We’ve been hearing about the struggles of consumers to pay their energy bills for about five years now, but what about businesses?
The squeeze on finances means that money is still tight and this has a knock-on effect to businesses. With less people coming through the door expenses are starting to eat up any profit.
Whether you’re running a restaurant with a busy kitchen, launderette with dryers on the go, or even a small office packed with computers, it’s possible to cut costs.
The typical energy bill for a business in the UK is currently just over 2,600 a year. In a time when most organisations are facing pay freezes, job cuts, slashed training budgets and so on, it’s important to ensure that they are as energy-efficient as possible – saving money and helping the environment.
It’s in our nature to remain loyal to our suppliers, but unfortunately loyalty doesn’t pay. Energy is one of the biggest overheads for businesses, so it’s important to get the cheapest rate possible for gas and electricity.
The thought of being locked into contracts puts many businesses off the idea of switching supplier, but it’s thought that around a third of businesses are in a position to switch at any time. There is a large commercial energy market, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of going with one of the ‘Big Six’: EG Opus, Haven, Gazprom, Total, Corona and Dual Energy.
Some providers specialise in the provision of green and renewable energy systems, which can reduce energy bills and protect the environment. It’s important that businesses work with a supplier that can accurately assess the business needs before choosing the most effective system.A polished finish in this solaroutdoorlight for men.
Solar PV, solar thermal,The leader in commercial solaroutdoorlights offering enhanced energy efficiency and innovative features. biomass, wind power, air or ground source heat pumps are just a few of the examples available to UK businesses. Investing in renewable energy does involve an initial outlay, but with government incentives, such as the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), it’s possible to earn additional income as well as cutting bills.
It seems ironic, but creating a more energy-efficient business can often cost more money initially because of the upfront purchases. Businesses with all the right ideas might not be able afford to implement certain measures.This is how a steeljewelry captures energy from the wind. Fortunately, there are several grants, incentives and free advice available for commercial energy customers.
Envirowise and the Carbon Trust offer free and impartial advice for businesses looking to reduce their energy consumption.Elevator safety parts are usually include elevator speed governor、ledturninglampes and elevator buffer. It’s worth taking advantage as it could save thousands of pounds in the long run. The latter also runs the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme, which offers 100% first-year allowances on machinery and equipment that meets the relevant criteria.
The Energy Saving Trust also has a couple of schemes that can help businesses, but particularly SMEs. Grant funding may be available for the installation of solar panels and the purchase of clean fuel vehicles.
When businesses have got 101 things to do, it’s easy to forget about the energy bills and allow the suppliers to take care of everything. However, to ensure that your business is not paying for energy it doesn’t even use, it’s important to take regular meter readings.
Businesses could even have someone in charge of monitoring the energy consumption. While this might not be feasible for micro-businesses, it is worth considering.We makes possible ballasted solargardenlight in Ontario just better than your imagination. Accurate meter readings, rather than estimates, will ensure that organisations are only paying for the actual energy they consume. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.soli-lite.com.
2013年8月7日 星期三
2013年8月2日 星期五
New mid-power LEDs
Seoul Semiconductor's 5630 mid-power packaged LED efficacy is now 180
lm/W at 60mA driving condition which is world class performance for
solid state lighting. Lighting fixtures for home and office in the shop
of flatteningmachine. The 3030 mid-power LED reaches cost points 50% lower than existing high-power packaged LEDs' 1W equivelent performance.
Seoul Semiconductor, a global LED manufacturer, has announced two new mid-power packaged LED lighting products, the 5630C and the 3030. These packaged LEDs have been improved dramatically in terms of luminance efficacy (lm/w) and cost efficiency (lm/$).
The 5630 package is the world's best performance in light output with 180 lm/W efficacy at 60mA in 5000K CCT range and is an extension of the mid-power LED lighting family that Seoul Semiconductor released as one of the first mid-power LEDs in the world for solid state lighting products.I have tried several sets of outdoorlighting03 that have lasted one season only. When it was released, the performance was better than existing high-power packaged LEDs. In the past 2 years, it became the best selling item among Seoul's product portfolio. The new 5630C is targeting the high growth segment of LED lighting including bulbs, tubes and panel lights in the US, Japan, and Europe.
