How Does the Direction of my Ceiling Fan help?

Once you have installed a ceiling fan in your home you will notice the "wind chill" effect immediately when the ceiling fan is going in the right direction.  I explained how the direction of your ceiling fan is important here.  I have since found some Japanese images explaining how this works and I would love to share them. 

In the winter with out a ceiling fan you will feel a low distrubution of air

When you have a ceiling fan in the winter the air from the heater is circulated properly

When you do not have a ceiling fan in the summer the air conditioning is not distributed properly

When you do have a ceiling fan in the summer the whole room has evenly distributed cool air

I thought these graphics would help show my explaination of how ceiling fans distribute air properly.

1st Annual Southwest Night Sky Conference

The International Dark-Sky Assosiation (IDA) is an organization committed to educating the public about light pollution and any other light abuse to our dark skys.  Read more about the IDA and dark sky organization. 

The IDA is holding its first annual Southwest Night Sky Conference hosted by the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance at the Taos Convention Center.  The conference will be held September 13-15, 2007. 

The IDA hopes that all who value the rich cultural heritage of the Southwest, who seek proven methods and resources for dark sky preservation, and who want to be inspired and expand their knowledge of the treasure we have in our pristine night sky will attend.

The conference will many special events and guest speakers.  The most memorable will be the Welcoming Dessert Reception at El Monte Sagrado Resort, A "backyard Astronomy", Expo at the Taos Convention Center, and a Taos Pueblo Tour.  For more information on the Southwest Night Sky Conference click here.

What makes up Pen Shell Lighting and Ceiling Fans?

The pen shell is a brown fan shaped bivalve shell fish first discovered in the Mediterranean in the 1700s.  The pen shell is mainly found in coastal areas in waters from 2 to 30 meters and is usually burrowed into the sand covered in turtle grass or other sea flowering plants.  The pen shell meat is edible and has been known in rare occasions to harbor a valuable pearl with in its shell.  The pen shell was almost extinct some time ago due to the decline in ocean conditions, anchoring boats, pollution, over fishing development in coastal areas.   

Pen Shell lighting and ceiling fans have created there own little niche in the lighting and ceiling fan industry.  Lighting and ceiling fan manufactures have figured out how to refine and polish these fan shaped mollusks into small tiles then using a resin based cast form them into decorative housings that make up these beautiful gems. 

The Minka Group has a wide variety of Pen Shell Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

The Adare ceiling fan from Minka Aire Fans utalize the pen shell to create a beautiful ceiling fan housing and light fixture.  The Adare fan includes dark walnut blades for a total blade span of 60 inches, uplighting, four light down light fixture and a wall control. 

Why does my Ceiling Fan turn on by it self?

Problem: If you just bought a ceiling fan with a remote and it turns on by it self some times we have a soulution.

Most of the time when remote controlled ceiling fans are installed the frequency dip switch settings are not changed by the installer.  On the remote transmitter and the receiver there are frequency dip switch settings that must be the same for each the transmitter and the receiver.  Each unit has four sets of on off switches that determine what setting the frequency is on.  When you receive a new fan with a remote the default settings are set to 1 = on, 2 = on, 3 = on, and 4 = on.  Many times if you have other ceiling fans in the house that are operated by remote or you live in an apartment building, most likely the frequency settings are the same as the other ceiling fans in your house or a neighboors ceiling fan if this problem is occuring. 

Answer: Change the frequency dip switch settings on the ceiling fan remote and ceiling fan transmitter that is turning on by it self.

Emerson Ceiling Fans to meet EPACT Regulations

Emerson Ceiling Fan Company has been manufacturing and marketing ceiling fans since 1895.  Emerson is part of a $ 20 billion corporation leading in electric motors, engineering and technology.  Emerson Fan Company has changed of the past decade from creating the first motor to run off of alternating current, to inventing the first ceiling fan capacitor and now a leading decorative ceiling fan manufacture. 

A number of Emerson Ceiling fans are now meeting the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) laws and specifications.  In 2005 the United States congress created the Energy Policy Act a set of laws specifically relating to energy efficiency in ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits.  Beginning January 1, 2007 all ceiling fans manufactured must be reversible and have seperate controls for changing fan speeds and light dimming.

Which Emerson Ceiling Fans are EPACT Complient?

The Odyssey fan will now include a wall control that allows you to dim the light, change the fan speeds and change the direction of the fan from the control.  The Odyssey ceiling fan will also be offered with only candelabra based bulb sockets or E17 Intermediate bases.  These sockets are more efficient than the regular medium base sockets. 

The Raphael ceiling fan will now include the same wall control that allows you to dim the lights up and down, change the three fan speeds and change the direction of the fan from the control.  The Raphael fan will also be offered with only candelabra based bulb sockets or E17 Intermediate bases.  These sockets are more efficient than the regular medium base sockets. 

The Raphael Tiffany ceiling fan will now include the same wall control that allows you to dim the lights up and down, change the three fan speeds and change the direction of the fan from the control.  The Raphael Tiffany fan will also be offered with only candelabra based bulb sockets or E17 Intermediate bases.  These sockets are more efficient than the regular medium base sockets. 

