Automakers developing efficient engines that overturn fuel's dirty image

Diesel-powered vehicles used to get a bad rap for being noisy, dirty and slow. But they have been getting an image makeover thanks to "clean diesel" that emits less pollution--a change that could shake up the race with eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles.

At the Tokyo Motor Show in December, there were many "oohs" and "aahs" around the displays of two Mazda Motor Corp. vehicles powered by a 2.2-liter diesel engine--a world first. The fuel-efficient engine can reduce emissions that cause air pollution, without an expensive purifier.

The CX-5 sport-utility vehicle, which will go on the market Feb. 16, runs 18.6 kilometers per liter of diesel oil, a fuel cheaper than gasoline. The CX-5 is the most fuel-efficient SUV, including minicar SUVs and hybrid SUVs, and packs as much power as a four-liter gasoline-powered vehicle.

The Takeri concept sedan stores energy generated during braking as electricity. According to Mazda, it can travel about 1,500 kilometers on a full tank of fuel.

"Diesel vehicles had the shortcomings of being dirty and slow. We've conquered those problems," Mazda President Takashi Yamanouchi said.

The diesel SUV market is becoming rather crowded. Germany's BMW AG will introduce a diesel model of its X5 in Japan this spring. Nissan Motor Co.'s X-Trail and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s Pajero are already equipped with clean diesel engines.

With more diesel-powered vehicles arriving in showrooms, some drivers will likely be giving diesel vehicles a second look.

Diesel vehicles and gasoline vehicles produce their power quite differently. In gasoline vehicles, gas is mixed with air, and this mixture is injected into a combustion chamber and ignited. In diesel vehicles, air is compressed until it reaches a high temperature, and diesel oil is then injected into it and burned.

Diesel vehicles are powerful--and more fuel-efficient--even when driven at a low speed because their combustion efficiency is better than that of gasoline vehicles.

However, diesel vehicles emit nitrogen oxide and soot, and they need a big, tough body to handle the volume of air being compressed. They tended to be noisy and had poor acceleration.

Japan experienced a recreational vehicle boom in the latter half of the 1980s, and diesel vehicles accounted for 6 percent of total new car sales. However, their popularity waned and automakers stopped introducing new diesel models, except for buses and trucks.

In the latter 1990s, European automakers developed cleaner diesel engines that produce less exhaust gases by improving the fuel injection system and using filters.

In Europe, fuel-efficient, diesel-powered vehicles have become very popular, accounting for half of new car sales.

Diesel oil is obtained with gasoline during the process of refining crude oil. Because Japan cannot consume all the diesel produced here, some is exported. The spread of diesel vehicles in this country will lead to more efficient use of diesel oil.

Why the Military Hates Fossil Fuels

A strange thing has happened in the politicization of climate change: Oil has become something conservatives must love, while things like energy efficiency and renewable energy have become stand-ins for liberal politics, government intervention, taxes, take your pick. So it is that people are always surprised to learn that one of the biggest proponents of green technology in the United States is that most conservative of organizations, the U.S. military. Reducing energy use, in particular this country’s dependence on fossil fuels, has become a priority amongst all branches of the military pretty much since we got involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, and given that the Department of Defense is the single largest consumer of energy in the country (spending about $4 billion per year on facility energy consumption), it has started with its own house.

Time and again top military leaders have spoken out against our dependence on oil as a matter of national security. The thing you need to remember about the military, though, is that it’s comprised more of doers than talkers. To wit, the Department of Defense has been making major investments of time and money in green technology of various kinds over the last several years, and has been executing plans to improve efficiency and reduce energy usage far faster than any of the countless state, local and federal programs we hear so much more about.

The work has begun, as any resource optimization plan should, with efficiency. In addition to the Air Force’s energy conservation program, the DoD is researching and testing several technologies through its Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). Concurrently, the Army and Navy have both kicked off net zero programs, aimed at reducing not only energy use on bases, but also water use and waste. The Navy is aiming for 50 percent of its bases to have net zero energy consumption by 2020. Compared to any states renewable energy portfolio standard or energy efficiency program that is extremely aggressive, but the Navy is confident it will get it done.

