The environmentally friendly practice conserves natural resources, helps make the air cleaner and helps people breathe better. We may spend about 90 percent of our day indoors, but the air quality inside can actually be much worse than it is outside.
Enter eco-friendly residential buildings, the very first and the best of which are right in Battery Park City.
The Solaire, erected in 2003, was America’s first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), residential building. Located at 20 River Terrace and standing 27-stories tall, it consumes 35 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than most residential buildings, and solar panels generate much of the building’s electricity. In 2006, the 26-story Verdesian was built at 211 North End Ave., followed by the Visionaire at 70 Little West St. in 2008.
All three buildings are owned and were developed by The Albanese Organization; the Visionaire is their best yet, having improved on its predecessors.
These LEED-certified residential high-rises offer increased access to natural light, improved indoor air quality, energy-efficient appliances, and in-room occupancy sensors for lighting and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (H.V.A.C.). Where water conservation is concerned, the buildings treat it, purify it, and re-use it, as well as capture their own storm water-runoff.
The structures themselves were all built using 50 percent recycled construction materials.
Development of the Solaire, created in accordance with the Battery Park City Authority’s “green guidelines,” began in 2000. The developers kept powering through in 2001, when, perhaps, there was a greater need for purified air.
It costs more to develop LEED-certified buildings, and therefore rents in the buildings are generally higher. The Solaire and Verdesian are rentals, but the Visionaire is for buyers only. A 600-square-foot studio in the Visionaire runs about $670,000 and a three-bedroom runs closer to $2 million.
Reduced energy bills may eventually offset the cost. If you’re an allergy sufferer, you may end up saving on doctor’s bills, too, since these buildings are just plain healthier to live in.
Fresh air is filtered into each apartment and humidified during winter months — especially helpful for those who suffer from allergies. The air quality throughout the buildings is noticeable; many of the building’s residents testify to improved “wellness.”
“I have a history of asthma and hypersensitivity to odors and allergens in the air,” said Visionaire resident Rod McCowan, 52. “The air is crisp and pure. I can tell I’m breathing better.”
A self-proclaimed “stickler for a quality building,” McCowan is most impressed with other details like the recycling room, which includes a battery shoot and a recycling program for old electronics. He said he “barely hears street traffic,” and that the apartment always sees a whole lot of natural light, even when it’s overcast, thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Pierre Desautels and his wife, Suzanne, first rented at 99 Battery Place before moving into the Visionaire. An engineer with a big hand in the development of Battery Park City in the 1980s, Desautels worked on the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center and was more than familiar with the area. The energy conservation aspect was one of the most important factors in his decision to buy.
“My parents were a product of the depression, and were always very careful about using only what you need,” said Desautels, 58. “If you don’t need it, you save it.”
Desautels said he feels he’s getting a good bang for his buck.
“I’ve seen other buildings in Battery Park and elsewhere that are 20 percent more expensive and don’t even begin to compare,” said Desautels.
Cost was also a factor for McCowan and his wife, who approached Manhattan with trepidation. They were concerned they wouldn’t be able to find something affordable that they’d be “proud to call home.”
“Battery Park City actually came at a bit of a discount relative to the city, and yet most of it was brand new,” said McCowan.
“More people know about green development now, so we’re seeing a wider availability of experience and materials,” said Russell Albanese, president of the Albanese Organization. “Paints, adhesives, and even carpeting are being made to deliver better conservation of natural resources.”
2012年2月29日 星期三
2012年2月28日 星期二
013 Cadillac XTS has LED-infused door handles, take that Audi
choreographed lighting display
Audi might have started the LED lighting craze, but Cadillac is hoping to garner some attention by sticking them all over the 2013 XTS.
While it's not uncommon for luxury cars to have LED-infused headlights, Cadillac went a step further and embedded them in the mirrors, taillights and door handles. When an owner unlocks the car, it lights up in a choreographed display where the vertical LEDs turn on and eventually become brighter and brighter. The headlights then click on and the door handles become illuminated to surround the car is a sea of light.
The choreography continues in the cabin as the XTS' interior lights dim slowly once the car is started. According to Cadillac, they've taken a ‘theater' approach to keep the cabin warm and inviting.
Audi might have started the LED lighting craze, but Cadillac is hoping to garner some attention by sticking them all over the 2013 XTS.
While it's not uncommon for luxury cars to have LED-infused headlights, Cadillac went a step further and embedded them in the mirrors, taillights and door handles. When an owner unlocks the car, it lights up in a choreographed display where the vertical LEDs turn on and eventually become brighter and brighter. The headlights then click on and the door handles become illuminated to surround the car is a sea of light.
The choreography continues in the cabin as the XTS' interior lights dim slowly once the car is started. According to Cadillac, they've taken a ‘theater' approach to keep the cabin warm and inviting.
2012年2月27日 星期一
Ford's Hamburg stamping plants gets energy efficiency upgrade
Things are looking brighter inside Ford Motor Co.'s Hamburg stamping plant.
The massive Route 5 complex has installed 1,740 LED tandem fixtures that are 70 percent more efficient than the metal halide light fixtures they replaced. The project was supported by a $1.35 million grant from National Grid, the utility's largest-ever grant for energy efficiency.
"Something as simple as changing the lighting can contribute benefits not just to the customer, but also to the environment," said Kenneth Daly, National Grid's president in New York state.
The annual estimated energy reduction from the upgrade - about 10.7 million kilowatt hours - is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by 1,400 homes in a year, Daly said.
The project's value was $2.7 million, with National Grid's grant covering half the cost. Ford and National Grid officials hailed the results at a Monday press conference at the plant, which stamps parts for vehicles including the Ford Edge and Flex.
Daly said the project reflects National Grid's goals of investing in the electric infrastructure, helping keep customers' energy bills down, and giving back to its community.
The massive Route 5 complex has installed 1,740 LED tandem fixtures that are 70 percent more efficient than the metal halide light fixtures they replaced. The project was supported by a $1.35 million grant from National Grid, the utility's largest-ever grant for energy efficiency.
"Something as simple as changing the lighting can contribute benefits not just to the customer, but also to the environment," said Kenneth Daly, National Grid's president in New York state.
The annual estimated energy reduction from the upgrade - about 10.7 million kilowatt hours - is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by 1,400 homes in a year, Daly said.
The project's value was $2.7 million, with National Grid's grant covering half the cost. Ford and National Grid officials hailed the results at a Monday press conference at the plant, which stamps parts for vehicles including the Ford Edge and Flex.
Daly said the project reflects National Grid's goals of investing in the electric infrastructure, helping keep customers' energy bills down, and giving back to its community.
2012年2月23日 星期四
Mainland China Likely to Enlarge LED Lighting Subsidization Coverage
Mainland China is likely to enlarge LED-lighting subsidization coverage, including not only more product items but also more supply sources, according to deputy sectary general of China Solid State Lighting Alliance, Tang Gouquin.
Tang made the statement yesterday at a forum held in Taipei addressing LED industry.
He said the mainland's authorities would announce details of the subsidization plan before long. This is the mainland's second phase of the subsidization initiative for LED-lighting consumptions, aiming to subsidize over 10 million lamps this year. Some 10% of the number was subsidized in first phase of the project.
In the upcoming implementation of the second stage, added products will include streetlight, tunnel lights, and light bulbs, an extension from indoor lighting covered in first phase.
Tang pointed out that the subsidization will be extended to suppliers from other places than the mainland as long as they are certified with the mainland's CQC approval. In this case, Taiwan's suppliers, including Delta Electronics Inc., Epistar Inc., Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., Unity Opto Technology Co., Ltd., Edison Opto Corp., Bright LED Electronics Corp., Epileds Technologies Inc., Lextar Electronics Corp., and Ledtech Electronics Co., Ltd., are expected to enter into the supply chain.
Unity Chairman Alpha Wu pointed out that one of the mainland's partners has applied for CQC certification in preparation for the second-stage implementation of the plan.
Episar, which won the subsidization in the first-stage implementation of the plan, has entered into alliance with many mainland Chinese lighting-fixture manufacturers. The company projects its LED lighting sales to account for 30% of its total revenue of this year, partly thanks to sales in the mainland.
LED packager Edison pointed out that sales of its LED lighting modules will surge to account for 35-40% of its revenue for this year also partly thanks to the mainland market.
Tang noted that the mainland had designated LED as one of the mainland's seven strategic industries urgently needed to be developed. He noted that the mainland's National Development and Reform Commission has been working with other mainland Chinese ministries over the measures of banning incandescent bulbs in line with the LED lighting plan.
Tang made the statement yesterday at a forum held in Taipei addressing LED industry.
He said the mainland's authorities would announce details of the subsidization plan before long. This is the mainland's second phase of the subsidization initiative for LED-lighting consumptions, aiming to subsidize over 10 million lamps this year. Some 10% of the number was subsidized in first phase of the project.
In the upcoming implementation of the second stage, added products will include streetlight, tunnel lights, and light bulbs, an extension from indoor lighting covered in first phase.
Tang pointed out that the subsidization will be extended to suppliers from other places than the mainland as long as they are certified with the mainland's CQC approval. In this case, Taiwan's suppliers, including Delta Electronics Inc., Epistar Inc., Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., Unity Opto Technology Co., Ltd., Edison Opto Corp., Bright LED Electronics Corp., Epileds Technologies Inc., Lextar Electronics Corp., and Ledtech Electronics Co., Ltd., are expected to enter into the supply chain.
Unity Chairman Alpha Wu pointed out that one of the mainland's partners has applied for CQC certification in preparation for the second-stage implementation of the plan.
Episar, which won the subsidization in the first-stage implementation of the plan, has entered into alliance with many mainland Chinese lighting-fixture manufacturers. The company projects its LED lighting sales to account for 30% of its total revenue of this year, partly thanks to sales in the mainland.