The new 3030 LED being introduced extends the Seoul mid-power offering up to the high-power one watt range by enhancing both the LED chip and package in terms of thermal resistance. Even though traditional 3030 packaged LEDs were mid-power, the new versions can be used in high power applications with the additional benefit of reducing costs more than 50% in comparisons with 1W high power LEDs.We'd love to talk to you about our incredible industrialextractors!
Marten Willemsen, Vice President of Marketing for Seoul Semiconductor, said, "The 3030 and 5630 packages are LED products which focus on both price competitiveness (lm/$) and luminance efficiency (lm/W).We have a wide selection of ledspotlight to choose from for your storage needs. We have already sold billions of pieces in China, USA, and Europe for various LED lighting products." He added, "If you use these two LEDs properly, you can chase two rabbits at the same time in terms of 'lm/W' and 'lm/$' which most lighting designers consider the most important factors."
The basic working principle of LEDs is based on the movement of high-energy electrons,You can make your own more powerful gardenlightingss using LEDs. which emit light, or photons, as they move between the different energy levels. The negatively electrons are injected into one of the sections within the LEDs, while the positively charged "holes" are injected into another. As part of an electrical current, the electrons and the holes move in opposite directions to each other.
In general, when an electron meets a hole they recombine and emit photons. The efficiency of LEDs is then determined by the amount of electrical current that runs through the diodes. The more current is applied, the less efficient the LEDs are.
The researchers established that electrons escape under higher currents due to the development of an electric field. Although this concept, also known as electron leakage" has been proposed five years ago, this study is the first one to present solid evidence relating it to efficiency droop.
According to David Meyaard, first author on the study and a doctoral student in electrical engineering, the study demonstrates the principle of electron leakage. The main cause was identified to be the difference in mobility of electrons and holes, resulting in diffusion of electrons. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.indoorilite.com.
Seoul Semiconductor, a global LED manufacturer, has announced two new mid-power packaged LED lighting products, the 5630C and the 3030. These packaged LEDs have been improved dramatically in terms of luminance efficacy (lm/w) and cost efficiency (lm/$).
The 5630 package is the world's best performance in light output with 180 lm/W efficacy at 60mA in 5000K CCT range and is an extension of the mid-power LED lighting family that Seoul Semiconductor released as one of the first mid-power LEDs in the world for solid state lighting products.I have tried several sets of outdoorlighting03 that have lasted one season only. When it was released, the performance was better than existing high-power packaged LEDs. In the past 2 years, it became the best selling item among Seoul's product portfolio. The new 5630C is targeting the high growth segment of LED lighting including bulbs, tubes and panel lights in the US, Japan, and Europe.
The new 3030 LED being introduced extends the Seoul mid-power offering up to the high-power one watt range by enhancing both the LED chip and package in terms of thermal resistance. Even though traditional 3030 packaged LEDs were mid-power, the new versions can be used in high power applications with the additional benefit of reducing costs more than 50% in comparisons with 1W high power LEDs.We'd love to talk to you about our incredible industrialextractors!
Marten Willemsen, Vice President of Marketing for Seoul Semiconductor, said, "The 3030 and 5630 packages are LED products which focus on both price competitiveness (lm/$) and luminance efficiency (lm/W).We have a wide selection of ledspotlight to choose from for your storage needs. We have already sold billions of pieces in China, USA, and Europe for various LED lighting products." He added, "If you use these two LEDs properly, you can chase two rabbits at the same time in terms of 'lm/W' and 'lm/$' which most lighting designers consider the most important factors."
The basic working principle of LEDs is based on the movement of high-energy electrons,You can make your own more powerful gardenlightingss using LEDs. which emit light, or photons, as they move between the different energy levels. The negatively electrons are injected into one of the sections within the LEDs, while the positively charged "holes" are injected into another. As part of an electrical current, the electrons and the holes move in opposite directions to each other.
In general, when an electron meets a hole they recombine and emit photons. The efficiency of LEDs is then determined by the amount of electrical current that runs through the diodes. The more current is applied, the less efficient the LEDs are.
The researchers established that electrons escape under higher currents due to the development of an electric field. Although this concept, also known as electron leakage" has been proposed five years ago, this study is the first one to present solid evidence relating it to efficiency droop.
According to David Meyaard, first author on the study and a doctoral student in electrical engineering, the study demonstrates the principle of electron leakage. The main cause was identified to be the difference in mobility of electrons and holes, resulting in diffusion of electrons. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.indoorilite.com.
