Lexus dream team

The buzz of that particular moment was the American dream team of superstar basketball players competing thousands of miles away in the London Olympics on a hot and humid August afternoon in Silicon Valley, San Francisco. The timing was perfect.

Inside the ritzy Four Seasons Hotel, right at the heart of the technological hub, the men in their dapper business suits wasted no time rattling off to wide-eyed Asian journalists the merits of their own power-packed dream team: the new 2013 LS model range of Lexus including the LS 460, the LS 460 L (long wheelbase), LS 600 hybrid and the all-new F Sport.

Based on the predilections of the Lexus top guys, this new lineup is a cinch for a victorious run with the form and substance that the Lexus brand stands for. Not to forget that the LS is the flagship Lexus brand, the same car that started everything in a blaze of glory for the Japanese company back in the days when the exports from Europe was firmly entrenched as top-of-mind brand.

On the heels of the high-profile launches of the GS and ES models, it’s a given that this new iteration of the large luxury sedan considered a car of choice among company CEOs, business tycoons and, well, those who have been so lucky in life, should draw attention for all the heritage and historical success it carries: more than 730,000 units sold so far in its 23-year, four-generation existence.

Americans, being the most wide and discerning users of Lexus, and those from the rest of the world will be glad to find out that there is much more to the new lineup of the LS than hype. There is solid proof to the claim that the LS, powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine so meticulously crafted by Lexus engineers, is among the most quiet and most comfortable cars in the world.

Kiyotaka Ise, president of Lexus International, attests the internal and external changes of the LS, saying at least half of its 6,000 parts are new, including three world first, and at least 15 Lexus first, features and technical innovations.

The spindle grille becomes the most visible change in the LS and for a reason. As it now carries the fascia of the entire Lexus lineup, the spindle grille provides a literally bold face and frontal look that complements the new hood design of the LS. The spindle’s three-dimensional form gives instantaneous recognition at first glance for a Lexus, a masterpiece that is bound to endure the test of time.

While every car manufacturer is getting into LED lighting, the LS raises the bar with not just a full-LED projector headlamp but an all-LED exterior lighting that is another first-time feature for a Lexus.

There is reason to fall in love with the LS dashboard as the 2013 Lexus LS lineup now boasts a 12.3-inch high resolution infotainment screen―the industry’s largest so far. Another unique feature is that it is controlled by the computer mouse-style “Remote Touch” system on the center console.

The bottom line in every executive sedan lies on how the so-called big boss inside the cabin gets his money’s worth. And it’s in the confines of the rear seat that the LS earns its well-deserved gold medal.

Rear seating in the LS was designed with the pleasure of the occupant foremost in mind as different variations and adjustments with the fully retractable ottoman seat come in handy. Instant massage is also available after a tiring day at work for the passenger, the kind of air-assisted massage system carried by the most sought massage chairs in the market.

There’s more to the cabin nirvana as the LS’s beautifully crafted interior is complimented by the world’s first Advanced Illumination System (AIS), featuring new, Champagne White interior lamps and dynamic LED instrument panel lighting. Enjoyment beckons with such perks as the Lexus Navigation System and a 19-speaker Mark Levinson.

Ryedale Pool warms to solar savings

Ryedale District Council is harnessing the energy of the sun to heat the Ryedale Pool in Pickering thanks to a huge solar thermal installation. The newly-introduced Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and ever increasing energy bills drove the council into investigating the possibility of installing a solar thermal system during a planned boiler replacement.

Collaboration between Ecoliving, Preston Lee Chambers and SOLFEX energy systems resulted in the design of a large scale solar thermal system capable of supporting the council’s environmental ambitions.

The installation consists of two separate rows of 21 SSK 2.1 solar thermal panels across the pool’s flat roof. The panels are integrated with two gas boilers and a combined heat and power unit that is controlled by a BMS system.

The system is expected to save the centre around 46 percent off its annual energy bill. On top of the savings and RHI income, the council hopes that the solar thermal system will act as an example of renewable technologies' capabilities with the installation of a display panel in the reception area to show visitors the performance of the system.

Simon Wardle, National Sales Manager / Solar Thermal Products commented: “With swimming pools being acceptable under the RHI program for systems sized up to 200kWth this installation working alongside our partners as resulted in an excellent installation which will bring financial benefit to the system owner and environment alike”

Ecoliving Technical Manager, Steve Sutcliffe added: “This is an exciting installation because of the scale of solar thermal used and the financial benefit delivered to Community Leisure, specifically an estimated 46 percent reduction in heating costs over all as well as the reduction of their carbon footprint.”

