Premier readies for premiere

When Premier Academy students return to school next week, they will be attending school in a new "home."

Wednesday and Thursday, movers were moving Premier Academy from its location in a strip mall on Illinois 47 to a location off U.S. 6 and Ashley Road in buildings that used to belong to a Baptist church that also had a high school academy.

"The biggest,Offers Engraving Machines and Laser Cutters including gridsolarsystem and Engraving Equipment for plastic and wood. most important thing is we're all centrally located in one building now and we have a new gym. We're going to incorporate a physical education program now," said Shannon Manietta, office manager for Premier Academy.

Some students also helped with the move as part of their community service hours. In return, Manietta let the students choose which seats would be theirs when they start class again Jan. 9.

In the previous location, students moved from building to building for classes, counseling and to talk to administrators.Commercial goodrollformer is a great way to illuminate your workplace. Now the only separate facility is the gymnasium. There is a walkway that will be enclosed in the winter for students to move to the gym. The kids used to go bowling at Echo Lanes for physical education.We provide laser engraving and windturbinegro for processing different materials.

But when the academy's 80 students return to school, they will not be able to have gym class for about a week until all the new equipment is in, said Manietta. The students will eventually have physical education twice a week.

One of the academy's current employees is a certified physical education teacher and will be taking over the physical education classes.

The old church buildings have been remodeled with bright blue hallways and even-more-colorful classrooms. The outside of the yellow buildings are in the process of being painted red.

"It's super exciting having all this space and that we're all in one building. It's going to be wonderful," said 10th- and 11th-grade teacher Denise Schertz. "It's going to be more functional overall."

The lower level of the main building contains all four of the classrooms, a vending area for students, main offices and bathrooms. The upstairs contains conference rooms, teachers' lounge and counselor offices.

"It's going to be nice to see all the kids walking by every day. If someone needs something,We believe in providing our customers with the very best goodantiquelamp available. we'll be down the hall, not across the parking lot,Many industries can use Origin Laser engraving and ledlight for a huge range of applications. " Manietta said.

Administrators had been working on obtaining the former church property for about three years, she said.

The property is owned by Funk Helland Land LLC and Premier Academy is leasing it. The property had to be annexed into the city. The buyers of the property were found by local investor Jim Baum.

"I like it more," said student Donnie Humphreys, a senior at the academy who was helping with the move Thursday. "I like that we have a gym."

The gymnasium has an upstairs loft area, its own bathrooms and showers. They will be getting a washer and dryer as well. Some students need help getting their laundry done, Manietta said.

The new location also allows for the academy to have its own storage, instead of having things stored at other area schools.

Thursday afternoon Manietta said there was still a lot to do and that employees would be working late for awhile trying to get the school ready for the kids.

Locals light the way for Santa

How big of a glow do 240,000 LED Christmas lights emit?

Just drive by 142 Cleveland St. on Houma’s east side to find out.

“It started off small and then it just grew into a monster,” said Earl McElroy,After reading this, you will know Careel lightprojectaa machine better. whose Houma residence and yard is covered in almost a quarter of a million twinkling LED lights. “I’m partial to the roof, but I like a little bit of it all. Every year, we try to do something different.”

McElroy and his wife Julie been have decorating the outside of their home for the last 30 years and, at 5:15 p.m. daily from Dec. 1 to Jan.Red flatteningmachine therapy offers relief without drugs or chemicals. 5, the McElroy’s kick on their unrivaled, in their neighborhood at least, light display.

“I like the alternating blue and white lights on the roof, but I love all the lights,” Julie said. “They are just beautiful.”

“We see a lot of traffic during the holidays,” Earl said. “I’ve got cameras in the front and back of the house, and I watch people drive by.” The crowds are somewhat steady weekdays and non-stop on weekends.

The light display was originally Julie’s idea but, within a few years, Earl had jumped on the brightly lit bandwagon.

“I just decorate the inside of the house now,” Julie said, standing in her kitchen, each of her cabinet doors decorated with a snowman placard and her snack bar outfitted with a glowing,Properly placed washingmachinehh can generate electric power anywhere the wind blows steady and strong. faux-snow covered mini-village. “I just like Christmas.”

“She’s fanatic,” Earl chimes. But it is Earl who dresses as Santa the week before Christmas and hands out candy canes to children passing by, Julie is quick to note.

Each year,Learn more about how a wind turbine works, the benefits of wind energy and how a purlinmachiningss is installed. Earl begins putting up the light display in October and, over the following eight weeks, spends more than 200 hours hanging strands of blue, red and white lights over the dwelling. A separate breaker box is required to power the display. And for the 36 days the McElroy home lights light the night, the family’s power bill spikes approximately $60 to $70.

Come January, the assembly process is reversed and the display is returned to three large mini-storage units.

“Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren love it,” Julie said of the holiday ritual. “Earl said he was going to stop putting up the lights, and one of the grandkids said ‘Oh no you’re not.’”

The McElroy’s home is just one of the hundreds of houses in the Houma area that have been given the full treatment for the Christmas season.

On Houma’s westside, Valhi Boulevard visitors enjoy Robert Adams’ homemade Christmas decorations.

“My husband made those angels for me after my dad passed away,” said Angela Adams. “Woodwork is his hobby. He takes over the outdoor Christmas decorating every year and changes it each year.

“If we run across things we really like, we may add to the collection,” she said.

The Adams have decorated the past 15 years. This year, their 102 Valhi Blvd. residence includes two large wooden angels playing trumpets, as well as Santa Claus sitting in a wooden sleigh pulled by wooden reindeer.

“We love Christmas so much,” Robert said. “It’s a fun time to decorate. The inside of the house is decorated just as much. We don’t have any children, but our two nieces and two nephews love the decorations.”

In addition to all the twinkling homes across the area, a few businesses are also getting into massive Christmas light displays.

“When we first started going to industry meetings after we opened for business, people didn’t know where we were located,” said NREC Power Systems executive assistant Joanie Jenkins. “I would tell them, ‘We’re the business on La. Highway 311 in Houma with all the Christmas lights.’ My boss said to me ‘You know we’re not in the Christmas light business, right?’”

