Inaugural BC Rugby Sevens Series Comes to Esquimalt
June 13th, 2010
Interest heightens for rugby on Island
By CLEVE DHEENSAW, Times Colonist June 13, 2010 http://bit.ly/9T0r1i
Filed under: Uncategorized by admin
No Comments »
Sir Terence Matthews @ UVIC
May 22nd, 2010
Venture kickstarts young entrepreneurs http://bit.ly/d89Hwl
Filed under: Uncategorized by admin
No Comments »
Client featured on A TV News: Vancouver Island Building Boom
May 14th, 2010
Filed under: Abstract Developments by admin
1 Comment »
Carmanah Launches Revolutionary Solar Lighting Technology at LIGHTFAIR® 2010
May 11th, 2010
Installing the EverGEN 1710
The new advanced occupancy sensing capabilities will provide functionality that no other solar LED light on the market currently offers. The advanced occupancy sensing capability allows a network of EverGEN 1710 or 1720 solar LED lights to provide synchronized low-high activation when one of the lights within the network senses motion. Utilizing mesh networking and occupancy sensors, the network of lights communicates wirelessly, providing illumination that is responsive to motion in areas such as parking lots, pathways, secure facilities and other areas where lighting performs an integral role in maintaining safety and security.
Advanced occupancy sensing can be configured for either full or set distance activation. Full activation provides synchronized activation of all the lights within the system. Set distance activation provides for activation of lights within a set distance of the detected motion, effectively providing a bubble of illumination that follows motion throughout the site.
In addition to the launch of advanced occupancy sensing, Carmanah is introducing its newest EverGEN solar LED light, the EverGEN 1720. Representing the company’s highest output self-contained solar LED light to-date, the EverGEN 1720 leverages the slim form factor of the EverGEN 1710 while providing nearly twice the typical lumen output. In ideal solar conditions with tailored operating profiles, light output of up to 10,000 lumens is achievable. In more typical conditions, output of 5,000 lumens is common. Ideal for parking lot, residential roadway, sign, perimeter and other site lighting applications, the 1720 expands the applications for the compact, aesthetic 1700 series solar LED lights.
The 1700 series of EverGEN lights have also been carefully designed for installation in 30 minutes or less, saving customers time and money.
“The Carmanah EverGEN naturally eliminates the need to trench or install conduit during lighting installation,” explains Ted Lattimore, Carmanah CEO. “With the EverGEN 1700 series, installation time and cost are further reduced through the ability to stage the entire system on the ground and hoist it into place on the pole as one complete unit.”
A time-lapse video of the Carmanah EverGEN 1700 installation can be found on YouTube.com at http://bit.ly/csUdoj
Carmanah EverGEN™ 1710 solar LED lights http://bit.ly/crxSor are available now from Carmanah Technologies. For more information on solar LED lighting, visit www.carmanah.com
Filed under: Carmanah, Solar Power LED Lighting by admin
1 Comment »
Look at Barcelona’s smart street lamps:
April 23rd, 2010
GOOD Magazine — March 19, 2010 — Think of all the electricity that’s wasted by city lights that stay on when no one needs them. To solve this problem, one Barcelona neighborhood is using a system of LED lights, controlled wirelessly, to provide light exactly when, and where, it’s needed. It keeps the streets safe while saving the city money. For more information, go to www.endesa.es/
Filed under: Uncategorized by admin
4 Comments »
New Innovative Solar Product Unveiled in Toronto
April 6th, 2010
MicroBlox Introduced at Solar Seminar http://bit.ly/aJ6vLw
Canada’s leading distributor of solar electricity systems, Home Energy Solutions, came out with a new innovative technology to help Ontario residents adopt solar power sooner and cheaper with better efficiency than ever before. The new Home Energy Solutions MicroBlox solar kit combats traditional solar power problems such as limited roof space, shade, snow and debris, and varying seasonal sunlight by harvesting up to 25% more electricity. Residents can also monitor the simple system from any computer with internet connection.
The MicroBlox system uses the breakthrough Enphase DC-AC Microinverter System, which harvests power from individual solar panels rather than using one inverter to harvest the entire array. The result is a far more efficient system than traditional solar systems. Once installed, maximum output is achieved through a user friendly web based monitoring device -Enlighten- to measure and manage electricity production.
“This new technology shows huge promise for cleaner and renewable energy in Canada. For the first time ever we have a system that configures to smaller and varying structures while providing more efficiency and reliability at a lower initial investment,” says Home Energy Solutions President Dave Egles. “Ontario roofs rarely have a large continuous pitch. They have dormers, skylights, valleys and vents. With the smaller solar building blocks, we can put solar on different roof slopes and have the total output combined. The flexibility allows more people to install solar and to participate in programs such as Ontario’s MicroFIT program”.
The solar kit comes as an attractive option for residents wary of a big financial investment. Because the Microinverters collect power from individual panels, the MicroBlox kit allows solar adopters to start small and expand later. The equipment offers a 15 year warranty with 95% efficiency in weather extremes as harsh as -40 C. The MicroBlox was designed for faster, cleaner solar installations, and the all-black design option looks better on shingle roofs than traditional solar systems.