The Army, meanwhile, kicked off a net-zero base competition in 2010, selecting winners for its net-zero base pilot program in spring 2011. The Army identified six net zero pilot installations in each of the energy, water, and waste categories and two integrated installations striving towards net zero on all fronts by 2020. In its Vision for Net Zero, the Army states:

By all accounts, the competition was a huge success, with base commanders putting a lot of time and energy into their proposals, and now even those that were not selected are forging ahead with their plans.

Gensler cites Major General Dana Pittard, Commanding General of Fort Bliss, in west Texas, as an example of such a commander. Although the net zero program has set 2020 as the target date, Commanding General Pittard intends to get his base to net zero energy by 2015.

The net zero programs are fairly thinly funded at the Pentagon level, but the individual bases have thrown their full support behind it, finding funding not only through various government programs but also from the private sector. It turns out most renewable energy developers and cleantech manufacturers would love to have a military base installation to showcase, and banks see the military as a great, low-risk investment.

There are a lot of moving pieces and a variety of agencies, companies, and funding sources involved, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing the military’s progress at all.

6 ways to cut down on household toxins

Few of us love to clean, but when we do, we do it with a vengeance, hauling out our heaviest-duty cleaners to disinfect every last inch.

Increasingly, experts are cautioning that having a house that’s too clean could actually be bad for your health.

“We don’t need to live in a sterile environment,” says Dr. Jeffrey Morrison, author of “Cleanse Your Body, Cleanse Your Mind.” “There’s a theory that people are having more allergies than ever before because they purify their homes so much that their bodies can’t properly create an immune response.”

So where is the balance between keeping your house free of germs and grime, and blasting them with the potentially harmful chemicals in many cleansers? We asked two experts for their healthy housecleaning tips — and the products they’ve banished from their own routines.

Take baby steps “Start with the least-aggressive cleaner, and work your way up,” Dellutri says. Sometimes plain old water can get the job done, especially paired with a microfiber cloth. If that doesn’t work, try a capful of vinegar or a few drops of mild dish soap in a bucket of water, Dellutri says. Bring out the heavy-duty cleaners or bleach only as a last resort. You may be surprised how little you need them.

Clean more often We know you don’t want to hear this, but think of it this way: If you make it a weekly habit, a five-minute cleaning session can go a long way. “I call it preventive maintenance,” says Dellutri. “If you haven’t cleaned your bathroom in three years, you’re going to need the big guns.” A good guideline for a basic cleaning routine is to do it once a month if you live alone, every other week if there are two of you, and weekly for a family of three or more.

Avoid antibacterial products A recent study at the University of Michigan School of Public Health found that antibacterial soaps may trigger allergies when overused by children. “In my opinion, there’s no reason to have any antibacterial soap in the house at all,” says Dr. Morrison. “It contains triclosan, which is a pesticide and an endocrine disruptor.” Replace your antibacterial hand soap with a glycerin- or castile-based variety.

Mix your own cleaning potions Why pay a premium for green cleaning products when it’s so easy to make your own? For a bathtub scrub, try 1 part borax to 4 parts baking soda. A mix of 2 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar can polish your furniture. And boiling a pot of cinnamon on the stove can safely rid your kitchen of odors.

Go fragrance-free “Any time you smell a fragrance in a cleaning product, that’s a chemical,” says Dr. Morrison. “And air fresheners are just sending chemicals into the air that disguise the original odor.” To freshen indoor air naturally, use an air purifier. An allergen reduction filter for your furnace will also help, provided you change it every season.

Don’t overspray.  “In America, we think that more is better,” says “Healthy Housekeeper” Laura Dellutri, author of “The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free Homekeeping.” “It’s a whole mindset. So we go to clean a window, and we spray, spray, spray with cleaner.” Instead, start with the smallest possible amount of product, and add more as necessary.

Law dysfunctional in face of unimaginable disaster

The government panel's interim report said plans laid out by the Nuclear Disaster Special Measures Law did not function properly because the scale of the disaster was unimaginable.

According to the law, in the event of a nuclear disaster an off-site headquarters is to be established near the nuclear power plant where the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency can gather information with representatives of local governments.

However, because local governments were overwhelmed dealing with the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, of the six towns surrounding the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant only Okumamachi sent a representative to the headquarters.