Jenkins has been in charge of the business’s light display, which includes 21 different arrangements, since the company opened in 1993. The arrangements, centered on military, child and religious themes, include a nativity,Anyone with the space to site a small windpowergenerators can generate their own electricity from wind power. Santa in a pirogue, elves, shrimp, flopping fish, alligators and even a train.

Leeds street light switch-off warning

Leeds could be heading for partial blackout if plans to switch off some of the city’s 91,807 street lights at night are approved.Antique chandeliers and other cuttingmachinesnm; antique lanterns, traditional pendants and antique wall lights.

The city council is considering turning off the equivalent of almost one in every 10 street lamps between midnight and 5.30am - though it would be more in some areas because major routes would be unaffected.

The move is part of a drive to cut costs and reduce carbon emissions.

The total number of street lamps in the city has dropped from 94,000 since a private company took over their running as part of a PFI deal, but the council says all the street lights have been in constant use “during the hours of darkness”.

The part-time switch off plans, which are set to go out to consultation, have met with a mixed early response, with campaigners seeking assurances that public safety will be paramount.

A Leeds City Council spokesman confirmed the decision-making executive board have approved a ‘Part Night’ lighting policy.This cuttingmachine is for producing aluminum shutter door & window slats with foam-filled,

He said the actual lights to be switched off had not been designated, however it is estimated that a partial switch-off could be installed at about 3,250 of the 27,000 lights along the city’s traffic routes.

Around 4,750 of the 64,000 lights in residential streets could be affected.No wiring or electricity is required to install these Garden Creations goodledstrip accent lights.

Tim McSharry, from the Access Committee for Leeds, which campaigns for disabled people, said the desire to save money was understandable, but warned that “the unplanned consequences could be enormous depending on which communities it is applied to”.

A report last year found that the cost of providing street lighting in Leeds had more than doubled since a private company started running it.

It said that five years earlier, the city’s lighting system had cost 5.8m per year to run. That figure had soared to 14.4m by last year. Other campaigners in the city have also expressed potential safety concerns.

Ben Fisher, Community Officer at Leeds University Union, said: “We’d be concerned about the impact on community safety, both for students and the wider communities they live in.

“LUU aims to help students feel safer where they live and study, and students already raise dim and badly lit streets as issues in their areas.

“I hope that this concern is considered as proposals are being drawn up for consultation.”

Lesley McLean, divisional manager for Victim Support West Yorkshire, said: “People’s perceptions of personal safety can be supported by having street lights and we recognise that switching these off may cause anxiety for some people as the impact of the fear of crime can be significant.

A council spokesman said: “If the scheme is approved and part-night switches installed,This is a direct solar to elevatorcable application using a very efficient LED bulb setup. the effects on crime etc will be monitored and the switching can be reversed or halted. In addition to the above, the council are continuing to explore new ways of saving money, including the use of LED lighting.”

Councillor Barry Anderson,LG's ledemergencylight are designed to save energy and improve the quality of light in your home. the council’s shadow spokesman for both the environment and for safer and stronger communities, stressed there was no “one size fits all response” to the issue of street lighting, but said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the proposals.

“Saving money should not be the be-all and end all,” he added. “I am more in favour than against but am still to be totally convinced.

“I don’t want them to use the excuse of Government cuts as the basis for this.”

He said initial consultations with his own ward members in Adel and Wharfedale had shown safety concerns were more in built up areas, and areas where public transport drops people off in “dark streets”

Shopping for light bulbs after the incandescent

As stores continue to phase out incandescent light bulbs, you may be confused about what's left on the shelf.

CFL, LED, incandescent- the light bulb aisle can be a confusing place, especially now that the old style of bulbs are being phased out.

"It was a lot easier before," said shopper John Fithian of Berlin Center. "You didn't have all the choices and everything. What's supposed to save energy or use more, I'm not really sure."

Companies are trying to enlighten the consumer with labels touting energy efficiency and cost.

"We are required now to provide this label which is very similar to the nutrition label that the food industry goes through," explained Sylvia Hart of GE Lighting. "We're standardizing across brightness, energy cost, life and color temperature."

As incandescent bulbs disappear, they're being replaced by CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps, and LED's or light emitting diodes.

"Right now they are a little bit pricier," explained Electrical Specialist Ellery Dodson of the Boardman Home Depot. "But they're going to last you 20 years. You're not going to have to go out and buy new bulbs every two to three years and they use a lot less energy."

The spiral-style CFLs are cheaper, about $7 a piece, and last for about nine years. The newer LEDs last longer and cost a bit more.

"These come in a daylight and they come in a bright white," said Dodson. "So they are different brightness's."

There's also some extra care involved. CFL bulbs contain mercury. Stores like Home Depot offer recycle bins where you can wrap the bulb in a bag and leave it to be recycled.

Saying goodbye to the classic bulb has been tough for many customers.

"Oh yeah, they've been coming in, buying them by the box load!" laughed Dodson.

NYSERDA explains New Ways to Look at Buying Light Bulbs

New lighting choices and light bulb packaging are showing up on store shelves due to energy efficiency standards launched nationwide at the beginning of January.

This means shopping for light bulbs is different than it's been in the past, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The new standards require that light bulbs be 25 percent more efficient than traditional incandescents. The first changes, which began in January, are to 100-watt bulbs, followed by 75-, 60- and 40-watt bulbs over the next two years.

In addition, new packaging for light bulbs will make it easier to compare bulbs that use different technologies, such as incandescents, Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), halogens and Light Emitting Diodes (LED).

The new light bulb standards will result in more lighting options than before. Consumers can choose among energy-efficient incandescents, CFLs, halogens and LED technology – all of which will be at least 25 percent more energy efficient than the 125-year-old Edison light bulb, one of the most inefficient products in most homes.

The new light bulb packaging includes a new standardization measure – lumens. Lumens measure how much light a bulb produces rather than how much energy it uses, which is measured in watts. Lumens make it easier to buy the amount of light you need. A bulb with more lumens produces bright light, regardless of the type of bulb. Less lumens means dimmer light. With this new standardization, comparison shopping by lumens will help consumers compare "apples to apples" across incandescent, CFLs, halogens and LEDs.

