The 42-inch Econova LED TV consumes 40 watts in eco-mode, uses a solar remote control, and has a partly recycled aluminum stand. It features a Zero Power Switch, which reduces power consumption to 0W when the TV is turned off. Its on-board battery is recharged by clean solar energy to reduce the impact on the environment.

Greenpeace says it is the first TV free of chemicals like PVCs and BFRs, and places Philips “well ahead of other TV manufacturers.” In September, the Econova was given the European Green TV 2010-2011 award by the European Imaging & Sound Association.

Solar Impulse, the group whose goal is to fly an airplane around the world propelled solely by solar energy, has proven that night flight using solar energy stored in batteries in possible.

On July 7, 2010, just before 7 in the morning, the prototype Solar Impulse HB-SIA took off from Payerne military airfield for a memorable flight.

André Borschberg piloted the solar-powered aircraft with a wingspan of 64 meters on a non-stop flight lasting more than 26 hours. In the night of July 7-8, the Solar Impulse flew using solar energy stored in the batteries in the course of the day.

It was intended to be the longest and highest flight in the history of solar-powered aviation: the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) immediately awarded the Solar Impulse three new world records in the Solar Powered Airplane class. Based on the technical organization and adjudication by the Swiss Aero Club, the FAI ratified the following flight records, owned by André Borschberg:

- Absolute height: 9235 m

- Height gain: 8744 m

- Duration: 26 hours, 10 minutes, 19 seconds

Visit a 3-D animation that explores the Solar Impulse plane inside and out at http://www.solarimpulse.com/index.php.

Of course, the best is to bring your own cup to the coffee shop, but, in fact, scores of people still use paper cups at coffee shops around the country. Now Starbucks has proved that used paper cups can be recycled into new paper cups.

The cup-to-cup pilot was conceived earlier this year at Starbucks’ second cup summit, which was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The two-day symposium convened government officials, raw material suppliers, cup manufacturers, retail and beverage businesses, recyclers, conservation groups, and academic experts to develop a plan for improving local recycling systems.

While some communities already recycle Starbucks paper cups, most do not have the infrastructure in place to handle collection, hauling, and processing due to a lack of demand for cup material by the recycling industry. To date, Mississippi River is the only pulp mill in the U.S. that has successfully recycled used cups into fiber suitable for producing new cups.

“What’s really exciting about the cup-to-cup concept is that it has the potential to benefit not only Starbucks, but the entire foodservice industry,” said Greg Wanta, vice president of International Paper Foodservice, the largest manufacturer of Starbucks paper cups. “If we can continue to prove the value of used cup material generated by Starbucks and other retailers, we can help increase recycling rates in communities across the country.”

“We’re looking forward to working with Starbucks, International Paper, and other stakeholders to take the pilot project to the next level,” said Rob Garland, chief executive officer at Mississippi River. “Based on what we’ve seen so far, we think this is a very promising path.”

Starbucks currently has another recycling pilot project underway in New York. The company is collecting paper cups at 86 of its Manhattan stores to determine whether they can be recycled into bath tissue and paper towels. In early 2011, Starbucks plans to launch a new recycling pilot in Chicago, aiming to transform the company’s discarded paper cups into napkins for use in its stores. Over the past year, Starbucks has introduced front-of-store cup collection in Toronto and Seattle, where its cups can be recycled, and in San Francisco, where its cups can be composted.

To learn more about cup-to-cup recycling, visit ipfoodservice.com. For information about Starbucks recent recycling initiatives, visit starbucks.com/responsibility2009.

NWEI’s hallmark program is a series of discussion courses available for small groups anywhere in North America.  The courses provide an enjoyable, supportive setting in which to examine personal values and habits, engage in stimulating conversation, create meaningful community, and consider ways to take action towards creating a more sustainable future.

NWEI discussion course study guides are manuals for a self-facilitated course experience, taken informally by small groups in a home, at your workplace, your center of faith or any place where people naturally gather. Course guides range from $20 to $35.

