Watch Safely During Annular Solar Eclipse

Posted on May 20, 2012 by quest

On Sunday, May 20, an annular solar eclipse will be visible to those who live on the West Coast. Watching a solar eclipse can be an exciting and educational experience, but people should do so safely, warns the American Optometric Association (AOA). Looking at a solar eclipse without proper protection can result in serious eye damage, the association says. A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth and moon are positioned nearly in a straight line. The moon comes directly between the sun and the earth, casting a shadow on the earth’s surface. The solar eclipse is visible from the earth in the areas where the moon’s shadow falls. The May 20 eclipse will be visible on the West Coast of North America and will begin at approximately 5:24 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.Early on May 21, viewers in Asia will also be able to experience the eclipse.

During most of a solar eclipse, at least part of the sun’s rays remain visible, therefore the sun’s rays can burn the eye’s retina if a viewer looks directly at the eclipse without protection. The retina is the delicate lining at the back of the eye that contains layers of light-sensitive nerve cells used for seeing. Retinal burns cause a temporary or permanent vision loss based on the degree of exposure. Light-induced retinal injuries can occur without any feeling of pain and the effects of the injuries may not appear for at least several hours after the damage is done.

The AOA warns consumers to avoid viewing a partial solar eclipse with the naked eye. Also unsafe are: sunglasses, color film, black and white film, medical x-ray films with images on them, smoked glass, photographic neutral density filters and polarizing filters. The AOA recommends viewing the solar eclipse safely with such methods as the use of an image projection device, such as a pinhole projector (which can be constructed at home), or wearing a solar viewing filter to protect the eyes. Examples of safe solar viewing filters include shade number 14 welder’s glass (available from welding supply outlets) or glasses (available through special manufacturers) constructed specifically for solar observation.

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Solar Decathlon Gets $1 Million For Great Park XPO

Posted on May 18, 2012 by quest

At their meeting on May 17, 2012, The Orange County Great Park Corporation Board approved an agreement with the United States Department of Energy that provides a $1 million grant to host the Solar Decathlon 2013 at the Great Park. The agreement establishes a two-phase planning and implementation process that also includes the staging of the first ever multi-day exposition set for October 3-13, 2013, dubbed the XPO: Clean+Renewable+Efficient Energy Exposition.

“We are excited to host the Solar Decathlon and XPO at the Great Park,” said Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation Board. “Today’s action allows us to move forward on developing plans for this international event that will bring worldwide attention and economic development to the Great Park and the region and raise public awareness about the benefits of clean energy and energy conservation.”Under the first phase of the agreement, the Great Park accepted $375,000 from the United States Department of Energy for the planning and development process. This planning phase includes event programming and sponsorship planning as well as a finalized site plan that shows the location of the Solar Decathlon Village, where 20 collegiate teams will showcase their solar-powered houses.

The Solar Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The winning house best embodies affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence while also providing optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The XPO, featuring the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013, will showcase technology, products, arts, education and business opportunities that arise from clean and renewable energy generation and efficient energy use. Both events will occur simultaneously October 3-13, 2013.

Chabot College Center Achieves LEED Certification

Posted on May 17, 2012 by quest

Chabot Community College in Hayward, Calif., recently achieved LEED Platinum certification for their sustainably-designed student center building with the help of SageGlass dynamic glazing. The Community and Student Services Center (CSSC) is the centerpiece of the college’s “green intelligent building initiative,” serving more than 15,000 students, staff and faculty. Architects at tBP/Architecture wanted to incorporate as much glass as possible into the CSSC to flood the interior with daylight and keep a connection to the outdoors for the well-being of the students. The architects needed to find a way to maintain outside views and keep people comfortable inside, while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption to achieve the project’s LEED goals. Although conventional low-e glazing, automated interior blinds and automated exterior louvers would have managed the sun and solar heat gain, this approach would also have obstructed outside views and compromised building aesthetics.

The CSSC uses SageGlass as a strategic element of an integrated daylighting control system to manage sunlight and heat gain. The dynamic glazing tints or clears within minutes, significantly reducing energy consumed for air conditioning, heating and lighting. SageGlass glazing keeps glare and temperature under control throughout the day, making effective use of the natural ventilation system. In addition to SageGlass, the facility features a variety of other advanced sustainability technologies designed to achieve LEED Platinum accreditation through aggressive energy-efficiency levels and maximum occupant comfort.

SageGlass was instrumental in helping Chabot meet its ambitious sustainability initiative, which includes attaining LEED Silver rating as a minimum for all new construction,” said Doug Horner, Project Manager with Chabot Community College. “This one-of-a-kind facility exceeds this standard by using advanced design elements, which provide natural daylight in all occupied spaces and access to outdoor views. The CSSC also controls the amount of light to reduce heat gain as a means of increasing the comfort level of occupants.”

