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September 6th, 2005
Fluorescent Lights Attract New Customers in Large Numbers
The standard incandescent light bulb, although inexpensive, is starting to feel the energy
heat. Energy conscience consumers are beginning to recognize that fluorescent light bulbs have a payback period that
will more than cover the cost of their investment fluorescent light bulbs in far less than a year’s time.
The trend has been confirmed by GoodMart Lighting and Electrical Supply, a lighting and electrical products distributor. The
company reports record sales of fluorescent light bulbs, which have increased 45 percent at the company over last year’s
levels and doubled over the last two years. The company notes that general lighting products have only increased slightly
in the same period.
According to Max Hoover, president of GoodMart, "There is a massive transformation underway
as consumers begin to reject standard light bulbs, which are only inexpensive at the point of sale. People are starting to
feel the pain from rising energy bills, and they are looking for ways to prevent further stabs to the wallet. The Energy Star-qualified
lighting products we sell help bring those energy bills down to more manageable levels."
The distributor reports that compact fluorescent light bulbs are priced in the range
of $6.90 compared to . $0.32, for incandescent light bulbs, but can last 10 times longer and save $18.00 per bulb
per year on homeowners’ energy bills.
In order to further increase energy savings, GoodMart also says that Americans are now beginning
to accept dimmers, digital timers and occupancy sensors into their homes.
August 25th, 2005
UltraCell Announces Methanol Based Portable Fuel Cell for Low-Cost Computer
Applications
UltraCell has reported on the development of a methanol based fuel
cell that has twice the energy density of lithium batteries. The new fuel cell technology, called reformed fuel cell technology,
uses a micro reformer that generates its own hydrogen from a highly concentrated low-cost methanol solution. The company reports
that a new 25 Watt system under development only weighs 40 ounces and is about the same size as a paperback novel. The new
fuel cell to be called the UltraCell25 is expected to be available in 2006 for a number of different industrial as well as
business computer applications. The company also indicated that the fuel cell can be swapped out for easy repowering of a
computer and provides the dual function as a portable battery recharger.
The technology was developed with the help of key partners according
to Jim Kaschmitter, CEO of UltraCell "The major advantages of our system are the result of key advances by UltraCell and partners,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, Pemeas and others, yielding a breakthrough in fuel reformer technology. UltraCell's
novel fuel reformer converts methanol fuel to hydrogen efficiently and in a very compact package. Our technical team solved
several key engineering challenges in thermal design and packaging to achieve this breakthrough. Our system provides a significant
performance advantage over competing fuel cell and battery solutions for portable power users."
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