Students and staff will use the urinal to fuel microbial fuel cell (MFC) stacks that generate electricity to power indoor lighting.

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A university and Oxfam are showing the world the benefit of pee power, which could be used to light up the world's refugee camps through urine. The university involved previously demonstrated how urine could be used to power a mobile phone.

A toilet, conveniently situated near the student union bar at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is proving pee can generate electricity.

The prototype urinal is the result of a partnership between researchers at UWE Bristol and Oxfam. It is hoped the pee power technology can be used to light cubicles in refugee camps, which are often dark and dangerous places, particularly for women.

Students and staff will use the urinal to fuel microbial fuel cell (MFC) stacks that generate electricity to power indoor lighting. The research team is led by professor Ioannis Ieropoulos, director of the Bristol BioEnergy Centre, located in the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at UWE Bristol.

Ieropoulos said: We have already proved that this way of generating electricity works. Work by the Bristol BioEnergy Centre hit the headlines in 2013 when the team demonstrated that electricity generated by microbial fuel cell stacks could power a mobile phone. This exciting project with Oxfam could have a huge impact in refugee camps.

The microbial fuel cells work by employing live microbes which feed on urine (the fuel) for their own growth and maintenance. The MFC is in effect a system which taps a portion of that biochemical energy used for microbial growth, and converts that directly into electricity - what the researchers are calling urine-tricity or pee power.

Ieropoulos said: This technology is about as green as it gets, as we do not need to utilise fossil fuels and we are effectively using a waste product that will be in plentiful supply.

The urinal on the university campus resembles a toilet used in refugee camps by Oxfam to make the trial as realistic as possible. The technology that converts the urine into power sits underneath the urinal and can be viewed through a clear screen.

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Oxfam and UWE show how pee power can be used to light up refugee camps

Lutz, Florida (PRWEB) March 06, 2015

VOLT Lighting, a leading online provider of indoor and outdoor lighting products, announced today a new line of LED landscape lighting kits. The name of this line, the VOLT Brass Lifetime series, describes the durable cast brass construction of the kit lighting fixtures and the lifetime warranties they carry.

Jesse Harper from the VOLT product development team describes why the kits were developed, Through customer feedback we learned that both homeowners and professionals have a need for all-inclusive landscape lighting kits. Such kits do exist, but they all have low quality components. Retailers would rather market a kit with a low price point than try to sell high quality to the mass market. Our factory direct model makes it possible to produce true lifetime kits at affordable prices. They feature cast brass fixtures, waterproof connectors, and robust power supplies with simple control units. These kits are perfect for anyone who wants an easy-to-install pro quality landscape lighting system.

VOLT Lighting now produces 5 kits designed by in-house lighting experts. They vary in size and composition. Three of the kits are optimized for small, medium, and large landscape lighting projects and contain a combination of spotlights and path/area lights. The remaining two kits include one with only path lights, and the other with only spotlights. This simplified approach to kit design is meant to make kit selection simple and easy.

The VOLT lights all feature energy-efficient LED light sources. These sources consume about 85% less energy than older halogen-type lights. This represents significant cost savings for the homeowner. The cost savings are realized year after year since the fixtures carry a lifetime warranty and never need replacement.

Harper continues, These kits are welcomed by both do-it-yourselfers and those in the lighting profession. Both groups appreciate the cost savings compared to buying individual components. They also enjoy the time savings of letting VOLT put the components together, and they value the easy-to-follow instructions. If questions do arise, our technical and sales support staff is on hand 7 days a week.

The VOLT LED landscape lighting kits represent a new product category for the company. This follows the recent addition of other new categories that include commercial, industrial, and security lighting. While the company maintains a strong focus in the landscape lighting sector, it continues to develop the resources to further expand its lighting lines.

About VOLT Lighting VOLT Lighting, a factory-direct lighting manufacturer, receives high ratings and glowing reviews for its products and services. With a focus on superior execution, aggressive product development, and best-in-class customer service, the company dominates the e-commerce lighting space. More information at http://www.voltlighting.com.

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VOLT Lighting Releases LED Landscape Lighting Kits Featuring Cast Brass Construction & Lifetime Warranties Designed ...

