Earth ‘May Be Doubly Sensitive’ to CO2

You may think the prospect of climate change is alarming, a call to action to slow down our emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. You’re almost certainly right. But some scientists are now suggesting you should be much more concerned than you are, because they think we may be seriously underestimating the problem. The Geological Society of London (GSL) says the sensitivity of the Earth’s climate to CO2 could be double earlier estimates. The Society has published an addition to a report by a GSL working party in 2010, which was entitled Climate change: Evidence from the Geological Record. The addition says many climate models typically look at short term, rapid factors when calculating the Earth’s climate sensitivity, which is defined as the average global temperature increase brought about by a doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere. Scientists agree that a doubling of atmospheric CO2 levels could result in temperature increases of between 1.5 and 4.5°C, caused by rapid changes such as snow and ice melt, and the behaviour of clouds and water vapour. But what the GSL now says is that geological evidence from palaeoclimatology Beatrix's creative catchall in hotel setting (studies of past climate change) suggests that if longer-term factors are taken into account, such as the decay of large ice sheets, the Earth’s sensitivity to a doubling of CO2 could itself be double that predicted by most climate models. Dr Colin Summerhayes, who led the statement’s working group, says: “The climate sensitivity suggested by modern climate models may be fine for the short term, but does not encompass the full range of change expected in the long term…” But he cautions that there are really two “sensitivities” involved: “Climate sensitivity is what happens in the short term in response to a doubling of CO2. But the Earth system sensitivity is what happens in the longer time frame as ice sheets slowly melt, and as sea level slowly rises. “…The IPCC focuses on… the climate sensitivity – what will happen in the next 100 years. Earth system sensitivity tells you what happens in the next couple of hundred years after that.” The GSL’s addition also reports new data showing that temperature and CO2 levels recorded in Antarctic ice cores increase at the same time. This, says Summerhayes, “makes the role of CO2 in changing Ice Age climate highly significant.” Atmospheric carbon levels are currently just below 400 parts per million (ppm) – a figure last seen between 5.3 and 2.6 million years ago. Global temperatures were then 2-3°C higher than today, and sea levels were several metres higher, due to partial melting of the Antarctic ice sheet.

These resources include the latest computer systems

Consumers must have their own designs in mind to request the best sheet metal fabrication works; otherwise, experienced and creative sheet metal fabrication firms must assist in recommending the best designs for their customers by understanding the customers' needs and requirements of such steel metal fabrication.Good sheet metal fabrication companies must have the right resources using the latest technology in generating the best selection of sheet metal fabrication designs for their clients.You may also want to know These resources include the latest computer systems with 3D design software to generate various steel structure models.Scope of workIt is important to confirm the scope of work that any hired sheet metal fabricator company would offer based on the cost and project requirement. Without a proper overview of the project requirement, the inappropriate material might be used or the wrong design might be chosen which cannot withstand the actual workload.With the myriad of designs on sheet metal fabrication, it is possible to create something that is not totally useful to the space in mind. There are many factors of consideration in sheet metal fabrication.Some sheet metal fabrication firms may only offer the design options without actually manufacturing the preferred designs while others may take on the manufacturing of the designs without the installation works. Hence, smart consumers should ensure that the scope of work by any hired sheet metal fabrication firm is well defined and agreed upon at the start of the contract for a great outcome.Welcome to Rockpress - offers a team of 3D CAD/CAM drawing experts and qualified Steel products Brisbane staff proficient in Computer-Aided Design and Machining software. Our TRUMPF TruLaser precision steel cutting machines can handle almost any steel cutting challenge and also offer sheet metal fabrication in a wide variety of colours.Metal that is formed into flat thin pieces is known as sheet metal. It is one of the essential items used when doing metal working and has the ability to be bent into a number of different shapes.

New Generation LED Lamp Line

Light-emitting diodes (LED) - known for lighting flat-screen televisions and tablet PCs - are increasingly replacing other lights in homes, stores and on streets because they use less energy and are more durable.But they cost much more than incandescent bulbs or compact fluorescent lights, putting off consumers from buying LED lighting for their homes.A spokesman for Osram, which is being spun off by engineering conglomerate Siemens, said on Monday the company's new LED replacement for 40 watt incandescent bulbs would retail at 9.95 euros in Germany from June. Most comparable LED bulbs in Europe currently cost more than 15 euros.Osram's announcement comes only six weeks after U.S.-based Cree raised its quarterly earnings forecast as it announced it would sell a new LED bulb replacing 40 watt bulbs for less than $10 in the United States.Consultancy McKinsey has estimated that the market for LEDs will grow more than sevenfold to almost 65 billion euros by 2020, Go Green LED Bulbs Encourages Customers .accounting for the bulk of global demand for lighting. It expects the market for replacement bulbs to reach its peak next year and then slow as LED bulbs last significantly longer than other types of lamps, meaning customers buy new bulbs less often.Osram said its new LED bulb lasts for 15 years. It will also offer LED replacements for 60 watt incandescent bulbs for less than 10 euros for a short time as a sales promotion. "In order to achieve this level of technical integrity, we use high quality components and superior engineering to deliver a premium product line that fulfills customer demands and performs consistently," added Interiano.

