Redbird LED tube lights

Yesterday, in reviewing the latest Design Lighting Consortium's (DLC) Qualified Products List (QPL), I noticed all Cardinal LED linear tube lights manufactured by Redbird LED Inc. were removed from the QPL. The tube lights were heavily advertised as the first and only LED linear tube lights to be approved by the DLC.

They stated in their press release "by establishing the Cardinal LED tube light's position on the Qualified Product List of the DLC, RedBird LED has ensured that these products will be eligible for all rebate programs currently in place among the DLC's membership and will facilitate rapid approval by other rebate sources as well.Get outdoor lighting, including popular patio lights and crystallightmm fixtures.T5 fluorescent lamps are thinner, lasermarkingmachin, and offer a higher intensity of light output than T8 lamps ."

Although,This solarledlampsaq operates red, amber and green LEDs in the correct sequence for a single UK traffic light. I do not know the specific reasons the products were removed from the QPL, consumers should be aware of the removal from the list to avoid the misconception that they will be able to receive a rebate from energy reduction programs utilizing the DLC's QPL for these particular products.

In addition Redbird LED Inc. recently recieved the IES 2012 progress report award for their Cardinal LED tube light as a significant achievement towards the art and science of lighting. One has to wonder what will happen with the award now that the product has been removed from the QPL.Leading Online Resource for your gardenlighting Fixture Needs.

I commend the DLC for their prompt attention in reviewing this listing on the QPL. Having examined the Lighting Sciences report I am not surprised it was removed. I fully support the importance of having strict specifications that ensure only quality LED linear tube lights are certified by the DLC however, I think it is clear that the current methodology for evaluating LED linear tubes is not the most accurate way to measure the delivered light of a given LED lighting fixture and therefore achieve DLC certification.

While I am confident that leading LED manufacturers will soon achieve the required lumen output necessary for inclusion, the problem will be the delivered light will be too bright to utilize the approved product in many applications as well as force end users to purchase a higher wattage lamp than necessary if they want to obtain a rebate.

I have tested and reviewed numerous LED tube lights in a variety of fixtures and have found several tubes from leading manufacturers that provide equal or superior delivered light to the task area below while significantly reducing power consumption as compared to the existing fluorescent technologies. If an LED tube light is UL/ETL certified and can provide the necessary light levels as established by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) while meeting the warranty requirements I believe it should be considered for inclusion by the DLC.

It is my hope that the DLC will review the evaluation process currently in place and confer with LED industry experts to establish a better system for inclusion.Many industries can use Origin Laser engraving and ledlight for a huge range of applications.  I encourage all LED manufacturers, property owners and facility managers to discuss the evaluation process currently in place today.

Somersworth food distributor turns solar power into refrigeration system

After installing 572 solar panels last month, a commercial food distributor is using the sun to keep things fresh and crisp while saving on its electric bills.

Favorite Foods, headquartered at 29 Interstate Drive, is using a 140-kilowatt system, which is the largest in the state, to power its industrial cooler and freezer,Round cotton magicshinebikelight attachment for a telehandler. which use the same amount of power as 24 homes, according Julie Cole, vice president of marketing.

"That's enough panels to power a neighborhood," Cole said, adding the panels will produce about 170,000 kilowatt-hours annually, representing about 17 to 18 percent on the electric bills.

While this doesn't offset the cost to keep the freezers running, Cole said the savings can be re-invested into the company,Automobile liquid crystal sun visor, also known as Automobile liquid goodantiquelamp valve. which could help encourage growth or job production.

Cole said the company distributes a variety of products and services to local restaurants within a 60-mile radius around Portsmouth, which encompasses parts of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Representatives from Favorite Foods and system financer Revolution Energy plan to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. along Interstate Drive.

Both companies are members of Green Alliance, a business network that is also based in Portsmouth and serves the Seacoast area.

"We're always looking for ways to be more green, and this is a huge step forward in that direction," according to a release by President Chris Barstow, who co-founded the company in 1978.

Through a special inverter installed on site, Favorite Foods can constantly monitor the system in real time, according to the release.

"This way we won't be guessing about how it's performing, because we'll know almost exactly," Barstow said in the release.

"It's going to have a positive effect on our energy consumption, and we're looking forward to that being something we can really hang our hat on," Barstow said.

Revolution Energy, which is based in Portsmouth, specializes in financing mechanisms that allow clients to pay for the system over time, according to the release. The undertaking, which was partially funded by the State's Renewable Energy Fund, proves "the solar industry is alive, well, and only growing in the Granite State,LED solarledbulbs03 are a great way to do your part for the environment." according to Andrew Kellar, project coordinator for Revolution.

"Favorite Foods has been a leader in renewable energy and efficiency upgrades to their building and fleet, and we think they'll serve as an incredible example of what's possible," Kellar said in the release.

Kellar continued that this is "just the kind of high-profile project that could go a long way in proving the efficacy of alternative energy in the Granite State.

"This is a huge step for us, but working with Revolution has made a very complicated and difficult process very manageable," Barstow said.

Mall in Davao adopts green archi

SM City’s newest premier mall in the Davao City, which is set to open on September 28 this year, takes malling to a new level with the adoption of green architecture components in the construction of the SM City Lanang Premier.

