"The public setsuden sentiment is merely symbolic. Everybody is joining the bandwagon as an expression of solidarity at a time of distress. What is more important is to create a deeper front against dangerous nuclear power," she told IPS.
A massive earthquake and tsunami on Mar. 11 destroyed Japan's largest nuclear power plant at Fukushima, forcing the government to review the national policy on nuclear energy that currently meets 30 percent of the national demand.
Japan has 54 nuclear reactors of which only 15 are in operation currently, with some of them set to undergo stress tests as a precaution after the Fukushima disaster.
As a result, the total electricity supplied by the ten major utilities in July dropped by almost nine percent, or 83 billion kilowatt hours, in comparison to supply in 2010, according to the Federation of Electric Power Companies.
Well-known Japanese author Kazutoshi Hanto, in an interview on Japanese television, likened the current power-saving efforts to 1945 post-war Japan when people worked hard to rebuild their country.
"National unity in the form of setsuden mirrors the early post-war diligence of the Japanese who worked single-mindedly to rebuild the country.
"There are new ideas and efforts rising from the worst nuclear disaster in Japan," Hanto said.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan is pushing a national goal to generate 20 percent of electricity from alternative energy sources such as solar and wind. Japan will legislate to mandate utilities to buy electricity generated from these sources at prices set by the government.
Such steps are long overdue, environmentalists say. There is also increasing interest among equipment manufacturers to develop energy saving products.
2011年8月22日 星期一
2011年8月18日 星期四
So, that could make me the bad guy.
'You're the guy that doesn't live and breathe with his team. How could you say you're a fan if you don't even want to know what assets your team could have? How do find those diamonds in the rough if you won't even scour the rough?'
If that's the case, then sure, I'll be the villain. I'll take the hit and not follow every snap that those that I cheer will take until early September. I'm fine with that. It's not my way of punishing the owners for closing the gates on their employees. I'm not protesting the players for drawing a line in the sand that couldn't be crossed for four-plus months. It's just my normal state of mind.
Now, my apathy might have waned a bit if one thing occurred. It's the same phenomenon that happened in 1994, 1998, and 2004.
The MLB strike of 1994 was especially irksome for me. As a young teen in Kansas City, the Royals were my summertime fascination.
I wasn't a fixture at games, but I did head out to Royals Stadium (before it was renamed for late owner Ewing Kauffman) to see the likes of George Brett, Frank White, Bo Jackson, Danny Tartabull, Flash Gordon, Mark Gubicza, and Jeff Montgomery. That year, the unexpected Royals had actually fought their way into contention past the All-Star Break.
Nationwide, the Strike took the wind out of baseball's sails. Even though many were relieved to see the game's return in April of 1995, the sport didn't really get a boost for another three years.
If that's the case, then sure, I'll be the villain. I'll take the hit and not follow every snap that those that I cheer will take until early September. I'm fine with that. It's not my way of punishing the owners for closing the gates on their employees. I'm not protesting the players for drawing a line in the sand that couldn't be crossed for four-plus months. It's just my normal state of mind.
Now, my apathy might have waned a bit if one thing occurred. It's the same phenomenon that happened in 1994, 1998, and 2004.
The MLB strike of 1994 was especially irksome for me. As a young teen in Kansas City, the Royals were my summertime fascination.
I wasn't a fixture at games, but I did head out to Royals Stadium (before it was renamed for late owner Ewing Kauffman) to see the likes of George Brett, Frank White, Bo Jackson, Danny Tartabull, Flash Gordon, Mark Gubicza, and Jeff Montgomery. That year, the unexpected Royals had actually fought their way into contention past the All-Star Break.
Nationwide, the Strike took the wind out of baseball's sails. Even though many were relieved to see the game's return in April of 1995, the sport didn't really get a boost for another three years.
2011年8月16日 星期二
Brain hemorrhage led to a new direction
George Arthur of Southport had been in the restaurant industry for over 30 years when he was told on Nov. 7, 2007 that he had had a massive brain hemorrhage. After nine days in the Intensive Care Unit, Arthur was on his way home and unbeknownst to him, on his way to a new life.
“I had a brain hemorrhage which put me out for about two years,” Arthur said. “I didn’t know if I would live or die. Luckily, I came out with only a few minor setbacks and in 2010 I wrote 30 songs.”
Music has always been a large part of Arthur’s life. He played drums, guitar, keyboard and sang in multiple choirs. His wife bought him a karaoke machine during his recovery and Arthur gained confidence through it.
“I’ve always had music in my life, but it was never my profession,” Arthur said. “I started trying to sing and that’s how I recuperated. I did a lot of singing and playing instruments. Emotionally it helped. It was the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Arthur could not read music nor did he have experience writing it, but he began writing songs in February 2010.
“I had never done anything like this in my life,” Arthur said. “ I never wrote any music and I can’t read it, but I wrote 30 songs in less than a year.”
He would have a tune come to him, he would go to his music room and begin recording. Arthur had to record everything that he played immediately.
“I do have a short term memory situation. I wrote my songs in my music room, I got the tunes first and I had to record it because I was afraid I wouldn’t know how to play it again,” Arthur said. “Then the lyrics, I did the same thing. There were more than a few times I had to pull over to the side of the road to write something down.”
“I had a brain hemorrhage which put me out for about two years,” Arthur said. “I didn’t know if I would live or die. Luckily, I came out with only a few minor setbacks and in 2010 I wrote 30 songs.”
Music has always been a large part of Arthur’s life. He played drums, guitar, keyboard and sang in multiple choirs. His wife bought him a karaoke machine during his recovery and Arthur gained confidence through it.
“I’ve always had music in my life, but it was never my profession,” Arthur said. “I started trying to sing and that’s how I recuperated. I did a lot of singing and playing instruments. Emotionally it helped. It was the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Arthur could not read music nor did he have experience writing it, but he began writing songs in February 2010.
“I had never done anything like this in my life,” Arthur said. “ I never wrote any music and I can’t read it, but I wrote 30 songs in less than a year.”
He would have a tune come to him, he would go to his music room and begin recording. Arthur had to record everything that he played immediately.
“I do have a short term memory situation. I wrote my songs in my music room, I got the tunes first and I had to record it because I was afraid I wouldn’t know how to play it again,” Arthur said. “Then the lyrics, I did the same thing. There were more than a few times I had to pull over to the side of the road to write something down.”
2011年8月11日 星期四
Excerpt: This Beautiful Life
She leaned over, the fixed lens of the camera catching a tiny smattering of blemishes on her cheek, like a comet's spray. Her hair had been bleached white, with long blond roots, and most of it was pulled back and up into a chunky ponytail above the three plastic hoops climbing the rim of her ear.
The song began to play, Beyoncé. I love to love you, baby. She stepped aside, revealing her room in all its messy glory. Above the bed was a painting; the central image was a daisy. A large lava lamp bubbled and gooed on the nightstand.
She was giggling offstage. Suddenly, the screen was a swirl of green plaid. Filmstrips of color in knife pleats. Her short skirt swayed along with her round hips. A little roll of ivory fat nestled above the waistband. She wore a white tank top, which she took off, her hands quickly finding the cups of her black bra. The breasts inside were small, and at first she covered them with her palms, fingers splayed like scallop shells. Then she unhooked the bra in the front and they popped out as if on springs. Her hands did a little fan dance as they reached below her hemline and lifted up her skirt.
She'd done all of this for his benefit. To please him. To prove him wrong. She reached out for the little toy baseball bat and the next part was hard to watch, even if you knew what was coming.
Two parties. Both of Elizabeth Bergamot's children had parties to go to. Jake, the eldest—his longish brown hair suddenly grazing his collarbones, his eyes the color of muddled mint—was on his own that night, of course. His party was up in the Bronx, in Riverdale, somewhere near his school. He was fifteen and a half the previous Friday. It was pretty ridiculous that the Bergamots continued to celebrate this increasingly minor milestone—his half birthday—with half a cake and half a present. Richard, Liz's husband, had started the whole business ten years earlier, when he'd surprised them both by bringing home half a deck of cards that year, the other twenty-six miraculously appearing overnight under the boy's pillow.
"He's five and a half on Cinco de Mayo," Richard had said, by way of explanation. "Is there a better cause for celebration?"
Since the gesture was so touching, so sweet and fatherly, and Richard was a Californian by birth, Liz had trusted him on the import of such things, Mexican things. Plus, it seemed fun—a fun family tradition! It was what Liz had always hungered after despite generations of contrary evidence: relatives as respite, home as haven, a retreat from the rest of the dangerous, damaging world.
Last Friday, this Cinco de Mayo, Jake got half a set of car keys in the morning over his Lucky Charms. The true key to the kingdom was to be delivered, along with tuition for driver's ed, on his actual birthday, in November.
But for tonight's party, Jake would have to rely on some cocktail of public transportation—bus, subway, bus, subway, subway, cab—although there was always the possibility that some other love-addled mom like Liz would drive him home. Liz herself was otherwise occupied. It was his job to figure it out.
The song began to play, Beyoncé. I love to love you, baby. She stepped aside, revealing her room in all its messy glory. Above the bed was a painting; the central image was a daisy. A large lava lamp bubbled and gooed on the nightstand.
She was giggling offstage. Suddenly, the screen was a swirl of green plaid. Filmstrips of color in knife pleats. Her short skirt swayed along with her round hips. A little roll of ivory fat nestled above the waistband. She wore a white tank top, which she took off, her hands quickly finding the cups of her black bra. The breasts inside were small, and at first she covered them with her palms, fingers splayed like scallop shells. Then she unhooked the bra in the front and they popped out as if on springs. Her hands did a little fan dance as they reached below her hemline and lifted up her skirt.
She'd done all of this for his benefit. To please him. To prove him wrong. She reached out for the little toy baseball bat and the next part was hard to watch, even if you knew what was coming.
Two parties. Both of Elizabeth Bergamot's children had parties to go to. Jake, the eldest—his longish brown hair suddenly grazing his collarbones, his eyes the color of muddled mint—was on his own that night, of course. His party was up in the Bronx, in Riverdale, somewhere near his school. He was fifteen and a half the previous Friday. It was pretty ridiculous that the Bergamots continued to celebrate this increasingly minor milestone—his half birthday—with half a cake and half a present. Richard, Liz's husband, had started the whole business ten years earlier, when he'd surprised them both by bringing home half a deck of cards that year, the other twenty-six miraculously appearing overnight under the boy's pillow.
"He's five and a half on Cinco de Mayo," Richard had said, by way of explanation. "Is there a better cause for celebration?"
Since the gesture was so touching, so sweet and fatherly, and Richard was a Californian by birth, Liz had trusted him on the import of such things, Mexican things. Plus, it seemed fun—a fun family tradition! It was what Liz had always hungered after despite generations of contrary evidence: relatives as respite, home as haven, a retreat from the rest of the dangerous, damaging world.
Last Friday, this Cinco de Mayo, Jake got half a set of car keys in the morning over his Lucky Charms. The true key to the kingdom was to be delivered, along with tuition for driver's ed, on his actual birthday, in November.
But for tonight's party, Jake would have to rely on some cocktail of public transportation—bus, subway, bus, subway, subway, cab—although there was always the possibility that some other love-addled mom like Liz would drive him home. Liz herself was otherwise occupied. It was his job to figure it out.
2011年8月4日 星期四
Light switch means big savings for Queensborough liquor store
Al Arburthnot did the math and made the decision to switch the halogen lights off inside his Queensborough Landing Liquor Store and turn LED ones on.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer,” said Arburthnot.
The 50- and 250-watt fixtures he was using were costing him $645 a month in his utility bill.
Along came Chris Jordon, the chief executive officer of 1-888-burnt-out?, a sign and lighting services company. Arburthnot has been dealing with Jordon for more than 30 years.
Jordon crunched the numbers for Arburthnot and figured out it would cost $7,700 to convert the store to LED (light emitting diode) lamps.
If he did so, Arburthnot would be eligible for a rebate of $4,200 from BC Hydro’s Power Smart program.
Jordon estimated the new lights would also reduce the store’s monthly bill to $38, and that instead of changing lights on a regular basis at a cost of $24 apiece the lamps would last two to three years.
That meant, according to his calculations, Arburthnot would recoup his investment in less than six months.
“LED has much higher cost up front, but the long-term energy saving and maintenance costs far outweigh [older types of lighting],” said Jordon.
Arburthnot said another factor in his decision was his costs were destined to go up dramatically.
Hydro’s plans to introduce smart meters to nail down precise usage would likely mean his store would be slotted into the more expensive “tier two” rate.
Arburthnot is also assuming electricity will only get more expensive in the future.
“We do have fairly inexpensive electricity. On a North American scale we are reasonably priced, but I see it is going to go nowhere but up.”
He also plans to install LED when his store at 57 Below, next to the New Westminster SkyTrain station, is integrated into the new mall being built there.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer,” said Arburthnot.
The 50- and 250-watt fixtures he was using were costing him $645 a month in his utility bill.
Along came Chris Jordon, the chief executive officer of 1-888-burnt-out?, a sign and lighting services company. Arburthnot has been dealing with Jordon for more than 30 years.
Jordon crunched the numbers for Arburthnot and figured out it would cost $7,700 to convert the store to LED (light emitting diode) lamps.
If he did so, Arburthnot would be eligible for a rebate of $4,200 from BC Hydro’s Power Smart program.
Jordon estimated the new lights would also reduce the store’s monthly bill to $38, and that instead of changing lights on a regular basis at a cost of $24 apiece the lamps would last two to three years.
That meant, according to his calculations, Arburthnot would recoup his investment in less than six months.
“LED has much higher cost up front, but the long-term energy saving and maintenance costs far outweigh [older types of lighting],” said Jordon.
Arburthnot said another factor in his decision was his costs were destined to go up dramatically.
Hydro’s plans to introduce smart meters to nail down precise usage would likely mean his store would be slotted into the more expensive “tier two” rate.
Arburthnot is also assuming electricity will only get more expensive in the future.
“We do have fairly inexpensive electricity. On a North American scale we are reasonably priced, but I see it is going to go nowhere but up.”
He also plans to install LED when his store at 57 Below, next to the New Westminster SkyTrain station, is integrated into the new mall being built there.
2011年7月27日 星期三
City of Boston Gets Brighter and Greener with New Philips LED Street Lights
City of Boston Gets Brighter and Greener with New Philips LED Street Lights
LEDs will help eliminate more than 5,000 tons of greenhouse gas annually
ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEW LED SOLUTION Philips Lighting New LED Solution on Centre Street in West Roxbury. (PRNewsFoto/Royal Philips Electronics, John Mottern) BURLINGTON, MA UNITED STATES
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ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEW LED SOLUTION Top- Philips Lighting New LED Solution; Bottom- Previous Lighting Solution. (PRNewsFoto/Royal Philips Electronics, John Mottern) BURLINGTON, MA UNITED STATES
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BURLINGTON, Mass., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Boston will be seeing the city in a whole new, brighter light thanks to new light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting from Philips. Improving the city's energy use and environmental footprint, more than 14,000 mercury-vapor street and roadway luminaires are being replaced in Boston neighborhoods by Philips Hadco's New RX1 and RX2. The LED's – which maximize energy savings and provide uniform, comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing white light – are expected to save the city approximately 8.9 million kilowatt hours of energy each year, yielding a savings of about $1.1 million annually in the cost of electricity.
"With these new LED street lights, Boston continues to live up to its reputation as one of the greenest cities in the country," said Mayor Menino. "Not only do these lights help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also save the City money in tough economic times. We're excited to add these aesthetic and durable lighting fixtures to our streets!"
The RX1 is based on the Philips LEDGINE LED platform, which features industry-leading LUXEON LEDs and a modular approach which allows for future upgrades as the technology advances. The new lighting will help eliminate more than 5,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually and enable Boston to further its billing as the "3rd Greenest City in North America" according to Popular Science magazine. The project also coincides with the release of the City's updated climate action plan, "A Climate of Progress," which calls for reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions 25-percent by 2020.
"Boston is among a growing group of environmentally and fiscally responsible cities that understand the long-term benefits of adopting innovative lighting technologies such as LED," said Zia Eftekhar, chief executive officer of Philips Lighting North America. "Philips has a rich history in the Boston area and we are proud to share the city's commitment to sustainability by contributing to its green efforts with our RX1 LED street lighting system."
Designed to last for about 18 years, or four times longer than the lamps they are replacing, the Philips Hadco RX1 and RX2 LEDGINE luminaires are also expected to generate considerable savings in maintenance costs for the city. They are mercury-free and are available in multiple color temperatures.
"Philips Hadco delivered on everything we were looking for – from energy savings and outage reductions to enhanced visibility and improved light uniformity," said Glenn Cooper, associate electrical engineer, Street Lighting Division, city of Boston. "This investment in LED lighting is aesthetically, environmentally and economically beneficial, a combination that all taxpayers can appreciate."
LEDs will help eliminate more than 5,000 tons of greenhouse gas annually
ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEW LED SOLUTION Philips Lighting New LED Solution on Centre Street in West Roxbury. (PRNewsFoto/Royal Philips Electronics, John Mottern) BURLINGTON, MA UNITED STATES
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ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEW LED SOLUTION Top- Philips Lighting New LED Solution; Bottom- Previous Lighting Solution. (PRNewsFoto/Royal Philips Electronics, John Mottern) BURLINGTON, MA UNITED STATES
Download image
BURLINGTON, Mass., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Boston will be seeing the city in a whole new, brighter light thanks to new light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting from Philips. Improving the city's energy use and environmental footprint, more than 14,000 mercury-vapor street and roadway luminaires are being replaced in Boston neighborhoods by Philips Hadco's New RX1 and RX2. The LED's – which maximize energy savings and provide uniform, comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing white light – are expected to save the city approximately 8.9 million kilowatt hours of energy each year, yielding a savings of about $1.1 million annually in the cost of electricity.
"With these new LED street lights, Boston continues to live up to its reputation as one of the greenest cities in the country," said Mayor Menino. "Not only do these lights help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also save the City money in tough economic times. We're excited to add these aesthetic and durable lighting fixtures to our streets!"
The RX1 is based on the Philips LEDGINE LED platform, which features industry-leading LUXEON LEDs and a modular approach which allows for future upgrades as the technology advances. The new lighting will help eliminate more than 5,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually and enable Boston to further its billing as the "3rd Greenest City in North America" according to Popular Science magazine. The project also coincides with the release of the City's updated climate action plan, "A Climate of Progress," which calls for reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions 25-percent by 2020.
