Concerns about spoiling holiday displays and hindering agricultural operations prompted the Riverside County Board of Supervisors today to postpone -- for a second time -- a decision on whether to impose fines up to $500 on residents or businesses whose outdoor lights create a nuisance.
"I had no intention to restrict people from lighting their houses for Christmas," Supervisor John Tavaglione said of his proposed "light trespass" ordinance. "I don't care how long they want to leave their lights on. The more holiday lights we see, the better."
One of the measure's provisions stipulates that outdoor holiday decorations are to be turned off by 11 p.m. That restriction, along with concerns that wine growers might face penalties if they use mobile lights during nighttime grape-picking in vineyards, led County Counsel Pamela Walls to request additional time to modify the proposal so that exemptions could be put in place.
Supervisor Jeff Stone mentioned during a hearing on the measure last week that homeowners' associations and community centers are also worried about being fined for running high-intensity security lights.
"You're never going to make everybody happy," Corona-area resident William Larsen told the board today. "There are a few things I'd like to see more of (in the ordinance), and a few things I'd like to see less of."
Larsen inspired Tavaglione to start researching a light trespass law in February 2010 when he presented pictures to the board demonstrating how a neighbor's security lights were illuminating the second-floor of his home every night, all night.
Mead Valley resident Jeff McKinley said he has the same problem, and his only current remedy is to file a lawsuit against his neighbor, who has refused to adjust his exterior lights.
"I can't do anything about it," McKinley told the board today. "I don't have the resources to go to civil court."
Tavaglione said when he introduced the ordinance last month that it would provide the county with the necessary tools to "to deal with individuals who want to harass neighbors through lighting, or who have lighting in place that impacts communities."
The proposal would set penalties for property owners who allow their exterior "luminaires" to shine too brightly, infringing on neighbors' lots. Tavaglione said excess lighting not only wastes resources but affects people's health.
The proposed ordinance would require that all outdoor light fixtures "be located, adequately shielded and directed such that no direct light falls outside the parcel of origin, or onto the public right-of-way" and "shall not blink, flash or rotate."
Exceptions would be made for street lights and lights utilized by public safety agencies, as well as lights used for public or private monuments.
A complaint of light trespass would have to be filed with the sheriff's or code enforcement departments, whose personnel would conduct a follow-up investigation to confirm a violation.
The first two violations in a six-month period would be classified as infractions. A third offense in a six-month period would be treated as a misdemeanor.
The minimum fine for a first offense would be $100. The penalty for a second offense would be $250, and the penalty for three or more offenses would be $500 -- with the possibility of up to six months in county jail.
2011年11月21日 星期一
Goodbye Incandescents
After 130 years of using incandescent lamps, China is determined to abandon the energy-guzzling bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient ones.
On November 1, the Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and five other government departments jointly released a joint circular, vowing to gradually halt imports and sales of the traditional incandescent lamps.
Those lamps are widely used for both household and commercial lighting. Electricity is used to heat up the thin wire filament inside the bulb until it glows and produces light. Unfortunately, while incandescent bulbs are effective at illuminating even the darkest of spaces, they are not energy efficient. Much of the electricity is used to make heat, and light is only a by-product.
In 1882, China's first incandescent lamp was used in Shanghai, providing a more reliable alternative to oil lamps and candles. In the past 130 years, China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of incandescent bulbs. In 2010, the country's output of such bulbs stood at 3.85 billion, with sales hitting 1.07 billion yuan ($168.47 million).
As China embarks on a greener path of development, it is aiming to phase out these less efficient bulbs.
"This move is part of the government's vigorous efforts to push forward energy conservation and emission reduction," said Xie Ji, Deputy Director of Resource Conservation and Environment Protection under the NDRC.
The effort to replace incandescent lamps with energy-efficient ones nationwide will help save 48 billion kwh of electricity and reduce 48 million tons of carbon dioxide emission annually, said Xie.
"This year marks the beginning of the 12th Five-year Plan (2011-15), which is focused on economic rebalancing. Meanwhile, the United Nations Climate Change Conference is about to convene in Durban, South Africa," said Xie. "Against this background, China is taking swift action to propel green lighting and implementing effective measures in response to climate change."