Quetsol Solar Kit to Light Up Guatemala Hinterland

Guatemala has a considerable size of population below the poverty line. Twenty percent of this Latin American country citizens still have no access to electricity. These families go completely dark in their homes at night; their children are unable to study.  Most of them use kerosene lights and candles to light their homes. But buying these products eats into their monthly earnings and cause health problems like asthma due to inhalation of smoke.A young native entrepreneur, Juan Fermín Rodriguez, and his start-up company, Quetsol, is aiming to light up 520,000 homes in Guatemala with a Pay-As-You-Go model solar panel system.  With this system they can run light bulbs and charge their mobile phones. Quetsol is running a fundraiser campaign in Indiegogo to raise enough money to achieve their goal.According to the company, a family spends around 130 Quetzales per month on an average for candles, and for charging their mobile phones. Adopting this solar set-up will reduce their expense to 90 Quetzales.
Quetsol's solar kit includes a 10W solar panel, a 12 V/15 amp battery, a universal mobile phone charger and two LED light bulbs for the night-time lighting purpose.  The battery can hold 5 hours of light with a full day charging, with a life-long warranty for the kit.  Users can subscribe with their mobile phone payment account. Quetsol Indiegogo campaign expects to collect $50,000. Visit the site to donate.The first step is introducing the product to the customer and educating them about how and why they need it, he added. d.light sells three types of solar lantern equipped with a mobile charger that cater for different levels of need.
Consumer psyche is different in developing countries, Tice said, and companies won't succeed if they try to introduce products in the same way as in wealthier societies."Education and awareness needs to be created, particularly in the developing world where the consumer has been using the same products and services for generations," Tice said. "How a consumer considers a purchase of a new product is fundamentally more cautious - they're not oriented to trial of new product."To solve this issue, d.light puts people on the ground in Africa, Asia and the Americas to teach communities and schools about why solar lighting is important."Remember that the need is a third of the world's population, so scale is relative," Tice said.

LED lighting revolution slowed by regulations

Some of the brightest new technology for cars involves lighting, such as high-intensity LED headlights, but lagging regulatory approval is leaving U.S. drivers in the dark.Motorists in Europe and elsewhere, however, are getting the new systems. "It's really a revolution," says Alistair Hill, a contributing technical editor for IHS Automotive who just did a research report on lighting.Volvo announced last week that three models — the S60 sedan, V60 wagon, and XC60 crossover — will get a headlight system in Europe this spring that lets drivers use high beams without blinding other drivers. But "Active High-Beam Control" still needs government approval before it can come to the U.S., says Volvo spokesman Jawanza Keita.
Germany's Audi and BMW have similar technologies ready to deploy, but are waiting as they deal with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "We're in dialogue with NHTSA about how it works and the advantages it offers," says Brad Stertz, an Audi spokesman. "It's a case where the technology moves quickly and the regulation tends to move slowly."LEDs and organic LEDs (OLEDs), which allow lighting in flexible shapes, are opening new possibilities. Audi, for instance, says it could use OLEDs turn the entire rear of a car into a lighted surface. LEDs also save fuel by putting out more light with less energy.
The government has embraced new lighting technology before -- at one time, all headlights had to be round; now creative uses of xenon and halogen lights are common.A new champion of solar-powered stadiums.And it has allowed experiments: Mercedes-Benz says NHTSA granted a 2008 to 2010 pilot test on two models of brake lights that flash in panic braking.NHTSA said in a statement that it's "encouraged by the advancements" in lighting, is considering lighting rules changes and is working with SAE International, the auto industry's engineers group, to study the new technologies. "The advancements in lighting technology, electronics, and the use of cameras and sensor information are allowing manufacturers and suppliers to develop innovative projects that were just not possible with sealed beam and bulb technology," said NHTSA.Active High-Beam Control uses a camera to spot oncoming cars or cars ahead. Then it shades the high beam from those cars so their drivers aren't blinded. It also recognizes motorcycles. While the technology has to wait for U.S. approval, Volvo has been quick to bring other new safety systems not held up by regulations,such as a new bicyclist detection and automatic braking system for 2014 models.

A new champion of solar-powered stadiums

Is it an example of corporations practicing responsible, cost-efficient environmental sustainability -- or a public relations exercise meant to help a fan base feel good about their sports team?Maybe it's a bit of both. But either way, the new, $1.2 billion facility being built for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers is expected to be the "greenest" stadium in the league when it opens for business next year.Last month, the 49ers announced that SunPower Corp. (SPWR +1.01%) had been named "the official and exclusive solar technology partner of the San Francisco 49ers and the new Santa Clara Stadium."SunPower will supply 400 kilowatts of high-efficiency solar panels for the stadium, the first such facility to incorporate solar power from the very start of construction. That amount of power is about equivalent to the electricity used by 100 homes on a typical day. But it's just a fraction of what the stadium will need overall. KGO-TV says on game days, the facility will require the same amount of electricity used to power 4,000 homes.
Still, the 49ers say over the course of a year, the panels will generate enough electricity to offset the power consumed by the stadium during the team's home games.Solar energy, school security considered by Highland Board.The solar panels won't just help showcase some state-of-the-art technology. They'll also be tied into three transformers that Silicon Valley Power says should prevent power outages like the embarrassing blackout that stopped play last month during the Superbowl in New Orleans.Green technology, however, isn't that unusual at big American sports venues.In fact, as Cleantechnica.com points out, MetLife (MET +0.37%) Stadium, home of New York's Giants and Jets football teams, has solar panels that produce about 10% of the stadium's energy needs on game day. The Washington Redskins' FedEx (FDX +0.40%) Field uses solar power to produce about 20% of that stadium’s energy needs. The Minnesota Vikings have a deal with a local wind power provider to offset energy used at the team's home games. And at least a half-dozen Major League Baseball venues use some wind or solar power.
"While spectator sporting events will never be 100% sustainable," Cleantechnica notes, "having leagues like the NFL [and] MLB on the side of green is important if environmentalIs it an example of corporations practicing responsible, cost-efficient environmental sustainability -- or a public relations exercise meant to help a fan base feel good about their sports team?Maybe it's a bit of both. But either way, the new, $1.2 billion facility being built for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers is expected to be the "greenest" stadium in the league when it opens for business next year.

