Calgary among world’s highest CO2 emitters

CBC News Article – April 6, 2010

Calgary produces more carbon dioxide per person in an urban setting than smog-filled Mexico City or New York City, according to a report by the United Nations.

Going by new international measuring standards, Calgary produces 17.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, ranking it fifth-highest in a comparison of 50 global cities.

Toronto and Vancouver, the only other Canadian cities surveyed, had emissions of 9.5 tonnes and 4.9 tonnes, respectively. That brings them near the middle of the pack, along with Tokyo and Mexico City.

The electrical grids in those cities run on hydro or nuclear power, whereas Calgary relies on coal-fired electrical plants that create more emissions.

“Calgarians get their power from burning coal. They live in a fairly sprawling city and because we have large homes and we really have no climate regulations in Canada, it’s not surprising at all,” said Chris Severson-Baker of the Pembina Institute on Tuesday.

“Every time they turn on the lights, turn on their TV, they’re essentially burning coal, and that is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and something we could do a lot of work on to reduce.”

The UN Environment Programme report was prepared for last month’s World Urban Forum. Only Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Denver and Rotterdam, Netherlands produced more CO2 than Calgary, according to the study.

“It is not a good position for the city to be in,” said Rick Ciezki, the City of Calgary’s manager of environmental assessment and liabilities. “Obviously we want to improve that and drop lower, if not completely off the list.”

The UN used statistics from 2003 provided by the city. Even taking into account green initiatives — such as wind power running the C-Train system and greening the city’s corporate electricity use by 2012 — Ciezki said the UN’s rating is likely fair.

“I wouldn’t dispute them necessarily. We do have a higher emission number and higher ecological footprint. I think the thing to emphasize here is the work we’re doing to reduce that,” he said.

Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice, who is an MP for Calgary, acknowledged the city’s high ranking also comes from Calgarians’ heavy use of vehicles.

“In any city there’s certainly room for improvement,” he said from Ottawa.

Higher density, fewer emissions

The UN findings suggest cities with higher densities such as New York City generate fewer emissions per person.

Calgary Ald. Brian Pincott, who sits on the city’s environment committee, said higher density — in general, where residences, amenities, and public transit are built close together — can help, but only if it’s done correctly.

“What does that density look like? What does the transportation look like? Where do you actually buy your groceries? Where are your schools? Do you walk to those things? Where are your jobs?” said Pincott.

“How do you live in relation to public transit? It’s those kinds of things that have to go into making a sustainable, viable, livable city.”

LED Light Works launch new, comprehensive LED website

LED Light Works have launched their new website, www.ledlightworks.ca, which is set to lead the way in online LED information, products and services both nationwide and internationally.

The new, user friendly website is a comprehensive resource for businesses that are looking to reduce their electricity bills and go green. LED Light Works have created an online platform that not only educates customers on the newest evolution in lighting but also provides a cornucopia of resources. These include a profile of their diverse product range, lighting solutions, an interactive news facility, and social networking links that allow users the option of keeping up to date with company news and international LED research and development.

LED Light Works have developed a complete resource for customers including Government and Council, Architects, Builders and Developers and a variety of commercial and industrial entities. According to Sales and Marketing Director, Kevin Day, the company is excited to offer customers such a comprehensive online tool.

“We have developed the website into a user friendly, all-inclusive resource for a variety of businesses who are interested in reducing their electricity bills and becoming aware of their carbon footprint”, said Kevin.

“LED Lighting is an exciting technology that enables businesses to reduce their electricity costs whilst supporting environmental sustainability, less electricity means less carbon emissions. LED lights do not contain any toxic chemicals and are also completely recyclable and are definitely the way of the future. We are excited to be launching our new website and range of products and are confident that our website will become a great resource to our customers”.

LED lights are available for use in all applications and on average use 90% less electricity and last 5 times longer than conventional lights. In addition they generate very little heat, and minimal ultra violet light, making them significantly safer while at the same time reducing carbon emissions and lessening our impact on the environment.

LED Light Works strive to lead by example by running an environmentally responsible business while presenting an environmentally beneficial product to the general market. In addition to their product range they also offer consultative services which include lighting audits and lighting assessments. These services are designed to ensure that their client’s infrastructure is LED ready and that proposed lighting solutions are tailored to their business needs, applications and environments.

LED Light Works is giving homes and businesses worldwide the “green light” to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Their website plays a primary role in this initiative and proves to be an informative and valuable online resource by providing comprehensive information on LED technology, products and services.

For further information please visit www.ledlightworks.ca or email info@ledlightworks.com.au

Australia leads world in carbon emissions

Scientists blame an increasing use of coal for the continuing rise in carbon emissions. Read more

The vision was alive… even in 2005!