Xie said some manufacturers of incandescent lamps in the country have been transforming their businesses and reducing production. NDRC data showed that in 2010 there were 10 enterprises nationwide with annual output of more than 100 million incandescent lamps, accounting for at least 70 percent of the industry's total output of such lamps.
China has been firmly committed to improving energy efficiency. In 1996, the Chinese Government launched a green lighting program, promoting wider use of energy-efficient lamps with heavy subsidies. Moreover, the country has joined hands with the United Nations Development Program and Global Environmental Facility to initiate a project aimed at lifting the quality and competitiveness of China's energy-efficient lighting products.
The circular said those projects have significantly helped China's lighting industry move up the value chain and improve product quality. In 1996, China's output of energy-efficient lamps was barely 3 percent of that of incandescent bulbs, but the ratio jumped to 1:1 in 2010. Last year, the country's output of energy-efficient lamps amounted to 4.26 billion, accounting for 80 percent of the world's total. There were around 20 manufacturers with annual output surpassing 50 million, making up 82.2 percent of the industry's overall output.
On November 1, the Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and five other government departments jointly released a joint circular, vowing to gradually halt imports and sales of the traditional incandescent lamps.
Those lamps are widely used for both household and commercial lighting. Electricity is used to heat up the thin wire filament inside the bulb until it glows and produces light. Unfortunately, while incandescent bulbs are effective at illuminating even the darkest of spaces, they are not energy efficient. Much of the electricity is used to make heat, and light is only a by-product.
In 1882, China's first incandescent lamp was used in Shanghai, providing a more reliable alternative to oil lamps and candles. In the past 130 years, China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of incandescent bulbs. In 2010, the country's output of such bulbs stood at 3.85 billion, with sales hitting 1.07 billion yuan ($168.47 million).
As China embarks on a greener path of development, it is aiming to phase out these less efficient bulbs.
"This move is part of the government's vigorous efforts to push forward energy conservation and emission reduction," said Xie Ji, Deputy Director of Resource Conservation and Environment Protection under the NDRC.
The effort to replace incandescent lamps with energy-efficient ones nationwide will help save 48 billion kwh of electricity and reduce 48 million tons of carbon dioxide emission annually, said Xie.
"This year marks the beginning of the 12th Five-year Plan (2011-15), which is focused on economic rebalancing. Meanwhile, the United Nations Climate Change Conference is about to convene in Durban, South Africa," said Xie. "Against this background, China is taking swift action to propel green lighting and implementing effective measures in response to climate change."
Xie said some manufacturers of incandescent lamps in the country have been transforming their businesses and reducing production. NDRC data showed that in 2010 there were 10 enterprises nationwide with annual output of more than 100 million incandescent lamps, accounting for at least 70 percent of the industry's total output of such lamps.
China has been firmly committed to improving energy efficiency. In 1996, the Chinese Government launched a green lighting program, promoting wider use of energy-efficient lamps with heavy subsidies. Moreover, the country has joined hands with the United Nations Development Program and Global Environmental Facility to initiate a project aimed at lifting the quality and competitiveness of China's energy-efficient lighting products.
The circular said those projects have significantly helped China's lighting industry move up the value chain and improve product quality. In 1996, China's output of energy-efficient lamps was barely 3 percent of that of incandescent bulbs, but the ratio jumped to 1:1 in 2010. Last year, the country's output of energy-efficient lamps amounted to 4.26 billion, accounting for 80 percent of the world's total. There were around 20 manufacturers with annual output surpassing 50 million, making up 82.2 percent of the industry's overall output.
2011年11月20日 星期日
Hundreds turn out for Festival of Lights
With the mercury at a warm 64 degrees, the weather Saturday didn't do much to invoke thoughts of Christmas.
That's especially true for a Canadian like Bud Reiser, the new morning host for Star 92.9 FM. The native of Newfoundland oversaw the ceremony kicking off Springfield's Festival of Lights. The centerpiece of the event was turning on the lights for a 33-foot Norway spruce growing near Mediacom Ice Park.
Reiser's northern roots were on full display when he referred to the weather as a nice fall day.
"Bud, this is winter in the Ozarks," said Bob Stephens, the mayor pro tem.
More than 1,000 people joined Reiser and Stephens for the official tree-lighting ceremony. First- and second-grade students ran around the park shaking silver jingle bells and talked about meeting Santa Claus. Other children and adults stood in line for cups of hot chocolate or other goodies.