GCell discusses their Photovoltaics Technologies and Markets
GCell shows an iPad keyboard powered by their photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic technology is based on DSSCs which operate efficiently at low light level...

By: IDTechEx

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GCell discusses their Photovoltaics Technologies and Markets - Video

Indoor Portraits w/ One Light
In this episode, we continue to talk about lighting while I shoot some portraits of Molly at home with one light. Don #39;t forget to subscribe! Also, connect wi...

By: Matt Day

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Indoor Portraits w/ One Light - Video

FDR-AX33 Indoor Lighting Test with Roch Blouin
The Sony FDR-AX33 4k UHD camcorder Indoor Lighting Test with Roch Blouin from Sun-N-Fun.

By: Craig Shipp

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FDR-AX33 Indoor Lighting Test with Roch Blouin - Video

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 04, 2015

Representatives with Alcon Lighting announced today that the company has added new LED high and low Bay lighting for office lighting applications.

Alcon Lighting's Indoor High and Low Bay Lighting luminaries are designed for applications with ceilings of 20 feet or higher, said Steve Hakimi, Director of Sales for Alcon Lighting. Alcon Lighting's LED High Bay lighting fixtures provide specific light patterns for many applications, including maintenance lighting, warehouse lighting, recreation center lighting, hangar lighting, storage lighting and office lighting.

Alcon Lighting, an e-commerce LED lighting distributor geared toward trade processionals like lighting designers, architects, electricians, interior designers and contractors, specializes in high-end energy efficient architectural LED lighting products.

Alcon Lighting's fixtures, according to Hakimi, provide industrial and commercial lighting to help improve safety and energy efficiency while enhancing productivity.

The new Office Lighting fixtures can be viewed at: http://www.alconlighting.com/alc-d910.html and http://www.alconlighting.com/alc-round-led.html.

So what's the difference between high and low bay lighting?

When choosing between a low bay light and a high bay light, the most important factor to consider is the height of the ceiling where the light will be mounted, Hakimi stressed, before adding, Typically, a low bay light is used where the ceiling height is between 15 and 25 feet. High bay lights are used with ceiling heights of 20 to 40 feet. The illumination of light will differ between high bays and low bays and it is always important to choose the right one.

For more information, please visit: http://www.alconlighting.com/blog/

About Alcon Lighting

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Alcon Lighting Introduces LED High and Low Bay Lighting for Office Lighting Applications

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. IAQ can be affected by gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions. Source control, filtration and the use of ventilation to dilute contaminants are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. Residential units can further improve indoor air quality by routine cleaning of carpets and area rugs. EPA has guidelines for frequency of cleaning based on traffic, number of household members, pets, children and smokers. Carpets and rugs act like an air filter and must be cleaned.

Determination of IAQ involves the collection of air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collection of samples on building surfaces, and computer modelling of air flow inside buildings.

IAQ is part of indoor environmental quality (IEQ), which includes IAQ as well as other physical and psychological aspects of life indoors (e.g., lighting, visual quality, acoustics, and thermal comfort).[1]

Indoor air pollution in developing nations is by far the most deadly risk globally. A major source of indoor air pollution in developing countries is the burning of biomass (e.g. wood, charcoal, dung, or crop residue) for heating and cooking.[2] The resulting exposure to high levels of particulate matter resulted in between 1.5 million and 2 million deaths in 2000.[3]

Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke which affects other people other than the 'active' smoker. Second-hand tobacco smoke includes both a gaseous and a particulate phase, with particular hazards arising from levels of carbon monoxide (as indicated below) and very small particulates (at PM2.5 size) which get past the lung's natural defenses. The only certain method to improve indoor air quality as regards second-hand smoke is the implementation of comprehensive smoke-free laws.

Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves. Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United States and Europe, probably responsible for tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year.[4] There are relatively simple tests for radon gas, but these tests are not commonly made available, even in areas of known systematic hazards. Radon is a heavy gas and thus will tend to accumulate at the floor level. Building materials can actually be a significant source of radon, but little testing is carried out for stone, rock or tile products brought into building sites; radon accumulation is greatest for well insulated homes.[5] The half life for radon is 3.8 days, indicating that once the source is removed, the hazard will be greatly reduced within a few weeks. Radon mitigation methods include sealing concrete slab floors, basement foundations, water drainage systems, or by increasing ventilation.[6] They are usually cost effective and can greatly reduce or even eliminate the contamination and the associated health risks.

