A LEDBURY church is going green after having more than 50 solar panels installed on its roof, making it more self-sufficient and saving money at the same time.
Fifty-four solar panels have been installed at St Michaels and All Angels, and are now generating electricity for the building.
On Monday, May 9, at 11am, the Bishop of Hereford the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis will be hoisted up to the roof to bless the new panels.
Team rector the Rev Paul Dunthorne said: “We’re hiring a cherry-picker, and all being well, will be lifting the bishop up to view and dedicate the panels, which should be quite a sight.”
There are 18 modules installed on the roof of the north aisle and 36 modules installed on the south aisle, with a maximum power output of 9.9 kilowatts peak power, according to suppliers Clear Focus.
One of the clinching factors was that the panels could be fitted to the roof of the 12th-century church while remaining invisible from below.
2011年5月25日星期三
Large solar farm planned for Philadelphia landmark
One of the best-known gardens in the Keystone State will soon be home to a massive solar plant.
Longwood Gardens, which is located just outside Philadelphia, will soon see construction on a large solar farm completed, according to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The system, which comprises 6,682 solar panels, will generate about 18 percent of the garden's annual energy needs, and cost $7 million to build. In all, it's expected that the system will save the landmark about $64,000 in energy bills every year.
"Not only is it good for business but it's good for our community, and it's fulfilling our [environmental] mission," director Paul Redman told the newspaper.
And in an effort to keep the solar farm as beautiful as the rest of the facility, Longwood Gardens will begin planting grass and other plants around the panels after construction is completed, rather than see it covered with the typical gravel or asphalt, the report said.
Many public parks are now beginning to install solar panels on smaller scales in an effort to defray energy costs.
Longwood Gardens, which is located just outside Philadelphia, will soon see construction on a large solar farm completed, according to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The system, which comprises 6,682 solar panels, will generate about 18 percent of the garden's annual energy needs, and cost $7 million to build. In all, it's expected that the system will save the landmark about $64,000 in energy bills every year.
"Not only is it good for business but it's good for our community, and it's fulfilling our [environmental] mission," director Paul Redman told the newspaper.
And in an effort to keep the solar farm as beautiful as the rest of the facility, Longwood Gardens will begin planting grass and other plants around the panels after construction is completed, rather than see it covered with the typical gravel or asphalt, the report said.
Many public parks are now beginning to install solar panels on smaller scales in an effort to defray energy costs.
3D Solar Cell Boosts Efficiency By 80 Percent
Scientists at the USA's Dept. of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a three-dimensional solar cell which could boost photovoltaic (PV) light-to-energy conversion rates by 80 percent.
Typically, when sunlight is strikes the surface of a solar panel and is absorbed by PV cells, some of the charge created by solar photons becomes trapped by natural flaws in the bulk materials that make up the layers of the cell, resulting in a loss of final electricity output.
Optimising the energy efficiency of these charges – negative electrons and positive "holes" – was the focus of the Oak Ridge team, led by Jun Xu, of ORNL's Chemical Sciences Division.
"To solve the entrapment problems that reduce solar cell efficiency, we created a nanocone-based solar cell, invented methods to synthesize these cells and demonstrated improved charge collection efficiency," Xu said.
Oak Ridge's 3D solar cell uses zinc-oxide n-type nanocenes to serve a framework for conducting electrons. A p-type matrix of polycrystalline cadmium telluride – often used in thin-film solar panel manufacture - serves as the primary photon absorber medium and hole conductor.
With the new structure and materials, the new cell demonstrated a light-to-energy conversion efficiency rate of 3.2 percent, compared to 1.8 percent efficiency of a conventional two-dimensional solar cell structure.
"We designed the three-dimensional structure to provide an intrinsic electric field distribution that promotes efficient charge transport and high efficiency in converting energy from sunlight into electricity," Xu said.
A world leader in solar energy research and development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists are also working on a hybrid solar cell that harnesses the light-harvesting abilities of photosynthetic bacteria.