Are you Recycling your Fluorescent Lamps?

Did you know that fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps all contain mercury? 

Yes, fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps and HID lamps are very efficient and are for the greater good of the Earth's future; they reduce energy consumption and save you money.  But, they must be recycled or disposed of professionally because they contain mercury.

In California all Fluorescent Lamps must be Recycled as of February 8th, 2006

On February 8th, 2006 a bill was passed that said all fluorescent lamps and tubes are considered hazardous waste in California when they are discarded because they contain mercury.  (Title 22, division 4.5, chapter 11, section 66261.50)

These lamps must be recycled and disposed of correctly

• Fluorescent Tubes
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps

Every time a mercury containing lamp is disposed of in the regular trash and picked up for disposal, the lamps or tubes are broken and the mercury in them is released in to the environment.  These mercury vapors from the lamps can be absorbed through the lungs and bloodstream.  Mercury from broken lamps can also be washed into our rain water and eventually our public waterways.

The effects of mercury poisoning are felt in the nervous system, endocrine, kidneys and other vital organs.  Heavy exposure can lead to brain damage or ultimately death. 

Effective July 12, 2005 New York began prohibiting mercury containing lamps from being discarded.

Where should you recycle your Mercury-Containing Lamps?

The recycling of mercury-containing lamps is not as popular as it should be.  Of the 670 million lamps discarded last year only 156 million are being recycled.  There are some places that you can bring your lamps to and you can find those locations from the State Lamp Recycling Regulations and Contacts.

If you do not live close enough to a Lamp Recycling facility then EasyPak can pick them up for you and show you exactly how to begin.

How to Choose the Right CFL for your Fixture

Changing out your inefficient incandescent lamps to more efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps is definitly worth it.  Compact fluorescent lamps consume about 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than incandescent sources.  With this valuable trend becoming more popular the prices of the Compact Fluorescent Lamps are dropping fast. 

With so many different shapes and sizes of compact fluorescent lamps which one do you use for the fixture you want to be more efficient?  Click here to view How To Choose your energy star compact fluorescent lamp guide.  This document shows many different types of CFLs and which fixtures they would work in.  See actual models of compact fluorescent lamps.

California's Incandescent Lamp Ban is now on Hold

Back in March I posted about California presenting Bill No. 722 to ban most incandescent medium screw based lamps by the year 2012, well that has been put on hold.  The bill was moved to the legislative inactive file by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine on June 7th.  This has raised the attention of many American Lighting Association members who are for the Energy Efficient lighting fixtures movement that has been prominent in California. 

It seems that there was not enough support to carry the bill.  With lighting being roughly 20% of the nations energy consumption per year I would think that this would be an important concern especially in a state as large as California. 

Solar Lighting Home Project is Getting Close to Completion

Grameen Surya Bijlee's (GSB) solar energy lighting project is getting closer to assisting approxamitly half a billion people in India.  In my original Solar Home Lighting post I spoke about some of the ways that this solar energy lighting project will help reduce energy consumption and help rural villages have more efficient sources of light. 

What is this lighting project focused on?

The GSB is focused on the half a billion people (approx. 100 million households) in India who use 5 - 10 liters per month of kerosene for home lighting, which generates 15 - 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year.  

The Govt. of India loses $15 billion per year in kerosene & LPG subsidy.  Almost 1.6 billion people in the world use kerosene. Reported by International Finance Corporation

What type of products will GSB offer?

How are these lighting systems more efficient?

• On-grid system is an equivalent LED bulb for the 220V AC grid system to replace incandescent & Compact Fluorescent Lamps to save on cost & power consumption
• LED bulbs are efficient (7W, compared to 11W CFL's and 60W incandescent bulbs); & long lasting (20 years - 50,000 to 100,000 hours compared to 5,000-8,000 for CFL, & 1,000 hours for incandescent bulbs)
• GSB is working closely with the IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) to reduce the power consumption of LED bulbs, & also working on charge controllers to generate patents

What is GSB's marketing stratigy and how will they meet their goals?

• GSB's marketing strategy is to work closely with the Govt of India (GOI), especially the MNRE (Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, previously MNES)  to obtain certification of our lighting system
• Certification of GSB's product allows different departments, (especially rural, tribal, forest & power - development) of various states (30) in India to procure our systems for rural electrification
• Simultaneously GSB will provide micro-credit for financing the systems in collaboration with SHGs (Self-Help Groups or Women's Co-operatives) & Micro-finance groups affiliated with NABARD, top ten Indian nationalised banks, NGOs, private foundations, NRIs and high net worth individuals 
• GSBs focus is on product development, and use distribution channels by leveraging the core competencies of our end-to-end supply chain partners as mentioned above
• GSBs main concern is availability of cheap solar panels, LEDs and batteries; we are importing panels and LEDs but would prefer to have a domestic manufacturing base
• GSB has identified solar panel partners in thin-film technologies as well as LEDs (Nichia, Japan) but would require government/private sector assistance to make this into a large-scale venture
• Surya Bijlee is run by seasoned professionals with proven track records in their respective careers, and who are alumni of IIT Kharagpur, 1985 batch

GSBs final statement on Saving from using Solar Energy