaga has published make it clear that the socketable LED light engine with separate control gear is essentially GE's Infusion module. And the LED spotlight engine with separate control gear is Phillips' Fortimo SLM (spot light module) module. While the companies can't yet claim compliance, they have both said that the products are designed to ultimately be compatible with Zhaga specifications.

Given the clear tie between Infusion and one of Zhaga's completed specifications, we asked Steve Briggs, vice president of marketing and product management at GE Lighting Solutions (the LED-focused business within GE Lighting) about the collaboration in the Zhaga process. Briggs said that multiple companies were involved in proposing concepts and added "Our Infusion module has been shaped and changed by the Zhaga process."

As an example Briggs pointed out a design change that happened between the announcement of the second-generation Infusion back at Lightfair in May and the production modules that just commenced shipping in Q3. The mechanical design now includes mechanical mounting tabs on the front of the module that allow easy connection of reflectors or other optics.

So in some cases the multiple parties that participate in the Zhaga proposal-merger process may have interest in different elements of a luminaire design as opposed to being companies with competing module concepts. For example, Posselt said that while Bridgelux is a Zhaga member, that the company's primary goal in the endeavor is to "make sure our core product, the LED array, is not precluded from use in Zhaga-compliant products."

Zhaga's approach is based on defining what it calls the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and photometric interfaces of a light engine. The mechanical elements include shape, dimensions and mounting scheme or socket. The electrical interface includes the connector and AC- or DC-voltage specification.

The thermal interface defines how cooling elements in the luminaire housing mate to a thermal surface on the module. The photometric interface includes elements such as the size of the light emitting surface, lambertian or shaped-beam pattern, and uniformity of light on the task plane.

The Zhaga process includes proposal, merger, specification-development, and published-specification stages. Members of the consortium that are interested in a particular type of module submit proposals based on their own R&D. Elements of the proposals are merged by task forces and then converted into specifications by working groups.

The specifications have not been made available to the public although members of the consortium have free access. At this time no company can claim official Zhaga compliance for a product because the consortium is still working on compliance testing procedures. Treffers says that the first products to carry the official Zhaga logo are months away from the market as opposed to a year, but he can't offer a more specific projection.

Schneider Electric shines a light on trinity church

Having conducted a review of its lighting capabilities in light of the changing user requirements, Trinity Church, Ossett in West Yorkshire decided to install the revolutionary C –Bus lighting control system from global energy management specialist, Schneider Electric.

A regional treasure sitting on a plateau in over five acres of land boasts as one of the tallest spires in Yorkshire, totalling 226ft. Built in the 1800's, its architecture is a fine example of the English Gothic style, with elaborate decoration and large stained glass windows.

Fundamentally, the Church was looking for an intelligent system which would enable a comprehensive approach to lighting control and achieve significant energy savings, without detracting from the intrinsically traditional feel of the building.

Another key consideration was flexibility. It was crucial that the system could be adapted for every foreseeable type of event including weddings, funerals, music groups and worship. For example, while a wedding service may benefit from scene setting and LED colour change control to create an impactful ambience, a more low-key occasion would be likely to require low dimmed lighting.

After much consultation, Dearne Electrical Ltd, the awarded contractors for the job, recommended the use of the Schneider Electric C-Bus system.

Chris Dunger (LCGI), Technical Director at Dearne Electrical Ltd comments: "Having successfully designed and installed numerous C-Bus systems before, we had no hesitation in recommending it for the project, knowing it would not only meet the complex design criteria but also remain within budget."

C-Bus lighting control solutions combine controls, sensors and unique flexible user interfaces to provide automated control of lighting based on occupancy and ambient light levels.

Placing the user in complete control, the C Bus system is being used to manipulate all lighting levels within the church, including scene setting and LED colour changing. In particular it has enabled the client to alter the colour and intensity of the lighting of central walkways and stained glass windows as a stunning effect.

For ultimate convenience, the system is operated from an I-Pad that communicates with a wireless wiser unit, allowing lighting and audio visual systems to be controlled using one device.

There is also the added benefit of energy savings. Through the installation of low energy fluorescent lamps and the ability for greater control over lighting output, the system has reduced energy use by approximately 40%.

Looking forward, free Firmware updates ensure the system is always working efficiently by taking advantage of the latest product launches and developments.

Commenting on the installation, Paul Maybury, Vicar at Trinity Church said "It was very important for us to use a lighting and control system which would enhance both the beauty and the sense of awe and wonder of the building.

The C-Bus system has allowed us to achieve this perfectly, ensuring all operations are performed in a very discreet way, while creating simply breath-taking effects which literally have to be seen to be believed."

"We are quite simply thrilled with the results which have surpassed all expectations and the feedback from visitors has been fantastic."

Due to the impressive results achieved inside the building, the client is now considering lighting the exterior of the church. Given its lofty position, this would transform the building into a beacon visible for miles around, providing a fitting testament to the capabilities of the C-Bus system.

'LED Expo 2011' Starts December 1 at New Delhi: To Showcase Cutting Edge LED Lighting Products and Technology

With increasing scarcity of natural resources, the demand for efficient technologies and judicious use of existing energy reserves is escalating. In response, LED Expo 2011, India's largest exhibition on LED Lighting Products and Technology will showcase the fastrack developments in the highly promising, energy efficient LED technology from 1st-3rd December 2011 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Shri. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Hon'ble Minister of Power, Govt. of India will inaugurate the 5th edition of this iconic show and deliver the keynote address at 'The LED Summit'.

The size of the exhibition which has increased considerably from previous years will cover a total area of 1,00,000 sq ft area tallying a total of 400 booths with 250 Exhibitors this time. The mega event which attracts record-breaking footfall of visitors every year is hoping to attract more than 20,000 visitors from the industry this year as industry efforts increase in creating awareness on LEDs technological benefits and the evident surge of LED applications in the mainstream.