Christmas is still five weeks away, and Reiser stood outside in a sweater. But the Canadian said he's used to seemingly unseasonable winter weather. Before living in Missouri, Reiser and his wife, also a Canadian, lived in Honolulu. He said they returned to Canada for just two years and two winters -- long enough to realize they wanted to live somewhere warmer.
"The first one was kind of a novelty," he said "The second one last year was like, 'Oh, brother.'"
Timing the festival right is difficult because of a variety of considerations, including the city's desire to have a full six weeks of activities, said Vince Crunk, the city's co-interim public information director. Weather is also a factor.
"It would be more seasonal if it were colder, but it's more comfortable if it's warmer," Crunk said.
Crunk said he was happy with the turnout, especially after the city decided to cancel the annual fireworks display because of high winds.
Even if the temperature didn't invoke thoughts of cold weather and cozy fires, Springfield residents said it wasn't too early to be in the Christmas spirit.
"No, it's never too early," said Chastity Chew of Springfield.
This was Chew's first Festival of Lights. Chew brought her children to the event. It was also the first time the Jordan Valley Park crew put a special lighting system on the tall spruce allowing the blinking bulbs to synchronize with music. It's called a Monster Brain, said Jeff Cumley, the park's manager. The system, once set up, allows lights to dance in syncopated patterns up and down the tall spruce
That's especially true for a Canadian like Bud Reiser, the new morning host for Star 92.9 FM. The native of Newfoundland oversaw the ceremony kicking off Springfield's Festival of Lights. The centerpiece of the event was turning on the lights for a 33-foot Norway spruce growing near Mediacom Ice Park.
Reiser's northern roots were on full display when he referred to the weather as a nice fall day.
"Bud, this is winter in the Ozarks," said Bob Stephens, the mayor pro tem.
More than 1,000 people joined Reiser and Stephens for the official tree-lighting ceremony. First- and second-grade students ran around the park shaking silver jingle bells and talked about meeting Santa Claus. Other children and adults stood in line for cups of hot chocolate or other goodies.
Christmas is still five weeks away, and Reiser stood outside in a sweater. But the Canadian said he's used to seemingly unseasonable winter weather. Before living in Missouri, Reiser and his wife, also a Canadian, lived in Honolulu. He said they returned to Canada for just two years and two winters -- long enough to realize they wanted to live somewhere warmer.
"The first one was kind of a novelty," he said "The second one last year was like, 'Oh, brother.'"
Timing the festival right is difficult because of a variety of considerations, including the city's desire to have a full six weeks of activities, said Vince Crunk, the city's co-interim public information director. Weather is also a factor.
"It would be more seasonal if it were colder, but it's more comfortable if it's warmer," Crunk said.
Crunk said he was happy with the turnout, especially after the city decided to cancel the annual fireworks display because of high winds.
Even if the temperature didn't invoke thoughts of cold weather and cozy fires, Springfield residents said it wasn't too early to be in the Christmas spirit.
"No, it's never too early," said Chastity Chew of Springfield.
This was Chew's first Festival of Lights. Chew brought her children to the event. It was also the first time the Jordan Valley Park crew put a special lighting system on the tall spruce allowing the blinking bulbs to synchronize with music. It's called a Monster Brain, said Jeff Cumley, the park's manager. The system, once set up, allows lights to dance in syncopated patterns up and down the tall spruce
2011年11月17日 星期四
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.
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.
2011年11月16日 星期三
Finding magic in the great outdoors
Those are a few ways that science educator Melissa Levi has been able to inspire that "aha!" moment in children. Levi has led Lambton Wildlife's Young Naturalist and Junior Conservationist groups for six years, bringing her own energetic brand of hands-on environmental activities.
"She has really imaginative ideas and she's devoted to this (youth education)," said Janet Bremner, president of Lambton Wildlife. "We feel it's one of our most important programs."
It comes at a time when academics fear children are longing for contact with the great indoors. In 2005, American author and journalist Richard Louv coined the term "nature deficit disorder" to describe the trend. He suggests children growing up in front of television and computer screens will have a lack of respect for the environment.