Unfortunately, Oak Ridge National Laboratory appears to have attracted some unwanted attention recently and last week shut down email and internet access after a virus designed to steal technical information successfully invaded its network.
Typically, when sunlight is strikes the surface of a solar panel and is absorbed by PV cells, some of the charge created by solar photons becomes trapped by natural flaws in the bulk materials that make up the layers of the cell, resulting in a loss of final electricity output.
Optimising the energy efficiency of these charges – negative electrons and positive "holes" – was the focus of the Oak Ridge team, led by Jun Xu, of ORNL's Chemical Sciences Division.
"To solve the entrapment problems that reduce solar cell efficiency, we created a nanocone-based solar cell, invented methods to synthesize these cells and demonstrated improved charge collection efficiency," Xu said.
Oak Ridge's 3D solar cell uses zinc-oxide n-type nanocenes to serve a framework for conducting electrons. A p-type matrix of polycrystalline cadmium telluride – often used in thin-film solar panel manufacture - serves as the primary photon absorber medium and hole conductor.
With the new structure and materials, the new cell demonstrated a light-to-energy conversion efficiency rate of 3.2 percent, compared to 1.8 percent efficiency of a conventional two-dimensional solar cell structure.
"We designed the three-dimensional structure to provide an intrinsic electric field distribution that promotes efficient charge transport and high efficiency in converting energy from sunlight into electricity," Xu said.
A world leader in solar energy research and development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists are also working on a hybrid solar cell that harnesses the light-harvesting abilities of photosynthetic bacteria.
Unfortunately, Oak Ridge National Laboratory appears to have attracted some unwanted attention recently and last week shut down email and internet access after a virus designed to steal technical information successfully invaded its network.
2011年5月18日星期三
OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS SSD Review (240GB)
OCZ was first to market with an SSD based on the SandForce SF-2281 processor. The Vertex 3 ripped through our benchmarks and easily topped all other SSDs in the market. Just two weeks ago, they let us know about the Vertex 3 Max IOPS, which uses a change in NAND to drive IOPS performance from 60,000 in the Vertex 3 to a quoted 75,000 in the Max IOPS edition. While not exactly billed as "faster" than the original, the Max IOPS version does handle 4KB IOPS better, along with general improvements to incompressible data performance.
These improvements are due entirely to the fact that OCZ is using a different set of NAND in the Max IOPS version of the Vertex 3. Where the original leverages 25nm NAND from the Intel/Micron partnership, the Max IOPS drive uses 32nm toggle mode NAND from Toshiba. Boiling it down to the basic points, the Toshiba NAND is up to three times faster and also consumes less power, something we'll dive into later in this review.
The good news doesn't stop at power and performance though. The street price of the Vertex 3 Max IOPS is only marginally more expensive than the original, making it an easy step up for those looking for every drop of performance out of their system. As much as we loved the Vertex 3 though, the real question is how Max IOPS delivers on the testbed. We pair off the Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Max IOPS in this review to see how it plays out.
These improvements are due entirely to the fact that OCZ is using a different set of NAND in the Max IOPS version of the Vertex 3. Where the original leverages 25nm NAND from the Intel/Micron partnership, the Max IOPS drive uses 32nm toggle mode NAND from Toshiba. Boiling it down to the basic points, the Toshiba NAND is up to three times faster and also consumes less power, something we'll dive into later in this review.
The good news doesn't stop at power and performance though. The street price of the Vertex 3 Max IOPS is only marginally more expensive than the original, making it an easy step up for those looking for every drop of performance out of their system. As much as we loved the Vertex 3 though, the real question is how Max IOPS delivers on the testbed. We pair off the Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Max IOPS in this review to see how it plays out.