"Boston is among a growing group of environmentally and fiscally responsible cities that understand the long-term benefits of adopting innovative lighting technologies such as LED," said Zia Eftekhar, chief executive officer of Philips Lighting North America. "Philips has a rich history in the Boston area and we are proud to share the city's commitment to sustainability by contributing to its green efforts with our RX1 LED street lighting system."
Designed to last for about 18 years, or four times longer than the lamps they are replacing, the Philips Hadco RX1 and RX2 LEDGINE luminaires are also expected to generate considerable savings in maintenance costs for the city. They are mercury-free and are available in multiple color temperatures.
"Philips Hadco delivered on everything we were looking for – from energy savings and outage reductions to enhanced visibility and improved light uniformity," said Glenn Cooper, associate electrical engineer, Street Lighting Division, city of Boston. "This investment in LED lighting is aesthetically, environmentally and economically beneficial, a combination that all taxpayers can appreciate."
Virmmac, LLC Eyes NexPhase Lighting, Inc. for Breakout Growth
Virmmac, LLC Eyes NexPhase Lighting, Inc. for Breakout Growth
Virmmac, LLC, a Virtual IR, Marketing & Media Company, targets NexPhase Lighting, Inc. (subsidiary of
Onteco Corp.) - (otcqb:ONTC) as a 'Top Company to Watch' in the next four quarters for breakout growth.
NexPhase Lighting, Inc., a designer and developer of proprietary high quality LED (light-emitting diode)
lighting fixtures and control systems for commercial applications, is making unprecedented progress the
LED lighting market.
Over the last few months, President Jon Cooper has been leading NexPhase in answering the demand for
the company's American made LED lighting solutions and is quickly emerging as a top tier company in the
LED Lighting marketplace.
According to a *recent intellectual property 'Appraisal Services Report' from Pellegrino & Associates LLC
("Pellegrino") commissioned by NexPhase, the valuation of multiple patent pending NexPhase intellectual
property is estimated at approximately $17,200,000.
The key points contained in the Appraisal Services Report are as follows: "The valuation model indicates
the fair market value of the intellectual property at a 90% confidence level is between $6,820,229 and
$41,109,593, with a mean value of $19,710,311 and a median value of $17,216,091. Pellegrino used the
statistical median as its expected value, as it removes the impact of improbable outliers. Therefore, it is
the opinion of Pellegrino, based upon a reasonable degree of probability within the valuation profession,
that the fair market value of the intellectual property is $17,216,091 using the income approach to value."
*Footnote to above is located at http://www.otcmarkets.com/edgar/GetFilingHtml?FilingID=7954352
March 31, 2011 10Q NexPhase recent success has prompted a search for a new facility to relocate the
corporate headquarters, main manufacturing and distribution facility to meet the demand of its future
business expansion plans.
NexPhase's most recent press release is the latest in a succession of exciting Company news that shows no
signs of slowing.
About NexPhase Lighting, Inc.
NexPhase Lighting, Inc. is a designer and developer of proprietary high quality LED (light-emitting diode)
lighting fixtures and control systems for commercial applications. It believes its products will be the lowest
cost, highest efficacy fixtures available in the LED Lighting Industry. All NexPhase lighting products
incorporate its proprietary "NexSense Technology(TM)", which provides benefits well beyond the generally
acknowledged advantages of all other LED lighting fixtures. NexSense control systems use a unique,
"patent pending" wireless protocol, which provides for an unsurpassed reduction in architecture and
infrastructure installation cost in commercial applications, as well as significantly reduced maintenance and
ongoing operation costs
About Onteco Corporation
Onteco Corporation was founded to develop innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions to some of
the most significant environmental challenges facing us today. Additionally, these solutions must show
promise of generating significant, ongoing profits for the company. The company determined that one
industry that meets these criteria is the Energy Saving Lighting Industry, and as a result acquired NexPhase
Lighting, Inc., in February 2011.
Virmmac, LLC, a Virtual IR, Marketing & Media Company, targets NexPhase Lighting, Inc. (subsidiary of
Onteco Corp.) - (otcqb:ONTC) as a 'Top Company to Watch' in the next four quarters for breakout growth.
NexPhase Lighting, Inc., a designer and developer of proprietary high quality LED (light-emitting diode)
lighting fixtures and control systems for commercial applications, is making unprecedented progress the
LED lighting market.
Over the last few months, President Jon Cooper has been leading NexPhase in answering the demand for
the company's American made LED lighting solutions and is quickly emerging as a top tier company in the
LED Lighting marketplace.
According to a *recent intellectual property 'Appraisal Services Report' from Pellegrino & Associates LLC
("Pellegrino") commissioned by NexPhase, the valuation of multiple patent pending NexPhase intellectual
property is estimated at approximately $17,200,000.
The key points contained in the Appraisal Services Report are as follows: "The valuation model indicates
the fair market value of the intellectual property at a 90% confidence level is between $6,820,229 and
$41,109,593, with a mean value of $19,710,311 and a median value of $17,216,091. Pellegrino used the
statistical median as its expected value, as it removes the impact of improbable outliers. Therefore, it is
the opinion of Pellegrino, based upon a reasonable degree of probability within the valuation profession,
that the fair market value of the intellectual property is $17,216,091 using the income approach to value."
*Footnote to above is located at http://www.otcmarkets.com/edgar/GetFilingHtml?FilingID=7954352
March 31, 2011 10Q NexPhase recent success has prompted a search for a new facility to relocate the
corporate headquarters, main manufacturing and distribution facility to meet the demand of its future
business expansion plans.
NexPhase's most recent press release is the latest in a succession of exciting Company news that shows no
signs of slowing.
About NexPhase Lighting, Inc.
NexPhase Lighting, Inc. is a designer and developer of proprietary high quality LED (light-emitting diode)
lighting fixtures and control systems for commercial applications. It believes its products will be the lowest
cost, highest efficacy fixtures available in the LED Lighting Industry. All NexPhase lighting products
incorporate its proprietary "NexSense Technology(TM)", which provides benefits well beyond the generally
acknowledged advantages of all other LED lighting fixtures. NexSense control systems use a unique,
"patent pending" wireless protocol, which provides for an unsurpassed reduction in architecture and
infrastructure installation cost in commercial applications, as well as significantly reduced maintenance and
ongoing operation costs
About Onteco Corporation
Onteco Corporation was founded to develop innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions to some of
the most significant environmental challenges facing us today. Additionally, these solutions must show
promise of generating significant, ongoing profits for the company. The company determined that one
industry that meets these criteria is the Energy Saving Lighting Industry, and as a result acquired NexPhase
Lighting, Inc., in February 2011.
GlacialLight LED Lighting Products Help Save Significant Amounts of Money
GlacialLight LED Lighting Products Help Save Significant Amounts of Money
GlacialLight, a sub-division of the experienced technology manufacturer GlacialTech Inc., is pleased to announce that their well-designed, environmentally-friendly lines of LED lighting products are being used in numerous applications around the world and providing users with energy-saving light of the highest quality. In the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, Marrons Cake Factory has greatly benefited by replacing their traditional T8 tube lights with GlacialLight’s 595 x 595mm LED Panel Lights.
Since the switch, Marrons has seen a 61% reduction in energy used for lighting, as well as better light quality. Like Marrons, consumers around the world, using GlacialLight’s products, are reporting energy savings and increases in lighting quality.
LED Lighting Solution
GlacialLight is excited to see their product lines being used to make other businesses more successful and at the same time benefiting society as a whole by offering lighting products that have longer lifetimes and higher energy-saving levels, as compared to traditional lighting products, and that emit no harmful UV or IR radiation and contain no hazardous materials such as mercury.
Excellent LED lighting products you can trust
Design of LED lighting products is based on three core technologies including electrical design (LED drivers), mechanical design (cooling devices), and optical design (lamp holders), respectively performed by GlacialPower, GlacialTech, and GlacialLight in the GlacialTech family. With the three core technologies in hand, GlacialTech has integrated all the resources required for exceptional designs and manufactures excellent LED lighting products you can trust.
Advantages and benefits of LED lighting compared to traditional lighting
Directional lighting: ideal for flashlights/torches and spotlights
No warm-up time in cold environments: LEDs don’t require warm-up time like conventional CFLs
No harmful radiation and no hazardous metals: LEDs don’t emit harmful radiation such as Ultraviolet or Infrared emitting halogen lamps and don’t contain hazardous metals such as mercury contained in mercury lamps
Extremely long lifetimes free users from frequent bulb replacement
Extremely small carbon footprints: an environmentally-friendly technology
GlacialLight, a sub-division of the experienced technology manufacturer GlacialTech Inc., is pleased to announce that their well-designed, environmentally-friendly lines of LED lighting products are being used in numerous applications around the world and providing users with energy-saving light of the highest quality. In the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, Marrons Cake Factory has greatly benefited by replacing their traditional T8 tube lights with GlacialLight’s 595 x 595mm LED Panel Lights.
Since the switch, Marrons has seen a 61% reduction in energy used for lighting, as well as better light quality. Like Marrons, consumers around the world, using GlacialLight’s products, are reporting energy savings and increases in lighting quality.
LED Lighting Solution
GlacialLight is excited to see their product lines being used to make other businesses more successful and at the same time benefiting society as a whole by offering lighting products that have longer lifetimes and higher energy-saving levels, as compared to traditional lighting products, and that emit no harmful UV or IR radiation and contain no hazardous materials such as mercury.
Excellent LED lighting products you can trust
Design of LED lighting products is based on three core technologies including electrical design (LED drivers), mechanical design (cooling devices), and optical design (lamp holders), respectively performed by GlacialPower, GlacialTech, and GlacialLight in the GlacialTech family. With the three core technologies in hand, GlacialTech has integrated all the resources required for exceptional designs and manufactures excellent LED lighting products you can trust.
Advantages and benefits of LED lighting compared to traditional lighting
Directional lighting: ideal for flashlights/torches and spotlights
No warm-up time in cold environments: LEDs don’t require warm-up time like conventional CFLs
No harmful radiation and no hazardous metals: LEDs don’t emit harmful radiation such as Ultraviolet or Infrared emitting halogen lamps and don’t contain hazardous metals such as mercury contained in mercury lamps
Extremely long lifetimes free users from frequent bulb replacement
Extremely small carbon footprints: an environmentally-friendly technology
2011年7月20日 星期三
Prices of LED lamps and luminaires halve over last 9 months
Prices of LED lamps and luminaires halve over last 9 months
KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Prices of LED lamps and luminaires have almost halved in the past 6-9 months, thanks to a fall in global prices of their chips and local output by Philips.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps-which are nearly three times more energy efficient and lasts six times longer than compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)-are now selling at as low as 600, down from above 1,000 earlier. They still cost much more than CFL lamps available at 80-250. LED luminaire prices now start at 2,000.
The price reduction is led by Philips, which has signed production contracts with local partners for manufacturing LED lamps and luminaires designed at Philips research centre in Noida.
"Local production will give a big boost to LED lamps and luminaires, since the high import duty varying between 10-30% can be directly passed on to the consumers," Philips Electronics India Business Head & vice-president (Lighting) Nirupam Sahay said. LED chips, which are still not manufactured in India, attract 5% import duty.
LED segment accounts for less than 3% of the country's organized lighting market estimated at 7,000 crore and growing 25-30% a year. The CFL market is estimated at 2,000 crore and LED at 200 crore. With prices coming down and awareness increasing, the industry expects the LED lighting market to grow rapidly, even though players such as Havells believe the market is too small to start production locally.
Havells imports LED lamps from US-based light maker Cree, but it has started assembling LED fixtures at its Neemrana factory.
"Instead of importing fully assembled LED fixtures, most companies are assembling it in India to increase value-addition and reduce prices," Havells India President Sunil Sikka said.
LED prices may ease by 10-20% annually due to fall in global prices, he said.
Philips, however, recently launched locally developed LED lamps of 5W and 7W and promised to expand its made-in-India portfolio.
KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Prices of LED lamps and luminaires have almost halved in the past 6-9 months, thanks to a fall in global prices of their chips and local output by Philips.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps-which are nearly three times more energy efficient and lasts six times longer than compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)-are now selling at as low as 600, down from above 1,000 earlier. They still cost much more than CFL lamps available at 80-250. LED luminaire prices now start at 2,000.
The price reduction is led by Philips, which has signed production contracts with local partners for manufacturing LED lamps and luminaires designed at Philips research centre in Noida.
"Local production will give a big boost to LED lamps and luminaires, since the high import duty varying between 10-30% can be directly passed on to the consumers," Philips Electronics India Business Head & vice-president (Lighting) Nirupam Sahay said. LED chips, which are still not manufactured in India, attract 5% import duty.
LED segment accounts for less than 3% of the country's organized lighting market estimated at 7,000 crore and growing 25-30% a year. The CFL market is estimated at 2,000 crore and LED at 200 crore. With prices coming down and awareness increasing, the industry expects the LED lighting market to grow rapidly, even though players such as Havells believe the market is too small to start production locally.
Havells imports LED lamps from US-based light maker Cree, but it has started assembling LED fixtures at its Neemrana factory.
"Instead of importing fully assembled LED fixtures, most companies are assembling it in India to increase value-addition and reduce prices," Havells India President Sunil Sikka said.
LED prices may ease by 10-20% annually due to fall in global prices, he said.
Philips, however, recently launched locally developed LED lamps of 5W and 7W and promised to expand its made-in-India portfolio.
Highland Street to get makeover
Highland Street to get makeover
Rick Johnson, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP, announced July 12 that the core of Haliburton's downtown will be refurbished to help satisfy growing needs and boost the economy.
This revitalization will include improving roads and curbs, bringing in new vehicle and pedestrian lighting, along with interlocking brick sidewalks and updated drainage, buried communication utilities and electrical support.
"I'm extremely pleased to make the announcement today, it's going to be great for the downtown. I know we've been talking about this for a couple of years," said Johnson.
The hydro poles will be removed, and sleek black poles with LED lights will be put in place. The improvements will take place on Highland Street and the area around the intersection at Maple Avenue, a few feet up Cedar Avenue and ending just past the Haliburton Echo office.
The improvements are part of an eligible project cost of $1,695,030, where the province of Ontario will contribute a third of the costs and the municipality with contribute a third, which is approximately $565,010.
This is part of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan Building Together project to help rebuild communities.
Dysart et al Reeve Murray Fearrey was at the announcement on the corner of Highland Street and Maple Avenue, and he thanked Johnson for all his hard work.
"I think I speak for council and the community when I say we're delighted," Fearrey said about the improvements.
"To see the difference [this project] will make, it's really going to improve the area, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this job get done," Johnson said.
Dysart et al road superintendent Brian Nicholson plans to get started on the project after returning from vacation and they hope to get to work this winter.
Rick Johnson, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP, announced July 12 that the core of Haliburton's downtown will be refurbished to help satisfy growing needs and boost the economy.
This revitalization will include improving roads and curbs, bringing in new vehicle and pedestrian lighting, along with interlocking brick sidewalks and updated drainage, buried communication utilities and electrical support.
"I'm extremely pleased to make the announcement today, it's going to be great for the downtown. I know we've been talking about this for a couple of years," said Johnson.
The hydro poles will be removed, and sleek black poles with LED lights will be put in place. The improvements will take place on Highland Street and the area around the intersection at Maple Avenue, a few feet up Cedar Avenue and ending just past the Haliburton Echo office.
The improvements are part of an eligible project cost of $1,695,030, where the province of Ontario will contribute a third of the costs and the municipality with contribute a third, which is approximately $565,010.
This is part of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan Building Together project to help rebuild communities.
Dysart et al Reeve Murray Fearrey was at the announcement on the corner of Highland Street and Maple Avenue, and he thanked Johnson for all his hard work.
"I think I speak for council and the community when I say we're delighted," Fearrey said about the improvements.
"To see the difference [this project] will make, it's really going to improve the area, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this job get done," Johnson said.
Dysart et al road superintendent Brian Nicholson plans to get started on the project after returning from vacation and they hope to get to work this winter.
2011年7月13日 星期三
Light bulb phase-out offers new role for unsung heroes of electronics revolution
Light bulb phase-out offers new role for unsung heroes of electronics revolution
With the United States' phase-out of conventional incandescent light bulbs set to start in a few months, an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) describes how the ban on 100-watt bulbs portends a huge new wave of growth for the once lowly light-emitting diode (LED). C&EN is the American Chemical Society's weekly newsmagazine.
In one of a three-part cover story package on the raw materials that enable the electronics and related industries, C&EN Senior Editor Alexander H. Tullo explains how LEDs have crept into everyday life in multiple waves. LEDs are perhaps best-known for their initial application as tiny light sources that form the numbers on digital clocks, serve as indicator lights on appliances, and transmit data on remote controls.
However, these unsung heroes of the electronics revolution have extended their reach. LEDs, for instance, first replaced fluorescent lights as the mainstay for backlight illumination on cell phones, laptop computers, and other small devices. Then LEDs' advantages — including longer life, small size, and low energy consumption — carved out a new role as backlights in flat-panel TVs. Now LEDs are poised to become an alternative to incandescents and fluorescents in home lighting.
With the United States' phase-out of conventional incandescent light bulbs set to start in a few months, an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) describes how the ban on 100-watt bulbs portends a huge new wave of growth for the once lowly light-emitting diode (LED). C&EN is the American Chemical Society's weekly newsmagazine.
In one of a three-part cover story package on the raw materials that enable the electronics and related industries, C&EN Senior Editor Alexander H. Tullo explains how LEDs have crept into everyday life in multiple waves. LEDs are perhaps best-known for their initial application as tiny light sources that form the numbers on digital clocks, serve as indicator lights on appliances, and transmit data on remote controls.
However, these unsung heroes of the electronics revolution have extended their reach. LEDs, for instance, first replaced fluorescent lights as the mainstay for backlight illumination on cell phones, laptop computers, and other small devices. Then LEDs' advantages — including longer life, small size, and low energy consumption — carved out a new role as backlights in flat-panel TVs. Now LEDs are poised to become an alternative to incandescents and fluorescents in home lighting.