Mike Adams, Facilities Manager for Ryedale District Council concluded: “Ryedale District Council has been able to make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions while at the same time reducing expenditure on energy. Solar thermal technology is particularly suited to this type of facility due to the large energy demand and also aided by the orientation of the large south facing elevation. This is a win-win situation, having positive benefits for the customers of Ryedale Pool, for the Council, for residents of Ryedale and for the planet!”

Though solar panels have become more common along the coast, new systems are still enough of a rarity to attract attention. Jacqui Leiblein, who oversaw the installation of an array at Culligan Water Conditioning on Carolina Beach Road, was unprepared for the interest generated by the panels.

"You would not believe how many people we have had call here about those panels," said Leiblein, whose father owns the company. "We've had other businesses call about them, individuals, and they all want to talk to him about the solar panels and how they work. People are really interested in them."

The Timberlakes have also fielded questions from friends, neighbors and, in one case, a stranger riding past on his bicycle. No one who's inquired about the panels has purchased their own system yet, though that may change soon.

New Woodman's store opens ahead of schedule in Sun Prairie

Amanda and James Benson wheeled a cart full of bagged groceries toward their car and then headed back inside the new Woodman's Market, at 1099 S. Grand Ave., "for round two," as James Benson put it.

"I love it," said Amanda Benson, of Columbus, who said she's never been in a Woodman's store before. "The prices are good and the people are really nice." The Bensons stocked up on meats, catfish, shrimp and soda pop, and a few sweet treats.

"I'm finally going to introduce my wife to sweet potato pie," James Benson said.

The Columbus couple were among hundreds of shoppers at the grocery store Wednesday afternoon, even though the official opening is Thursday.

Construction of the third Madison-area Woodman's store, which cost more than $20 million, was about a month ahead of schedule, said Clint Woodman, vice president of the Janesville-based grocery chain.

"Construction went very smoothly," Woodman said. The warm weather was one factor, he said, adding, "We had a lot of vendor help getting product into the store."

Most of the shelves were stocked Wednesday except for some bare spaces in the bakery and meat sections ― to make sure everything is fresh for the opening, store manager Frank Shelhamer said.

"It's exciting. It's a nice place to work," said Shelhamer, a Sun Prairie native who has worked for Woodman's for 29 years, most recently, as assistant manager of the East Side store.

Shelhamer said the new location has 225 employees, including about 65 who transferred from other Woodman's stores around the state.

The aisles are wide, with meat and dairy sections in back and produce and frozen foods along the sides.

International and health foods have more space than in other Woodman's stores, Clint Woodman said.

The 225,000-square-foot building includes a liquor store but has no photo department. "People just don't bring film in anymore. They order online, or they don't even print anymore because it's all online," Woodman said. He said the photo department at Woodman's East Side store closed Aug. 1, but it remains open at the West Side store.

Woodman said the Sun Prairie supermarket has more energy-efficient systems than older stores, such as LED lights and refrigerated cases with doors. Food-chilling units use glycol instead of freon, he said.

"It's a nice store. It's brand new, so you know it's clean," said shopper John Norton of Sun Prairie.

Nancy Gaulrapp and her daughter, Andria, of McFarland, agreed that they prefer the new store to Woodman's East Side store, where they usually shop. "This is bigger ... it's nice," Nancy Gaulrapp said.

Streetlight replacement costs are murky

Some municipalities could be owed a refund on their power bill because Nova Scotia Power has overestimated the number of streetlights in their area.

A handful of local governments have made that discovery while converting to LED technology.

The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities says the number of over-counted fixtures could be as high as 4,800 provincewide, based on what its members have seen so far.

That’s equal to four per cent of the estimated 110,000 streetlights in Nova Scotia.

“We are concerned that Nova Scotia Power doesn’t seem to have the data to identify accurately how many streetlights are in a community and what the age of those streetlights are,” Betty MacDonald, the union’s executive director, said Monday.

Most streetlights are owned by the utility and leased back to municipalities, which cover capital and maintenance costs. Some local governments own fixtures and only pay an energy charge for electricity.

The province passed a law last year that makes LED streetlights mandatory by June 2019.

Municipalities must cover the $100-million estimated cost of buying and installing the more energy-efficient lighting.

MacDonald, whose group represents 54 municipalities, said it’s too soon to say how much members might save.

Six local governments have swapped a total of 5,000 streetlights so far. The number of phantom fixtures that have been uncovered so far has ranged from three to 69.

In one instance, a municipality was being undercharged by three lights, MacDonald said.

Officials in New Glasgow and Amherst, two towns that have switched, said there wasn’t enough variation in streetlight numbers to create an unexpected windfall.

Meanwhile, the province’s largest municipality is embarking on a project that it hopes will help reduce its LED conversion costs.