An estimated 5,000 are expected to participated in A World of Health curriculum over the coming year. The curriculum is part of an on-going effort by NWEI to educate and inspire people to make small lifestyle changes that have a long-term, positive benefit for themselves and the planet. Since its launch in 1993, more than 125,000 people in all 50 states have participated in NWEI discussion courses.

The discussion-based curriculum for personal health is called A World of Health: Connecting People, Place and Planet and consists of six sessions, including videos, readings, assignments and group discussion questions.

While the course is not prescriptive in nature these are a few of the actions that come up for consideration:

• Examine your food products for packaging that contains bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with harmful health consequences.
• Map the accessibility of your neighborhood via walking and biking to encourage to a healthier lifestyle while also reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
• Consider the broader health impacts brought about by a consumer-based culture.
• Make your own household cleaners. They cost much less, are just as effective and are a safer alternative to relying on harsh, toxic commercial products. Effective cleaning products can be made with borax, washing soda, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, salt, club soda, cooking oil and lemons. On their own or combined together, you can make scouring powder, furniture polish, an all-purpose cleaner and more!
• Use a reusable bag to haul groceries—plastic bags aren’t biodegradable and, when discarded, become problematic for people and wildlife alike. And shop smart—the stuff in the bag has a larger impact than the bag itself.

WASHINGTON

Purchases of green power help to prevent greenhouse gas emissions and also help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity across the United States.

To participate in the challenge, a local government must join EPA’s Green Power Partnership and use green power in amounts that meet the program’s purchase requirements. The local government must also conduct a campaign to encourage local businesses and residents to collectively buy or produce green power on-site in amounts that meet EPA requirements.

More than 30 cities and towns in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin have become green power communities, and are collectively buying more than 900 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from the electricity use of nearly 80,000 average American homes.

The campaign is designed to expand upon the successes of the program, aiming to double the total aggregate amount of green power used by EPA Green Power Communities. As part of the national campaign, communities will compete to see which one can use the most green power and which one can achieve the highest green power percentage of total electricity use. There will be a separate award for each category with national recognition and special attention from EPA. The winners will be announced in September 2011.

During the challenge, from Sept. 20, 2010, to Sept. 1, 2011, communities will be ranked for the two award categories on EPA’s website on a quarterly schedule; EPA will also provide technical assistance to help participants increase their green power usage.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conven tional power technologies, and produce no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions.

More information on EPA’s Green Power Community Challenge:http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/gpcchallenge

More information about EPA’s Green Power Communities:
http://epa.gov/greenpower/communities/index.htm

Learn how an all-electric vehicle works.

Ford Motor Company has announced first markets that will sell the Focus Electric, Ford’s first all-electric, zero CO2-emissions passenger car.

The first markets selected for Ford Focus Electric: Atlanta, Austin and Houston, Texas; Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Orlando, Fla., Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va., Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

The Focus Electric initial markets were chosen based on several different criteria including existing hybrid purchase trends, utility company collaboration and local government commitment to electrification. As part of the collaboration with dealers, utilities and local governments, Ford will help develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support customers’ needs.

Last month, Ford launched a new educational Web site on electric vehicles (http://www.fordvehicles.com/technology/electric/). The site offers video, text and diagrams to help consumers understand differences in the technologies of electrified vehicles.

Focus Electric, available in late 2011, will be built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. Production will occur on the same line as the gasoline version of the Focus. Using an existing vehicle platform and assembly line will give Ford the ability to vary production based on demand for the Focus Electric.

Instead of a traditional gas engine, the Focus Electric’s motor will be powered by a 23 kwh lithium-ion battery. The system utilizes liquid heating and cooling system to maximize battery life and driving range.

Collaboration between Ford and local authorities

Ford has been working with local government agencies and utilities in several of the selected markets to help prepare for the adoption of electric vehicles. Efforts focus on development of consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as shared information on charging needs and requirements to allow for ease of consumer charging and to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary additional demand.