The Expo will be attracting vast participation from well-known and competitive companies both from within the country and overseas. International participation will be seen from Germany, Italy, UK, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, China, USA, Korea, Dubai, Hong Kong and India. Special Country Pavilions from Taiwan supported by TAITRA, Japan LED alliance pavilion & China pavilion have taken active participation in the show. A good number of domestic companies are also exhibiting from all across the country.

A few of the industry's best companies participating in the event include: Philips Lumileds, Nihon Garter, Cree Asia-Pacific Ltd., Nichia, Everlight, Createled, Epistar, VIN, Carclo, Tridonic, Khatod, Shenzhen Light Power, Prolight, Regnant, Edison, Amka, Seoul Semiconductors, Moser Baer, Toshiba, Edison, Meanwell, Labsphere etc to name a few.

Himani Gulati, Director, Media Exposition and Events says "LEDs are the most efficient lighting source ever, yet are free of the toxic material, relatively free from disposal issues associated with fluorescent lighting. The adoption of LED lighting has penetrated in almost all spheres due to inherent advantage of LED like, long life, low power consumption, easier integration with electronic control, smaller size, faster switching and greater durability and reliability."

"LED Expo offers a unique opportunity to interact with professionals who influence purchasing decisions worldwide. It attracts potential and qualified buyers from various fields such as Architecture, Hospitality, Real estate, Educational institutions, Govt. Planning departments, Municipal corporations, Lighting Designers, Led & Lighting Industry, Electronics, Automotive Industry etc." says Gaurav Juneja, Director, Media Exposition & Events.

Concurrent to the expo, 'LED SUMMIT 2011' a 2 day International Conference on the LED Lighting Products & Technology will be conducted. Eminent speakers from Government Department, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Power, TERI, ONGC, Railways, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Industry players from India & International Speakers from Epistar, Philips Lumileds, Japan Led Association, China Led Association, TAITRA etc will speak on various topics related to LED Industry.

East Peoria streamlines Festival of Lights

If there was any question about whether the East Peoria Festival of Lights tradition should continue, there's no doubt its future looks brighter than ever.

Dozens of parade vehicles and more than 100 electric generators all have been tuned up for the first time, the last incandescent lights upgraded to new LED lights and the parade, set for Saturday, streamlined.

This year, the Grinch and its 2,000 lights will debut as the newest float, the ever-popular skiers will return to Winter Wonderland, and plans are underway next year to possibly add a new 30-foot-long lighted float that may even attend other events to promote East Peoria's annual festival.

Organizers of the 27th anniversary of the holiday parade and light attractions say this year has seen a renewed surge in volunteerism - the electricity behind the lights.

"We're going to have what we believe to be a bigger, better festival, and hopefully, cheaper," says Dan Cunningham, director of the city's EastSide Centre as well as tourism, adding "... much of that is due to the volunteer help."

Volunteers have been busy spending hours attaching and checking lights, ensuring all systems are a go.

Retired East Peoria firefighter John Broshears has volunteered his time to coordinate which floats are in working order and those that need to be repaired.

"Some of them never had their oil changed, it's amazing they ran as long as they did," said Broshears.

He joins regulars Archie Lyons, Wally Jaquet and company, known by many as "the boys," and dozens of others, who since the beginning have been providing the inspiration, design and construction for new floats as well as upkeep of the old. They join several newcomers who have responded to the city's beckon.

Bogged down by a lack of volunteers, mechanical break-downs and overruns in costs, the city questioned residents earlier this year as to whether the Festival of Lights should continue.

"We sent out a request that we want to get the volunteers back into the parade - we've seen that. It's a community effort, it's community pride - it's always been that way. We want it to continue to be that way," said Rick Swan, executive director of the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce.

This year a group of mechanics from Uftring Auto Group volunteered a Saturday to change oil, spark plugs and repair exhaust pipes, which Broshears said "without them, five floats would not have been in the parade."

The increase in volunteers, in combination with the more efficient LED lights, also has translated into lower costs. The city estimates spending about $240,000 this year. That's compared to about $400,000 last year and as much as $800,000 four and five years ago.

 Since 1984, East Peoria has put on one of the most popular holiday parades in the region. Borrowing the idea from Niagara Falls, the event annually draws thousands to the parade and thousands more who trek through Winter Wonderland, the static display in Veterans Park.

While the parade will show off 27 floats this year, all 42 floats will be on display in the Winter Wonderland.

"We're going to make that the main attraction this year," Cunningham said of Winter Wonderland, noting floats will not be scattered around the city, such as at the Festival Building and riverfront and other spots as in years past.

ARC awards $8.5 million for projects

Cyclists and pedestrians will benefit from four projects around DeKalb County funded through the Atlanta Regional Commission's Livable Centers Initiative.

Of the 48 communities that applied for grants from the Atlanta Regional Commission 13 were chosen to receive funding, four of which are in DeKalb County. Almost $8.5 million in grants was given to fund projects in DeKalb to make improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts will use $3.1 million for Lake Hearn Drive, Perimeter Summit Parkway and Parkside Place bike and pedestrian facilities.

"It's going to make this area more multi-mobile, more walkable and more bikeable," said Susan Long, communications and development consultant with the Perimeter Community Improvement District.

The project will include pedestrian access improvements such as additional sidewalks, larger medians and additional crosswalks.

Long said the total cost of the project is $4.86 million and the grant will pay a large portion of the bill.

In Doraville, a $2.3 million grant will be used to create segregated bicycle tracks along New Peachtree Road.

Luke Howe, assistant to the mayor, said the city first identified the project in 2006 and modified the plans for the recent grant application.

"It's a totally exclusive lane that combines elements of a separated path," he said. "It's much safer."

Howe said this will most likely be the first project of its kind in the South but there are examples of the bicycle tracks in San Francisco and Europe. The bike lanes will be separated from the main road with a curb and landscaping.

They also plan to narrow New Peachtree Road from five to three lanes and expand the sidewalk.

Decatur's $2.1 million grant will be used for bike facilities on Commerce Drive between Clairemont Avenue and Church Street, said Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon.

