Bikers are a crazy lot. One day they want to be on a bike with which
they can decimate the corners, while the next day they want to go
green-laning. But when a long weekend is in sight, they yearn for a long
haul. So, in an ideal world they would need four bikes, which for most
is a distant dream. But Ducati realised this dream by creating the
Multistrada.
So, the Multistrada 1200S at first glance is quite a
big bike. Weighing 234 kg at full load and standing 1,480mm tall, it
has quite a presence. The headlights in the 2013 version now sport an
LED lighting system and the front screen is adjustable for height and a
small cubby hole on the fairing next to the handlebar can be used to
keep knick-knacks.
Mechanically there are plenty of changes. The
Testastretta 11 degree engine gets repositioned injectors and now sport
dual spark plugs per cylinder.You can add the car led and fluorescent kits to your car, truck, motorcycle, boat etc.
Max
power, though, remains the same at 150bhp. I say max power because the
Multistrada has four selectable riding modes. The Multistrada's 1,198cc
engine comes to life with a deep growl that's loud enough to rouse the
entire neighbourhood. The clutch is light; open the throttle gently and
the bike takes off smoothly. Any sudden burst of the throttle reveals
that the system cuts the power avoiding a wheelspin. Even in top gear,
the bike pulls away cleanly to massive three digit numbers. The
suspension adapts itself and absorbs bumps fantastically. But, in the
sport mode all hell breaks loose.
Now, the Multistrada morphs into a precision tool and the next sections of the hills are a joy to ride.
The
Pirelli rubbers provide good grip, and in conjunction with the stiffer
suspension, gives confidence even to novices.Learn how daytime running lights use gas and the amount it takes to power these lights.The lights used were Inspired LED Strip light in
warm white But, there is little margin for error as the power delivery
is insane that is very close to superbikes accompanied by a meaty
baritone from the exhaust. Not to forget that the DTC is toned down as
well.
Sr. Supt. Jesus Cambay, director of the Baguio Police
Office (BCDO), said the anti-holdup on taxicabs campaign dubbed as "LED
Alert" program was intended to bring down the growing number of taxi
robberies in the past several months.
"The LED Alert project
will play a key role in significantly reducing taxi holdup incidents,
especially during the night. Drivers will have the ability to alert
people of a hold up being committed," Cambay said.
LED refers to
the Light Emitting Diode mounted on the top of the taxicabs that alerts
police and the public of an on-going robbery inside the vehicle.
Drivers can switch it on using a secret switch.
Police records
show a total of 16 holdups in the city from January to June this year.
In 13 cases, the drivers were holdup victims, but in at least three
cases, the drivers were suspected of robbing their passengers.
Baguio
City Mayor Mauricio Domogan welcomed the initiative, which could alert
people to call the police, serve as deterent against taxi robberies and
help bring down crime in the city.
"Let us continue
strengthening the partnership that we were able to establish so that we
will be able to project the city as one of the most peaceful and orderly
urban areas in the country," Domogan said.
"We will be reaping its fruits through the expected influx of tourists to the city in the coming months," the mayor said.
2013年6月16日 星期日
2013年6月12日 星期三
Silicon-based nanoparticles could make LEDs cheaper
Silicon-based nanoparticles could make LEDs cheaper
Light-emitting diodes,Learn how daytime running lights use gas and the amount it takes to power these lights. or LEDs, are the most efficient and environmentally friendly light bulbs on the market. But they come at a higher up-front price than other bulbs, especially the ones with warmer and more appealing hues.The lights used were Inspirea LED Strip light in warm white
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a material they say would make LED bulbs cheaper and greener to manufacture, driving down the price. Their silicon-based nanoparticles soften the blue light emitted by LEDs, creating white light that more closely resembles sunlight.
The company, LumiSands, started as a graduate student project for CEO Chang-Ching Tu, who received his doctorate in electrical engineering at the UW and just completed a stint as a postdoctoral researcher in materials science and engineering. This spring, the start-up company spun out from the UW Center for Commercialization, a process that its two founders hope will lead to signing a commercialization license for the technology.
LEDs give off light when electrons move through a semiconductor material.You can add the car led and fluorescent kits to your car, truck, motorcycle, boat etc. They are more efficient than standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, but they’re also pricier. That’s partly because within each LED lamp, expensive substances known as rare-earth-element phosphors help to soften the harsh blue light that LEDs naturally emit.
But these rare-earth elements are hazardous to extract and process. China controls nearly all of the market for these materials, which has quadrupled the average price for the past several years.
That’s where LumiSands comes in. The company uses silicon, derived from sand, instead of rare-earth elements to convert part of the blue light emitted by LEDs into greens, yellows and reds. The resulting light looks more like sunlight.
