DEMAREST — It’s gotten easier to spot Demarest crossing guards as they enter intersections.

By Michelle Sartor
News Editor | Jan. 15
Source: nvsuburbanite.com

DEMAREST — It’s gotten easier to spot Demarest crossing guards as they enter intersections.

The guards were issued new LED, light-emitting diode, stop sign paddles Jan. 8 that are meant to increase safety for both the guards and the children they cross every school day. Each sign cost about $165.

Police Chief James Powderley brought the signs to the Borough. He first saw them at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in the fall and thought they would be extremely beneficial.

When the crossing guards raise the paddles above their waist, “STOP” is lit up with white LED lights and flashing red lights appear above and below the word. When the guards put the signs down, all the lights turn off.

Powderley said the lights turn on and off automatically with a ball switch located inside the signs. When the signs are lifted, the ball travels to the bottom, initiating the lights. The paddles also contain an on/off switch and have internal rechargeable batteries.

The LEDs, which emit low watts and can run on a single charge for days, have a lifetime warranty. According to Powderley, “At most we’d have to change the rechargeable batteries down the road.”

With the LED lights, Powderley said the new paddles are “visible for well over a mile.” He said the lighted signs are especially helpful in inclement weather.

THE NUMBERS

• Demarest has 11 crossing guard posts to cover.

• The Borough has 14 crossing guards and is in the process of hiring another.

• The LED stop sign paddles cost approximately $1,600.

• The magnetic car signs cost about $800.

• The collapsible cones will cost approximately $1,100.

• The last reported incident of a crossing guard being struck by a vehicle was in 2001.
Even without the LED lights, the signs are better than what crossing guards had previously. The new paddles have reflective tape in addition to the lights, which makes them more reflective than the old stop signs, which just contained “STOP” in white letters on a red background.

The newly issued signs are also smaller, lighter weight and have a comfortable handle, which Powderley said makes them easier for crossing guards to use.

So far, feedback has been positive. “In the morning when it’s still cloudy and dark you can see the signs from a farther distance,” said Joe Woska, a crossing guard at the intersection of County Road and Hardenburgh Avenue. “It’s much safer.”

Diane Marello, who crosses students on Knickerbocker Road and Park Street, thinks the paddles are a good addition. “They’re great for visibility,” she said. “It brings attention that there’s a crossing guard in the street. It’s safer for the children and us.”

Stop-Lite manufactures the paddles, which sell for more than $165 apiece. Global Procurement Services, based in Chicago, is the parent company.

The paddles are just one component of a new safety package for Demarest’s crossing guards, which is costing the Borough approximately $3,500. In addition to the new signs, the guards have been issued magnetic signs for their cars and new collapsible cones that say “Demarest School Crossing Guard.” The color for both items is safety green, a custom color that is meant to stand out.

Powderley said the magnetic car signs are helpful to the community. “All crossing guards are members of the Police Department. We tell the kids each is an official you can go to for help. It helps kids identify who the guards are and their vehicles,” he said. “Also, when the car is on the street, motorists and residents can see a guard is on duty and use more caution.”

The new cones, which have not come in yet, will take the place of rubber cones the Police Department currently has. Powderley said the collapsible cones are lightweight and compact for the crossing guards to transport in their vehicles and store, folding into a “flat, pancake type square.”

They rise into full-sized safety cones so motorists can easily see that a guard is present.

Powderley is proud of this safety initiative. For the past several years he has set aside money to upgrade safety features for the Borough’s crossing guards. Last year they received new multi-season, safety green jackets with reflectors along with matching gloves and hats. The year before, each got badges and whistles with lanyards.

“Crossing guards are one of the top two most dangerous municipal jobs,” Powderley said. “Anything to make the job safer is a benefit.”

While all crossing guards are required to undergo training, accidents do happen. A guard was struck and injured at the intersection of Brookside and Hardenburgh avenues in 2001. Although no other incidents have occurred, Powderley said guards regularly report “close calls.”

These new items are meant to decrease the chances that a crossing guard gets hurt while on the job.

The stop sign paddles are the most interesting aspect of the safety package, and probably the most visible. Powderley said, “I think you’re going to see them all over the state in time.”