LED packager Edison pointed out that sales of its LED lighting modules will surge to account for 35-40% of its revenue for this year also partly thanks to the mainland market.
Tang noted that the mainland had designated LED as one of the mainland's seven strategic industries urgently needed to be developed. He noted that the mainland's National Development and Reform Commission has been working with other mainland Chinese ministries over the measures of banning incandescent bulbs in line with the LED lighting plan.
2012年2月22日 星期三
Go Away With ... Kambri Crews
When bill collectors called the Crews house, they talked to Kambri, the hearing child of deaf parents. Today, Kambri Crews, a 40-year-old author, having watched her charismatic father beat her mother, tells her compelling life story filled with love, hope and fear, in her thoughtful and sly memoir "Burn Down the Ground" (Villard, $25). One of the more unique places that Crews travels to is the Texas prison where her father is serving a 20-year sentence for the attempted murder of a girlfriend.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. I've been flying on my own since I was five years old. I flew Braniff Airlines from Houston to Tulsa where I spent summers with my deaf grandparents. When I was 12, they took me on my first real vacation: a road trip to San Antonio, Texas to visit the Alamo and the Natural Bridge Caverns in New Braunfels. We saw wild bat colonies, rode inner tubes down the Guadalupe River, toured an anti-gravity house and ventured deep inside the caverns on a guided tour of sheer natural wonder. We were learning, laughing and experiencing things for the first time together. Before that trip, my grandparents were just some old people my mom was fond of. By the end, we were true friends.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. In sixth grade Social Studies class, Kenya was my choice for a required report on a foreign country. I've always had a fascination with animals and African safaris in particular. I'm not sure I could handle watching a real hunt and kill, though. I sob uncontrollably at National Geographic. I'd likely ruin the food chain by shrieking like I do at horror movies: "He's right behind you! Run!"
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. I once lived in a one-room tin shack, so it doesn't take much to impress me. Offer me warm cookies, free newspapers and lemon water in the lobby, and I'm ready to move in. My top three hotel memories are of the Topaz in Washington, D.C., they are pet friendly, offer you free wine in the late afternoon and are within walking distance of the DC Improv where my husband performs; the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, R.I., their pillows were so divine I purchased four for myself, and the Hotel des Academies et des Arts, a boutique hotel in Paris, that made me want to live there as an artist in residence, even though I can't draw a circle.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Peru. It has the perfect combination of spectacular natural beauty, rich history, friendly people and affordability.
Q. To someone who was going there for the first time, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?
A. The lost city of Machu Picchu is the obvious choice with its jaw-dropping beauty and unusual origins. But we also stayed at the Tambopata Eco Lodge, where we hiked through the rain forest and camped in a tent in the jungle with our guide named Elvis. We saw every species of monkey native to Peru and had a very long staring contest with a herd of wild boar. I won. It was a slightly dangerous, yet completely thrilling experience.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. There's no place like home. But with my unconventional life, I actually mean it. Camping in the rain forest in Peru would probably be the closest. Not bathing, relieving myself in the woods, sleeping on the hard ground, using lanterns and flashlights and hoping not to be killed in the middle of the night? Yep, that about sums it up.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?
A. The hotel mini-bar and room service. I like to order anything that supplies me with more miniature things to take home: mayo, ketchup, mustard, jelly. I could have a curio cabinet filled with them.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. A good book, sunblock, sunglasses and a fridge stocked full of overpriced tiny stuff. I don't know what it is about mini-sized things that I love so much. Maybe my husband can tell you.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., is a short drive or train ride from New York City and a lovely village with iconic American historic sites. If you're a runner like I am, they offer fun, yet challenging, races, including a 10K on Halloween weekend. Seeing the Headless Horseman along the trail adds some incentive to run a little faster. They also have fantastic antique stores, if you have a way of getting your purchases back home.
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
A. When I was nine, my friend Sally and her family let me join them on a road trip to Matagorda Bay on the Texas coast. Her family drove school buses and had converted an old one into a makeshift travel trailer. For some unknown reason, we had the entire beach to ourselves. Seeing miles of vacant gulf and sand and sky was overwhelming. We threw a net into the ocean and later pulled up our catch to find so many crabs you couldn't see the string. We camped, swam in the surf, ate freshly boiled crab and swapped stories around a fire. They didn't care about fancy pillows from the Biltmore or stocked mini-fridges, they just loved each other and, by default, me. It was magical.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. I've been flying on my own since I was five years old. I flew Braniff Airlines from Houston to Tulsa where I spent summers with my deaf grandparents. When I was 12, they took me on my first real vacation: a road trip to San Antonio, Texas to visit the Alamo and the Natural Bridge Caverns in New Braunfels. We saw wild bat colonies, rode inner tubes down the Guadalupe River, toured an anti-gravity house and ventured deep inside the caverns on a guided tour of sheer natural wonder. We were learning, laughing and experiencing things for the first time together. Before that trip, my grandparents were just some old people my mom was fond of. By the end, we were true friends.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. In sixth grade Social Studies class, Kenya was my choice for a required report on a foreign country. I've always had a fascination with animals and African safaris in particular. I'm not sure I could handle watching a real hunt and kill, though. I sob uncontrollably at National Geographic. I'd likely ruin the food chain by shrieking like I do at horror movies: "He's right behind you! Run!"
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. I once lived in a one-room tin shack, so it doesn't take much to impress me. Offer me warm cookies, free newspapers and lemon water in the lobby, and I'm ready to move in. My top three hotel memories are of the Topaz in Washington, D.C., they are pet friendly, offer you free wine in the late afternoon and are within walking distance of the DC Improv where my husband performs; the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, R.I., their pillows were so divine I purchased four for myself, and the Hotel des Academies et des Arts, a boutique hotel in Paris, that made me want to live there as an artist in residence, even though I can't draw a circle.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Peru. It has the perfect combination of spectacular natural beauty, rich history, friendly people and affordability.
Q. To someone who was going there for the first time, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?
A. The lost city of Machu Picchu is the obvious choice with its jaw-dropping beauty and unusual origins. But we also stayed at the Tambopata Eco Lodge, where we hiked through the rain forest and camped in a tent in the jungle with our guide named Elvis. We saw every species of monkey native to Peru and had a very long staring contest with a herd of wild boar. I won. It was a slightly dangerous, yet completely thrilling experience.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. There's no place like home. But with my unconventional life, I actually mean it. Camping in the rain forest in Peru would probably be the closest. Not bathing, relieving myself in the woods, sleeping on the hard ground, using lanterns and flashlights and hoping not to be killed in the middle of the night? Yep, that about sums it up.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?
A. The hotel mini-bar and room service. I like to order anything that supplies me with more miniature things to take home: mayo, ketchup, mustard, jelly. I could have a curio cabinet filled with them.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. A good book, sunblock, sunglasses and a fridge stocked full of overpriced tiny stuff. I don't know what it is about mini-sized things that I love so much. Maybe my husband can tell you.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., is a short drive or train ride from New York City and a lovely village with iconic American historic sites. If you're a runner like I am, they offer fun, yet challenging, races, including a 10K on Halloween weekend. Seeing the Headless Horseman along the trail adds some incentive to run a little faster. They also have fantastic antique stores, if you have a way of getting your purchases back home.
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
A. When I was nine, my friend Sally and her family let me join them on a road trip to Matagorda Bay on the Texas coast. Her family drove school buses and had converted an old one into a makeshift travel trailer. For some unknown reason, we had the entire beach to ourselves. Seeing miles of vacant gulf and sand and sky was overwhelming. We threw a net into the ocean and later pulled up our catch to find so many crabs you couldn't see the string. We camped, swam in the surf, ate freshly boiled crab and swapped stories around a fire. They didn't care about fancy pillows from the Biltmore or stocked mini-fridges, they just loved each other and, by default, me. It was magical.
2012年2月21日 星期二
Top 5 LED Lanterns for Cold-Weather Camping
While packing for your cold-weather camping trip, don't forget to include a few lanterns. Some folks like to pack gas-powered lanterns whereas others opt for battery powered ones. Personally, I like to use both.
Here are five LED lanterns you should consider picking up for your next winter camping trip:
1. Thinktank LED Camping Lantern
The Thinktank LED Camping Lantern is a good value for the $9 price. It has a built-in handle and a compass, which are convenient to have. It also gives off more than enough light inside small to medium size tents. The only real downside in my book is that it isn't waterproof. It comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty, and you can usually pick one up through most home improvement or outdoor outfitter locations.
2. Buffalo Tools LED Camping Lantern
The Buffalo Tools LED Camping Lantern is another item that you may want to consider investing in. There are two features that make this lantern unique. First, it doesn't run on batteries or gas. In order to make the light work you wind it up. It has 12 LED lights, which is enough to illuminate a small tent. It's also great for those late night sprints to the car. Second, you can use it to charge your cell phone. You can typically purchase one online through select retailers for less than $20 a piece.
3. Coleman Twin LED C002
For winter camping, I like the Coleman Twin LED C002 Model. It is weather resistant, so you don't have to worry about it conking out after getting hit by a snow flurry or two. In most cases, it will run for roughly 15 to 100 hours before you need to change the batteries. Higher settings tend to shorten the battery life. You may expect to pay $40 or more for one depending on the retailer. Most outdoor outfitters and major home improvement stores carry the lanterns.
4. Rayovac LED Lantern
Personally, I also like Rayovac's LED Lantern. It tends to last a whopping 150 hours on a set of batteries and sells for $30 through select online retailers. I like the folding handle and the water resistant design. It also has a blinking strobe light feature, which is superlative to have during emergencies.