On March 15, following explosions at the plant's Nos. 1 and 3 reactors, and with the No. 2 reactor in a hazardous condition, radiation measurements inside the headquarters reached 200 microsieverts per hour, forcing the office to relocate to Fukushima city.

Early that morning, the nuclear safety agency had faxed the headquarters, advising them to administer stabilized iodine to prevent the accumulation of radioactive iodine in workers' bodies. But in the confusion surrounding the relocation to Fukushima, nobody noticed the fax until the evening.

The headquarters, which was only five kilometers from the nuclear plant, was not equipped with an air purifier to protect against radiation. This had been pointed out in 2009 by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, but the nuclear agency said such equipment was not necessary. "Radioactive substances would only be in the air for a short time. Just turning off the ventilation system is enough," they said.

The confusion was largely because a multihazard disaster involving a nuclear crisis and natural calamities was not foreseen. However, the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake had provided a forewarning.

The Niigata quake damaged Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power station, and the nuclear safety agency began conducting an investigation.

However, local governments opposed this probe, saying that if a claim was made that the earthquake caused the nuclear accident, the public would be overly apprehensive. The agency then concluded, "There is virtually no possibility that a natural disaster could cause a nuclear disaster," and the probe was terminated.

Niigata Prefecture in 2010 devised a training plan that anticipated such complex disasters, which was revised and approved by the safety agency. Regarding such training, the report said, "Disaster drills that take into account the unique aspects of nuclear accidents should be conducted regularly, with full participation of local residents."

Shift in non-smoking strategy needed

I applaud the National Environment Agency's initiative to collect public feedback on the smoking ban. Extending the ban, though, may exacerbate the problem for non-smokers.

As it is already difficult to enforce the current ban, an extension alone would overload environment officers, resulting in little or even negative impact on the ground.

Reducing the number of places to smoke would lead to a concentration of smokers and second-hand smoke in those places. And despite past extensions of the ban, it has become more difficult to avoid second-hand smoke.

A new approach, to provide alternatives for smokers, is needed. Most smokers will not readily give up the habit, and we need to recognise that smoking is an addiction, not a lifestyle choice.

If we want to protect citizens, I propose there should be smoking rooms in all buildings (like those in Changi Airport). Non-smokers are freed from the health risks of second-hand smoke while the policy debates continue.

There should be mandatory air purifiers in public flats and private apartments whose residents are smokers (verified against insurance declarations), to protect children and neighbours.

Wantonly discarded cigarette butts in non-smoking areas should be tested for DNA/fingerprints, to ease the load on enforcement officers trying to capture culprits in the act.

Errant smokers would then receive a fine via mail for breaching non-smoking and/or littering laws. We may even see cleaner streets.

For now, the key is to help instil more responsibility among existing smokers. People have the right to smoke only if it does not affect others. And we should continue to educate and help those ready to quit. The most important proposal I have come across was that to deny access to tobacco to those born since 2000. This would plug the leaking boat and make the smoking problem more manageable.

While the long-term objective of achieving a smoke-free Singapore is clear, the imperative now is to protect non-smokers. Then fight to extend the ban.

Beijing Pollution at “Crisis Level”

No one who has visited Beijing recently will be surprised to learn that pollution in the capital has been so bad that the air quality monitoring system used by the U.S. Embassy here has described the pollution as being off the scale.

It’s little wonder that a city official has reportedly just described the air quality as having reached “crisis level.”

On the morning of December 5, I thought it was snowing when I first looked out my window. The smog was so dense that I couldn’t even see the restaurant that’s only about 50 meters from my house.

I checked the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau’s reading. Data from the bureau for between 8 pm on December 4 and 8 am the next morning showed the pollution reading was 150 to 170, which equates to Level 3 on the bureau’s rating system. Level 3 is designated as “slight pollution” that will cause “some irritation amongst healthy people.”

So I checked with other media sources, and found that most were instead using air monitoring data from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. The data was shocking.

The index used by the U.S. Embassy measures particles under 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) compared with the between 2.5 and 10 micrometers used in China’s official readings. According to the U.S. index, at 7 pm on December 4, the concentration of fine particles in Beijing was 552. The maximum value on their scale is 500, meaning Beijing’s air quality was so poor that it was described as “beyond index.”

