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Medical Campus gets charging stations for plug-in cars

on December 12th, 2011%

Sprinkled throughout the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus are 21 electric charging stations for plug-in cars that many are betting will be the wave of the future.

The blue-lettered chrome boxes are being unveiled today with great fanfare even as some wonder when and how often these special parking spots will be used.

"most people think we’re nuts when we start doing this stuff," said Matt Enstice, the Medical Campus’ president and chief executive officer, "but I’m telling you, it’s the right path."

The 240-volt GE DuraStations represent a $300,000 investment, heavily subsidized by federal grants and tax credits. they are sprinkled throughout four parking areas around the campus in hopes that they will see use from top scientists down to regular staff and hospital visitors.

No one expects all these spaces to be occupied in the very near future. Even area auto dealers who rave about fully electric and hybrid vehicles say they’re selling these cars by the handful, not by the hundreds.

Joe Caldarelli, president of Mike Barney Nissan, said his dealership got its first all-electric Nissan Leaf demonstration car five days ago.

"this is the future," he said, ticking off low-maintenance electric trucks, sports cars and luxury sedans in the car manufacturer’s pipeline. "Nissan has promised us that they will have four more totally electric vehicles within 24 months."

But right now, among major car retailers, customers who want to buy plug-in cars are limited to the Leaf, which purports to have a 100-mile range on a single electric charge, and the Chevy Volt hybrid, which has recently had some negative publicity over battery fires that occurred in crash safety tests.

Many current gas/electric hybrid vehicles, like the Prius, cannot be plugged in, though the Prius is being reconceived as a plug-in version next year.

Auto market watchers believe that while consumers are wary of new technology, it won’t be long before the all-electric vehicle catches on. and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, in partnership with AAA and others, will be among the first to capitalize on it.

With federal grants available to encourage electric-car growth, it’s easy to see why the charging-stations project has appeal.

"I think you’re going to be seeing them around plazas, movie theaters and shopping malls," said Jim Basil, president of Joe Basil Chevrolet.

Rich Wilkinson, general manager for the West Herr Chevrolet dealership in Orchard Park, agreed. "We believe that there will be a greater need for these types of charging stations in our area because of the technology and commitment by the manufacturers to making these vehicles more mainstream," he said.

The Medical Campus appears to offer the highest concentration of charging stations in the state, with so many of them clustered within a few blocks.

The campus qualified for $150,000 in federal grants administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. In addition, AAA was able to purchase the charging stations, which it is leasing to the campus with help from tax credits that the nonprofit campus is ineligible to receive.

"We’re one of the few clubs that have gone to this extent to start moving ahead with this technology," said Wally Smith, vice president of AAA of Western and Central New York.

Only AAA of Southern California and AAA South, based in Florida, have done as much to make electric-vehicle charging stations available to the public, he said. AAA’s area Car Care plus locations also have new charging stations.

Mark McGovern, project manager for the Medical Campus, said the charging station project took only five months from "paper napkin sketch" to full-scale reality.

He and Enstice said they expect the charging stations to appeal to the Medical Campus’ scientists, researchers and doctors who have higher incomes and see the environmental value of owning electric vehicles.

McGovern also said he sees the charging stations indirectly contributing to more employees using public transportation at a time when parking is growing increasingly limited as the Medical Campus expands.

He explained that the campus may invest in a small fleet of electric vehicles that would provide employees who use public transportation "a guaranteed ride home" if there’s an unforeseen circumstance that requires a worker to borrow a car.

The medical campus will offer the charging stations’ electricity for free until it can better assess demand for the stations.

"We’re trying to be leaders in this area and have this area thought of as as cutting edge community when it comes to energy and innovation," Enstice said. "We know we can do this stuff. We just need to start doing it."

Mine’s backers turn out in force

on December 10th, 2011%

Opponents of the Rosemont mine could have been the ArizonaWildcats football team Saturday, given the thrashing they took atthe first public meeting on the mine’s environmental report.

At the first of seven or maybe eight such meetings on the hotlycontested Rosemont draft environmental impact statement, asprinkling of a half-dozen or so voices against the mine weredrowned out by a chorus of nearly 50 speakers in favor. Thedisparity was the product of a Rosemont Copper organizing effortthat far outstripped that of the leading opposition group. Save theScenic Santa Ritas has spent five years fighting the mineproject.

At a meeting on Tucson’s far east side that drew about 300people, supporters spoke of Arizona’s mining heritage and the21st-century technologies Rosemont Copper says it will use. Theytalked about the widespread use of copper in hybrid cars and solarpanels, the hard work they credited the Forest Service with doingon the environmental statement, and how U.S. mining rules are farstronger than those in foreign countries where copper is mined.above all, they talked about jobs, jobs and more jobs.

“Yes to jobs” and “Yes to copper” were written on green paperbadges worn by many of the supporters at the Palo Verde High Schoolhearing. the badges were just part of Rosemont Copper’s organizingeffort. the company also printed up talking points for supportersto speak from: “Start by introducing yourself – say where you live,maybe how long you have lived in the area and any other informationthat ties you to the community.” Rosemont officials invitedsupporters by mail, and then gathered them before the meeting at alocal hotel to prep them.