"Basically the objectives are to improve pedestrian safety on those intersections," he said. "We're also trying to develop a system of bicycle networks throughout the city."

Tucker residents will see an expansion of the recent Main Street revitalization project with a $960,000 grant.

"That's going to be used for sidewalks and street lighting and landscaping," said Honey Van De Kreke, co-general manager of the nonprofit Main Street Tucker Alliance. "It'll be a more walkable area."

She said the plan is to make improvements around First Avenue, Lynburn Drive and Fellowship Road.

Ace Hardware to recycle lights

For the fourth consecutive year, Ace Hardware stores across Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico are accepting strands of holiday lights for recycling to benefit Lights For Life. Lights For Life is a nonprofit organization that strives to make life easier for kids with cancer and their families. This year, Ace Hardware stores will also accept extension cords for recycling.

Lights For Life sells the donated light strands and extension cords to a recycling company for the copper and PVC they contain. The money raised is used to help children with cancer and their families cover the cost of medical bills and other expenses not covered by insurance, as well as to fund kids' camps and childhood cancer research.

Last year, Ace Hardware customers across the three states donated more than 30,000 pounds of holiday lights to the campaign, raising $14,000 for families of children diagnosed with cancer and bringing the total amount of lights donated by local Ace customers since 2008 to more than 77,000 pounds. Local stores hope to increase this year's donation by 50 percent and have set a goal of collecting 45,000 pounds of holiday lights and extension cords during the 2011 holiday season.

"Every year, more and more shoppers are making the switch to longer-lasting, more energy efficient LED light strands, and we wanted to give people an easy way to put their old light strands and extension cords to good use," said Clark Evans, manager of Orchards Ace Hardware in Loveland. Orchards Ace shoppers alone have donated more than 14,000 pounds of lights over the past four years. "Last year we were able to help the families of two Rocky Mountain Region children with cancer as a results of this program, and we hope consumers pitch in to help us do the same again this year."

According to Consumer Reports, a typical homeowner spends approximately $11 in energy costs to burn 50 feet of traditional lights for 300 hours, while the same use of LED lights costs less than 15 cents. LED lights are also more durable than incandescent lights, often lasting as much as ten times longer than traditional lights, and because LED lights burn cooler they are safer to use and reduce the risk of fire.

"Each year, more than 200 million strings of incandescent lights are sold in the U.S., and most of them end up in the landfill," said Linda Worthington, marketing director Lights For Life. "Just the small act of dropping your broken or old lights or extension cords in a collection bin at an Ace Hardware can make a big difference in the lives of the families of kids with cancer."

Holiday lights and extension cords can be dropped off at participating Ace Hardware stores between November 15 and February 15. The holiday light recycling program adds to the growing list recycling programs offered by area Ace Hardware stores. Many Ace Hardware stores also accept used compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), mercury-containing thermostats, used cell phones and rechargeable batteries for recycling.

MaxLite announces support for Redwood Systems SSL-control platform

MaxLite and Redwood Systems have announced a strategic partnership through which MaxLite will offer products in its LED-based MaxLED luminaire series that can be powered with Redwood's DC-based Redwood Engine. The distributed Redwood system consolidates power-distribution and control-signaling functions on Class-2 cabling and MaxLED will offer compatible fixtures.

"The combination of MaxLite's high-quality LED luminaires with Redwood Systems' low voltage power and control architecture offers incredible value to our customers," said Bruce Pelton, senior vice president of lighting technology for Redwood Systems. "This combination enables a lighting system that provides the right amount of light through simple-to-use controls to maximize energy savings and luminaire lifetime."

The Redwood Systems lighting platform includes the Redwood Engine that supplies the low-voltage power and control capabilities, management software, dimmer modules, and sensor/adaptor modules that connect to legacy SSL products. The system includes plug-and-play deployment with automatic fixture commissioning.

The Redwood value proposition is a combination of inherently-efficient SSL, sensing and adaptive-control capabilities that compound energy savings through dimming, more-efficient centralized DC power distribution, and Class-2 installation that works with inexpensive computer-network cables.

Now MaxLite will integrate support for the Redwood technology in select products as the latter does not intend to manufacture luminaires. Previously, Redwood had announced a partnership with Lunera Lighting with the latter planning to support Redwood technology in its planar SSL fixtures.

MaxLite expects the partnership to open new avenues of business for its SSL portfolio. David Wyatt, vices president of western sales, said "We expect to find many synergies with our LED lighting line and Redwood’s control platform to build inroads into the low-voltage electrical and lighting distribution channel."

MaxLite announced the MaxLED line back in October. The product family includes planar light panels, LED wall packs, surface-mount garage and canopy lights, and many other fixture types. Generally the company projects 50,000-hour lives for the products.

Redwood Systems launched in March 2010. The company has begun to gain some traction with several notable deployments including an installation at Volkswagen's new R&D center in Belmont, CA. Moreover, the company recently announced $3.5 million in second-round funding from Mitsui Global Investment.

Poplar tree suffering from age

I saw your column about poplar trees, so maybe you can answer my question. It always has been a messy tree, but I don't want to lose it. During the last few years, it has started losing more and more branches, especially in the fall. The branches that fall off have green buds at the end and appear to break off at the node. The foliage on the tree also seems to get thinner each year. What can I do to save the tree?

Unfortunately, this is the nature of the beast! It will continue to drop twigs and will get around to dropping larger branches as it continues to get up in years. The best I can advise if you want to keep the tree is to hire a professional International Society of Arboretum certified arborist to trim the tree on an annual basis.

What combination of conditions causes winter squash to ripen? Is it day length, watering or temperature? How can a short-season gardener manipulate environmental conditions to cause winter squash to ripen? Does powdery mildew interfere with ripening?