The crew of two plans to sell directly to LED-bulb manufacturers that are looking to transition away from increasingly more expensive materials to make the lights.
“Hopefully, manufacturers could substitute traditional rare-earth elements with our material with minimal additional steps,” said Ji Hoo, a UW doctoral student in electrical engineering and co-founder of LumiSands. “It will be cheaper, better-quality lighting for users.”
Incandescent bulbs give off light that’s most similar to sunlight – and easiest on our eyes – but the bulbs are inefficient and produce a lot of heat. Fluorescent bulbs, seen most commonly as long tubes in overhead office light fixtures, are more efficient than incandescent lights, but they contain mercury, posing health and environmental concerns.
LumiSands etches off nano-sized particles from wafers of silicon. The element, which usually doesn’t emit light, can start to glow when its crystalline particle size is smaller than 5 nanometers. The surface is reinforced through a wet-chemistry process. When the red-emitting silicon nanoparticles are added to LED bulbs, the light becomes softer and warmer in hue.
“The beauty of our technology is to create a highly efficient fluorescent material by using silicon rather than rare-earth elements or other types of heavy-metal compound semiconductors,” Tu said. “The manufacturing process can be performed in a basic laboratory setting and is easy to scale up.”
LumiSands plans to tweak the red technology before moving on to other colors such as yellow and green, which will enable LEDs to cast a white light with no rare-earth elements.
The company has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Washington Research Foundation and the W Fund. It received an honorable mention in the 2012 Foster School of Business Environmental Innovation Challenge and a top award in the 2012 Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator mentorship program.
Light-emitting diodes,Learn how daytime running lights use gas and the amount it takes to power these lights. or LEDs, are the most efficient and environmentally friendly light bulbs on the market. But they come at a higher up-front price than other bulbs, especially the ones with warmer and more appealing hues.The lights used were Inspirea LED Strip light in warm white
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a material they say would make LED bulbs cheaper and greener to manufacture, driving down the price. Their silicon-based nanoparticles soften the blue light emitted by LEDs, creating white light that more closely resembles sunlight.
The company, LumiSands, started as a graduate student project for CEO Chang-Ching Tu, who received his doctorate in electrical engineering at the UW and just completed a stint as a postdoctoral researcher in materials science and engineering. This spring, the start-up company spun out from the UW Center for Commercialization, a process that its two founders hope will lead to signing a commercialization license for the technology.
LEDs give off light when electrons move through a semiconductor material.You can add the car led and fluorescent kits to your car, truck, motorcycle, boat etc. They are more efficient than standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, but they’re also pricier. That’s partly because within each LED lamp, expensive substances known as rare-earth-element phosphors help to soften the harsh blue light that LEDs naturally emit.
But these rare-earth elements are hazardous to extract and process. China controls nearly all of the market for these materials, which has quadrupled the average price for the past several years.
That’s where LumiSands comes in. The company uses silicon, derived from sand, instead of rare-earth elements to convert part of the blue light emitted by LEDs into greens, yellows and reds. The resulting light looks more like sunlight.
The crew of two plans to sell directly to LED-bulb manufacturers that are looking to transition away from increasingly more expensive materials to make the lights.
“Hopefully, manufacturers could substitute traditional rare-earth elements with our material with minimal additional steps,” said Ji Hoo, a UW doctoral student in electrical engineering and co-founder of LumiSands. “It will be cheaper, better-quality lighting for users.”
Incandescent bulbs give off light that’s most similar to sunlight – and easiest on our eyes – but the bulbs are inefficient and produce a lot of heat. Fluorescent bulbs, seen most commonly as long tubes in overhead office light fixtures, are more efficient than incandescent lights, but they contain mercury, posing health and environmental concerns.
LumiSands etches off nano-sized particles from wafers of silicon. The element, which usually doesn’t emit light, can start to glow when its crystalline particle size is smaller than 5 nanometers. The surface is reinforced through a wet-chemistry process. When the red-emitting silicon nanoparticles are added to LED bulbs, the light becomes softer and warmer in hue.
“The beauty of our technology is to create a highly efficient fluorescent material by using silicon rather than rare-earth elements or other types of heavy-metal compound semiconductors,” Tu said. “The manufacturing process can be performed in a basic laboratory setting and is easy to scale up.”
LumiSands plans to tweak the red technology before moving on to other colors such as yellow and green, which will enable LEDs to cast a white light with no rare-earth elements.
The company has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Washington Research Foundation and the W Fund. It received an honorable mention in the 2012 Foster School of Business Environmental Innovation Challenge and a top award in the 2012 Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator mentorship program.