The city’s deteriorating air quality (this was the second time in about a month that Beijing’s pollution levels had exceeded the U.S. index) has prompted considerable frustration among many Chinese, and pressure is growing to include the PM2.5 data as the U.S. Embassy does.

Disappointingly, the bureau is resisting such pressure, despite the fact that informing the public would allow people to be more aware of the health risks and take necessary precautions. Following a series of days of heavy smog, a growing number of people have been buying masks and air purifiers. A friend who works at an electrical store told me that sales of air purifiers had recently jumped 200 percent on the usual number for this time of year.

The Environment Ministry is clearly aware of the problem, and says it has been seeking the public’s view on whether to include the finer particles in its readings. Unsurprisingly, a worried public does indeed appear to want the PM2.5 measure to be included in the standard air quality monitoring system.

Still, don’t expect a change anytime soon – the ministry says that it is listening, but that it needs time to discuss and evaluate the issue.

Cyrus Mistry and the $5 bn brand consumers cannot avoid

Can you remember the last time you watched a programme on TV for a couple of hours and did not see a commercial for any Tata brand?

Today, it’s difficult for an average consumer to avoid a Tata brand in his or her normal consumption pattern. For air-conditioners, water coolers, water dispensers  and water purifiers, there’s Voltas. In cars, you have the Indica, Indigo, Manza, Sumo and, of course, the Nano. In beverages, you have Tata Café, Tata Tea, Tetley Tea and Himalaya water. In entertainment, you have Tata Sky services. In the hotel business, you have the Taj, Vivanta and Ginger. In jewellery, there’s Tanishq. In watches, you have Titan and the brand extension, Titan Eye, for spectacles. In retail, there’s Westside, Landmark, Croma and Tashi. In telecom, Tata Indicom and Tata DoCoMo are major players.

“I think the world over realisation has dawned that as economies develop and consumers have more spending power, people don’t buy products, they buy a promise. A brand is nothing but a way of expressing a promise.

“Today, the Tatas represent assurance, reliability, a sense of nationalism, value for money, and such other attributes that have been built over several decades. Irrespective of the product you are making, those are the attributes you would like to be known for, whether it is through a wrist watch, a piece of software or a car. It is for this reason that the Tata name goes well with a diversity of products — from tea and salt to an Indica car, software development and steel,” Gopalakrishnan had said in the same interview.

What does all this mean for Cyrus Mistry? “He also spoke about how the Tata brand has evolved over the years. From $300 million in 1998 it has gone and become a $.5 billion brand. They are also expecting this number to double by the end of 2011-12 when they do the next assessment of the brand valuation,” moneycontrol reported.

The adjectives that one didn’t see before Ratan Tata took charge as chairman in 1981  are adjectives that very easily come to mind now — aggressive, vibrant, exciting, multinational, risk-taking.

It’s in the businesses and geographies that Ratan Tata has led the group into in the past decade that makes us think differently about what the Tata brand represents. In the acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover, for example, the ‘value-for-money’ tag that the Tata brand name has stood for is pushed into the background, but world-class and multinational come to the fore.

“Tata Motors on Wednesday announced its entry into the international luxury car market with some style as the company snapped up two of Britain’s most famous names in automobile manufacturing, Jaguar and Land Rover, in a $2.3 billion deal with Ford, their American owners. “Ford says Tata to Jaguar” declared a front-page headline in a British newspaper as the country woke up to the loss of a bit of its motoring history in a classic case of the empire striking back,” The Hindu had gushed.

The Corus buy instantly made Tata a risk-taker — and a global player.

“The Tata Group is celebrating its acquisition of the Anglo-Dutch steel firm Corus, and the catapulting of Tata Steel into world steel’s big-five status . It should. The $11 billion deal is a marker in the ground….But Tata-Corus is the largest out of India, and is done by a private sector entity of its own volition, away from the shadow of state influence. For these reasons, it bears noticing,” said Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge.

When this commercial — We also make steel — was made, there weren’t many products in the Tata stable which were consumer-facing and exciting, save for Titan watches. What else did Tata make? They made salt, soap (Tata OK, for example), airconditioners , tea, trucks, and they ran hotels under the Taj umbrella. Except for the Taj, which had a few properties abroad, most of their consumer-facing brands were India focused, and, with the exception of Titan, and, to an extent, Voltas, hardly exciting.