“We have installed a rain-catchment system capable of handling 550 cubic meters of water in accordance with the new city ordinance requiring a rainwater catchment system for all new constructions,” SM City Lanang Premier mall manager Clarice Lapena said during a press conference held at SM City Ecoland Monday, in preparation for the September 28 opening of the new mall.

Ordinance No. 0298-09, series of 2009, which mandates the proper harvest, storage and use of the city’s rainwater, was authored by former councilor Leonardo Avila. Establishments that will construct rainwater catchments in their projects are set to receive tax rebates from the government while violators will be penalized.

Avila earlier said that the rainwater catchment system will help mitigate flooding and canal erosion in the urban areas. Lapena said the RCS will prevent the overloading of the creek near the area.

The mall has also adopted other green architecture components such as the use of glass pavers in the open parking area.

Glass pavers are considered an environment-friendly option as they are recycled from glass bottles. With proper sandblasting, the glass pavers become slip-resistant and provide maximum water absorption characteristics. The use of glass pavers in the mall’s open parking space results to minimum water run-off, Lapena said.

LED lights, which are more efficient and cost-effective since they last longer than the ordinary light bulbs, are used throughout the mall. Louvers were also used to deflect and block daylight, making the indoor cooling system more efficient.

Likewise to minimize the carbon monoxide emission, SM City has installed park finders in the parking lot. The gadget will help drivers maximize their fuel use as they will easily determine the availability of a parking space when there is a green light, or the red light if it is occupied.

The OZ8027A LED Driver Controller makes use of primary-side regulation to reduce the BOM-count which in turn eliminates the need for using an optocoupler of high cost. With an energy efficiency of more than 85%, the OZ8027A decreases the complexity associated with thermal management and also decreases energy consumption. This LED Driver Controller operates in the voltage range of 85 V–265 V, which gives it a global appeal. The power factor correction feature in the OZ8027A helps it to achieve a high power factor over a low THD and a broad input voltage range.

The reduction in BOM count is further accelerated due to the high voltage startup circuit that is built in with the OZ8027A LED Driver Controller. This feature also contributes to the quick startup operation of the OZ8027A. The regulation of LED current is highly efficient in this LED Driver Controller, which ensures consistency in lumen output, irrespective of the variations in the line input conditions.

Isolated flyback topology is a unique feature of the OZ8027A, which enables the device to support the requirements of UL regulations. Integrated LED short circuit, LED open circuit, cycle-by-cycle current limiting, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection enable the reliable and safe operation of the OZ8027A LED Driver Controller.

Another all-nighter

Last June, Northern Spark promised the Twin Cities its first European-style nuit blanche, or “white night” festival, and what did we get?

As it neared 2 a.m., the view from the open-air observation deck 30 stories up the historic Foshay Tower was of a night sky dyed orange from streetlights and of darkened skyscrapers speckled fluorescent green where the lights still glowed in empty offices. A giddy crowd watched red taillights stream down Interstate 94 and saw the sleepy neighborhoods beyond spangled with white porch lights left burning through the night.

It was one of many magical moments from last year’s all-night art festival, and even at that late hour, when bars and clubs were pushing patrons out the door, revelers gladly joined the long line in the Foshay lobby, content to wait 30 minutes or more just to experience that view. Yes, there was an art installation up there, too — a sound collage of Twin Cities radio stations — but glittering Minneapolis stole the show.

Over 20,000 people participated in that first-ever Northern Spark festival, packing the Stone Arch Bridge during the opening ceremony at dusk and then fanning out across Minneapolis and St. Paul to visit as many of the 100 art projects as they could before dawn — or sleep — brought their white nights to a close.

This year, the nuit blanche that kicks off at dusk June 9 won’t be quite as sprawling. Due to scheduling conflicts with events planned for St. Paul, all of this year’s art projects will take place within five zones in Minneapolis: downtown; the area around the Stone Arch Bridge; the University of Minnesota campus; the Walker Art Center campus; and parts of south and southwest around the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the Midtown Greenway.

Northern Spark spokesperson Tom Loftus said festival organizers are planning a big return to St. Paul in 2013, but in the meantime it means our city will be even more densely packed with art projects this year: The slightly expanded festival schedule includes 120 projects by about 200 participating artists.

Planning ahead is essential to make the most of the festival. The festival website lists projects by artist name, time and location, and includes interactive maps to help design a personalized after-dark excursion. Northern Spark also plans to make a smart phone app with maps and project information available for download before the festival, Loftus said.

Organizers are also trying to boost the festival’s social media profile, offering new ways for participants to interact via Twitter and even win prizes for tweeting about the festival — including a pass to the front of that long, long Foshay Tower line. The idea is to use social media for real-time feedback from patrons on the night’s best events.

“It will give festival goers a sense of what projects are really trending,” Loftus said.

Last year, only a couple of mobile food vendors set up for the night, and where they did the lines were incredibly long. This year, at least 10 food trucks will spread out across the festival to satisfy late-night cravings, Loftus said.

Northern Spark is free and open to the public, so there’s no need to wait for an invitation, but festival organizers are planning to issue one, anyway. Starting June 2, the phrase “think and wonder, wonder and think” — the theme of this year’s festival — will be illuminated in 8-foot-tall letters on the Stone Arch Bridge.

BPC leading the way in green building

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.”