2013年6月8日 星期六
Noguchi's light sculptures
The Noguchi lamps — called akari, the Japanese word for light — were
inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns used in ancestor worship. Over
the decades, the akari became classics of mid-20th century modern home
decor.
Noguchi’s original designs are still handmade in Japan; they come in a variety of colors and dozens of geometric designs — including the widely imitated white sphere — and range in price from $100 to $1,000. And they pop up in some pretty cool places, from painter Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in New Mexico to Tony Stark’s bedroom in “Iron Man 3.”
The story of how the late Noguchi came to create akari is rooted in the recovery of Japan’s post-World War II economy and the cross-cultural currents that influenced his spare, bold,Learn how daytime running lights use gas and the amount it takes to power these lights. modernist aesthetics.
Noguchi’s mother was American; his father Japanese.The lights used were Inspired LED Strip light in warm white They never married. Born in 1904, Noguchi spent years in both countries during his youth. After World War II, he was greatly admired by the art and design community in Japan, and at some point met the mayor of the town of Gifu, where local industry centered around making lanterns for ancestry worship, using paper from mulberry trees.
“The mayor asked Noguchi, ‘Can you help us resurrect our lantern business?’” said Jenny Dixon, director of the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, New York. “That’s how the akari were first produced.You can add the car led and fluorescent kits to your car, truck, motorcycle, boat etc. They were exported as an economic product and were well-received by the design community.”
She added that Noguchi “papered them sculpturally. He didn’t call them lanterns or lamps; he called them light sculptures.”
Noguchi’s concept “stood in sharp contrast to 1950s contemporary, modern, efficient lighting trends,” said Peter Barna, provost of Pratt Institute, the art and design college in Brooklyn, N.Y. Popular lighting options of the day included track lights, adjustable desk lamps and “pole lamps with conical shades,” added Barna.
Eventually, Noguchi developed a relationship with one family of lantern makers. The same family still produces his designs today. “They’re all handmade, each one, individually, from molds. They’re not mass-produced,” Dixon said. “We’re now working with the third generation there, filling our orders. … Our biggest challenge is meeting the demand.”
Each lamp has bamboo ribbing and standard wiring, and can accommodate incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs (45 watts for small lamps, 75 watts for large). Designs range from spheres, discs and cylinders to triangles, boxes, trapezoids, and other geometric shapes and combinations. Most shades are white, but some are decorated in orange, green or black; a few bear abstract designs.
There are hanging lamps, as well as table lamps and floor lamps with metal legs or small black circular bases. Many appear breathtakingly elegant; others have a whimsical, futuristic look.
A large selection of akari can be seen at the Noguchi Museum, located in the studio where he worked for decades in Long Island City, an industrial neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. A few lamps are displayed amid Noguchi’s sculptures.
Danielle Berman, the production designer for “Iron Man 3,” chose a tall Noguchi lamp in a stacked box design to illuminate Tony Stark’s bedroom. “It was such a modernist home,” she explained. “It had a lot of very round, organic lines. I immediately thought of that lamp because it was such a geometric contrast.”
Noguchi’s “understanding of space,” she said, is “very organic. He uses all these natural materials. It’s the simplicity, yet it’s very complex. You light it and the paper gives this beautiful glow. It’s a beautiful element to have on any set. I try to use them whenever I can.”
Noguchi’s original designs are still handmade in Japan; they come in a variety of colors and dozens of geometric designs — including the widely imitated white sphere — and range in price from $100 to $1,000. And they pop up in some pretty cool places, from painter Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in New Mexico to Tony Stark’s bedroom in “Iron Man 3.”
The story of how the late Noguchi came to create akari is rooted in the recovery of Japan’s post-World War II economy and the cross-cultural currents that influenced his spare, bold,Learn how daytime running lights use gas and the amount it takes to power these lights. modernist aesthetics.
Noguchi’s mother was American; his father Japanese.The lights used were Inspired LED Strip light in warm white They never married. Born in 1904, Noguchi spent years in both countries during his youth. After World War II, he was greatly admired by the art and design community in Japan, and at some point met the mayor of the town of Gifu, where local industry centered around making lanterns for ancestry worship, using paper from mulberry trees.
“The mayor asked Noguchi, ‘Can you help us resurrect our lantern business?’” said Jenny Dixon, director of the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, New York. “That’s how the akari were first produced.You can add the car led and fluorescent kits to your car, truck, motorcycle, boat etc. They were exported as an economic product and were well-received by the design community.”
She added that Noguchi “papered them sculpturally. He didn’t call them lanterns or lamps; he called them light sculptures.”