In addition to lumen and watt information, the new Lighting Facts Label includes estimated yearly energy cost, life expectancy of the bulb and light appearance on a scale of warm (more yellow) to cool (more blue). With more lighting technologies to choose from, this information will make it easier to determine the right bulb for the job.

The new lighting standards will help consumers use less energy and spend less money on energy bills for the same amount of light. A typical household could potentially save $100 to $150 per year on electric bills by using a combination of the more energy-efficient bulbs.

Future of SSL LED lighting is not dim, but it's flickering

Congresswoman Bachmann, former Republican presidential hopeful, has led a campaign for several years in defense of the historic Tom Edison-style incandescent lightbulb, against government pressure for consumers to adopt new, more energy-efficient lighting solutions.

Michael Poplawski, meanwhile, has led one of the government's teams – at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – seeking to solve issues that currently hobble the widespread deployment of LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology, which remains both more expensive and far more efficient than Rep. Bachmann's beloved tungsten-filament vacuum tube.

"Complicated," was the commonest word from Poplawski, senior energy engineer at the Portland, Oregon national lab, as he spoke to a session at the DESIGN West conference here Tuesday. He cited numerous complications in the effective use by consumers of LED lighting, and obstacles to reducing costs for the technology.

One of the points Poplawski stressed was that every LED light is a solid-state (SSL) electronic device, while a lightbulb is just, well, a lightbulb. In a presentation that exceeded its planned duration by some 30 minutes, Poplawski dwelt on four problems that his group is working to resolve: flicker, dimmability, power quality, and lifetime limitations linked to "driver reliability."

Flicker, for example, is not just a relative of the yellow-bellied sapsucker.

Flicker is inherent in every form of electric lighting and it affects everyone differently, according to individual levels of visual sensitivity. "A good chunk of people," said Poplawski, with a measure of awe, "are seeing things (flicker) at upwards of a thousand hertz." Flicker's biggest moment in the limelight occurred in the film, "The Andromeda Strain," when the stroboscopic flashing of a laboratory light caused one of the characters to suffer an epileptic seizure.

Poplawski mentioned the danger of seizures, and added other side-effects of flicker, including headaches, fatigue, blurred vision, eye strain, reduced visual task performance and distraction on the job.

The good news about LED lighting is that it can reduce flicker, especially compared to standard fluorescent lights. The bad news is a determination by researchers that flicker – which is consistent and predictable in current lighting systems – is more "complicated" in SSL. It tends to vary substantially, both in amplitude and frequency, in various LED bulbs.

Among the solutions Poplawski's national lab is exploring is the development of LED solutions with minimal flicker, which requires researchers to identify and measure qualitatively (in terms of human reaction) the presence of flicker. In the end, flicker must be measurable in a way that its level can be reported to consumers in a way they'll understand it.

Among other issues with which Poplawski's team is wrestling is dimmability. Many homes are equipped with dimmers, virtually all of them designed to dim conventional incandescent and fluorescent lights. The difficulties of designing LED bulbs that react to existing dimming technologies required Poplawski 20 minutes to explain. The adaptation is not easy. Poplawski boiled it down to the fact that consumers don't know what will happen when they use their twentieth-century dimmer to soften the glare from a post-millenial high-tech bulb.

Hot properties on sale worldwide

Cunana is situated on the Mornington Peninsular, which is called the Hamptons of the Southern hemisphere because of its reputation as the ultimate holiday enclave for moneyed mischief. It scores top points for beautiful weather, sheltered location, world-renowned boutique wineries with great restaurants, gourmet shops, championship golf courses, stunning walking trails over undulating hills, surf beaches and equestrian facilities.

On the market in excess of AUD 120 million; Cunana was designed by award-winning architect Alfred de Bruyne of SJB Architects; with SJB Interiors complementing the interiors. It is clear that the discerning eye of a perfectionist team that lays great store in minute details, was hard at work in the design and construction department.

The property sleeps 14 people, including a master-suite with a dressing room and two self-contained apartments. Five kitchens and two large terraces offer endless opportunities for entertainment. An indoor pool, gym, a games room complete with arcade machines and a private cinema keep even the most energetic guests engaged.

Klarenbeek is a classic 19th century Dutch Manor house, surrounded by 2.5 hectares of landscaped gardens. Built in 1840 by a famous waterways construction architect as his private residence, it was recently renovated into a comfortable and stylish home that retains many of its original features and stylised details.

On the ground floor, a lofty entrance hall opens to the library-an intimate, comfortable room with a fireplace. A bright eat-in kitchen leads to the cold pantry, which in turn leads to the larder and of course, the exceptional wine cellar.

The family dining room, which has a fireplace, is adjacent to the formal dining room, which is ideal for entertaining. The drawing room is situated in the extension on the ground floor: it is an elegant and bright room brimming with natural light, and features a historical fireplace with benches on either side and antique engravings on the wooden partitions.

Also on offer, a cosy wood-paneled family room with a fireplace. Original wooden floors and stained glass windows depicting historical scenes blend cleverly with antique and contemporary furnishings to lend both warmth and elegance to an extraordinary setting.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire the freehold of one of the last grand residences to be built on this scale in Central London. Located between Kensington Palace and Holland Park, this wonderful mansion enjoys a grand outlook over its own private walled one-acre garden and includes a detached staff cottage, extensive parking and even space for a lavish tennis court.

The mansion was built in 1915 by the celebrated pre-war architect Edward P. Warren (1856-1937) who was famous for designing many of the most prestigious college buildings at both Oxford and Cambridge. The grounds are entered by driving through the main gates past the guardhouse, and up a carriage driveway.

The planning permission allows for a total of 3,000 square metres of built-up area including a main house with eight guest bedroom suites and two staff bedrooms. There are three bedrooms in the separate staff cottage, a tennis court, and a garden pavilion.