“We need copper. we need jobs. the Rosemont company has workeddiligently with all the agencies to try to mitigate all the impactsof the mine,” said supporter Warren Hatcher of Marana, whodescribed himself as an enthusiastic hiker and camper. “Copper isthe only safe material for electricity. as we go to hybrids we needeven more copper than in the past.

“We are all aware of the unfortunate people suffering from oureconomic downturn. this will be a great boon to the economyhere.”

What kind of Tucson will we have if the economy continues todeteriorate and the younger generation leaves, added John McCallum,a 60-year Tucson resident and Rosemont supporter.

“I love and want to protect the beauty of the mountains anddesert. but I feel the number one thing is jobs. without it, youhave death, depression and decay. without revenue, the quality oflife suffers. fire and local services are cut back. School systemsdeteriorate. Families suffer. two of my children had to leave thestate. One had her house foreclosed due to her employerdownsizing.”

Lawrence Dykers, a mining engineer who said he lives on areclaimed mine dump in Marana, recalled that he served on a numberof government committees and subcommittees dealing with miningregulations going back to 1961. the regulations are valuable toassure that everyone can live next to a mine without beingpoisoned, he said.

But, “by the same token, the same regulations have beensabotaged, and taken into a use not intended – to stop progress atany cost,” Dykers said. “We would not have the things we have todaywithout the mineral industry to provide raw materials.”

One of the few speakers against the mine was Robert Binnie, abiochemist and researcher who has lived in the Tucson area for mostof the past 50 years. he said that instead of providing 20 years ofsteady jobs, the mine’s employment is likely to be up and down,causing workers to buy homes, get laid off and start over.

“If you don’t believe me, go take a look at San Manuel, wherethe mine there is played out and the town is gone,” Binnie said.”What they say is reclaimed looks like a wasteland because it is .. . To hear some speakers, you think this is a nonprofit companycoming here to bring jobs and money when in fact this is afor-profit company that will take resources and money out of thecountry.”

More typical was Bill Assenmacher, president and CEO of CaidIndustries, who noted that his company is hiring welders andmachinists, many of them for mining-related work. he said he plansto make Rosemont one of his best customers.

“We do want Rosemont to follow all the rules. we want to see theprocess moving on diligently. if someone wants to come to yourcommunity and bring in jobs – and spend a billion dollars, why dowe throw roadblocks at them?” Assenmacher said.

Virtually absent from the testimony was any mention of strengthsor weaknesses of the environmental impact statement – the publicmeeting’s purpose. quick to point that out was Gayle Hartmann,president of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, who dismissed Saturday’ssession as “a pep rally.”

She acknowledged that her group had done a less-than-stellar jobof organizing opponents, and said that she herself was late to themeeting due to a personal commitment. but she said this meetingreminded her of an early public meeting on the mine in 2008 whenRosemont also hustled to get supporters to testify in favor of themine.

“People were misled about this mine – there will only be a smallnumber of jobs,” Hartmann said. the company has estimated 400 to450 jobs during operation plus 2,100 construction jobs. she alsopredicted the country will be well past its current economic slumpby the time Rosemont opens, if it does.

Rosemont President Rod Pace countered that the opponents heldworkshops recently to teach people how to effectively comment onthe draft. the mining company’s tactic this time was to send outletters to people on a “huge” supporter list to invite them to themeeting, then meet with them ahead of time at the Radisson Hotel,6555 E. Speedway, “to talk to them a little bit, to tell the ForestService what they feel either way.

“I’m astonished at how many people came out to support Rosemontand that there were so few opponents,” Pace said.

Contact reporter Tony Davis at tdavis@azstarnet.com or806-7746.

Opposites Attract: Solar Powered Oil Wells – Energy Digital

on December 9th, 2011%

Heavy crude oil poses both a challenge and opportunity for the economics of petroleum development. Although there is more than twice as much heavy oil on the planet than conventional light crude oil, it is expensive and difficult to get out of the ground.

the traditional route of extracting heavy oil requires the purchase of expensive, natural gas to generate steam used to force oil to the surface of reservoirs. the operational costs of this process make it difficult for smaller companies to make a dent in the global market, and virtually impossible for other oil-rich parts of the world lacking the resources altogether.

in an oxymoronic pairing, GlassPoint Solar has developed a revolutionary oil recovery process that uses solar energy over natural gas to extract crude from the ground more efficiently. Called solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the system is relatively simple and easy to operate. Lightweight, 20-foot mirrors reflect light from the inside of a glasshouse onto water pipes that generate and inject steam into the wells.

GlassPoint Solar Technology:

in a speech at GlassPoint's premier 21Z Project Commissioning, US Congressman Kevin McCarthy acknowledged the odd and extraordinary benefits of solar and oil, working together. "As we bridge this gap to the next phase of energy, you cannot punish one energy for the benefit of another. the only way we're going to be able to get there is all of the above,” he said. “you can have a next generation enhancing a current generation."

according to GlassPoint Chief Executive Rod MacGregor, roughly 60 percent of the cost of operating a heavy oil field is from purchasing natural gas, while using solar to extract oil produces heat at half the price of burning natural gas. Additionally, making it cheaper to extract the oil means more of it can economically be pumped out and sold.

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"we are the first and only [company] that can produce heat at a lower cost than heat produced by burning natural gas," MacGregor told AOL in an interview earlier this year. "the amount of gas used worldwide for EOR is immense, [while] most heavy oil producing regions are also blessed with great sunshine. Steam for oil recovery is our whole business and we do it at a lower price than current methods."

