With some materials and airflow design enhancements, Eternaleds Inc. has cut the cost of LED light bulbs by about 40%. This means a return on investment over incandescent of only 2 years. Up till now, the pay back for the difference in cost has been 3 to 4 years depending on the average number of hours the light is used.

The Eternaleds Quanta-9 uses 9W to provide the light equivalent of 50W incandescent floodlights while the Quanta-18 uses 18W to provide the light equivalent of 100W incandescent floodlights. Both have a rated lifetime of 35,000 hours.

Read the press release at the related link below.

If you would like to offset your carbon footprint from air travel, you will be able to buy tree plantings right at the airport. The funds will go to local carbon offset projects and the Garcia River Forest, a previously deforested conservation based management project.

From: renewableenergyworld.com

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Novato-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a solar electric system at the newly completed Rohnert Park City Center Plaza. City Center Plaza is adjacent to the public safety building and the library, three-quarters of an acre filled with benches, a fountain, water spout for children and a small lawn area.

Novato-based SolarCraft designed and installed a solar electric system at the newly completed Rohnert Park City Center Plaza to power all common area lightening and the fountain pump.

The solar energy system installed by SolarCraft utilizes SunPower 225 watt solar panels, the most efficient panel on the market today. The new system powers all common area lighting as well as the fountain pump. The system is mounted on custom-built pedestals to blend with the aesthetics of the Plaza.
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The Panasonic EverLED. This bulb is expected to produce the light equivalent of a 40watt incandescent for up to 19 years of regular use. The expected savings is listed as up to $23 a year on energy bills. This is great since they are expecting the bulb to sell for $40.

This is technology that we need to watch.

I could not find an article with much more information than I have shared here. The bulb is supposed to debut in Japan in October this year.

Governor Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the new legislature approved energy standard because it limits power production to inside the state only. The Governor plans to issue an executive order for 33% of the states power to be produced by renewable sources by 2020 without the in-state limit.

Either way, California will end up with the largest renewable energy standard in the country. The state is already requiring its largest utilities to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2010 - a goal none of them are likely to meet.