Literally and figuratively one of the quietest films you’ll ever see, the award-winning Korean documentary “Planet of Snail” offers a precious moment of clarity and simplicity amid a chaotic and poisonous summer, and tells an unforgettable love story to boot. Director Yi Seung-jun’s gorgeously photographed slice-of-life film is a contemplative experience, to be sure, but never a taxing or challenging one. If “Planet of Snail” implies or suggests profound questions about love and the human condition and how we think about ability and disability, it does so in 88 minutes and without sentimentality or heavy philosophy.
About halfway through the film, Young-chan and Soon-ho, the married couple at the center of “Planet of Snail,” need to change an overhead fluorescent bulb in their bedroom. This task poses logistical problems for them that few of us can imagine. Soon-ho is a tiny, gnomelike person with a spinal deformity, probably less than 4 feet tall. Young-chan is a long-limbed, lanky fellow with the distracted air of an intellectual; he’s easily tall enough to reach the light fixture, but he can neither see nor hear.
Between them they eventually manage to get the bulb changed, with no major mishaps. It takes quite a while, since every time Young-chan gets something wrong — a cord is in the way, or the bulb is incorrectly mounted — Soon-ho must tug on his sleeve so he’ll lower himself enough for her to offer advice by tapping on the backs of his fingers, using a system known as finger Braille or tactile sign language. They never, however, resort to the cursing or impatience or constant distraction that might attend you or me trying to do the same task much more quickly.
If you’re guiltily thinking that there might be some inherent comedy in the spectacle of a blind man changing a light bulb, you needn’t worry. Soon-ho, who seems to have a wry, detached perspective on the difficulties of her life with Young-chan, quietly gets the giggles several times. It might sound faintly condescending to say that the whole scene is one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen in a motion picture, as if I were marveling at the fact that people with severe disabilities can cope with everyday chores. Honestly, what I felt was gratitude: to Yi, the filmmaker, for allowing me to share this time with the couple, and to Soon-ho and Young-chan, for the reminder that the really important thing about being alive is how you relate to other people and the world around you, rather than how many tasks you complete or how quickly.
Last year, a lowly university parking garage won high praise for reducing its energy use by 63 percent, saving almost $35,000 in utility costs. How did the University of Central Florida do it? By replacing the lights in the parking garage with a combination of fluorescent and LED bulbs. Not only did the school save money but the new bulbs produced better light as well. Collectively, the 245 participants in the 2011 contest saved $5.2 million on their utility bills and prevented nearly 30,000 metric tons in carbon dioxide emissions.
The EPA contest focuses on commercial buildings because they're responsible for about 20 percent of the nation's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually in energy bills. By improving the energy efficiency of schools, offices, hospitals and retail stores, competitors can reduce energy waste and save on utility bills while protecting the environment and people's health, says the EPA. Competitors range from a Kmart store on the island of St. Thomas to a crime lab in Phoenix to a federal office building in Nome, Alaska.
2012年10月31日 星期三
Local Legend 'The Great Morgani' Has 130 Costumes
Behind the crazy costumes of Santa Cruz's street performer "The Great Morgani" is a fashion lover and community representative.
Known as “The Great Morgani” by the Santa Cruz community, Frank Lima, 69, has been performing as an accordion extraordinaire for 15 years.
“People want to see the spectacle,” said Lima. “Oh what shoes is he wearing now? I have to create a fashion monster.”
Playing the accordion to entertain others is Lima’s hobby, and he is often spotted on Pacific Avenue, or at farmers markets. With 42 accordions, 130 costumes and over 1,200 songs, every performance is different.
One of Lima’s favorite parts of being a street performer is seeing the crowd react to his songs and his all-out costumes.
“I always feel that the crowd is entertaining me,” he said. “I love watching peoples’ reactions.”
Lima isn’t just like any street performer. Standing atop a mini-stage on Pacific Avenue, Lima dons a full-body costume of crazy patterns and intricate accessories.
“I just wanted to have this look and get more elaborate,” he said. “I have a lot of creative energy.”
Covered with about 100 cones, his “making a point” costume that he made for a Santa Cruz fashion show is one of Lima’s most memorable. The cool colors – turquoise, cobalt blue and magenta – react to fluorescent lights.
Although they sometimes take up to 100 hours of work, Lima said, “My passion is the costumes. The music is very easy for me.”
On Saturday at the Willow Glen Farmers Market, Lima wore his “Flower Powered” outfit, featuring a coral hibiscus flower fabric that covered his body and accordion as well as a bike.
As a kid, Lima learned how to sew by watching his mother who was a great seamstress, he said. His mother upholstered his U-shaped couch that has about 32 cushions.
“Her stitches were so fine you could wear it inside out,” said Lima. “But you don’t want to see the backside of my costumes.”
“Could I get away with this in Fresno, CA? Or would I want to? I don’t think so,” he said.