Multimedia, Camera, and Conclusions
This is a stellar multimedia machine. The standard-size 3.5mm headphone jack is always a plus, and Samsung includes a full-sounding wired set of stereo earbuds in the box. Music tracks also sounded clear and detailed through Samsung Modus HM6450 Bluetooth headphones ($99, 4 stars). Standalone SD and 720p HD videos played smoothly and vibrantly in full screen mode. The deep black levels and boosted color intensity really showed here. There's no kickstand, but that's a reasonable tradeoff considering how thin the Infuse 4G is. Samsung also includes a microUSB-to-HDMI dongle for hooking the Infuse 4G up to a television, but the dongle also requires simultaneous use of the AC adapter; call that one a non-starter.
There's 14.6GB of onboard internal storage. That helps offset how Samsung buried the microSD slot behind the battery; my 32GB SanDisk card worked fine, and Samsung throws in an extra 2GB card as well.
The Infuse 4G packs two cameras: an 8-megapixel auto-focus camera on back with a large LED flash, and a much less useful, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. There's still no good video chat program for Android, so forget the front camera. The back camera, on the other hand, was great. Test photos looked sharp, detailed, and well balanced, with crisp definition on tree levels and patio bricks outdoors. Indoors, photos were a little softer, and there was a touch of noise, but it wasn't bad. Recorded 1280-by-720-pixel (720p) and 720-by-480-pixel videos were smooth and detailed at an even 30 frames per second.
Overall, the Samsung Infuse 4G is a satisfying Android smartphone. If you like big screens, look no further. The Apple iPhone 4 ($199, 4.5 stars) lacks the Infuse 4G's larger screen and free voice navigation, but it has a smoother, more reliable OS, and the world's best third-party app selection. The HTC Inspire 4G ($99.99, 4 stars) is now $100 cheaper, it's a better voice phone, it's made of classier materials and it features HTC's better Sense UI interface. Even though the Infuse has a faster Internet connection, we prefer the Inspire overall. The Motorola Atrix 4G ($199, 4 stars) is also superior; it's the same price as the Infuse 4G, but it contains a faster, dual-core CPU and higher resolution (if slightly smaller) screen.
There's 14.6GB of onboard internal storage. That helps offset how Samsung buried the microSD slot behind the battery; my 32GB SanDisk card worked fine, and Samsung throws in an extra 2GB card as well.
The Infuse 4G packs two cameras: an 8-megapixel auto-focus camera on back with a large LED flash, and a much less useful, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. There's still no good video chat program for Android, so forget the front camera. The back camera, on the other hand, was great. Test photos looked sharp, detailed, and well balanced, with crisp definition on tree levels and patio bricks outdoors. Indoors, photos were a little softer, and there was a touch of noise, but it wasn't bad. Recorded 1280-by-720-pixel (720p) and 720-by-480-pixel videos were smooth and detailed at an even 30 frames per second.
Overall, the Samsung Infuse 4G is a satisfying Android smartphone. If you like big screens, look no further. The Apple iPhone 4 ($199, 4.5 stars) lacks the Infuse 4G's larger screen and free voice navigation, but it has a smoother, more reliable OS, and the world's best third-party app selection. The HTC Inspire 4G ($99.99, 4 stars) is now $100 cheaper, it's a better voice phone, it's made of classier materials and it features HTC's better Sense UI interface. Even though the Infuse has a faster Internet connection, we prefer the Inspire overall. The Motorola Atrix 4G ($199, 4 stars) is also superior; it's the same price as the Infuse 4G, but it contains a faster, dual-core CPU and higher resolution (if slightly smaller) screen.
2011年3月29日星期二
Smartphones Demonstrated
At its EVE Fanfest gathering over the weekend, CCP Games showed off an "exploratory project" it conducted with Nvidia to run an abridged version of its MMORPG EVE Online on Tegra 2-powered tablets and smartphones.
While not a complete version of the sci-fi game, the demonstration showed a spacecraft rendered in realtime from EVE Online with a similar user interface. The Reykjavik-based developer and publisher said the mobile edition would take place in the same single-shard universe, too.
"We've been working a lot on the backend to enable EVE over http, but the problem we run into is that a lot of people seem to equate that with a web browser," said CCP's chief technology officer Halldor Fannar at a press event during EVE Fanfest, according to a report from Edge.
