Practical Eco

Induction Street Lighting Evolved

I posted an item a few weeks ago about induction lighting with a video that explains the technology.  Click here to see that post.

Everlast Lighting now has its newest generation of Cobra Head fixtures (the ones you often see on street lights) which is exciting on many levels.

Energy savings are incredible at about 50-70 percent lower than the typical metal halide bulbs.

Lamp life is the next big benefit. At 100,000 hours you're looking at 5 times the life of a metal halide - or more. So, if it runs for 12 hours per day, every day, it will last for 23 years before someone has to get the bucket truck out to go up and replace the bulb.

Light quality is also a major benefit. They bulbs put out a light at 5000 Kelvin and 85 CRI,  which is much whiter than other street lights and enables clearer vision, rendering colors more like natural sunlight does.

Some of the major improvements in this new type III fixture include a lightweight polycarbonate housing for better durability, a specular reflector optimized for induction lamp geometry, an integrated heat sink system for extended life, an acrylic lens with Type III, medium throw prescription and an electronic ballast with flicker free instant re-strike.   

It also includes a ballast that can dim to 50% power for greater energy savings.

So while LED lights at street level are making headlines everywhere for now, their inherent weaknesses like low usable light output, overstated longevity, pin-point bright spots, sensitivity to heat and high cost will surely impede their wider implementation. Meanwhile, the recent improvements in Induction lighting like their superior longevity, incredible lumen/watt efficiency and outstanding value will mean they start outshining LEDs, HIDs and all other types of lights for a wide range of applications.

See the full spec on the new Everlast cobra head lights here.

10 important green building studies

Tracey de Morcella, writing for The Green Economy Post summarized 10 relevant studies relating to green building.

The various studies referenced address issues such as:
- social and psychological barriers to green building
- the use of impact fees to encourage green building
- the use of mandates and incentives
- the risks that come with green building
- global green building trends
- green practices by facilities management professionals
- reshaping municipal and county laws

To read the full round up click here.

Also see my older post on the Costar Group study that shows the better financial performance of green commercial buildings.

Southern Energy and Environment Expo this weekend in Fletcher NC

The Southern Energy and Environment Expo 2009 (www.SEEExpo.com) is this weekend, August 21-23rd, at The Western N.C. Agricultural Center.

This is the 9th Annual S.E.E. Expo and features information, speakers and exhibitors that focus on action.

It's all about the actions you can take now to be a part of the needed change for a more secure, stable future.  Investments in local agriculture, green building, energy and transportation are the basic elements that we, as individuals and a community, can directly and positively develop and support.

So if you're up in the Asheville area or want a short trek up to the mountains to get away from the heat down in the Piedmont, Sandhills and coastal regions, here's a good excuse to make a trip.

Homeowners Check Your Crawlspaces

Local home inspector Jamey Tippens puts out a newsletter that I subscribe to and recommend. Not only is Jamey thorough and easy to work with, but he's an ex-contractor who really knows homes.  His latest recommendation mentioned in his last two newsletters is to check your home's crawlspace for moisture at this time of year.

Both articles are an excellent read and good information for any home owner in this warm humid climate with a crawlspace foundation.

Part one - Check Your Crawlspace This Week
Part two - Check Your Crawlspace (Again!) This Week

The bottom line is to be sure your home isn't being compromised by its number one enemy - moisture.

Central Carolina Community College to build two new centers to LEED standards

Central Carolina Community College plans to build two new centers that meet LEED silver standards. One is a new 24,500 sf Siler City Center which was awarded to Monteith Construction of Monroe, and was designed by Hobbs Architects, of Pittsboro and is expected to cost $4.16 million. Construction is set to start within the month.

The county is also building a 25,000 sf Chatham Community Library on the Chatham Campus. The Library was designed by Cherry Huffman Associates, of Raleigh, and will built by Barnhill Construction, of Tarboro. Construction is scheduled to begin in August on this county-college joint-use facility.

CCCC President Bud Marchant said, “We have the programs and we have people interested in enrolling. Now, we will have the space to accommodate many more and deliver the educational services that will benefit the residents, communities and businesses of a thriving Chatham County.”

For the full news release click here.

NC Green Business Grants awards go to 14 companies

$950,000 in grants was awarded through the “Green Business Fund” to 14 companies. The biggest single grant goes to Semprius in Durham for a system to concentrate solar energy through a lens to a small, high-efficiency gallium arsenide solar cell. The result should be an order of magnitude increase in efficiency by requiring 0.1% of the solar material to get the same power.

Innova Homes LLC of Asheville got just over $50,000 for development of a hybrid green modular home that combines a new, energy- and material-efficient structural insulated panel with traditional modular home components.

Vesture Corp. in Asheboro was awarded $75,000 for increasing production of a new home insulation product that uses phase-change materials. These materials are solid at room temperature, but liquefy and absorb and store heat when the temperature becomes warmer. When the temperature drops, the material will solidify and give off heat, warming the house and reducing consumer energy costs.

VisibleEnergy Inc. of Durham got $40,000 to develop their "Home Energy Dashboard," which monitors overall energy use and specific appliances and behaviors that directly affect energy consumption.

Other grants went to companies working on biofuel, battery solar energy and a variety of other green technologies.

For a detailed list of the grants click here.