The Green Bay Packers have removed the scoreboards from Lambeau Field and are preparing them for recycling.
The scoreboards will be replaced by Mitsubishi Diamond Vision video boards. The video screens, 108 feet wide and 48 feet high, will be about the size of the scoreboards that were removed. They will be in place for the 2012 season.
The Packers said scoreboard recycling is rare, but they hope to find other uses for steel, aluminum, vinyl, ad panels, wiring, circuit boards, LED display units and lighting fixtures.
The boards will be partially disassembled at the stadium before being shipped to refineries and recyclers. Lights will be processed to remove mercury, gas and other potential pollutants.
Waste Management is the recycling contractor.
Lambeau Field is in the midst of a $143 million expansion, which includes adding 6,700 seats, replacing the scoreboards, and installing new entrances and a rooftop viewing area for club-seat ticket holders. A new sound system was in place for the 2011 season.
Chemists at the University have uncovered the solid state structures of dimethylzinc and diethylzinc, two compounds that played a fundamental role in the development of modern chemistry, according to the University of Liverpool.
Both compounds spontaneously ignite in air and such high reactivity has made it difficult for scientists to study their crystal structures. The team at Liverpool – in collaboration with SAFC Hitech, a developer of advanced new materials – used a combination of experimental and computational methods to determine the compounds' structures.
The synthesis of dimethylzinc and diethylzinc by Edward Frankland in the 1850s was a key moment in the history of chemistry. It marked the birth of organometallic chemistry, a major branch of modern chemistry that deals with compounds containing direct bonds between metal and carbon atoms. Such compounds are of huge significance in areas such as catalysis, pharmaceuticals, polymers, electronics and nanomaterials.
Dimethylzinc and diethylzinc are important members of this class because of their unique properties. Although they contain metal atoms, they are volatile liquids at room temperature and also extremely reactive. This has led to a wide range of applications in chemical and materials synthesis for example for the production of thin film semiconductors, which are fundamental components of LED displays, domestic and automobile lighting, CD lasers, back-lit televisions and traffic lights.
Showing posts with label public service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public service. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Shops ready for light bulb switch
Old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs are headed the way of rotary phones and record players.
As of Jan. 1, manufacturers are required to produce bulbs 25 percent more efficient than traditional ones.
The old-fashioned incandescents still are available on local store shelves, although that might change soon.
"I'm sure we have, literally, hundreds of them," said Bill Pyle of F.M. Pyle Hardware Company on Charleston's West Side.
Goldfarb Lighting in downtown Charleston and Zegeer Hardware on the East End also are fully stocked.
"No one's getting into a mad rush. We're fully loaded right now," Julie Zegeer said.
There are signs that homeowners in other parts of the country may be hoarding the incandescent bulbs.
Zegeer Hardware, a Do It Best Hardware franchise, receives its stock from a Do It Best distribution center in Medina, Ohio. Julie said that distribution center had no 100-watt incandescent bulbs in stock last week.
Other nearby distribution centers were running low: a center in North Carolina had 600 units of 100-watt incandescent bulbs, but a Waco, Texas, center had only 72 packages and a distribution center in Mesquite, Nev., had only 36.
Pyle said he doesn't expect demand to increase until supplies of old-fashioned incandescent start dwindling.
"They ban making them, so eventually the supply dries up. Once the supply starts drying up, then they'll panic. And by that point it'll be too late," he said.
Congress passed new light bulb efficiency standards in 2007. The standards will roll out over the next few years, with stricter standards on 100-watt bulbs starting this year. The requirements will expand to 75-watt bulbs in 2013 and 60-watt bulbs in 2014.
Lawmakers axed funding for enforcement of the new standards last month as part of a federal spending bill. That likely will have little effect on the standards, however. Manufacturers say they still plan to abide by the new rules.
Still, incandescent bulbs aren't actually going away. They'll still be on store shelves but will be more energy efficient. And more expensive.
Although Thomas Edison's traditional incandescents do not meet the government's requirements, halogen-based incandescent bulbs do.