Sean Jenniskens isn't one of those children. The 16-year-old who lives outside of Watford has always had an interest in the environment, participating in the Young Naturalist and then the Junior Conservationist groups the past eight years.
The club is a great change of pace because "it's nice to share ideas," he said.
He has enjoyed several one-of-a-kind experiences through the program.
"Every other month this year, and the last couple of years, we've been going to a raptor rehabilitation centre," he said. "You go to help feed the raptors with broken wings or a problem like that and then clean their cages, which is really fun."
While that might not be everyone's cup of tea immediately, both adults and children can come around to appreciating the environment with exposure, said Levi, who use to work at the Insect Zoo in Victoria, B.C.
"I was able to take people who came in (to the Insect Zoo) and said, 'Ew, bugs are gross,' and sort of turn them around," she said. "In the end, they'd be holding the bugs and they'd be so excited and thrilled for each other."
Levi now tries to bring that excitement to Sarnia-Lambton youth.
"Some kids, it takes them a little while to get into it, but once they do, there's no turning back," she said.
When she took some of the members to a snake restoration project, she soon "couldn't drag the kids away."
Simple activities, like tending to a school garden, can be just as effective in harvesting an appreciation for the environment.
"It doesn't have to be grandiose — polar bears or dolphins — but it can still create that same perspective change, that same sort of enthusiastic light bulb," Levi said.
Both the Young Naturalist Group, for ages 7-11, and the Junior Conservationist Group, age 12 plus, meet monthly. Membership is $15 for the first child and $5 for each additional child.
"She has really imaginative ideas and she's devoted to this (youth education)," said Janet Bremner, president of Lambton Wildlife. "We feel it's one of our most important programs."
It comes at a time when academics fear children are longing for contact with the great indoors. In 2005, American author and journalist Richard Louv coined the term "nature deficit disorder" to describe the trend. He suggests children growing up in front of television and computer screens will have a lack of respect for the environment.
Sean Jenniskens isn't one of those children. The 16-year-old who lives outside of Watford has always had an interest in the environment, participating in the Young Naturalist and then the Junior Conservationist groups the past eight years.
The club is a great change of pace because "it's nice to share ideas," he said.
He has enjoyed several one-of-a-kind experiences through the program.
"Every other month this year, and the last couple of years, we've been going to a raptor rehabilitation centre," he said. "You go to help feed the raptors with broken wings or a problem like that and then clean their cages, which is really fun."
While that might not be everyone's cup of tea immediately, both adults and children can come around to appreciating the environment with exposure, said Levi, who use to work at the Insect Zoo in Victoria, B.C.
"I was able to take people who came in (to the Insect Zoo) and said, 'Ew, bugs are gross,' and sort of turn them around," she said. "In the end, they'd be holding the bugs and they'd be so excited and thrilled for each other."
Levi now tries to bring that excitement to Sarnia-Lambton youth.
"Some kids, it takes them a little while to get into it, but once they do, there's no turning back," she said.
When she took some of the members to a snake restoration project, she soon "couldn't drag the kids away."
Simple activities, like tending to a school garden, can be just as effective in harvesting an appreciation for the environment.
"It doesn't have to be grandiose — polar bears or dolphins — but it can still create that same perspective change, that same sort of enthusiastic light bulb," Levi said.
Both the Young Naturalist Group, for ages 7-11, and the Junior Conservationist Group, age 12 plus, meet monthly. Membership is $15 for the first child and $5 for each additional child.
2011年11月15日 星期二
GE, The Fresh Market, Taiwan, Lighting Association, UV LED Curing Association
GE Lighting recognized The Fresh Market and Walmart for fleet-wide installations, while Taiwan begins street-lighting projects. The Lighting Association introduces an LED product verification program and three companies found the UV LED Curing Association.
GE Lighting honored The Fresh Market with its LED Retailer-of-the-Year award at GE's recent 3rd annual retail conference, held at its headquarters in East Cleveland, OH. Recipients of this award must have retrofit 20% or more of their fleet of stores to LED-based lighting, demonstrated at least 20% energy savings, and visually improved the appearance of the store as recognized by its customers. The Fresh Market has incorporated LED PAR38s into 40% of its stores for accent and general lighting applications.