As part of its electrification outreach, Ford has been conducting the “Charging Into the Future: The Ford Electric Vehicle Tour.” The 14-city tour promotes Ford’s electric vehicle strategy and educates consumers about what to expect from electrified automobiles and what is needed from the public and private sector to support this new technology.

Ford also will launch five new electrified vehicles in Europe and North America. In addition to Focus Electric, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, two next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrids and a plug-in hybrid. The range of electrified vehicles allows Ford to address a variety of consumer driving needs.

NASCAR driver Leilani Münter shares simple ways to save money while you’re on the go. Just like you, Leilani wants to save money—and she’s got a few tricks up her racing sleeves to share.

Videos of tips from Münter kick off a new website, LivingEfficiently.org, from the Alliance to Save Energy.

Ledzworld won a LightFair International 2010 Innovation Award.

Switching to LED-based lighting can save 40 to 70 percent of the electricity a city uses for certain lighting applications such as parking garages, parking lots, outdoor public areas, street and portable lighting.

Technological advances in LED lights is happening at incredible speed. Today, everything from traffic lights, billboards, car headlights, and laptop computers use some sort of LED for a light source.

According to Raja Parvez, president and CEO of Rubicon Technology, LEDs have many advantages, including:

• Low energy consumption — ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED lighting uses at least 75% less energy
• Long service life – ENERGY STAR qualified LED lighting lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting
• Durable
• Directional distribution of light
• No infrared or ultraviolet radiation – excellent for outdoor use because UV light attracts bugs and LEDs don’t
• Safety and environmentally conscious – LEDs contain no mercury and remain cool to the touch
• Fully dimmable while CFLs are not

GE introduces new LED light bulb

The GE Smart bulb.

The inventor of the first visible light-emitting diode makes history again this year as it begins to show customers a 40-watt replacement GE Energy Smart® LED bulb available later this year or early 2011. GE Lighting’s new LED bulb is expected to consume just 9 watts, provide a 77-percent energy savings and produce nearly the same light output as a 40-watt incandescent bulb, while lasting more than 25 times as long.

The new GE Energy Smart® LED bulb is expected to outperform currently available products that may be underwhelming consumers right now. GE scientists and engineers designed the bulb to better direct light downward on the intended surface and all around, not just out the top of a lampshade, as most current LED bulbs are prone to do. The new GE LED bulb offers 450 lumens—the Energy Star® threshold to be considered a 40-watt incandescent replacement. Currently available LED bulbs produce 350 lumens or less. GE has filed multiple patent applications for the bulb and expects it will be an ENERGY STAR®-qualified LED omnidirectional light bulb.

“This is a bulb that can virtually light your kid’s bedroom desk lamp from birth through high school graduation,” says John Strainic, global product general manager, GE Lighting. “It’s an incredible advancement that’s emblematic of the imagination and innovation that GE’s applying to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.”

GE Energy Smart® LED bulb product snapshot:

• Expected to consume just 9 watts—compared with 40-watt incandescent/halogen or 10-watt CFL, while delivering nearly the same light output;
• Expected 25,000-hour rated life—will last 17 years (4 hours per day), which is 25 times longer than a general service 40-watt incandescent or halogen bulb and more than 3 times longer than a standard 8,000-hour rated life CFL;
• LED technology delivers the instant full brightness of an incandescent or halogen bulb;
• Durable solid-state design with no filament to break;
• Contains no mercury and will be RoHS compliant; and
• Feels cooler to the touch than CFLs and far cooler than incandescent bulbs.