Consortium for Solar Lighting Releases Preliminary Recommended
Consortium for Solar Lighting Releases Preliminary Recommended Practices Paper for Solar Powered Lighting Industry
The Consortium for Solar Lighting ("CSL") announces the release of Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: Introduction, a preliminary guide to the effective sizing of solar lighting systems. Representing the first technical paper by the newly formed Consortium, to which Carmanah Technologies Corporation /quotes/zigman/23770 CA:CMH 0.00% is a founding member, the introductory document defines the process of selecting and configuring a solar lighting system to ensure that the system will operate reliably 365 days a year. According to CSL founding members, a gap in lighting industry standards exists surrounding the effective sizing of a solar lighting system, which can adversely affect the rate of solar adoption in the lighting industry. The CSL was formed in early 2011 with other founding members Sharp Electronics Corporation, Inovus Solar, Inc., and SolarOne Solutions, Inc. to accelerate the adoption of solar lighting technology through the development of specifications intended to support customers' fair and comprehensive evaluation of commercial-scale lighting systems. The CSL believes that recommendations such as this introductory guide will help foster awareness of solar powered lighting and the applications where it is a viable alternative to conventional grid-connected lighting technology.
This "Introduction" document represents the first installment of the CSL Recommended Practices reports, which presents an overview of the Consortium's mission and discusses the emergence of solar lighting as a new category of outdoor lighting. The paper then investigates current industry standards as they relate to solar technology and where the notable system sizing gap exists. Standards such as NEC, UL, CE and IES (among others) touch on a few aspects of solar lighting, but the CSL contends that no standard addresses solar lighting directly. The purpose of the recommended practices document is to sift through and pull together information on best practices from the array of existing standards. Where existing standards are silent on important topics, the CSL will continue to add new information and recommendations. The preliminary document presents solar lighting terminology and diagrams in a user-friendly form with the expectation that the practices can be readily adopted by municipal, government and commercial customers and specifiers. The paper is now available to the public at no cost.
In addition to accelerating solar lighting adoption, the CSL is driven to communicate the importance of energy balance of a solar lighting system to ensure that operation is aligned with customer's expectations. Other aspects of the system design, including standards that apply to individual components of the system, lighting characteristics or aspects that relate to safety are already being addressed through national and international bodies such as Commission International D'eclairage ("CIE"), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America ("IESNA"), International Electrotechniques Commission ("IEC") and Underwriters Laboratories ("UL").
To view Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: Introduction and to learn According to the CSL, the full 1st edition of Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: System Sizing will be released in the Fall of 2011. Consortium for Solar Lighting Releases Preliminary Recommended
The Consortium for Solar Lighting ("CSL") announces the release of Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: Introduction, a preliminary guide to the effective sizing of solar lighting systems. Representing the first technical paper by the newly formed Consortium, to which Carmanah Technologies Corporation /quotes/zigman/23770 CA:CMH 0.00% is a founding member, the introductory document defines the process of selecting and configuring a solar lighting system to ensure that the system will operate reliably 365 days a year. According to CSL founding members, a gap in lighting industry standards exists surrounding the effective sizing of a solar lighting system, which can adversely affect the rate of solar adoption in the lighting industry. The CSL was formed in early 2011 with other founding members Sharp Electronics Corporation, Inovus Solar, Inc., and SolarOne Solutions, Inc. to accelerate the adoption of solar lighting technology through the development of specifications intended to support customers' fair and comprehensive evaluation of commercial-scale lighting systems. The CSL believes that recommendations such as this introductory guide will help foster awareness of solar powered lighting and the applications where it is a viable alternative to conventional grid-connected lighting technology.
This "Introduction" document represents the first installment of the CSL Recommended Practices reports, which presents an overview of the Consortium's mission and discusses the emergence of solar lighting as a new category of outdoor lighting. The paper then investigates current industry standards as they relate to solar technology and where the notable system sizing gap exists. Standards such as NEC, UL, CE and IES (among others) touch on a few aspects of solar lighting, but the CSL contends that no standard addresses solar lighting directly. The purpose of the recommended practices document is to sift through and pull together information on best practices from the array of existing standards. Where existing standards are silent on important topics, the CSL will continue to add new information and recommendations. The preliminary document presents solar lighting terminology and diagrams in a user-friendly form with the expectation that the practices can be readily adopted by municipal, government and commercial customers and specifiers. The paper is now available to the public at no cost.
In addition to accelerating solar lighting adoption, the CSL is driven to communicate the importance of energy balance of a solar lighting system to ensure that operation is aligned with customer's expectations. Other aspects of the system design, including standards that apply to individual components of the system, lighting characteristics or aspects that relate to safety are already being addressed through national and international bodies such as Commission International D'eclairage ("CIE"), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America ("IESNA"), International Electrotechniques Commission ("IEC") and Underwriters Laboratories ("UL").
To view Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: Introduction and to learn According to the CSL, the full 1st edition of Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: System Sizing will be released in the Fall of 2011. Consortium for Solar Lighting Releases Preliminary Recommended
2011年7月7日 星期四
'Green is growing' with All-Star Game initiatives
'Green is growing' with All-Star Game initiatives
The 82nd All-Star Game Tuesday in Phoenix will have a major impact, with the winning league securing the same World Series home-field advantage that the Giants enjoyed last fall.
MLB has partnered again with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to help ensure that the approaching 2011 All-Star Week incorporates environmentally intelligent features. It marks the fourth year in a row that the two entities have worked together to implement measures, both inside the stadium and with supporting events. It was not exactly priority-one during planning of most Midsummer Classics since the first in 1933, but green has grown.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. (D-Backs)
"These 2011 All-Star events clearly reflect MLB's ongoing commitment to environmental excellence," said Darby Hoover, Senior Resource Specialist for the NRDC in San Francisco. "Building on previous initiatives, for the first time, this All-Star Week will feature a comprehensive composting program, projected to increase landfill diversion by over 60 percent. The Arizona Diamondbacks have also contributed an impressive array of environmental achievements, such as LEED Gold certification of their new Spring Training facility, and recent installation of a solar shade structure at Chase Field.
"NRDC is proud to collaborate with MLB on its environmental initiatives, and applauds the steps taken by the league and the Diamondbacks to educate fans and help promote a healthy environment."
At Chase Field, in-stadium messaging will promote ways fans can be more environmentally conscious. To encourage fans to recycle, "All-Star Green Teams" presented by Pepsi will circulate throughout the stadium during all ballpark events to collect recyclables from fans. In addition, 100 new recycling bins will be installed at the ballpark for All-Star Week, and will remain there.
Food waste and food-soiled paper from the stadium will be turned into compost, which can be used as fertilizer for soil and promote plant growth to help increase land and air quality. This is the first time a composting program has been implemented at an MLB All-Star Week, and it is estimated that 66 tons of material will be diverted from the landfill through recycling and composting efforts.
To help reduce All-Star Week's environmental footprint, all of the major events at Chase Field -- as well as FanFest at the LEED Silver Certified Phoenix Convention Center -- will be offset with "Green-e Certified" renewable energy. FanFest volunteers are also receiving complimentary METRO light rail passes to encourage the use of public transportation.
The 82nd All-Star Game Tuesday in Phoenix will have a major impact, with the winning league securing the same World Series home-field advantage that the Giants enjoyed last fall.
MLB has partnered again with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to help ensure that the approaching 2011 All-Star Week incorporates environmentally intelligent features. It marks the fourth year in a row that the two entities have worked together to implement measures, both inside the stadium and with supporting events. It was not exactly priority-one during planning of most Midsummer Classics since the first in 1933, but green has grown.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. (D-Backs)
"These 2011 All-Star events clearly reflect MLB's ongoing commitment to environmental excellence," said Darby Hoover, Senior Resource Specialist for the NRDC in San Francisco. "Building on previous initiatives, for the first time, this All-Star Week will feature a comprehensive composting program, projected to increase landfill diversion by over 60 percent. The Arizona Diamondbacks have also contributed an impressive array of environmental achievements, such as LEED Gold certification of their new Spring Training facility, and recent installation of a solar shade structure at Chase Field.
"NRDC is proud to collaborate with MLB on its environmental initiatives, and applauds the steps taken by the league and the Diamondbacks to educate fans and help promote a healthy environment."
At Chase Field, in-stadium messaging will promote ways fans can be more environmentally conscious. To encourage fans to recycle, "All-Star Green Teams" presented by Pepsi will circulate throughout the stadium during all ballpark events to collect recyclables from fans. In addition, 100 new recycling bins will be installed at the ballpark for All-Star Week, and will remain there.
Food waste and food-soiled paper from the stadium will be turned into compost, which can be used as fertilizer for soil and promote plant growth to help increase land and air quality. This is the first time a composting program has been implemented at an MLB All-Star Week, and it is estimated that 66 tons of material will be diverted from the landfill through recycling and composting efforts.
To help reduce All-Star Week's environmental footprint, all of the major events at Chase Field -- as well as FanFest at the LEED Silver Certified Phoenix Convention Center -- will be offset with "Green-e Certified" renewable energy. FanFest volunteers are also receiving complimentary METRO light rail passes to encourage the use of public transportation.
2011年7月6日 星期三
LED industry faces continued challenges in 2H11
LED industry faces continued challenges in 2H11
LEDinside, indicates that there is no obvious increase in LED production in 2011. Although 2H11 is traditionally the peak season for the LED industry, doubt about oversupply spreads on weak market demand.
LEDinside, the LED research division of TrendForce, estimates that LED chip supply volume in 2011 is about 100 billion units and demand volume is around 89 billion units; an oversupply ratio reaches 12%. In addition, after LED chip makers’ capacity expansion comes online in 2012, supply will increase rapidly. It is estimated that oversupply ratio will then rise to 21%.
Mobile phone market: affected by suppression of copycat mobile phones
The Chinese market, which is the main production base of copycat mobile phone in 2011, was affected greatly by the suppression of copycat mobile phones enforced by the Chinese government. Demand for LED chips used in mobile phone application did not show an obvious tendency to increase.
In the mean time, broad-based decrease in LED chip price has led price of LED chip used in mobile phone application to a new low. Additionally, with an increasing number of MOCVD equipment installation plans in China, LED chip capacity will continue to increase. As a result, along with weak end market demand in 2011, LED prices have started to decline.
TV market: peak season demand unexpectedly gloomy
As for the TV application, it requires a lot of LED backlight units, which is why TV application is one of main application areas that LED manufacturers believe will most likely have a good prospect. Besides, LED makers also sharply increased capacity since 2010 in response to TV vendors’ LED backlight demand. However, affected by the slow economic recovery, LED backlit TV shipment is less than expected.
In early 2011, TV brand vendors, such as Samsung and LG, aimed their LED penetration rate at well over 70%. However, since TV brand vendor put more emphasis on 3D TV and the price gap between LED backlight and CCFL backlight still exists, most TV vendors have downgraded their target LED penetration rate for TV to 50%.
In addition, due to the weak demand on the end market, it is estimated that TV shipment in 2011 is adjusted down to 203 million units from 220 million. Therefore, LEDinside predicts that LED usage volume for the TV application is only 17.5 billion units, equal to USD 167 million, which has decreased by 26%, compared to TV brand vendors’ expectation.
It also tells why the market pie is not large enough for LED manufacturers in the LED backlit TV business. Currently, many LED makers indicate that TV demand remains unclear until July. However, as demand from early inventory fulfillment for Christmas holiday season is going to end, many manufacturers take a pessimistic attitude toward the market condition of 2H11.
Tablet PC releases crowding out traditional NB market
The monitor and NB market, though attain high LED penetration rate, the weak demand continues to impact the LED industry. Notably, the NB market performance is worse than usual, and the Netbook market shows a stagnant trend. Only the tablet PCs market has a growth which can contribute to the LED backlight market.
LEDinside, indicates that there is no obvious increase in LED production in 2011. Although 2H11 is traditionally the peak season for the LED industry, doubt about oversupply spreads on weak market demand.
LEDinside, the LED research division of TrendForce, estimates that LED chip supply volume in 2011 is about 100 billion units and demand volume is around 89 billion units; an oversupply ratio reaches 12%. In addition, after LED chip makers’ capacity expansion comes online in 2012, supply will increase rapidly. It is estimated that oversupply ratio will then rise to 21%.
Mobile phone market: affected by suppression of copycat mobile phones
The Chinese market, which is the main production base of copycat mobile phone in 2011, was affected greatly by the suppression of copycat mobile phones enforced by the Chinese government. Demand for LED chips used in mobile phone application did not show an obvious tendency to increase.
In the mean time, broad-based decrease in LED chip price has led price of LED chip used in mobile phone application to a new low. Additionally, with an increasing number of MOCVD equipment installation plans in China, LED chip capacity will continue to increase. As a result, along with weak end market demand in 2011, LED prices have started to decline.
TV market: peak season demand unexpectedly gloomy
As for the TV application, it requires a lot of LED backlight units, which is why TV application is one of main application areas that LED manufacturers believe will most likely have a good prospect. Besides, LED makers also sharply increased capacity since 2010 in response to TV vendors’ LED backlight demand. However, affected by the slow economic recovery, LED backlit TV shipment is less than expected.
In early 2011, TV brand vendors, such as Samsung and LG, aimed their LED penetration rate at well over 70%. However, since TV brand vendor put more emphasis on 3D TV and the price gap between LED backlight and CCFL backlight still exists, most TV vendors have downgraded their target LED penetration rate for TV to 50%.
In addition, due to the weak demand on the end market, it is estimated that TV shipment in 2011 is adjusted down to 203 million units from 220 million. Therefore, LEDinside predicts that LED usage volume for the TV application is only 17.5 billion units, equal to USD 167 million, which has decreased by 26%, compared to TV brand vendors’ expectation.
It also tells why the market pie is not large enough for LED manufacturers in the LED backlit TV business. Currently, many LED makers indicate that TV demand remains unclear until July. However, as demand from early inventory fulfillment for Christmas holiday season is going to end, many manufacturers take a pessimistic attitude toward the market condition of 2H11.
Tablet PC releases crowding out traditional NB market
The monitor and NB market, though attain high LED penetration rate, the weak demand continues to impact the LED industry. Notably, the NB market performance is worse than usual, and the Netbook market shows a stagnant trend. Only the tablet PCs market has a growth which can contribute to the LED backlight market.
2011年6月30日 星期四
Twins, but They Don’t Dress Alike
Twins, but They Don’t Dress Alike
THE unique development of one West Side block produced an unusual pair of near-twin buildings. But no matter how far out the windows they stretch, the residents of the Evanston, at 90th and West End, will never be able to see the facade of its mate, the Admaston, at 89th and Broadway.
Related
After the Civil War, big things were expected of Broadway on the Upper West Side. But exactly what things no one quite knew, and most owners held their properties off the market. Thomas W. Evans was one of these, purchasing the entire block from Broadway to West End, from 89th to 90th, in 1873. Dr. Evans, a dentist practicing in Paris, had become rich while tending to the teeth of Emperor Napoleon III.
Dr. Evans died in 1897, and his estate did not sell the land until after the subway came up Broadway in 1904, with a stop at 91st Street. The Evans block was unusual in that it had not been divided into lots, and in 1909 the investor Robert Emmet Dowling paid $1.25 million for it.
Because of the recent construction of the full-block Apthorp, at 79th, and the Belnord, at 86th, it seemed possible that the Evans block, too, would be the site of a giant courtyard building. But most apartment buildings were built for resale, and the buyers for a single massive structure were necessarily limited. So Dowling sold his property in five pieces, two of the corners to George F. Johnson Jr. and Leopold Kahn, who had already built large apartment houses.
The New York Times predicted Johnson and Kahn would put up “two of the most magnificent apartment houses on the West Side,” and in 1911 they completed the Admaston, at 251 West 89th, and its fraternal twin, the Evanston, diagonally opposite, at 610 West End.
George and Edward Blum designed both, using their trademark Secession-like styling, with hypnotic lacy runs of terra cotta, beige tapestry brick with deep-struck joints, and extensive and inventive use of iron ornament.
The Admaston had no cornice but did have a continuous iron balcony one floor below the roof. The Evanston had a typical projecting cornice, since removed, and a striking, owl-face iron fence around the ground floor, and trapezoidal projecting balconies, still there. The buildings were joined by two other apartment houses, at 89th and West End and at the middle of the block on 89th, and a theater on 90th and Broadway, restricted to four stories in height for the following decade.
A writer for The Times in 1911 regretted Dowling’s decision to divvy up his land, made, he said, at the expense of “working out a harmonious appearance for the entire block.”
The Admaston has stores on Broadway. Perhaps to make up for this indignity, it has one of those sprawling West Side lobbies, easily the equivalent of a three-bedroom apartment. The five- to eight-room apartments there rented early on for $100 to $200 a month. The Evanston had much fancier apartments, including duplexes of up to 10 rooms. One was advertised in The Times for $375 a month.
Census returns for 1920 for the Evanston show mostly clothing and dry goods executives, but there was also a musical contingent, including Julius Witmark, one of the founders of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, known as Ascap, and George Maxwell, its president.
In 1923 Maxwell was accused in a bizarre case in which scores of anonymous letters mailed to prominent New Yorkers alleged, in what The Times called the “most vulgar and common terms,” intimate relations between Maxwell and various married women. These letters were usually sent to the husbands. Maxwell was indicted, but the case was later dropped. He remained head of Ascap.
THE unique development of one West Side block produced an unusual pair of near-twin buildings. But no matter how far out the windows they stretch, the residents of the Evanston, at 90th and West End, will never be able to see the facade of its mate, the Admaston, at 89th and Broadway.
Related
After the Civil War, big things were expected of Broadway on the Upper West Side. But exactly what things no one quite knew, and most owners held their properties off the market. Thomas W. Evans was one of these, purchasing the entire block from Broadway to West End, from 89th to 90th, in 1873. Dr. Evans, a dentist practicing in Paris, had become rich while tending to the teeth of Emperor Napoleon III.
Dr. Evans died in 1897, and his estate did not sell the land until after the subway came up Broadway in 1904, with a stop at 91st Street. The Evans block was unusual in that it had not been divided into lots, and in 1909 the investor Robert Emmet Dowling paid $1.25 million for it.
Because of the recent construction of the full-block Apthorp, at 79th, and the Belnord, at 86th, it seemed possible that the Evans block, too, would be the site of a giant courtyard building. But most apartment buildings were built for resale, and the buyers for a single massive structure were necessarily limited. So Dowling sold his property in five pieces, two of the corners to George F. Johnson Jr. and Leopold Kahn, who had already built large apartment houses.
The New York Times predicted Johnson and Kahn would put up “two of the most magnificent apartment houses on the West Side,” and in 1911 they completed the Admaston, at 251 West 89th, and its fraternal twin, the Evanston, diagonally opposite, at 610 West End.