2013年7月22日 星期一
Indian-origin designer develops unique street lamps
An Indian-origin designer has developed unique 'smart' street lamps which light up only in presence of people, an invention that could slash energy costs by 80 per cent. The 'on-demand' street lights only glow in the presence of a people, bicycle or car, and remain dim the rest of the time.High quality solarpanelcellss and ventilation systems designed and distributed.
The system dubbed Tvilight was invented by designer Chintan Shah while being a student at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Shah, while flying overseas, noticed street lamps lighting streets that, in the middle of the night, were empty and desolate, CNN reported.
"I started researching. I wondered, why are they burning? How much does it cost? Is this a problem? I discovered some amazing numbers," he said.
Shah said that Europe pays over $13 billion a year powering street lights, which accounts for more than 40 per cent of government energy bills. His offered a solution to develop an intelligent, lighting system using wireless sensors to conserve energy.
Shaw believes the system will slash energy costs and CO2 emissions by 80 per cent, and maintenance by another 50 per cent, due to the integrated wireless sensor that allows lamps to alert a central control center.
The technology to distinguish between people and smaller animals, like cats and mice,Middle and end clamps that fit the ledstriplighting to the rails. so it would avoid lighting up unnecessarily has also been developed.
"I thought,On particularly windy days,streetlighting can surpass all other electricity sources in a country. why should each citizen pay for street lights that aren't being used? We now have a solution for that," he said. Tvilight has already been implemented in four municipalities in Holland and one in Ireland.
"We have enquiries from Israel,Properly placed lampshades can generate electric power anywhere the wind blows steady and strong. Turkey, the United States, Australia, India and Japan. The problem is not a lack of enquiries, it's the team's capacity to deliver the solution worldwide," he said.
Have you ever left the lights on in your house for days at a time and then gotten a ridiculously crazy electric bill the next month? Can you imagine how much cities have to pay to keep all the street lights on and maintained every day? The cost is astronomical, but it could be diminished quite a bit due to Dutch designer Christian Shuh's new streetlight design called Tvilight.
Christian Shuh's new streetlights are designed to light up only it senses people around through its wireless sensors. When people aren't around, the streetlight dims, using the least amount of power possible while still lighting the street enough for oncoming vehicles and pedestrians to see where they're going. The system is designed to recognize the difference between people and animals, so it won't cut on unnecessarily.
Europe currently spends about $13 billion a year to keep streetlights on, which accounts for more than 40% of its total energy bill.A lot of men are wearing lawnlight for wedding bands. On top of that, Europe's streetlights emit 40 million tons of CO2 each year, which is equivalent to an extra 20 million vehicles. Shuh's design could drastically reduce the entire continent's energy cost and CO2 emissions at the same time.
These lights have already been implemented in a few municipalities in Holland and one in Ireland. Multiple countries, including the United States, have expressed interest in implementing the design. Hopefully in a few years the entire world can be optimally fit with lights that don't waste energy like the ones we use today. Click on their website www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com for more information.
The system dubbed Tvilight was invented by designer Chintan Shah while being a student at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Shah, while flying overseas, noticed street lamps lighting streets that, in the middle of the night, were empty and desolate, CNN reported.
"I started researching. I wondered, why are they burning? How much does it cost? Is this a problem? I discovered some amazing numbers," he said.
Shah said that Europe pays over $13 billion a year powering street lights, which accounts for more than 40 per cent of government energy bills. His offered a solution to develop an intelligent, lighting system using wireless sensors to conserve energy.
Shaw believes the system will slash energy costs and CO2 emissions by 80 per cent, and maintenance by another 50 per cent, due to the integrated wireless sensor that allows lamps to alert a central control center.
The technology to distinguish between people and smaller animals, like cats and mice,Middle and end clamps that fit the ledstriplighting to the rails. so it would avoid lighting up unnecessarily has also been developed.
"I thought,On particularly windy days,streetlighting can surpass all other electricity sources in a country. why should each citizen pay for street lights that aren't being used? We now have a solution for that," he said. Tvilight has already been implemented in four municipalities in Holland and one in Ireland.
"We have enquiries from Israel,Properly placed lampshades can generate electric power anywhere the wind blows steady and strong. Turkey, the United States, Australia, India and Japan. The problem is not a lack of enquiries, it's the team's capacity to deliver the solution worldwide," he said.