5. Cabela's Bugproof LED Lantern
One other product worth mentioning is the Bugproof LED Lantern by Cabela. It has four settings, comes with a retractable hook, and will last approximately 175 hours on a new set of batteries. Furthermore, the lantern is waterproof and will float if you happen to drop it into the water. The lantern's bug-invisible setting is also great to have during the warmer weather. You'll need to fork over roughly $60 to own one, but I think it's worth it.
Here are five LED lanterns you should consider picking up for your next winter camping trip:
1. Thinktank LED Camping Lantern
The Thinktank LED Camping Lantern is a good value for the $9 price. It has a built-in handle and a compass, which are convenient to have. It also gives off more than enough light inside small to medium size tents. The only real downside in my book is that it isn't waterproof. It comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty, and you can usually pick one up through most home improvement or outdoor outfitter locations.
2. Buffalo Tools LED Camping Lantern
The Buffalo Tools LED Camping Lantern is another item that you may want to consider investing in. There are two features that make this lantern unique. First, it doesn't run on batteries or gas. In order to make the light work you wind it up. It has 12 LED lights, which is enough to illuminate a small tent. It's also great for those late night sprints to the car. Second, you can use it to charge your cell phone. You can typically purchase one online through select retailers for less than $20 a piece.
3. Coleman Twin LED C002
For winter camping, I like the Coleman Twin LED C002 Model. It is weather resistant, so you don't have to worry about it conking out after getting hit by a snow flurry or two. In most cases, it will run for roughly 15 to 100 hours before you need to change the batteries. Higher settings tend to shorten the battery life. You may expect to pay $40 or more for one depending on the retailer. Most outdoor outfitters and major home improvement stores carry the lanterns.
4. Rayovac LED Lantern
Personally, I also like Rayovac's LED Lantern. It tends to last a whopping 150 hours on a set of batteries and sells for $30 through select online retailers. I like the folding handle and the water resistant design. It also has a blinking strobe light feature, which is superlative to have during emergencies.
5. Cabela's Bugproof LED Lantern
One other product worth mentioning is the Bugproof LED Lantern by Cabela. It has four settings, comes with a retractable hook, and will last approximately 175 hours on a new set of batteries. Furthermore, the lantern is waterproof and will float if you happen to drop it into the water. The lantern's bug-invisible setting is also great to have during the warmer weather. You'll need to fork over roughly $60 to own one, but I think it's worth it.
2012年2月20日 星期一
MK Electric and Convergent Home Technologies Join Forces to Offer Energy-Efficient, Affordable Home Automation
MK Electric – the UK's leading manufacturer of wiring devices and accessories – has collaborated with home automation specialist, Convergent Home Technologies, to offer an advanced and cost-effective lighting, control, security and home entertainment system.
The system incorporates MK Astral – MK Electric's Z-Wave wireless lighting system – which can be installed using standard backboxes, allowing for simple installation for both new build and retrofit projects. It offers the user the ability to control multiple lights at the push of a single button as well as each light independently. These lights can be spread throughout the property and need not be wired together or back to a central point.
Z-Wave is a market-leading open protocol language that allows different manufacturers' products to work together. By collaborating with CHT, MK Astral can now be incorporated into a flexible and very capable "Dianemo" system. In addition to overhead lighting, Astral can be extended to wirelessly control plug-in lighting and blinds, which can also be selectively activated by a PIR if needed. It also allows a user to play their music, DVD or Blu-Ray collection, control their TV's, manage the temperature of their home or view their security cameras from anywhere in the world, as long as they have access to the internet.
Jason Ng, Marketing Communications Specialist for MK Electric, said: "For customers looking for a reputable and easy-to-install home automation system the selling points are often the "wow factor" and ease of control, however the biggest unforseen tangible benefits are usually the energy savings and lower electricity bills. The ability to control whole areas of the house with one button or use a simple PIR device to turn on the lighting only when needed can generate savings much higher than expected.
"One of the great advantages MK Astral has over its competitors is that as well as being installed on traditional wiring it is easy to create occupancy simulation. By selecting "holiday mode" the lighting will replicate its pattern from the preceding 24 hours – a fantastic security feature when away from home, either for just the evening or for extended periods."
Systems like MK Astral can now be controlled by Wi-Fi devices such as iPhones and iPads, which has led to a surge in home control for the masses. All chosen aspects of the home can be managed using a common floorplan interface either individually or together. The system also provides for a hierarchy of users to give some users – for example parents – more authority and control than others.
For security, the intelligence within the "nerve centre" behind each Dianemo system can allow a PIR sensor to act as a security sensor when the home is unoccupied and call a neighbour, or sound an alarm if movement is detected. Alternatively, when occupied, the sensor could illuminate low level lighting so a youngster could make their way to the bathroom during the night.
The system incorporates MK Astral – MK Electric's Z-Wave wireless lighting system – which can be installed using standard backboxes, allowing for simple installation for both new build and retrofit projects. It offers the user the ability to control multiple lights at the push of a single button as well as each light independently. These lights can be spread throughout the property and need not be wired together or back to a central point.
Z-Wave is a market-leading open protocol language that allows different manufacturers' products to work together. By collaborating with CHT, MK Astral can now be incorporated into a flexible and very capable "Dianemo" system. In addition to overhead lighting, Astral can be extended to wirelessly control plug-in lighting and blinds, which can also be selectively activated by a PIR if needed. It also allows a user to play their music, DVD or Blu-Ray collection, control their TV's, manage the temperature of their home or view their security cameras from anywhere in the world, as long as they have access to the internet.
Jason Ng, Marketing Communications Specialist for MK Electric, said: "For customers looking for a reputable and easy-to-install home automation system the selling points are often the "wow factor" and ease of control, however the biggest unforseen tangible benefits are usually the energy savings and lower electricity bills. The ability to control whole areas of the house with one button or use a simple PIR device to turn on the lighting only when needed can generate savings much higher than expected.
"One of the great advantages MK Astral has over its competitors is that as well as being installed on traditional wiring it is easy to create occupancy simulation. By selecting "holiday mode" the lighting will replicate its pattern from the preceding 24 hours – a fantastic security feature when away from home, either for just the evening or for extended periods."
Systems like MK Astral can now be controlled by Wi-Fi devices such as iPhones and iPads, which has led to a surge in home control for the masses. All chosen aspects of the home can be managed using a common floorplan interface either individually or together. The system also provides for a hierarchy of users to give some users – for example parents – more authority and control than others.
For security, the intelligence within the "nerve centre" behind each Dianemo system can allow a PIR sensor to act as a security sensor when the home is unoccupied and call a neighbour, or sound an alarm if movement is detected. Alternatively, when occupied, the sensor could illuminate low level lighting so a youngster could make their way to the bathroom during the night.
2012年2月19日 星期日
Personal Best Performances Galore at Cornell
The biggest meet of the season for the track and field teams is right on the horizon: the Mid-American Conference championships. Judging by the team's performance this weekend at Cornell, it's peaking at just the right time in preparation for it.
The Bulls traveled to Ithaca to compete in the Marc Denault Invitational, which would serve as a tune-up for the Bulls in preparation for the championship meet next week. Buffalo traveled light for this trip – leaving behind most of its roster – but the competitors that made the trek had career days.
Junior thrower Kristy Woods led the way for Buffalo, earning Field Athlete of the Meet honors. Her highlight came in the weighted throw, where she tossed a personal best 61-10.50 feet, blowing past her previous best by over four inches.
Woods was not finished setting personal records either, as she later would go on to win the women's shot put, throwing 50 feet. Sophomore thrower Rachael Roberts finished second in the event, throwing for a personal best of 47-10 feet.
The Bulls' throwing prowess wasn't limited to the women's squad either. All–MAC performer Rob Golabek has led the way for the Bulls for much of his career, and this meet was no exception. The senior finished on top of the shot put once again for Buffalo.
The invitational was not a scoring meet but there were several teams there and they were served noticed on Saturday, as the Bulls had a great showing in other events besides throwing.
Junior Tomarris Bell had his best performance of the season in the triple jump. He shattered his previous best by four feet when he jumped 46-10.25 feet. Bell also competed in the men's 60-meter dash and finished seventh.
Coach Vicki Mitchell feels as if the dedication and focus during practice time is what has led to some Bulls breaking out and really doing well in the later stages of the season.
"I think the team is really seeing the results of the hard work and are really coming together," Mitchell said. "The harder they want to work the better they are, and I know the coaches are very pleased with the team and how it is progressing."
Even though the Marc Denault Invitational had no technical winner, the Bulls can count this as a victory in several respects. The invitational served as an opportunity for struggling members to regain confidence, and for others to work out some flaws in their technique. And while some were getting back into the groove others were getting much needed rest before next week's big competition.
"For the athletes that didn't compete today that rested this weekend, that just means they are extra fresh, hungry, and prime for next week's competition," Mitchell said. "It's good for the several people who were competing weekend after weekend to just have a mental refresher so they can go into that conference meet refocused and ready to work hard."
The Bulls have never won the MAC Indoor Championship before, but with the team hitting its stride so late in the season, Mitchell and the rest of the Bulls are hoping that changes this year.
The Bulls traveled to Ithaca to compete in the Marc Denault Invitational, which would serve as a tune-up for the Bulls in preparation for the championship meet next week. Buffalo traveled light for this trip – leaving behind most of its roster – but the competitors that made the trek had career days.
Junior thrower Kristy Woods led the way for Buffalo, earning Field Athlete of the Meet honors. Her highlight came in the weighted throw, where she tossed a personal best 61-10.50 feet, blowing past her previous best by over four inches.
Woods was not finished setting personal records either, as she later would go on to win the women's shot put, throwing 50 feet. Sophomore thrower Rachael Roberts finished second in the event, throwing for a personal best of 47-10 feet.