Solar energy, school security considered by Highland Board

Energy cost sav-ings through solar energy and on-site secu-rity were two of many top-ics dis-cussed at the Feb-ru-ary 13 High-land Board of Edu-ca-tion meeting.Board mem-ber John Mess-mer said the pos-si-bil-ity of solar power for the three school build-ings is being exam-ined by the board."We've met with a solar out-fit over the past month sev-eral times and it looks like a good oppor-tu-nity for every-body in the com-mu-nity," he explained. "We've got some more work to do on it but we hope by this time next month, we'll have some-thing to share that we'll be mov-ing for-ward with."
Mess-mer said it would pro-vide a great cost sav-ings for the school dis-trict and the board will keep the pub-lic updated. Solar Planet of West-er-ville and Con-stel-la-tion Energy are the two com-pa-nies that have been contacted.Supt Dr. Bill Dodds said the school is get-ting closer to hav-ing a resource offi-cer on cam-pus full time, and the goal is to begin that in April."Our part-ner-ship is with the Mor-row County Sheriff's Office," he said. "They have an offi-cer in school resource train-ing who will fin-ish up in August. That is what we have found to be the safest and most secure way to pro-tect our stu-dents beyond the mea-sures we already take."Board Pres-i-dent Eric Thacker said he sat in on a pre-sen-ta-tion given by Mor-row County Hos-pi-tal CEO Chris Truax regard-ing the pro-posed south-ern Mor-row County urgent care-type med-ical center.
"He gave sort of a vision of what they're hop-ing to do with it, and it ties in nicely with safety and secu-rity for our kids as well as health," Thacker explained. "They're going to have around 4,000 sq. ft. of ther-apy space and bring in spe-cial-ists. If your chil-dren or grand-chil-dren have par-tic-i-pated in sports here, some-times the very first care-givers they are with are the train-ers asso-ci-ated with Mor-row County Hos-pi-tal. It will be nice to con-tinue that com-mu-ni-ca-tion, hav-ing spe-cial-ists that will be based out of that new facil-ity near the free-way and hav-ing licensed phys-i-cal ther-a-pists there."Supt. Dodds said Gov. Kasich has come out with his new bud-get for schools, and it sounded very appeal-ing to school dis-tricts at first, but that changed when fig-ures were released."We shouldn't be too dis-ap-pointed yet, because they have a long way to go," Dodds said.

HiViz Field and Stadium Addresses Superbowl Blackout

The power outage at the Super Bowl causing the lights to go through a 34-minute recycle to warm up which delayed the game could have been completely avoided using the HiViz Field and Stadium LED lighting technology. "Our LED stadium light solutions change the game completely compared to traditional metal halide lighting as is installed at the Super Dome. Using LED lights from VisionX, which are based on CREE diodes made in the USA, we provide the same amount of light, using 1/10th the power," Says Sam Massa, owner of HiViz Field and Stadium. He continues, "Most important, they can be turned instantly on and instantly off. There is no warm up time."HiViz Field and Stadium installed the first "green" athletic field lighting solution in North Carolina using low cost, energy efficient LED lights. "I can't believe the Super Dome can't do what we can do at our local soccer field using the HiViz Field and Stadium. We love the instant-on/instant-off feature of the HiViz Field and Stadium lights at our soccer complex. It saves money and if we do have lights go off for any reason, they can be turned on without any delay. Our games start on time!", says Vic Kubit, member of the Fayetteville Soccer Club.
Massa explains why there is a delay with traditional stadium lights. "The layman explanation of the reason there is a delay with the lights like those used at the Super Dome is that the lamp itself contains gas inside, metal halides. To turn on the light, an arc, much like a welding arc, is created that excites the gas and causes it to shine bright light. The lamps become very hot, hundreds of degrees, when operating. This creates tremendous pressure inside the lamp and due to the pressure, the arc will not reignite the gas until the light cools down and the pressure subsides. This typically takes 20 minutes or more."The following video shows the instant-on instant-off advantage of some of the newest LED technology offered by HiViz Field and Stadium: LED lighting technology is revolutionizing the lighting industry. The US manufacturer of LED diodes used in the HiViz LED Stadium and Lighting solutions, CREE, has seen significant growth. According to MarketWatch.com, CREE's 2nd quarter fiscal earnings were up 69% as the energy efficient light maker saw broad based revenue growth." Shares jumped 14% in recent after market trading.I never thought I'd see this day where we have lights shining down on our the field with our kids playing at night" says Julie Bilyeu, mother of several youth soccer participants and wife of club Treasurer, Keith Bilyeu. "It has really cut years off of our fund raising efforts to provide lights for the fields and the operating costs are even less."