The 9-watt GE Energy Smart® LED bulb, a replacement for 40-watt general service incandescent bulbs, hits store shelves this fall or in early 2011. Retailers set pricing but it is expected to be $40 to $50. The new bulb joins GE’s growing family of LED bulbs in a broad range of shapes, wattages and colors, including, spot and flood lights (PAR20 & PAR30), ceiling fan bulbs (A15), medium globes (G25), small globes (G16.5), candles (CA10), and night lights (C7). All of GE’s Energy Smart® LED bulbs are rigorously tested to ensure constant color, long life and verifiable lumen ratings. For more information, visit www.gelighting.com or www.whatsyourlightingstyle.com. To learn about GE’s dedication to LED quality standards, visit www.gelighting.com/apples-to-oranges.

GE will put prototypes of the bulb—outfitted with Cree XLamp® XP-G LEDs—on display at two upcoming trade shows: Light + Building 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany, and LightFair 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The high-efficiency, high-lumen-output LEDs used in the GE bulbs are Cree’s smallest and brightest lighting-class LEDs, designed specifically for general lighting.

“The introduction of high-quality retrofit light bulbs, like the GE Energy Smart® LED bulb, is a key next step in the LED lighting revolution,” notes Norbert Hiller, Cree vice president and general manager, LED Components.

Strainic adds: “Consumers have been reluctant to move away from less efficient incandescent bulbs because they love the light quality. This new GE Energy Smart® LED bulb will address that lighting preference head-on and give consumers yet another option to light their homes and businesses.”

New Lighting Legislation
Starting in 2012 and continuing through 2014, standard incandescent light bulbs are going away as a result of U.S. federal lighting efficiency standards:

• 100-watt bulbs can no longer be made in January 2012;
• 75-watt bulbs can no longer be made in January 2013; and
• 60- and 40-watt bulbs can no longer be made in January 2014.

GE has consumers covered each step of the way with alternatives such halogen, CFL and LED bulbs that already meet the new efficiency standards.

Bulbrite video looks at broad range of lamping styles

A video from Bulbrite reviews a broad range of new lamping styles, including new Halogens, CFLs (Compact Fluorescents) and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

Effective January 1, 2012, the household light bulb (as we know it) will no longer be manufactured. U.S. Congress mandated that all general service light bulbs, produced as of this date, must be up to 30% more energy efficient than current standards require. To comply with this legislation, Bulbrite has introduced the Eco-Friendly Halogen A19, which fits all standard and dimmable lighting fixtures. Consumers will gain the benefits of higher efficiency and superior lighting quality with the Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 bulb.

Consumers looking for CFL lighting should know Bulbrite offers a variety of new, high performance compact fluorescent light bulbs that are also aesthetically pleasing. This line features a broad range of sizes and styles, including the popular Energy Wiser™ brand.

Bulbrite’s high-quality, high-performance Chandelier LEDs are energy efficient alternatives to traditional chandelier light bulbs. These LEDs provide high quality Warm White Light and are available in a candelabra base and a medium base. Candelabra base bulbs produce up to 15 watts using only 2 watts of energy while medium base bulbs produce up to 25 watts using 3 watts of energy consumption, compared to standard incandescents. The unique design and engineering of high-powered miniature LED chips allow the Chandelier LEDs to deliver 360-degrees of total illumination. They are available in a Clear finish for maximum light output and a Frosted finish for a more traditional look.

The video also captures Bulbrite’s new generation of high performance LEDs, highlighted by the TURBO series, featuring a state-of-the-art, revolutionary design. TURBO LEDs offer innovative heat sink technology that eliminates the need for large, aluminum heat sinks and clunky housings. The new LEDs include an innovative cooling system featuring pure anodized aluminum thermal fins. With an IP 65-rating, the LEDs are totally protected against dust and low-pressure water from all directions, for indoor and outdoor use.

C.Crane Company introduces the GeoBulb^TM

Energy-saving LED light bulb lasts 30 times longer than incandescent bulbs and operates at a fraction of the cost

The GeoBulb.