Walmart, the multinational retailer based in Bentonville, AK, was a featured retailer at the conference and has set a goal to use 100% LED lighting in all of its 5366 stores through new construction and retrofitting. "Switching to LEDs was a no brainer," said Charles Zimmerman, vice president of international design and construction with Walmart. "Now we're using LEDs in display cases, parking lots and throughout the store, and now our LED lights are outliving our refrigerated display cases, providing zero maintenance."
A Walmart parking lot installation was the subject of a US DOE Caliper demonstration report published in May. The new installation revealed an estimated 40% energy savings versus high-pressure sodium lamps and a simple payback period of 6 years.
Also at the GE retailer conference, GE recognized Walgreens with its Retailer-of-the-Year award. Criteria for the award included the use of energy-efficient products in 80% or more of its fleet, demonstration of innovative lighting techniques with improved visual aesthetics, and demonstration of a positive impact on the community. Walgreens transitioned from F28 to F25 linear fluorescent lamps, which allowed a 9% energy savings and a 10% longer lamp life. The full release is provided here.
According to an article published in Taiwan Today, Shih Yen-shiang of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), has announced a NT$700 million project that will involve the replacement of 53,000 fluorescent street lamps with LED street lamps.
The ROC government will begin the 3-year replacement project, valued at $23.25 million, in January 2012. It will involve LED lamp installations in the cities of Keelung, Hsinchu and Chiayi. Shih announced the plan after meeting with LED companies including Everlight Electronics, Epistar and Delta Electronics.
"This replacement project will not only provide the nation with energy efficient lighting," Shih said, "it will also give local LED manufacturers a tremendous boost, as the experience they acquire from manufacturing and installing the new lights will help make them more competitive internationally."
Shih noted the importance of standards and stated that the government will accelerate its efforts to promote standards for the LED industry. The ministry noted that the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection has already set 49 specifications for the LED industry, on matters such as acceptable power density and energy-efficiency levels.
GE Lighting honored The Fresh Market with its LED Retailer-of-the-Year award at GE's recent 3rd annual retail conference, held at its headquarters in East Cleveland, OH. Recipients of this award must have retrofit 20% or more of their fleet of stores to LED-based lighting, demonstrated at least 20% energy savings, and visually improved the appearance of the store as recognized by its customers. The Fresh Market has incorporated LED PAR38s into 40% of its stores for accent and general lighting applications.
Walmart, the multinational retailer based in Bentonville, AK, was a featured retailer at the conference and has set a goal to use 100% LED lighting in all of its 5366 stores through new construction and retrofitting. "Switching to LEDs was a no brainer," said Charles Zimmerman, vice president of international design and construction with Walmart. "Now we're using LEDs in display cases, parking lots and throughout the store, and now our LED lights are outliving our refrigerated display cases, providing zero maintenance."
A Walmart parking lot installation was the subject of a US DOE Caliper demonstration report published in May. The new installation revealed an estimated 40% energy savings versus high-pressure sodium lamps and a simple payback period of 6 years.
Also at the GE retailer conference, GE recognized Walgreens with its Retailer-of-the-Year award. Criteria for the award included the use of energy-efficient products in 80% or more of its fleet, demonstration of innovative lighting techniques with improved visual aesthetics, and demonstration of a positive impact on the community. Walgreens transitioned from F28 to F25 linear fluorescent lamps, which allowed a 9% energy savings and a 10% longer lamp life. The full release is provided here.
According to an article published in Taiwan Today, Shih Yen-shiang of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), has announced a NT$700 million project that will involve the replacement of 53,000 fluorescent street lamps with LED street lamps.
The ROC government will begin the 3-year replacement project, valued at $23.25 million, in January 2012. It will involve LED lamp installations in the cities of Keelung, Hsinchu and Chiayi. Shih announced the plan after meeting with LED companies including Everlight Electronics, Epistar and Delta Electronics.
"This replacement project will not only provide the nation with energy efficient lighting," Shih said, "it will also give local LED manufacturers a tremendous boost, as the experience they acquire from manufacturing and installing the new lights will help make them more competitive internationally."
Shih noted the importance of standards and stated that the government will accelerate its efforts to promote standards for the LED industry. The ministry noted that the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection has already set 49 specifications for the LED industry, on matters such as acceptable power density and energy-efficiency levels.
2011年11月14日 星期一
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.
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.
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