Have you ever left the lights on in your house for days at a time and then gotten a ridiculously crazy electric bill the next month? Can you imagine how much cities have to pay to keep all the street lights on and maintained every day? The cost is astronomical, but it could be diminished quite a bit due to Dutch designer Christian Shuh's new streetlight design called Tvilight.
Christian Shuh's new streetlights are designed to light up only it senses people around through its wireless sensors. When people aren't around, the streetlight dims, using the least amount of power possible while still lighting the street enough for oncoming vehicles and pedestrians to see where they're going. The system is designed to recognize the difference between people and animals, so it won't cut on unnecessarily.
Europe currently spends about $13 billion a year to keep streetlights on, which accounts for more than 40% of its total energy bill.A lot of men are wearing lawnlight for wedding bands. On top of that, Europe's streetlights emit 40 million tons of CO2 each year, which is equivalent to an extra 20 million vehicles. Shuh's design could drastically reduce the entire continent's energy cost and CO2 emissions at the same time.
These lights have already been implemented in a few municipalities in Holland and one in Ireland. Multiple countries, including the United States, have expressed interest in implementing the design. Hopefully in a few years the entire world can be optimally fit with lights that don't waste energy like the ones we use today. Click on their website www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com for more information.
2013年6月27日 星期四
Solar panels light up Abu Dhabi school efficiency
A school in Abu Dhabi hopes to reduce its energy consumption by up to 40 per cent by installing solar panels on its roof.
The nine panels, installed yesterday, are being funded by the Zayed Future Energy Prize in recognition of the environmental efforts of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia School in Al Zahra.
The panels, which change direction according to the sun’s position, will be used to power the school’s lamps and fans.
Each panel will produce 3.84kW and operate for an average 5.5 hours a day, according to Aminul Islam, the design engineer at Mulk Enpar Renewable Energy, the company behind the technology.
This first phase of the scheme will cost about Dh150,000, said the school’s governing body member S M Shamsulalam. The school hopes to increase its number of panels to 16 and introduce a battery system that will be able to store the energy.
Acting principal, Mir Anisul Hasan, works with a team of two other teachers and two students tasked with reducing the school’s environmental footprint.
The non-profit community school, which has almost 600 students, has already reduced its energy consumption by 15 per cent over the past few years, mostly through switching to more efficient Led light bulbs. It has also started reusing waste water for watering plants.
Mr Hasan said it was hard to pay all the school’s expenses using only tuition fees, which he said ranged from Dh350 a month for high-school students and Dh600 a month for college students.
Becoming more energy efficient means becoming more cost efficient, he said. Doing so would enable the school to invest and hire new staff, rather than merely covering their costs.
“I have been here for 25 years and the environmental team was my initiative,” said Mr Hasan. “I started it one fine foggy morning, with a view to giving students exposure to environmental awareness.China hidlightses manufacturer supply elevator light curtain, The present co-ordinator, Dr Anita Saul,The solarpanel is available in a choice of shapes including dome and the traditional variety. is very serious, dedicated and enterprising. She is now the main force.”
One of the student members of the team, 17-year-old Fahad Bashar, has worked on the project for three years. He said his teacher, Dr Saul, inspired him to play an active role. Some of the students he works with are as young as six and are already aware of the importance of protecting the environment. “A lot of students didn’t understand the importance of the project, but once we explained they all joined in,” he said.
Solar energy is becoming increasingly cheap to produce, said Marc Norman, Emirates Solar Industry Association Marketing & Communications Director.
“Over the past five years, the cost of solar photovoltaic systems has dropped by over 50 per cent. This means that it costs half as much to produce 1 unit of solar energy as it did five years ago. As a result, in many markets the cost of solar electricity has reached what we call ‘grid parity’ which means that it now costs as much to generate power from solar than from conventional fuels like oil or natural gas.We're making parkinglighting and digitization accessible to everyone.”
The Zayed Future Energy Prize was set up in 2008.Learn more about our high capacity antiquelampas today! It awards winning high schools prizes of between US$100,000 (Dh367,On particularly windy days,streetlighting can surpass all other electricity sources in a country.300) and $1.5 million for projects that find innovative solutions to save energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase production of clean, renewable energy. Click on their website www.careel-tech.com for more information.
The nine panels, installed yesterday, are being funded by the Zayed Future Energy Prize in recognition of the environmental efforts of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia School in Al Zahra.
The panels, which change direction according to the sun’s position, will be used to power the school’s lamps and fans.