Santa Cruz is ripe with artistic minds, expressing themselves in any way possible. When tourists come, Lima said they give him the strangest looks. In the eyes of tourists and locals alike, Lima hopes to represent Santa Cruz in a positive light.
“I want to do the best I can performing,” said Lima. “I feel that I am representing myself as a musician, but I’m also representing Santa Cruz. I want to do something positive. I don’t want to be scaring little kids.”
Even though Lima is not a kid person himself, he likes to entertain them and leave smiles on their faces.
“Little kids, I see their eyes get really big and I think they’re going to cry, so I try to wave at them. I try to establish trust,” he said.
Four years ago when Lima was performing, a 3-year-old girl named Emily showed up with a little accordion and started playing next to him. When her father asked Lima to come to Emily’s birthday party, he showed up to a room full of 4-year-olds with their own accordions. To this day Emily comes to perform with Lima.
Known as “The Great Morgani” by the Santa Cruz community, Frank Lima, 69, has been performing as an accordion extraordinaire for 15 years.
“People want to see the spectacle,” said Lima. “Oh what shoes is he wearing now? I have to create a fashion monster.”
Playing the accordion to entertain others is Lima’s hobby, and he is often spotted on Pacific Avenue, or at farmers markets. With 42 accordions, 130 costumes and over 1,200 songs, every performance is different.
One of Lima’s favorite parts of being a street performer is seeing the crowd react to his songs and his all-out costumes.
“I always feel that the crowd is entertaining me,” he said. “I love watching peoples’ reactions.”
Lima isn’t just like any street performer. Standing atop a mini-stage on Pacific Avenue, Lima dons a full-body costume of crazy patterns and intricate accessories.
“I just wanted to have this look and get more elaborate,” he said. “I have a lot of creative energy.”
Covered with about 100 cones, his “making a point” costume that he made for a Santa Cruz fashion show is one of Lima’s most memorable. The cool colors – turquoise, cobalt blue and magenta – react to fluorescent lights.
Although they sometimes take up to 100 hours of work, Lima said, “My passion is the costumes. The music is very easy for me.”
On Saturday at the Willow Glen Farmers Market, Lima wore his “Flower Powered” outfit, featuring a coral hibiscus flower fabric that covered his body and accordion as well as a bike.
As a kid, Lima learned how to sew by watching his mother who was a great seamstress, he said. His mother upholstered his U-shaped couch that has about 32 cushions.
“Her stitches were so fine you could wear it inside out,” said Lima. “But you don’t want to see the backside of my costumes.”
“Could I get away with this in Fresno, CA? Or would I want to? I don’t think so,” he said.
Santa Cruz is ripe with artistic minds, expressing themselves in any way possible. When tourists come, Lima said they give him the strangest looks. In the eyes of tourists and locals alike, Lima hopes to represent Santa Cruz in a positive light.
“I want to do the best I can performing,” said Lima. “I feel that I am representing myself as a musician, but I’m also representing Santa Cruz. I want to do something positive. I don’t want to be scaring little kids.”
Even though Lima is not a kid person himself, he likes to entertain them and leave smiles on their faces.
“Little kids, I see their eyes get really big and I think they’re going to cry, so I try to wave at them. I try to establish trust,” he said.
Four years ago when Lima was performing, a 3-year-old girl named Emily showed up with a little accordion and started playing next to him. When her father asked Lima to come to Emily’s birthday party, he showed up to a room full of 4-year-olds with their own accordions. To this day Emily comes to perform with Lima.
2012年10月25日 星期四
Work set to begin on Columbia Pike face-lift
Drivers on busy Columbia Pike in Arlington can expect years of construction delays as the county prepares to give the entire neighborhood a face-lift.
Construction is set to begin in August between South Wakefield Street and South Four Mile Run Drive, where crews place utility lines underground, widen sidewalks, plant trees and install street lights, benches and bike racks.
But the $7 million, 18-month project is only a small part of the planned Pike-wide makeover. The county has a total of $80 million set aside for street improvements on the road that stretches westward from the Pentagon to the Fairfax County line.
"To complete the entire 3.5 miles of Columbia Pike is going to take three to four years," said William Roberts, who manages transportation projects for the county. "It's going to be done in phases."
From the short-term pain of construction will come long-term gain, county officials said.
"These street improvements bring us one step closer to realizing Arlington's vision for an accessible, diverse and vibrant Columbia Pike," Arlington board Chairwoman Mary Hynes said earlier.
The county is also installing larger, more comfortable bus stops and energy-efficient LED streetlights on the Pike. And roadwork may stretch even longer if the county board adopts a plan Monday to install a $249 million streetcar system.
"First all the utilities have to go underground, then you have the streetcar. So it's going to take a while," said Kamal Taktak, who will oversee the utility project and who promised work would be done only during non-rush hours and at night.