"It doesn't necessarily mean that – it means any of these devices can start extracting data and also writing data back. So it opens up the possibility of having dedicated applications for doing market transactions, managing your skill queue and, for instance, fitting your spaceship."
CCP did not announce a public release date for the project, nor did the company hint at releasing it for systems not powered by Nvidia's Tegra chip, like Apple's iOS devices, but it mentioned that the game could be used for EVE Online tasks like trading on the in-game market or managing skill queues.
Online game publishers like Blizzard (World of Warcraft), Sony Online Entertainment (EverQuest II), and NCsoft (Aion) have released similar mobile and browser applications for their titles that allow subscribers to manage their auctions, equipment, and other aspects when away from the games.
While not a complete version of the sci-fi game, the demonstration showed a spacecraft rendered in realtime from EVE Online with a similar user interface. The Reykjavik-based developer and publisher said the mobile edition would take place in the same single-shard universe, too.
"We've been working a lot on the backend to enable EVE over http, but the problem we run into is that a lot of people seem to equate that with a web browser," said CCP's chief technology officer Halldor Fannar at a press event during EVE Fanfest, according to a report from Edge.
"It doesn't necessarily mean that – it means any of these devices can start extracting data and also writing data back. So it opens up the possibility of having dedicated applications for doing market transactions, managing your skill queue and, for instance, fitting your spaceship."
CCP did not announce a public release date for the project, nor did the company hint at releasing it for systems not powered by Nvidia's Tegra chip, like Apple's iOS devices, but it mentioned that the game could be used for EVE Online tasks like trading on the in-game market or managing skill queues.
Online game publishers like Blizzard (World of Warcraft), Sony Online Entertainment (EverQuest II), and NCsoft (Aion) have released similar mobile and browser applications for their titles that allow subscribers to manage their auctions, equipment, and other aspects when away from the games.
Bergen County towns object to PSE&G's ugly solar panel utility poles
Towns all over New Jersey have been getting solar panels put in place on utility poles, often on residential streets.
Wow, is that ugly.
Actually, more than just ugly. Strange looking. I always thought of solar panels as discreet gray things stuck on someone's roof. I never imagined they'd be hanging over my curb like a weird cookie sheet.
PSE&G has installed 82,000 of the 180,000 panels for the project, and this is projected to double the state's solar capacity, providing 40 million watts of power, enough to supply electricity to 6,600 homes, said Al Matos, PSE&G's vice president of Renewable and Energy Solutions.
The project was all going according to plan until the installations reached Bergen County, when many towns began objecting about the eyesores these panels are creating. The panels themselves are 3x5 feet, and when perched up high on utility poles, stick out over the street.
I don't know why other towns haven't complained. You're telling me that people in Montclair and Chatham just let PSE&G slap up a bunch of hanging trays along their residential streets without uttering a word of protest?
Oradell resident Dick Joel was quite angry about the one that was put up and currently hangs over his driveway. He is particularly annoyed that PSE&G came to his town and just started erecting them without any notice.
Well, PSE&G owns the utility poles, so they have the law on their side, even though the municipalities own the land on which the pole sits. Matos stated that the law provides a clear definition that PSE&G can use the right of way to install equipment related to both the supply and distribution of electricity.
However, officials from the town of Westwood recently met with PSE&G and got them to temporarily halt the installations so locations more agreeable to residents could be investigated. Other towns are trying to do the same thing: Ridgewood is considering the Park and Ride on Route 17 and Wyckoff wants to try the roofs of public buildings. Towns need to be wary: in Fairlawn a bunch of panels were put up on one street but not on any others that did have similar conditions. So what happens to the property value of those houses? Are you going to buy a house with a big solar panel out front when you could buy one a block away that doesn't have a panel?
The utility poles chosen for the panels must have a clear southern or southwest exposure with a 120-volt line attached to it so the panel can be hooked directly into the grid. The pole can't be cluttered with other hardware, such as telephone or cable TV equipment. The panels must be installed a minimum of 15 feet off the ground to comply with safety codes. The solar energy goes directly to the homes near the panel, Matos said.