Noguchi’s concept “stood in sharp contrast to 1950s contemporary, modern, efficient lighting trends,” said Peter Barna, provost of Pratt Institute, the art and design college in Brooklyn, N.Y. Popular lighting options of the day included track lights, adjustable desk lamps and “pole lamps with conical shades,” added Barna.
Eventually, Noguchi developed a relationship with one family of lantern makers. The same family still produces his designs today. “They’re all handmade, each one, individually, from molds. They’re not mass-produced,” Dixon said. “We’re now working with the third generation there, filling our orders. … Our biggest challenge is meeting the demand.”
Each lamp has bamboo ribbing and standard wiring, and can accommodate incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs (45 watts for small lamps, 75 watts for large). Designs range from spheres, discs and cylinders to triangles, boxes, trapezoids, and other geometric shapes and combinations. Most shades are white, but some are decorated in orange, green or black; a few bear abstract designs.
There are hanging lamps, as well as table lamps and floor lamps with metal legs or small black circular bases. Many appear breathtakingly elegant; others have a whimsical, futuristic look.
A large selection of akari can be seen at the Noguchi Museum, located in the studio where he worked for decades in Long Island City, an industrial neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. A few lamps are displayed amid Noguchi’s sculptures.
Danielle Berman, the production designer for “Iron Man 3,” chose a tall Noguchi lamp in a stacked box design to illuminate Tony Stark’s bedroom. “It was such a modernist home,” she explained. “It had a lot of very round, organic lines. I immediately thought of that lamp because it was such a geometric contrast.”
Noguchi’s “understanding of space,” she said, is “very organic. He uses all these natural materials. It’s the simplicity, yet it’s very complex. You light it and the paper gives this beautiful glow. It’s a beautiful element to have on any set. I try to use them whenever I can.”
2013年6月7日 星期五
RPI’s Smart Lighting ERC demos first monolithic integration of LED
The Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY, USA has demonstrated what is reckoned to be the first monolithically integrated light-emitting diode (LED) and high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) on the same gallium nitride (GaN) chip. It is reckoned that the development could open the door to a new generation of LED technology which is less expensive to manufacture, much more efficient, and which enables new functionalities and applications beyond illumination.
In existing LED lighting systems, for the LED to function, external components — such as inductors, capacitors,Buy hid kit, ballasts, and headlight bulbs. silicon interconnects, and wires — must be installed on or integrated into the chip. Due to these essential components, the large size of the chip complicates the design and performance of LED lighting products. Additionally, the process of assembling the complex LED lighting systems can be slow, manually intensive, and expensive.
In a study ‘Monolithic integration of light-emitting diodes and power metal-oxide semiconductor channel high-electron-mobility transistors for light-emitting power integrated circuits in GaN on sapphire substrate’led by T. Paul Chow, professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) at RPI, the researchers hence sought to develop a chip with components all made from GaN. The monolithically integration simplifies LED device manufacturing, requiring fewer assembly steps and less automation. Also, LED devices made with monolithically integrated chips will have fewer parts to malfunction, higher energy efficiency and cost effectiveness, and greater lighting design flexibility, it is reckoned.
The research team grew a GaN LED structure directly on top of a GaN HEMT structure. Using basic techniques to interconnect the two regions, they created what is reckoned to be the first monolithic integration of a HEMT and an LED on the same GaN-based chip. The device, grown on a sapphire substrate, demonstrated light output and light density comparable to standard GaN LED devices. Chow reckons that the study is a key step toward creating a new class of optoelectronic device: the light-emitting integrated circuit (LEIC).
“Just as the integration of many silicon devices in a single chip — integrated circuits — has enabled powerful compact computers and a wide range of smart device technology, the LEIC will play a pivotal role in cost-effective monolithic integration of electronics and LED technology for new smart lighting applications and more efficient LED lighting systems,” Chow says.
“LEICs will result in even higher energy efficiency of LED lighting systems,” comments Smart Lighting ERC director Robert Karlicek, a co-author of the study and ECSE professor at RPI. “But what will be even more exciting are the new devices, new applications, and new breakthroughs enabled by LEICs — they will truly usher in the era of smart lighting.”
Along with Chow and Karlicek, co-authors of the paper are: Christian Wetzel, the Wellfleet Constellation Professor of Future Chips at Rensselaer and a faculty member in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy; Rensselaer graduate students Zhongda Li and John Waldron; and former Rensselaer research associate professor Theeradetch Detchprohm.
The research was funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Smart Lighting ERC, with additional support from New York state though Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation.
In existing LED lighting systems, for the LED to function, external components — such as inductors, capacitors,Buy hid kit, ballasts, and headlight bulbs. silicon interconnects, and wires — must be installed on or integrated into the chip. Due to these essential components, the large size of the chip complicates the design and performance of LED lighting products. Additionally, the process of assembling the complex LED lighting systems can be slow, manually intensive, and expensive.