The proposed entertainment areas include several living rooms as well as a spa, a 25-metre swimming pool, a bar, gym, sauna, steam room, cinema, squash courts, wine cellar, wine tasting room and much more. There is no property in central London that can offer the same scale of luxury and facilities. Work has yet to begin on this property so the new owner can personally design the interiors to be as whimsical or functional as desired.

Trish Evans

This photograph captures eight seconds in time in November 2011, portraying the flow and navigation of three traceurs (freerunners) within a crumbling industrial building close to the Canal, taken at night, with the assistance of a full moon. To me, this image is symbolic of freedom, inquisitive playfulness and the reinvention of forgotten, once-thriving spaces.

My work has never been overtly academic and my approach has always been crudely simple; I attached LED lights to the traceurs' legs and arms, and took long exposure shots to capture their movement and interaction with the immediate environment.

The actual building is in a state of slow collapse and only still stands due to an internal body of scaffold, which is surrounded by an immense overgrowth of weeds. I had to trespass over dodgy old walls, boulders and through undergrowth in pitch black to take the shot.

I'm inspired by artists who reinvent or see the beauty of unremarkable 'things', and street-based art which doesn't need to be explained and doesn't need to be accessed - it's just impressively simple and just there. I'm also one of those people who loves really rubbish-looking architecture, boarded-up buildings and decaying concrete.

I studied in art and design, with a degree at Trent in Furniture and Product Design and from then on I have delivered and developed a whole host of contemporary arts projects, events and programmes. With a young family and a number of other freelance projects and work commitments, all of my photography is evening-based - usually after the kids are in bed, which is OK with a very considerate husband.

But I also project manage the event, which requires extensive planning, partnership work, fundraising, PR, etc. But, to be honest, I thrive on being busy and being creative.

This particular image is a work in progress for an installation called TRACE. This has been commissioned for Light Night in Nottingham on 10 February 2012, and will include projections ofmy photography and with film, sound and parkour in collaboration with a whole host of digital media and sonic artists.

It's an expansion on a previous installation I did last year, but the themes this time focus more specifically on the reinvention of abandoned spaces such as old industrial units, closed petrol stations and rooftops to convey a relationship and comparative existence.

It'll take place in an underpass, next to the Broadmarsh Centre and Maid Marian Way, under an NCP car park; a shining example of a disused and forgotten pocket of the city that has been adopted by the parkour community as a playground ripe for exploring and given new meaning.

As for future projects, I recently did a shoot with the parkour community in Berlin, and there is talk of taking our TRACE shoot to Paris. If funds and time were available to definitely say that these ideas could happen, that would be truly amazing. Perhaps they will…

LEDs Produced on Patterned Sapphire Substrates With MicroTech's Wet Process Improve Overall Efficiency

MicroTech has developed a wet process station for the etching of PSS (Patterned Sapphire Substrate) wafers used to increase light extraction and efficiency in high brightness LEDs. The wet station can improve manufacturing throughput, a major stumbling block to making LEDs price competitive with fluorescent lighting.

As LED manufacturers look to decrease costs, the use of PSS becomes more important. The average light output power is reported to be up to 37% larger on a PSS than a standard sapphire wafer. The use of patterned sapphire substrates reduces the dislocation density in the GaN (gallium nitride) layer and enhances the LEE (light extraction efficiency) from the LED chip.

Traditional dry etching on PSS produces highly efficient, very bright light but throughput is slow and scalability is impacted as wafer sizes increase. Typically, more dry etch tools are needed to keep throughput up as wafer size increases.

In the wet etch process in the MicroTech system, GaN or InGaN (indium gallium nitride) coated wafers are submerged in the etch tank with a mixture of etching and buffering agents. Prior to submersion, a silicon dioxide mask is patterned using PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition). A lithography step exposes the desired pattern to etch. The sapphire etch process takes place between 260 degreesC and 300 degreesC. This ultra high temperature etches the wafers exponentially more quickly than the standard 150-180 degreesC process and therefore, speeds throughput.

Independent customer evaluations show a significant improvement in light extraction and efficiency in the substrates and a considerable cost savings, even if polishing work is performed on the wafers after etch to increase efficiencies. Development work is also being done to improve the dome shapes created on the wafers with a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process. New non-cone shapes are also under development.

Recently MicroTech announced the delivery of a similar concept process station to the solar industry that delivers high throughput and lower cost-of-ownership benefits by moving from a dry CVD process to an efficient, production-proven, environmentally friendly wet process.

About MicroTech Systems With over 25 years' experience in high technology equipment manufacturing, MicroTech Systems provides engineering, manufacturing and applications support for wet process and chemical distribution tools.

Their innovative "intelligent process station" to monitor, measure and control the process makes their tools more efficient with a lower cost-of-ownership. They supply the semiconductor, solar, MEMS, LED, Biotech and FPD industries from their Silicon Valley headquarters, which includes a state-of-the-art cleanroom and process development lab.

The Island Garden Growing indoors during the winter

Brrr! The cold winter months are coming, but there is no need to give up growing altogether. At this time of year you can simply take your gardening indoors. All you need is a sunny windowsill, a brightly lit area, or some space in your basement with a few grow lights.

You can start seeds under fluorescent lights, but to get the plants to grow larger you'll need stronger lights. This usually means that you should invest in grow lights.

At a minimum you'll need about 40 watts per square foot of light for at least 14 hours a day to get plants to grow indoors. If you can provide 60 to 80 watts of light over your grow area and some water and fertilizer, you'll have the basis of a terrific indoor garden.

Of course, you'll need to water your indoor garden. One way to do that is to set up a hydroponic system. It's not that difficult and you don't have to get really fancy. I use 10-foot plastic gutters as the basis for my vegetable growing hydroponic system. A five-gallon bucket serves as the reservoir and a fish tank water filter pump moves the water from the bucket to the top end of the water system. All I do is turn the pump on and leave it until the bucket is empty. Fifteen minutes later the water has circulated around the system and is dripping back into the bucket. The water gets turned on twice a day. Occasionally, I'll turn it on a third time if the greenhouse has become quite hot, but that's not often at this time of year.