Filed under: solar for homes by admin
No Comments »
What does a Smart Grid Future Look Like?
March 26th, 2010
BC has reached a Tipping Point for Cleantech
March 25th, 2010
Industry needs to focus on speed to market and unifying efforts
VANCOUVER, March 25 - British Columbia has the resources and potential to be a world cleantech leader, but has yet to capitalize on these advantages, according to a new report released by Ernst & Young, Making BC a clean energy powerhouse.
The report findings are based on a working session that took place in Vancouver, bringing together industry leaders and representatives to find solutions for various challenges in the cleantech sector.
Participants agree that BC has all the components necessary to become a world-class cleantech leader: unparalleled natural resources; the advantage of the Pacific Gateway; a strong pipeline of innovative technology companies and entrepreneurial spirit; a carbon tax and offset programs; and strong local leadership.
“BC’s natural advantages - combined with government willingness to step up with programs and funding to date - have laid a strong foundation for making BC a clean energy powerhouse,” says Cynthia Orr, the Vancouver-based National Cleantech Leader for Ernst & Young. “To be successful in the long term, governments and industry leaders need to act quickly, and a good starting place would be to encourage early adoption of projects.”
“This will result in stronger investment in cleantech, and prevent other countries from exploiting our resources without being properly invested here,” adds Orr.
Significant hurdles were identified by attendees, including the current procurement system, which participants worry is inefficient in getting new projects off the ground. Other concerns include the unpredictable investment environment in Canada and the lack of incentives for cleantech technology, which, in some cases, is still cost prohibitive compared to traditional energy.
“There is still a significant need for clear regulatory guidance to help the industry understand which projects are viable,” says Nicole Poirier, BC Cleantech Leader for Ernst & Young. “Comprehensive legislation and clearer principles would bring together disparate areas in BC and address several of the clean energy challenges.”
The recent BC budget included $100 million over three years for research and development in the sector to support transportation infrastructure, development of biofuels, and research and development of green power technology. Still, critics worry it’s not enough and we need to move faster to meet climate targets.
The report outlines four ideas for immediate focus, which include branding BC locally and abroad as an investment destination, getting cleantech products to market more quickly through a hands-off government approach, establishing a more effective procurement process, and creating a new technology organization that would make the early days of technology adoption more affordable. For more information www.ey.com/ca
Filed under: Uncategorized by admin
No Comments »
Canada Could Become a Global CleanTech Centre
March 25th, 2010
Canada could clean up globally with climate-friendly technologies if it seizes the opportunity
OTTAWA, March 25 - The global market for technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is exploding, but Canadian businesses have failed to seize new - or even maintain existing - opportunities to sell such “climate-friendly” technologies globally. Despite this poor overall performance, Canada has global strengths in several specific climate-friendly technologies, according to a Conference Board of Canada report, Global Climate-Friendly Trade: Canada’s Chance to Clean Up.
“The good news is that Canada does certain things well,” said Danielle Goldfarb, Associate Director, International Trade and Investment Centre and author of the report. “Canada will not be a leader in everything, but it is not too late for this country to be a leader in some technologies, parts of technologies, or related services. We have areas of relative strength due to our geography and resource base that we could harness to become world leaders in specific climate-friendly technologies and services.”
Global trade and investment in climate-friendly technologies is growing rapidly. The worldwide industry is estimated to become the third largest in a decade’s time. In order to stabilize GHG emissions, the world will need to further accelerate trade and investment in such technologies. Examples include: wind and solar power, hybrid cars, more efficient electrical appliances, and waste minimization technologies. Carbon capture and storage, tidal and wave energy, and advanced electric cars are examples of technologies that are expected to become available soon.
World trade in climate-friendly technologies grew by 10 per cent on average annually over 2002-08. (European and Asian businesses and governments were the leading traders, and drove this rapid global trade growth. China in particular had over 40 per cent average annual growth over that period.) In contrast, Canada’s climate-friendly exports did not grow at all during this six-year period. When inflation is accounted for, Canadian exports actually fell. Moreover, while Canadian businesses are slowly increasing their adoption of other countries’ climate-friendly technologies, they are doing so at a much slower rate than the world average.
Yet Canada also has certain strengths in the global market. These tend to be in areas associated with the country’s geography and resource base, notably waste management and energy technologies. The report finds that Canada “overtrades”, or has relative global strengths, in 13 categories of climate-friendly technologies.
With clear policy signals and more globally oriented business strategies, Canada can become a world leader in specific climate-friendly technologies and related services. To achieve this, governments should eliminate domestic and international barriers to developing, trading, and investing in climate-friendly technologies. Canadian businesses need to identify technologies, parts of technologies, and related services in which they have the potential to be world leaders, and become more willing to adopt global technologies in other areas.
The report is published by the Conference Board of Canada’s International Trade and Investment Centre. The centre is intended to help Canadian leaders better understand what global economic dynamics - such as global and regional supply chains, domestic barriers to trade, US policies, or tighter border security - could mean for public policies and business strategies.
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?did=3506
Filed under: Uncategorized by admin
No Comments »