Sydney Morning Herald Article April 15th 2005

If a time traveller from a hundred years ago were to visit a home today, much of the technology would be completely alien. The television, cordless phone and computer would probably leave him flabbergasted. But on seeing a light bulb, he might say, “Ah! Here’s something I recognise. A few of those grace my home, too.”

If the visitor comes back in 15 years, the fruit of Thomas Edison’s bright idea may be gone. The likely replacement: light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

LED lamps were unthinkable until the technology cleared a major hurdle just a dozen years ago. Since then, LEDs have evolved quickly and are being adapted for many uses, including pool illumination and reading lights, as evidenced at the Lightfair trade show here this week. More widespread use could lead to big energy savings and a minor revolution in the way we think about lighting.

LEDs have been around since the 1960s, but have mostly been relegated to showing the time in an alarm clock or the battery level of a video camera.

They haven’t been used as sources of illumination because they, for a long time, could not produce white light – only red, green and yellow. Nichia Chemical of Japan changed that in 1993 when it started producing blue LEDs, which combined with red and green produce white light, opening up a whole new field for the technology.

And the industry has been quick to exploit it. LEDs are based on semiconductor technology, just like computer processors, and are increasing in brightness, energy efficiency and longevity in a way that is reminiscent of the way each year’s new crop of processors is faster and cheaper.

Just this week, researchers at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, said they had boosted the light output per watt of a white LED to almost six times that of an incandescent light bulb, beating even a compact fluorescent bulb in efficiency.

The current generation of mass-produced white LEDs is not as effective. It is about twice as good as a light bulb of the same wattage, but the energy savings aren’t enough to overcome the major drawback of being expensive.

“It’s hard to convince consumers based on energy savings alone,” said Nadarajah Narendran, director of lighting research at Rensselaer. “If you look at compact fluorescent lamps, they’re four times as efficient as incandescent lights, and how many homes have those? It has less than 5 percent penetration.”

But development is brisk, and the US Department of Energy has estimated that LED lighting could cut national energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent by 2025. The total savings on US household electric bills until then would be $US125 billion ($A162.49 billion). LEDs have other advantages that are propelling them into niche uses, despite their upfront cost.

Current white LEDs will last up to 50,000 hours, about 50 times as long as a 60-watt bulb. That’s almost six years if they’re on constantly. Hotels are interested in using LEDs in bedside lamps to save them the trouble of replacing burned-out bulbs, said Jim Anderson of Lamina Ceramics, which showed off a 6-watt array of LEDs that produce light equivalent to a 20-watt halogen bulb.

LEDs are also durable. Being solid-state, they can resist the vibrations in aircraft and cars, according to Narendran, who has worked with Boeing on designs for aircraft cabins.

General Electric and smaller iLight Technologies of Evanston, Illinois, make glowing LED signs that look like neon.

Neon lighting is a leading cause of fires at restaurants and the signs are vulnerable to vandalism. By contrast, LED signs made of Plexiglas are tough. At the trade show, iLight exhibited an LED sign that still worked after taking a blast from a shotgun.

The feature of LEDs likely to propel them into homes is aesthetic, not practical. Arrays that mix red, green and blue LEDs can produce any color of the rainbow. Instead of a dimmer, you might have three sliding knobs that let you mix color.

“On a very hot day you might want blue light to cool it down a bit, or on a winter day you may want to simulate sunlight,” said Steve Landau of Lumileds Lighting, an LED-making joint venture of Agilent Technologies and Philips Lighting.

Qantas Airways the Australian airline, recently outfitted its first-class cabin with LED lighting that shines a deep blue when it is time to sleep. A system like that would be too expensive for most homes, but industry experts believe the price will come down in a few years as the technology develops.

“We are still in a very young research environment,” said Norbert Hiller, vice president at Cree Inc. of Durham, N.C., which produces blue and green LEDs. “Our researchers keep surprising us.”

Governments & councils lead by example & reduce their electricity usage and carbon emissions

Governments & councils the world-over are realising the need to lead by example and reduce their electricity usage and carbon emissions. The municipality of Ann Arbor Michigan is one of several communities leading the charge: Read more

US Government realises the need for change and is putting its money where it’s mouth is

The US government realises the need for change and is putting its money where it’s mouth is, ensuring that the research and further development of solid state (LED) lighting is well funded and a priority for the scientific community.
Read more

LED lighting already adorns some of the world’s most recognisable structures

The Singapore Wheel, The CN Tower, The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Plaza, and the Times Square News Years “Ball” are all great examples.

Another fantastic and aesthetically stunning example of LED lighting at its best is the Globen Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Read more