With a plentiful supply of heavy crude oil and sunlight, some of America's oldest oil fields will be revitalized by utilizing GlassPoint's technology. many of California's heavy oil wells are no longer under production, yet more than half of the oil that was originally there still remains, with more under the ground in the whole US than in the entire oil reserve in Saudi Arabia. With continued unrest in the Middle East, that kind of predictability of domestic production is vital, adds Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association at the 21Z Commissioning.

Importing crude oil means exporting wealth, jobs and taxes, but reopening heavy oil fields operated by solar power will lead to an increase in jobs and profits on the domestic front. Solar EOR is also a viable solution for other parts of the world where natural gas is either too expensive or not readily available.

After GlassPoint's first commercial solar EOR project launched in February, Berry Petroleum can now extract heavier oil from its more a matured oil field in McKittrick, Calif. soon to follow, GlassPoint won a contract to build a massive 7 MW solar EOR system for a national oil company in Oman, with more to come in 2012.

“Much of the world’s heavy oil is located in the Persian Gulf region, which has abundant sunshine,” Syham Bentouati, Corporate Technology Adviser for Petroleum Development Oman, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “in these locations, switching to solar saves gas for higher value applications like industrial development and export as LNG.”

GlassPoint may have been the pioneer of solar EOR this year, but others are quickly hopping onto the idea. BrightSource Energy recently launched the world's largest solar EOR project under Chevron in Coaling, Calif., and is expected to be finished this year. BrightSource claims that its plants cost less to build and operate more efficiently than other solar thermal plants. the company is actively developing over 4.2 GW of solar power, which will be enough to generate 1.5 million homes in upcoming years.

BrightSource Technology:

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Travel Gear Tech Treasures [2011 Cool Yule Tools]

on December 9th, 2011%

One thing that has remained constant over the years is that we still like to travel. Whether it’s by plane, train or automobile, we’re always on the go. they say that the journey is more important than the destination, so we feel that if you have to make the journey, at least use some devices and gadgets that can make you more productive, comfortable or informed during the trip. Here are our favorite gift ideas for the road warrior on your list:

Watch a slideshow version of some of these products.

Products reviewed in this categoryGo LIVE 2535 M GPS unit, by TomTomOmni-Heat Thermal Electric Jacket, by ColumbiaPowerbag backpack, by PowerbagWhirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse and Mouse Pad Travel Pouch, by SmartfishUSB Dual Mobile Charging Hub, by QmadixTruConnect Mobile Broadband service, by TruConnect MobileQumi Q2-W HD Pocket Projector, by VivitekSHOWWX+ Laser Pico Projector, by MicrovisionVia 1535 GPS unit, by TomTomJoos Orange portable solar charger, by Solar ComponentsGuide 10 plus Mobile Kit (solar charging), by GoalZeroSteamer Beverage Heater, by GoalZero

Go LIVE 2535 M GPS unit, by TomTomWith GPS now appearing on practically every portable device (smartphones, tablets, etc.) or being built directly into cars themselves, the makers of stand-alone GPS units need to make sure they have more and more features to make them appealing. in the case of TomTom, this means adding things like Internet access (to search for places or services depending on your position), live traffic updates, voice commands and Bluetooth speaker capabilities for your smartphone.

The Go Live 2535 M unit we tried from TomTom included all of these features – the most appealing is the HD Traffic Service, which delivers traffic updates to your device every two minutes, to help the user get around traffic jams and other commuter nightmare scenarios. The updates are delivered to the unit when the car charger cable is attached, and in my tests it did a really accurate job of telling me where the traffic jam was going to occur, and approximately how long it would take me to get through it. in cases where an alternate route would provide a faster trip, the system can re-route you automatically (in case you ever wondered if getting off the exit would be faster or not, now the TomTom can tell you).

Your appreciation of this feature will depend on many things – how often do you travel in bad traffic situations, the availability of alternate routes that would help you, and the accuracy of the traffic information (sometimes, traffic data information is very slow and unreliable). in my case, there usually isn’t a better alternate route on my commute, at least one that speeds up the trip, unless the traffic jam is a major one. But for longer trips or when going to places where you might not know the side roads, this is an interesting option.

The voice command feature was also fun to try – instead of awkwardly trying to type in an address or location where you’d like to navigate, you can use your voice – issuing commands like “take me home” or “take me to an address”, and then dictating the address and city – again, in my tests, the unit was quite accurate as long as I didn’t have a stereo blasting or kids blabbing in the back seat.

Other features of this unit include Google Local Search, a fuel price service, latest weather conditions, advanced lane guidance (always helpful on long trips, the system lets you know what lane is best so you don’t have to cross four lanes to get to your exit) and street name pronunciations. some of these services are wrapped up in the company’s LIVE services, which costs $59.95 per year, and are only available in the U.S. TomTom also has a wide variety of voices that you can program into the device, including Simpsons characters (Homer and mr. Burns, particularly are funny), as well as KITT from Knight Rider, and some Star Wars characters (Darth Vader, especially). those cost about $13 extra and can be downloaded from TomTom’s web site.

One final note – the unit’s Click & Lock Mount was amazingly easy to connect – no longer do you have to worry about whether the mount is going to fall off during your trip – the magnetic mount makes it easy to put the unit on the mount, and the suction-cup part screws in and clicks to lock. Yay!