George and Edward Blum designed both, using their trademark Secession-like styling, with hypnotic lacy runs of terra cotta, beige tapestry brick with deep-struck joints, and extensive and inventive use of iron ornament.
The Admaston had no cornice but did have a continuous iron balcony one floor below the roof. The Evanston had a typical projecting cornice, since removed, and a striking, owl-face iron fence around the ground floor, and trapezoidal projecting balconies, still there. The buildings were joined by two other apartment houses, at 89th and West End and at the middle of the block on 89th, and a theater on 90th and Broadway, restricted to four stories in height for the following decade.
A writer for The Times in 1911 regretted Dowling’s decision to divvy up his land, made, he said, at the expense of “working out a harmonious appearance for the entire block.”
The Admaston has stores on Broadway. Perhaps to make up for this indignity, it has one of those sprawling West Side lobbies, easily the equivalent of a three-bedroom apartment. The five- to eight-room apartments there rented early on for $100 to $200 a month. The Evanston had much fancier apartments, including duplexes of up to 10 rooms. One was advertised in The Times for $375 a month.
Census returns for 1920 for the Evanston show mostly clothing and dry goods executives, but there was also a musical contingent, including Julius Witmark, one of the founders of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, known as Ascap, and George Maxwell, its president.
In 1923 Maxwell was accused in a bizarre case in which scores of anonymous letters mailed to prominent New Yorkers alleged, in what The Times called the “most vulgar and common terms,” intimate relations between Maxwell and various married women. These letters were usually sent to the husbands. Maxwell was indicted, but the case was later dropped. He remained head of Ascap.
2011年6月27日 星期一
Clint Bowyer No. 33 Nationwide Series Advance: Daytona International Speedway
Clint Bowyer No. 33 Nationwide Series Advance: Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA, ROUND TWO: Clint Bowyer returns to the driver’s seat of the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala this weekend for the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Bowyer and the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team started the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season together at Daytona in February. The Emporia, Kan., native collected the team’s first pole this season and finished a close second to teammate Tony Stewart in the No. 4 KHI Chevrolet. The KHI one-two finish, which was the third for the company in Nationwide Series competition, also landed in the record books. Stewart edged the No. 33 by 0.007 seconds, the closest finish in the Nationwide Series at Daytona and the third closest in series’ history.
PROVEN RECORD: In February of 2005, Tony Stewart grabbed KHI’s first win in the Nationwide Series behind the wheel of the No. 33 car. The following year, Stewart not only claimed victory again in the season opener but also gave KHI its first one-two finish as the No. 77 KHI Chevrolet Impala came in second behind the No. 33. Since 2005,KHI has recorded three additional wins, two poles, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes and led 194 laps at Daytona.
Bowyer also carries a proven record at the Daytona Beach, Fla., facility. The driver started from the pole and led 48 laps en route to winning the July Nationwide Series event in 2009. In addition to a win, he has collected eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes at Daytona. Bowyer has completed 99.9 percent of laps attempted and has an average finishing position of 6.3.
KHI’S FOUR HORSEMEN: KHI will field four entries in Friday night’s race with Bowyer, Stewart in the No. 9 TapouT Chevrolet Impala, Nationwide Series championship contender Elliott Sadler in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala and KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Chevrolet Impala which will run a second OneMain Financial paint scheme. These four powerhouse drivers have compiled an impressive set of series stats including 44 starts, seven poles, eight wins, 26 top-five finishes, 31 top-10 finishes and have led 542 laps at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Max Papis piloted the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala last weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Papis qualified on the outside pole for the 50-lap event, the first of three road course races for the Nationwide Series this season, but a late-race accident left the team with a disappointing 23rd-place finish.
CHASSIS HISTORY: Crew chief David Hyder and the No. 33 Menards crew will unload chassis No. 067 at Daytona. This is the same chassis Bowyer put on the pole and finished second with at Daytona in February. The driver also piloted chassis No. 067 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April. Bowyer started the event from the second position but fell victim to the notorious “big one” at the 2.66-mile track. The KHI team ultimately brought home a 22nd-place finish.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: CLINT BOWYER
What are your thoughts as you look ahead to this weekend at Daytona?
“Daytona is what NASCAR is all about. It started there, and it means so much to be able to go and compete and it’s just such an awesome race track. We were so close to winning in February with this No. 33 KHI team. We had some tough breaks and got involved in accidents while running up front at Talladega [Superspeedway] in April, and then at Dover [International Speedway] in May. I’m looking forward to being back with the KHI guys, and I really want to get this Menards Chevy in victory lane and get another win at Daytona.”
About Menards:
With 263 stores in 13 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.
Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA, ROUND TWO: Clint Bowyer returns to the driver’s seat of the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala this weekend for the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Bowyer and the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team started the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season together at Daytona in February. The Emporia, Kan., native collected the team’s first pole this season and finished a close second to teammate Tony Stewart in the No. 4 KHI Chevrolet. The KHI one-two finish, which was the third for the company in Nationwide Series competition, also landed in the record books. Stewart edged the No. 33 by 0.007 seconds, the closest finish in the Nationwide Series at Daytona and the third closest in series’ history.
PROVEN RECORD: In February of 2005, Tony Stewart grabbed KHI’s first win in the Nationwide Series behind the wheel of the No. 33 car. The following year, Stewart not only claimed victory again in the season opener but also gave KHI its first one-two finish as the No. 77 KHI Chevrolet Impala came in second behind the No. 33. Since 2005,KHI has recorded three additional wins, two poles, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes and led 194 laps at Daytona.
Bowyer also carries a proven record at the Daytona Beach, Fla., facility. The driver started from the pole and led 48 laps en route to winning the July Nationwide Series event in 2009. In addition to a win, he has collected eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes at Daytona. Bowyer has completed 99.9 percent of laps attempted and has an average finishing position of 6.3.
KHI’S FOUR HORSEMEN: KHI will field four entries in Friday night’s race with Bowyer, Stewart in the No. 9 TapouT Chevrolet Impala, Nationwide Series championship contender Elliott Sadler in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala and KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Chevrolet Impala which will run a second OneMain Financial paint scheme. These four powerhouse drivers have compiled an impressive set of series stats including 44 starts, seven poles, eight wins, 26 top-five finishes, 31 top-10 finishes and have led 542 laps at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Max Papis piloted the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala last weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Papis qualified on the outside pole for the 50-lap event, the first of three road course races for the Nationwide Series this season, but a late-race accident left the team with a disappointing 23rd-place finish.
CHASSIS HISTORY: Crew chief David Hyder and the No. 33 Menards crew will unload chassis No. 067 at Daytona. This is the same chassis Bowyer put on the pole and finished second with at Daytona in February. The driver also piloted chassis No. 067 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April. Bowyer started the event from the second position but fell victim to the notorious “big one” at the 2.66-mile track. The KHI team ultimately brought home a 22nd-place finish.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: CLINT BOWYER
What are your thoughts as you look ahead to this weekend at Daytona?
“Daytona is what NASCAR is all about. It started there, and it means so much to be able to go and compete and it’s just such an awesome race track. We were so close to winning in February with this No. 33 KHI team. We had some tough breaks and got involved in accidents while running up front at Talladega [Superspeedway] in April, and then at Dover [International Speedway] in May. I’m looking forward to being back with the KHI guys, and I really want to get this Menards Chevy in victory lane and get another win at Daytona.”
About Menards:
With 263 stores in 13 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.
2011年6月21日 星期二
Goleta Companies Get Major Federal Cash for Lighting Projects
Goleta Companies Get Major Federal Cash for Lighting Projects
As California moves to phase out incandescent bulbs, two Goleta semiconductor companies have received more than $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop energy efficient LED light sources.
Cree, Inc. (whose headquarters is in Durham, North Carolina but has a technology center for research and development on Storke Road in Goleta) received $1.6 million to fund high-output LED packages. The Goleta-based Soraa, Inc. was awarded $678,000 to develop high-output LEDs.
“These investments in cutting-edge lighting technologies will support American innovation, create new manufacturing jobs for U.S. workers, and help ensure that the United States leads the world in this rapidly evolving industry,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu in a statement.
Cree, Inc. and Soraa, Inc. were selected as grant recipients after submitting their project proposals to the Department of Energy.
Monica Hansen, a research scientist for Cree, Inc., said that the grant reaffirms her company’s commitment to making energy inefficient lighting obsolete. “We are confident we will gain successful technology out of [the award money] that will go into our future projects,” said Hansen.
The awards to Cree, Inc. and Soraa, Inc. are part of a $15 million funding effort by the Department of Energy to accelerate the development of energy efficient lighting projects by companies in California, New York, Arizona, and North Carolina.
The funding comes during a federal push to phase out incandescent bulbs in favor of lighting sources such LEDs, which have been shown to be ten times more energy efficient and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 called for the elimination of most incandescent bulbs by 2014. It allowed California to begin phasing out 100-watt incandescent bulbs early this year—a full year before many other states will be required to phase out the energy inefficient bulbs.
As California moves to phase out incandescent bulbs, two Goleta semiconductor companies have received more than $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop energy efficient LED light sources.
Cree, Inc. (whose headquarters is in Durham, North Carolina but has a technology center for research and development on Storke Road in Goleta) received $1.6 million to fund high-output LED packages. The Goleta-based Soraa, Inc. was awarded $678,000 to develop high-output LEDs.
“These investments in cutting-edge lighting technologies will support American innovation, create new manufacturing jobs for U.S. workers, and help ensure that the United States leads the world in this rapidly evolving industry,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu in a statement.
Cree, Inc. and Soraa, Inc. were selected as grant recipients after submitting their project proposals to the Department of Energy.
Monica Hansen, a research scientist for Cree, Inc., said that the grant reaffirms her company’s commitment to making energy inefficient lighting obsolete. “We are confident we will gain successful technology out of [the award money] that will go into our future projects,” said Hansen.
The awards to Cree, Inc. and Soraa, Inc. are part of a $15 million funding effort by the Department of Energy to accelerate the development of energy efficient lighting projects by companies in California, New York, Arizona, and North Carolina.
The funding comes during a federal push to phase out incandescent bulbs in favor of lighting sources such LEDs, which have been shown to be ten times more energy efficient and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 called for the elimination of most incandescent bulbs by 2014. It allowed California to begin phasing out 100-watt incandescent bulbs early this year—a full year before many other states will be required to phase out the energy inefficient bulbs.
2011年6月15日 星期三
UPDATE 1-Rubicon Technology cuts Q2 outlook on higher taxes
Rubicon Technology Inc , which makes sapphire substrates for the light-emitting diode (LED) market, lowered its second-quarter earnings outlook citing higher tax rates.
In its second quarter, Rubicon, expects to earn 53-55 cents a share, down from its previous outlook of 82-86 cents a share, as the company begins accruing federal income tax this quarter.
However, the company said it expects second-quarter revenue to be at the high end of its forecast of $40-$43 million range.
Analysts, on average, are expecting the company to post earnings of 74 cents a share, excluding items, on sales of $43 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company, whose rivals include Cree Inc and Veeco Instruments Inc , posted first-quarter results last month which blew past analysts' estimates and its revenue more than doubled to $38 million.
Franklin Park, Illinois-based Rubicon's shares closed at $18.80 on Wednesday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Aditi Sharma in Bangalore; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
In its second quarter, Rubicon, expects to earn 53-55 cents a share, down from its previous outlook of 82-86 cents a share, as the company begins accruing federal income tax this quarter.
However, the company said it expects second-quarter revenue to be at the high end of its forecast of $40-$43 million range.
Analysts, on average, are expecting the company to post earnings of 74 cents a share, excluding items, on sales of $43 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company, whose rivals include Cree Inc and Veeco Instruments Inc , posted first-quarter results last month which blew past analysts' estimates and its revenue more than doubled to $38 million.
Franklin Park, Illinois-based Rubicon's shares closed at $18.80 on Wednesday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Aditi Sharma in Bangalore; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
2011年6月13日 星期一
it said in yesterday’s statement
Osram Korea Co. and two Korean sales agents of the German lighting maker were sued, Samsung LED Co. said on its website yesterday. The eight patents related to the suit include LED and packaging technology used in lighting such as headlights, Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung LED said. A spokesperson at Osram’s office in Seoul wasn’t immediately available for comment, and calls to the office in Hong Kong went unanswered.
The lawsuits, filed with the Seoul Central District Court on June 10, were in response to Osram’s complaints in the U.S. and Germany against Samsung over LED technology, Samsung LED said. The Korean company said June 8 it never infringed Osram’s LED lighting patents. Osram also filed complaints against LG Electronics Inc. (066570) over the LED technology used in televisions and lighting products.
Samsung Electronics lost 0.4 percent to 848,000 won as of 11 a.m. on the Korea Exchange. Siemens dropped 1.9 percent to 89.46 euros in German trading on June 10. Samsung LED and Osram aren’t listed.
Samsung LED is seeking a halt to the unauthorized use of its intellectual property and monetary damages, it said in yesterday’s statement, without specifying an amount. The Korean company said it plans to file more lawsuits against Osram in the U.S. and other overseas markets as “soon as possible.”
Samsung LED has about 700 U.S. patents and patent applications and about 2,000 Korean patents and applications, according to the statement.
The lawsuits, filed with the Seoul Central District Court on June 10, were in response to Osram’s complaints in the U.S. and Germany against Samsung over LED technology, Samsung LED said. The Korean company said June 8 it never infringed Osram’s LED lighting patents. Osram also filed complaints against LG Electronics Inc. (066570) over the LED technology used in televisions and lighting products.
Samsung Electronics lost 0.4 percent to 848,000 won as of 11 a.m. on the Korea Exchange. Siemens dropped 1.9 percent to 89.46 euros in German trading on June 10. Samsung LED and Osram aren’t listed.
Samsung LED is seeking a halt to the unauthorized use of its intellectual property and monetary damages, it said in yesterday’s statement, without specifying an amount. The Korean company said it plans to file more lawsuits against Osram in the U.S. and other overseas markets as “soon as possible.”
Samsung LED has about 700 U.S. patents and patent applications and about 2,000 Korean patents and applications, according to the statement.
IIMF Says Sophisticated Cyber Attack Led to ‘Very Major Breach’
The New York Times reports that the International Monetary Fund [IMF], still struggling to find a replacement by June 30 for its former chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn [DSK], who resigned right after his arrest on sexual assault charges in New York, was hit recently by what computer experts call “a large and complicated cyberattack whose dimensions are still not known.”
The IMF, which handles financial crises around the globe and is the database of highly sensitive information regarding the monetary condition of its 187 member nations, informed its board of directors about the attack on Wednesday. But it didn’t make a public statement.
A number of senior officials with knowledge of the matter told the Times that the attack was equally sophisticated and serious. “This was a very major breach,” said one official, who asserted it had taken place during the last several months, even before DSK was arrested.
Asked about the actual reports of the computer attack late Friday, a spokesman for the Washington-based fund, David Hawley, declined to offer information or discuss the scope or dynamics of the breach.
“We are investigating an incident, and the fund is completely functional,” he said.
Because the fund continues to be at the center of economic bailout programs for Portugal, Greece, Ireland and now possibly Spain – and possesses very sensitive data on other nations which may be on the verge of crisis – its database, notes the Times, contains information that could be used to influence or trade currencies, bonds and other financial instruments in major exchanges around the world.
Earlier this month, the IMF said it had taken safety measures after hacktivist group known as “Anonymous” indicated its hackers would target the IMF web site in reaction to the rigorous austerity measures in its rescue package for Greece.
The IMF, which handles financial crises around the globe and is the database of highly sensitive information regarding the monetary condition of its 187 member nations, informed its board of directors about the attack on Wednesday. But it didn’t make a public statement.
A number of senior officials with knowledge of the matter told the Times that the attack was equally sophisticated and serious. “This was a very major breach,” said one official, who asserted it had taken place during the last several months, even before DSK was arrested.
Asked about the actual reports of the computer attack late Friday, a spokesman for the Washington-based fund, David Hawley, declined to offer information or discuss the scope or dynamics of the breach.
“We are investigating an incident, and the fund is completely functional,” he said.
Because the fund continues to be at the center of economic bailout programs for Portugal, Greece, Ireland and now possibly Spain – and possesses very sensitive data on other nations which may be on the verge of crisis – its database, notes the Times, contains information that could be used to influence or trade currencies, bonds and other financial instruments in major exchanges around the world.
Earlier this month, the IMF said it had taken safety measures after hacktivist group known as “Anonymous” indicated its hackers would target the IMF web site in reaction to the rigorous austerity measures in its rescue package for Greece.
2011年5月26日 星期四
Macy’s will double LED installation this year
Macy’s will double LED installation this year
How many lightbulbs does it take for a national retailer to save many kilowatt-hours of electricity? Close to 400,000, apparently.
In 2010, as part of a broad program to reduce energy consumption, retailer Macy’s replaced more than 130,000 60-watt halogen bulbs with LED ones from MSI. This year, the company plans to more than doubled that installation with another 280,000 LED lights planned in more than 200 store locations.
According to a press release describing the installation, one of the most dramatic benefits of the LED bulbs is the fact that they can last for almost a decade. That compares with an average replacement cycle of about six months for a typical 60-watt halogen bulb burning 12 hour per day. Macy’s is using the MSI iPAR series for its replacement project.
Over the past two years, Macy’s has cut its electricity consumption by 10 percent. That’s after a 9 percent reduction in the five years prior to that. Over the next three years, the retailer hopes to cut energy consumption on a kilowatt-hour-per-square-foot basis by another 8 percent to 10 percent over 2009 levels. Obviously, the LED project is just part of that. But it is a big part.
NXP Semiconductors recently announced the GreenChip smart lighting solutions to connect lighting networks to the Internet. According to NXP, the market for LED light bulbs will take off in 2017 and become the mainstream. NXP also plans to authorize its JenNet-IP software which allows 500 nodes to be supported simultaneously.
According to NXP, GreenChip smart lighting solution can decrease the number of components used but still maintain the same quality of light needed. In addition, the solution integrates lighting with wireless IP, energy-efficient lighting and standby power consumption all in one to provide a new way to management light and energy consumption. Currently there are two versions, GreenChip iCFL for compact fluorescent lamps and GreenChip iSSL for LED lightings.
According to NXP, the global production of LED light bulb is around 50-60 million units, but it only accounts for 2% of the total production of light bulbs. The scale of the economy is smaller, hence the cost to produce remains high. NXP expects by 2017, the economy of scale of the LED lighting market will reach 20 billion units, close to 30% of penetration.