The county board is expected to vote on the streetcar Monday. A report issued earlier this month promised that the streetcar would generate hundreds of millions in property tax revenues and other benefits.
But critics complain the streetcar will cost too much; others worry the increased development will push out poorer residents along the Pike and change the street's historic character.
"We don't want Columbia Pike so gentrified that we drive away small businesses, like car repair shops or small venues that have been here for years, only to be replaced with chain restaurants," said Sarah McKinley, vice president of Arlington's Columbia Heights Civic Association, in a letter to the county board.
According to an arrest affidavit, a Ouachita Parish Sheriff's deputy approached a vehicle sitting in the median on U.S. 165 early Saturday and turned his lights on. The suspects fled, running a red light and turning left on East Street. The vehicle turned right on Temple Street, proceeding across numerous intersections, ignoring stop signs and red lights and reaching speeds of over 100 mph before crashing on South Grand Street.
The driver fled on foot while the deputy tended the injuries of the passenger. Reed later turned himself in and admitted to driving the vehicle. He said he fled because he was on probation.
Reed was booked on charges of aggravated flight, driving under suspension, two counts of ignoring a traffic signal, nine counts of ignoring a stop sign, improper exhaust, improper parking and reckless operation.
Construction is set to begin in August between South Wakefield Street and South Four Mile Run Drive, where crews place utility lines underground, widen sidewalks, plant trees and install street lights, benches and bike racks.
But the $7 million, 18-month project is only a small part of the planned Pike-wide makeover. The county has a total of $80 million set aside for street improvements on the road that stretches westward from the Pentagon to the Fairfax County line.
"To complete the entire 3.5 miles of Columbia Pike is going to take three to four years," said William Roberts, who manages transportation projects for the county. "It's going to be done in phases."
From the short-term pain of construction will come long-term gain, county officials said.
"These street improvements bring us one step closer to realizing Arlington's vision for an accessible, diverse and vibrant Columbia Pike," Arlington board Chairwoman Mary Hynes said earlier.
The county is also installing larger, more comfortable bus stops and energy-efficient LED streetlights on the Pike. And roadwork may stretch even longer if the county board adopts a plan Monday to install a $249 million streetcar system.
"First all the utilities have to go underground, then you have the streetcar. So it's going to take a while," said Kamal Taktak, who will oversee the utility project and who promised work would be done only during non-rush hours and at night.
The county board is expected to vote on the streetcar Monday. A report issued earlier this month promised that the streetcar would generate hundreds of millions in property tax revenues and other benefits.
But critics complain the streetcar will cost too much; others worry the increased development will push out poorer residents along the Pike and change the street's historic character.
"We don't want Columbia Pike so gentrified that we drive away small businesses, like car repair shops or small venues that have been here for years, only to be replaced with chain restaurants," said Sarah McKinley, vice president of Arlington's Columbia Heights Civic Association, in a letter to the county board.
According to an arrest affidavit, a Ouachita Parish Sheriff's deputy approached a vehicle sitting in the median on U.S. 165 early Saturday and turned his lights on. The suspects fled, running a red light and turning left on East Street. The vehicle turned right on Temple Street, proceeding across numerous intersections, ignoring stop signs and red lights and reaching speeds of over 100 mph before crashing on South Grand Street.
The driver fled on foot while the deputy tended the injuries of the passenger. Reed later turned himself in and admitted to driving the vehicle. He said he fled because he was on probation.
Reed was booked on charges of aggravated flight, driving under suspension, two counts of ignoring a traffic signal, nine counts of ignoring a stop sign, improper exhaust, improper parking and reckless operation.
Recalling The Good 'Ole Days
My daughter and I found ourselves with an unexpected hour of 'free time,' and we decided to take a stroll through the Danvers Square to see what there is to see. "Isn't the downtown so pretty, now?" she asked me. She went on to point out all the new little shops and restaurants, the pretty , and the overall quaintness of it all.
"Sure," I told her, "it's really coming along..." of course, I can't help myself...perhaps its a sign of age, but I began pointing out 'what used to be': Archer Kent, Sunnyhurst Farms, Harvey Jewelers; and across the street, the old mattress store once stood where the atrium is now- before the big fire took it all away...
I told her the story about how our family was away in New Hampshire when that fire tore through, devastating the entire block. I'll never forget driving up route 35 into the square, the signal to my nine year old brain that said, "you're almost home!" And the scorched wreckage came into view. I was horrified. Although I had never even been inside the iconic blue building that had anchored the businesses on that corner of High and Elm Streets for as long as I'd been alive, I was still so sad to see it destroyed.
Thinking about that summer so long ago began to conjure up memories of what life was like when I was a kid growing up here in Danvers. In the summer, time seemed to stand still for us kids. We divided our time between catching frogs and riding bikes; there were daily ice cream trucks where you could get an Italian Ice for fifty cents; and at park we had bubblers, gimp and the annual park parade.