The Bulls' throwing prowess wasn't limited to the women's squad either. All–MAC performer Rob Golabek has led the way for the Bulls for much of his career, and this meet was no exception. The senior finished on top of the shot put once again for Buffalo.
The invitational was not a scoring meet but there were several teams there and they were served noticed on Saturday, as the Bulls had a great showing in other events besides throwing.
Junior Tomarris Bell had his best performance of the season in the triple jump. He shattered his previous best by four feet when he jumped 46-10.25 feet. Bell also competed in the men's 60-meter dash and finished seventh.
Coach Vicki Mitchell feels as if the dedication and focus during practice time is what has led to some Bulls breaking out and really doing well in the later stages of the season.
"I think the team is really seeing the results of the hard work and are really coming together," Mitchell said. "The harder they want to work the better they are, and I know the coaches are very pleased with the team and how it is progressing."
Even though the Marc Denault Invitational had no technical winner, the Bulls can count this as a victory in several respects. The invitational served as an opportunity for struggling members to regain confidence, and for others to work out some flaws in their technique. And while some were getting back into the groove others were getting much needed rest before next week's big competition.
"For the athletes that didn't compete today that rested this weekend, that just means they are extra fresh, hungry, and prime for next week's competition," Mitchell said. "It's good for the several people who were competing weekend after weekend to just have a mental refresher so they can go into that conference meet refocused and ready to work hard."
The Bulls have never won the MAC Indoor Championship before, but with the team hitting its stride so late in the season, Mitchell and the rest of the Bulls are hoping that changes this year.
2012年2月15日 星期三
Capitol Lighting offers paid internships
The Boca Raton-based company is taking applications for Bright Start, a four-week training program. Up to eight interns will be paid $10 an hour during training. The top interns have the potential for a full-time job at the company with eight stores in Florida and New Jersey.
Sales experience would be helpful. "If you were successful selling cell phones or draperies or cars, you would be a terrific candidate for this program," he said. "A good sales person understands that it's asking the right questions and understanding the needs of the customers.
"That said, I am in a fashion industry, so what is traditional vs. contemporary and the colors popular now are also part of the education," he said.
People from the home furnishing and design fields are welcome to apply, "but that's something that can be taught," Lebersfeld said. "We're looking for the work ethic, the positive attitude and a sense of humor in an individual. The product knowledge and sales techniques, that's what we're going to try and do in the four weeks of training."
The right candidates will also be motivated "by the desire to make a lot of money," if they're eventually hired, he said. "It is a commission sales position, with benefits after 90 days of employment.''
The training will also include certifications in the Lighting Associate program of the American Lighting Association, the industry trade association, and other industry programs.
Capitol Lighting will pay for the course. "It gets them a base of knowledge as a starting point," Lebersfeld said. "If they do a site visit to a customer's home, and if they don't know what's new in LED lighting or the nuances of under-cabinet lighting, they're short-changing their customers."
Lebersfeld's brother, Ken Lebersfeld, the company's CEO, is designing the training program. He described it as "basic retail-type training, some industry specific training from design and technical concepts, and salesmanship appropriate for any type of customer service and retail organization. "It's a way for us to get some very robust people into our organization," he said.
Eric Lebersfeld said they're hoping for a pool of about 25 candidates for the internships. The idea came to him from the executive business group Vistage, and is based on the 2006 Will Smith movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness."
"The point of view is a person in a job they're not happy with, or who has been on the sidelines because they haven't found a job in their own profession," he said.
Sales experience would be helpful. "If you were successful selling cell phones or draperies or cars, you would be a terrific candidate for this program," he said. "A good sales person understands that it's asking the right questions and understanding the needs of the customers.
"That said, I am in a fashion industry, so what is traditional vs. contemporary and the colors popular now are also part of the education," he said.
People from the home furnishing and design fields are welcome to apply, "but that's something that can be taught," Lebersfeld said. "We're looking for the work ethic, the positive attitude and a sense of humor in an individual. The product knowledge and sales techniques, that's what we're going to try and do in the four weeks of training."
The right candidates will also be motivated "by the desire to make a lot of money," if they're eventually hired, he said. "It is a commission sales position, with benefits after 90 days of employment.''
The training will also include certifications in the Lighting Associate program of the American Lighting Association, the industry trade association, and other industry programs.
Capitol Lighting will pay for the course. "It gets them a base of knowledge as a starting point," Lebersfeld said. "If they do a site visit to a customer's home, and if they don't know what's new in LED lighting or the nuances of under-cabinet lighting, they're short-changing their customers."
Lebersfeld's brother, Ken Lebersfeld, the company's CEO, is designing the training program. He described it as "basic retail-type training, some industry specific training from design and technical concepts, and salesmanship appropriate for any type of customer service and retail organization. "It's a way for us to get some very robust people into our organization," he said.
Eric Lebersfeld said they're hoping for a pool of about 25 candidates for the internships. The idea came to him from the executive business group Vistage, and is based on the 2006 Will Smith movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness."
"The point of view is a person in a job they're not happy with, or who has been on the sidelines because they haven't found a job in their own profession," he said.
2012年2月14日 星期二
Advances in Efficient White OLED Lighting
Universal Display Corporation, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED technology and materials, today announced that the company was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for outstanding achievements in solid-state lighting throughout 2011. Universal Display received the award during 'Transformations in Lighting,' the DOE's annual Solid-State Lighting R&D Workshop. This is the fifth consecutive year that the company has received this DOE award.
This year's award is for Universal Display's demonstration of an all-phosphorescent OLED lighting system with greater than 55 lumen per Watt system efficacy in an under-cabinet application. This under-cabinet demonstration is an excellent example of the myriad lighting applications that can benefit from white OLEDs, as a result of their energy-efficient and cool operation, their ultra-thin form factor, and their pleasing color emission.
"The U.S. Department of Energy is pleased to see Universal Display's prototype systems demonstrating the promise of white OLED lighting with commercially-viable performance," said Dr. James Brodrick, Lighting Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy. "This DOE-UDC cost-shared project shows how government-industry partnerships can achieve R&D goals that ultimately bring energy savings to Americans." Dr. Brodrick presented the award to Dr. Mike Hack, who accepted it on behalf of the entire team at Universal Display.
"We appreciate the ongoing support from the U.S. Department of Energy, and also appreciate the recognition for our work in advancing OLED lighting in the broad scope of solid-state lighting," said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display.
"We have a tremendous team at Universal Display, as well as a strong network of partners that support our ongoing advances in highly energy-efficient phosphorescent OLED technology and materials. We look forward to continuing our work with the DOE to achieve performance targets for the commercialization of OLED lighting in a broad range of applications."
The U.S. DOE has estimated that solid-state lighting, including OLED lighting, could lead to a 50 percent reduction in energy use for lighting by 2030, or enough electricity to power more than 24 million homes in the U.S. Recent advances in OLED lighting, including those made by Universal Display, now allow OLEDs to meet a variety of niche lighting performance targets and to demonstrate the potential for OLEDs to achieve general lighting targets established by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Universal Display's phosphorescent OLED technology and materials offer up to a four-to-one power advantage over other OLED technologies, resulting in record energy-efficient OLEDs. In addition, OLED lighting may enable a range of exciting new product concepts with innovative form factors, transparency and flexibility.
This year's award is for Universal Display's demonstration of an all-phosphorescent OLED lighting system with greater than 55 lumen per Watt system efficacy in an under-cabinet application. This under-cabinet demonstration is an excellent example of the myriad lighting applications that can benefit from white OLEDs, as a result of their energy-efficient and cool operation, their ultra-thin form factor, and their pleasing color emission.
"The U.S. Department of Energy is pleased to see Universal Display's prototype systems demonstrating the promise of white OLED lighting with commercially-viable performance," said Dr. James Brodrick, Lighting Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy. "This DOE-UDC cost-shared project shows how government-industry partnerships can achieve R&D goals that ultimately bring energy savings to Americans." Dr. Brodrick presented the award to Dr. Mike Hack, who accepted it on behalf of the entire team at Universal Display.
"We appreciate the ongoing support from the U.S. Department of Energy, and also appreciate the recognition for our work in advancing OLED lighting in the broad scope of solid-state lighting," said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display.
"We have a tremendous team at Universal Display, as well as a strong network of partners that support our ongoing advances in highly energy-efficient phosphorescent OLED technology and materials. We look forward to continuing our work with the DOE to achieve performance targets for the commercialization of OLED lighting in a broad range of applications."
The U.S. DOE has estimated that solid-state lighting, including OLED lighting, could lead to a 50 percent reduction in energy use for lighting by 2030, or enough electricity to power more than 24 million homes in the U.S. Recent advances in OLED lighting, including those made by Universal Display, now allow OLEDs to meet a variety of niche lighting performance targets and to demonstrate the potential for OLEDs to achieve general lighting targets established by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Universal Display's phosphorescent OLED technology and materials offer up to a four-to-one power advantage over other OLED technologies, resulting in record energy-efficient OLEDs. In addition, OLED lighting may enable a range of exciting new product concepts with innovative form factors, transparency and flexibility.
2012年2月13日 星期一
Accidental Gunshot Wound, Gas Siphoned from City Van
Bonney Lake Police were dispatched to the Swiss Park for a report of disorderly conduct. There was a man in the RV Park cutting electrical wires from the motor homes and yelling at people.
One of the victims said the man cut their dish cable wires and that he had observed him cut the cable to 6 other campers and pulled down Christmas lights.
Police recognized the 42 year-old man from previous run-ins that afternoon. He resisted arrested and then yelled for officers to just "shoot him in the head" and "I want to die."
He told them he cut the wires with needle nose pliers and wanted to cut the power because it would stop the water in the pipes from making noise, and it would "save the children."