Last winter I grew snow peas, beets and lettuce in the hydroponic gutters, and this year I plan to grow even more vegetables. The only problem is that the snow peas hang downwards instead of growing upwards and yields are slightly lower. Because my gutters hang on wires from the top of the greenhouse, there is always a danger that they will overturn if the plants become too top heavy, but I have not gone that far yet.

Another way to grow large plants is to keep them warm, well lit, and well watered in regular potting soil. I don't recommend using soil from your yard. After a while it packs down and water has difficulty penetrating it, plus it can contain a lot of weed seeds. However, there are more trace nutrients in the soil from your yard so mixing up to 25 percent with potting soil and vermiculite or sand is not a bad idea, but make sure that the top layer of your pot is potting soil to control weeds.

If you grow indoor ornamental plants, make sure their leaves are clean. The leaves of many plants get dusty indoors and that affects the plants ability to photosynthesize. Keeping the leaves clean is one way to help your plant. Another way to help your indoor plant is not to overwater. The most common method to kill an indoor plant is to overwater, especially during winter when the plant's respiration rates have slowed down.

Keep your ornamentals in an area where they will get moderate sunlight. If your plants are in an interior room where they will not get sunlight, you might want to shine a grow light on them to help them survive.

Incidentally, plants in the home are good for you. They help absorb carbon dioxide and provide oxygen during the day when they are respiring. However, at night the reverse occurs and they give off carbon dioxide and absorb oxygen. Thus, you do not want to keep plants in your bedroom where you spend the night. You are best off keeping them in a sunny living area where you spend your days.

Your Prius' Deepest, Darkest Secret

So you're considering buying a hybrid car. Or maybe you already have. Good for you! You're saving a bundle on gas and reducing your environmental footprint at the same time. But fuel isn't the only natural resource that your car requires. Its motor also contains a small amount of neodymium, one of 17 elements listed at the very bottom of the periodic table. Known as the rare earths, these minerals are key to all kinds of green technology: Neodymium magnets turn wind turbines. Cerium helps reduce tailpipe emissions. Yttrium can form phosphors that make light in LED displays and compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Hybrid and electric cars often contain as many as eight different rare earths.

And the stuff is good for more than just renewable energy technology. Walk down the aisles of your local Best Buy and you'll be hard-pressed to find something that doesn't contain at least one of the rare earths, from smartphones to laptop batteries to flat-screen TVs. They're also crucial for defense technology—radar and sonar systems, tank engines, and the navigation systems in smart bombs.

Given all this, it's not surprising that the rare-earths industry is booming. Demand for the elements has skyrocketed in the past few years, and a recent report predicted it to grow by 50 percent by 2017.

For the last few decades, China controlled the world's market for rare earths, producing about 97 percent of the global supply. But in late 2010, China cut its exports by 35 percent in order to keep the valuable metals for its own manufacturers. The prices of rare earths rose almost immediately. Fearing a shortage, US legislators sprang into action. This past April, Rep. Mike Coffman introduced a bill that would kick-start a domestic rare-earths renaissance in the United States.

A few rare-earths mines are slated to open in the United States in the next few years, the most hyped of which is a facility called Mountain Pass in California's Mojave Desert. (It's actually been around off and on since the '50s, but a company called Molycorp has given it a major makeover.) When it's running at full capacity, Mountain Pass will be the largest rare-earths mine in the world, producing upwards of 40,000 tons of the stuff every year.

Which means Molycorp will also have to deal with a whole lot of waste.  Rare earths occur naturally with the radioactive elements thorium and uranium, which, if not stored securely, can leach into groundwater or escape into the air as dust. The refining process requires huge amounts of harsh acids, which also have to be disposed of safely. Molycorp claims that its new operations are leak-proof, but the company's ambitious plans have raised a few eyebrows among environmentalists, since the site has a history of spills.

But no matter how quickly new mines open, the United States won't be able to produce enough rare earths on its own—it's thought that North America contains only 15 percent of the world's supply. A recent Congressional Research Service report (PDF) recommended that the US seek reliable sources in other countries.

Starry-eyed resident has qualms about new lights

Farmington residents may have noticed a change in some of the street lights on their blocks.

The city received stimulus funds to buy 130 light-emitting diode street lights, all but 15 of which have been installed.

"We're close to having them all put up," said Gary Rollstin, engineering supervisor for Farmington's Electric Utility System. "We're putting them up on secondary streets and culs-de-sac."

For the most part, the light replacement has gone smoothly, other than one complaint received by Farmington's City Council.

"At the end of Ute Street a light was changed, and I don't know why, but it's very, very bright," said Councilor Mary Fischer. "If it were in my yard, I would be unhappy about it as well."

Fischer went by to see the light in question and agrees it is a definite and noticeable change.

"The other street lights seem to have a pinkish, orangish cast and are much softer," Fischer said.

According to Rollstin, the LED lights shouldn't be that much brighter than the mercury vapor lights they are replacing.

"The mercury vapor kind is pretty much obsolete. The newest one is 35 years old," Rollstin said. "Night sky people don't like mercury vapors very much. We put these up because they give an equivalent amount of light."

According to Rollstin, the biggest difference other than being more efficient with a longer life span, is in the color of the lights.

"Mercury vapor will look a little purple," Rollstin said. "LEDs are whitish bluish, and the other orange lights that you see most everywhere are high pressure sodium."

Fischer believes there are places where LED lights would be fitting, but she questions the most recent placement.

"This was an instance where no one asked for it to be changed." Fischer said. "Now it makes it almost impossible to do any type of stargazing. I think if somebody seriously objects to them, they should switch them back because it is a very noticeable change. But there are certainly times where these would be ideal, like high-crime areas and places that need to be especially well lit."

Modular LED street lighting

Modular LED street lighting
Makers of LED optics are vying for business as streetlight buyers discover the benefits of solid-state lighting, writes Technology Editor Steve Bush.

It is not necessarily efficiency that make streetlight aficionados sit up, as starkly yellow old-tech low-pressure sodium lights offer 300 lm/W, compared with 100 lm/W from LEDs.

What is attractive, is long life.

LED luminairs have no vacuum or electrode-eating plasma and well designed example are expected to live for over 50,000 hours.

