GE has announced a 40 watt equivalent replacement bulb that uses LED technology for the light source. At a draw of only 9 watts to create the light, it is about 10% more efficient than a CFL for the same job. LED's do not contain Mercury and are therefore a greener choice in lighting.

While I am excited about this because it will lead to cheaper LED alternatives, I am sad about the current planned asking price. GE expects the bulbs to sell for around $40. A CFL with the same light output would be about $1 to $7 depending on the brand and store.

Although the life of a lightbulb is described in years, the average number of hours matters as well. GE says the new bulb will last 17 years with an average of 4 hours daily use. This means the new bulb should last about 24,800 hours, or 2.5 times as long as the equivalent CFL. Even at $7 for a CFL equivalent, the new LED costs more than twice as much for the same amount of useful hours.

I can't wait for this technology to become more mainstream. I remember in the 1990's there was a huge push toward CFL's and the prices were driven down dramatically by subsidies. This is the push LED needs if it is to become the new standard bulb in our daily lives.

Follow the related link below for more information.

As you may already know, it has been a few years since Philips dropped research into fluorescent technology in order to put it all into LED. This should make it very clear that LED is likely the next big thing in lighting.

Cree is a leader, if not "the" leader, in LED technology. As a leader in both product quality as well as light quality, you will find Cree LED's in many high end LED fixtures and devices.

Recently Cree has adapted a new contender for the lighting market, the LRM4 line of LED modules. Everything is included, so the manufacturers of the light fixtures don't have to be experts in semiconductors to make it work.

The LRM4 is also the debut of Cree's new "True White" lighting technology. By combining specially tuned red and yellow LEDs (you can actually see them in the image above) Cree is able to match the warm light from a 65 watt incandescent bulb quite well. Other advantages over fluorescent lights include longer lifespan (over 12 years before the bulb maximum output drops more than 70%) full dimming capability and even higher efficiency.

Of course, the disadvantage is likely to be the price, which Cree wouldn't disclose in a recent interview.

The lights are directional, so they're only suitable for directional lighting applications like in-ceiling lighting and desk lamps. The modules will be built into various designs by manufacturers and then those products will be available for sale "soon," probably at specialty lighting stores first.

Eventually, these lights will be arranged in diffusers, or other mounting situations that will allow a more disbursed light. For now, the spot is the only option.

There is a lot more involved with spreading the light of an LED, as the nature of a Light Emitting Diode Semiconductor is to release light in a single coherent pattern. Lasers are made from LED for this reason. As light is diffused or spread out, the brightness drops greatly. This makes an interesting puzzle for LED manufacturers and designers. The challenge is to light more area without simply adding an array of LED's and at the same time without losing a significant amount of light with reflectors or filters. Cree and others are getting very good at this.

Keep your eye out for quality LED lighting to work its way into your life very soon.

Click here for the DOE LED description, it is short and clear.

This is great! I have been working on solar for the school district since December 2008 and actively researching, working out details and holding meetings with the school board since early 2009. We are very close to installing solar for the benefit of the environment and our finances.

What Kaiser is doing is called a "Power Purchase Agreement" or PPA for short. This was my original plan to introduce solar as a potential money savings for the district. We have moved into a much higher savings scenario because of the budget crisis. We are now looking at saving tens of millions of dollars over the life of our system.

Kaiser Permanente agreed to purchase the solar power through a PPA with Recurrent Energy, which will own and operate all of the solar power systems. Citigroup, an equity investor on a portion of the projects, was a key partner in structuring the agreements between the two entities. Kaiser will purchase the solar power at a discount while the third party collects the incentives.

A PPA is a great way to get started in solar, however, if you can keep your eye on what we are about to do, (given that our bond passes), you will be amazed at the financial savings possible with solar and the right financing arrangement. All this will happen while at the same time converting 80% of our power use to one of the cleanest energy sources available.

Follow the related link below to find out a bit more about Kaisers planned system.

Many people I have spoken with since smart meters have been installed in our area ask me if I have noticed an increase in the cost of electricity. My answer from my own experience is yes, but not enough to really know if the meter is to blame or if my usage has actually increased. I have two small kids, so it is possible that my usage has gone up.

The article in the associated press identifies another concern, security.

Computer-security researchers say new "smart" meters that are designed to help deliver electricity more efficiently also have flaws that could let hackers tamper with the power grid in previously impossible ways.

At the very least, the vulnerabilities open the door for attackers to jack up strangers' power bills. These flaws also could get hackers a key step closer to exploiting one of the most dangerous capabilities of the new technology, which is the ability to remotely turn someone else's power on and off.

... an attacker could sit near a home or business and wirelessly hack the meter from a laptop, according to Joshua Wright, a senior security analyst with InGuardians Inc. The firm was hired by three utilities to study their smart meters' resistance to attack.

But many security researchers say the technology is being deployed without enough security probing.

Wright said his firm found "egregious" errors, such as flaws in the meters and the technologies that utilities use to manage data from meters. "Even though these protocols were designed recently, they exhibit security failures we've known about for the past 10 years," Wright said.

As long as we are connected to the power grid, we are subject to the choices the utility company makes. These are the growing pains of those choices. Lets all keep an eye on the situation.

To read the full AP article, follow the related link.

What can or should you do during earth hour? I don't know exactly either, but here are some suggestions:

- Have a candle light dinner

- Play games

- Tell stories

- Get some friends together for a game night

- Look at photo albums (non-electronic)

- Go outside for some stargazing

Spot the Space Station
Make a Star Finder