Police placed him under arrest for an involuntary committal to a mental hospital. His mother came and took possession of the vehicle. She told officers her son was off his medication and she was at a lost for what to do.
Police were dispatched to a welfare check in the parking lot of Fleet Feet Sports – a car parked there had at least two people passed out in the vehicle with a propane bottle just outside the car. There was also a metal cup with an attached handle and a piece of aluminum foil across the top that seemed to be used for smoking methamphetamine. There was burnt residue inside it that appeared to have been used for intravenous drug use.
An officer contacted a man in the front seat who appeared lethargic and could barely stay awake. He said he was homeless and sleeping in the parking lot. The metal cup was for heating up noodle soup, he said.
The other two passengers, a 25 year-old woman and 18 year-old man appeared disoriented and under the influence. The vehicle was registered to the woman's father and she claimed she had permission to use it.
A records check of the driver's name came back as someone else – the DOL described the man as having hazel eyes, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds – the man in the car had blue eyes and appeared to be larger than that. He also couldn't give his social security number or address.
The man was later identified as a 24 year-old man with two restraining orders associated against the man, filed by the woman in the car. She told police she would not cooperate in prosecuting him and they were meth users "in a rocky relationship."
Police found a pipe in his jeans pocket and a water bottle full of used hypodermic needles in the car.
The woman and other male passenger were released from the scene and the man was arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, making false or misleading statements about his identity and for breaking his two-no contact orders.
The woman's father was contacted and he said he did not give her permission to take his car but didn't report it because he didn't want her to get in trouble. He later picked up his car keys at the station.
One of the victims said the man cut their dish cable wires and that he had observed him cut the cable to 6 other campers and pulled down Christmas lights.
Police recognized the 42 year-old man from previous run-ins that afternoon. He resisted arrested and then yelled for officers to just "shoot him in the head" and "I want to die."
He told them he cut the wires with needle nose pliers and wanted to cut the power because it would stop the water in the pipes from making noise, and it would "save the children."
Police placed him under arrest for an involuntary committal to a mental hospital. His mother came and took possession of the vehicle. She told officers her son was off his medication and she was at a lost for what to do.
Police were dispatched to a welfare check in the parking lot of Fleet Feet Sports – a car parked there had at least two people passed out in the vehicle with a propane bottle just outside the car. There was also a metal cup with an attached handle and a piece of aluminum foil across the top that seemed to be used for smoking methamphetamine. There was burnt residue inside it that appeared to have been used for intravenous drug use.
An officer contacted a man in the front seat who appeared lethargic and could barely stay awake. He said he was homeless and sleeping in the parking lot. The metal cup was for heating up noodle soup, he said.
The other two passengers, a 25 year-old woman and 18 year-old man appeared disoriented and under the influence. The vehicle was registered to the woman's father and she claimed she had permission to use it.
A records check of the driver's name came back as someone else – the DOL described the man as having hazel eyes, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds – the man in the car had blue eyes and appeared to be larger than that. He also couldn't give his social security number or address.
The man was later identified as a 24 year-old man with two restraining orders associated against the man, filed by the woman in the car. She told police she would not cooperate in prosecuting him and they were meth users "in a rocky relationship."
Police found a pipe in his jeans pocket and a water bottle full of used hypodermic needles in the car.
The woman and other male passenger were released from the scene and the man was arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, making false or misleading statements about his identity and for breaking his two-no contact orders.
The woman's father was contacted and he said he did not give her permission to take his car but didn't report it because he didn't want her to get in trouble. He later picked up his car keys at the station.
2012年2月12日 星期日
The greening of Guantanamo
Two Florida firms, Solar Source of Tampa and TerraSmart of Fort Myers, are the contractor and supplier of a 1,200-panel solar array behind the base high school, just below the scrubby nine-hole golf course. It's meant to produce 430,000 kilowatt hours a year and power the base's popular no-charge gym, which doubles as a hurricane shelter.
There also have been email exchanges about whether the base could grow algae, as biofuel, inside a floating field of waste-water discharged into Guantanamo Bay. "NASA scientists are exploring this technology," says the base spokesman Terence Peck. "No decisions have been made for experimental locations as of yet."
In 2007, a public works officer bought a bioreactor off the Internet and tried his hand at extracting fuel from used cooking oil. It was abandoned after eight months, according to environmental director Mike McCord, as too labor-intensive and potentially dangerous because of the chemicals needed for the conversion process.
The Navy put in artificial turf at Cooper Field, the outdoor sports complex, to save on the fuel for desalinating water for the baseball diamond and soccer pitch.
Guantanamo is also the first Navy base in the southeast region - stretching from Fort Worth, Texas, to Charleston, S.C., to Cuba - to introduce mock utility bills.
Since the military picks up the troops' tab, the faux bills are meant to shock sailors and their families into conserving by estimating base household power costs. They come in at nearly 3.5 times the price of an average U.S. household.
The bills have had the desired "wow!" effect. Guantanamo human resources worker Ambroshia Jefferson-Smith felt her stomach turn in October when she got her $1,021.79 mock bill for a month of power at the single-story ranch-style house she shares with her 15-year-old son, five television sets and a cat.
"It's like coming home when you have been on holiday and getting that big credit card bill," she said. "You don't see anything tangible there, and you realize you have consumed a lot of electricity and water."
By her estimate, the bill would be seven times the sum she'd pay back home in Mississippi. So now she makes sure all the TVs are turned off, including the one on the backyard patio, and lowers the AC before she heads to work.
Conservation awareness is a work in progress. And the mock bills, like the Navy cops on bikes, are largely symbolic. The prison camps commander, the most senior officer on the base, has one of the biggest houses - and one of the biggest household bills, $2,093.67 in December, one of the coolest months in Cuba.
Another military unit here has joined the movement.
The Marine major in charge of the unit that monitors the 17.4 miles of fence line surrounding the base agreed to let the Public Works department replace a third of the floodlights with solar-powered LED lights. They're still on the electrical grid in case of too many gloomy or rainy days in a row. But they haven't needed to use the grid yet.
"I don't know what they're doing along the Mexican border," Torley said. "But the Marines were on board with all the energy stuff. They couldn't tell a difference."
There also have been email exchanges about whether the base could grow algae, as biofuel, inside a floating field of waste-water discharged into Guantanamo Bay. "NASA scientists are exploring this technology," says the base spokesman Terence Peck. "No decisions have been made for experimental locations as of yet."
In 2007, a public works officer bought a bioreactor off the Internet and tried his hand at extracting fuel from used cooking oil. It was abandoned after eight months, according to environmental director Mike McCord, as too labor-intensive and potentially dangerous because of the chemicals needed for the conversion process.
The Navy put in artificial turf at Cooper Field, the outdoor sports complex, to save on the fuel for desalinating water for the baseball diamond and soccer pitch.
Guantanamo is also the first Navy base in the southeast region - stretching from Fort Worth, Texas, to Charleston, S.C., to Cuba - to introduce mock utility bills.
Since the military picks up the troops' tab, the faux bills are meant to shock sailors and their families into conserving by estimating base household power costs. They come in at nearly 3.5 times the price of an average U.S. household.
The bills have had the desired "wow!" effect. Guantanamo human resources worker Ambroshia Jefferson-Smith felt her stomach turn in October when she got her $1,021.79 mock bill for a month of power at the single-story ranch-style house she shares with her 15-year-old son, five television sets and a cat.
"It's like coming home when you have been on holiday and getting that big credit card bill," she said. "You don't see anything tangible there, and you realize you have consumed a lot of electricity and water."
By her estimate, the bill would be seven times the sum she'd pay back home in Mississippi. So now she makes sure all the TVs are turned off, including the one on the backyard patio, and lowers the AC before she heads to work.
Conservation awareness is a work in progress. And the mock bills, like the Navy cops on bikes, are largely symbolic. The prison camps commander, the most senior officer on the base, has one of the biggest houses - and one of the biggest household bills, $2,093.67 in December, one of the coolest months in Cuba.
Another military unit here has joined the movement.
The Marine major in charge of the unit that monitors the 17.4 miles of fence line surrounding the base agreed to let the Public Works department replace a third of the floodlights with solar-powered LED lights. They're still on the electrical grid in case of too many gloomy or rainy days in a row. But they haven't needed to use the grid yet.
"I don't know what they're doing along the Mexican border," Torley said. "But the Marines were on board with all the energy stuff. They couldn't tell a difference."
2012年2月9日 星期四
Lighting up lives
By Lucas Oswald More than 5,014 companies founded in the last several decades have been the progeny of Stanford community members, according to the Wellspring of Innovation Project. While many of these companies fall squarely in the tech industry of Silicon Valley, several Stanford graduates have founded organizations that tackle social and environmental issues elsewhere.
One of these graduates is Ned Tozun B.S.'01, MBA'07, who found his true calling by utilizing his entrepreneurial skills to found light , which designs affordable and durable solar powered LED lights for people in developing countries with no or limited access to electricity.
As a computer science and earth systems double major, and later a graduate of the Graduate School of Business (GSB), Tozun never saw the need to narrow down his interests into a single profession.
Instead he decided to use his interdisciplinary education and diverse skill set in design, engineering and business to create his own start-up.
After obtaining his undergraduate degrees, Tozun worked as an engineer for seven months before dabbling in a few start-up ideas. During the same time period, Tozun and his fiancé did volunteer work with HIV/AIDS patients in Africa.
"I found doing work that had a social impact to be deeply meaningful and fulfilling," Tozun said, explaining that his work had "a very significant impact" on his view of the world.
Tozun described how returning to Silicon Valley to work on technology startups failed to give him the same feeling of fulfillment.