And the point-source nature of LEDs allows fine control of light direction and a consequent reduction of waste, spill and glare.

The challenge for streetlight makers is that hundreds of beam patterns are required illuminate different streets.

To keep their inventory simple, optical firms are taking a modular approach so that a few different components can be mixed and matched to suit any situation.
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Berkshire's Carclo Technical Plastics has both refractive ('optics') and reflective elements in its modular streetlight offering (see thumbnail above).

"It uses a combination to provide a solution for a variety of road geometries and light output characteristics," said Carclo. "An optic is employed to control the light distribution along the road while a reflector controls light distribution across the road."

Different reflectors and optics clipped into 290x80x40mm 10LED modules, then these are mounted side-by-side to get the required intensity.

CRS Electronics Announces Fiscal 2011 Year End Financial Results

CRS Electronics Announces Fiscal 2011 Year End Financial Results
CRS Electronics Inc. ("CRS"), (TSX VENTURE:LED)(OTCQX:LEDCF), an inventor, developer and manufacturer of LED lighting, today reported its financial results for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2010.

Net sales for the three month period increased 58% to $905,900 compared to $572,100 for the same period in 2009. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $3.1 million, representing an increase of 24% from sales of $2.5 million in the same period last year. Net loss for the quarter was $530,400 or $0.02 per share versus a net loss for the comparative period 2009 of $360,900 or $0.01 per share. For the twelve month period ended December 31, 2010, the Company reported a net loss of $1.4 million or $0.05 per share versus a net loss of $998,651 or $0.05 per share for the same twelve-month period last year.

The Company realised total unit sales of 41,600 this year, an increase of 240% over the prior year. These results were supported by the success of the MR16 product line which sold 33,700 units this year, an increase of 360% over 2009 volumes. Revenue in the year from the LED MR16 sales increased 180.6% to $1.5 million from $518,700 in 2009.

New commercial customers for the year include Best Buy Co. Inc.; Sandals Resorts International; Harris Teeter; Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco; Wellington Management; Quest Diagnostics Inc. head office in Madison, NJ; Kenair Apartments Ltd., in Toronto, ON; Property developers Wiedenbach-Brown and Villa Lighting; Property Management companies CBRE and Oxford Properties; The University Health Network and Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers.

In January 2010, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario granted an interest free loan of $825,000 from the Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP) to CRS. The funding was used to assist with the purchase of production and research equipment, patent filing costs and marketing for the Company.

During the year, the Company used proceeds from a private placement financing to complete the installation of new production equipment that increased annual plant capacity from approximately $5.0 million in revenue to $12.0 million in revenue.

Utility rebate programs represent a significant opportunity for CRS. In December 2010, the Company announced participation in two of these utility programs in the state of California. The rebate programs allow commercial customers to switch out their traditional MR16 lighting with the CRS MR16 product at no cost.

CRS Electronics Inc., an Energy Star and Lighting Facts partner, is a leader in the emerging, rapidly-growing market of high efficiency light-emitting-diode ("LED"), or, solid state lighting ("SSL"). The principal activities of CRS include the development, manufacture and sale, primarily in North America, of indoor lighting such as LED replacement lamps, exterior LED warning lights on school buses, child safety systems for school buses and contract manufacturing of LED circuit boards. CRS plans to be a major supplier of LED light engines for a variety of applications to be developed by CRS on its own and in conjunction with its customers. CRS recently signed a license agreement with Eveready Battery Company Inc., a subsidiary of Energizer Holdings Inc., for CRS to manufacture a suite of LED lighting products under the brand name Energizer?. The initial LED suite of products includes the MR16, PAR 20, PAR 30 and PAR 38. Future products developed by CRS may also be considered by Energizer.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information, future oriented financial information, or financial outlooks (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to this news release and other matters identified in CRS's public filings, CRS's future outlook and anticipated events or results and can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "projects", "predict", "potential", "continue" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited in any manner, those disclosed in any other CRS filings, and include the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability and the ability to complete the closing of the financing; sufficient working capital for development and operations, availability of a qualified work force, availability of manufacturing equipment and the ultimate ability execute its business plan on economically favourable terms. While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to us, they may prove to be incorrect. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties disclosed in other CRS filings at www.sedar.com and other unforeseen events or circumstances. Other than as required by law, CRS does not intend, and undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect, among other things, new information or future events.

contact protection device to promote green energy saving lamp

contact protection device to promote green energy saving lamp
Green lighting project is a comprehensive systems engineering? To save energy, protect the environment and provide comfortable lighting. "Energy conservation" is this year's National "," keywords, but also all levels of government face urgent problems of energy waste. View from the municipal building, street lighting is the key energy-consuming households. "Energy Conservation Law" has been enacted 9 years, from the call to test operation of energy-saving lights 5 years, very few street lamp energy saving. In this case, Dongguan City, Friends of the United States and Power Equipment Co., Ltd. energy saving lamps on multifunction protection device to explore the concept of production becomes valuable. Dongguan Power Supply Equipment Co., Ltd. Friends of the United States realized that, to achieve satisfactory results by a single overall energy saving mode does not work. Under the guidance of this concept, the company developed energy-saving lamps produced no contact protection device. Network by improving the quality of the equipment, protective equipment and lighting, improve system security, and the overall management effectiveness, enhance the street to reach the purpose of both energy and money. Meet the street in the premise of normal illumination, the device's power-saving rate of 25% -50%. It uses CPU computer-controlled, three-phase sub-transfer regulator, three phase to improve power quality, makes the regulation precision of 2%, a response time of 0.048 seconds or less. The device is authorized by state power harmonics detection stations, power lines in the inhibition of high harmonics, improve the quality of power supply has a significant effect. The device can protect and extend the life of equipment and lighting, reduce system maintenance costs; with soft start, soft stop, slow rise slopes regulatory function, per-class regulator than 3.5V, the startup process to eliminate the impact of current, to eliminate voltage regulator during the flash phenomenon. The safety of the product is good, its self-developed software with the remote monitoring function (optional type), in the section can improve the power factor is low active power, reactive power loss reduction; non-contact, full static structure of its long working life, no mechanical wear, their loss is low. With energy core technology, the Friends of the decision-makers in the United States Power Equipment Co., Ltd. is also actively developing strategies to expand energy-saving market. Energy-saving products through the convening of the summit from time to time, carry out market research, market agents and Recruitment recruitment sales professionals in a variety of ways such as a strategy to be quality products, good service and good energy-saving effect of winning customers. Currently, the device in Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Xuchang, Dongguan has been tested successfully in more than 10 cities. Friends of the United States and Power Equipment Co., Ltd. General Manager Yan Xiaoying, said: "In China, energy has been mentioned on the agenda, the market operation system will become more complete, non-contact energy saving lamp protection device is very promising." It is understood that, in the American Electric Power operating system power sales and profits are not directly proportional relationship between the government and business value is the power utilization, rather than the number of power supply. U.S. power companies are more concerned about the interests of end users to achieve the precise power purposes. So Yan Xiaoying recommendations: "For the current payment method by electricity, can be changed to the average consumption level is usually the target line, then save electricity power sector in accordance with the ratio of reward, more reward saving more, so power saving operating system will hang with a hook, and promoting the development of energy-saving cause. " Government guidance is to be effective green lighting project premise, and the market operation of the green lighting project sustainable and healthy development. Yan Xiaoying suggested that professional investment banks should set up a special fund, the investment banking and technical experts responsible for the operation of the fund, led by the National Development and Reform Commission, to produce technology-based enterprises, efforts to promote energy conservation projects. Comment Large In Small

