Philips to continue incandescent bulb phase-out

Royal Philips Electronics has announced that it will continue its independent efforts to phase-out incandescent light bulbs in the GCC.

After Philips' 100-watt and higher phase-out of energy inefficient light bulbs in September 2010, the company decided to discontinue and replace the 75-watt incandescent lamps as of January 2012, with energy-efficient alternatives like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), energy-saving halogens and LED bulbs.

Philips invented the energy saving light bulb in 1980, and continued to develop energy efficient lighting solutions as a proof-point of their efforts and commitment to sustainability and the environment, a statement from the company said.

Lighting accounts for 19 percent or one third of the world's electricity consumption, where 90 percent of the energy used through an incandescent light bulb is wasted as heat, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

However, 80 percent savings can be made by simply converting from traditional conventional lamps to energy saving ones, it said.

In the GCC alone, switching all residential lighting to energy efficient solutions will reduce a tremendous amount of CO2 emissions yearly.

With this switch, consumers will not only preserve the environment but also be able to save on their electricity bills without compromising on the quality of light, instead, creating the perfect ambiance at home.

"Homes are currently dominated by incandescent bulbs, and approximately two third of the world's lighting solutions in use are based on old, less energy efficient technologies", says Paolo Cervini, general manager of Philips Lighting, Middle East & Turkey. "Making a switch to energy efficient lighting solutions is simple and easy, with a remarkable effect."

"Philips is aware that significant savings can be made in terms of energy consumption, carbon emission and costs by switching to energy efficient solutions, therefore, we continue our unilateral phase-out of incandescent lamps and simultaneously educate the public through different initiatives on the benefits of the switch," he added.

Compact fluorescent energy savers are up to five times more efficient than incandescent lamps, as they need around five times less energy to generate the same amount of light, the statement said.

Philips CFLs lasts an average of eight times longer than incandescent lamps, needing less frequent replacements. The Philips Genie 14W which can be used as an alternative to the incandescent 75-watt light bulb is an ultra-efficient lamp which saves up to 80 percent energy and has a lifetime of 8,000 hours.

Sativa Peterson's Les Halles Thanksgiving

Oh Thanksgiving, full of thanks and food -- a holiday for families to come together around a meal. Thanksgiving you will always be special to me, not least of all because my daughter was born at Thanksgiving time.

It was November and I was two weeks past my due date. Two weeks! Keep in mind that I was so huge and uncomfortable that I had taken to wearing the same pair of black stretchy pants and a turtleneck borrowed from Liam, my baby daddy, every day. I was uncomfortable, weepy, and on the verge of completely losing my shit.

My mother had flown in from Arizona and kept talking about how she needed to SEE HER BABY!!! As if I was just a vessel, an uncooperative vessel, keeping her from the baby by design.

Finally, we head to the hospital. Things are not going well, I have been in labor for something close to 24 hours. My mother is a total emotional wreck. I'm not progressing; not responding to labor enhancing drugs.

To make things worse my mom keeps calling Liam by my ex-husband's name. Not once, mind you, but three separate times! Horror of horrors.

"MOM - you have to stop doing that!"

Believe me when I tell you that the last thing you want to hear when you are in your 20th hour of labor is the name of your ex-husband. But she is so nervous she seemingly can't help it.

At last, by c-section, my daughter is delivered. We are all happy, exhausted, and in just a handful of minutes it will be Thanksgiving and my daughter's first full day in this crazy world.

But what to eat for the big meal? I'd given birth in a New York City hospital, which at the time was located in a section of town that was a bit of a culinary wasteland, dotted mostly with Korean delis, bodegas, and fast food. The kind of delis I'm talking about are the small, storefront groceries dominated by a stainless steel salad bar set-up right in the middle.

Underneath fluorescent lights there is always a variation of the same dishes: Caesar salad that looks too dressed, some rice-ball looking things, a melon salad with grapes, honeydew and strawberries. The hot side with sauteed spinach and some coagulated looking oyster-sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, a tray of some deep-fried chicken in a gelatinous corn-syrup sauce, a pan of meatballs. All the scents from the various steam trays mixing over several hours into a kind of perma-stink.

This, my friends, is "center smell." Or at least that is what I always called it. Center smell is a ubiquitous part of New York City, but it is not what I want to eat for Thanksgiving dinner, the afternoon after giving birth, IF the delis are even open on this national holiday. But that's probably the best we can hope for, aside from the hospital cafeteria.

But then Liam remembers -- of course! Les Halles! Yes, Les Halles, the French brasserie on Park Avenue where Anthony Bourdain was famously the chef! It was just blocks away. He dashes off on foot, coming back to the hospital room with take-out boxes of golden potato frites, and turkey roulade stuffed with chestnuts, and pecan pie. Why, they even poured a congratulatory glass of wine for the new father.

This is going to be perfect. We pull that bed-tray-on-wheels thingy over and he starts unpacking the boxes. My mother, though more relaxed now that "her baby" is here, is for some god-only-knows what reason, disapproving and so refuses to eat any of the food.

Lux: Lamps and Lights

Many countries around the world have already banned or are in the process of phasing out traditional incandescent light bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient lighting.

Because these familiar sources of illumination are becoming extinct, the areas of lighting and light design are currently experiencing significant changes.

New technologies such as LEDs and OLEDs are inspiring both designers and manufacturers to develop new forms, functionalities, structures, and constructions.

Lux describes and documents this current evolution in lighting and light design. The book presents an eclectic collection of up-to-the-minute light-related projects, focusing on their impact on areas such as product design, technology, and art.