As of Jan. 1, manufacturers are required to produce bulbs 25 percent more efficient than traditional ones.
The old-fashioned incandescents still are available on local store shelves, although that might change soon.
"I'm sure we have, literally, hundreds of them," said Bill Pyle of F.M. Pyle Hardware Company on Charleston's West Side.
Goldfarb Lighting in downtown Charleston and Zegeer Hardware on the East End also are fully stocked.
"No one's getting into a mad rush. We're fully loaded right now," Julie Zegeer said.
There are signs that homeowners in other parts of the country may be hoarding the incandescent bulbs.
Zegeer Hardware, a Do It Best Hardware franchise, receives its stock from a Do It Best distribution center in Medina, Ohio. Julie said that distribution center had no 100-watt incandescent bulbs in stock last week.
Other nearby distribution centers were running low: a center in North Carolina had 600 units of 100-watt incandescent bulbs, but a Waco, Texas, center had only 72 packages and a distribution center in Mesquite, Nev., had only 36.
Pyle said he doesn't expect demand to increase until supplies of old-fashioned incandescent start dwindling.
"They ban making them, so eventually the supply dries up. Once the supply starts drying up, then they'll panic. And by that point it'll be too late," he said.
Congress passed new light bulb efficiency standards in 2007. The standards will roll out over the next few years, with stricter standards on 100-watt bulbs starting this year. The requirements will expand to 75-watt bulbs in 2013 and 60-watt bulbs in 2014.
Lawmakers axed funding for enforcement of the new standards last month as part of a federal spending bill. That likely will have little effect on the standards, however. Manufacturers say they still plan to abide by the new rules.
Still, incandescent bulbs aren't actually going away. They'll still be on store shelves but will be more energy efficient. And more expensive.
Although Thomas Edison's traditional incandescents do not meet the government's requirements, halogen-based incandescent bulbs do.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Vu1 Corporation's Electron Stimulated Luminescence(ESL) Light Bulbs Soon to be Available
The ESL R30 reflector bulbs are a direct replacement for the 65-watt incandescent flood bulbs commonly found in recessed lighting fixtures throughout U.S. households and businesses. Vu1's Electron Stimulated Luminescence technology provides a warm and pleasing light quality that consumers are looking for, in an affordable, energy-efficient package without the high price-point of LED bulbs or the hazards of CFL bulbs containing mercury. The bulbs will retail for approximately $14.98 at Lowe's.
The Vu1 ESL technology is positioned for widespread market adoption due to the convergence of several compelling growth drivers:
Governments across the world are mandating the move away from traditional incandescent lighting due to more energy-efficient options. Consumers are looking for a direct replacement bulb that offers a similar light quality, look and feel to incandescent bulbs, while exceeding regulatory requirements.
Energy-efficiency is becoming a strategic imperative for consumers and businesses - but these markets demand high-quality light if the product is to be widely adopted.
These bulbs are mercury-free, allowing for easy disposal and clean-up.
"Consumers are increasingly concerned that replacing their incandescent bulbs will be expensive, offer poor light quality or introduce new hazards into their homes or businesses," commented Dr. Scott Blackstone, Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that our innovative technology answers all of those concerns, delivering a product that is more aesthetically appealing, safe and efficient while being reasonably priced."
The company believes consumers will welcome the advanced performance features of its ESL technology. It is virtually indistinguishable from the traditional incandescent lamp it replaces and, unlike CFLs, is mercury-free. The company's ESL lighting technology uses accelerated electrons to stimulate phosphor to create light, making the surface of the bulb glow with an energy-efficient natural light that lasts up to 11,000 hours.
New York City-based Vu1 Corporation is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy efficient, environmentally friendly lighting solutions - with superior light quality -- worldwide. Vu1 has developed a new energy efficient light bulb to provide the consumer market with the first affordable, non-toxic light bulb with features consumers are demanding and not receiving from existing products.