We would skip rope in the old neighborhood, as long as we could sucker two kids into holding the ends. If there were only two of us, well, then an old chair was the likely stand in.
But the real adventure was when the streetlights went on and we had a mere thirty minutes before the curfew whistle blew for our favorite pastime: Kick The Can. Being the youngest in the neighborhood gang with the earliest bedtime had its disadvantages. For years I merely watched the bigger kids' hide and seeking as I pressed my nose up against the smelly screen in my bedroom window, yearning to grow up (right now!). But those few times the teenagers let me play along were the thrill of my life!
Later, I became a big reader, abandoning the usual play things for the simple pleasure of getting lost between the pages of the classics my mom brought me free from some grocery store promotion: Little Women, Treasure Island, and my favorite, The Black Stallion. I would set up camp for the entire day, nose in book, toe to the floor, gently swinging back and forth on the old glider on our huge front porch. Well, the porch certainly seemed huge to me, funny how perspective changes with the passage of time.
As I take in the “New” Danvers Square, with its pristine brick walkways, beautiful flowering fruitless pear trees, and pretty street lights, I feel a sense of pride, and at the same time I can’t help but think about how things have changed. It's a different world now; a different neighborhood, and certainly a different Danvers Square.
Yeah, I think the downtown looks pretty snazzy. The improvements have brought new life to the businesses there, and I'm proud of what the town has done, and is continuing to do. But there is nothing like the good old days, when a kid was just a kid; catching frogs, skipping rope, kicking cans and having the sheer luxury to forget about time.
"Sure," I told her, "it's really coming along..." of course, I can't help myself...perhaps its a sign of age, but I began pointing out 'what used to be': Archer Kent, Sunnyhurst Farms, Harvey Jewelers; and across the street, the old mattress store once stood where the atrium is now- before the big fire took it all away...
I told her the story about how our family was away in New Hampshire when that fire tore through, devastating the entire block. I'll never forget driving up route 35 into the square, the signal to my nine year old brain that said, "you're almost home!" And the scorched wreckage came into view. I was horrified. Although I had never even been inside the iconic blue building that had anchored the businesses on that corner of High and Elm Streets for as long as I'd been alive, I was still so sad to see it destroyed.
Thinking about that summer so long ago began to conjure up memories of what life was like when I was a kid growing up here in Danvers. In the summer, time seemed to stand still for us kids. We divided our time between catching frogs and riding bikes; there were daily ice cream trucks where you could get an Italian Ice for fifty cents; and at park we had bubblers, gimp and the annual park parade.
We would skip rope in the old neighborhood, as long as we could sucker two kids into holding the ends. If there were only two of us, well, then an old chair was the likely stand in.
But the real adventure was when the streetlights went on and we had a mere thirty minutes before the curfew whistle blew for our favorite pastime: Kick The Can. Being the youngest in the neighborhood gang with the earliest bedtime had its disadvantages. For years I merely watched the bigger kids' hide and seeking as I pressed my nose up against the smelly screen in my bedroom window, yearning to grow up (right now!). But those few times the teenagers let me play along were the thrill of my life!
Later, I became a big reader, abandoning the usual play things for the simple pleasure of getting lost between the pages of the classics my mom brought me free from some grocery store promotion: Little Women, Treasure Island, and my favorite, The Black Stallion. I would set up camp for the entire day, nose in book, toe to the floor, gently swinging back and forth on the old glider on our huge front porch. Well, the porch certainly seemed huge to me, funny how perspective changes with the passage of time.
As I take in the “New” Danvers Square, with its pristine brick walkways, beautiful flowering fruitless pear trees, and pretty street lights, I feel a sense of pride, and at the same time I can’t help but think about how things have changed. It's a different world now; a different neighborhood, and certainly a different Danvers Square.
Yeah, I think the downtown looks pretty snazzy. The improvements have brought new life to the businesses there, and I'm proud of what the town has done, and is continuing to do. But there is nothing like the good old days, when a kid was just a kid; catching frogs, skipping rope, kicking cans and having the sheer luxury to forget about time.
2012年10月19日 星期五
Refinish Your Hardwood Floors Without Finishing Off Your Savings
A shabby-looking floor can make a poor first impression, especially if the wood boards are worn, scratched and have seen better days. However, replacing your flooring can cost a small fortune, particularly when you hire a contractor. If you’re not ready or willing to part with so much cash in one go, consider sprucing up your floors yourself by making smaller changes. The following tips will give your floor a new life.
1. Cut a rug. If you’re not in love with your hardwood floors, consider using a throw rug to liven up a room. Choose rugs that complement the color of the walls or opt for fun, vibrant patterns. When selecting a rug, choose one that is two feet shorter than the smallest wall in the room. You don’t want the rug to be disproportionate with the rest of the room.