Because existing lamp forms and silhouettes often serve as the basis for cutting-edge work or are being integrated into new technologies and aesthetics in a playful way, Lux features innovative and surprising ideas for chandeliers and classic table, wall, and hanging lamps.

The book shows how recently developed light sources that radiate less heat can be combined with a far broader spectrum of materials than we have ever seen before.

It also presents examples of experimental installations with light as well as ways in which illumination is being used to enhance an atmosphere, create objects, or structure space.

QHotels has come out top hotel group in the first Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) League Table, making them second out of all hospitality companies ranked in the league and 30th out of over 2000 UK organisations ranked.

QHotels, who also recently received AA Eco Hotel Group of the Year 2011-12 was second only to Center Parcs Limited and beat other hotel groups including Hilton International Hotels, Accor and Marriott Hotels in the table, which was published by the Environment Agency.

The CRC league table measures the performance of more than 2000 UK organisations that fall under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and aims to provide a strong financial and reputational incentive for participants to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

QHotels' Managing Director and chair of its CSR steering group, Michael Purtill said: "This ranking is a superb recognition of our commitment to C02 and energy management.

"As a group, we are very aware of the business benefits and opportunities associated with performance in the area, as the green credentials of venues are increasingly informing the decisions of conference, meetings and events organisers.

"Measures we have introduced to improve our carbon efficiency have included retro fitting low energy lamps, pipe and roof insulation, air conditioning timers, PIR controlled lighting, water flow regulators for showers and digital gas meters that can record consumption every half hour.

Actions to further the group's energy efficiency in 2011 have included: rigorous targeting and monitoring of energy use further training of all maintenance teams on energy management, implementing boiler optimisation controls, increasing recycling, and the launch of a conference carbon offset scheme which allows conference delegates the opportunity to offset the carbon they use during their conference to benefit third world carbon reduction projects.

Cougars and Mustangs

Have tough economic times left your local university in a budget bind? The Green Campus crew at Cal Poly is promoting a simple cure to relieve some of that duress. Their remedy? “Turn ’em out.”

This week, the wandering eye that is Cougars and Mustangs settles its inquisitive gaze on some Earth-loving Cal Poly students―as they reach out to help turn it out.

Throughout November, the environmentally minded Green Campus Program will be raising awareness of electricity use throughout campus.

“Our goal is to teach students to turn out the lights,” Team Manager Ravi Sahai explained. “You wouldn’t think it would make a difference, but we can save a lot of money through these simple acts.”

Walking through the Cal Poly campus at night, strollers can see first hand the many illuminated empty rooms on display. While this may seem like a trivial thing to casual passers-by, the 43.3 million kilowatt hours used, along with the $4.4 million wasted, may not.

“If every light was turned off when the room wasn’t in use, the school would save $200,000,” Sahai said.

The Green Campus Program is comprised of a collection of concerned students whose aim is to spread the gospel of sustainability. Each month the group chooses an area of sustainability and conservation to promote. Other areas of awareness the group has addressed are water conservation and ride-sharing.

To raise awareness when it comes to electricity use, the group initiates various projects on campus, as well as facilitates multiple outreach programs. Using the catch phrase “Turn ’em out,” the group is promoting the occasion via online contests, workplace certifications, and even a video featuring the infamous Mr. Eco rapping for the cause.

Echoing the eco-advice of environmentalist par excellence David Suzuki, Sahai said that rather than looking at the big issues such as pollution and climate change and feeling overwhelmed, it’s much more efficient and effective to take small steps.

“We are teaching people to make small behavioral changes, to know that they don’t have to do big things,” Sahai said.

The group’s website serves as a valuable resource―posting suggestions and tips to help us all become better oriented to all things sustainable. Whether switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs or cleaning light fixtures and lenses to get the best possible light, we find that there’s no step too small in raising eco-awareness.

Solar power to light barangays

A non Government Organizations into alleviating poverty, improving health and promoting environmentally sustainable development is now into presenting a low cost solar lights to about a hundred households in 6 pilot barangays of Ubay town.

According to Virginia Dupa, Ubay information Officer, some 100 household leader residents of Poblacion, Tapon, Fatima, Union, Sinandigan and Tintinan each received Light Emitting Diode (LED) portable solar lights from Path Foundation.

Path Foundation Philippines envisions to improve health and sustainable development in their identified assisted areas in the region.

According to their website, PATH aims to improve and contribute to environmentally sustainable development, particularly in underserved areas of the country.

This, they do by designing and implementing demonstration and research projects and cross-disciplinary initiatives in population, health and natural resource management in collaboration with local government and private sector partners.

At the turn-over ceremony held at Ramon Magsaysay Gymnasium, Mayor Eutiquio M. Bernales heaped praises for PATH especially with the presence of Dr. Joan Castro, PATH Fdn’s Executive Vice President.

“As you go home with the your new solar lights, think of the little savings you get from buying kerosene for your gas lamps, think how your children can study and do their home safely , not anymore fearing of accidental fires while elders can pursue their unfinished works during the day like weaving mats. This is extremely a great amount of blessing you receive today,” Mayor Bernales was quoted.

Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, who was represented in the ceremony by Isabelito Tongco bared that Ubay is one of the five towns in the province who were beneficiaries of the new lighting technology.

According to Dr. Castro, correctly using the solar lights would mean its longer life span.

After a night’s use, hang light outside the window to allow it to recharge and get energy source from the Sun for about 8 hours. This should be enough for another night’s consumption, she said.