China’s Suntech to Build $10 Mln Uzbek Solar Panel Factory

China’s Suntech Power Holdings Co. plans to establish a solar panel factory in Uzbekistan, according to data published by the republic’s economics ministry on Monday.Suntech and Uzbekistan’s state energy company Uzbekenergo have signed a memorandum on setting up the $10 million joint venture for the project, to be set up in the Navoiy free industrial and economic zone, the ministry said, but did not clarify when the project would begin.Based in Wuxi, China, Suntech claims to be the largest producer of solar panels in the world.Uzbekistan is investing heavily in solar power, and has already attracted other foreign investors. Tashkent inaugurated a new solar research institute in February 2012, in cooperation with the Asia Development Bank (ADB), the bank said.
Uzbekistan also plans to build several solar-based electric power plants with a capacity of over 2 GW, according to earlier reports. Those plants will be financed by Uzbenergo and loans from the ADB and other international financial organizations.In 2012, Uzbekenergo started designing a 50 MW capacity solar electric power station in the Tashkent region, to generate 110 million KWh of power annually.The project, with estimated cost of $250 million, will be financed with a $90 million loan from the ADB and investment from Uzbekistan.Russian oil major LUKoil has also presented proposals for building a solar plant in Uzbekistan, in a joint program with the ADB and the Uzbekistan government, PV Magazine reported in October 2011.Uzbekistan said in December 2012 it was extending tax exemptions to enterprises with a minimum 30 percent direct private foreign investment in 20 industries, including construction of renewable energy power stations.
Uzbekistan’s solar energy potential is estimated at 50.9 billion tons of oil equivalent or 99.7 percent of all renewable energy sources surveyed in the republic. The country is currently heavily reliant on coal and gas, according to its energy ministry.GMP selected the company to build the first solar array in Rutland as part of the utility's commitment to make Rutland the "Solar Capital of New England."The 150-kilowatt Creek Path Solar Farm was built on a former brownfield owned by GMP. It was completed by Same Sun last month. An Italian company that's proposing a solar-power plant in Arizona will discuss its plans at a meeting Tuesday on the Ak-Chin Reservation.

Mpowerd launches inflatable solar lantern

New York City-based Mpowerd introduced the Luci solar-powered inflatable lantern earlier this month. The lantern folds like an accordion and shines with the force of 10 LED bulbs. Its integrated solar panels also means you should never have the hassle of switching out batteries.The Luci is designed for maximum portability. It folds into a 3.8-ounce (108-gram) disc that measures about 5-inches across and an inch thick (12.7 x 2.5 cm). With the help of a pop-out blow valve, it inflates into cylindrical lantern form in under a minute.The Luci's base houses a total of 10 LED lights. It has two brightness settings and a flash mode that are accessed by a small push button. The 3.7-volt lithium- polymer battery provides power for between six and 12 hours of light and takes about seven hours to charge. It can be charged with both sunlight and incandescent light.
The Luci's inflatable, waterproof design lends itself to outdoor use for primary or back-up purposes. It can easily fit in a backpack pocket or large jacket pocket. Mpowerd also suggests using it as an emergency back-up light in a car or home and a party/accent light.The Luci isn't the first inflatable lantern we've seen. In fact, the Luminaid inflatable lantern that we covered in 2011 was on display right next to the Luci at the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show. The Luminaid folds into a smaller 5 x 3 x 0.25-inch (12.7 x 7.6 x 0.6 cm), 3-ounce (85 gram) rectangular package. Both designs are very easy to inflate and deflate, and both include handles for carrying and hanging. The Luci has a leak-proof valve, making it easy to fully inflate, and its hard bottom suggests that it should stand more stably than the pillow-like Luminaid.The Luci is available for US$15.95. Mpowerd also plans to launch a buy-one-give-one social campaign, similar to the one Luminaid hosts.
The most abundant elements detected in these accretion discs — oxygen, silicon, magnesium and iron — are also the most abundant elements found in the Earth. The team also found some less common elements circling the distant stars."I didn't even know that scandium was an element until we discovered it in the atmosphere of a white dwarf," Zuckerman said.Based on observation and statistical analysis, Zuckerman thinks that at least one quarter of white dwarfs could be polluted with accreted dust, giving researchers the chance to study the insides of asteroids outside of the solar system.