All of the above. Generally, the use of frost blankets will extend the growing season for several weeks in the fall. In the spring, plant the squash in soil that has been prewarmed using solarization. Keeping an eye on shifting temperatures to protect against late spring frosts also will help to ripen on time. Higher temperature trumps all else. Bright, hot, sunny days, with adequate moisture, will accelerate ripening and get your crop harvestable before cold weather closes in.

I have an English ivy that has been dying slowly. Last spring, many of the leaves turned brown. I trimmed them off, hoping the plant would recover as it has in the past, but it has not. I may have overwatered it. Because there is little left of the plant, I might try to repot it. If the roots are in bad shape, do I bother to repot it? Should it be rerooted in water or is it too far gone?

The root system may have been wiped out from overwatering. If that is true, it will be evident when you knock the plant out of the container. If the plant is rotted, don't bother repotting. If there is at least a 4-inch section of the vine that is healthy, then cut it off the plant, dip it in rooting powder (available at any garden supply store) and stick the leafless end into the rooting medium. Use sand, peat moss or pasteurized potting soil.

Be sure to thoroughly wet whatever media you use prior to planting. Finally, cover the pot with a clear piece of lightweight plastic. Place the pot in indirect sunlight on an east window sill or under fluorescent lighting. After two weeks, check to see if the plant has rooted by slightly pulling on the stem. If you feel resistance, remove the plastic covering and keep the soil moist.

We have a Norfolk pine that has healthy growth on the top but has lost all its lower branches. Is it possible to cut the top off and replant the cutting to establish a new root system?

I was moving from a house I had lived in for 10 years and decided to move some of my favorite roses. I was successful with six plants. Out of the six, I have one that seems to be growing at twice the rate of the others. However, it does not have any buds. All the others have given me flowers. Am I doing something wrong?

You are experiencing sucker growth from the rootstock, which has very limited flowering capability. It is used as the stock to be grafted onto by roses that are known for their beautiful flowers. The rootstock often takes over when the budwood (scion) is killed, damaged or weakened to the point where it cannot suppress the vigor of the root system. The result is the rampant growth you are witnessing.

Companies remain confident of continued growth even amid oversupply and cost issues.

Solid government backing is fueling the expansion of China's LED industry, with subsidies granted to manufacturers, particularly those specializing in packaging. This year, more than $10 billion has been poured into the sector, value of which is forecast to hit $78.5 billion by 2013.

Recognizing the segment's pivotal role in the economy, Guangdong province has lined it up as one of the major emerging strategic industries. LED's market scale is projected by the Guangdong LED Development Plan to reach $18.8 billion next year before surpassing the $47 billion mark in 2013.

Makers are complementing government efforts to boost the line with R&D advancements. During the 11th Five-Year Plan, more than 1,000 patent applications were approved and at least 40 homegrown technologies gained international recognition. These innovations were highlighted at this year's 26th Universiade Shenzhen. The event showcased 1 million locally developed special LED chips, nonlinear lenses and control systems. The last operated 23,880 sets of intelligent lighting.

China's LED lighting exports, which were valued at $18.5 billion in 2010, are projected to grow 40 percent by year-end, while LED output will be worth $28 billion. The country's global share will hit 50 percent by 2015 before climbing to 75 percent in 2020.

The forecast is a 7 to 9 percent annual growth rate globally in 2010-15, according to China's Electronics Industry Information Network. The lighting source and equipment sectors will be valued at $16.3 billion and $40.7 billion, respectively.

The industry, however, is not without challenges. LED chips face oversupply and weak demand, prompting local makers to put off expansion plans. This year, the global stockpile is at 100 billion units, with orders amounting only to 89 billion units. The surplus will rise to 21 percent in 2012 should production continue to increase.

In response, most companies have suspended MOCVD equipment purchases. The shortage of engineers and technical experts has likewise forced suppliers such as Elec-Tech and Sanan to scale down production.

Government subsidies stimulated MOCVD equipment acquisition amid increasing LED application. In 1H11, many manufacturers ramped up procurement to avail of the policy. Financial support, however, has now been restricted to control inflation. The city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu province, for instance, terminated grants in July. Jiangmen, Guangdong province did the same due to lack of funds. MOCVD installations in the country were at 330 last year.

LED backlights are the growth boosters, although many TV makers have lowered their requirement to 50 percent given the cost gap between LED and CCFL. As a result, the TV application base has slipped 26 percent, with usage volume at 17.5 billion units only, according to LEDinside.

Orders from the PC market have likewise declined. Industry watchers project global deliveries of laptops will rise less than 10 percent by year-end, lower than the previously anticipated 12 to 15 percent. Demand from the mobile phone sector is also expected to remain sluggish amid efforts to prevent the spread of counterfeit handsets. These have resulted in lower chip costs and output, forcing some companies to cut capacity utilization to 50 percent.

East Liverpool Police Reports 11-16

Arian M. Parson, 19, was charged with driving without headlights, and her passenger, Sarah J. Guthrie, 18, with possession of marijuana after a traffic stop on Erie Street Monday morning. An officer reported seeing the vehicle at 4:54 a.m. without a headlight and, when he stopped it, smelling a strong odor of marijuana. A baggy with a small amount of marijuana and seeds was reportedly found in the console when the officer was given the OK to search the vehicle, which was owned by Guthrie. No addresses were reported for the women.

Delbert R. Hall, 34, no address listed, was charged Tuesday with obstructing official business after an officer was called to an Avondale Street address by Jenny Olmstead, who said he took her money and she wanted him removed. Officers arrived to find Hall standing in the doorway to the residence, screaming at them to leave and said he shut and locked the door as they approached. He finally opened the door but continued screaming at them, at one point coming toward an officer in a threatening manner, according to reports. Hall ran up the sidewalk but was apprehended and taken into custody.

Larry Kidd, no age or address listed, was charged with obstructing official business after he was reportedly found outside City Hall, yelling about being involved in a road rage incident with a woman he named. Officers said he kept interrupting them with aggressive behavior, leading to his arrest following several warnings about his behavior.