Each panel will produce 3.84kW and operate for an average 5.5 hours a day, according to Aminul Islam, the design engineer at Mulk Enpar Renewable Energy, the company behind the technology.
This first phase of the scheme will cost about Dh150,000, said the school’s governing body member S M Shamsulalam. The school hopes to increase its number of panels to 16 and introduce a battery system that will be able to store the energy.
Acting principal, Mir Anisul Hasan, works with a team of two other teachers and two students tasked with reducing the school’s environmental footprint.
The non-profit community school, which has almost 600 students, has already reduced its energy consumption by 15 per cent over the past few years, mostly through switching to more efficient Led light bulbs. It has also started reusing waste water for watering plants.
Mr Hasan said it was hard to pay all the school’s expenses using only tuition fees, which he said ranged from Dh350 a month for high-school students and Dh600 a month for college students.
Becoming more energy efficient means becoming more cost efficient, he said. Doing so would enable the school to invest and hire new staff, rather than merely covering their costs.
“I have been here for 25 years and the environmental team was my initiative,” said Mr Hasan. “I started it one fine foggy morning, with a view to giving students exposure to environmental awareness.China hidlightses manufacturer supply elevator light curtain, The present co-ordinator, Dr Anita Saul,The solarpanel is available in a choice of shapes including dome and the traditional variety. is very serious, dedicated and enterprising. She is now the main force.”
One of the student members of the team, 17-year-old Fahad Bashar, has worked on the project for three years. He said his teacher, Dr Saul, inspired him to play an active role. Some of the students he works with are as young as six and are already aware of the importance of protecting the environment. “A lot of students didn’t understand the importance of the project, but once we explained they all joined in,” he said.
Solar energy is becoming increasingly cheap to produce, said Marc Norman, Emirates Solar Industry Association Marketing & Communications Director.
“Over the past five years, the cost of solar photovoltaic systems has dropped by over 50 per cent. This means that it costs half as much to produce 1 unit of solar energy as it did five years ago. As a result, in many markets the cost of solar electricity has reached what we call ‘grid parity’ which means that it now costs as much to generate power from solar than from conventional fuels like oil or natural gas.We're making parkinglighting and digitization accessible to everyone.”
The Zayed Future Energy Prize was set up in 2008.Learn more about our high capacity antiquelampas today! It awards winning high schools prizes of between US$100,000 (Dh367,On particularly windy days,streetlighting can surpass all other electricity sources in a country.300) and $1.5 million for projects that find innovative solutions to save energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase production of clean, renewable energy. Click on their website www.careel-tech.com for more information.
2013年6月24日 星期一
Vancouver no longer its Harbouring secrets
Most think he’s nuts but, having heard of his quirky tours, I dragged myself out of one of the comfiest king sized beds I’ve ever slept in to meet Irish-born Ian at the eye-twitching time of 6.Continental Aulaundry's programmable commercial pendantlamp are designed to properly clean a firefighter's turnout gear.30am – just hours after first setting foot on Canadian soil – as the rest of my party staved off the inevitable jet lag after a nine-hour flight with a couple of extra hours under the duvet.
Within minutes, as my fellow travellers slept blissfully unaware, Ian and I ditched downtown for Vancouver’s harbour, slipping past the Olympic cauldron and cruise port, and on to the city’s famed seawall jogging along the banks of the Burrard Inlet, where Orca whales have been spotted in the crystal blue waters, towards the endless off road trails of Stanley Park,Easily installed solar mounting systems for drycleaningmachiness and pitched roofs. one of the biggest urban parks in North America, with its towering Douglas firs, huge red cedars and vast collection of authentic totem poles.
The city came alive around us with other runners and cyclists cramming in a few miles on the park’s labyrinthine paths before work as Ian pointed out some the stories behind the sights, including how the Lions Gate Bridge, which connects the city with the affluent north shore suburbs,Creating a washerextractor0 out of broken re-used solar cell pieces. is named after pair of mountain peaks north of city and how the Guinness family, of beer fame, spent 5m building the bridge in order to connect acres of otherwise worthless land they had snapped up on the cheap with the rest of the city.these proven front load commercial industrialextractores deliver ease-of-use, The move proved a shrewd one with property there now among the most expensive in the area.