Reasons to Use Carbon Fiber Wrap on Your Vehicle

Carbon fiber wrap is the modern way to change the appearance of your vehicle. You can use it on cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles. It adds beauty and personality to your vehicle while providing a tough outer coating that protects your original paint from nicks, scrapes and chips that can occur from driving on the highway. Here are a few more excellent reasons to use carbon fiber vinyl on your vehicle.Using carbon wrap to give your vehicle a new look is less expensive than a custom paint job. When done correctly, it looks just as professional as paint but the original color of the vehicle stays in tack. It's difficult to tell the difference between vinyl wrap and paint because the finished look is so similar. Carbon fiber vinyl is also much cheaper than real carbon fiber and it's much easier to work with, too
If you're handy with tools, installing fiber vinyl is easy to do and you won't need any special equipment. If you're involved in an accident and a section of the vehicle is damaged, you can cut out that portion of the wrap and repair the area much easier and cheaper than it would be to repair paint. The wrap is so easy to work with that matching up the vinyl is no problem at all.Removing the wrap is also easy. If you decide to restore the vehicle back to its original state, you can do so simply by peeling off the vinyl. Installation or removal of the vinyl won't damage the surface underneath, provided proper technique is used.Using wraps for self-expression is a great way to show off your personality. There are so many different graphics and designs available that being unique is easy. You can even layer the sheets of carbon fiber wrap by placing different colors on top of one another, until you create a one-of-a-kind look.
Being unique is easy when you use carbon fiber vinyl because there are a wide variety of options available. You can choose plain colors, specialty colors such as Pearl and Matt Black or most any type of design you can imagine. Finding a color or pattern that suits you perfectly, should be easy to do.One of the oldest reasons to use carbon fiber wrap is to advertise. Big companies have been doing this for years but anyone can take advantage of the benefits it has to offer. Do you own a small business? Advertising your business every time you ride through town, to the grocery store or to the gym can draw in a lot of customers.One of the great things about using carbon fiber to advertise is that you can make changes when needed. If your phone number or company's address changes, you can easily make this correction without a huge expense. Using carbon fiber wrap on your vehicle gives you more flexibility to express yourself and show off your unique personality.

What Is Resin Transfer Moulding?

Resin Transfer Moulding, more often known as RTM, is a process which uses low pressure closed moulding to create a dimensionally accurate, high quality surface finish. It is a form of composite moulding, which uses liquid thermoset polymers which are reinforced with numerous forms of fibres; usually fibreglass is used, although there are a wide variety of options for more robust industrial applications; often a combination of several reinforcements is used. Polymers are often Polyester, Phenolic, Epoxy, Methyl Methacrylate or Vinyl Ester.The selection of different polymers and reinforcements; called the matrix selection when numerous choices are made in a combination; is what dictates the cost of the moulding materials, as well as mechanical and finished surface performance. Other minerals are often added to reduce cost and increase fire retardancy among other things.
Fibres that constitute the reinforcements are introduced to the mould in dry form in either random continuous strand mat, binder bound chopped mat or woven cloth format. Often the fibre is preformed to the specific shape of the mould to ensure a good fit and smooth finish, alternatively it can be hand tailored to the shape of the mould during the moulding process.Action delayed on solar farms.The surface of the mould is often gel coated by spraying the mould surface before the fibre is situated. Upon installing the fibre into the mould, a premixed resin and catalyst are injected into the aforementioned closed mould cavity, which encases the fibres.The advantages of Resin Transfer Moulding are mainly the comparatively low pressure that is required in production; it almost never exceeds 100 psi of pressure; and the high quality finished product. Other advantages include the cleaner and healthier process which improves conditions for the machine's operators; the option of extremely thin products which in some cases can be less than 0.1 mm thick; and the low volatility of emissions.
Although RTM shares some common aspects with Compression Moulding, it differs in that in transfer moulding, the resin is inserted into the mould which contains the fibres, layered or otherwise, whereas in compression moulding, the components for moulding are already in the mould when heat and pressure are applied. The lack of pressure applied in Resin Transfer Moulding means that it is often considerably cheaper than its compression counterpart.In summary, in the current economic down turn, it is important to choose a method of moulding that is cost effective and extremely efficient when you are intending to mould plastics, as it can save your company a great deal of money and ensure a high quality finish every time.

Action delayed on solar farms

A zoning ordinance dealing with solar farms and solar collectors prompted lengthy discussion during Monday night's Vance County board of commissioner's meeting.Carolina Solar Energy made the initial request to amend the zoning ordinance, adding language dealing with solar collectors and solar farms.Jordan McMillen, the county planning director, presented the ordinance that distinguished between large-scale solar farms and smaller scale, solar collector projects for homeowners and commercial businesses.A motion passed for solar collectors to be permitted in all zoning districts. However, no action was taken on the zoning ordinance related to solar farms in favor of gaining more research."The larger scale projects are the ones that have greater impact," McMillen said. "The proposed language limits those to just very particular zoning districts."
Because of the amount of space needed, and potential impacts with large-scale projects, the ordinance limits solar-farm areas to agricultural-residential, light industrial, industrial mining, employment and institutional, and office institutional zoning districts.Commissioner Gordon Wilder, representing District 3, spoke in opposition of including agriculture-residential as a zoning district permissible for solar farms."I feel that we voted on zoning to maintain the rural character of our community," Wilder said. "I have no problem with solar farms being in light industrial areas."I think they would fit right in, in places like that, but I would be apposed, adamantly opposed, to including these in agriculture-residential areas."
Dan Brummitt, with the planning and environmental committee, addressed concerns with removal costs."At some point they'll become obsolete," Brummitt said. "At that point there may be some removal cost and we want to try to find a proper way to ensure that removal is taken care of with these, and for that reason we need to do a little more research."Speaking in support of the zoning ordinance for solar farms was Benny Finch, former director of the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission.Finch has been working for a company in Durham for the past 14 months, assigning sites for solar farms from Vance County to eastern North Carolina."I'm speaking in favor of regulations being proposed by the planning board, and encouraging support of those," Finch said. "Solar farms have helped keep the environment clean, reducing dependence on coal and oxygen."Solar farms are supported by state and federal government. They're cost effective, and don't need any county services."