In a study ‘Monolithic integration of light-emitting diodes and power metal-oxide semiconductor channel high-electron-mobility transistors for light-emitting power integrated circuits in GaN on sapphire substrate’led by T. Paul Chow, professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) at RPI, the researchers hence sought to develop a chip with components all made from GaN. The monolithically integration simplifies LED device manufacturing, requiring fewer assembly steps and less automation. Also, LED devices made with monolithically integrated chips will have fewer parts to malfunction, higher energy efficiency and cost effectiveness, and greater lighting design flexibility, it is reckoned.
The research team grew a GaN LED structure directly on top of a GaN HEMT structure. Using basic techniques to interconnect the two regions, they created what is reckoned to be the first monolithic integration of a HEMT and an LED on the same GaN-based chip. The device, grown on a sapphire substrate, demonstrated light output and light density comparable to standard GaN LED devices. Chow reckons that the study is a key step toward creating a new class of optoelectronic device: the light-emitting integrated circuit (LEIC).
“Just as the integration of many silicon devices in a single chip — integrated circuits — has enabled powerful compact computers and a wide range of smart device technology, the LEIC will play a pivotal role in cost-effective monolithic integration of electronics and LED technology for new smart lighting applications and more efficient LED lighting systems,” Chow says.
“LEICs will result in even higher energy efficiency of LED lighting systems,” comments Smart Lighting ERC director Robert Karlicek, a co-author of the study and ECSE professor at RPI. “But what will be even more exciting are the new devices, new applications, and new breakthroughs enabled by LEICs — they will truly usher in the era of smart lighting.”
Along with Chow and Karlicek, co-authors of the paper are: Christian Wetzel, the Wellfleet Constellation Professor of Future Chips at Rensselaer and a faculty member in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy; Rensselaer graduate students Zhongda Li and John Waldron; and former Rensselaer research associate professor Theeradetch Detchprohm.
The research was funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Smart Lighting ERC, with additional support from New York state though Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation.
2013年6月6日 星期四
Park District Celebrates the Grand Opening of Chippewa Pool
Construction, under the direction of Paul Cathey, the Park District Superintendent of Parks and Planning, Glen Anderson for the General Contractor, Nicholas & Associates, and Ed Kelley, the district’s Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor, proceeded according to schedule throughout the warm winter, and opened on time after passing final Inspection by the Department of Health on May 31. This inspection process certifies that Chippewa Pool is compliant with all the rules and regulations set forth in the Bathing and Swimming handbook.
At the 2010 public meeting, residents expressed interest in having the look of the new pool fit with the general feel of the neighborhood. Cordogan, Clark & Associates, the architectural firm for the project, designed a Tudor-inspired bathhouse with a steeply pitched roof, an open arch above the entrance, and prominent gables to coordinate with the style of the older homes in the area. Residents also wanted the facility to remain a “neighborhood pool”, as opposed to a water park. New Chippewa Pool occupies the same footprint as the old pool, but has many additional state-of-the art amenities.
In the Leisure Pool area, the shallow end has a zero depth entry, and five geysers that shoot continuous fountains of water into the air. The shallow end also has a Fumbling Five: an omnipod with five buckets in a star pattern. As the buckets constantly fill and randomly spill, they create a large variable splash area. At the opposite end of the Leisure Pool is a new tot-size slide for, swimmers under 48 inches, which splashes riders onto a non-slid pad in just two feet of water. The Lap Pool is connected to the Leisure Pool and can be configured with six standard 25-yard lanes for competitive or recreational swimming.
When not in use for swimming laps, a lane line divides the lap pools at the five-foot depth mark. In the deep end there is a three-meter diving board and another drop slide for swimmers over 48 inches tall. On the deck, a permanent shade structure and shade umbrella offer respite on sunny days, and new chairs and chaise lounges are perfect for sun bathing. In addition to men’s and women's locker rooms, the bathhouse also has a family locker room. There are lockers both in the locker rooms and on the deck, free to users, which can be secured with a standard combination padlock. Adjacent to the bathhouse is a new, covered concession area with picnic tables, two water and soft drink vending machines, a snack machine with healthy alternatives, and an ice cream dispensing machine.
Many new “green initiatives” are in place at Chippewa Pool. The Park District is testing green cleaners that are better for the environment, along with a wall-mounted metered dispenser that will help save money and create less waste. A recycling program is in place. Fluorescent lighting was installed, replacing the metal halide lights. This provides for energy savings in several ways: 1. The new ballasts and lights use much less electricity than the metal halide ones. 2. Fluorescents have instant on and off capability; no electricity is wasted during a warm up period. 3. The new light bulbs and fixtures are less expensive to replace and maintain. LED soffit site lighting was installed, remotely controlled by computer, providing additional cost savings. The Defender pool filter that was put in place will save thousands of gallons of water each year and provide significant energy savings. Finally, a new electronically fuel injected lawn mower was purchased to maintain the grounds. The new mower uses substantially less gasoline.