This is a premium GPS unit, so I’d recommend this for people who travel to new destinations on a daily basis, or need the benefits of the live traffic updates – for casual GPS users, I’d recommend other versions of TomTom’s navigation devices.

Cool Yule rating: 5 starsPrice: $299.95Reviewed by Keith Shaw

Omni-Heat Thermal Electric Jacket, by ColumbiaWhen this jacket first came in to be reviewed, they had to let me do the review, because I was hugging it with a determination that wouldn’t quit. I promised to write love sonnets about this jacket. Of course, since then, I have come to my senses and remembered that I’m not a poet. But I am always cold, and the thought of a heated jacket is simply a dream. I’m that girl in the office who wears a jacket inside (year round) because the office feels like a freezer (I don’t complain, I know I’m the only cold person). so of course, I’m sure it seems outlandish that I also enjoy winter sports. I love to ski, but I’m always so cold that I tend to only ski in the spring, or I stick foot warmers to the inside of my shirt to warm up my back. That is, until I met this jacket! It HEATS itself! how awesome is that?

First off, even without its awesome powers of heating itself, this jacket is so soft and lux. The shell is treated to resist stains and light rain (an awesome bonus if you fall a few times while skiing down a mountain). plus, the lining is made from Columbia’s Omni-heat insulation and reflective technologies. Basically, the lining reflects your own body heat and keeps you extra cozy. other features about the jacket include a waterproof zipper, five pockets (including an “interior security pocket,”) and under arm venting to cool you down.

Now, to the good stuff! It heats itself! The jacket has two removable power packs that take approximately six hours to charge. There are three heat settings: Setting 1 for initial warm up and extreme cold, heats to 122°F, battery will last for three hours at this setting; Setting 2 for moderately cold weather, heats to 104°F, battery will last for four hours at this setting; Setting 3 for mildly cold weather, heats to 95°F, battery will last for six hours at this setting. Oh, and you can get a car charger for it.

My only caution is that you make sure the fit is correct. This jacket was large for me and I found it awkward because the batteries banged loose against my hips. The correct fit would be up against my lower ribs. otherwise, the jacket is sweet, luxurious, and intelligent. If you love being outdoors in the winter but don’t like being cold, check out this jacket. I may not be writing love sonnets for the jacket, but I’m certainly singing its praises. I love it.

Cool Yule rating: 5 starsPrice: $850Reviewed by Jennifer Finn

Powerbag backpack, by PowerbagThis backpack includes a 600mAh battery tucked inside a pocket that can recharge a whole variety of devices, including smartphones, MP3 players, GPS units, portable game systems, e-readers and even tablets. Inside some of the pockets are cable connectors for some of these devices (such as an Apple connector and mini/micro USB), and an additional USB port on the battery pack lets you connect one of your own USB cables for charging additional devices.

You can recharge the battery by connecting an included power cable to the bag itself to recharge, or you can remove the battery and charge it separately. The battery pack does provide some additional weight, but it’s worth it to have the additional battery capability in case of emergencies. The backpack has enough space to hold a 15-inch notebook and has additional pockets for other things that you may want to carry along with you. other styles are available, including a business class pack with more battery power, and a deluxe version that includes space for 16-inch notebooks. There are also slings and roller-bag styles available at the company’s web site.

If you are looking for a new backpack, it’s worth the additional weight to have something that can recharge your phone, music player or other devices whenever you find yourself running low on juice.

Cool Yule rating: 5 starsPrice: $139.99Reviewed by Keith Shaw

Cocoon 13-inch Sleeve2 for MacBook/MacBook Pro and iPad, by Cocoon Cocoon’s compact black computer carrying case features two zippered pouches, one for an Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro and the other for an iPad. But since I don’t own a tablet, I settled for testing out the product with my 13-inch work-supplied Macbook Pro, which has already gotten scuffed up a bit jostling around in my old Dell laptop case.

The Cocoon case features a nice adjustable strap for carrying the bag over my shoulder (though I always get a little nervous with plastic rather than metal clasps). The company boasts of its “DEFLEXION” shock absorbing material, which translates into a thin but seemingly sturdy enough cushion around the main pockets. The case can also be strapped onto a rollaway luggage system, though I haven’t tried this.

Tucked inside is a stiff little organizer covered with overlapping stretchy and rubberized straps for keeping wires, adapters and such under control. While I can’t picture myself ever taking advantage of it, and I haven’t yet, it’s probably a good idea for the very organized. The product features a limited one-year warranty. I personally can’t imagine paying $70 for a computer bag, but it’s a solid product.

Cool Yule rating: 4 starsPrice: $70Reviewed by Bob Brown

Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse and Mouse Pad Travel Pouch, by Smartfish TechnologiesThis mouse has been on my desktop and my “main mouse” ever since I opened it up and started using it, despite its odd design. The USB wireless mouse is designed for ergonomic comfort – instead of a solid base, the mouse is placed on top of a swivel-style base. This configuration lets users move their wrist to the left or right when resting or controlling the mouse. This creates a more comfortable feel, and can help reduce the chance of a repetitive stress injury.