Stephen Miner Named CEO of Solar Energy Trade Shows

The Board of Managers of Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS) today announced the appointment of Stephen Miner as president and chief executive officer. In his new role, Miner will manage and grow the high-impact solar energy events produced by SETS -- Solar Power International and PV America. SETS is a joint venture created by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to produce trade shows to advance the solar energy industry.For the past 12 years, Miner has developed and managed trade shows, conferences and education programs in the energy and environment sectors. He comes to SETS from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) where he was senior vice president of conference, membership and business development. In this position he managed sales and marketing for the $20+ million annual WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition, as well as AWEA's workshops and $10+ million membership services programs.
During his tenure, Miner helped raise the profile of the show to attract 1,400 exhibitors and 24,000 attendees earning recognition as one of the top 50 trade shows held annually in the United States.The Best Way To Select The Right Lamp Shades.Prior to joining AWEA in 2002, he was manager of education at the Environmental Industry Association, where he developed and executed multiple master educational programs.Miner has an extensive background in higher education having spent more than 15 years with Prince George's Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint in a variety of capacities including director of student services operations, program director for the college activities office, alumni director and program coordinator.Miner will lead day-to-day management and strategic planning for SETS and evaluate new innovative products and techniques to further respond to the needs of the growing solar industry. He will also oversee strategic marketing, communications and brand strategy for the organization's trade shows, lead development of educational content and develop partnerships and relationships with non-profits and other key organizations that add value and strength to SETS events."Solar is the fastest-growing energy industry in America, repeatedly reaching new milestones in commercial and residential installations and in job creation,"Miner said. "SETS will continue to play a pivotal role in the industry's dynamic growth by delivering leading-edge events that will drive growth, and provide networking and educational activities that maximize opportunities for every link in the solar supply chain."

Solar Light Post Caps Make a Big Difference

Some homeowners struggle with the concept of lighting when building their deck. While many think of a deck as something to be enjoyed on hot summer days, perhaps with the accompaniment of a cookout, the fact is that you probably don't want to be restricted to enjoying your new construction project only when the sun is out. That means putting in lighting, but that can mean a process nearly as arduous as building the deck in the first place. But, there are solutions you can easily implement during the building process. One such solution comes in the form of solar light post caps.You can't turn around these days without hearing about this "green" option or this "environmentally friendly" appliance, but what does it all mean? When taking on any new construction project, it's important to consider all of your options, and if an option includes being able to reduce your carbon footprint, that's all the better! Solar light post caps are certainly "green." By using the sun's energy to power themselves, they require no electricity.
Now, this is an area where you can make a difference with lighting options that don't require electricity. While turning on a small lamp outside from time to time isn't going to make or break your electric bill, some homeowners like to use their decks on a nightly basis. Who knows, you might find that it makes the perfect place to read in the evenings. You may not feel comfortable unless your deck is lit up continuously from dusk until dawn. If so, solar light post caps can save you quite a bit of money. Because they use sun panels for power instead of the grid, you won't have a big bill at the end of your first month of usage.
Of course, some homeowners don't care anything for the green movement and don't foresee using their outdoor lighting enough to make a substantial difference in their monthly electric bill. However, there is still a good reason for choosing solar light post caps, which is the style factor. Everyone wants their deck to stand apart from the pack in some way. By using remarkable accessories like these, you can ensure that your deck won't be just another in a long assembly line of same construction projects. You will have something unique and stylish, which is of great importance all by itself. Residential solar power is the electricity relies on sunlight or even the power of your sun to supply electricity in offices, residences, etc. You may produce this sort of power if you have solar technology panels set up on the home. True, you can get panels or simply a solar powered kit for this specific purpose, but, if affordability is the best priority, you're better off with Diy solar panel.