“The entire process was a team effort,” said Paul Cathey, “From the residents’ input, to the architect’s beautiful design, and the General Contractor’s hands-on management of the construction, everyone worked closely with the Park District staff, and the result is a pool that enhances the neighborhood in every way.” “I couldn’t be more pleased that the Park District has delivered another new facility that Des Plaines residents will enjoy for many years to come,” Cathey said.
At the 2010 public meeting, residents expressed interest in having the look of the new pool fit with the general feel of the neighborhood. Cordogan, Clark & Associates, the architectural firm for the project, designed a Tudor-inspired bathhouse with a steeply pitched roof, an open arch above the entrance, and prominent gables to coordinate with the style of the older homes in the area. Residents also wanted the facility to remain a “neighborhood pool”, as opposed to a water park. New Chippewa Pool occupies the same footprint as the old pool, but has many additional state-of-the art amenities.
In the Leisure Pool area, the shallow end has a zero depth entry, and five geysers that shoot continuous fountains of water into the air. The shallow end also has a Fumbling Five: an omnipod with five buckets in a star pattern. As the buckets constantly fill and randomly spill, they create a large variable splash area. At the opposite end of the Leisure Pool is a new tot-size slide for, swimmers under 48 inches, which splashes riders onto a non-slid pad in just two feet of water. The Lap Pool is connected to the Leisure Pool and can be configured with six standard 25-yard lanes for competitive or recreational swimming.
When not in use for swimming laps, a lane line divides the lap pools at the five-foot depth mark. In the deep end there is a three-meter diving board and another drop slide for swimmers over 48 inches tall. On the deck, a permanent shade structure and shade umbrella offer respite on sunny days, and new chairs and chaise lounges are perfect for sun bathing. In addition to men’s and women's locker rooms, the bathhouse also has a family locker room. There are lockers both in the locker rooms and on the deck, free to users, which can be secured with a standard combination padlock. Adjacent to the bathhouse is a new, covered concession area with picnic tables, two water and soft drink vending machines, a snack machine with healthy alternatives, and an ice cream dispensing machine.
Many new “green initiatives” are in place at Chippewa Pool. The Park District is testing green cleaners that are better for the environment, along with a wall-mounted metered dispenser that will help save money and create less waste. A recycling program is in place. Fluorescent lighting was installed, replacing the metal halide lights. This provides for energy savings in several ways: 1. The new ballasts and lights use much less electricity than the metal halide ones. 2. Fluorescents have instant on and off capability; no electricity is wasted during a warm up period. 3. The new light bulbs and fixtures are less expensive to replace and maintain. LED soffit site lighting was installed, remotely controlled by computer, providing additional cost savings. The Defender pool filter that was put in place will save thousands of gallons of water each year and provide significant energy savings. Finally, a new electronically fuel injected lawn mower was purchased to maintain the grounds. The new mower uses substantially less gasoline.
“The entire process was a team effort,” said Paul Cathey, “From the residents’ input, to the architect’s beautiful design, and the General Contractor’s hands-on management of the construction, everyone worked closely with the Park District staff, and the result is a pool that enhances the neighborhood in every way.” “I couldn’t be more pleased that the Park District has delivered another new facility that Des Plaines residents will enjoy for many years to come,” Cathey said.
2013年6月4日 星期二
Drive Cost-Competitive Next Generation Efficient Lighting
Building on his strong focus on energy efficiency in his first few days in office, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced today five manufacturing research and development projects to support energy efficient lighting products. The projects will focus on reducing manufacturing costs, while continuing to improve the quality and performance of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Today’s LED lighting is six or seven times more efficient than conventional lighting and can last up to 25 times longer. The Energy Department’s $10 million investment is matched dollar for dollar by private sector funding.
“This partnership with industry to produce affordable, efficient lighting will save consumers money and create American jobs,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “It’s another example of how energy efficiency is a win-win proposition for our economy.”
According to a new report by the Energy Department, LED lamps and fixtures installed in the United States have increased 10-fold over the last 2 years – from 4.5 million units in 2010 to 49 million units in 2012. These installations, which include common indoor and outdoor applications such as recessed lighting and streetlights, are expected to save about $675 million in annual energy costs. During the same period, the cost of an LED replacement bulb has fallen by about 54 percent. Switching entirely to LED lights over the next two decades could save the U.S. $250 billion in energy costs and reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50 percent. By 2030, LED lighting is projected to represent about 75 percent of all lighting sales, saving enough energy to power approximately 26 million U.S. households.