2. Paint the floor. If a throw rug just won’t add enough color for your floor, consider painting it. Stick with a single bold color to cover the entire floor or get creative and use a variety of patterns and shades. Don’t just use any paint for the floor, though; consult with your favorite paint store as to which type of paint to use. Paint used on concrete floors, for example, might not work as well on hardwood floors with a special finish.
3. Wax off, wax on. When it comes to waxing your floors, take Mr. Miyagi’s sage advice, but in reverse. Wax off any old wax buildup already on your floor, then clean the floors before adding the new coat of wax. A highly-polished and newly-waxed floor will give your room a fresh shine; just rope off the room after waxing to avoid anyone from falling.
4. Say it with stencils. If you’re not willing to paint your entire floor, consider using stencils to create eye-catching designs. Head to your nearest teachers’ store and load up on oversized stencils featuring flowers, fun shapes or whimsical designs. After cleaning your floor, trace and fill in the stencil designs with acrylic paint. For an artistic flair, use different colors of paint within each design.
5. Get rid of scratches. Do you like your hardwood floor but have some unsightly scratches in a few boards? Remove scratches to give your floors a clean, new look. Get steel wool and a solvent, rub it with the grain and wipe with a damp cloth. It provides a great new look for your floor while also removing the blemishes.
6. Stain your floors. Give your hardwood floors a new look by staining them. After cleaning the floors and removing dust, stain with a rag or paint roller. Consult your local hardware store for advice in selecting an appropriate stain, as each variation of hardwood flooring will require a particular type of stain. Use a polyurethane finish when the stain is dry to create a smooth, glossy look.
7. When in doubt, distract the eye. Do you have such a battered floor that improving it seems like too daunting of a task? Consider using stage tricks to draw attention to other parts of the room. Hang oversized paintings on the walls and use curtains in bright colors that complement the color of the walls. If you have a particularly stubborn stain or scratch on your floor, try covering it up with a piece of furniture, a floor lamp or a small rug.
1. Cut a rug. If you’re not in love with your hardwood floors, consider using a throw rug to liven up a room. Choose rugs that complement the color of the walls or opt for fun, vibrant patterns. When selecting a rug, choose one that is two feet shorter than the smallest wall in the room. You don’t want the rug to be disproportionate with the rest of the room.
2. Paint the floor. If a throw rug just won’t add enough color for your floor, consider painting it. Stick with a single bold color to cover the entire floor or get creative and use a variety of patterns and shades. Don’t just use any paint for the floor, though; consult with your favorite paint store as to which type of paint to use. Paint used on concrete floors, for example, might not work as well on hardwood floors with a special finish.
3. Wax off, wax on. When it comes to waxing your floors, take Mr. Miyagi’s sage advice, but in reverse. Wax off any old wax buildup already on your floor, then clean the floors before adding the new coat of wax. A highly-polished and newly-waxed floor will give your room a fresh shine; just rope off the room after waxing to avoid anyone from falling.
4. Say it with stencils. If you’re not willing to paint your entire floor, consider using stencils to create eye-catching designs. Head to your nearest teachers’ store and load up on oversized stencils featuring flowers, fun shapes or whimsical designs. After cleaning your floor, trace and fill in the stencil designs with acrylic paint. For an artistic flair, use different colors of paint within each design.
5. Get rid of scratches. Do you like your hardwood floor but have some unsightly scratches in a few boards? Remove scratches to give your floors a clean, new look. Get steel wool and a solvent, rub it with the grain and wipe with a damp cloth. It provides a great new look for your floor while also removing the blemishes.
6. Stain your floors. Give your hardwood floors a new look by staining them. After cleaning the floors and removing dust, stain with a rag or paint roller. Consult your local hardware store for advice in selecting an appropriate stain, as each variation of hardwood flooring will require a particular type of stain. Use a polyurethane finish when the stain is dry to create a smooth, glossy look.
7. When in doubt, distract the eye. Do you have such a battered floor that improving it seems like too daunting of a task? Consider using stage tricks to draw attention to other parts of the room. Hang oversized paintings on the walls and use curtains in bright colors that complement the color of the walls. If you have a particularly stubborn stain or scratch on your floor, try covering it up with a piece of furniture, a floor lamp or a small rug.
Honda Accord
The all-new 2013 Honda Accord Sedan and Honda Accord Coupe mark the
beginning of the ninth generation of Honda's best-selling midsize car.
More luxurious, more sophisticated, better performing and better
equipped than any other model in the Accord's 37-year history, the 2013
models remarkably advance the sense of luxury and craftsmanship, vehicle
dynamics and the range of standard equipment to the highest levels in
their class. Built in two locations in Ohio, launch of the all-new
models celebrates 30 continuous years of Accord production in the United
States.
The exterior length and wheelbase of both the Accord Sedan and Coupe are slightly more compact than the prior generation Accord while still providing improvements in key interior dimensions including rear legroom and trunk volume. The result is a spacious all-new Accord that boasts a sportier appearance, more responsive handling and improved driving dynamics.