Philips Taiwan Sets Ambitious Goal for 2013 LED Lighting Sales

Philips Taiwan plans to boost its sales of LED lighting equipment in Taiwan by two to three folds in 2013 from 2012 and the number of its residential lighting showrooms will increase to seven by the end of 2012, according to Philips Taiwan President Edward Po.The company promoted its iF-awarded and Red Dot-awarded LED residential lighting products as well as LED intelligent lighting control system at an international building-materials trade show recently held in Taipei.Po stressed that the intelligent control system is one of the crucial developments in the LED lighting industry, providing residences, marketplaces and commercial sites with energy-saving and light-color changing merits, not to mention quality lighting environment.
He said the company has released a number of indoor lighting applications and solutions in hope of building a quality living environment for Taiwan's residents in cooperation with homebuilders, architects, and indoor-decoration designers.Philips Taiwan executives pointed out that in light of increasing popularity of LED bulbs among consumers the company has begun briskly promoting 6W, 9W and 12W bulbs, with 9W lamp declining to NT$369 (US$12.7 at US$1:NT$29) in end-user price. Its 12W bulb has won U.S. Energy Star label and iF Design Award, maxing out at 825 lumens.Mehlville schools powering up with solar panels.The company's 6.5W bulb is a replacement for 50W halogen lamp, popular among residential-decoration designers and showcase providers.Making the switch from incandescent to LED is helping many Christmas light displays go green this season.
LEDs are currently the most efficient light bulbs you can buy.Six hours of daily use of 600 incandescent lights will cost you $80 per month, while the same number of LEDs runs up your bill by only $7."Some people put their lights up late November, keep them up until early January. So, there's quite a bit of cost-saving that can be realized when using the LED bulbs," notes Duke Energy's David Scanzoni.Retailers charge up to three times more for the LEDs compared to the incandescent bulbs, but they last longer and over the long haul are greener in more ways than one."They're very green, they use less energy. Less electricity has to be produced by the power company," Scanzoni explains.The issue is that, in principal, the integrated-driver approach appears straightforward. Depending on the type of control gear that has been fitted, the contractor will simply need to modify the existing fluorescent control gear by using a fuse link in place of the starter for magnetic ballasts. Alternatively, the contractor can bypass electronic ballasts completely and wire the lamp end caps directly to mains voltage rather than having to mount and wire up a new LED driver module as well.

Several Benefits of Led Spotlight and Led Lamp

Today, in many households, spotlights have become an vital part. It provides a great way to maintain the security of the house and prevent any unwanted intruder from entering the house. Spotlights can also be used as a very good decorative piece of equipment. It can be used in the garden and made to hang around the trees and plants during special occasions such as anniversaries and birthday parties.There are different types of spotlights available in the market today. However, LED Spotlight has become very popular, as these lights are energy efficient and emits less heat compared to other type of LEDs. The amount spent on making electricity bill payments will be drastically reduced as of the energy efficient nature of these LEDs.
LED spotlight comes in different configurations. For spotlights, 12V LED lights are the most commonly used forms. More and more families across the country are going for solar powered LED lights for decorating their outdoor space as solar power supplied LED spotlights are slowly becoming popular.For lighting portraits or family photographs, LED spotlights are particularly used in indoors. Thus in addition to lighting up outdoor events, they are also effectively used as indoor decorative equipment. Because LED Spotlight emits less heat they are ideally suited for lighting indoor accessories such as photo frames. Traditional LEDs emit a higher amount of heat and this will damage the piece of art.
Now LED lamp is used in several offices and homes. These LED lamps are not heated, which eliminates the risk of fire due to heat lamps. Also, it reduces the cost of air conditioning facilities. They are very durable. LEDs do not break, even falling from a height of 20 meters. In the consumer environment is very, very comfortable. It is important to note that in the design of LEDs do not use mercury, which completely eliminates mercury poisoning.Indeed, more and more designers are using LEDs in their compositions; they observe strict lines and full compliance with representations of the twenty-first century! But each new development, there are also disadvantages. And light - emitting diodes found one negative point - it's a high price. The price of LED lamp is almost fifty times more than the price of an ordinary incandescent bulb. But the price for this bulb is very much justified, after considering all the advantages of LED lamps.Despite the negative side LEDs, more good things and they are more significant. In modern science, the LED industry is a leader; this direction is promising, functional and prestigious. In today's world, more and more attention is paid to the environment. And in this direction, LED lamp has huge advantages.

Replacement lights claimed fast at Utilities event

The Colorado Springs Utilities holiday light exchange and open house keeps growing, but still can't keep up with demand.About 1,500 strings of LED lights and 10,000 CFL bulbs were handed out during the annual event Saturday at the Conservation and Environmental Center on Mesa Road."People were in line before 7 a.m.," said Nikki Richardson, Utilities spokeswoman.Customers could exchange two old holiday light strands for two money-saving LED strands. They could also exchange up to 16 light bulbs for CFLs.Holiday lights were gone by 9:30 a.m., and the supply of CFLs lasted until 11 a.m., she said.Utilities brought more lights to give away this year, but ran out of them in record time, said, Doug Bursnall, energy conservation specialist with Utilities.
The holiday lights turned in Saturday will be recycled, and the money from stripping the copper out will benefit Project COPE, a utilities assistance program.LED lights use 75 percent to 90 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, he said. They are also a lot cooler, which cuts down on fire risks.LED lights are more expensive, but people can replace them a little at a time, Bursnall said.Analysis: Georgia quietly approves solar power shift.Energy savings usually covers the increase in start-up costs in a few years.People still dropped off old strings in the hours after free replacement lights ran out.
This is a unique opportunity for creative minds from across the globe to come together and be a part of something truly life changing', continued Mr Blease.
"Whether you are an engineer, a designer, a film maker, a business entrepreneur, or a university student or group, we want to hear from you if you think you have the skills to turn one of the shortlisted ideas into reality."This opportunity is equivalent to chart-topping artists finding stardom through a talent TV show, with the big exception that success on this stage will change the lives of 17 million people around the world living with cerebral palsy."Sounds like a very worthy cause that could certainly end up helping each Australian child born with cerebral palsy every 15 hours, the 17 million people around the world with cerebral palsy, and the 350 million people "who are closely connected to a child or adult with CP".The two wheelchairs would also help anyone that ever has the need for a wheelchair in fold-up form, solar-powered form or perhaps even both in the one unit!Wouldn't that be something that could help make the lives of people with wheelchairs so much easier and more convenient.Some kind of easily deployable, or removable but wired solar panels are things that are in my mind, so the wheelchair doesn't have to be in the hot sun to recharge.Wireless solar panels to charge a battery, could that be done? Or retractable solar panel(s) of enough size and efficiency… and what about the batteries and their charge?