The Halifax Regional Municipality plans to use handheld GPS units to count and catalogue all of its existing fixtures.

“The reality is, nobody absolutely knows what the number is,” said Angus Doyle, HRM’s utilities co-ordinator manager. “We don’t know the number. And Nova Scotia Power doesn’t know the number ―– absolutely. We’re hoping that we’re within a very small number, plus or minus. But we don’t know.”

There are an estimated 40,000 streetlights in the Halifax region. Most are owned by Nova Scotia Power and leased by the municipality. But the city does own and maintain about 13,000 lights on the peninsula and in Halifax West.

All told, the municipality pays more than $6 million a year for streetlights.

Doyle said the project will also record the age of the lights, which is stamped on the fixture.

That’s key information because municipalities will be on the hook for any cost of retiring existing lights early.

Nova Scotia Power has estimated the so-called stranded cost at $23 million but municipalities, including HRM, have disputed that figure. They say it should be lower because their streetlights are older than the utility has estimated.

“There is a real incentive for us to have that number as accurate as possible,” said Doyle. “We are obviously wanting to get our billing more accurate.”

The utilities official said keeping track of streetlights is no easy task, given that one-third of streetlights in the province are in the Halifax region. Compounding that challenge is the fact the the number is always changing and the billing system is complex.

“We have probably several hundred bills for streetlights in HRM,” he said. “It could be as few as two or three fixtures on a specific street, to several thousand on a single bill.”

The stranded cost created by LED converstion has yet to be factored into rates and will be a topic of debate during a Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearing next month.

Municipalities and other ratepayers are facing a three per cent rate increase in each of the next two years.

Municipalities, including HRM, have disputed the utility’s math on LED rates and costs, according to filings made as part of the proposed rate hike.

Nova Scotia Power says it’s still working with municipalities to work out details on LED streetlight conversion.

“We’re working closely with them to make sure that plans are co-ordinated and that both sides are working together,” said spokeswoman Neera Ritcey.

Municipalities will save money in the long run because of LED streetlights, she said.

MacDonald agreed, saying one small municipality has seen its power bill drop from $2,000 a month to $535 after the switch.

Demoted policeman sues over Sheen escort in DC

A D.C. police captain who was demoted after actor Charlie Sheen received a police escort to his comedy show last year has filed a multi-million dollar whistleblower lawsuit against the department.

Hilton Burton claims he was punished for telling the D.C. Council that police escorts for celebrities were a common practice in the city, putting him at odds with Police Chief Cathy Lanier. The chief said Sheen's escort broke police protocol and that such escorts were generally reserved for government officials and dignitaries, but could be approved for others on a case-by-case basis.

"To me, it's all retaliatory because the chief did not like what I said before the city council," Burton said Wednesday.

Lanier has said the demotion was not connected to the escort or to Burton's remarks and was instead a reflection of his performance. Her spokeswoman, Gwendolyn Crump, said the department's lawyers had not yet reviewed the lawsuit and weren't available to comment.

Sheen's April 19, 2011 escort from Dulles International Airport to a concert hall attracted attention when the actor posted about it on Twitter with a photo of flashing emergency lights and a speedometer that appeared to be registering about 80 mph. Lanier at the time said the escort ran afoul of department policies, in part because emergency lights were used in a non-emergency situation and because the escort originated outside city lines. She also said the escort wasn't given the proper approval within the department.

The escort was provided after one of Sheen's representatives, concerned the actor would be running late from Los Angeles for his performance, contacted police and requested a ride to the concert hall. Two off-duty officers met Sheen at the airport and drove him to the venue. The promoter reimbursed the city for eight hours of overtime, at a cost of $445, police said.

Burton testified before the council two months later that escorts for celebrities were routinely provided and that there was no written rule against them. Other celebrities who have received police escorts in the last few years include Bill Gates, Jay-Z and Washington Wizards star John Wall, according to police records obtained by The Associated Press.

An inspector general's report concluded that the officers who provided the escort didn't break department rules and said that escorts for non-dignitaries were routinely provided. The report faulted the department for failing to establish and follow clear guidelines about the rides and said the casual manner in which they were handled opened the police force to liability if something went wrong.

Burton was later transferred out of the special operations division, which he led, and demoted two ranks from commander to captain. He was first transferred to the department's medical services branch, where according to the lawsuit he had "no real duties," and is now involved in internal affairs investigations for the fire department.

The police department, the suit alleges, "has demonstrated extreme, outrageous, and intolerable conduct that is beyond all bounds of decency."

Besides seeking at least $6 million in punitive and compensatory damages, the suit also seeks for Burton to be reinstated to commander and to his prior position with the special operations division.