Now, there’s a launch or an acquisition every few months. And every brand that is launched or bought has to pay royalty to Tata Sons for the use of  ‘the group mark and logo’ thanks to the Brand Equity and Business Promotion Agreement, which is signed by Tata Sons and individual group companies.

That’s an addition to the bottom-line of Tata Sons even as there’s appreciation in the brand valuation.

The brand has become so much more than it was when Ratan Tata ‘inherited’ it. In addition to Tata standing for assurance, reliability, a sense of nationalism, value for money and similar attributes before Ratan Tata took over, attributes like exciting, vibrant, diversified, international, aggressive and risk-taking have been added —together handing Cyrus Mistry a $5.5 billion brand to manage.

Thankfully, there’s one attribute that Mistry has which should be of immense help to him as Ratan Tata hands over the baton. It’s an adjective that none associates with the Tatas – young.

“My only regret is that I am not 20 years younger because I think India’s going through a very exciting period in its history,” Ratan Tata had said earlier this year in an interview with CNN.

Naples man accused of running growhouse in Lehigh Acres

An anonymous tip led deputies to a Naples man accused of growing marijuana in a Lehigh Acres home.

According to reports, when Lee deputies arrived at 3002 25 Street Southwest, Lehigh Acres, they came in contact with 41-year-old Juan Jimenez Miguel. He was with three other people who seemed to be nervous when they saw deputies. Miguel was going in and out of the residence and appeared to be getting ready to leave the other individuals.

As they approached the residence, deputies say they could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. They explained to Miguel they were there investigating anonymous tip, and they would like permission to search the residence. Reports say Miguel gave consent, but went on to explain that the others were not involved in his operation.

Miguel escorted deputies through the home where they learned that one bedroom had been converted into a marijuana grow operation. It had approximately 17 high-powered lights, an irrigation system and an air purifier to hide the smell. All the plants had been clipped except for two and the buds were hanging on a line to dry out.

Miguel, of the 4000 block of 6th Avenue Southeast, was arrested at the house and is facing charges of producing marijuana, drug equipment possession for manufacture, and marijuana trafficking.

2012 Nissan Quest minivan nears a second decade in U.S. showrooms

Other prices and grades for the Quest minivan, which is available now at U.S.-based Nissan dealerships, are $31,050, for the SV; $34,500, for the SL; and $41,350, for the top-of-the-line LE. It is assembled in Shatai, Kyūshū, Japan.

The Quest has been part of the Nissan lineup in the United States since 1993.

In its first two generations, the Quest was assembled in Avon Lake, Ohio, and was the cousin of the Mercury Villager, which is no longer in production.

The third-generation Quest, which began with a 2004 redesign, shared a platform and engines with the Nissan Altima, Maxima and Murano. It was manufactured in Canton, Miss.

Production shifted to Japan in 2011, when the Quest began its fourth generation as a Nissan minivan. Today the Quest continues to share a platform with the Nissan Elgrand.

Each 2012 Nissan Quest is equipped with a 260-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 engine that generates 240 foot pounds of torque, and an Xtronic CVT transmission. Standard equipment includes one-touch power sliding doors, fold-flat second- and third-row seating, an Advanced Climate Control System and what Nissan calls "permanent hidden storage."

XM Satellite Radio is standard on SV and SL Quests.

The 2012 Nissan Quest comes with standard Nissan Intelligent Key and optional sliding doors that unlock and open the side door with a button touch. The Quest’s second row has a walk-in device for easier access to the back row. A liftgate is standard on SL and LE grades.

The third row of seats folds forward. The permanent rear storage well is always available, and a flat cargo floor is there without having to remove any seats.

The Quest LE’s standard Advanced Climate Control System with Plasmacluster air purifier and Grape Polyphenol Filter works three ways to help reduce allergens and unwanted odors inside the cabin. A standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System gives occupants what Nissan calls an "Easy Fill Tire Alert."

Fuel economy is 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway. The 2012 Quest also has 4-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes and vehicle-speed-sensitive power steering. A nice feature is a light that warns the driver that a car is in a blind spot.

Seven exterior colors are available. Super Black is added for 2012. There are two interior colors in a choice of cloth  or leather-appointed seating.