Powered by two AAA batteries, the USB dongle/receiver can be stored inside the battery compartment, and there’s an on/off switch that can conserve battery life (although I generally forget to turn off the mouse). You have a choice of six colors, and part of the money that Smartfish receives from its products go to the Hospital for Special Surgery Rehabilitation Education Fund in new York.

The Travel pouch is a nice accessory to add if you want to travel a lot with the mouse, the circular pouch can be used as a mouse pad, and then it zips up into a half circle-sized mouse holder (it looks like a calzone when zipped up). A strap on the outside has a snap on it, which lets you attach the enclosed pouch onto a backpack or other item if you desire, plus there’s enough space if you want to store an additional item, like a cell phone or your keys.

Cool Yule rating: 5 starsPrice: $50 for the mouse, $15 for the travel pouchReviewed by Keith Shaw

USB Dual Mobile Charging Hub, by Qmadix as we acquire more and more i-devices and the like, recharging them while in the car is getting to be more of a hassle. while our mini-van has two vehicle charging ports (we used to call them cigarette lighter adapters), the addition of keeping a GPS unit charged means we’re usually left to one port for the smartphone. When my wife wants to charge her phone on a long trip, we usually have to swap adapters.

So I was thrilled to receive this unit from Qmadix, which uses one of the vehicle charging ports, yet provides two USB slots that can charge two devices. so I can have my iPhone recharging while she recharges her iPod nano or her own smartphone. Yay!

The package comes with one Apple connector cable with the USB port; if you want to have a second device charging, you need to bring your own (or get another cable). But still, it’s nice to have one additional device that we can charge during long trips in the van.

Cool Yule rating: 5 starsPrice: $24.99Reviewed by Keith Shaw

TruConnect Mobile Broadband service, by TruConnect MobileMobile broadband service (3G or 4G) is great for those road warriors who travel at least once or more per month – paying $50 for almost anywhere, anytime access is definitely worth it for those always on-the-go members of your staff or family. But if you travel less, using these services seems like a waste of money. so the infrequent traveler ends up spending lots of money on things like hotel in-room broadband, which can cost up to $20 per night in cases.

TruConnect Mobile has an alternative option. for $4.99 per month, plus 3.9 cents a megabyte, you can get pay-as-you-go mobile broadband plan on a 3G network with the same kind of gear (an $80 Novatel Wireless Mi-Fi unit or $60 USB dongle) that the other services provide. TrueConnect works over the Sprint 3G network, so you should be able to find coverage in all of the major cities across the U.S.

The pay-as-you-go plan is a lot like similar plans for cell phones – you pre-pay the account with at least $10, and then the service deducts the monthly cost and any megabyte usage from there. You can monitor your usage on the TruConnect web site, and the service will email you when it “tops off” your plan with another $10.

The service truly enables infrequent travelers with the convenience of mobile broadband without the overhead of higher monthly costs for service they’re not using. Users still need to track their usage so they don’t go overboard on the data service (It’s still $3.90 per gigabyte), but if you think that’s going to happen you can then stop using this service and move to a plan that offers more data.

Cool Yule rating: 4 starsPrice: $4.99 per month plus 3.9 cents per megabyte; Mi-Fi card/USB dongle cost extra.Reviewed by Keith Shaw

Qumi Q2-W HD Pocket Projector, by VivitekSmall, very portable video projectors certainly have their applications, but I have to confess that while I’ve tried many of them, none have really been good enough that I’d want to use them all the time. There’s a real challenge in building something that’s small, light, and rugged, but with the resolution, brightness, and flexibility to either make a good impression or at least enjoy the show.

That’s why I was very pleased to have the opportunity to try Vivitek’s Qumi Q2, from a well-respected manufacturer of projectors. The Qumi is very small, although a little larger than pocket-sized, and has native 720p (1280×800) resolution. It’s based on DLP technology, which I really like in projectors, and is rated at 300 lumens with a contrast ratio of 2500:1, which, while not exactly home-theater territory, is pretty good. The light source is an LED, which means long life and ruggedness. Connectivity options should fit almost every need; the unit has a mini-HDMI input, but also includes adapter cables for regular HDMI and VGA, and a composite video adapter is also available. The Q2 is not as flexible as many projectors with respect to the color adjustments found on more theater-centric projectors, but for on-the-go and casual use it should be just fine.

A little time with the on-screen configuration menus (especially for keystone) will be required to get an optimal image. Keeping in mind that the maximum distance between projector and screen is three meters, smaller images obviously work best. I tried the Qumi with a MacBook Air, using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, and everything worked just fine. Brightness with a commercial screen is OK at shorter ranges, especially in a darker setting. There are a good number of other features, and the only real knock I came up with is that the internal cooling fan can be loud – but, overall, this is a clever and inexpensive little projector that should serve portable needs quite nicely.

Cool Yule rating: 4 starsPrice: $499 (Amazon)Reviewed by C.J. Mathias

SHOWWX+ Laser Pico Projector, by MicrovisionHighly portable micro-projectors have an obvious appeal, but most have been problematic (or even disappointing) to date due to very limited brightness, image size (related to brightness, of course, but also limited resolution), and the need for both a decent place to set the projector while having access to a suitable projection surface. But it’s often best to ignore the specs here and just consider the application – if the audience (albeit a small audience) is happy, then that’s all that matters.