Officers were called to an abandoned house on First Avenue where people were breaking out the sunporch windows. The people involved told officers they were just breaking out the remaining glass in already-broken windows since glass kept falling out onto their driveway.

Heather Marshall, Woodland Hills, reported her wallet removed from her vehicle.

Ruthann Buckley, address not listed, told officers she picked up medications at Rite Aid and, while riding with her boyfriend in a vehicle, he took the medicine and began threatening her. She jumped out of the vehicle on Harvey Avenue and ran to a car lot to phone police. Her boyfriend could not be located.

Ryan White, Woodland Hills, reported his 10-year-old son having problems with another juvenile when getting off the school bus, which he had already reported to the school. School officials suggested he also file a police report.

A Mrs. Gutierrez reported a woman she knows came into Maxi's Lunch Box and asked to borrow her cell phone then left with it. An officer went to the woman's house and retrieved the phone.

Melissa Lewis, Lisbon Street, reported her daughter is receiving threatening text messages and wanted a report on file.

Tracey Tennant, St. Clair Avenue, reported someone unknown made transactions with her debit card.

Police reported receiving several 911 calls from a boy regarding an accident in Wellsville and, finally, one in which he claimed he hurt his knee. They reached the father, who said his two sons had taken his cell phone into the bedroom and were calling. An officer explained to the boys about not dialing 911 needlessly, and the father said he would address the problem with his sons.

Taxes status quo in Richland

Richland officials got an early look at the 2012 budget on Monday and the news for residents is good.

That's because no tax increase is proposed for next year.

The tax rate is expected to remain at 9.5 mills, with the owner of a home assessed at $30,000 paying $285 in property taxes.

The 2012 budget is nearly $6.1 million, but that includes $776,300 from the open space bond that the township may not spend next year. In reality, the budget is closer to about $5.3 million.

The majority of the 2012 spending plan is the nearly $2.4 million general fund and the $1.9 million police fund. The latter includes money to hire an additional officer next year to bring the force back to 11 officers plus the chief.

The department has been short an officer since the former chief, Lawrence Cerami, was placed on leave and later resigned. Sgt. Rich Ficco was promoted to the top job in August.

On Monday, Officer Raymond Aleman, an 11-year veteran of the force, was promoted to detective sergeant. Richland now has two sergeants again.

The township's fund balance is up an additional $400,000 this year, which officials contribute mostly to a reduction in personnel costs. Richland eliminated or scaled back several positions through retirements or resignations. This includes the vacancies within the police department.

Richland expects to end 2011 with more than $3.2 million in reserves.

One area of budgetary concern is the township recycling program.

Because of its size, Richland is mandated by the state to recycle, and the township contracts to have items picked up from residential curbsides. It costs about $122,000 to run the program and, in the past, the state funded most of it through a grant.

But the grant is expected to drop to $30,000 in 2012, leaving the township to absorb the remaining expense.

Supervisor Rick Orloff called the situation “unsustainable in the long-term,” noting two possible options: raising taxes to fund the program or placing the onus on residents to contract and pay for their own recycling pick-up. The concern with the latter is that residents will simply choose not to recycle.

Officials are hoping both scenarios could be avoided if the economy picks up and growth resumes, whereby the township could be in a better position to fund the program.

With the economy still recovering, Richland is expected to take on only a few small projects next year. On the list is an $85,000 expense to replace police radios to comply with a new federal mandate.

Richland will also spend $45,000 to upgrade lighting at the municipal complex and police building. Production is ceasing on the type of fluorescent light bulbs the township has been using so officials are looking to replace the system with more energy-efficient lights.

Restored Cleethorpes Pier 'will be envy of other resorts'

In what could prove to be the resort's replacement for the much-missed Winter Gardens, the floor from the Kingsway venue, which was knocked down in 2007, has been fitted in the Pier's restaurant.

And the new managers say they have been approached by people hoping to bring back the Bag's Ball.

New leaseholder Alistair Clugston – who runs the Old Barn Inn in Tealby – has taken on the venue and plans to make it "much more than just a nightclub".

He said: "I want to make this landmark a magnet for the area – somewhere that all local people can enjoy and be proud of."

The Pier will serve food between 11am and 9pm as the front building is renamed Tides Bar and Restaurant, making the building a place for families once again.

In time, Mr Clugston also hopes to open the main hall for conferences, community events and even kids parties to make the building a "24/7 venue", he said.

Cleethorpes Pier is one of just 58 left in the UK but it has been closed since previous leaseholders surrendered their licence in September following a catalogue of serious crime and disorder.

As reported, the venue was closed for 28 days after two men leapt from the end of the Pier – one breaking both of his legs – to escape pursuers after an altercation at the venue in the early hours of August 29.

Within weeks, co-directors Steve Calladine and Stephen Grevitt decided to pull out of the venue altogether.

But, despite its chequered past, the future looks bright for the venue once more – a total of 29,000 LED lights have been installed and the view onto the Humber will be widened.

Mr Clugston said: "I am looking at restoring the iconic status that this venue once had.

"I have used local contractors for the refurbishment, I will use local suppliers for the food and it will create jobs for local people – I want it to give the area a lift.

"People are staying in Britain for holidays during this recession but not every town has a pier.

"The town has won the In Bloom competition, the seaside is beautifully kept and it deserves to have a building like this one which will make it the envy of other seaside towns."

Ward councillor Leanor Pidgen (Lib, Croft Baker) said: "I really hope that the ideas the new management have work and the Pier can offer family entertainment again.

"I am pleased it will open in the day and use local suppliers and, fingers crossed, it will become a real draw for Cleethorpes."

Mr Clugston also said that he was keen to address the problems that had previously marred its reputation.

He added: "We are working closely with the police, council and fire brigade to make sure that we stay within the law.

"People will not be able to walk in blind drunk and cause trouble – we don't want their custom."

Mr Clugston's plans for the nightclub include having up to double the amount of door staff as before, introducing a dress code and operating an over-21 policy for the majority of events.