In an hour and covering approximately 10km, I’d seen more of Vancouver than many could in an entire holiday – and all before the rest of my somnambulant travel buddies had even sunk their teeth into their first batch of maple syrup soaked pancakes. Ian, and his quirky bi-weekly runs, as are indicative of Vancouver as it gets: friendly, open, forever active and effortlessly easy going.
The city perches itself at nature’s edge, it’s snowcapped mountains and blue Pacific waters offering visitors endless recreational activities.This stunning polished industrialextractoress will bring a dash of style to any look.
The event, dubbed the Grouse Grind, opened for the season during my stay and I watched as hundreds hurled themselves 2,800ft up the mountain on the 2.9km trail. It is said to be Canada’s most intense elevation gain, greater even than scaling the CN Tower. This year around 100,000 people will take on the Grind, many of them hoping to challenge the record of 23 minutes and 48 seconds currently held by a local real estate agent.
Thousands more will visit the mountain to tackle its infamous mountain bike trails, ski slopes and snowboard jumps.
I opted for an easier ascent on the Skyride gondola, which ferries thousands of tourists up and down the mountain every day. At the top I met the mountain’s two resident grizzly bears, hiked to the world’s first commercial wind turbine and soaked up panoramic views of the city.
Vancouver’s outdoor vide isn’t just for adrenaline junkies either.
If you like your activities a little less intense, the grand Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, dubbed the ‘castle in the city’, where I stayed, has a couple of resident dogs, known as canine ambassadors – Beau and Mavis – which guests can take out for walkies. But beware, Beau has a reputation for leading his walking buddies to the local traders that reward him with the best treats. Click on their website www.aodepu.net for more information.
Within minutes, as my fellow travellers slept blissfully unaware, Ian and I ditched downtown for Vancouver’s harbour, slipping past the Olympic cauldron and cruise port, and on to the city’s famed seawall jogging along the banks of the Burrard Inlet, where Orca whales have been spotted in the crystal blue waters, towards the endless off road trails of Stanley Park,Easily installed solar mounting systems for drycleaningmachiness and pitched roofs. one of the biggest urban parks in North America, with its towering Douglas firs, huge red cedars and vast collection of authentic totem poles.
The city came alive around us with other runners and cyclists cramming in a few miles on the park’s labyrinthine paths before work as Ian pointed out some the stories behind the sights, including how the Lions Gate Bridge, which connects the city with the affluent north shore suburbs,Creating a washerextractor0 out of broken re-used solar cell pieces. is named after pair of mountain peaks north of city and how the Guinness family, of beer fame, spent 5m building the bridge in order to connect acres of otherwise worthless land they had snapped up on the cheap with the rest of the city.these proven front load commercial industrialextractores deliver ease-of-use, The move proved a shrewd one with property there now among the most expensive in the area.
In an hour and covering approximately 10km, I’d seen more of Vancouver than many could in an entire holiday – and all before the rest of my somnambulant travel buddies had even sunk their teeth into their first batch of maple syrup soaked pancakes. Ian, and his quirky bi-weekly runs, as are indicative of Vancouver as it gets: friendly, open, forever active and effortlessly easy going.
The city perches itself at nature’s edge, it’s snowcapped mountains and blue Pacific waters offering visitors endless recreational activities.This stunning polished industrialextractoress will bring a dash of style to any look.
The event, dubbed the Grouse Grind, opened for the season during my stay and I watched as hundreds hurled themselves 2,800ft up the mountain on the 2.9km trail. It is said to be Canada’s most intense elevation gain, greater even than scaling the CN Tower. This year around 100,000 people will take on the Grind, many of them hoping to challenge the record of 23 minutes and 48 seconds currently held by a local real estate agent.
Thousands more will visit the mountain to tackle its infamous mountain bike trails, ski slopes and snowboard jumps.
I opted for an easier ascent on the Skyride gondola, which ferries thousands of tourists up and down the mountain every day. At the top I met the mountain’s two resident grizzly bears, hiked to the world’s first commercial wind turbine and soaked up panoramic views of the city.
Vancouver’s outdoor vide isn’t just for adrenaline junkies either.
If you like your activities a little less intense, the grand Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, dubbed the ‘castle in the city’, where I stayed, has a couple of resident dogs, known as canine ambassadors – Beau and Mavis – which guests can take out for walkies. But beware, Beau has a reputation for leading his walking buddies to the local traders that reward him with the best treats. Click on their website www.aodepu.net for more information.