Still, while life-cycle costs are attractive, the initial price of LED and OLED lighting is currently higher than the price of traditional lighting. The projects announced today will help achieve significant cost reductions in manufacturing equipment and processes, while improving lighting quality and performance:
This project will develop a modular design for LED lights that can link together multiple units to fit larger areas. The design will also use less raw material, reducing manufacturing costs while ensuring high lighting quality and efficiency. Cree’s approach will design and manufacture the different components of an LED fixture -- including electrical, mechanical and optical systems – as one, seamless product, helping to further reduce assembly costs and ensure strong performance.
The Eaton project will develop an innovative manufacturing process that streamlines the LED fixture design and removes unnecessary materials and parts. With this approach, the LED chip can sit directly on the heatsink, improving heat transfer within the design and increasing LED efficiency.
Organic LEDs, or OLEDs, are typically assembled through transfer or screen printing. The OLEDWorks project will develop and demonstrate new spray printing equipment that reduces overall manufacturing costs and could help support cost-competitive mass production. This technique will give manufacturers greater spray control to take full advantage of expensive organic materials and maximize the visible light produced from this material.
Most LEDs are grown on a sapphire substrate. Through this project, Philip Lumileds will develop an alternative to the standard flip-chip device that grows an LED face-down on the sapphire substrate. Before light can shine through, this substrate must be carefully etched off the device. The Philips Lumileds device will treat the sapphire substrate so that removing the substrate is not necessary – reducing manufacturing costs without compromising lighting quality.
“This partnership with industry to produce affordable, efficient lighting will save consumers money and create American jobs,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “It’s another example of how energy efficiency is a win-win proposition for our economy.”
According to a new report by the Energy Department, LED lamps and fixtures installed in the United States have increased 10-fold over the last 2 years – from 4.5 million units in 2010 to 49 million units in 2012. These installations, which include common indoor and outdoor applications such as recessed lighting and streetlights, are expected to save about $675 million in annual energy costs. During the same period, the cost of an LED replacement bulb has fallen by about 54 percent. Switching entirely to LED lights over the next two decades could save the U.S. $250 billion in energy costs and reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50 percent. By 2030, LED lighting is projected to represent about 75 percent of all lighting sales, saving enough energy to power approximately 26 million U.S. households.
Still, while life-cycle costs are attractive, the initial price of LED and OLED lighting is currently higher than the price of traditional lighting. The projects announced today will help achieve significant cost reductions in manufacturing equipment and processes, while improving lighting quality and performance:
This project will develop a modular design for LED lights that can link together multiple units to fit larger areas. The design will also use less raw material, reducing manufacturing costs while ensuring high lighting quality and efficiency. Cree’s approach will design and manufacture the different components of an LED fixture -- including electrical, mechanical and optical systems – as one, seamless product, helping to further reduce assembly costs and ensure strong performance.
The Eaton project will develop an innovative manufacturing process that streamlines the LED fixture design and removes unnecessary materials and parts. With this approach, the LED chip can sit directly on the heatsink, improving heat transfer within the design and increasing LED efficiency.
Organic LEDs, or OLEDs, are typically assembled through transfer or screen printing. The OLEDWorks project will develop and demonstrate new spray printing equipment that reduces overall manufacturing costs and could help support cost-competitive mass production. This technique will give manufacturers greater spray control to take full advantage of expensive organic materials and maximize the visible light produced from this material.
Most LEDs are grown on a sapphire substrate. Through this project, Philip Lumileds will develop an alternative to the standard flip-chip device that grows an LED face-down on the sapphire substrate. Before light can shine through, this substrate must be carefully etched off the device. The Philips Lumileds device will treat the sapphire substrate so that removing the substrate is not necessary – reducing manufacturing costs without compromising lighting quality.
Emirati builds home for sustainable living
Covering a built up area of 8,500 sqft, the sprawling Moorish-styled villa in Al Barsha 3 with jasmine arbors incorporates best practices that reduce energy consumption and conserve water. Designed with the idea of sustainable living, the home is an expression of Al Muhairi’s belief that it is possible to create something of lasting beauty and not be a burden on the environment.
A civil engineer by profession, he was with Etisalat and retired from the company from the Administration and Human Resource Department. Post retirement, he set up plans to build a house. And, as is the norm obtained quotations.
The UN World Environment Day being celebrated today has two words in its theme that Al Muhairi has stringently applied in the building process of the villa – think, save.