Green technology IC

But there is a solution: Semiconductor leaders have incorporated green-IC technology into CFL designs, resulting in high performance and durable lighting solutions. Integrating a dozen discrete components into a single integrated circuit (IC) reduces the wires, all while achieving a breakthrough in reliability. The CFL also becomes approximately 10% more efficient compared to average electronics based on discrete components. Improved quality also translates into longer lifetime – as much as 15,000 hours – and extended on/off switching cycles.

Another important advantage is that adding an IC opens the possibility for controlling the CFL so that it can be dimmed using standard wall plug dimmers. This feature enables CFL lamps to behave like incandescent lamps in terms of fast startup and deep dimming. Green innovations, such as NXP Semiconductors' GreenChip, are touted to enable dimming performance below the 5% threshold: CFL lamps that behave almost like incandescent lamps. Since CFL lifetime is limited by the number of switching cycles, better control also makes it possible to extend the CFL's useful life.

Semiconductor industries have a wide range of high-performance CFL lighting solutions that will lead to substantially higher performing CFLs. Utilizing green innovations, new levels of efficient power management can be accomplished and simplification of lamp design and assembly process can be achieved . In addition, established semiconductor manufacturers possess the capacity to produce tens of millions of chips every day, answering the CFL lighting market's needs and facilitating the steady growth of CFL usage in Asia and around the world.

Although CFL technology leads the lighting front of the green energy environment, its overall efficacy potential makes it almost certain that it cannot dominate the market indefinitely.

From an energy efficiency perspective, comparisons favor LED. With literally billions of lamps being lit all over the world on a daily basis, small differences can quickly add up to gigawatts.

The bright story of LED technology is told only in part by its outstanding and rapid evolution toward higher and higher efficacy ratings. For years it struggled to break past the 10% efficacy mark and, as a result, never made much of a dent in CFL dominance.

Over the past few years, however, LED lamps have been increasing their efficacy steadily year after year. In 1995 LED efficacy was 20 Lm/W; in 2000, 55 Lm/W; in 2005 120 Lm/W; and in 2010 160 Lm/W. Some LEDs in production today are achieving 40 Lm/W and others still in the research phase reach the high end of the assigned range. Their useful life is rated at 40,000 hours and the best-in-class LEDs of today can be integrated into a lamp that generates 400 lumens.

FoxFury Upgrades Its Greener, Better, Brighter and Smarter Nomad LED Area Light & Spotlight

 The best rapid deployment light just got better. FoxFury Lighting Solutions announces its upgraded 4000 torch lumen Nomad 4000 LED Area-Spot Light, which is 400 lumen brighter than the Nomad 3600 released last year. The cordless and rechargeable Nomad is a portable area light and spotlight that can travel to and function in places where other scene lights cannot.

The Nomad was designed to give first responders and photographers a compact, portable and self-sufficient quick deployment lighting tool. The Nomad’s smart design offers both flood and focused light options. With built-in legs and a head that can telescope up to 8 feet tall, the Nomad functions as a powerful 8 degree spotlight with the diffuser lens detached or a 120 degree scene light with the lens attached.

The Nomad deploys in 20 seconds, has no warm-up or cool-down time and uses the latest CREE LED technology.

The Nomad provides three light intensities and 2.5 to 9 hours of light per charge. It has been used by firefighters, rescue, EMS, police, military, security, industrial safety and photographers around the world.

“We’re thrilled to offer an even brighter Nomad. The Nomad has been used in blackouts, disasters, incident command posts, rescue operations, arson investigations, crime scenes, vehicle and heavy equipment inspections, land surveying, SWAT perimeter lighting, photography, film and more. It's a versatile and incredibly handy light," said Mario Cugini, CEO of FoxFury.

FoxFury Lighting Solutions creates unique and cutting edge lighting products that reflect the needs of our customers, who demand quality and dependability. FoxFury is best known for its niche LED headlamps designed for specific markets including Fire, Industrial, Hazardous Area, Law Enforcement, Forensics and Recreational. FoxFury was formed in August 2003 and operates out of Vista, CA USA.

 Due to diminishing donations and increased belt tightening at Haringey Council, residents feared that Christmas cheer would give
Highgate a miss this year.

But after a meeting on Tuesday, the council announced that the lights would go up and would be better than ever.

The authority is even buying new state-of-the-art LED lights as a special Christmas gift.

Chris Underhill, of Highgate estate agents Prickett & Ellis who raises funds all year round for the village’s much-loved lights, said: “I’m flabbergasted and so chuffed.

I’ve not slept for a few days because I’ve been so stressed about the lights not happening this year.

I very much appreciate the effort of the council and I know the community will be absolutely delighted.” Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for environment at Haringey Council, said: “The Highgate Christmas lights will be going up this year as normal.”

Lights out for catalogue listing

Changes to the criteria for listing products in B.C. Hydro's Power Smart e.Catalog could cost a Victoria company its livelihood.

Fero LED Lighting has listed its light-emitting diode products in the catalogue for the last year, allowing buyers to apply for rebates from Hydro.

But the company faces the prospect of having 80 per cent of its product line de-listed from the catalogue by Nov. 18 and therefore deemed uncompetitive as Hydro requires distributors such as Fero to meet new standards.

"It means our main focus, which has been down lights and pot lights - the kinds of lights most retail stores would use - will be out of the catalogue," said Janine Boom, partner at Fero LED.

Boom said the lights tend to be expensive at $40 each, but retailers who want to switch to the more energy-efficient lights from their existing fixtures were eligible for significant rebates, providing incentive for them to make the change.

But that was only as long as they were listed in B.C.

Hydro's catalogue - an online resource to help customers find energy-efficient products that may be eligible for the Power Smart Product Incentive Program.

"In some cases, we could say we can get you these lights for free or very inexpensively," said Boom.

Under the program, customers pay the retail price of products and apply to Hydro for a rebate.

But if Fero LED can't list the product line it distributes, then it is essentially out of the market.