NXP added that the current cost for IC driver is around US$2-3 and this cost will increase 2-3 times if smart lighting system is incepted. But to measure cost using the entire lighting module, the inception of the smart lighting system will only increase the cost by US$2-3. Also, by using smartphones, tablet and desktop PCs, or television switches to control every light bulb and adjust brightness can reduce the amount of energy consumption.
How many lightbulbs does it take for a national retailer to save many kilowatt-hours of electricity? Close to 400,000, apparently.
In 2010, as part of a broad program to reduce energy consumption, retailer Macy’s replaced more than 130,000 60-watt halogen bulbs with LED ones from MSI. This year, the company plans to more than doubled that installation with another 280,000 LED lights planned in more than 200 store locations.
According to a press release describing the installation, one of the most dramatic benefits of the LED bulbs is the fact that they can last for almost a decade. That compares with an average replacement cycle of about six months for a typical 60-watt halogen bulb burning 12 hour per day. Macy’s is using the MSI iPAR series for its replacement project.
Over the past two years, Macy’s has cut its electricity consumption by 10 percent. That’s after a 9 percent reduction in the five years prior to that. Over the next three years, the retailer hopes to cut energy consumption on a kilowatt-hour-per-square-foot basis by another 8 percent to 10 percent over 2009 levels. Obviously, the LED project is just part of that. But it is a big part.
NXP Semiconductors recently announced the GreenChip smart lighting solutions to connect lighting networks to the Internet. According to NXP, the market for LED light bulbs will take off in 2017 and become the mainstream. NXP also plans to authorize its JenNet-IP software which allows 500 nodes to be supported simultaneously.
According to NXP, GreenChip smart lighting solution can decrease the number of components used but still maintain the same quality of light needed. In addition, the solution integrates lighting with wireless IP, energy-efficient lighting and standby power consumption all in one to provide a new way to management light and energy consumption. Currently there are two versions, GreenChip iCFL for compact fluorescent lamps and GreenChip iSSL for LED lightings.
According to NXP, the global production of LED light bulb is around 50-60 million units, but it only accounts for 2% of the total production of light bulbs. The scale of the economy is smaller, hence the cost to produce remains high. NXP expects by 2017, the economy of scale of the LED lighting market will reach 20 billion units, close to 30% of penetration.
NXP added that the current cost for IC driver is around US$2-3 and this cost will increase 2-3 times if smart lighting system is incepted. But to measure cost using the entire lighting module, the inception of the smart lighting system will only increase the cost by US$2-3. Also, by using smartphones, tablet and desktop PCs, or television switches to control every light bulb and adjust brightness can reduce the amount of energy consumption.
Bayer continues investment in China
Bayer continues investment in China
The latest in a string of investments being made in China, Bayer MaterialScience AG recently announced an agreement to develop a polycarbonate color competence and design center, as well as a polyurethane systems house, in the western Chinese city of Chongqing.
Rainer Rettig, the head of Bayer’s polycarbonates Asia Pacific business unit, discussed plans for the center at a news conference held to coincide with Chinaplas 2011 held in Guangzhou.
“The industries traditionally in Shanghai and Guangzhou have built new capacity in Chongqing,” said Rettig. “We follow our customers, which then helps us spread to local manufacturers.”
While Bayer did not feature exhibit at Chinaplas, the company’s continuing investment in the market has been hard to miss over the past six months.
In December, Bayer announced plans to double capacity in the polyurethane raw material MDI at its Shanghai facility by 2016. The company plans to invest 110 million euros ($155 million) in downstream facilities by 2012. In addition, Bayer is in the process of moving its global headquarters for polycarbonates to Shanghai.
“We want to increase group sales in Greater China to around 5 billion euros by 2015,” said Marijn Dekkers, chairman of Bayer AG, in a statement. “MaterialScience is expected to contribute at least half of this amount.”
While Rettig said Bayer “always had to be big in China,” the boom in China’s domestic market has encouraged the company to think even bigger. The Shanghai expansion will increase capacity to 500,000 tons per year, adding two new lines. The first step of the expansion will be to install the two lines, said Rettig, and then debottleneck them in phases until 2016, when they will run at full capacity.
“For the time being, China is still importing a lot of material,” Rettig said. “We still bring in a lot of material from Europe.” By bringing up capacity, Rettig hopes to bring their production closer to customers.
“We want to be self-sufficient in China,” he said.
The investment in both up and downstream facilities reflects a dual strategy for Bayer in China, Rettig said. The company wants to add value for its customers while at the same time offering commodity materials.
China consumes one third of the world’s polycarbonate, but per capita PC consumption is still low.
“Markets tend to start with polypropylene then go to ABS,” said Rettig. As they get more sophisticated, markets will eventually land on polycarbonate. “Average polycarbonate consumption is still quite low in China,” said Rettig. “The customers that are coming to us have made the decision to use polycarbonate.”
In China, Rettig sees two particularly promising areas: lightweighting in the automotive sector and what he called China’s “illumination market.”
“We still have a lot of traditional lamps in China,” he said. “But, these lamps will eventually be replaced by LED or another generation of new lights.
“This is a step change and whenever an industry makes a step change, there are opportunities,” he said.
LEDs on their own do not disperse light well. The bulbs create a focused point of light. “To disperse the light, you need clever lenses,” Rettig explained.
In many cases, Bayer hopes to develop new applications for polycarbonates in collaboration with its customers. According to Michelle Jou, vice president of Bayer MaterialScience’s polycarbonate business unit in China and Hong Kong, the company has been hosting technical days on site at some customers’ plants.
“We are getting customers to come to us earlier,” Rettig said.
The latest in a string of investments being made in China, Bayer MaterialScience AG recently announced an agreement to develop a polycarbonate color competence and design center, as well as a polyurethane systems house, in the western Chinese city of Chongqing.
Rainer Rettig, the head of Bayer’s polycarbonates Asia Pacific business unit, discussed plans for the center at a news conference held to coincide with Chinaplas 2011 held in Guangzhou.
“The industries traditionally in Shanghai and Guangzhou have built new capacity in Chongqing,” said Rettig. “We follow our customers, which then helps us spread to local manufacturers.”
While Bayer did not feature exhibit at Chinaplas, the company’s continuing investment in the market has been hard to miss over the past six months.
In December, Bayer announced plans to double capacity in the polyurethane raw material MDI at its Shanghai facility by 2016. The company plans to invest 110 million euros ($155 million) in downstream facilities by 2012. In addition, Bayer is in the process of moving its global headquarters for polycarbonates to Shanghai.
“We want to increase group sales in Greater China to around 5 billion euros by 2015,” said Marijn Dekkers, chairman of Bayer AG, in a statement. “MaterialScience is expected to contribute at least half of this amount.”
While Rettig said Bayer “always had to be big in China,” the boom in China’s domestic market has encouraged the company to think even bigger. The Shanghai expansion will increase capacity to 500,000 tons per year, adding two new lines. The first step of the expansion will be to install the two lines, said Rettig, and then debottleneck them in phases until 2016, when they will run at full capacity.
“For the time being, China is still importing a lot of material,” Rettig said. “We still bring in a lot of material from Europe.” By bringing up capacity, Rettig hopes to bring their production closer to customers.
“We want to be self-sufficient in China,” he said.
The investment in both up and downstream facilities reflects a dual strategy for Bayer in China, Rettig said. The company wants to add value for its customers while at the same time offering commodity materials.
China consumes one third of the world’s polycarbonate, but per capita PC consumption is still low.
“Markets tend to start with polypropylene then go to ABS,” said Rettig. As they get more sophisticated, markets will eventually land on polycarbonate. “Average polycarbonate consumption is still quite low in China,” said Rettig. “The customers that are coming to us have made the decision to use polycarbonate.”
In China, Rettig sees two particularly promising areas: lightweighting in the automotive sector and what he called China’s “illumination market.”
“We still have a lot of traditional lamps in China,” he said. “But, these lamps will eventually be replaced by LED or another generation of new lights.
“This is a step change and whenever an industry makes a step change, there are opportunities,” he said.
LEDs on their own do not disperse light well. The bulbs create a focused point of light. “To disperse the light, you need clever lenses,” Rettig explained.
In many cases, Bayer hopes to develop new applications for polycarbonates in collaboration with its customers. According to Michelle Jou, vice president of Bayer MaterialScience’s polycarbonate business unit in China and Hong Kong, the company has been hosting technical days on site at some customers’ plants.
“We are getting customers to come to us earlier,” Rettig said.
2011年5月24日 星期二
Go green by recycling Congress
Go green by recycling Congress
You won’t usually hear me saying “Go green,” but I think it is time to recycle … Congress! We need legislators who will secure our borders, make English our national language, mandate quarterly drug tests for everyone on welfare and food stamp programs, balance the budget by cutting spending, reserve freebies (education, health care, welfare, food stamps, etc.) for American citizens only, repeal the obscene health care bill, end the birthright provision that allows illegals to give birth to automatic American citizens, end congressional pensions for legislators with only one term of service, require proof of American birth for all presidential nominees and adhere to the U.S. Constitution.
I am tired of electing representatives who quickly become part of the existing system that buys votes by selective redistribution of taxpayer money. Our country was based on limited — very limited — federal government powers. In most matters not involving national security, the states and the people were to have maximum responsibility and power. That has now been turned upside down.
The federal government is controlling our toilets and our light bulbs, and is starting on our health care. Meanwhile, it is neglecting its national security responsibility (securing our borders), and even suing a state for trying to do so.
Let’s take the power back. Recycle Congress. Every election, throw out every member who does not work toward limiting the federal government to Constitutional principles. Accept no excuses.
ANGIE MANY
Eckert
Carbon dioxide is necessary for life on Earth
Liberals and environmentalists are proving that they don’t care one bit about global warming, greenhouse gases or saving the environment. All they really want is bring the downfall of big bad oil. How, you ask? By pushing compressed natural gas, or CNG, as an alternative.
Sure, burning CNG produces none of the carbon monoxide, soot, smog, etc that burning gasoline does, yet it still produces the one and only greenhouse gas which is supposedly causing global warming: Carbon dioxide. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for switching to CNG. It’s cleaner, cheaper, doesn’t contaminate the Gulf of Mexico when it spills and produces one of the two most important gases essential to the survival of life on this planet: Carbon dioxide.
That’s right. Carbon dioxide is not killing the planet. Plants need it. They breathe it in and exhale oxygen, which all animals need to live. Animals in turn exhale more carbon dioxide. Life on this planet needs carbon dioxide. The environmentalists claim that carbon dioxide is killing the planet, yet they push for switching to CNG, which produces nothing but “planet killing” carbon dioxide. So which is it? Why the double-talk? Because all the left cares about is killing big bad oil. They care nothing for saving the planet.
You won’t usually hear me saying “Go green,” but I think it is time to recycle … Congress! We need legislators who will secure our borders, make English our national language, mandate quarterly drug tests for everyone on welfare and food stamp programs, balance the budget by cutting spending, reserve freebies (education, health care, welfare, food stamps, etc.) for American citizens only, repeal the obscene health care bill, end the birthright provision that allows illegals to give birth to automatic American citizens, end congressional pensions for legislators with only one term of service, require proof of American birth for all presidential nominees and adhere to the U.S. Constitution.
I am tired of electing representatives who quickly become part of the existing system that buys votes by selective redistribution of taxpayer money. Our country was based on limited — very limited — federal government powers. In most matters not involving national security, the states and the people were to have maximum responsibility and power. That has now been turned upside down.
The federal government is controlling our toilets and our light bulbs, and is starting on our health care. Meanwhile, it is neglecting its national security responsibility (securing our borders), and even suing a state for trying to do so.
Let’s take the power back. Recycle Congress. Every election, throw out every member who does not work toward limiting the federal government to Constitutional principles. Accept no excuses.
ANGIE MANY
Eckert
Carbon dioxide is necessary for life on Earth
Liberals and environmentalists are proving that they don’t care one bit about global warming, greenhouse gases or saving the environment. All they really want is bring the downfall of big bad oil. How, you ask? By pushing compressed natural gas, or CNG, as an alternative.
Sure, burning CNG produces none of the carbon monoxide, soot, smog, etc that burning gasoline does, yet it still produces the one and only greenhouse gas which is supposedly causing global warming: Carbon dioxide. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for switching to CNG. It’s cleaner, cheaper, doesn’t contaminate the Gulf of Mexico when it spills and produces one of the two most important gases essential to the survival of life on this planet: Carbon dioxide.
That’s right. Carbon dioxide is not killing the planet. Plants need it. They breathe it in and exhale oxygen, which all animals need to live. Animals in turn exhale more carbon dioxide. Life on this planet needs carbon dioxide. The environmentalists claim that carbon dioxide is killing the planet, yet they push for switching to CNG, which produces nothing but “planet killing” carbon dioxide. So which is it? Why the double-talk? Because all the left cares about is killing big bad oil. They care nothing for saving the planet.
2011年5月16日 星期一
How to Choose Ideal Flexible LED Strip for Your Car
How to Choose Ideal Flexible LED Strip for Your Car
Recently, flexible LED strips are becoming more and more popular for its well-known advantages, such as super bright, twistable, waterproof, environmentally friendly and easy to install. Particularly, car / auto LED strips and LED headlights are greatly welcome by riding enthusiastic. People who are intended to decorate their cars, trucks or trailers often choose to DIY. But they may come across some problems. Here we provide you some tips while you are prepare to decorate your cars.
1. Measure the length you want to install the LED tape. Then you can cut the tape to any size you like and fold into any size due to its flexibility. Usually the flexible LED strips have self adhesive tapes on the back, so they are easy to apply.
2. The circuit of LED strips is usually series or parallel circuit. But if the length is more than 5 meter, the strips must be in shunt-wound connection, but not in series.
3. If you are particular about color, LED strip lights can meet your requirement for they are available in various emitting colors. Basically, they are available in single color like red, yellow, green, blue, cool white and warm white. They are also available in RGB multi colors that can be controlled by RGB a led controller.
4. If you are particular about the intensity of the light, a dimmer can be of great help. So you can control the strips when the lights are illuminated. Working with a dimmer, a wide range of light intensity would be possible for the LED tape.
5.Often the LED headlights have two types: the waterproof one and non-waterproof one. The Waterproof design is advisable, making it very easy to customize the car exterior without worrying about any water damage.
6.To ensure the lights run at normal brightness, a proper power supply is needed. As we known, too much can cause your transformer to overload and potentially damage your light strip. Here we advise you to add 20%+ tolerance. For instance, the power consumption of the led tape is 24 watt, a 24*(1+20%)=29W power supply will be advisable.
7. Only one RGB LED controller is needed no matter how long is the strip tape.
Some people may get confused at first, but with this tips in mind, you will have a better understanding of how to choose proper material for your car. Therefore you could successfully complete any size LED strips installation project.
Recently, flexible LED strips are becoming more and more popular for its well-known advantages, such as super bright, twistable, waterproof, environmentally friendly and easy to install. Particularly, car / auto LED strips and LED headlights are greatly welcome by riding enthusiastic. People who are intended to decorate their cars, trucks or trailers often choose to DIY. But they may come across some problems. Here we provide you some tips while you are prepare to decorate your cars.
1. Measure the length you want to install the LED tape. Then you can cut the tape to any size you like and fold into any size due to its flexibility. Usually the flexible LED strips have self adhesive tapes on the back, so they are easy to apply.
2. The circuit of LED strips is usually series or parallel circuit. But if the length is more than 5 meter, the strips must be in shunt-wound connection, but not in series.
3. If you are particular about color, LED strip lights can meet your requirement for they are available in various emitting colors. Basically, they are available in single color like red, yellow, green, blue, cool white and warm white. They are also available in RGB multi colors that can be controlled by RGB a led controller.
4. If you are particular about the intensity of the light, a dimmer can be of great help. So you can control the strips when the lights are illuminated. Working with a dimmer, a wide range of light intensity would be possible for the LED tape.
5.Often the LED headlights have two types: the waterproof one and non-waterproof one. The Waterproof design is advisable, making it very easy to customize the car exterior without worrying about any water damage.
6.To ensure the lights run at normal brightness, a proper power supply is needed. As we known, too much can cause your transformer to overload and potentially damage your light strip. Here we advise you to add 20%+ tolerance. For instance, the power consumption of the led tape is 24 watt, a 24*(1+20%)=29W power supply will be advisable.
7. Only one RGB LED controller is needed no matter how long is the strip tape.
Some people may get confused at first, but with this tips in mind, you will have a better understanding of how to choose proper material for your car. Therefore you could successfully complete any size LED strips installation project.
2011年5月11日 星期三
Jenoptik and LEIDS cooperate to develop LED lighting
Jenoptik and LEIDS cooperate to develop LED lighting
Jenoptik's business unit Optoelectronic Systems (Triptis, Germany), manufacturer of optoelectronic systems and polymer optical components, and ALDER Optomechanical Corp. subsidiary LEIDS GmbH & Co. KG (Backnang, Germany) are jointly presenting LED illumination products at the tradeshow transport logistic 2011 (May 10-13) for the first time. The companies have partnered for a five-year development and cooperation agreement regarding LED industrial lighting.
The partnership is expected to leverage the LED production expertise of LEIDS and system design, and the Optoelectronic Systems business unit of Jenoptik's Optical Systems division competencies in high-performance optics development and production.
LEIDS and Jenoptik will develop and manufcature components, modules, and efficient LED illumination systems for industrial applications such as warehouse and workplace lighting.
Goals of the partnership include increasing efficiency of the LED light source, electronics, and heat dissipation as well as cost reduction by implementing industrial and flexible processes. Future developments will focus on advancing the lighting performance of the LED lamps.
Integrating high-performance optics into industrial lamps helps to generate light distribution exactly adapted to industrial applications and to produce a higher light intensity, according to the companies. Using optics produced via mass replication techniques reduces the number of LEDs needed and is anticipated to achieve cost benefits that will affect final products and their operation.
Jenoptik's business unit Optoelectronic Systems (Triptis, Germany), manufacturer of optoelectronic systems and polymer optical components, and ALDER Optomechanical Corp. subsidiary LEIDS GmbH & Co. KG (Backnang, Germany) are jointly presenting LED illumination products at the tradeshow transport logistic 2011 (May 10-13) for the first time. The companies have partnered for a five-year development and cooperation agreement regarding LED industrial lighting.
The partnership is expected to leverage the LED production expertise of LEIDS and system design, and the Optoelectronic Systems business unit of Jenoptik's Optical Systems division competencies in high-performance optics development and production.