White light for laptop computers or interior lighting in cars

Things snowballed from there, with scientists making more silicon dots (and, later, germanium dots) that emitted light in lots of bright, pretty colors, especially the highly desirable green and blue ranges. The bigger the dot, the redder the light, and the emitted light becomes shorter and shorter in wavelength — and higher in energy — as the dots shrink in size. This is called "tunability" because you can pretty much tailor the dots to emit whatever frequency of visible light you happen to need for a given application, simply by altering the size of the dots.The most obvious application is using quantum dots as an alternative to the organic dyes used to tag reactive agents in fluorescence-based biosensors. You know, the dyes start to glow when, say, a harmful toxin is present. But the number of colors available using organic dyes is limited, and they tend to degrade rapidly. Quantum dots offer a broader spectrum of colors and show very little degradation over time.
Last year, engineers at Ohio State University "invented a new kind of nano-particle that shines in different colors to tag molecules in biomedical tests." The secret ingredient? quantum dots! This breakthrough — described in the online edition of Nano Letters, in a paper by OSU's Jessica Winter and Gang Ruan — involved stuffing tiny plastic nanoparticles with even tinier quantum dots for use in biomedical tagging applications. It's easier to see biological molecules under a microscope if they fluoresce, and quantum dots glow more brightly than other fluorescent molecules used for this purpose.They also "twinkle", i.e., blink on and off, an effect that is less noticeable if there are many quantum dots congregated together. There are pros and cons to this behavior. Con: it "breaks up the trajectory of a moving particle or tagged molecule" that one is trying to track under the microscope. Pro: when the blinking stops, scientists know they've reached a critical threshold of aggregated quantum dots.
The continuous glowing makes it easier to track tagged molecules with no breaks, and they could also use the color changes to determine when said tagged molecules congregate. The nanopartices would be great for microfluidic devices, and could one day be combined with magnetic particles to enhance medical imaging for, say, cancer detection. In fact, earlier this year, Nature Nanotechnology published the results of a study showing no ill effects over a one-year period in four rhesus monkeys injected with such tiny luminescent crystals.You can also build quantum dot LEDs that emit white light for laptop computers or interior lighting in cars. As for electronics, the possibilities are endless: all-optical switches and logic gates, for instance, with a millionfold increase in speed and lower power requirements, or, further in the future, quantum dots could be used to make teensy transistors for nanoelectronics

Floating New Ideas to Build Wind and Solar Energy Projects

An all-of-the-above energy strategy may mean leveling the tax code. The wind and solar industries may potentially receive favorable tax treatment under a provision of the law that pertains to the fossil fuels or the tax structure could be totally reformed, wiping out all of those breaks in exchange for reduced corporate rates.An idea getting attention now is giving the renewables sector the right to access "master limited partnerships" -- just like oil, natural gas and coal can now do. Simply, that is a business structure that has limited liability while allowing investors to be taxed at their personal rate on dividends.Right now, the fossil fuels can set up those partnerships but the green fuels cannot. Such deals are able to attract capital because profits are only taxed once -- when the dividends are distributed, and not at the corporate level. Those investments are liquid and they can be traded, making them a valuable part of building long-term energy infrastructure projects.
Dan Reicher, former director of climate change and energy at Google, raised this issue during an EnergyBiz conference in Washington on Friday.BB is using LED bulbs in Head Office to ensure efficient use of energy.He said that those master limited partnerships could supply "hundreds of millions of dollars" to renewable energy projects by appealing to investors who seek an attractive dividend payment, which could be around 6 percent."Because master limited partnerships are so attractive to investors, they have been proven to bring new capital into American energy projects," says Senator Chris Coons, D-Del., who is sponsoring a bill to apply such business structures equally across all energy types. "This is especially important in the case of renewable energy generation, where it is harder for investors to see as quick a return compared to fossil fuel-based energy generation, for which much of the process and transportation infrastructure was built decades ago."
Why not? The argument against the move is that some lawmakers say that it would erode the tax base. That is, investments in wind and solar master limited partnerships would become tax havens, as opposed to legitimate mechanisms by which green energy development would occur.Reicher, now with Stanford University's Center for Energy Policy, disagrees with that objection. He says that investors would still be paying taxes on the dividends that they receive from the partnership. And if the tax code is properly enforced, it would lead to economically viable wind and solar generation deals that provide jobs and pay taxes.The idea has broad support: Not only are the environmental and green energy advocates behind it but so are some utilities. Specifically, David Crane, who is chief executive of NRG Energy, calls the proposal "phenomenal."