From the tip of the front bumpers to the end of the exhaust finishers, literally nothing was left unexamined when redesigning the Honda Accord. This includes major elements like the unit-body, sheet metal, glass and aerodynamics, along with interior features and electronic systems, the engines and transmissions, the chassis components, and the many safety systems. Despite the complete generational changes, however, the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe are still tightly focused on providing the same long-established blend of unbeatable Honda safety and security, value for money, fun-to-drive performance and handling, and passenger comfort and convenience.
Fuel efficiency is also improved, with EPA estimated highway mileage ratings up to 36 mpg for the 4-cylinder Accord and 34 mpg for the V-6 Accord Sedan. Not only does Accord advance the state of the art in its segment, but the new Honda Accord models also introduce a host of new technologies to Honda - while serving as the first vehicle to use Honda's new Earth Dreams technology, which is dedicated to enhancing fuel efficiency and minimizing the company's environmental footprint.
In addition to the upcoming hybrid versions of the Accord, the all-new 2013 Accord Sedan 4-door is available in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V6 and new Touring trim levels, while the 2-door Accord Coupe comes in LX-S, EX, EX-L and EX-L V6 trim levels. Standard features on the new Accord include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink with audio streaming, USB/iPod integration, rearview camera and an audio/information screen and an Eco Assist driving system. As in previous EX-trim Accords, a choice of fabric or leather seating upholstery is available.
Other standard Accord features include dual-zone climate control, Pandora internet radio integration and an SMS text messaging function. Available features include a hard disc drive (HDD)-based Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and FM Traffic, and Adaptive Cruise Control. New visibility technologies include an expanded-view driver's mirror and Honda's new LaneWatch feature - along with available features such as LED headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and brake lights.
Two Earth Dreams powertrains are available initially, including an all-new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with Honda's first use of direct injection in North America, and a 3.5-liter V-6 with revised VTEC + VCM functions. In early 2013, the Accord lineup will see the first application of a new Earth Dreams 2.0-liter 4-cylinder/two-motor plug-in hybrid system in the Honda Accord PHEV Sedan.
The Honda two-motor hybrid system will operate continuously through three modes - all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive - to maximize fuel efficiency. The 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid will also serve as the basis for a conventional hybrid version of the Accord Sedan, which will join the Accord lineup in the summer of 2013. Accord 4-cylinder models will offer a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that helps the Accord achieve outstanding fuel-efficiency, along with a new fun-to-shift 6-speed manual transmission on selected models.
The exterior length and wheelbase of both the Accord Sedan and Coupe are slightly more compact than the prior generation Accord while still providing improvements in key interior dimensions including rear legroom and trunk volume. The result is a spacious all-new Accord that boasts a sportier appearance, more responsive handling and improved driving dynamics.
From the tip of the front bumpers to the end of the exhaust finishers, literally nothing was left unexamined when redesigning the Honda Accord. This includes major elements like the unit-body, sheet metal, glass and aerodynamics, along with interior features and electronic systems, the engines and transmissions, the chassis components, and the many safety systems. Despite the complete generational changes, however, the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe are still tightly focused on providing the same long-established blend of unbeatable Honda safety and security, value for money, fun-to-drive performance and handling, and passenger comfort and convenience.
Fuel efficiency is also improved, with EPA estimated highway mileage ratings up to 36 mpg for the 4-cylinder Accord and 34 mpg for the V-6 Accord Sedan. Not only does Accord advance the state of the art in its segment, but the new Honda Accord models also introduce a host of new technologies to Honda - while serving as the first vehicle to use Honda's new Earth Dreams technology, which is dedicated to enhancing fuel efficiency and minimizing the company's environmental footprint.
In addition to the upcoming hybrid versions of the Accord, the all-new 2013 Accord Sedan 4-door is available in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V6 and new Touring trim levels, while the 2-door Accord Coupe comes in LX-S, EX, EX-L and EX-L V6 trim levels. Standard features on the new Accord include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink with audio streaming, USB/iPod integration, rearview camera and an audio/information screen and an Eco Assist driving system. As in previous EX-trim Accords, a choice of fabric or leather seating upholstery is available.
Other standard Accord features include dual-zone climate control, Pandora internet radio integration and an SMS text messaging function. Available features include a hard disc drive (HDD)-based Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and FM Traffic, and Adaptive Cruise Control. New visibility technologies include an expanded-view driver's mirror and Honda's new LaneWatch feature - along with available features such as LED headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and brake lights.
Two Earth Dreams powertrains are available initially, including an all-new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with Honda's first use of direct injection in North America, and a 3.5-liter V-6 with revised VTEC + VCM functions. In early 2013, the Accord lineup will see the first application of a new Earth Dreams 2.0-liter 4-cylinder/two-motor plug-in hybrid system in the Honda Accord PHEV Sedan.