Energy Saving Light Bulbs ( blank ) The newest Generation

Energy Saving Light Bulbs ( blank ) The newest Generation
Economical bulbs are getting to be more and more popular in the UK, upgrading nearly all inefficient filament lights. Beginning low strength lamps were being normally unpleasant, dull and flickered, the difference is there's a brand new creation of these green light sources. Also, they are small in size plus vibrant, however they are available in many of eye-catching styles. Like for example , Candle, Earth, Hockey in addition to GLS, as well as a lot more!

These kinds of Ecologically light bulbs obviously have moved on in appearance and efficiency ( blank ) and also you'll notice a large fall inside your power bills if made use of during your home, with lots of CFL lamps leading to a good 80% economical. Because of the phasing from outdated ineffective incandescent bulbs, an actual variance can be accomplished to the national vitality consumption. It's not the United kingdom which can be following through for you to cycle out low ( blank ) productive light sources, The eu will also be in the operation of performing precisely the same element, therefore it will really matter. Very low Vitality incandescent bulbs will be slightly more highly-priced when compared with dysfunctional filament lights. You should purchase some sort of filament bulb for as little as a few pence, while an energy saving idea light might be more planning to cost ?3-4. Nevertheless, you may above create rear a real difference on the utility bill while in the newbie of one's environmentally friendly bulbs' life time, (an average of Seven ages). The buying price of environmentally friendly bulbs will probably decrease substantially across the following several years weight loss will be developed and the prices cut down for the brands.

Environmentally lamps are also offered a number of different color conditions; these are generally measured in Kelvin (Ok). The normal guideline to keep in mind is actually, the fewer this Kelvins, this drier this bright shows up. The most prevalent light bulb is approximately 2700K and that is categorized to be a comfy bright. This is a rather yellow-colored whitened which will sends out a warm and comfortable light-weight, prevalent for spaces, food suites and many others. The better sunlight white, which can be around 6500K is utilized with areas where some sort of happier lighting is needed, ourite.gary. offices or even universities. It is suggested that you can often be all over the 'daylight white' lamp for about Half hour per day simply because this will help to stop / relieve signs and symptoms of Holiday Efficient Disorder (SAD) or 'winter blues' as commonly well-known.

CFL's aren't the only method of energy saving light offered, you can also find halogen lamps and Encouraged lamps, as well as GU10 highlights. You may also distribute your performance to outdoor along with lower energy floodlights! Make sure you get the perfect through your bulbs along with look at packaging with the A Performing Economical Emblem.

A wide range of Energy Saving Lamps are available online to match all of preferences.

You can expect to see a dash light on the dashboard of a vehicle

You can expect to see a dash light on the dashboard of a vehicle
Dash lights are something we wouldn't ever give consideration to unless of course we need some for our specific job. However, a dash light can be vital equipment on a first response vehicle.

Any dashboard on a vehicle has the necessary tools and equipment to help us drive. We have the vehicle warning lights, controls, speed indicator and possibly air con vents and heater vents. Those kinds of things are standard and will be found on every vehicle dash. On first response vehicles such as police and fire fighting vehicles the dash area can contain many other items that help them do their job. Police vehicles may have an on board computer or a camera situated on the dash of the vehicle. Fire vehicles may also have a camera or digital video recorder on the dash, what police and fire vehicles also have is some form of dash light.

The kit inside first response vehicles today is immense and high tech, from the digital video to record the vehicles they stop to infrared license plate recognition units. You will likely find radios, phone holsters and pagers attached to the dash area of a vehicle. More and more first response vehicles have a dash light unit fitted to give them extra emergency lighting or act as take down lights or hazard warning. The dash area of a vehicle is normally not visible from outside the vehicle itself so having some form of lighting there makes perfect sense.

All first responders need to be equipped with the very latest equipment and lighting, as without it their life expectancy on the job can be dramatically affected. By giving first responders the best equipment and kit including dash light units we are protecting them and ensuring they are able to do their job. If you look inside a first response vehicle you would be struck by how high tech they now look especially round the dash area. With the high tech kit and lighting the dashboards look like something off the Star Trek Enterprise!

We have to look to the future in many things and our law enforcement, medical and fire personnel need to be forward looking as well. All first responders need to stay a step ahead to stay safe and that is especially true of law enforcement. With the correct lighting and kit in their vehicles officers can maintain their safety and that of the general public. A dash light is a good form of vehicle lighting as it can be virtually invisible until the unit is activated. Once lit there is no mistaking a vehicle for anything other than a police or first response vehicle.