LEIDS and Jenoptik will develop and manufcature components, modules, and efficient LED illumination systems for industrial applications such as warehouse and workplace lighting.
Goals of the partnership include increasing efficiency of the LED light source, electronics, and heat dissipation as well as cost reduction by implementing industrial and flexible processes. Future developments will focus on advancing the lighting performance of the LED lamps.
Integrating high-performance optics into industrial lamps helps to generate light distribution exactly adapted to industrial applications and to produce a higher light intensity, according to the companies. Using optics produced via mass replication techniques reduces the number of LEDs needed and is anticipated to achieve cost benefits that will affect final products and their operation.
2011年5月9日 星期一
12 Watt GL-DL06 Capella Series LED Downlight from GlacialLight
12 Watt GL-DL06 Capella Series LED Downlight from GlacialLight
4 May 2011, Taipei, Taiwan – GlacialLight, a sub‐division of the experienced technology manufacturer GlacialTech Inc, today launches all-new Capella Series of LED products with the GL‐DL06 LED Downlight. This high‐performance 6‐inch 12 watt LED downlight acts as a bulb and fixture all‐in‐one. Simply, wire the GL‐DL06 into a 6‐inch hole in a ceiling and immediately receive 120 degrees of light of up to 730 lumens. This high‐brightness lighting solution's slim, sleek, and fashionable circular design make it perfect for commercial uses in malls, supermarkets, showrooms, offices, and hallways. It is also an excellent product for residential lighting applications.
For indoor use, the GL‐DL06 LED Downlight takes an AC 100‐240V power source. Users can choose CCT of 3000K, 4000K, or 6000K that emit 560, 560, and 730 lumens of light respectively. With rated lifespans of 30,000 hours, GlacialLight's Capella Series Downlights provide functional, high‐quality, well‐designed light to users and are a fashionable choice for commercial and residential lighting applications. GlacialLight plans to add to the currently available 6‐inch diameter Capella Series LED Downlight with 4‐inch, 8‐inch, and 10‐inch sizes as well.
Thinking of the environment, GlacialLight designed the Capella Series GL‐DL06 LED Downlight to be RoHS compliant. Furthermore, it contains no hazardous chemicals, such as mercury, and does not emit harmful UV or IR rays, making it more eco‐friendly than traditional lighting fixtures. With a power conversion efficiency of greater than 80%, GlacialLight is extremely excited to give consumers the LED Capella Series.
LED Capella Series features
- For indoor use only
- Power conversion efficiency >80%
- Eco‐friendly: RoHS Compliant, No UV, no IR, & no mercury
- Low power consumption – energy‐saving green product
- Slim, compact and fashionable design
Excellent LED lighting products you can trust
Design of LED lighting products is based on three core technologies including electrical design (LED drivers), mechanical design (cooling devices), and optical design (lamp holders), respectively performed by GlacialPower, GlacialTech, and GlacialLight in the GlacialTech family. With the three core technologies in hand, GlacialTech has integrated all the resources required for exceptional designs and manufactures excellent LED lighting products you can trust.
Advantages and benefits of LED lighting compared to traditional lighting
- Directional lighting: ideal for flashlights/torches and spotlights
- No warm‐up time in cold environments: LEDs don't require warm‐up time like conventional CFLs
- No harmful radiation and no hazardous metals: LEDs don't emit harmful radiation such as Ultraviolet or Infrared emitting halogen lamps and don't contain hazardous metals such as mercury contained in mercury lamps
- Extremely long lifetimes free users from frequent bulb replacement
- Extremely small carbon footprints: an environmentally‐friendly technology
12 Watt GL-DL06 Capella Series LED Downlight
4 May 2011, Taipei, Taiwan – GlacialLight, a sub‐division of the experienced technology manufacturer GlacialTech Inc, today launches all-new Capella Series of LED products with the GL‐DL06 LED Downlight. This high‐performance 6‐inch 12 watt LED downlight acts as a bulb and fixture all‐in‐one. Simply, wire the GL‐DL06 into a 6‐inch hole in a ceiling and immediately receive 120 degrees of light of up to 730 lumens. This high‐brightness lighting solution's slim, sleek, and fashionable circular design make it perfect for commercial uses in malls, supermarkets, showrooms, offices, and hallways. It is also an excellent product for residential lighting applications.
For indoor use, the GL‐DL06 LED Downlight takes an AC 100‐240V power source. Users can choose CCT of 3000K, 4000K, or 6000K that emit 560, 560, and 730 lumens of light respectively. With rated lifespans of 30,000 hours, GlacialLight's Capella Series Downlights provide functional, high‐quality, well‐designed light to users and are a fashionable choice for commercial and residential lighting applications. GlacialLight plans to add to the currently available 6‐inch diameter Capella Series LED Downlight with 4‐inch, 8‐inch, and 10‐inch sizes as well.
Thinking of the environment, GlacialLight designed the Capella Series GL‐DL06 LED Downlight to be RoHS compliant. Furthermore, it contains no hazardous chemicals, such as mercury, and does not emit harmful UV or IR rays, making it more eco‐friendly than traditional lighting fixtures. With a power conversion efficiency of greater than 80%, GlacialLight is extremely excited to give consumers the LED Capella Series.
LED Capella Series features
- For indoor use only
- Power conversion efficiency >80%
- Eco‐friendly: RoHS Compliant, No UV, no IR, & no mercury
- Low power consumption – energy‐saving green product
- Slim, compact and fashionable design
Excellent LED lighting products you can trust
Design of LED lighting products is based on three core technologies including electrical design (LED drivers), mechanical design (cooling devices), and optical design (lamp holders), respectively performed by GlacialPower, GlacialTech, and GlacialLight in the GlacialTech family. With the three core technologies in hand, GlacialTech has integrated all the resources required for exceptional designs and manufactures excellent LED lighting products you can trust.
Advantages and benefits of LED lighting compared to traditional lighting
- Directional lighting: ideal for flashlights/torches and spotlights
- No warm‐up time in cold environments: LEDs don't require warm‐up time like conventional CFLs
- No harmful radiation and no hazardous metals: LEDs don't emit harmful radiation such as Ultraviolet or Infrared emitting halogen lamps and don't contain hazardous metals such as mercury contained in mercury lamps
- Extremely long lifetimes free users from frequent bulb replacement
- Extremely small carbon footprints: an environmentally‐friendly technology
12 Watt GL-DL06 Capella Series LED Downlight
Lighting Systems Supplier Shines Light on Green
Lighting Systems Supplier Shines Light on Green
LEaDer Lights, LLC, a LED lighting systems designer, supplier and installation specialist located in Grand Rapids, MI has joined the Green Business Bureau (GBB) to become green business certified.
“We know we must sustain our environment,” says Dan Damghani, LEaDer Lights’ VP of Operations. “Every few years something comes along that makes good sense, provides an opportunity for growth and development and is ready for those who will take the challenge.”
Damghani says that “something” is LED lighting - a relatively new technology in America. These lights are highly-efficient, environmentally-friendly, and certified hazardous free.
“We believe LED lights are the product for our future – NOW,” says Damghani.
LEaDer Lights’ vision is to impact the world one LED light at a time, in homes, businesses, schools, wherever light is needed. The company believes that LED lights will illuminate our world with efficient, energy saving, bright lights.
Damghani says that joining the GBB encouraged LEaDer Lights to go forward with that vision.
“Knowing that there are groups like GBB is exciting because we all need each other and we need to join together to take our commitment to the world,” says Damghani. “We are confident that our relationship with the GBB will benefit our company, and we are dedicated to supporting the GBB’s mission in the days and years ahead. “
LEaDer Lights chose to join the GBB over other programs because of the work it had already accomplished, says Damghani. LEaDer Lights was impressed with the GBB’s vision, its customer service and its dedication in partnering with businesses like LEaDer Lights in working towards a cleaner world.
As a member of the GBB, LEaDer Lights joins the nation’s fastest growing green business network. GBB members work towards sustainable business -665632863 practices by completing over 300 green initiatives designed to help them minimize their impact on the environment and realize significant cost savings.
To find out more about LEaDer Lights, its products and services, please visit
A LED lighting system designer, supplier and installation specialist, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We offer a cost-saving evaluation, using cutting edge technology, designed to meet customer goals, while complying with the new energy saving regulations. We are a complete interior and exterior evaluator, specializing in LED lights, tubes and fixtures for both residential and commercial lighting consumers. From our first evaluation to the final installation, LEaDer Lights is dedicated to serving our customers with exceptional service.
LEaDer Lights, LLC, a LED lighting systems designer, supplier and installation specialist located in Grand Rapids, MI has joined the Green Business Bureau (GBB) to become green business certified.
“We know we must sustain our environment,” says Dan Damghani, LEaDer Lights’ VP of Operations. “Every few years something comes along that makes good sense, provides an opportunity for growth and development and is ready for those who will take the challenge.”
Damghani says that “something” is LED lighting - a relatively new technology in America. These lights are highly-efficient, environmentally-friendly, and certified hazardous free.
“We believe LED lights are the product for our future – NOW,” says Damghani.
LEaDer Lights’ vision is to impact the world one LED light at a time, in homes, businesses, schools, wherever light is needed. The company believes that LED lights will illuminate our world with efficient, energy saving, bright lights.
Damghani says that joining the GBB encouraged LEaDer Lights to go forward with that vision.
“Knowing that there are groups like GBB is exciting because we all need each other and we need to join together to take our commitment to the world,” says Damghani. “We are confident that our relationship with the GBB will benefit our company, and we are dedicated to supporting the GBB’s mission in the days and years ahead. “
LEaDer Lights chose to join the GBB over other programs because of the work it had already accomplished, says Damghani. LEaDer Lights was impressed with the GBB’s vision, its customer service and its dedication in partnering with businesses like LEaDer Lights in working towards a cleaner world.
As a member of the GBB, LEaDer Lights joins the nation’s fastest growing green business network. GBB members work towards sustainable business -665632863 practices by completing over 300 green initiatives designed to help them minimize their impact on the environment and realize significant cost savings.
To find out more about LEaDer Lights, its products and services, please visit
A LED lighting system designer, supplier and installation specialist, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We offer a cost-saving evaluation, using cutting edge technology, designed to meet customer goals, while complying with the new energy saving regulations. We are a complete interior and exterior evaluator, specializing in LED lights, tubes and fixtures for both residential and commercial lighting consumers. From our first evaluation to the final installation, LEaDer Lights is dedicated to serving our customers with exceptional service.
2011年5月3日 星期二
Coming of age in 9/11 aftermath
Coming of age in 9/11 aftermath
In light of Osama bin Laden's death Monday almost 10 years after the terror attacks that rocked Americans, college students in Shasta County reflected on the day that introduced many of them to war for the first time.
But for some who were children on Sept. 11, 2001, that day led to more than just fear or sadness.
"I actually feel like I don't trust our government as much as I did before. They're in so much power and control," said 21-year-old Shasta College student Jessie Peckham.
Much like those growing up during the Vietnam War, many local students say coming of age in the aftermath of 9/11 molded their views on everything from prejudice to foreign policy.
Kristen Hall, an 18-year-old Shasta College student, said she's certain that dealing with the 9/11 attacks as a child shaped her anti-war beliefs.
"Seeing how my mom reacted to it, it's just not something I like at all. I'm virtually against war just because of that," she said.
Hall said she hadn't thought about war much before 9/11, but feeling personally threatened changed her point of view on the subject.
"If that hadn't have happened ... I heard about the Vietnam War, but that didn't have an impact on me at all," she said. "It does have a huge impact on me and my view of war, because it was here."
Rory Anderson, 24, of Shasta Lake said he witnessed prejudice for the first time after 9/11 and the backlash from the attacks led him to be more open-minded.
"I didn't like afterward and how they're generalizing and blaming one people for several people's actions," he said. "Everyone was like, 'Bomb Iran! Bomb Iraq! Bomb Afghanistan!' And you know that not every one of them had to do with it."
Claire Settlemire, 17, a Shasta High School senior who takes classes at Shasta College, agreed.
"The sad thing is, there's innocent civilians being affected by this, and I feel so bad for those people, just being stereotyped," she said.
But Settlemire said, unlike many of her peers, she supports the wars in the Middle East, although foreign conflict isn't ideal.
"I think it's something we couldn't really get around," she said. "I just wish it didn't make us have to act." And having four friends who have enlisted in the military in the past year has made her more sensitive to war, Settlemire said, adding that they all felt a need to protect their country after the terrorist attacks.
"They feel it's their duty; they have that sort of attitude," she said.
But Peckham said she doesn't feel war was justified, and the government didn't give enough information to the public for her to endorse it.
"I thought it was all propaganda. I still don't think they have any proof," she said. "They treat us like we're stupid. They would talk in circles."
Peckham said she supports the troops because her brother enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11, but she doesn't think they should be in the Middle East. And just because bin Laden was killed, it doesn't mean they'll be pulling out soon, she said.
"What does it change? We're still in Afghanistan. We're still in Iraq. We're still invading other countries," she said. "People say they're excited, but it's also been how many years? I don't trust a lot of it."
In light of Osama bin Laden's death Monday almost 10 years after the terror attacks that rocked Americans, college students in Shasta County reflected on the day that introduced many of them to war for the first time.
But for some who were children on Sept. 11, 2001, that day led to more than just fear or sadness.
"I actually feel like I don't trust our government as much as I did before. They're in so much power and control," said 21-year-old Shasta College student Jessie Peckham.
Much like those growing up during the Vietnam War, many local students say coming of age in the aftermath of 9/11 molded their views on everything from prejudice to foreign policy.
Kristen Hall, an 18-year-old Shasta College student, said she's certain that dealing with the 9/11 attacks as a child shaped her anti-war beliefs.
"Seeing how my mom reacted to it, it's just not something I like at all. I'm virtually against war just because of that," she said.
Hall said she hadn't thought about war much before 9/11, but feeling personally threatened changed her point of view on the subject.
"If that hadn't have happened ... I heard about the Vietnam War, but that didn't have an impact on me at all," she said. "It does have a huge impact on me and my view of war, because it was here."
Rory Anderson, 24, of Shasta Lake said he witnessed prejudice for the first time after 9/11 and the backlash from the attacks led him to be more open-minded.
"I didn't like afterward and how they're generalizing and blaming one people for several people's actions," he said. "Everyone was like, 'Bomb Iran! Bomb Iraq! Bomb Afghanistan!' And you know that not every one of them had to do with it."
Claire Settlemire, 17, a Shasta High School senior who takes classes at Shasta College, agreed.
"The sad thing is, there's innocent civilians being affected by this, and I feel so bad for those people, just being stereotyped," she said.
But Settlemire said, unlike many of her peers, she supports the wars in the Middle East, although foreign conflict isn't ideal.
"I think it's something we couldn't really get around," she said. "I just wish it didn't make us have to act." And having four friends who have enlisted in the military in the past year has made her more sensitive to war, Settlemire said, adding that they all felt a need to protect their country after the terrorist attacks.
"They feel it's their duty; they have that sort of attitude," she said.
But Peckham said she doesn't feel war was justified, and the government didn't give enough information to the public for her to endorse it.
"I thought it was all propaganda. I still don't think they have any proof," she said. "They treat us like we're stupid. They would talk in circles."
Peckham said she supports the troops because her brother enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11, but she doesn't think they should be in the Middle East. And just because bin Laden was killed, it doesn't mean they'll be pulling out soon, she said.
"What does it change? We're still in Afghanistan. We're still in Iraq. We're still invading other countries," she said. "People say they're excited, but it's also been how many years? I don't trust a lot of it."
Celebrate Earth Day by conserving energy, says commerce department
Celebrate Earth Day by conserving energy, says commerce department
In observance of the 41st Earth Day on April 22, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources is reminding consumers how easy it is to conserve energy and save money throughout the year.
“There are many simple and inexpensive actions consumers can take at home to help to protect and conserve natural resources,” said Mike Rothman, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which houses the Division of Energy Resources. “On Earth Day, and every day, we all can take small, but significant steps to cut our energy use. Doing so will help to conserve energy and save the environment and our state’s energy resources.”
Those changes can be as easy as low cost or no cost energy-efficiency improvements that reduce household consumption of gas and electricity. More substantial improvements such as replacement of mechanical systems require a fairly large financial investment, but can often be made more affordable with rebates from utilities and federal tax credits.
Consumers hoping to make a difference this Earth Day and conserve energy for the future can take these 10 easy steps:
Energy audit — Get an audit that includes a blower door test and infrared scan that will provide you with a detailed evaluation of energy use, insulation levels, air leakage and performance of mechanical systems. Schedule an audit through your gas utility or the Minnesota Building Performance Association.
Seal air leaks — An enormous amount of energy is wasted when inside air (either heated or cooled) can escape to the outside through leaks in attics, walls, windows and doors.
Check mechanical systems — Water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, gas fireplaces and ventilation systems should be regularly inspected and tuned-up to keep them operating efficiently and safely.
Heat efficiently — Replace old, inefficient systems with new high-efficiency options; don't use fans to move air; seal ductwork and direct airflow through registers and baffles.
Install a programmable thermostat — Adjusting a thermostat 1 degree (down in the winter and up in the summer) while asleep and away at work (16 hours a day), you can save 2 percent on a home fuel bill.
Control hot water use — A standard showerhead can use up to 5.5 gallons of water a minute. Low-flow showerheads deliver a high pressure spray at less than two gallons per minute.
In observance of the 41st Earth Day on April 22, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources is reminding consumers how easy it is to conserve energy and save money throughout the year.
“There are many simple and inexpensive actions consumers can take at home to help to protect and conserve natural resources,” said Mike Rothman, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which houses the Division of Energy Resources. “On Earth Day, and every day, we all can take small, but significant steps to cut our energy use. Doing so will help to conserve energy and save the environment and our state’s energy resources.”
Those changes can be as easy as low cost or no cost energy-efficiency improvements that reduce household consumption of gas and electricity. More substantial improvements such as replacement of mechanical systems require a fairly large financial investment, but can often be made more affordable with rebates from utilities and federal tax credits.
Consumers hoping to make a difference this Earth Day and conserve energy for the future can take these 10 easy steps:
Energy audit — Get an audit that includes a blower door test and infrared scan that will provide you with a detailed evaluation of energy use, insulation levels, air leakage and performance of mechanical systems. Schedule an audit through your gas utility or the Minnesota Building Performance Association.
Seal air leaks — An enormous amount of energy is wasted when inside air (either heated or cooled) can escape to the outside through leaks in attics, walls, windows and doors.