“My first objective when I re-designed the villa was to reduce the amount of concrete and quantity of steel being used. Usually the roof is heavy, so the columns and beams holding them up have to be big (to withstand the weight).” This has an impact on the foundation, all of which means vast quantities of concrete and steel usage. It results in a direct increase in the carbon footprint of a building.
“Instead of hollow blocks (concrete) for the roof, I used a light insulated material. I used 20 centimetres of extruded polystyrene. It can be lifted by a child,” he said. To break it down further, this is a kind of material that insulates but is extremely strong. So, as it is way lighter, it reduces the weight on the columns and conserves energy, because of the insulation, the rooms don’t heat up. “Also, white reflects the light… the roof has a (final) layer of white cement tiles … heat will not enter.”
The walls are made of aerated blocks that have trapped air within them that, again, acts as insulation. He has also layered the foundation with extruded polystyrene.
Energy saving from air conditioning – a conservative estimate of “35 per cent” he said, as the usual temperature setting for the rooms are 24C.
That was not enough. Al Muhairi sourced LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights from China, because LED lamps function for years and have high energy efficiency compared to other lights.
He estimated nearly 90 per cent saving in energy consumption with the use of LED lights and by reducing the number of electrical points.
Al Muhairi has a specialised home automation system that ensures with the help of a master control no light gets left on in the house, also with motion sensor activated lights installed in passage ways and bathrooms, there is no waste.
On the issue of energy use, Al Muhairi said: “One of the biggest sources of electricity consumption is water heaters… we have 365 days of sun here. It is important to use that. The government needs to reduce the money they are investing in electricity, so should encourage solar energy use.” He set up solar water heaters for the entire villa and its guest house facilities.
“We see wastage of water when you open a tap (for hot water). You wait for 10 seconds for the water to run hot. I used circulation pumps to prevent this waste.” Additionally, he installed special water closets that use 1.2 litres less than the conventional WC in every flush.
For the pool covered in recycled tiles, too, he set up energy saving pumps with variable speed to re-circulate the water, depending on if it is in use or being cleaned. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.
Al Muhairi wanted to do more. He personally did the landscaping and designed the irrigation system. Wood shavings from the building of doors and cupboards from within were mixed into the soil to help retain moisture.
A civil engineer by profession, he was with Etisalat and retired from the company from the Administration and Human Resource Department. Post retirement, he set up plans to build a house. And, as is the norm obtained quotations.
The UN World Environment Day being celebrated today has two words in its theme that Al Muhairi has stringently applied in the building process of the villa – think, save.
“My first objective when I re-designed the villa was to reduce the amount of concrete and quantity of steel being used. Usually the roof is heavy, so the columns and beams holding them up have to be big (to withstand the weight).” This has an impact on the foundation, all of which means vast quantities of concrete and steel usage. It results in a direct increase in the carbon footprint of a building.
“Instead of hollow blocks (concrete) for the roof, I used a light insulated material. I used 20 centimetres of extruded polystyrene. It can be lifted by a child,” he said. To break it down further, this is a kind of material that insulates but is extremely strong. So, as it is way lighter, it reduces the weight on the columns and conserves energy, because of the insulation, the rooms don’t heat up. “Also, white reflects the light… the roof has a (final) layer of white cement tiles … heat will not enter.”
The walls are made of aerated blocks that have trapped air within them that, again, acts as insulation. He has also layered the foundation with extruded polystyrene.
Energy saving from air conditioning – a conservative estimate of “35 per cent” he said, as the usual temperature setting for the rooms are 24C.
That was not enough. Al Muhairi sourced LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights from China, because LED lamps function for years and have high energy efficiency compared to other lights.
He estimated nearly 90 per cent saving in energy consumption with the use of LED lights and by reducing the number of electrical points.
Al Muhairi has a specialised home automation system that ensures with the help of a master control no light gets left on in the house, also with motion sensor activated lights installed in passage ways and bathrooms, there is no waste.
On the issue of energy use, Al Muhairi said: “One of the biggest sources of electricity consumption is water heaters… we have 365 days of sun here. It is important to use that. The government needs to reduce the money they are investing in electricity, so should encourage solar energy use.” He set up solar water heaters for the entire villa and its guest house facilities.
“We see wastage of water when you open a tap (for hot water). You wait for 10 seconds for the water to run hot. I used circulation pumps to prevent this waste.” Additionally, he installed special water closets that use 1.2 litres less than the conventional WC in every flush.
For the pool covered in recycled tiles, too, he set up energy saving pumps with variable speed to re-circulate the water, depending on if it is in use or being cleaned. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.
Al Muhairi wanted to do more. He personally did the landscaping and designed the irrigation system. Wood shavings from the building of doors and cupboards from within were mixed into the soil to help retain moisture.
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