"With no rebates, [retailers] have no reason to buy from us at regular cost when they can go and buy another brand and get the rebate," Boom said. "Now we're having to look at other types of products, like industrial-type LED tube lighting or the residential market."

Neither of those markets are eligible for rebates.

Officials from B.C. Hydro would not be interviewed for this story, but sent a statement by email.

"There are a number of criteria that a product distributor must meet in order to be listed on the Power Smart e.Catalog, including that the product meet energy-efficiency standards; the principal owner or contact must have a minimum of five years experience, specifically with lighting products; have been in business for at least two years; have a local B.C. address; and be a Power Smart Alliance member," wrote Lisa Coltart, executive director of Power Smart.

"In order to continually improve industry standards and to ensure the best products for our customers, we update eligibility requirements from time to time.

The only technical requirement that has recently been updated is that any LED products must meet Energy Star standards," Power Smart's Coltart said in her email.

Boom said a small startup company such as Fero LED could not possibly afford to have its LED products rated Energy Star, given that would cost between $5,000 and $7,000 for the testing of each product.

Husqvarna: Concept MOAB Scrambler

Since the 1960s, the scrambler quickly gained traction as the idol motorcycle for those seeking both on- and off-road adventure, attracting the likes of many, including the legendary Steve McQueen.

As the scrambler gained more and more notoriety throughout the years, it was only a matter of time before manufacturers began releasing classic remakes of the scrambler. These started arriving, but with tasteful modern technology.

Husqvarna is now in the game; the company owned by BMW unvelied its Concept MOAB at the EICMA 2011 in Milan Monday, which is Husky's "re-interpretation" of the scrambler.

Speaking of the machine's name and origin, Husqvarna says the MOAB can "trace its origins to our models from that period, legendary bikes that are milestones in the history of off-road biking, especially in the U.S. This is one reason for the name MOAB, after the evocative desert in Utah, which every year draws huge numbers of off-road bikers and provides the eerie background for the sets of many cult movies."

Of course, there's all the Husky styling, from the red tank to spacious seat and "simple, stripped-down" frame. The MOAB features a 650c engine on a perimeter frame, and progressive linkage on the swingarm.

The Husqvarna Concept MOAB rolls on 17-inch wheels and semi-knobby tires, making it ready for the off-road, offers high and wide handlebars for nice ergos, and a bulky tank for the legs to hug.

Speaking of the design, Husky says "The overall design effect divides the bike into distinct sections: the tank, seat, the side panel number holders and the exhaust. The lines are fluid but combine to create a decisive form.

"The shape of the tank blends with the seat and rear section, creating a fluidity and immediately distinctive style. This design feature follows the lead of the latest generation of Husqvarna models, such as the concave shape of the front and rear mudguards, and the front number holder. Tradition and high-tech innovation are successfully blended in the details of the new Concept MOAB: the digital instrument panel that is situated in the upper crossbar or the LEDs on the front number holder and the tail-light.

"The color scheme, down to every last detail, both in bodywork and mechanics, is taken from Steve McQueen's immortal H400. The unique form and colors give the MOAB an exhilaration vintage look."

With the Concept MOAB, Husqvarna begins yet another trek in the motorcycle industry, this time chasing the scrambler tradition that has many roots in the US. This comes after Husky unveiled its first-ever street bike earlier this year, the Nuda 900. Ideas are evolving at Husqvarna...wonder what's next?

Dinosaurs strike a pose for Eagle Rock’s painter of light

Eagle Rock graphic artist and photographer Darren Pearson has combined his fascination with prehistoric creatures  and a relatively new art form called light painting to create images of  dinosaurs posed across modern-day Los Angeles.  The 28-year-old Pearson uses the LED light emitted by a key chain to “paint” or “draw” lines in the air as a digital single-lens reflex camera set at a very slow shutter speed captures images of the neon-like drawings that emerge.  The results are  light paintings of dinosaurs poised on the hills overlooking  the 2 and 5 freeways in Elysian Valley, blocking the entrance to an Atwater Village bridge and roaming across a parking lot in Glassell Park.

Click on the link below for images and a Q&A with Pearson.

Q: How did you get involved in light painting? What attracted you to it as an artist and business?
A: I got involved with light painting three years ago after seeing an image called ‘Picasso Draws a Centaur‘ by Jon Mili and Picasso taken in 1949.  A photographer friend told me it was created by using ‘long exposure’ and that we could do it fairly easily with a DSLR camera, I got him to show me how to set up the camera and we did a few light drawing experiments in my living room. I’ve bought a few cameras since then, some lenses, a few tripods, and lots of lights.

As an artist, I love the blend of realism/surrealism and the challenge of imagining what you are creating as you go along in the dark.. It’s a lot like sketching a mural into the air; an organic drawing process.  As a business, I just think it’s an interesting medium to work with. It gets people’s attention and has a bit of a magic factor.

Q: In the case of the dinosaurs, do you draw and photograph them in a “dark room” and then overlay them on a landscape photo? How long is the shutter exposure? What do you use for lights?
A:  The images are not over-layed, they are all drawn within their respective environments. I’ve began to shoot videos to illustrate the process because I’ve had people accuse me of photoshopping them together.. which is understandable if you don’t know how the process works. The shutter is exposing for 5 minutes or more during most shots. I use press-on keychain LED lights.

Q: What lead you to the dinosaur images?
A: I’ve always loved dinosaurs and bringing the past to the present is always an interesting concept to think about for me. Sometimes I’ll sketch ideas out while I’m getting coffee, it helps to imagine how to arrange the shot. I post the photos on instagram and reference them from my phone as well. The images can take many tries to get right, sometimes I’m lucky and get it on the first or second try. Other times I get so tired from trying to get it right that I just give up and try again another day!

Mostly, the landscape inspires the drawing. I’m always looking out for interesting areas; if I see something that strikes me, I like to shoot a picture with my cell and mill it over for a few days until I have an idea. Sometimes I just go out wandering until I find some place cool.

