In a truly staggering breakthrough in LED intensity that will have wide ramifications on electricity use worldwide, the Finnish LED producer Obelux has developed by far the most powerful LED of all time. In response to aviation industry requests, Obelux created a flashing High Intensity LED that delivers 200,000 candelas. Current technology in the aviation… Read More…
THIN FILM SOLAR PANELS
Thin Film Solar Panels Are Here
Graphite Foam Makes High Efficiency LED Lights Last Longer
Posted in August 28th, 2010
Chalk up another reason to make the switch to high efficiency LED lighting: Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a graphite foam that extends the life of LED lights. The foam is used as a passive cooling element, which plays a critical role in the lifespan of LED components. The breakthrough could help lower the cost of LED’s and make them more attractive in the mass market.
A wholesale switch to high efficiency LED technology could be part of the solution to the conundrum posed by the coming wave of new electric vehicles, which is how to manage overall energy consumption (and carbon emissions) when millions of new electric car owners start charging up their vehicles.
How About Some Nice Green Jobs for the Tea People?
Posted in April 27th, 2010
The company Lighting Science Group Corporation has just won an allocation of almost $19 million in federal stimulus bonds to expand its operations to develop and manufacture energy efficient LED lighting in Florida, with the potential to create 832 new green jobs. The boost for clean, sustainable, job-creating technology is in stark contrast to last week’s Gulf Coast oil rig disaster, which killed 11 workers and created an oil slick that is currently the size of Rhode Island, to say nothing of the recent Massey coal mine disaster that killed 29 workers.
In this regard, the massive clean energy rally in Washington earlier this week was as much a demonstration of support for a greener workforce as it is for action on greenhouse gas emissions. Producers estimate that more than 150,000 people attended, even though the event received minimal buildup compared to the giant PR push for the tea bag party rallies.
LED Light Bulbs with Remote Controls and Aimed Lighting
Posted in January 3rd, 2010
by Zachary Shahan in CFL, consumer technology, energy, energy efficiency, gadgets, led, light, light bulb, products
Energy efficient light bulbs are cool already, but they are getting a whole lot cooler. The new LED EcoBulb by Seokjae Rhee raises the green bar with innovative features to save more energy.
EcoFit Promises Easier Transition to LED Street Lighting
Posted in October 21st, 2009
A new Kansas-based company called EcoFit Lighting believes it can make the transition to LED street lighting not only much easier, but also much cheaper.
EcoFit’s design is a retrofit module that slides right into place in existing streetlights, eliminating the need to have a full replacement. The company claims using their product would bring down costs from $700 to $900 (for a complete replacement) to just $400. Savings also come in the form of energy efficiency and extended lifespan as EcoFit’s LED lights are 60 percent more efficient and last six times longer than sodium streetlights. Additionally, as it’s estimated that replacing street lights with EcoFit LED lights would take just five minutes (as opposed to taking up to 30 minutes to fully replace the head), labor costs are also expected to be reduced.
$3 Billion For Energy Efficiency in California
Posted in September 27th, 2009
The CPUC has just approved the largest energy efficiency program in U.S. history, authorizing $3.1 billion in consumer rebates and efficiency programs over the next three years, bringing the state closer to implementing AB32, according to Lara Ettenson, director of California Energy Efficiency Policy at the NRDC.
Ettenson told me that the funding comes from the part of the budget that California’s regulated utilities may use to invest in conventional electricity. This may include “negawatts”or energy efficiency measures. This is not just cheaper than building new plants and transmission, but also easier to implement, as it is not subject to the NIMBYism and transmission issues that has impeded development of utility scale solar and wind projects that California utilities must add to meet RPS requirements of getting 20% of its energy from carbon-free sources by 2010. Currently it is at 14%.
This giant leap in funding could jump-start the new low-carbon economy in California; helping grow all the businesses that create cutting edge efficiency in cooling and heating, lighting, building materials, windows, insulation, appliances and smart grid technologies that reduce energy use.
Ettenson gave me some examples of uses for the funding in practical terms:
IMPACT Act proposes $30 billion in loans to clean energy manufacturers
Posted in August 10th, 2009
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is proposing a bill that would lend $30 billion dollars to American small and medium sized manufacturing companies who specialize in clean technology. The bill would make American manufacturers a player in the clean technology market which faces stiff overseas competition. It is estimated that 70% of the components for clean technology (much of which was invented in America) are made abroad. So far, 150 businesses have come out and endorsed the Senator’s legislation.
Future Looks Bright with First OLED Christmas Tree
Posted in December 19th, 2008
by Marika Collins in OLED, carbon emissions, consumer electronics, energy conservation, energy efficiency, environment, global warming, led, lighting
The folks at General Electric Global Research have put together the first ever OLED Christmas tree. GE has a tradition of showcasing its most recent technology in an annual holiday gesture, this year choosing to demonstrate their roll-to-roll OLED fabrication that they unveiled last March.
The tree was made by wrapping a green-glowing 6 inch by 15 foot OLED around a spiral Christmas tree form.
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Netherlands Train Station Features World’s First Energy-Generating Revolving Door
Posted in December 10th, 2008
by Ariel Schwartz in alternative energy, led, natuurcafe la port, netherlands, piezoelectric, revolving door
I’ve noticed an increasing trend recently of people trying to squeeze out energy from every possible nook and cranny. The latest example of this is world’s first the energy-generating revolving door located at Natuurcafe La Port in the Netherlands.
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Zinc Oxide Breakthrough Creates High Performing LEDs
Posted in December 9th, 2008
by Jerry James Stone in OLED, Zinc Oxide, ZnO, energy efficiency, hydrogen, led, p-doping, semiconductor
German scientists have discovered a method of hydrogen doping that allows the production of higher-performing LEDs and other semiconductors.
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