The Honda two-motor hybrid system will operate continuously through three modes - all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive - to maximize fuel efficiency. The 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid will also serve as the basis for a conventional hybrid version of the Accord Sedan, which will join the Accord lineup in the summer of 2013. Accord 4-cylinder models will offer a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that helps the Accord achieve outstanding fuel-efficiency, along with a new fun-to-shift 6-speed manual transmission on selected models.
2012年10月10日 星期三
Efficient LED lighting is Deeply impressive green choice for submarium
The Deep's Lagoon of Light display, which features vivid colours and 66 species of animals, is floodlit by a light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which have been supplied by Hull firm Bonus Electrical.
The environmentally friendly lights at the landmark centre offer a more sustainable way of lighting the lagoon, lasting up to ten times longer than the lamps they replaced and offering an 80 per cent reduction in energy use.
Aquarists at The Deep said the new lights, which run in two lines above the water tank, help recreate a tropical habitat common to the species in the lagoon.
Andrew Mcleod, assistant curator at The Deep, said: "The Lagoon of Light is a tropical fish display, where bright, light conditions are needed.
"These advanced LEDs provide a very intense, vivid type of light that recreates the environment you find on a tropical island where there is a great deal of sunshine."
The intensity of the 14 LED floodlights means the light is able to penetrate the surface of the water and properly illuminate the 200,000-litre tank.
It allows visitors looking through the tank's glass walls to see in great detail the lagoon's coral reef and the colours of 1,100 fish, such as surgeonfish and lipstick tangs.
The LEDs have a life-span of several years, compared with 12 months for the halide lamps the technology has replaced.
Given the power of the LEDs, which are a fraction of the wattage of a traditional light bulb, fewer bulbs are needed. And as LEDs produce a negligible amount of heat, The Deep is no longer required to reduce the temperature in the areas using the lights by air conditioning – saving yet more energy.
The Deep calculates the individual LED installations are already offering a 50 per cent cost reduction on the previous halide lamps.
Mr Mcleod said: "We have considered LEDs before but have been waiting for the technology's development and progress.
"Now, the designs have become a lot more advanced and these particular high-power floodlights offer the type of intensity we need."
Bonus Electrical is now working with The Deep on further applications for the LEDs, from installation in the car parks to being used to grow coral in captivity.
Rob Carter, sales manager of Bonus Electrical, said: "As the use at The Deep shows, there is no downside to advanced LED technology, which offers a sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional lighting.
"This is particularly important at The Deep, where the lights are on for 12 hours every day and have to be reliable, environmentally friendly and not impact on the marine life.
"We're delighted to have supplied to such an iconic attraction and look forward to working with The Deep on rolling out the LEDs to more areas and applications."
The environmentally friendly lights at the landmark centre offer a more sustainable way of lighting the lagoon, lasting up to ten times longer than the lamps they replaced and offering an 80 per cent reduction in energy use.
Aquarists at The Deep said the new lights, which run in two lines above the water tank, help recreate a tropical habitat common to the species in the lagoon.
Andrew Mcleod, assistant curator at The Deep, said: "The Lagoon of Light is a tropical fish display, where bright, light conditions are needed.
"These advanced LEDs provide a very intense, vivid type of light that recreates the environment you find on a tropical island where there is a great deal of sunshine."
The intensity of the 14 LED floodlights means the light is able to penetrate the surface of the water and properly illuminate the 200,000-litre tank.
It allows visitors looking through the tank's glass walls to see in great detail the lagoon's coral reef and the colours of 1,100 fish, such as surgeonfish and lipstick tangs.
The LEDs have a life-span of several years, compared with 12 months for the halide lamps the technology has replaced.
Given the power of the LEDs, which are a fraction of the wattage of a traditional light bulb, fewer bulbs are needed. And as LEDs produce a negligible amount of heat, The Deep is no longer required to reduce the temperature in the areas using the lights by air conditioning – saving yet more energy.
The Deep calculates the individual LED installations are already offering a 50 per cent cost reduction on the previous halide lamps.
Mr Mcleod said: "We have considered LEDs before but have been waiting for the technology's development and progress.
"Now, the designs have become a lot more advanced and these particular high-power floodlights offer the type of intensity we need."
Bonus Electrical is now working with The Deep on further applications for the LEDs, from installation in the car parks to being used to grow coral in captivity.
Rob Carter, sales manager of Bonus Electrical, said: "As the use at The Deep shows, there is no downside to advanced LED technology, which offers a sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional lighting.
"This is particularly important at The Deep, where the lights are on for 12 hours every day and have to be reliable, environmentally friendly and not impact on the marine life.
"We're delighted to have supplied to such an iconic attraction and look forward to working with The Deep on rolling out the LEDs to more areas and applications."