Q: Have you sold any of your lighting paintings? Where is this project going for you?
A: I sell prints of my photo/illustrations through my etsy shop for $35-60 depending on the size. I’d like to see this evolve into a fine art thing eventually and do some international shows. Until then, I will be developing photo sets based on themes like fossils, mythology, and zodiacs.

Bulb Crusher coming to B’dian shores

THE country will soon obtain an environmentally-friendly technology to solve the problem of dis-regarded and harmful light bulbs.

This is the word from BREA (Barbados Renewable Energy Association) member and CEO of Caribbean LED Lighting, Jim Reid, speaking at a recent members’ meeting held at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

He disclosed to the media that it was important to import the equipment into the country as it was a way to properly dispose of light bulbs which disperse harmful toxics into local landfills, resulting in the contamination of the ground water on the island.

He disclosed that one florescent tube contained enough mercury to contaminate 7 000 gallons of drinking water and that many of this toxin was, on a daily basis, dumped into Barbadian landfills.

Spokesperson for the energy association, Clyde Griffith, informed the media that BREA, from its inception in June of this year, was in talks with members of the organisation, such as Reid, about the acquisition of a bulb crusher to assist in decreasing the harmful exposure of mercury into the local water supply.

Reid stated, “We manufacture LED tubes which give you 70 per cent savings in electricity, but of course, when we replace a florescent tube the issue is what to do with the old incandescent tubes? There are no facilities on the island to deal with it properly. What we are doing, therefore, is that every tube that we replace, we take the old tube and we process it and we put it into a bulb crusher in a hermetically sealed 55-gallon drum that is then shipped to Florida to an environmental protection agency who then recycles it properly; we believe this will make a difference very quickly.”

He further noted, “In such a beautiful country as Barbados, we have an opportunity to leapfrog technology that other organisations have developed over the years and make a difference. We are polluting our environment unconsciously on a daily basis; we have dirty fuel that causes asthma, we are putting florescent tubes in our landfill that is polluting the water and I am here with BREA to play my part as a resident of Barbados, and I feel fortunate to be in this country and I want to play my part to help our economy and environment.” 

Lasers could offer alternative to LED light sources

Two recent announcements, from Sandia Labs and car maker BMW, have suggested that lasers could ultimately provide a more-efficient alternative to LEDs in certain lighting applications. Sandia conducted experiments to evaluate whether a four-color laser system could provide a viable white-light illumination source. Meanwhile, BMW has demonstrated a prototype laser-based headlight system on its i8 Concept car that uses blue lasers and phosphors.

The Sandia experiment combined the output of four laser colors – blue, red, green and yellow – to create a white light source that was compared with other light sources, including incandescent and LED-based sources. The results were reported in the OSA’s Optics Express journal.

Intuitively, one would not expect that lasers would be an ideal light source. One reason is the extremely narrow spot size: imagine trying to illuminate a kitchen surface with a white version of a laser pointer. Obviously, this can be addressed with a suitable optical system. The same applies to optical safety issues caused by the intense laser beams.

Another factor is the extremely narrow linewidth of the laser sources. Four very narrow peaks at red, blue, green and yellow wavelengths would not be expected to result in good color rendering, compared to much broader peaks from LED sources, or the continuous spectrum of sunlight.

“Before these tests, our research in this direction was stopped before it could get started,” said Sandia researcher Jeff Tsao, who proposed the comparative experiment. “The typical response was, ‘Are you kidding? The color rendering quality of white light produced by diode lasers would be terrible.’ So finally it seemed like, in order to go further, one really had to answer this very basic question first.”

Sandia’s experiment asked volunteers to state their preference for objects illuminated by different light sources. The laser-based approach fared quite well, and was certainly not terrible. “What we showed is that diode lasers are a worthy path to pursue for lighting,” said Tsao.

More specifically, there was a statistically significant preference for the diode-laser-based white light over the warm and cool LED-based white light, but no statistically significant preference between the diode-laser-based and either the neutral LED-based or incandescent white light.

The results don’t go much beyond suggesting that lasers shouldn’t be ruled out as a potential illumination source. There is no immediate threat to LED-based lighting from a four-laser system, since the performance of different-colored laser diodes varies widely. In a Sandia press release, Tsao suggested that blue and red diode lasers might be used in combination with yellow and green LEDs.

Solar power lights up students’ lives

Even as cities enjoy the privilege of electricity, thousands of students in villages depend on kerosene lanterns for studying at night. The smoke and heat causes irritation and bring tears to their eyes, but they really have no other option. But there's hope.

Bangalore-based company Selco, set up by Magsaysay winner Harish Hande, has implemented a novel scheme of Light for Education in which each student is given a solar LED lamp along with a light battery. Students can charge the pencil-box-sized battery in the centralized solar charging system installed in their schools. So, back home in the evening, they've got a fullycharged battery. Without fretting about power outages, these kids can study at night.

A Bangalore company is supplying solar lanterns to some schools in Mandya district. Anant Aravamudan , senior technical manager, Selco, said this is a philanthropy project in various rural schools across the state. It has been implemented in 10 schools and Swamy Vivekananda High School in Kunthur village of Mandya district is one of them. "We charged less for providing the solar material and technology . The company bears the cost of installation with the help of donors," he said.

Anant explained that this model has three components - - centralized solar charging system , pocket-sized battery and LED study lamp. "We installed the solar charging system in school. Kids can charge the batteries and take them back home where it can be fixed to the study lamp. A completely charged battery provides light for three hours a day with 2 days autonomy," he said.

The advantages of this model are impressive. For charging the battery, kids don't require grid electricity. It is safe and provides bright light for study and it protects the kids from side-effects of kerosene lamps. "To charge the battery, each student must attend school. This will improve attendance," Anant said.

Arakesh, a Class 10 student of Swami Vivekananda High School, Kuntur village is happy about this solar device. "There's power supply for only 4-5 hours in our village and there are power outages often at night. We couldn't study night but now we can do so," he told TOI.