The Vu1 ESL technology is positioned for widespread market adoption due to the convergence of several compelling growth drivers:
Governments across the world are mandating the move away from traditional incandescent lighting due to more energy-efficient options. Consumers are looking for a direct replacement bulb that offers a similar light quality, look and feel to incandescent bulbs, while exceeding regulatory requirements.
Energy-efficiency is becoming a strategic imperative for consumers and businesses - but these markets demand high-quality light if the product is to be widely adopted.
These bulbs are mercury-free, allowing for easy disposal and clean-up.
"Consumers are increasingly concerned that replacing their incandescent bulbs will be expensive, offer poor light quality or introduce new hazards into their homes or businesses," commented Dr. Scott Blackstone, Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that our innovative technology answers all of those concerns, delivering a product that is more aesthetically appealing, safe and efficient while being reasonably priced."
The company believes consumers will welcome the advanced performance features of its ESL technology. It is virtually indistinguishable from the traditional incandescent lamp it replaces and, unlike CFLs, is mercury-free. The company's ESL lighting technology uses accelerated electrons to stimulate phosphor to create light, making the surface of the bulb glow with an energy-efficient natural light that lasts up to 11,000 hours.
New York City-based Vu1 Corporation is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy efficient, environmentally friendly lighting solutions - with superior light quality -- worldwide. Vu1 has developed a new energy efficient light bulb to provide the consumer market with the first affordable, non-toxic light bulb with features consumers are demanding and not receiving from existing products.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Money is the root of all evil in our political system.
I don't know what the solution is, but I know the system is broken because of the influence of money. Need proof? Consider this: In 2010 there were 14,000 lobbyists in Washington. Total lobbying spending that year was $3.51 billion.
But money spent lobbying isn't the only problem. Regulated and unregulated money in political campaigns is making a mockery of our political system – which completely ignores the middle-class but relies on it to pay all the bills.
"We the people" are just as self-serving as the career politicians we elect.
We've got a huge debt problem crippling our nation's economy, with no end in sight. Yet how many among us are willing to accept the personal sacrifices it will take in order to end our nation's crack-like addiction to spending money we don't have?
Democrats don't want to give up all their government freebies, and Republicans don't want to accept the fact that you don't get out of $14 trillion of debt without raising taxes. The question is, why do we keep electing these people? The answer: We're selfish.
I'm convinced a better understanding of these issues and how government and politics really works is a valuable public service and a far better use of this space than defending political consultants.
But what do I know? The lady at the credit union thinks I'm no better than a strip club operator.
In my career as a lowly political consultant I've conducted some of this research. In fact, I helped do some of the research that led spotling to the use of the term "opportunity scholarship" when referring to what is more commonly known as a school voucher. "Opportunity scholarship" sounds better, so conservatives who want to reform our broken education system are encouraged to use that term when what they really mean are vouchers. In politics, word choice is important.
But money spent lobbying isn't the only problem. Regulated and unregulated money in political campaigns is making a mockery of our political system – which completely ignores the middle-class but relies on it to pay all the bills.
"We the people" are just as self-serving as the career politicians we elect.
We've got a huge debt problem crippling our nation's economy, with no end in sight. Yet how many among us are willing to accept the personal sacrifices it will take in order to end our nation's crack-like addiction to spending money we don't have?
Democrats don't want to give up all their government freebies, and Republicans don't want to accept the fact that you don't get out of $14 trillion of debt without raising taxes. The question is, why do we keep electing these people? The answer: We're selfish.
I'm convinced a better understanding of these issues and how government and politics really works is a valuable public service and a far better use of this space than defending political consultants.
But what do I know? The lady at the credit union thinks I'm no better than a strip club operator.
In my career as a lowly political consultant I've conducted some of this research. In fact, I helped do some of the research that led spotling to the use of the term "opportunity scholarship" when referring to what is more commonly known as a school voucher. "Opportunity scholarship" sounds better, so conservatives who want to reform our broken education system are encouraged to use that term when what they really mean are vouchers. In politics, word choice is important.
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