"I started to look for a way to blend my skills in the start-up tech world with what I really felt I was called to do," he said.
Goldman had discovered a need in the developing world that could be filled by modern technology. In slums and villages around the world, he noticed, inefficient, dangerous and expensive kerosene lamps are the main source of light. With innovations in LED and solar technology, Goldman found that better solutions existed.
With experience from a few start-ups and a greater familiarity with issues in the developing world under their belts, Tozun and Goldman attended the GSB to explore their entrepreneurial ideas.
Tozun said he chose the GSB for its social entrepreneurship focus and for a single class at the Institute of Design, "Design for Extreme Affordability."
After taking the class, Tozun and Goldman went to Southeast Asia to assess the need for affordable technology in the region.
One of these graduates is Ned Tozun B.S.'01, MBA'07, who found his true calling by utilizing his entrepreneurial skills to found light , which designs affordable and durable solar powered LED lights for people in developing countries with no or limited access to electricity.
As a computer science and earth systems double major, and later a graduate of the Graduate School of Business (GSB), Tozun never saw the need to narrow down his interests into a single profession.
Instead he decided to use his interdisciplinary education and diverse skill set in design, engineering and business to create his own start-up.
After obtaining his undergraduate degrees, Tozun worked as an engineer for seven months before dabbling in a few start-up ideas. During the same time period, Tozun and his fiancé did volunteer work with HIV/AIDS patients in Africa.
"I found doing work that had a social impact to be deeply meaningful and fulfilling," Tozun said, explaining that his work had "a very significant impact" on his view of the world.
Tozun described how returning to Silicon Valley to work on technology startups failed to give him the same feeling of fulfillment.
"I started to look for a way to blend my skills in the start-up tech world with what I really felt I was called to do," he said.
Goldman had discovered a need in the developing world that could be filled by modern technology. In slums and villages around the world, he noticed, inefficient, dangerous and expensive kerosene lamps are the main source of light. With innovations in LED and solar technology, Goldman found that better solutions existed.
With experience from a few start-ups and a greater familiarity with issues in the developing world under their belts, Tozun and Goldman attended the GSB to explore their entrepreneurial ideas.
Tozun said he chose the GSB for its social entrepreneurship focus and for a single class at the Institute of Design, "Design for Extreme Affordability."
After taking the class, Tozun and Goldman went to Southeast Asia to assess the need for affordable technology in the region.
2012年2月8日 星期三
Romeo company a finalist in MI 50 awards
The spotlight has been shined on a lighting company in Romeo.
ZON LED, a company under Ultraform Industries, has made it to the finals of the 2012 "50 Michigan Companies to Watch" awards.
The program, developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, honors companies in Michigan that display high performances in the market or possess innovative products or processes.
Only second-stage companies are eligible to be nominated and must meet a number of qualifications. These include being commercial firms that are privately held, employing six to 99 full-time employees and having between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital.
According to Don Frattaroli, owner of Ultraform since 1986, ZON LED employs six full-time workers and is projecting a 203 percent increase in revenue for 2012 when compared to 2011's numbers.
"That could be on the low side," said Frattaroli. "We're working with some large orders right now."
The nomination for ZON LED was submitted by James Ahee, senior economic development specialist with Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
The company was nominated as of Nov. 17, finding out in early January that it was a finalist for being one of 50 companies selected.
Winners are announced at the Michigan Celebrates Small Businesses gala in May and receive a trophy, a profile in a magazine and increased exposure.
Frattaroli admitted he was surprised by the news, but said the company's unique Light Emitting Diode (LED) products help place it as a front-runner.
"We do have a high-tech product here in LED lighting, and LED lighting is the future," he said. "We know we have a good product, no question."
The company manufactures LED "retrofit" fixtures and high bay lighting fixtures that replace conventional high-intensity discharge lights. Their LEDs are estimated to save 70 percent more on energy bills than traditional lighting and are quieter, safer and more durable.
ZON LED was founded in 2009 after two years of research and development of LED lighting fixtures. Since Ultraform already produces light fixtures, Frattaroli said it was only natural to branch out into another form of lighting.
"We got our first major order and purchased equipment to make in volume what we were making in the prototype area," he said.
They leased a building for the production equipment and are now shipping products throughout the United States and Canada.
"We build all the components in the state of Michigan," he said. "A lot of components are built here in Romeo."
Having been in Romeo since 1994, Frattaroli said Ultraform has had good relations with the village, such as receiving industrial facilities tax exemptions when purchasing new equipment.
ZON LED, a company under Ultraform Industries, has made it to the finals of the 2012 "50 Michigan Companies to Watch" awards.
The program, developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, honors companies in Michigan that display high performances in the market or possess innovative products or processes.
Only second-stage companies are eligible to be nominated and must meet a number of qualifications. These include being commercial firms that are privately held, employing six to 99 full-time employees and having between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital.
According to Don Frattaroli, owner of Ultraform since 1986, ZON LED employs six full-time workers and is projecting a 203 percent increase in revenue for 2012 when compared to 2011's numbers.
"That could be on the low side," said Frattaroli. "We're working with some large orders right now."
The nomination for ZON LED was submitted by James Ahee, senior economic development specialist with Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
The company was nominated as of Nov. 17, finding out in early January that it was a finalist for being one of 50 companies selected.
Winners are announced at the Michigan Celebrates Small Businesses gala in May and receive a trophy, a profile in a magazine and increased exposure.
Frattaroli admitted he was surprised by the news, but said the company's unique Light Emitting Diode (LED) products help place it as a front-runner.
"We do have a high-tech product here in LED lighting, and LED lighting is the future," he said. "We know we have a good product, no question."
The company manufactures LED "retrofit" fixtures and high bay lighting fixtures that replace conventional high-intensity discharge lights. Their LEDs are estimated to save 70 percent more on energy bills than traditional lighting and are quieter, safer and more durable.
ZON LED was founded in 2009 after two years of research and development of LED lighting fixtures. Since Ultraform already produces light fixtures, Frattaroli said it was only natural to branch out into another form of lighting.
"We got our first major order and purchased equipment to make in volume what we were making in the prototype area," he said.
They leased a building for the production equipment and are now shipping products throughout the United States and Canada.
"We build all the components in the state of Michigan," he said. "A lot of components are built here in Romeo."
Having been in Romeo since 1994, Frattaroli said Ultraform has had good relations with the village, such as receiving industrial facilities tax exemptions when purchasing new equipment.
2012年2月7日 星期二
Iraqi lawmaker says he faces charges; new crisis
Iraq's Shiite-led government wants to bring charges against a member of the Sunni-backed bloc, the lawmaker said Monday, the latest step in a political crisis that erupted just after the U.S. completed its military withdrawal from the violence-wracked nation.
Iraqiya parliamentarian Haidar al-Mulla said he was informed that prosecutors were seeking to charge him for insulting the country's judiciary by publicly questioning its independence from the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraqiya accuses al-Maliki of sectarian bias and of trying to push the Sunni-backed bloc out of the government to consolidate his own grip on power. Security forces have launched a widespread crackdown against Sunnis, detaining hundreds for alleged ties to the deposed Baath Party of Saddam Hussein.
In parallel, there has been a wave of violence in Iraq since the U.S. pullout in mid-December, killing more than 200 people. Most of the targets have been Shiites, with some apparent reprisal attacks by Sunnis.
Without the American troops acting as a buffer between Sunnis and Shiites, the twin politician and security crises could spark a civil war.
Al-Mulla said Monday he received a notice from the parliament that authorities have requested a vote to strip him of immunity to prosecute him on charges he insulted
Al-Mulla, who is a Shiite member of the overwhelmingly Sunni bloc, said the efforts to strip him of immunity is part of a "vicious campaign against Iraqiya" that underlines the authorities' resolve to squelch any criticism of al-Maliki's five-year rule in the war-ravaged country.
"We will not be silenced. I have the right to express my opinion and criticize inappropriate acts," al-Mulla told The Associated Press by telephone. "We will continue our work and expose any mismanagement of affairs in this country."
Iraqiya lawmakers have ended a protest boycott of the parliament, but their ministers stayed away from last week's Cabinet session. The next one is set for Tuesday, and no decision about their attendance has been made public.
Lawmakers ended the boycott last week, amid accusations that it had been fueling political instability and deprived the bloc's supporters from the Sunni minority of participating in important decisions, such as the nation's $100 billion budget that has yet to be approved by the parliament.
However, the bloc's nine ministers stayed away from the Cabinet session. Iraqiya has not confirmed if the ministers will attend the next weekly meeting, set for Tuesday.
The sectarian fight in the government has been accompanied with a surge in attacks, that have killed more than 200 people last month. The twin crises have raised fears of a reprise of a conflict five years ago.
Iraqiya parliamentarian Haidar al-Mulla said he was informed that prosecutors were seeking to charge him for insulting the country's judiciary by publicly questioning its independence from the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraqiya accuses al-Maliki of sectarian bias and of trying to push the Sunni-backed bloc out of the government to consolidate his own grip on power. Security forces have launched a widespread crackdown against Sunnis, detaining hundreds for alleged ties to the deposed Baath Party of Saddam Hussein.
In parallel, there has been a wave of violence in Iraq since the U.S. pullout in mid-December, killing more than 200 people. Most of the targets have been Shiites, with some apparent reprisal attacks by Sunnis.
Without the American troops acting as a buffer between Sunnis and Shiites, the twin politician and security crises could spark a civil war.
Al-Mulla said Monday he received a notice from the parliament that authorities have requested a vote to strip him of immunity to prosecute him on charges he insulted
Al-Mulla, who is a Shiite member of the overwhelmingly Sunni bloc, said the efforts to strip him of immunity is part of a "vicious campaign against Iraqiya" that underlines the authorities' resolve to squelch any criticism of al-Maliki's five-year rule in the war-ravaged country.