C. Crane Company, a pioneer in LED (light-emitting diode) flashlights, has developed the GeoBulb^TM, an LED light bulb that uses half the energy of a compact fluorescent bulb, contains no hazardous mercury or lead and lasts for up to ten years of daily use. GeoBulb^TM, the first high light output, direct-replacement LED light bulb that uses just 7.5 Watts of power to produce as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, is available now exclusively from C. Crane.

GeoBulb^TM brings LED light bulbs up to the brightness of incandescent bulbs, while maintaining the qualities that make LEDs so very exceptional:

• GeoBulb^TM lasts 30,000 hours or up to ten years with typical use;
• GeoBulb^TM generates very little heat and is not susceptible to vibrations or repeated on/off switching;
• Through quantum-well technology, the GeoBulb^TM uses only about 10% of the power of incandescent bulbs and about half of a comparable compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

“The persons that have come together to design the Geobulb^TM have the vision and purpose to reduce worldwide energy usage by 10%,” said Bob Crane, President, C. Crane. “It will take many years to accomplish this goal but the GeoBulb^TM is here. The GeoBulb II™ Cool White High Powered light bulb reduces the amount of energy used over incandescent by up to 87% and significantly over Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.”

GeoBulb^TM is available in three light color spectrums: cool, soft and warm.  Each GeoBulb^TM uses only 7.5 watts of electricity and has an expected life span of 30,000 hours or approximately 10 years with eight hours of daily use.  GeoBulb^TM is available exclusively from C. Crane’s retail store, web site or catalog and every GeoBulb^TM is backed by a three-year warranty, valid even if the bulb is used for 24 hours a day, seven days a week or for three consecutive years.

The retail price for GeoBulb^TM is $119.95, which over the 30,000 hour lifespan of the bulb, actually makes it less expensive to purchase and operate than a traditional incandescent bulb:

The GeoBulb^TM has passed conductive and radiated emission tests from the FCC, also passed UL safety tests and is Lead Free, making it RoHS compliant. The GeoBulb^TM is designed for indoor use only, in an open fixture and within a temperature range from 14-104°F.

For over 25 years, C. Crane Company has been an innovator in the electronics industry and design. A forerunner in LED lighting sales and technology, they began their research and development of multiple white LED flashlights in 1997.

More…

Downloadable PDFs, Ten Things You Need to Know to Make an Informed LED Buying Decision, Promises Made, Promises Kept: The Truth about LED Lighting, Ten Questions to Ask Before Buying your LED Fixture, and the video LED Lighting and Building Performance, are available from Lunera Lighting.

Ledzworld, winner of LFI Innovations Award, has an online calculator to figure the amount of savings when you use one of their LED lamps (pictured at beginning of article).

For its efforts, Document Solutions, Inc. (DSi), an e-discovery and digital forensics company, won the “Lean, Mean & Green” Award from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Presented to a Future 50 winner, this new “Distinct Honor Award” celebrates precedent-setting, sustainable business practices that significantly impacted institutional procedures, products or services. The “Lean, Mean & Green” Award was one of six Distinct Honor Awards given, recognizing that businesses need more than just revenue growth to be leaders in the marketplace.

The Future 50 award is an annual recognition program of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the 50 fastest growing, privately owned companies in the Nashville area. DSi was named a Future 50 winner for the second year in a row.

“When we determined to change our mode of transportation for deliveries, we did research into various options and found a company that makes these electric cars,” said Co-founder Tom Turner. “We had it tailored to our needs and confirmed required specifications with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. What used to require a gas-chugging vehicle – not to mention hard-to-find parking – now can be done with a regular 110v outlet.”

Originally started as a photocopying firm, DSi has been consistently making the effort to “go green” over the last 10 years, including a dramatic decrease in paper used. Today, less than a fifth of their work involves actual paper, with the rest of the documents handled and delivered digitally. In addition to their other green initiatives, DSi saves all paper waste and has it shredded and used for recycling.

“Our goal is to be a prime example of a company that is pushing to be more environmentally friendly while still providing excellent service to our clients,” said co-founder KevinTyner.