MicroVision attracted my attention with its tiny (about the size of a typical handset!) rechargeable-battery-powered SHOWWX+ with the following specs: 50% brighter, and images up to 100 inches. That is entering home theater territory. The pocket-sized projector is optimized to work with Apple’s portable devices, but it does include a composite video adapter and a mini-HDMI cable. A VGA adapter is sold separately.

The projector has a widescreen native resolution of 848 by 480 pixels. Autofocus is standard (in fact, there’s no manual focus at all!), and setup was a breeze – you just charge the battery, connect to a video source and power it on. Configuration options are minimal, and you probably won’t need to change them anyway. Techies will be impressed that the SHOWWX+ uses a proprietary PicoP MEMS laser module that is unique to this product – a laser is, in fact, the light source.

But the joy, unfortunately, ends there. Image brightness and quality are only OK. Very large images, even on a professional screen, are, as I expected, dim. I think this product might still be good for impromptu presentations assuming the availability of a suitable projection surface, but beware the VGA cable – it’s pretty stiff, and it’s consequently difficult in some cases to get the projector, which, again, is very tiny and light in weight, to lay flat. still, it’s amazing something like this can be built at all.

Bottom line: for gadget freaks and insuppressible presenters only.

Cool Yule rating: 3 starsPrice: $319 (direct)Reviewed by C.J. Mathias

VIA 1535 GPS unit, by TomTomIn this unit, TomTom adds live traffic reports to its already popular route navigation system. Via calculates your fastest initial route, taking into account congestion. in addition, Via adjusts your route in real time in order to avoid accidents or traffic jams that pop up (Traffic information is provided by the Traffic Message Channel).

Over several weeks of testing, I found that the traffic information adds a valuable component to the TomTom’s basic functionality. But, as with every device, there are caveats.

When I drive to work in the morning, I get to the end of my street and I can go left toward the main highway, which is about a 30-mile drive and takes about 30 to 40 minutes, or I can turn right and take the back roads, which is about a 16-mile drive that also takes about 30 to 40 minutes.

Some days, I just feel like getting on the Massachusetts Turnpike and doing the more boring, but easier drive. some days, I feel like taking the scenic route, past horse stables in Medway and a strange little farm in Natick that has llamas.

The problem with TomTom is that it takes several minutes for the system to find the GPS signal and calibrate the route. There were days when I started TomTom up in my driveway, requested the fastest route to work, backed out of the driveway, drove to the end of the street, turned left toward the highway, drove for a mile or so and then had TomTom inform me that it would take me an hour to get to work the way I was headed because of a big traffic jam. so I had to take a U-Turn.

Other than the timing issue, the TomTom Via was extremely useful. The 5-inch display is clear and bright. Entering data is easy via the touch screen, plus there’s a voice recognition system. The routes are displayed nicely and there’s a handy bar that runs up the right side of the screen that tells you where the delays are, with flags of varying colors that tell you how long the delay is expected to be. You don’t want to see a red flag displaying double digits.

With Via’s real-time traffic information, you feel like you’ll never blindly drive into a traffic jam, which is a great thing.

Cool Yule rating: 4 starsPrice: $168.99 (Amazon)Reviewed by Neal Weinberg

Joos Orange portable solar charger, by Solar ComponentsThe Joos portable solar charger definitely has some good things going for it. This particular model is the Orange. just give it some sun and it will charge your smartphones, portable game systems, i-devices, and more relatively quickly. I tested it with both the iPhone and the iPad. I was impressed by how well they recharged when on direct solar charging. You can also charge your devices from the built-in storage battery after the sun goes down.

I found that charging from the battery was a bit slower, but that shouldn’t deter you from getting this. It will work well enough if you need to charge your phone at night and don’t have any other power source.

The unit comes with most of the adapters you will need for your devices. It also comes with a USB cord so you can charge the storage battery from a laptop. The USB connector also lets you monitor the Joos using software on your PC or Mac. not a big bonus for me. If I’m going to use my laptop’s power to charge something, it’s going to be one of my phones or my iPad. This would only come in handy if you just wanted to charge it up as a backup battery, and unless it’s raining you can do that in a window.

Interestingly, the Joos’ greatest strength may also be its greatest weakness – its sturdiness. I have no doubt the Joos could handle a rough trip out into the outback and come back working fine. The downside is that it’s too heavy for someone out backpacking. At 1.5 pounds, it takes up weight that would be better used for food and water, or even a change of clothes.

Overall, this is a handy device to have in an emergency, or to save some electricity if you have a nice sunny window in your office.

Cool Yule rating: 4 starsPrice $149Reviewed by Tom Lupien

Guide 10 plus Mobile Kit, by GoalZero what a fun gift for the adventurer in your life! This portable solar panel could fit in the pockets of a pair of cargo pants. It lets you charge small devices, including a cell phone, while away from typical power outlets. It also comes with a four-pack of AA batteries and the charger. The battery charger even has a small (VERY small) flashlight on it. I don’t think I would use it to wander the woods at night, but it would help you find a battery that rolled away from you while trying to place it into the battery charger.

Personally, I found that the solar panel had to be in direct sunlight – mild shade didn’t help us much in generating enough power. however, as long as most of your camping trip is sunny, you wouldn’t have to be without your technology; bring along your phone, your camera, and anything else you can think of that would either use AA batteries or a USB port.