Check mechanical systems — Water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, gas fireplaces and ventilation systems should be regularly inspected and tuned-up to keep them operating efficiently and safely.
Heat efficiently — Replace old, inefficient systems with new high-efficiency options; don't use fans to move air; seal ductwork and direct airflow through registers and baffles.
Install a programmable thermostat — Adjusting a thermostat 1 degree (down in the winter and up in the summer) while asleep and away at work (16 hours a day), you can save 2 percent on a home fuel bill.
Control hot water use — A standard showerhead can use up to 5.5 gallons of water a minute. Low-flow showerheads deliver a high pressure spray at less than two gallons per minute.
2011年4月28日 星期四
The LED Promise Land : A Connexion Market Perspective
The LED Promise Land : A Connexion Market Perspective
LED lamps will eventually be what we use to replace incandescent bulbs - Compact fluorescent lamps are a temporary but still viable alternative to energy-efficient lighting. Think of CFLs as the bridge that connects our older, less efficient lamp technology to the LED promise land. Increasingly more lamp manufacturers are devoting larger shares of their R&D resources towards developing the LED promise land and less so within that CFL bridge. The lighting industry is clearly banking on LEDs as the final replacements for incandescents.
The reason LEDs have not yet displaced CFLs from the market are twofold: the first generation LED bulbs had a narrow and focused light beam, and the cost of LED technology is still too high. With this said, both CFL and LED technology are viable options today when looking for a replacement for incandescent lamps.
We can't stress enough that this lamp technology market is no different than any other emerging market. There are numerous profiteers in the market spewing forth their too-good-to-be-true claims and misinformation for the sake of the quick sale before the dust settles and the facts surface. The old axiom, 'if it sounds too good to be true it probably is', certainly applies here. The U.S. market is flooded with cheap LED products manufactured overseas with inferior components that produce low light levels, that can't possibly live up to their exaggerated energy saving and long life claims. Unfortunately, these cheap imports are being sold on well known web sites and through big box retailers.
Also worth noting are the many so-called 'manufacturers' who are in fact resellers and simply repackaging the same inferior products offered through the import channel. And to further add to this confusion, are the more reputable manufacturers that offer a lesser grade LED lamp expressly for the consumer market and a higher grade for the commercial market. As you probably guessed, the commercial grade products come at a higher price point and perform significantly better - but are easily confused with the lower priced consumer grade products. If you're making your decision solely on price, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. The keys here are Lumens and Lumens per Watt Efficacy. This is where the Lighting Facts label comes into play. The Department of Energy (DOE) is an advocate for quality and has established the Lighting Facts program to ensure that the LED products you find on the market meet your expectations for performance. These products include LEDs for everyday lighting purposes, such as table lamps and outdoor light fixtures. They do not include flashlights, nightlights, or holiday lighting.
Participating manufacturers voluntarily pledge to report their products' performance results. Those results appear on the Lighting Facts label, which those manufacturers must include on product packaging or in the product literature. Retailers and other industry buyers can then make informed purchasing decisions for their lighting inventory.
LED lamps will eventually be what we use to replace incandescent bulbs - Compact fluorescent lamps are a temporary but still viable alternative to energy-efficient lighting. Think of CFLs as the bridge that connects our older, less efficient lamp technology to the LED promise land. Increasingly more lamp manufacturers are devoting larger shares of their R&D resources towards developing the LED promise land and less so within that CFL bridge. The lighting industry is clearly banking on LEDs as the final replacements for incandescents.
The reason LEDs have not yet displaced CFLs from the market are twofold: the first generation LED bulbs had a narrow and focused light beam, and the cost of LED technology is still too high. With this said, both CFL and LED technology are viable options today when looking for a replacement for incandescent lamps.
We can't stress enough that this lamp technology market is no different than any other emerging market. There are numerous profiteers in the market spewing forth their too-good-to-be-true claims and misinformation for the sake of the quick sale before the dust settles and the facts surface. The old axiom, 'if it sounds too good to be true it probably is', certainly applies here. The U.S. market is flooded with cheap LED products manufactured overseas with inferior components that produce low light levels, that can't possibly live up to their exaggerated energy saving and long life claims. Unfortunately, these cheap imports are being sold on well known web sites and through big box retailers.
Also worth noting are the many so-called 'manufacturers' who are in fact resellers and simply repackaging the same inferior products offered through the import channel. And to further add to this confusion, are the more reputable manufacturers that offer a lesser grade LED lamp expressly for the consumer market and a higher grade for the commercial market. As you probably guessed, the commercial grade products come at a higher price point and perform significantly better - but are easily confused with the lower priced consumer grade products. If you're making your decision solely on price, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. The keys here are Lumens and Lumens per Watt Efficacy. This is where the Lighting Facts label comes into play. The Department of Energy (DOE) is an advocate for quality and has established the Lighting Facts program to ensure that the LED products you find on the market meet your expectations for performance. These products include LEDs for everyday lighting purposes, such as table lamps and outdoor light fixtures. They do not include flashlights, nightlights, or holiday lighting.
Participating manufacturers voluntarily pledge to report their products' performance results. Those results appear on the Lighting Facts label, which those manufacturers must include on product packaging or in the product literature. Retailers and other industry buyers can then make informed purchasing decisions for their lighting inventory.
2011年4月27日 星期三
The Advantages or LED MR16 Spot Lights
The Advantages or LED MR16 Spot Lights
LED MR16 lamps are popular replacements halogens bulbs both in residential and commercial use. The reason for their popularity is that the original, halogen MR16 lights were commonly used in households, and LEDs can instantly replace most of them. Also, LEDs have much better qualities and numerous advantages, compared to their halogen version.
MR16 stands for multifaceted reflector with the diameter of 16 of eighths of an inch, or two inches in other words. Alternatively, the same light bulb exists with different diameters: MR11 and MR8 spotlights are smaller sized multifaceted reflectors. The MR16 bulb usually operates at low voltage, and has GU5.3 fitting type. These bulbs most commonly operate at 12V, and if the products are not polarity sensitive, the light can be fitted both ways, operating on AC and DC as well. MR16 bulbs operating at mains have GU10 fittings, and are rather called GU10 spotlights.
To be able to understand and value the useful features of the LED replacements, we must look at the halogen MR16 lights in short. The halogen MR16 bulb has a reflecting surface: the internal part of the bulb is made of pressed glass or aluminium in cheaper versions. The glass surface is constantly under pressure, which makes it easy to explode. The reflecting surface controls both the direction and the spread of the light, intensifying the light of the bulb. The bulb is available with various beam angles of light from narrow degrees of 10 to 60, however, the most frequently used spotlight is around 45 - 60 degrees. The colour temperature of the halogen MR16 is very warm, yellowish light, and is easily altered with dimming.
The main disadvantages of the halogen MR16 light is that they have a low conversion rate of power, turning most of it to heat instead of light. Therefore, they have a high power consumption along with very much heat emitted, dangerous not only to touch but also to be placed near textiles or wood during operation. Halogen bulbs are sources of fire hazard in any home, and should be fitted and operated with care. The halogen MR16 bulb emits a considerable amount of ultraviolet light dangerous to human health, and is also sensitive to shakes and shock. Both these problems are partially solved with a glass cover that filters most of the ultraviolet light and functions as an explosion shield.
LED MR16 spotlights, on the other hand, do not suffer from the majority of the above disadvantages. Although, LED lights do not have the reflective inner surface, they are called MR spots because they are replacements of the original reflectors. Beam angle, which is similarly varied with LED lights too, is usually controlled within the optics of the diode. Colour temperature is much more varied compared to halogen lights. Cooler white colour temperatures can be closer to natural light, and do not colour the room yellowish. At the same time, coloured versions of MR16 lights are available in LEDs.
LED lights in general have the advantages of cool running, eco-friendly design, long lifespan (usually around 30 000 - 50 000 hours), and high power LEDs can operate even 24/7. LEDs are not sensitive to shakes or shocks, and operate at low temperature too. The most obvious advantage of LEDs is their extremely low consumption of power. Since LEDs convert 90% of power to light, they emit substantially less heat, and mean no or very little fire hazard in homes. LED lights are also available with GU5.3 for low voltage and GU10 for mains fittings.
For LEDs operating at low voltage, the operating power supply has a major significance. Electronic transformers used for halogens are usually not suitable for running LEDs for two reasons. Many transformers require a minimum voltage to start operating, which is not drawn by LEDs using only a fraction of the power compared to halogens. The other reason is actually more important from the point of view of LEDs, since electronic transformers can ruin the LED lights. Halogens do not require stabilized voltage, while LEDs are highly sensitive to changes in voltage or current. If you are replacing your halogen MR16 lights, it is best to purchase LED suitable transformers as well to assure their long lifespan.
LED MR16 lamps are popular replacements halogens bulbs both in residential and commercial use. The reason for their popularity is that the original, halogen MR16 lights were commonly used in households, and LEDs can instantly replace most of them. Also, LEDs have much better qualities and numerous advantages, compared to their halogen version.
MR16 stands for multifaceted reflector with the diameter of 16 of eighths of an inch, or two inches in other words. Alternatively, the same light bulb exists with different diameters: MR11 and MR8 spotlights are smaller sized multifaceted reflectors. The MR16 bulb usually operates at low voltage, and has GU5.3 fitting type. These bulbs most commonly operate at 12V, and if the products are not polarity sensitive, the light can be fitted both ways, operating on AC and DC as well. MR16 bulbs operating at mains have GU10 fittings, and are rather called GU10 spotlights.
To be able to understand and value the useful features of the LED replacements, we must look at the halogen MR16 lights in short. The halogen MR16 bulb has a reflecting surface: the internal part of the bulb is made of pressed glass or aluminium in cheaper versions. The glass surface is constantly under pressure, which makes it easy to explode. The reflecting surface controls both the direction and the spread of the light, intensifying the light of the bulb. The bulb is available with various beam angles of light from narrow degrees of 10 to 60, however, the most frequently used spotlight is around 45 - 60 degrees. The colour temperature of the halogen MR16 is very warm, yellowish light, and is easily altered with dimming.
The main disadvantages of the halogen MR16 light is that they have a low conversion rate of power, turning most of it to heat instead of light. Therefore, they have a high power consumption along with very much heat emitted, dangerous not only to touch but also to be placed near textiles or wood during operation. Halogen bulbs are sources of fire hazard in any home, and should be fitted and operated with care. The halogen MR16 bulb emits a considerable amount of ultraviolet light dangerous to human health, and is also sensitive to shakes and shock. Both these problems are partially solved with a glass cover that filters most of the ultraviolet light and functions as an explosion shield.
LED MR16 spotlights, on the other hand, do not suffer from the majority of the above disadvantages. Although, LED lights do not have the reflective inner surface, they are called MR spots because they are replacements of the original reflectors. Beam angle, which is similarly varied with LED lights too, is usually controlled within the optics of the diode. Colour temperature is much more varied compared to halogen lights. Cooler white colour temperatures can be closer to natural light, and do not colour the room yellowish. At the same time, coloured versions of MR16 lights are available in LEDs.
LED lights in general have the advantages of cool running, eco-friendly design, long lifespan (usually around 30 000 - 50 000 hours), and high power LEDs can operate even 24/7. LEDs are not sensitive to shakes or shocks, and operate at low temperature too. The most obvious advantage of LEDs is their extremely low consumption of power. Since LEDs convert 90% of power to light, they emit substantially less heat, and mean no or very little fire hazard in homes. LED lights are also available with GU5.3 for low voltage and GU10 for mains fittings.
For LEDs operating at low voltage, the operating power supply has a major significance. Electronic transformers used for halogens are usually not suitable for running LEDs for two reasons. Many transformers require a minimum voltage to start operating, which is not drawn by LEDs using only a fraction of the power compared to halogens. The other reason is actually more important from the point of view of LEDs, since electronic transformers can ruin the LED lights. Halogens do not require stabilized voltage, while LEDs are highly sensitive to changes in voltage or current. If you are replacing your halogen MR16 lights, it is best to purchase LED suitable transformers as well to assure their long lifespan.
2011年4月26日 星期二
LED light bulbs
LED light bulbs
Bulb is a lighting device usually used inside home, in automobiles, in street lights, in decorations etc. There is a long list of applications of LED light bulbs. LED Bulbs are of different kinds. They can be incandescent bulbs or can be LED light bulbs or there may be of any other kind as well. As the technology advances, there are many replacements for the old types of incandescent bulbs as LED Light bulbs have taken their place. The range of the incandescent LED light bulb was from 5 up to 60 Watts. They are being replaced by LED bulbs that give the same results. They range from 0.3 to 5 Watts.
Most LED bulbs give constant light and are not dimmed. They also maintain a directional throw of the light. As the demand of the LED light bulbs are ever increasing so their price is also increasing as compared with the prices of fluorescent bulbs. They are easily available in the market in different types and shapes. Also these bulbs are more power efficient than the traditional florescent bulbs. They offer an excellent life time of 30,000 or more hours. You can expect that a LED bulb will last for 25 to 30 years under normal use which is far better than a traditional fluorescent or incandescent bulb. These LED bulbs maintain their output intensity very well throughout their life time. 10% or fewer drops in the operation is mentioned in the specifications after usage of 6000 hours. Whereas in the worst case the drop just increased to 15%.
There are various types of LED light bulbs that are available in market. Some of which are G16, GU10, MR11, MR16, PAR16, PAR20, PAR28, PAR30, PAR38, PAR56 etc. now let us discuss some of these types.G16 light bulbs are one of their kind that are used track lighting, in amusement parks and in hotels where we want to save energy and to reduce the cost of light bulbs. They are also called as G16 globes. They are very efficient as they work for 50,000 hours. GU10 type LED bulb saves power and give out usable light. There output power is approximately equal to a 25 watt light bulb but it consumes 8 times less power. They can be used as entertainment lighting; architectural lighting, for decoration, inside operation theatre as medical lighting or some kind of portable lightings.MR11 light bulbs are a true replacement for low voltage halogen LED light bulbs and are really very cost effective. They produce a high quality light in a variety of different colors for just 1 watt of energy usage. This is all because of the fact that they vibration and shock resistant and there is no filament to break.
A lot companies are offering types of LED light bulbs that are used for general purpose lighting. The C. crane company launched a product called "Geobulb" which was replaced by Geobulb 3 that was more brighten and long lasting as well. In Netherlands Lemnis naming company manufactured a dimmable LED bulb which they named as Pharox. There is another company Eternleds Inc. which offers a new technology bulb HydraLux-4. It uses cooling of the LED light bulb chips.
The best part of these types of LED light bulbs is that they are mercury free. Due to recent research and technology advancement these types of bulbs are now available in a variety of color just like other incandescent LED light bulbs. Due to energy saving and less maintenance cost, they are very attractive. With additional development in the technology and their growing popularity it is believed that the cost of these LED Light bulbs will eventually decrease.
LED Light Bulbs
Bulb is a lighting device usually used inside home, in automobiles, in street lights, in decorations etc. There is a long list of applications of LED light bulbs. LED Bulbs are of different kinds. They can be incandescent bulbs or can be LED light bulbs or there may be of any other kind as well. As the technology advances, there are many replacements for the old types of incandescent bulbs as LED Light bulbs have taken their place. The range of the incandescent LED light bulb was from 5 up to 60 Watts. They are being replaced by LED bulbs that give the same results. They range from 0.3 to 5 Watts.
Most LED bulbs give constant light and are not dimmed. They also maintain a directional throw of the light. As the demand of the LED light bulbs are ever increasing so their price is also increasing as compared with the prices of fluorescent bulbs. They are easily available in the market in different types and shapes. Also these bulbs are more power efficient than the traditional florescent bulbs. They offer an excellent life time of 30,000 or more hours. You can expect that a LED bulb will last for 25 to 30 years under normal use which is far better than a traditional fluorescent or incandescent bulb. These LED bulbs maintain their output intensity very well throughout their life time. 10% or fewer drops in the operation is mentioned in the specifications after usage of 6000 hours. Whereas in the worst case the drop just increased to 15%.
There are various types of LED light bulbs that are available in market. Some of which are G16, GU10, MR11, MR16, PAR16, PAR20, PAR28, PAR30, PAR38, PAR56 etc. now let us discuss some of these types.G16 light bulbs are one of their kind that are used track lighting, in amusement parks and in hotels where we want to save energy and to reduce the cost of light bulbs. They are also called as G16 globes. They are very efficient as they work for 50,000 hours. GU10 type LED bulb saves power and give out usable light. There output power is approximately equal to a 25 watt light bulb but it consumes 8 times less power. They can be used as entertainment lighting; architectural lighting, for decoration, inside operation theatre as medical lighting or some kind of portable lightings.MR11 light bulbs are a true replacement for low voltage halogen LED light bulbs and are really very cost effective. They produce a high quality light in a variety of different colors for just 1 watt of energy usage. This is all because of the fact that they vibration and shock resistant and there is no filament to break.
A lot companies are offering types of LED light bulbs that are used for general purpose lighting. The C. crane company launched a product called "Geobulb" which was replaced by Geobulb 3 that was more brighten and long lasting as well. In Netherlands Lemnis naming company manufactured a dimmable LED bulb which they named as Pharox. There is another company Eternleds Inc. which offers a new technology bulb HydraLux-4. It uses cooling of the LED light bulb chips.
The best part of these types of LED light bulbs is that they are mercury free. Due to recent research and technology advancement these types of bulbs are now available in a variety of color just like other incandescent LED light bulbs. Due to energy saving and less maintenance cost, they are very attractive. With additional development in the technology and their growing popularity it is believed that the cost of these LED Light bulbs will eventually decrease.
LED Light Bulbs
2011年4月20日 星期三
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor Lighting: Pielenhofen installs Osram LEDs, Nova Scotia expands SSL program
Communities across North America have been making the biggest headlines for LED street-light retrofits, but even small communities around the globe are making the switch as evidenced by an outdoor lighting project in Pielenhofen, Germany. Herkules Elektronik GmbH retrofit kits that use Osram’s Golden Dragon Oval Plus LEDs are lighting a new home community and a larger conversion is planned. Nova Scotia, meanwhile, has performed significant solid-state-lighting (SSL) retrofits and plans to convert every light in the country in five years.
Pielenhofen SSL-lit neighborhood
Pielenhofen first tested LED street lights in February 2010 with two luminaires installed in the heart of the community. The community has now kicked off a transition to LEDs with the installation of nine SSL fixtures in a neighborhood called Rohrdorf. Moreover the community is using adaptive controls to maximize energy consumption.