"We will not be silenced. I have the right to express my opinion and criticize inappropriate acts," al-Mulla told The Associated Press by telephone. "We will continue our work and expose any mismanagement of affairs in this country."
Iraqiya lawmakers have ended a protest boycott of the parliament, but their ministers stayed away from last week's Cabinet session. The next one is set for Tuesday, and no decision about their attendance has been made public.
Lawmakers ended the boycott last week, amid accusations that it had been fueling political instability and deprived the bloc's supporters from the Sunni minority of participating in important decisions, such as the nation's $100 billion budget that has yet to be approved by the parliament.
However, the bloc's nine ministers stayed away from the Cabinet session. Iraqiya has not confirmed if the ministers will attend the next weekly meeting, set for Tuesday.
The sectarian fight in the government has been accompanied with a surge in attacks, that have killed more than 200 people last month. The twin crises have raised fears of a reprise of a conflict five years ago.
2012年2月6日 星期一
Redwood Systems Expands Product Line to Support All Major Lighting Technologies
Redwood Systems, the leading provider of building-performance lighting solutions, today announced it has extended its product line to support all lighting fixture types. Previously available only for LEDs, the Redwood platform can now deliver energy and cost savings, as well as the benefits of fine-grained sensing, to any lighting environment. The new offering supports all of the industry's most commonly-used light fixtures, including fluorescents, HIDs and CFLs, in addition to LEDs.
While LED installations are expected to capture the majority of the commercial building market over the next few years, many building owners today are still deploying LEDs with other lighting sources. In these mixed environments, the ability to deliver intelligent lighting control has been limited. With this new solution, Redwood can now provide any customer with its best-in-class energy savings, as well as a range of building intelligence applications such as security alerts, temperature sensing and space utilization reporting. By leveraging the new Redwood product for legacy lighting sources, customers are also ensured an easy upgrade path to LEDs.
"The move to LED technology in the commercial space is inevitable, but in the short-term, we will see mixed-use facilities that have multiple lighting types," said Michael Siminovitch, Director of the California Lighting Technology Center. "To address this trend, Redwood's universal solution now brings cost-effective energy savings and smart building applications to any lighting environment."
Redwood's new product offering consists of two components, the Redwood Universal Gateway and the Redwood Sensor. The Redwood Universal Gateway turns fixtures on, off or dims them by sending a 0-10V output signal to dimmable ballasts or by controlling one or two external relays.
The Redwood Sensor collects data on light levels, occupancy and temperature, and is extensible with up to 14 different sensor types. Once installed, the Redwood Sensor connects with the Universal Gateway to send the data it collects back to the core of the Redwood platform, the Redwood Engine, for reporting and control.
"Whether our customers are moving to LEDs or using other lighting technologies, they clearly want one control system to manage all of their lights," said Dave Leonard, CEO, Redwood Systems. "Considering our record growth last quarter and even stronger start to 2012, demand for LEDs remains high and will continue to be our focus. However, our customers made it clear that they want to bring our advanced energy savings and building intelligence to their facilities that haven't yet moved fully to LEDs. By designing a product that delivers the same capabilities of our existing solution, we are ensuring that anyone can reap the benefits of the Redwood technology."
Redwood Systems' building-performance lighting solutions facilitate lower cost, higher-performing workplaces. Redwood has developed the world's only smart building platform that powers and controls lights and a high-density sensor grid providing both best-in-class energy savings and granular monitoring of space utilization, temperature and power consumption.
This award-winning approach uses patented networking technology and a low-voltage DC architecture for high reliability and scalability as well as low cost installation. With a growing roster of market-leading customers and partners, Redwood is building a reputation for customer success.
While LED installations are expected to capture the majority of the commercial building market over the next few years, many building owners today are still deploying LEDs with other lighting sources. In these mixed environments, the ability to deliver intelligent lighting control has been limited. With this new solution, Redwood can now provide any customer with its best-in-class energy savings, as well as a range of building intelligence applications such as security alerts, temperature sensing and space utilization reporting. By leveraging the new Redwood product for legacy lighting sources, customers are also ensured an easy upgrade path to LEDs.
"The move to LED technology in the commercial space is inevitable, but in the short-term, we will see mixed-use facilities that have multiple lighting types," said Michael Siminovitch, Director of the California Lighting Technology Center. "To address this trend, Redwood's universal solution now brings cost-effective energy savings and smart building applications to any lighting environment."
Redwood's new product offering consists of two components, the Redwood Universal Gateway and the Redwood Sensor. The Redwood Universal Gateway turns fixtures on, off or dims them by sending a 0-10V output signal to dimmable ballasts or by controlling one or two external relays.
The Redwood Sensor collects data on light levels, occupancy and temperature, and is extensible with up to 14 different sensor types. Once installed, the Redwood Sensor connects with the Universal Gateway to send the data it collects back to the core of the Redwood platform, the Redwood Engine, for reporting and control.
"Whether our customers are moving to LEDs or using other lighting technologies, they clearly want one control system to manage all of their lights," said Dave Leonard, CEO, Redwood Systems. "Considering our record growth last quarter and even stronger start to 2012, demand for LEDs remains high and will continue to be our focus. However, our customers made it clear that they want to bring our advanced energy savings and building intelligence to their facilities that haven't yet moved fully to LEDs. By designing a product that delivers the same capabilities of our existing solution, we are ensuring that anyone can reap the benefits of the Redwood technology."
Redwood Systems' building-performance lighting solutions facilitate lower cost, higher-performing workplaces. Redwood has developed the world's only smart building platform that powers and controls lights and a high-density sensor grid providing both best-in-class energy savings and granular monitoring of space utilization, temperature and power consumption.
This award-winning approach uses patented networking technology and a low-voltage DC architecture for high reliability and scalability as well as low cost installation. With a growing roster of market-leading customers and partners, Redwood is building a reputation for customer success.
2012年2月5日 星期日
Company keeps spies out of your life
The firm conducts electronic sweeps of office buildings, conference rooms and private homes to root out listening devices, video cameras and the like.
Ordinary-looking electrical switch-plates can conceal video cameras. Listening devices called "drop-ins" can be tossed into potted plants. Even cameras behind a pin-prick sized hole in a ceiling tile can provide an opening for a tiny, prying lens.
What makes Kimmons Investigative Services special - beyond some of its well-known clients, including Donald Trump - is the makeup of its staff. Most are former police officers well-versed in undercover work and surveillance tactics.
"Sometimes the people who use us are being paranoid, but we do find a handful of devices every year," said Rob Kimmons, the company's president. "We can also tell when a device has been planted and then taken away by what's been left behind."
Contrary to old-time detective novels, with a lone private eye sitting in a dingy, smoke-filled office, the firm's headquarters has lots of glass, dark-wood furniture and natural light. Cases are handled by 11 employees and 20 contractors. Kimmons reported annual revenues of $1.6 million last year and projects to top $2 million in 2012.
After spending 11 years with the Houston Police Department, Kimmons was recruited in 1980 by longtime private investigator Robert Newman to join his firm as vice president. In 1982, the firm's name become Kimmons Investigative Services.
"Back then we were doing mostly high-end divorces," Kimmons said. "People like Donald Trump, who didn't like it when his wife Ivana hired a PI from out of Texas during their divorce. Trump hired us to basically keep the other guy honest."
Today "keeping the other guy honest" can mean anything from sweeping a local high-tech company's boardroom for listening devices before its directors meet to searching private homes and shared offices for covert cameras planted by spouses.
"We had one woman call us in because she was convinced her husband was tapping the telephone in a conference room they shared," Kimmons said. "Sure enough, we didn't find that, but we found a camera in the ceiling. Turns out she'd been the one to put it there, but she forgot."
The investigators find these devices using some $70,000 worth of high-tech equipment, Kimmons said.
The kingpin is something called OSCOR, which is a portable microprocessor that detects audio and video transmitters and runs about $31,000.
"Other people will say they're a private investigator and come in with a wooden box with some LED lights on top," Kimmons said.
"It's criminal, because they're trying to pass themselves off as people who can actually do a thorough sweep."
Ordinary-looking electrical switch-plates can conceal video cameras. Listening devices called "drop-ins" can be tossed into potted plants. Even cameras behind a pin-prick sized hole in a ceiling tile can provide an opening for a tiny, prying lens.
What makes Kimmons Investigative Services special - beyond some of its well-known clients, including Donald Trump - is the makeup of its staff. Most are former police officers well-versed in undercover work and surveillance tactics.
"Sometimes the people who use us are being paranoid, but we do find a handful of devices every year," said Rob Kimmons, the company's president. "We can also tell when a device has been planted and then taken away by what's been left behind."
Contrary to old-time detective novels, with a lone private eye sitting in a dingy, smoke-filled office, the firm's headquarters has lots of glass, dark-wood furniture and natural light. Cases are handled by 11 employees and 20 contractors. Kimmons reported annual revenues of $1.6 million last year and projects to top $2 million in 2012.
After spending 11 years with the Houston Police Department, Kimmons was recruited in 1980 by longtime private investigator Robert Newman to join his firm as vice president. In 1982, the firm's name become Kimmons Investigative Services.
"Back then we were doing mostly high-end divorces," Kimmons said. "People like Donald Trump, who didn't like it when his wife Ivana hired a PI from out of Texas during their divorce. Trump hired us to basically keep the other guy honest."
Today "keeping the other guy honest" can mean anything from sweeping a local high-tech company's boardroom for listening devices before its directors meet to searching private homes and shared offices for covert cameras planted by spouses.
"We had one woman call us in because she was convinced her husband was tapping the telephone in a conference room they shared," Kimmons said. "Sure enough, we didn't find that, but we found a camera in the ceiling. Turns out she'd been the one to put it there, but she forgot."