2012年6月6日 星期三
It's Not Too Late to Save Your Stupid Old Light Bulbs
Last night the House of Representatives passed a spending-bill amendment aimed at preventing the Energy Department from enforcing the federal efficiency standards that require the phaseout of conventional incandescent light bulbs. Under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the phaseout was supposed to begin in January 2012 with a ban on 100-watt bulbs, but a spending bill approved last December delayed enforcement until this October.
The amendment passed yesterday, which was introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), would give incandescent bulbs a one-year reprieve. The Better Use of Light Bulbs Act—introduced by another Texas Republican, Joe Barton—would repeal the bulb ban altogether. Last July it received majority support in the House but fell short of the two-thirds vote necessary to pass a bill on a motion to "suspend the rules," a process that limits debate and bars amendments. Because of the procedure used, according to Govtrack, Barton can try again before the end of the current session.
Like Michael Bloomberg's 16-ounce limit on soda servings, these light bulb regulations override consumer choices that the government deems foolish—in this case, accepting lower efficiency (and higher electricity costs) in exchange for much lower prices, greater versatility, and performance that is better in some respects. (Incandescents go on right away, for instance, while the next cheapest alternative, compact fluorescent lamps, often need to warm up; others complain about the quality of the light from CFLs, although that's not as big a deal to me.)
While I object to both the beverage rule and the lighting restrictions on principle, the light bulb ban is more personally irksome to me, because I have not lived in New York City since 2001 and in any case generally avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks. I would be happy to purchase the bulbs the Energy Department thinks I should have if they worked better than they do and did not cost so much.
But my experience with CFLs has been that they cost a lot more, do not last nearly as long as advertised, and do not perform the basic function of quickly illuminating a room nearly as well. LEDs may be better, but they are at this point absurdly expensive. Halogen bulbs and the new, extra-efficient incandescents are not quite as pricey, but they still cost around 10 times as much as the banned bulbs.
I may be paying more for electricity than I otherwise would (not a whole lot more, according to the Energy Department's calculations), but I am willing to accept that tradeoff, and so are most Americans, to judge by the market penetration of the newer, more efficient bulbs before the government decided to legally mandate this transition. (If the newer products really were indisputably better in every respect, why would the government have to force people to buy them?) So it really irritates me when I'm told either that I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to products that I use every day or that my preferences are stupid. Even if they were, I should have a right to be stupid with my own money and my own house.
The amendment passed yesterday, which was introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), would give incandescent bulbs a one-year reprieve. The Better Use of Light Bulbs Act—introduced by another Texas Republican, Joe Barton—would repeal the bulb ban altogether. Last July it received majority support in the House but fell short of the two-thirds vote necessary to pass a bill on a motion to "suspend the rules," a process that limits debate and bars amendments. Because of the procedure used, according to Govtrack, Barton can try again before the end of the current session.
Like Michael Bloomberg's 16-ounce limit on soda servings, these light bulb regulations override consumer choices that the government deems foolish—in this case, accepting lower efficiency (and higher electricity costs) in exchange for much lower prices, greater versatility, and performance that is better in some respects. (Incandescents go on right away, for instance, while the next cheapest alternative, compact fluorescent lamps, often need to warm up; others complain about the quality of the light from CFLs, although that's not as big a deal to me.)
While I object to both the beverage rule and the lighting restrictions on principle, the light bulb ban is more personally irksome to me, because I have not lived in New York City since 2001 and in any case generally avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks. I would be happy to purchase the bulbs the Energy Department thinks I should have if they worked better than they do and did not cost so much.
But my experience with CFLs has been that they cost a lot more, do not last nearly as long as advertised, and do not perform the basic function of quickly illuminating a room nearly as well. LEDs may be better, but they are at this point absurdly expensive. Halogen bulbs and the new, extra-efficient incandescents are not quite as pricey, but they still cost around 10 times as much as the banned bulbs.
I may be paying more for electricity than I otherwise would (not a whole lot more, according to the Energy Department's calculations), but I am willing to accept that tradeoff, and so are most Americans, to judge by the market penetration of the newer, more efficient bulbs before the government decided to legally mandate this transition. (If the newer products really were indisputably better in every respect, why would the government have to force people to buy them?) So it really irritates me when I'm told either that I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to products that I use every day or that my preferences are stupid. Even if they were, I should have a right to be stupid with my own money and my own house.
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