Local mayor Reinhold Fersti noted the superior ability of the luminaires to control beam pattern as one reason for the conversion. Fersti said, “What convinced us was the modern technology, as it not only produces more pleasant, warm light: the light diodes only project their light into the desired direction.”
The Herkules luminaire retrofit was developed as a replacement for mercury-vapor lamps and the 50W koffer-type housing that is widely used in the city of Kassel, Germany. Indeed Herkules refers to the design as a Kassel-type retrofit, and the 26W kit includes the light engine and driver electronics that replace the lamps in existing housings.
The design relies on the Golden Dragon Oval Plus LEDs to form the beam pattern. The LEDs feature an integrated oval lens that can spread the beam in a somewhat rectangular pattern along a roadway, with minimal light trespass. For more information on the LEDs and beam patterns see, “SSL luminaires must deliver reliable beam patterns in outdoor applications."
About the beam qualities of the components and the Kassel retrofit, Osram said, “This effect is reinforced by the integrated lens of the Golden Dragon Plus: this makes it possible to generate a brighter and more even illumination of a defined area, despite low intake of power – it also achieves an optimum illumination of the street, conforming with the relevant norms, avoiding scattered light and staying below the limit regarding dazzle.”
Adaptive controls and dimming
Based on the LED retrofit, Pielenhofen would realize what’s essentially 50% energy savings based on the lower-power kits, but the savings will actually be greater because the community is using dimmable SSL technology. The dimming functionality was proven out in the Kassel retrofit last year where late at night the power consumption is further reduced to 14W per fixture.
Pielenhofen plans to upgrade to LED street lighting across the entire community in stages. Indeed European Union (EU) regulations will give such communities little choice going forward. Beginning in April 2012, the sodium vapor lights presently used by Pielenhofen will be taken off the market. The retrofit kits will provide a way to replace failed lamps.
The EU is also mandating the removal of mercury vapor lights beginning in April 2015. Communities across the continent will be faced with replacement or retrofit scenarios.
Communities across North America have been making the biggest headlines for LED street-light retrofits, but even small communities around the globe are making the switch as evidenced by an outdoor lighting project in Pielenhofen, Germany. Herkules Elektronik GmbH retrofit kits that use Osram’s Golden Dragon Oval Plus LEDs are lighting a new home community and a larger conversion is planned. Nova Scotia, meanwhile, has performed significant solid-state-lighting (SSL) retrofits and plans to convert every light in the country in five years.
Pielenhofen SSL-lit neighborhood
Pielenhofen first tested LED street lights in February 2010 with two luminaires installed in the heart of the community. The community has now kicked off a transition to LEDs with the installation of nine SSL fixtures in a neighborhood called Rohrdorf. Moreover the community is using adaptive controls to maximize energy consumption.
Local mayor Reinhold Fersti noted the superior ability of the luminaires to control beam pattern as one reason for the conversion. Fersti said, “What convinced us was the modern technology, as it not only produces more pleasant, warm light: the light diodes only project their light into the desired direction.”
The Herkules luminaire retrofit was developed as a replacement for mercury-vapor lamps and the 50W koffer-type housing that is widely used in the city of Kassel, Germany. Indeed Herkules refers to the design as a Kassel-type retrofit, and the 26W kit includes the light engine and driver electronics that replace the lamps in existing housings.
The design relies on the Golden Dragon Oval Plus LEDs to form the beam pattern. The LEDs feature an integrated oval lens that can spread the beam in a somewhat rectangular pattern along a roadway, with minimal light trespass. For more information on the LEDs and beam patterns see, “SSL luminaires must deliver reliable beam patterns in outdoor applications."
About the beam qualities of the components and the Kassel retrofit, Osram said, “This effect is reinforced by the integrated lens of the Golden Dragon Plus: this makes it possible to generate a brighter and more even illumination of a defined area, despite low intake of power – it also achieves an optimum illumination of the street, conforming with the relevant norms, avoiding scattered light and staying below the limit regarding dazzle.”
Adaptive controls and dimming
Based on the LED retrofit, Pielenhofen would realize what’s essentially 50% energy savings based on the lower-power kits, but the savings will actually be greater because the community is using dimmable SSL technology. The dimming functionality was proven out in the Kassel retrofit last year where late at night the power consumption is further reduced to 14W per fixture.
Pielenhofen plans to upgrade to LED street lighting across the entire community in stages. Indeed European Union (EU) regulations will give such communities little choice going forward. Beginning in April 2012, the sodium vapor lights presently used by Pielenhofen will be taken off the market. The retrofit kits will provide a way to replace failed lamps.
The EU is also mandating the removal of mercury vapor lights beginning in April 2015. Communities across the continent will be faced with replacement or retrofit scenarios.
2011年4月18日 星期一
Go Green This Earth Day
Considered the birth of the modern environmental movement, the first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 and had 20 million American participants. More than 40 years later, over one billion people now participate in Earth Day on April 22 each year, making it one of the largest civic observances in the world. Enviro-Log, Inc. an eco-friendly consumer products and recycling company which has diverted over 140 million pounds of waxed cardboard from landfills to create its earth-friendly firelogs, offers the following tips for anyone looking to get involved in Earth Day.
“One of the easiest ways you can get involved in Earth Day is to make a conscious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle,” said Ross McRoy, president of Enviro-Log. “The great thing about Earth Day is that anyone can get involved. It can start with small steps such as reducing the amount of water and electricity you use on a daily basis to making significant financial investments in converting your home to solar and wind power. Regardless of your level of commitment, the more people that get involved, the greater the environmental impact will be.”
McRoy offers the following tips to get involved in Earth Day and everyday thereafter:
-Instead of driving, consider walking, biking or taking public transportation. If it is necessary to drive, consider carpooling with friends or colleagues.
-Shop local and make less frequent trips to led downlight the store. Less trips to the store means less emissions from your vehicle.
-Turn off your lights and electronics when you leave a room. Open the blinds during the day and take advantage of the sunlight. Turn off and unplug power strips and surge protectors when not in use, especially overnight.
-Reduce your water usage. Install low-flow shower led downlight heads, faucets and toilets in your home. Also consider shortening your shower. Every minute you cut from your shower equals roughly five gallons of water.
-Switch from disposable to reusable. Instead of buying bottled water, invest in a reusable water bottle. Bring your own reusable bag when shopping.
-Put your trash in the recycle bin. Contact your local waste management provider about getting involved in their recycling program.
-Purchase products that use recyclable materials. This led downlight will help divert unused materials from going into landfills.
-Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient ones, such as compact fluorescent or LEDs.
“One of the easiest ways you can get involved in Earth Day is to make a conscious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle,” said Ross McRoy, president of Enviro-Log. “The great thing about Earth Day is that anyone can get involved. It can start with small steps such as reducing the amount of water and electricity you use on a daily basis to making significant financial investments in converting your home to solar and wind power. Regardless of your level of commitment, the more people that get involved, the greater the environmental impact will be.”
McRoy offers the following tips to get involved in Earth Day and everyday thereafter:
-Instead of driving, consider walking, biking or taking public transportation. If it is necessary to drive, consider carpooling with friends or colleagues.
-Shop local and make less frequent trips to led downlight the store. Less trips to the store means less emissions from your vehicle.
-Turn off your lights and electronics when you leave a room. Open the blinds during the day and take advantage of the sunlight. Turn off and unplug power strips and surge protectors when not in use, especially overnight.
-Reduce your water usage. Install low-flow shower led downlight heads, faucets and toilets in your home. Also consider shortening your shower. Every minute you cut from your shower equals roughly five gallons of water.
-Switch from disposable to reusable. Instead of buying bottled water, invest in a reusable water bottle. Bring your own reusable bag when shopping.
-Put your trash in the recycle bin. Contact your local waste management provider about getting involved in their recycling program.
-Purchase products that use recyclable materials. This led downlight will help divert unused materials from going into landfills.
-Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient ones, such as compact fluorescent or LEDs.
For Earth Day, there are plenty of ways to participate
Earth Day comes around this year on Friday, April 22. But don’t look for any one big event to celebrate. Instead, there are lengthy lists of cleanups and hikes throughout the month.
One special event, “Party for the Planet,” takes place Sunday at Roger Williams Park Zoo. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. environmental groups from around the state will tell their stories and offer educational opportunities.
The Southside Community Land Trust celebrated Saturday by delivering 340 cubic yards of compost purchased from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and its partner, Agresource, to 37 community gardens and urban farms. More than 750 families are expected to use the compost for their food gardens in Providence.
The Pawtucket Neighborhood Alliance has scheduled an all-day cleanup next Saturday in the vicinity of the Galego Court Community Center.
The state Department of Environmental Management distributed $37,500 in recent weeks to 59 groups and communities to finance cleanups and beautification projects. Each grant ranged from $275 to $750. The money was provided by Patriot Disposal Co. Inc./J.R. Vinagro Corp.
Also next Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., a group called Lights Out, Green In will exchange up to 5 free compact-fluorescent light bulbs for old incandescent bulbs at the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market. The exchanges will continue while the supply of 1,500 bulbs lasts.
One special event, “Party for the Planet,” takes place Sunday at Roger Williams Park Zoo. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. environmental groups from around the state will tell their stories and offer educational opportunities.
The Southside Community Land Trust celebrated Saturday by delivering 340 cubic yards of compost purchased from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and its partner, Agresource, to 37 community gardens and urban farms. More than 750 families are expected to use the compost for their food gardens in Providence.
The Pawtucket Neighborhood Alliance has scheduled an all-day cleanup next Saturday in the vicinity of the Galego Court Community Center.
The state Department of Environmental Management distributed $37,500 in recent weeks to 59 groups and communities to finance cleanups and beautification projects. Each grant ranged from $275 to $750. The money was provided by Patriot Disposal Co. Inc./J.R. Vinagro Corp.
Also next Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., a group called Lights Out, Green In will exchange up to 5 free compact-fluorescent light bulbs for old incandescent bulbs at the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market. The exchanges will continue while the supply of 1,500 bulbs lasts.
2011年4月14日 星期四
Hand wound led to charges in Minneapolis stabbings
A man accused of stabbing three people led downlight at a Minneapolis light-rail station Friday night apparently cut himself while flashing his blade, authorities say, helping lead to his arrest.
Metro Transit police caught up with Alexander A. Lanier, 19, of Minneapolis, after he sought treatment for a palm wound consistent with a hand sliding off a knife's handle and down the blade, police said.
One of his alleged victims suffered led downlight 13 stab wounds, according to second-degree assault charges filed against Lanier on Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the charges, the stabbings occurred about 10:30 p.m. Friday after the victims got off the train at Lake Street and encountered Lanier and another male "throwing what were perceived to be gang signs."
A fight broke out, and the victims were stabbed. Each of them later identified Lanier as the attacker.
Lanier was being held at the led downlight Hennepin County jail Tuesday night in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Metro Transit police caught up with Alexander A. Lanier, 19, of Minneapolis, after he sought treatment for a palm wound consistent with a hand sliding off a knife's handle and down the blade, police said.
One of his alleged victims suffered led downlight 13 stab wounds, according to second-degree assault charges filed against Lanier on Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the charges, the stabbings occurred about 10:30 p.m. Friday after the victims got off the train at Lake Street and encountered Lanier and another male "throwing what were perceived to be gang signs."
A fight broke out, and the victims were stabbed. Each of them later identified Lanier as the attacker.
Lanier was being held at the led downlight Hennepin County jail Tuesday night in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Scene Modes and Creative Features
Scene Modes and Creative Features
In addition to two well-performing Auto modes--a regular auto mode, and a scene-based auto mode that chooses the applicable scene preset depending on the environment--the Nikon Coolpix S9100 offers 14 scene modes. Among them are old standbys such as Portrait, Sports, Beach, Snow, and Sunset, as well as more unusual selections that include Dusk/Dawn, Food, and Museum modes.
Easy PanoramaHigh-contrast monochromeHigh keyLow keyThe camera also provides an Easy Panorama mode, which is similar to the Sweep Panorama setting found on Sony's cameras: You press the shutter button and pan across a scene, and the camera then stitches together a panoramic image. The S9100, however, goes a few steps further than Sony's cameras, giving you the option to create either 180-degree or 360-degree panoramas via the menus. In general, the mode works well, just as long as you pan the camera slowly; quick pans led to blurry images in my test shots.
You can reach all the aforementioned modes by selecting 'Scene' on the camera's mode dial and making your choice via on-screen menus, but the S9100 also provides quick access to a few modes--Backlighting, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape modes, as well as the camera's continuous shooting mode--directly on the mode dial. The camera captures at a rate of 9.5 shots per second at full resolution, but you're limited to 5 shots per burst. It fires the shutter so quickly that getting the hang of it is a bit tricky, and it works best when a fast-moving subject is already in motion.
A few more creative modes are lurking in the camera's 'Effects' selection, available by way of the mode dial: a 'Selective color' option that lets you isolate a single color in a black-and-white photo, a 'High-contrast monochrome' effect that makes images look a bit like newsprint, and 'High key' and 'Low key' effects for boosting and muting colors, respectively.
Some of the best features of this camera include its post-shot editing tools, which let you apply filters and quick fixes to copies of your photos while retaining the source image. Highlights include the aforementioned D-Lighting and Quick Retouch functions, which almost always improve the look and detail of images, and Fisheye and Miniature Effect filters, which let you mimic the look of different lenses. Alas, all those extra goodies are available only in still-image mode; you can't apply any of the effects to videos.
In addition to two well-performing Auto modes--a regular auto mode, and a scene-based auto mode that chooses the applicable scene preset depending on the environment--the Nikon Coolpix S9100 offers 14 scene modes. Among them are old standbys such as Portrait, Sports, Beach, Snow, and Sunset, as well as more unusual selections that include Dusk/Dawn, Food, and Museum modes.
Easy PanoramaHigh-contrast monochromeHigh keyLow keyThe camera also provides an Easy Panorama mode, which is similar to the Sweep Panorama setting found on Sony's cameras: You press the shutter button and pan across a scene, and the camera then stitches together a panoramic image. The S9100, however, goes a few steps further than Sony's cameras, giving you the option to create either 180-degree or 360-degree panoramas via the menus. In general, the mode works well, just as long as you pan the camera slowly; quick pans led to blurry images in my test shots.
You can reach all the aforementioned modes by selecting 'Scene' on the camera's mode dial and making your choice via on-screen menus, but the S9100 also provides quick access to a few modes--Backlighting, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape modes, as well as the camera's continuous shooting mode--directly on the mode dial. The camera captures at a rate of 9.5 shots per second at full resolution, but you're limited to 5 shots per burst. It fires the shutter so quickly that getting the hang of it is a bit tricky, and it works best when a fast-moving subject is already in motion.
A few more creative modes are lurking in the camera's 'Effects' selection, available by way of the mode dial: a 'Selective color' option that lets you isolate a single color in a black-and-white photo, a 'High-contrast monochrome' effect that makes images look a bit like newsprint, and 'High key' and 'Low key' effects for boosting and muting colors, respectively.
Some of the best features of this camera include its post-shot editing tools, which let you apply filters and quick fixes to copies of your photos while retaining the source image. Highlights include the aforementioned D-Lighting and Quick Retouch functions, which almost always improve the look and detail of images, and Fisheye and Miniature Effect filters, which let you mimic the look of different lenses. Alas, all those extra goodies are available only in still-image mode; you can't apply any of the effects to videos.
2011年4月11日 星期一
City considers hosting festivals, adding platforms to new Traffic Bridge
Reusing the contentious accent lights on the new Traffic Bridge could cost more than their original half-million-dollar price tag.
The no-win question of what to do with the bridge's programmable LED lights — reuse them, scrap them or buy new flood-style lights — will go before a city committee next week alongside a package of ideas for the $30-million steel-truss replacement bridge.
The planning and operations committee Tuesday will decide whether to add power to the bridge so the new bridge could be used to stage concerts, festivals and charity events; to include viewing bays to the attached walkways; and to spend more than $1 million to take down, store and reuse the 103-year-old heritage structure.
Councillors on the committee must decide what to do with the bridge's $462,000 string of LED accent lights that were put up in 2007. The lights have become a lightning rod for some people's dissatisfaction with city spending priorities.
Retaining the lights, in part or in full, will cost an estimated $375,000 to $500,000, depending on the number of lights that can be salvaged, the report says.
The estimates aren't detailed and would require council approval, said Chris Hallam, the city's manager of construction and design.
The more lights that can be reused, the lower the price, but there are basic labour costs for pulling the lights down from the condemned structure and putting them back up again, Hallam said.
Buying new architectural lighting — likely more subtle floodlights — would cost $400,000 to $550,000.
The flood light concept would be similar to what's been done with the Langevin Bridge in Calgary, which crosses the Bow River to the city's downtown, and the Peace Bridge, a 1927 steel arch bridge across the Niagara River, the report says. The 100-year-old Langevin Bridge was rigged with 5,600 LED lights in 2009 for $370,000 and has received positive reviews. Lighting the Peace Bridge with LED flood lights cost $1.2 million in 2008.
The no-win question of what to do with the bridge's programmable LED lights — reuse them, scrap them or buy new flood-style lights — will go before a city committee next week alongside a package of ideas for the $30-million steel-truss replacement bridge.
The planning and operations committee Tuesday will decide whether to add power to the bridge so the new bridge could be used to stage concerts, festivals and charity events; to include viewing bays to the attached walkways; and to spend more than $1 million to take down, store and reuse the 103-year-old heritage structure.
Councillors on the committee must decide what to do with the bridge's $462,000 string of LED accent lights that were put up in 2007. The lights have become a lightning rod for some people's dissatisfaction with city spending priorities.
Retaining the lights, in part or in full, will cost an estimated $375,000 to $500,000, depending on the number of lights that can be salvaged, the report says.
The estimates aren't detailed and would require council approval, said Chris Hallam, the city's manager of construction and design.
The more lights that can be reused, the lower the price, but there are basic labour costs for pulling the lights down from the condemned structure and putting them back up again, Hallam said.
Buying new architectural lighting — likely more subtle floodlights — would cost $400,000 to $550,000.
The flood light concept would be similar to what's been done with the Langevin Bridge in Calgary, which crosses the Bow River to the city's downtown, and the Peace Bridge, a 1927 steel arch bridge across the Niagara River, the report says. The 100-year-old Langevin Bridge was rigged with 5,600 LED lights in 2009 for $370,000 and has received positive reviews. Lighting the Peace Bridge with LED flood lights cost $1.2 million in 2008.
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