Cool Yule rating: 4 starsPrice: $129.95Reviewed by Jennifer Finn

Steamer Beverage Heater, by GoalZeroIf you’re looking for a practical, low-cost java-based device, try the GoalZero Steamer Beverage Heater. The silver and green thermos has a 12-volt car adapter so you can keep your java warm all the way to work. If you’re stuck in a very long commute (or if you get stuck in traffic), having warm coffee is a blessing.

GoalZero is a company that specializes in solar-powered devices, so you can also re-charge the mobile mug with a GoalZero power pack. The company claims the insulated thermos plus plug-in heater will keep beverages up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. At this price, it’s a cute stocking stuffer idea for your favorite java junkie or commuter.

Cool Yule rating: 3 starsPrice: $19.99Reviewed by Neal Weinberg

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on December 5th, 2011%

Photos by Michelle LaCourciere

In six remote locations in Haiti, power lines are dead and dilapidated, yet light bulbs are brightening homes, churches, and faces. Haitian families laugh—or cry—as they turn on new electric lights for the first time, and their neighbors peek into their huts to see where the glow is coming from: Instead of a foul-smelling kerosene lamp that poses a fire hazard, they see a portable, rechargeable battery kit wired to two 4-watt LED bulbs. a total of 240 households are renting the kits by the month, and now all their neighbors want one, too.

the battery kits come from a California nonprofit called Sirona Cares Foundation. but rather than giving charity handouts, Sirona Cares is offering the battery kits as a business would, charging customers what they would otherwise pay for such things as kerosene, candles, and matches (about $6.70 a month). In the process the organization is improving Haitians’ lives and creating local businesses—all with the help of native pastors who already know their people’s needs.

Manufacture Your Own Home created

on December 4th, 2011%

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SolarStrong proceeds without federal help

on December 4th, 2011%

SAN MATEO, Calif., Dec. 2 (UPI) — SolarCity’s $1 billion plan to install solar panels on privatized U.S. military communities across the nation is moving forward with a loan from Bank of America Merrill Lynch even though it wasn’t granted a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The bank is one of the original lenders for a $344 million loan for the SolarStrong project that was on track to be guaranteed by the Energy Department.

But SolarCity, which has headquarters in San Mateo, Calif., said Sept. 23 that it wasn’t able to finalize the deal to meet the Energy Department’s Sept. 30 loan guarantee program deadline. the company attributed the delay to more stringent requirements in the wake of the collapse of solar panel company Solyndra, which had received a $535 million loan guarantee.

“We think this is another huge leap forward for distributed solar generation,” said Jonathan Plowe, Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s head of new energy and infrastructure solutions, Forbes reports.

“The reason is that we have created a financing model that can make solar affordable on a huge scale without the guarantee of a loan from the federal government.”

As a result of the Department of Energy’s scrapping SolarCity’s loan guarantee application, the SolarStrong project was downsized to 120,000 residential photovoltaic rooftop systems from the original plan of as many as 160,000 systems, with 300 megawatts of generating capacity instead of 371 megawatts.

SolarStrong will still benefit from a 30 percent federal tax subsidy that will last until 2016.

“BofA Merrill never wavered when the loan guarantee wasn’t finalized and worked with us to create a financing structure that works without it,” said SolarCity Chief Executive Officer Lyndon Rive.

The SolarStrong deal follows Bank of America’s financing of NRG Energy’s Project Amp, a 733-megawatt project to install solar panels on commercial buildings in 28 states.

“We had developed a platform we used for Project Amp,” said Plowe. “We had the documentation ready to go and the capital structure that was an optimal blend of debt and equity.”

SolarCity has completed about 17,000 installations not affiliated with the SolarStrong plan.

“SolarStrong makes affordable clean energy available on a much greater scale. This is uncharted territory for residential solar,” Rive said. “The fact that SolarStrong can move forward without a federal loan guarantee is a clear indication that long-term incentives such as the investment tax credit are working.”

SolarCity said it expects the project to create thousands of full-time and temporary jobs and it hopes to hire U.S. veterans and military family members to fill the positions.

Storage Facilities Making the World Greener – News Watch

on December 3rd, 2011%

Self-storage is often seen as consumerism gone wild: we’ve accumulated so much stuff that we now have to rent extra space to store it. Arguably, a bigger problem is that we buy disposable, single-use items and just toss them out.

Many people choose to use storage while downsizing their living space, or to save items for friends and family to use, which is more green than repeatedly buying disposable items to cycle through and toss out.

Storage facilities are getting into the green game to make their facilities more appealing to consumers, save energy and save money.

A-American Storage in Hawaii signed a conservation agreement with the Hawaiian Island Land Trust, pledging that they would not develop on the land. the agreement helped three small ranchers in the area maintain their businesses.

Some enterprising storage owners are repurposing old warehouses and renovating them to become storage facilities. Some are built with sustainable materials to meet LEED standards.

Safe & Secure Self Storage in Coconut Creek, Florida, the 2010 Outstanding Green Facility award winner, is LEED certified: the facility uses little electricity and produces as little waste as possible. Safe & Secure uses green cleaning methods and natural pest control, and its grounds are landscaped for water conservation.

While climate-controlled facilities are ideal for patrons who want to protect furniture and other delicate items, many owners are turning to seasonal climate control instead: it doesn’t make sense to cool a unit in winter, so renters can sign up for seasonal agreements and help conserve energy.