LEDs winning light race to save energy
"The light-emitting diode lamp is a rapidly evolving technology that, while already energy efficient, will become even more so in just a few short years," said Marc Ledbetter, who manages PNNL's solid-state lighting testing, analysis and deployment efforts. "Our comprehensive analysis indicates technological advancements in the near future will help people who use these lamps to keep shrinking their environmental footprints."
The report examines total environmental impact, including the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture, transport, operate and dispose of light bulbs. Fifteen different impacts were considered when evaluating environmental footprints, including the potential to increase global warming, use land formerly available to wildlife, generate waste and pollute water, soil and air. The report examines the complete life cycles of three kinds of light bulbs: light-emitting diodes, also called LEDs, compact fluorescents, or CFLs, and traditional incandescent light bulbs.
Completed for the Solid-State Lighting Program of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, this is the first public report to examine the environmental impact of LED manufacturing in depth. Manufacturing processes contribute substantially to a light bulb's overall environmental impact, but companies generally keep manufacturing information private. The research team was able to gather manufacturing data with the help of industry consultants and some companies on the condition that the final report would not reveal individual company data.
To do the analysis, the team chose specific bulbs that best represent what's most typical and widely available for each of the three types of lights they studied. They then used a database to calculate the resources needed to produce the various components of the three light bulbs. That analysis revealed both LEDs and CFLs are substantially more environmentally friendly then traditional incandescents, which consume far more electricity. For example, the specific incandescent light bulb the team studied consumes 60 watts of electricity, while the LED model they studied uses just 12.5 watts and the representative CFL only uses 15 watts to create about the same amount of light.
"By using more energy to create light, incandescent bulbs also use more of the natural resources needed to generate the electricity that powers them," Ledbetter said. "Regardless of whether consumers use LEDs or CFLs, this analysis shows we could reduce the environmental impact of lighting by three to 10 times if we choose more efficient bulbs instead of incandescents."
The energy consumed by lights when they're turned on makes up the majority of their environmental impact. But, with power consumption being similar between LEDs and CFLs when they are lit, the research team found the difference between those two bulbs' overall environmental performance is largely determined by the energy and resources needed to make them.
CFLs were found to cause slightly more environmental harm than today's LED lamp in all but one of the 15 impact areas studied. The one standout area was generating hazardous waste that must be taken to a landfill. This is because LED lights include a component called a heat sink, a ribbed aluminum segment that is attached to the bottom of LED bulbs. Aluminum heat sinks absorb and later dissipate heat that's generated by the light bulb, preventing it from overheating. The process to mine, refine and process the aluminum in heat sinks is energy-intensive and creates several byproducts such as sulfuric acid that must be taken to a hazardous waste landfill.
The report examines total environmental impact, including the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture, transport, operate and dispose of light bulbs. Fifteen different impacts were considered when evaluating environmental footprints, including the potential to increase global warming, use land formerly available to wildlife, generate waste and pollute water, soil and air. The report examines the complete life cycles of three kinds of light bulbs: light-emitting diodes, also called LEDs, compact fluorescents, or CFLs, and traditional incandescent light bulbs.
Completed for the Solid-State Lighting Program of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, this is the first public report to examine the environmental impact of LED manufacturing in depth. Manufacturing processes contribute substantially to a light bulb's overall environmental impact, but companies generally keep manufacturing information private. The research team was able to gather manufacturing data with the help of industry consultants and some companies on the condition that the final report would not reveal individual company data.
To do the analysis, the team chose specific bulbs that best represent what's most typical and widely available for each of the three types of lights they studied. They then used a database to calculate the resources needed to produce the various components of the three light bulbs. That analysis revealed both LEDs and CFLs are substantially more environmentally friendly then traditional incandescents, which consume far more electricity. For example, the specific incandescent light bulb the team studied consumes 60 watts of electricity, while the LED model they studied uses just 12.5 watts and the representative CFL only uses 15 watts to create about the same amount of light.
"By using more energy to create light, incandescent bulbs also use more of the natural resources needed to generate the electricity that powers them," Ledbetter said. "Regardless of whether consumers use LEDs or CFLs, this analysis shows we could reduce the environmental impact of lighting by three to 10 times if we choose more efficient bulbs instead of incandescents."
The energy consumed by lights when they're turned on makes up the majority of their environmental impact. But, with power consumption being similar between LEDs and CFLs when they are lit, the research team found the difference between those two bulbs' overall environmental performance is largely determined by the energy and resources needed to make them.
CFLs were found to cause slightly more environmental harm than today's LED lamp in all but one of the 15 impact areas studied. The one standout area was generating hazardous waste that must be taken to a landfill. This is because LED lights include a component called a heat sink, a ribbed aluminum segment that is attached to the bottom of LED bulbs. Aluminum heat sinks absorb and later dissipate heat that's generated by the light bulb, preventing it from overheating. The process to mine, refine and process the aluminum in heat sinks is energy-intensive and creates several byproducts such as sulfuric acid that must be taken to a hazardous waste landfill.
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