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Solar Powered Light Little Sun Launched

Posted on May 11, 2012 by quest

Little Sun, a small solar-powered light, was launched today at the World Economic Forum in Addis Ababa as part of the WEF’s focus on how art can contribute to changing the world.Leading artist Olafur Eliasson, working with engineer Frederik Ottesen, has been developing Little Sun – a work of art that works in life – over the last two years. Olafur Eliasson said: “Little Sun is a small work of art with a large reach. It brings the different strands of my work together in a new, meaningful context. One part of the artwork is the lamp itself and the activities enabled by its light; the other is the successful integration of Little Sun into off-grid communities – its journey from production to usage.”

Little Sun provides a practical, affordable, and safe source of artificial light to some of the 1.6 billion people worldwide who live without access to mains electricity. Little Sun makes light for living, learning, and earning. Little Sun creates business opportunities in off-grid regions that generate profits for everyone involved, in all stages of production, distribution, retail, and use.The light’s durable, versatile sun-like design utilises a 6 x 6 cm mono-crystalline solar module. When charged for four hours in the sunlight, Little Sun will yield five hours of bright LED illumination.

The Little Sun project will be presented at Tate Modern, London, this summer in a specially created display as part of the London 2012 Festival, the cultural programme that accompanies the London 2012 Olympic Games. Details will be announced shortly. A photo exhibition by leading Ethiopian artists about Little Sun solutions to energy poverty will be presented during the Forum: Tehras Berhe, Mihret Kebede, Desta Madere, Merklit Mersha, Michael Tsegaye, and Helen Zeru.

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End Polluter Welfare Invest In Solar

Posted on May 10, 2012 by quest

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont along with Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota and others at his side said, “I am proud to be here today with Congressman Ellison, with my good friend and fellow Vermonter Bill McKibben, with Brent Blackwelder from Friends of the Earth and Ryan Alexander from Taxpayers for Common Sense.

We are here today not just to announce new legislation, but to send a message – and that message is that it is time to end the absurdity of taxpayers providing massive subsidies to hugely profitable fossil fuel corporations. In these difficult economic times, it is imperative that we support the taxpayers of this country and not the fossil fuel industry – one of the most powerful special interests in the world.”

Our federal government is set to give away over $110 billion in taxpayer dollars to the oil, gas, and coal industries over the next 10 years. That is totally absurd. When we have a $15.6 trillion national debt, we cannot afford it. When the five largest oil companies have made over $1 trillion in profits in the last decade, they don’t need it. When some of these same polluters have, in a given year, paid zero in federal income taxes and actually received IRS rebate checks worth millions, they don’t deserve it. When fossil fuels are the number one source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, creating a planetary crisis of global warming that is already causing devastating extreme weather disturbances, we can’t ignore it. As people throughout our country are demanding that we invest in energy efficiency and sustainable energy, and when Congress has instead allowed key sustainable energy incentives to expire even as Big Oil reaps billions in subsidies, it is time to change our national energy priorities. So today, Congressman Ellison and I are introducing the End Polluter Welfare Act in the House and the Senate. Continue reading

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Yingli Solar To Power Rio’s Maracana Stadium

Posted on May 9, 2012 by quest

“Yingli Solar,”today announced its partnership with Light ESCO, EDF Consultoria, and the State of Rio de Janeiro to bring solar power to Brazil’s highest-profile football stadium, Estadio do Maracana. As the majority owner and project developer, Light ESCO is joining forces with EDF on the installation and construction, and will be supplying the energy produced to the State of Rio de Janeiro. “Sustainability is one of the key tenants in our vision for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said Federico Addiechi, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at FIFA. “We hope this landmark project will be the catalyst to spur other football stadiums that may install solar PV systems across Brazil, serving to increase the production and use of renewable power in the country.”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to supply the most recognizable stadium in Brazil, and to work with two of the preeminent leaders of electricity generation and solar power in the country,” said Mr. Liangsheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. “Brazil is an important emerging market for Yingli, and we will continue to grow our presence here as the country’s solar energy potential blossoms.”Owned by the State Government, the stadium was opened in 1950 to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup™ and was the world’s largest stadium by capacity at the time. Currently seating 82,238 spectators, the arena will be the host facility for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ final game. Under today’s agreement, over 1,500 YGE 245 Series modules will be placed on a metal ring that will encircle the top of the stadium.

“As the global renewable energy sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Yingli is committed to helping Brazil and FIFA make it the greenest FIFA World Cup in history,” said Robert Petrina, Managing Director of Yingli Green Energy Americas, Inc. “We are pleased to be able to partner on such a historical project, and to provide a roadmap for other stadiums as we join together to leave a lasting, sustainable legacy in Brazil.”