The layout of storage facilities makes them ideal for solar energy panels. Green Warrior, a company that specializes in solar panels for mini storage, points out that rooftop solar power makes sense in the dense structure of a storage facility, where units are tightly packed and buildings are simple. (See an example at Cedar Storage in Utah.)

Green Warrior also suggests installing carports on large storage parking lots – the carport roofs make a good space for additional solar panels.

Most storage facilities already use a minimal amount of energy, and installing solar panels could make them entirely self-sufficient. Some solar-enabled sites generate enough surplus power to sell it back to their local energy company. the cost to the consumer to rent at a solar-powered facility is usually the same as a standard facility; if owners offered discounts to renters who used solar-powered units, it’d be win-win.

Secure Self Storage in Delaware – which already has one facility running entirely on solar power – intends to install a green roof (vegetation growing on a roof can provide insulation and reduce water runoff from the rooftop), and is looking into wind turbines for facilities located near bodies of water, like one of its facilities on Coney Island.

Combining wind turbines with solar power might be the next step for facilities looking to get off the grid and offer a more earth-friendly service to their customers.

China announces trade probe of US renewable energy policy, adding to rising disputes

on December 3rd, 2011%

BEIJING, China – China’s government announced a trade probe Friday of whether U.S. support for renewable energy companies improperly hurts foreign suppliers, adding to tensions over an industry seen as an important source of jobs and economic growth.

The announcement comes after Washington said Nov. 9 it would investigate whether Beijing is inappropriately subsidizing its own makers of solar panels, allowing them to flood the U.S. market with low-priced products and hurt American competitors.

“The Commerce Ministry has begun an investigation into whether U.S. support policies and subsidy measures for renewable energy industries promote trade barriers,” the ministry said on its website.

The ministry said it was acting on a complaint by Chinese manufacturers.

Trade tensions over renewable energy are especially sensitive at a time when the United States and other Western economies want to boost technology exports to revive economic growth and cut high unemployment.

The United States and China are the two biggest markets for solar, wind and other renewable energy technology. both governments are promoting their own suppliers in hopes of generating higher-paid technology jobs.

China’s trade probe will cover wind, solar, hydro and other renewable energy policies and include six projects in Washington, Massachusetts, Ohio, new Jersey and California, the Commerce Ministry said.

Business groups complain that Beijing appears to be trying to limit foreign access to its fast-growing renewable energy market with proposals to limit ownership or require companies to transfer technology to Chinese partners.

The U.S. commerce secretary, John Bryson, said Chinese officials told him the country is expected to invest $1.7 trillion over the next five years in renewable energy and other emerging industries.

Chinese Ministry of Commerce (in Chinese): mofcom.gov.cn

Home Solar Power Systems-Making You Independent of the Power Companies

on December 2nd, 2011%

Article by Joseph.solar

Envision a power supply noteworthy enough, relative to MIT’s newsletter Powering the globe: Substance problems in solar panel technology use, the total volume of its power consumed in the Earth’s land masses, oceanic masses, and surroundings in just a hour is much more the entire of individual energy intake for every among 2002. that power will come through heating and light, even so the usage of home solar power systems signifies that common house owners is now able to put it back to electrical power.

The main issue concerning home solar power systems, quite simply, is because is able to keep making electric power considering that sunshine is glowing. the solar panels utilized in many home solar powered energy systems are organized over a solar power. the kind of solar power utilized in home solar systems depends on the physical region through which these units are put in. Mentally focusing solar hobbyists are the ones which have panels tilted such they absorb an optimum level of sunlight. Non-concentrating solar collectors can be employed in locations that there isn’t the maximum amount of sunlight, ingesting the sun’s power coming from each immediate reflecting angle. a screen system enabled you to supply equally residence heating and electricity.

Solar energy panels have actually been recently utilized to heat residence private pools! Why after which, haven’t they been extensively followed on the globe where climatic change, polluting the surroundings, and also rising fossil fuel expenses are such key worries? the original trouble with solar power panels could possibly be that this level of power they can acquire is proportional about the volume of sun rays they obtain. Sun rays aren’t offered with year ’round. one more problem is the belief that however the expense of standard fuels has escalated greatly before ten years; they might be nevertheless less costly when compared to power made of solar panels. As a final point, those who live in places with plenty of natural light that their residence solar systems in reality create much more power compared to they want are just capable to offer that further power returning to their capability corporations when they have been inverters to alter Electricity back to active.

The principle benefits of solar powered energy systems, nonetheless, are getting to be far more noticeable with each day that passes inside our new energy-and environment-conscious world-wide community. As opposed to standard fuels, solar powered energy is actually readily offered to folks where ever sunshine excels. Its creation can’t be managed by specific government authorities. Home solar powered energy systems work with a power source that is eco secure, which will grow to be much less pricey as fascination with it boosts. the fee for standard fuels will still only always boost in the facial skin of greater desire! Home solar energy systems help save property owners a lot of income on cooling down expenses throughout the hottest times during the summer season (coincidently the days if the sun is intense its best and cooling is virtually all needed!).Several states and places provide important regulations for those ready to setup solar power systems inside their residences. This one thing may make particularly much more inexpensive. Home owners obtaining the action employing home solar power systems of their houses will in fact be ushering in a very vivid brand-new day for the entire world!