The investigators find these devices using some $70,000 worth of high-tech equipment, Kimmons said.
The kingpin is something called OSCOR, which is a portable microprocessor that detects audio and video transmitters and runs about $31,000.
"Other people will say they're a private investigator and come in with a wooden box with some LED lights on top," Kimmons said.
"It's criminal, because they're trying to pass themselves off as people who can actually do a thorough sweep."
2012年2月2日 星期四
Analysis based on LED maker's data
In order to avoid the cost and effort of evaluating the photobiological safety of finished products, pressure has in the past been brought to bear on LED manufacturers to provide photobiological safety information which may be transferred to the finished product. It is clear that an IEC62471 evaluation of a bare LED is not directly transferable to a finished product, which may include multiple emitters and beam-shaping optics, so another strategy should be employed.
The irradiance of the finished product cannot in any way be predicted. However, in the case of radiance-based hazards, a measurement of the true radiance, coupled with the law of conservation of radiance, may be used to determine the maximum possible radiance of any finished product using a given LED.
IEC TR 62471-2 introduces this principle for the evaluation of the blue-light hazard (the dominant concern for retinal injury) through a measurement of true radiance of the component LED at 200-mm distance and 1.7-mrad FOV. The resulting value is adopted as the blue-light radiance of the final product, to be compared with the exposure limit values of each risk group in turn. It is important to note that care should be taken to ensure that the data provided by the manufacturer provides a correct analysis for the operating conditions of the finished product.
This procedure leads in many cases to an over-estimation of the hazard, since account is not taken of physiological radiance. This is demonstrated in Table 2, where a comparison is made between an IEC62471 analysis and a worst-case analysis of a particular product. In the former case, each RG is considered in turn, with measurements being performed in the correct FOV and compared with the RG exposure limit. In the latter case the worst-case radiance is assumed and compared with the limits of each risk group in turn (resulting in an RG2 classification).
A similar result is obtained in many instances, especially when considering high-power LEDs used in SSL applications. According to IEC TR 62471-2, blue-light RG2 requires the use of a warning label. This means that the lighting industry has been faced with the decision of either determining how to implement the recommendation of labeling, or not accepting such worst-case analysis evaluation, which clearly has no bearing on the true hazard posed by the source in the intended application. This procedure has generally been discontinued while awaiting a more acceptable solution, as will be seen below.
Where no photobiological safety-evaluation information is available from an LED manufacturer, some have sought to make estimations based on data-sheet values, which typically report beam-emission angle and either total flux or intensity in photometric or radiometric quantities, depending on whether the LED emission wavelength is within or without the visible region.
Given the emission angle and the evaluation distance, the area illuminated by the LED may be determined and either total flux or intensity used to make an estimate of irradiance. To estimate physiological radiance, it is required to know both the intensity and the FOV area corresponding to the RG considered. Where intensity is not directly reported in the datasheet, it may be calculated from the total flux and beam-emission angle. In the case of white or colored LEDs, where photometric data is often provided, a conversion factor must be determined to convert to radiometric units.
The irradiance of the finished product cannot in any way be predicted. However, in the case of radiance-based hazards, a measurement of the true radiance, coupled with the law of conservation of radiance, may be used to determine the maximum possible radiance of any finished product using a given LED.
IEC TR 62471-2 introduces this principle for the evaluation of the blue-light hazard (the dominant concern for retinal injury) through a measurement of true radiance of the component LED at 200-mm distance and 1.7-mrad FOV. The resulting value is adopted as the blue-light radiance of the final product, to be compared with the exposure limit values of each risk group in turn. It is important to note that care should be taken to ensure that the data provided by the manufacturer provides a correct analysis for the operating conditions of the finished product.
This procedure leads in many cases to an over-estimation of the hazard, since account is not taken of physiological radiance. This is demonstrated in Table 2, where a comparison is made between an IEC62471 analysis and a worst-case analysis of a particular product. In the former case, each RG is considered in turn, with measurements being performed in the correct FOV and compared with the RG exposure limit. In the latter case the worst-case radiance is assumed and compared with the limits of each risk group in turn (resulting in an RG2 classification).
A similar result is obtained in many instances, especially when considering high-power LEDs used in SSL applications. According to IEC TR 62471-2, blue-light RG2 requires the use of a warning label. This means that the lighting industry has been faced with the decision of either determining how to implement the recommendation of labeling, or not accepting such worst-case analysis evaluation, which clearly has no bearing on the true hazard posed by the source in the intended application. This procedure has generally been discontinued while awaiting a more acceptable solution, as will be seen below.
Where no photobiological safety-evaluation information is available from an LED manufacturer, some have sought to make estimations based on data-sheet values, which typically report beam-emission angle and either total flux or intensity in photometric or radiometric quantities, depending on whether the LED emission wavelength is within or without the visible region.
Given the emission angle and the evaluation distance, the area illuminated by the LED may be determined and either total flux or intensity used to make an estimate of irradiance. To estimate physiological radiance, it is required to know both the intensity and the FOV area corresponding to the RG considered. Where intensity is not directly reported in the datasheet, it may be calculated from the total flux and beam-emission angle. In the case of white or colored LEDs, where photometric data is often provided, a conversion factor must be determined to convert to radiometric units.
2012年2月1日 星期三
Vail Valley Voices: DA candidate's take on pot
As a candidate for district attorney, I must have a position on the regulation or legalization of marijuana in order to respond to many voters' legitimate concerns over this issue.
A district attorney is responsible for the enforcement of all laws. However, there is wide latitude in how vigorously they are enforced, as well as wide perimeters for recommending appropriate sentences for people who stand convicted.
The current medical-marijuana system has flaws and benefits for patients experiencing real benefit to its use. The harder question is in prescribing a course, improving upon the current system of regulations —should we throw our hands in the air and surrender any form of marijuana regulation, should we return to a system where no marijuana possession is legal or should we adopt a compromise between these extremes?
I believe that unless legalization occurs, law enforcement and prosecutors should consider unlawful marijuana possession and regulated distribution a low priority, and persons breaking the laws should be subjected to a drug evaluation, paid for by the person who enters the criminal-justice system, to determine whether or not they are marijuana addicts.
Those identified as such should be monitored for usage and given an opportunity to be treated, rather than aggressively prosecuted and punished. Those who were evaluated not addicted or at risk would be required to pay the monetary cost associated with their criminal-justice contact and have their cases dismissed.
Marijuana users coming into the criminal-justice system for illegal possession, who are evaluated to be addicted and then fail to complete an appropriate rehabilitation regimen, would suffer convictions that, under current Colorado law, would remain on their records for at least 10 years.
Local police, courts and prosecutors continue to be challenged by marijuana's regulation and the possibility that marijuana use and distribution could become legal.
The state of Colorado in 2000, through a voter-approved initiative, began to license the use and sale of medical marijuana with a special class distinguished from otherwise illegal drug users to grow, sell, possess and get high on marijuana, still leaving people without a medical-marijuana card at risk of arrest and prosecution.
Muddying the legal waters, however, permitted users who light up are not exclusively protected by state statutes but must contend with the federal government's laws that classify marijuana use, possession and distribution as illegal.
As distinguished from Colorado law, federal regulations identify marijuana as a substance without any medicinal benefit, setting up a tug-o-war with a state's ability to permit a usage that the U.S. government criminalizes.
Though confusing, this dichotomy is consistent with the general rule that each governmental layer can regulate the same person's actions differently, reaching opposing conclusions upon what is legal. These inconsistencies are not confined to drug laws but appear elsewhere in our legal fabric.
A district attorney is responsible for the enforcement of all laws. However, there is wide latitude in how vigorously they are enforced, as well as wide perimeters for recommending appropriate sentences for people who stand convicted.
The current medical-marijuana system has flaws and benefits for patients experiencing real benefit to its use. The harder question is in prescribing a course, improving upon the current system of regulations —should we throw our hands in the air and surrender any form of marijuana regulation, should we return to a system where no marijuana possession is legal or should we adopt a compromise between these extremes?
I believe that unless legalization occurs, law enforcement and prosecutors should consider unlawful marijuana possession and regulated distribution a low priority, and persons breaking the laws should be subjected to a drug evaluation, paid for by the person who enters the criminal-justice system, to determine whether or not they are marijuana addicts.
Those identified as such should be monitored for usage and given an opportunity to be treated, rather than aggressively prosecuted and punished. Those who were evaluated not addicted or at risk would be required to pay the monetary cost associated with their criminal-justice contact and have their cases dismissed.
Marijuana users coming into the criminal-justice system for illegal possession, who are evaluated to be addicted and then fail to complete an appropriate rehabilitation regimen, would suffer convictions that, under current Colorado law, would remain on their records for at least 10 years.
Local police, courts and prosecutors continue to be challenged by marijuana's regulation and the possibility that marijuana use and distribution could become legal.
The state of Colorado in 2000, through a voter-approved initiative, began to license the use and sale of medical marijuana with a special class distinguished from otherwise illegal drug users to grow, sell, possess and get high on marijuana, still leaving people without a medical-marijuana card at risk of arrest and prosecution.
Muddying the legal waters, however, permitted users who light up are not exclusively protected by state statutes but must contend with the federal government's laws that classify marijuana use, possession and distribution as illegal.
As distinguished from Colorado law, federal regulations identify marijuana as a substance without any medicinal benefit, setting up a tug-o-war with a state's ability to permit a usage that the U.S. government criminalizes.
Though confusing, this dichotomy is consistent with the general rule that each governmental layer can regulate the same person's actions differently, reaching opposing conclusions upon what is legal. These inconsistencies are not confined to drug laws but appear elsewhere in our legal fabric.
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