How Ozone Air Purifiers Work

There’s a debate raging about the safety of ozone air purifiers. Some love the fresh smell and swear by them. Others are voicing issues concerning the ozone that is a by product of the air cleansing process. Ozone is a pollutant and at excessive levels could cause respiratory problems. This is significantly true for folks dwelling with a condition that causes decreased lung function.

These purifiers work by giving the air a positive cost as it moves by means of the machine. This causes the particles in the air to develop into charged as well. The charged contaminants are dealt with in one among two ways. In some programs, the air simply strikes by means of the machine and is charged. The particles then settle in your partitions, furnishings and carpeting. These have to be vacuumed or dusted away.

Extra common is a system that accommodates a group grid to entice the contaminants within the air. The Ionic Breeze is probably one of the best recognized of these systems. You’ve got probably seen this advertised on late night television. The particles connect to a group grid. You take away the grid and wipe away the contaminants and then substitute the grid in the machine. The grid is easy to scrub with a damp rag. This eliminates the necessity for alternative filters, as with hepa air purifiers.

The controversy over the security of ozone gained publicity a few years ago when Shopper Studies gave the Ionic Breeze a low rating because of the ozone released. The position of Client Stories was that the ozone launched was unhealthy. Sharper Picture disputed this claim and tried to sue Consumer Reviews and the parent company, unsuccessfully.

The brand new Ionic Breeze has a feature referred to as Ozone Guard that is meant to wash the ozone out of the air. While not all the ozone will be eliminated, the extent within the room is lower than with out the Ozone Guard feature. Despite this variation, Client Reviews still gave the system low marks. In response to their testing, the air purifier scored just throughout the acceptable restrict of ozone in the air.

Ozone is especially dangerous for folks with decreased lung function. This contains individuals with bronchial asthma or COPD. For these people, ozone can cause coughing and shortness of breath. Many find the symptoms of respiratory disease turn out to be worse when uncovered to ozone within the air.

Operate the purifier on a decrease setting to scale back the quantity of ozone in your air. If odors are an issue, run the machine on the upper setting if you find yourself not within the room after which turn it to the decrease setting.

Buy a machine made for the size of your room. Utilizing a machine supposed for larger areas in a small room could cause an unhealthy level of ozone within the room. Be sure your unit is acceptable for the scale of your room.

Ensure that the room is nicely ventilated. The extra air circulation, the much less ozone will accumulate within the room. Keep the doorways open to extend air flow.

Home furnishings assist absorb a number of the ozone in your air. A sparsely furnished room will comprise extra ozone within the air than a room with upholstered furniture, curtains, rugs, pillows and different decoration.

Run the equipment when you are not in the room. Flip it off and air out the room earlier than entering. If you are having company, you can run the machine within the empty room and switch it off earlier than your friends arrive. This may take away odors and depart the room smelling fresh.

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Zadoozy Announces New Warehouse/Showroom Address

Zadoozy, a national ecommerce company on a mission to save busy, health-conscious consumers time, money and frustration by offering only the best products that promote a healthy, clean home, today announced that it has moved into a new warehouse/showroom in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The new showroom and warehouse will allow Zadoozy to house both its sales and administrative offices along with its warehouse and shipping department under one roof.

The new address is 1000 Butterfield Road, Suite 1029, Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Zadoozy, a take on the slang term 'doozy,' meaning something that is extraordinary, has tested hundreds of products and offers only those that have passed their toughest tests—like IQAir air purifiers, Miele vacuum cleaners and Ladybug vapor steam cleaners.

“Zadoozy will help health-conscious consumers across the nation who don’t have the time to comparison shop for themselves,” says a company spokesperson. “Thanks to a talented team of Web designers, architects and engineers, we’ve assembled the best of the best in one secure, easy to use destination.”

Zadoozy is so confident that shoppers you will love their products that they offer a 90-day, no questions asked, money back promise.

High-tech tool helps Calgary drivers find parking

Drivers may now be able to save time finding a parking space downtown with the click of a mouse.

The Calgary Parking Authority has launched a system that keeps a realtime tally of available stalls in all seven of its parkades so drivers know before they head downtown what the chances of finding a spot are.

“It’s added convenience,” said general manager Troy McLeod.