Main articles: Mold health issues, Mold growth, assessment, and remediation

These biological chemicals can arise from a host of means, but there are two common classes: (a) moisture induced growth of mold colonies and (b) natural substances released into the air such as animal dander and plant pollen. Moisture buildup inside buildings may arise from water penetrating compromised areas of the building envelope or skin, from plumbing leaks, from condensation due to improper ventilation, or from ground moisture penetrating a building part. In areas where cellulosic materials (paper and wood, including drywall) become moist and fail to dry within 48 hours, mold mildew can propagate and release allergenic spores into the air.

In many cases, if materials have failed to dry out several days after the suspected water event, mold growth is suspected within wall cavities even if it is not immediately visible. Through a mold investigation, which may include destructive inspection, one should be able to determine the presence or absence of mold. In a situation where there is visible mold and the indoor air quality may have been compromised, mold remediation may be needed. Mold testing and inspections should be carried out by an independent investigator to avoid any conflict of interest and to insure accurate results; free mold testing offered by remediation companies is not recommended.

There are some varieties of mold that contain toxic compounds (mycotoxins). However, exposure to hazardous levels of mycotoxin via inhalation is not possible in most cases, as toxins are produced by the fungal body and are not at significant levels in the released spores. The primary hazard of mold growth, as it relates to indoor air quality, comes from the allergenic properties of the spore cell wall. More serious than most allergenic properties is the ability of mold to trigger episodes in persons that already have asthma, a serious respiratory disease.

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Indoor air quality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We received the Sun Portal system just in time for a storm power outage! We installed it in a few hours. The installation process was straightforward. Once installed and charged it functioned perfectly.

It was fabulous to have this bright light in our kitchen/family room during those dark nights. It was easy to read, work and cook by this light, even after many hours of use. It recharges completely during the day, even on cloudy days. It was a great comfort with the power out. The Sun Portal casts such a nice light we use it often, on a daily basis, now that the power is back on.

The system was complete as shipped. It was packaged very well for safe transit, with all of the necessary parts and with clear and precise instructions. It even came with a long drill bit to make the small hole in the outside wall, which is needed to connect the outdoor solar panel to the indoor light and storage battery unit, and with clear silicone sealant. That was a very thoughtful and nice touch. The installation instructions guided us step by step. The location of the solar panel on the outside wall is not too critical, since the panel has a very high output capacity for charging the battery. The location of the light on the inside wall is somewhat more critical, since you want the light to be in spot that can reach and fill the entire space - very handy in a power outage! We put the light above the TV on our southeast wall. The light was bright enough to reach our stove, sink and countertops more than 20 feet away. It does not interfere with viewing the TV. The integral shade does a nice job of diffusing the light.

Once installed and charged, the light worked very well. We love it! It is an attractive fixture and the very high efficiency LEDs throw a lot of light into the room. We have been enjoying this new addition to our home, especially knowing that we are using energy directly from the sun in our own backyard!

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LightPortal Indoor Solar Lighting System - Landscape ...

The new PDA015N constant current waterproof LED drivers are compatible with virtually all leading edge, trailing edge, & smart dimmers, eliminating flicker, shimmer, & reduced dimming ranges in both indoor & outdoor lighting fixtures

Fremont, CA-- Phihong USA, a leading global supplier of energy efficient OEM power and lighting solutions, has introduced a new series of 15W TRIAC-dimmable constant current LED drivers for residential lighting applications. Compatible with virtually all leading edge, trailing edge, and smart dimmer technologies, the PDA015N Series LED drivers provide energy efficient, flicker- and shimmer-free performance for a wide range of residential LED fixtures, including indoor and outdoor downlights and area lights.

Rated for 15W output power, PDA015N Series LED drivers are available with three constant current outputs (350mA, 700mA, and 1000mA), and are designed to operate using 108132VAC and 0.3A input power to deliver 80% efficiency at 120VAC with a power factor of> 0.9 and total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 20%.