Uh oh. I have a utility pole at the end of my driveway and we get a ton of sun on our side of the street. I love my town, but I have to say my street has enough ugly stuff already. It's narrow, and there are some No Parking signs up that regulate who can park on the street during commuting hours. There are lots of utility poles, of course, with those grim, gray transformer boxes, and there are scads of wires criss-crossing over driveways and snaking into everyone's house.
But I've become used to looking at it. We've all had to get used to looking at ugly stuff. How about those cell towers that look like fir trees? Do you like those? How about big power plants with chain-link fences around them? How about parking garages, or the dump, or for that matter, strip malls. Ugly.
I don't want to be one of those "not in my back yard" types, but I am definitely one of those "not in my front yard" types. We have train stations, schools, and business centers where these things could be set up. Of course, they're still ugly, but at least they're not MY ugly.
Is it too much to ask to be "green" and somewhat aesthetic?
Wow, is that ugly.
Actually, more than just ugly. Strange looking. I always thought of solar panels as discreet gray things stuck on someone's roof. I never imagined they'd be hanging over my curb like a weird cookie sheet.
PSE&G has installed 82,000 of the 180,000 panels for the project, and this is projected to double the state's solar capacity, providing 40 million watts of power, enough to supply electricity to 6,600 homes, said Al Matos, PSE&G's vice president of Renewable and Energy Solutions.
The project was all going according to plan until the installations reached Bergen County, when many towns began objecting about the eyesores these panels are creating. The panels themselves are 3x5 feet, and when perched up high on utility poles, stick out over the street.
I don't know why other towns haven't complained. You're telling me that people in Montclair and Chatham just let PSE&G slap up a bunch of hanging trays along their residential streets without uttering a word of protest?
Oradell resident Dick Joel was quite angry about the one that was put up and currently hangs over his driveway. He is particularly annoyed that PSE&G came to his town and just started erecting them without any notice.
Well, PSE&G owns the utility poles, so they have the law on their side, even though the municipalities own the land on which the pole sits. Matos stated that the law provides a clear definition that PSE&G can use the right of way to install equipment related to both the supply and distribution of electricity.
However, officials from the town of Westwood recently met with PSE&G and got them to temporarily halt the installations so locations more agreeable to residents could be investigated. Other towns are trying to do the same thing: Ridgewood is considering the Park and Ride on Route 17 and Wyckoff wants to try the roofs of public buildings. Towns need to be wary: in Fairlawn a bunch of panels were put up on one street but not on any others that did have similar conditions. So what happens to the property value of those houses? Are you going to buy a house with a big solar panel out front when you could buy one a block away that doesn't have a panel?
The utility poles chosen for the panels must have a clear southern or southwest exposure with a 120-volt line attached to it so the panel can be hooked directly into the grid. The pole can't be cluttered with other hardware, such as telephone or cable TV equipment. The panels must be installed a minimum of 15 feet off the ground to comply with safety codes. The solar energy goes directly to the homes near the panel, Matos said.
Uh oh. I have a utility pole at the end of my driveway and we get a ton of sun on our side of the street. I love my town, but I have to say my street has enough ugly stuff already. It's narrow, and there are some No Parking signs up that regulate who can park on the street during commuting hours. There are lots of utility poles, of course, with those grim, gray transformer boxes, and there are scads of wires criss-crossing over driveways and snaking into everyone's house.
But I've become used to looking at it. We've all had to get used to looking at ugly stuff. How about those cell towers that look like fir trees? Do you like those? How about big power plants with chain-link fences around them? How about parking garages, or the dump, or for that matter, strip malls. Ugly.
I don't want to be one of those "not in my back yard" types, but I am definitely one of those "not in my front yard" types. We have train stations, schools, and business centers where these things could be set up. Of course, they're still ugly, but at least they're not MY ugly.
Is it too much to ask to be "green" and somewhat aesthetic?
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