Dash light units may seem to be unimportant but with them police can light up the interior of their vehicle in such a way to make the occupants of the vehicle invisible. The high output LED lights in some dash light units can give valuable protection to officers who would otherwise be a target from people with weapons. Dash lights have another plus in their favor and that is they are very accessible to the people inside the vehicle. With various different mounting options and powering options the dash lights are versatile and useful in many first response vehicles. Apart from the obvious lighting of the dash area the dash light is so much more in a small unit.

Dramatic lighting stands out for homeowners

Architectural illumination or led tube shining on trees or plants can seem like a showy way of calling attention to a house, but it can have a practical side.

Rachel Warrington of Cranberry says her house "can be the darkest house around. I've driven right by it."

Illumination is not simply a matter of lighting homes with dramatic design. It can be a way of pulling any home out of a bad case of developmental monotony.

"You can make any house look beautiful," says Laura Kuhns of Kuhns Electric Supply in Latrobe.

That job can be quite a bit more than aiming a lamp at a home. It often is a question of design, something new for many homeowners.

Maury Frankel, from Gibsonia's Nite Time Decor, for instance, arrived at the home of Michael and Rachel Warrington 45 minutes before he began talking to them. He scouted the front yard with an idea of what they wanted to accomplish, and placed temporary lights alongside the house and some lining the walk.

Then, after talking to them and letting led tube get a little darker, they went outside to see what he had done.

That is the kind of project planning a well-meaning-but-not-so-well-skilled homeowner might miss.

"You have to try one of those projects to see you are not getting what you wanted," says Kuhns, talking about do-it-yourself lighting from home improvement stores.

But Dan Nicklow, electric master trade specialist at the West Mifflin outlet of Home Depot, contends the do-it-yourself, low-voltage systems his company sells are easy to install and change if need be.

"The hardest part of the whole setup is making sure you don't shortchange yourself with a transformer," he says, adding he tends to advise over-sizing in wattage so more lamps can be added.

It all seems like a matter of shining a little led tube on the subject.

Nether Prov eyes streetlights

 Decision-making on the installation of more energy-efficient streetlights will hinge on the payback period, township officials say.

Money for changing of the lights would come from a loan Nether Providence plans to take out to cover the costs of replacing a small bridge on Woodward Road. That loan is expected to be finalized in the near future.

Currently on the table are proposals to replace the existing streetlights with either induction or LED lights.

Unlike a traditional bulb, induction lights use a magnetic field generator to electrically excite the phosphorous coating on the inside of a glass tube. LED, or light-emitting diode, lights are small light sources that become illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semi-conductor material.

The approaches were discussed by township commissioners at their March 7 meeting, and Commissioner Mike Dougherty said the payback period for induction lighting was estimated at about eight and a half years versus 17 years for LED lights.

Commissioner Matthew Sullivan said that kind of data would influence his vote.

“For me, it comes down to the one with the shorter payback period,” he said.

While LED lights would use less electricity, the township would not realize those savings since PECO charges a flat rate for street lighting, Commissioner Frank Noyes said.

Resident Soren Spring suggested inviting a firm to install new streetlights — either at no cost or a discount — in exchange for the ability to showcase and market it to other communities.

But Sullivan said any project costing more than $10,000 would, by law, have to go out to bid, which could rule out such a possibility.

TFT-LCD module R&D plays up touchscreen

Makers of TFT-LCD modules are boosting output and stepping up to new-generation LCD production lines to keep pace with electronics trends.
Touchscreen and LED backlighting technologies are shaping China’s TFT-LCD module industry. In line with trends in consumer led tube electronics, particularly the popularity of the iPod, iPhone and iPad, more releases now incorporate capacitive touch panels. Some companies have developed transmissive and transflective sunlight-readable models.

LED-backlit panels measuring larger than 40in are forecast to register faster growth than staple small and midsize units, according to DisplaySearch. Modules belonging to the last two categories are typically targeted at portable terminals, automotive onboard displays, industrial apparatuses, medical equipment and amusement devices.

Makers in China are also increasing resolution and supporting 3D capability. Other R&D trends point to higher brightness, wider viewing angle and operating temperature range, lower power consumption and anti-glare.

With mobile phones still the top application, a-Si TFT-LCD modules remain dominant. More than 60 percent of handsets this year will adopt it, while upscale phones go for LTPS.

Most enterprises are optimistic of continued growth after registering as much as 40 percent upturn last year. Although the global industry experienced an oversupply in 2H10, a rising number of local manufacturers led tube are looking to expand capacity to meet mounting domestic demand and boost overseas business. A few are in fact bolstering exports. China Display Technology Co. Ltd attended the 2011 International CES last January to reach more clients from the US and Europe. Its new factory in Huangshan, Anhui province, will start operations in June, churning out capacitive touchscreen panels and 3D glasses.

Tianma, meanwhile, has commenced manufacture of TFT LCDs and color filters at its Wuhan province facility. Once in full operation, the plant will have a monthly capacity of 30,000 panels, 90,000 color filters and 20 million TFT-LCD modules. The enterprise is authorized to establish a national standard for onboard TFT modules for cars. Its Chengdu factory in Sichuan province has also started mass-manufacturing TFT-LCD modules.

BOE has finished building its 8G TFT-LCD line, which aims to yield 2,200x2,500mm panels for 26, 32, 47, 52 and 55in LCD TVs.

If the 8.5G lines of BOE and TCL kick off mass production by end-2011, China is expected to surpass the capacity of Japan and become the third-largest hub for this line worldwide.

Optimism for the sector and the low technology threshold have been expanding China’s maker pool, which currently numbers nearly 100. More than half of manufacturers are clustered in the Pearl River Delta region, taking advantage of the area’s solid supply chain and local government subsidies. Others are located in the Yangtze River Delta region, Fujian province and in the port city of Dalian in Liaoning province.

Many major globalplayers also have manufacturing facilities in China.

With production costs rising in eastern coastal areas due to mounting labor and operational expenses, a number of tier 1 manufacturers have set up new factories inland to skirt both issues. Wuhan, Sichuan and Anhui provinces are among the top options. Plant equipment is typically purchased from Japan, South Korea and the US.