"Designed to work with all types of residential dimmers, our newest series of TRIAC-dimmable drivers features a proprietary design that eliminates many of the problems lighting designers experience when using conventional LED drivers, such as flickering, shimmering, and reduced dimming range," said Keith Hopwood, vice president of Phihong. "Compatible dimmers for the new series include: Lutron's Diva, Skylark, Nova, Glider, Maestro, and Radiora2 products, as well as Leviton's Diva, Rotary, Sureslide, and Illumatech series."

Covered by a three-year warranty, PDA015N Series LED drivers feature over-voltage, over-current, overload, and short-circuit protection, and are certified to Class 2 UL1310 safety specifications. Exhibiting both high performance and energy efficiency standards, the series is approved for use in Energy Star products and qualifies for a variety of state energy department and utility company rebates.

PDA015N Series LED drivers measure 80mm x 78mm x 25.2mm (3.15in x 3.07in x 0.99in) and weigh 165g (5.82oz). Operating temperatures for the series span 0C to +85C, and pricing for single unit quantities starts at $22.79 through Phihong distributors.

For more information about Phihong's new PDA015N Series 15W TRIAC-dimmable LED drivers, please visit http://www.phihong.com/assets/pdf/PDA015N.pdf to access the datasheet. For all other inquiries, please visit http://www.phihong.com/LED, email sales@phihongusa.com, call 510-445-0100, or write to Phihong USA at 47800 Fremont Blvd., Fremont CA 94538.

About Phihong Phihong is a global leader in the development of world-class power solutions, with annual revenue of $500 Million. A leading supplier of LED drivers, lighting controllers, and power OEM lighting solutions, Phihong serves both the residential and commercial lighting markets and has a global reach, with design labs, manufacturing facilities, and sales support centers in California, New York, The Netherlands, China, Japan, and Taiwan.

For more information, contact: Allen Tsao Distribution Sales Manager, Phihong USA (510) 445-0100 allent@phihongusa.com

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TRIAC-Dimmable LED Drivers deliver 15 W output.

Harbor City, CA (PRWEB) February 24, 2015

Noribachi, a leading U.S.-based custom LED manufacturer for high output commercial and industrial solutions, scores with its custom indoor sports LED lighting solution for the new Outbreak Soccer Center in Signal Hill, CA (http://www.outbreaksoccercenters.com).

The facility was a former industrial warehouse that was converted to an indoor soccer center. After we bought the building, the first thing we did was upgrade the lighting, said Trent Bryson, Owner, Outbreak Soccer Center. We offer soccer training, pickup games and speed and agility sessions. Our goal is to provide an environment that encourages fun and soccer skill building, and proper lighting is key to that. With the installation of the new lighting, we have functional LED lighting for soccer that looks cool and will provide a long-term reduction in our fixed costs.

For the project, Noribachi applied its Bespoke Engineered and Specifically Tailored manufacturing methodology to engineer 16 custom indoor LED lighting fixtures to replace the existing warehouse metal halide lighting. Each proprietary Highbay.N indoor fixture has full dimming controls and features an uplight, with a 3,129 lumen output and a downlight with a 35,448 lumen output. The fixture design also complements the modern feel of the soccer center with a layered square design, aluminum housing, hanging chain attachments and durable acrylic lenses.

We have engineered indoor sports LED lighting for a variety of facilities and know how to build to specific requirements to ensure proper illumination and safety, said Troy Hesselgesser, VP of Business Development, Noribachi. This was an exciting project for us because it gave us the opportunity to design the indoor LED lighting fixtures as well as engineer the LED light engines to provide the perfect lighting solution for the Outbreak Soccer Center and their members.

About Noribachi: U.S.-based Noribachi is a leading custom LED manufacturer for high output commercial and industrial solutions. Noribachi applies a Bespoke Engineered & Specifically Tailored (BEST) methodology to deliver unlimited LED lighting applications.

Noribachi is dedicated to improving the lighting industry by incorporating design and technology to our BEST lighting solutions. For more information, visit http://www.noribachi.com

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Noribachi Scores With Outbreak Soccer Center's Custom Indoor Sports LED Lighting Solution