“I think it might provide additional comfort for those coming downtown, especially those who don’t come downtown often.”

The CPA has a parking guidance system (PGS) to count available spots using devices at the entries and exits of parkades and sensors in the stalls.

The information is kept up to date in the operations control centre, and the CPA realized it could share the information with the public fairly easily and at essentially no extra cost, said McLeod.

Updates will be made approximately every 30 seconds, he said.

The service also allows Calgarians to receive automatic updates on computers or phones that are equipped with Internet Explorer 7 of higher.

They can subscribe to the feed with a Really Simply Syndication (RSS) reader, but with Alberta’s new distracted driving legislation to launch in a week, motorists are reminded not to check updates while they are driving.

The CPA has 5,327 stalls between its seven parkades, approximately 23% of which are open for hourly or daily parking.

Parkade availability updating is the first step in a larger plan to provide Calgarians’ access to parking information.

The CPA is working with a city agency to develop an iPhone application — expected to debut this fall — that would include the stall counts, but also other features including the ability to a make parking payments.

As well, historical parking data for on-street parking will be uploaded daily on the parking authority’s website starting this fall.

McLeod said the CPA does not have realtime information for its 2,300 on-street spots downtown, but can provide drivers with an idea of which areas tend to be busiest at which time of day.

Sharp(R) Solar Powers Duke Energy Convention Center With 101kW Array

Sharp Electronics Corporation's Solar Energy Solutions Group, and its customer, Third Sun Solar, completed the largest downtown Cincinnati solar project to date -- a 101kW installation powering the Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC). The project is part of an aggressive conservation strategy by both the City of Cincinnati and the venue designed to make the 750,000 square-foot convention center a more attractive destination for environmentally conscious groups. The project was completed in time to power GovEnergy 2011, August 7-10 at the DECC.

The DECC, managed by Global Spectrum, was chosen by the City for its spacious rooftop to collect ample sunlight. A total of 324 220-watt Sharp ND-224UC1 and 105 235-watt Sharp NU-U240fl modules were combined with 42kW Sunny Tower inverters in a 429-panel array. The Sharp modules are popular for commercial applications such as the DECC because of their balance of size and weight to power and performance, as well as their 25-year warranty.

"The City of Cincinnati and Duke Energy Convention Center should be commended for their aggressive pursuit of clean energy with a clear understanding of the long-term economic and environmental benefits," said Eric Hafter, senior vice president, Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. "With nearly 50 years of experience in solar, we offer clients like Third Sun and the DECC peace of mind. Sharp stands behind our product and ensures our clients maximize their return on investment."

The installation is ideally positioned to receive 1,000 hours of sunlight annually, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 57.9 metric tons and save about $10,000 in annual utility costs. The installation is scalable and will enable future expansion.

As with all municipal energy projects, local and federal support were critical, including funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To receive ARRA funding, the solar modules had to be domestically manufactured -- a requirement satisfied by Sharp's Memphis, Tenn. production facility, which has been in operation since 2003 and has been expanded several times since opening. The energy services company Ameresco oversaw the project and worked collaboratively with all parties to bring the project to fruition.

"We look at a number of factors when we select solar modules for a project, including technical specifications, where modules are produced and the brand that stands behind them," said Gerald Kelley, communications director, Third Sun Solar. "Since Sharp's manufacturing facilities are right here in the United States, our clients were able to take advantage of federal funding, and we were able to work with a 'bankable' company that stands behind its product."

Third Sun Solar completed the installation of Sharp solar panels in an array area of 11,500 sq. ft. and a solar panel surface area of 7,500 sq. ft. despite unique challenges of this space. The DECC is booked year-round for events. At three stories tall, roof access is limited to a freight elevator and crane. The installation was further complicated by the start of the baseball season (the Cincinnati Reds play at the nearby Great American Ballpark). Third Sun Solar worked collaboratively with the facility management and City of Cincinnati to overcome these challenges and the process took just three weeks to completely power up.

"The Duke Energy Convention Center solar project is just the tip of the iceberg for our center's efforts with green initiatives," said DECC General Manager Ric Booth. "Our hope is to use this project to enhance our facility to national planners and to help 'grow' the solar panel site to double or triple the amount of panels in place on the roof of the center."