E-mail: sartor@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6703

The 2 and 3 digit LED display with infrared capabilities has two inputs for buttons or logic controls and a communications link for communicating with other displays. Displays are powered by a 24-Volt AC adapter (included). Displays include a built-in audio chime. This system is so popular and effective of a solution for managing your waiting customers. The display shows the number currently being served. Customers pull a ticket from the dispenser and watch as clerks progress the numbers one at a time on the LED display anticipating their number being shown for service. Customers can purchase just the LED display (ranging from 2 -3 digits) or the entire set. There are two models of the stands that can be chosen as well, floor or counter top.

Set includes:

• 2 or 3 Digit LED Display
• 1 24vac AC power adapter with 20 feet of wire
• 2 Brass Push Buttons with 40 feet of wire
• B80 Floor Stand or B80 Counter Top Stand
• B80 Ticket Dispenser
• English Take-A-Number Sign (Spanish Available)
• Microframe Wireless Remote Contro
• 1 Year Warranty on system
• 1 Instruction Manual and “Now Serving” Static Cling Sign

LED Giant video screens to Inauguration

{Date Announced: 06 Jan 2009
Source: LEDMagazine.com}

January 6, 2009 – While Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in an inaugural ceremony projected to attract well over a million spectators, four enormous mobile video screens – including the world’s largest high-definition mobile LED unit – will assure that everyone gets an up-close view of the historic moment.

The high-resolution mobile video screens will provide live video footage of the event backed by state-of-the-art image processing. The largest of the four screens, known as “GoBigger,” boasts a massive 19’ x 33’ widescreen configuration along with crisp HD resolution and marks the industry’s first and largest truly high-definition mobile video screen.

“A historic event of this magnitude deserves the biggest and best video production possible,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of GoVision. “We’re honored to be entrusted with this vital element of the inauguration once again, and look forward to giving the record-breaking crowd a front-row seat to all the festivities.”

More

{07 Jan 2009
Source: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/6/1/5}

Philips’ Luxeon LEDs help the newly-enlarged Times Square Ball save up to 20% more energy than last year’s ball.

On January 6, the massive LED-covered Times Square ball – used to ring in the 2009 New Year’s celebration in New York City – was lit again and sent back up its flagpole.

The 12-foot-dia. 12,000 pound ball will now have a permanent home on the roof of One Times Square and will be lit up in patterns to commemorate holidays and other events.

The Ball, which is twice its previous size, will incorporate more than three times as many Philips Luxeon LEDs as last year’s version and deliver a brighter and greener experience, the company says.

The ball now contains 32,256 Philips Luxeon LEDs, which are as much as 20% more energy-efficient than last year’s and consume about the same amount of energy per hour as it takes to operate just two conventional home ovens.

“While New Year’s Eve occurs only once a year, the LED technology on display in the Times Square Ball will soon evolve into a very real energy-efficient lighting alternative for consumers around the world, and will help drive a more bright and sustainable future for generations to come,” said Kaj den Daas, Chairman of Philips Lighting North America.

Philips also lit the Times Square mumerals (2-0-0-9) using its Halogena Energy Savers – a family of bright and long-lasting halogen bulbs which are 30-47% more energy-efficient than equivalent incandescent lamps, the company says.

Also contributing to the ball were Focus Lighting, which created a lighting design that utilizes over 3,500 lighting cues to orchestrate the colorful moving patterns of light, and Lighting Science Group, which designed, developed, and produced an integrated lighting system. The ball is covered by 2,668 triangular Waterford Crystals.

{By Josh Johnston
Wednesday, 28 May 2008 08:02
Source: Bits Limited}

How to Reuse those Batteries!!

88 percent of the total mercury and half of the total cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream comes from discarded batteries.

621.2 tons of household batteries were disposed of (not recycled) in 1989. That’s twice the amount thrown out in 1970, and was nearly doubled again in 1995.

Why is this important?

As consumers we are more conscientious than ever about manufacturing and production. If you’re here, reading this, you’re an informed consumer or are endeavoring to be so. You are looking for recycled materials in your purchases. You are using less electricity to minimize greenhouse emissions (and your utility bill). Based on statistical data, you have probably even put off buying that new SUV. Certainly, you know about metal poisoning, and why lead is no longer in paint, and have heard of mercury poisoning in fish.

What you may not know is how much toxic metals poisoning reported in the eighties was from batteries breaking down in landfills.
Landfills make old batteries more toxic. Since then, the EPA has addressed many of these issues, and companies have had to put mandatory controls in place to change the practices associated with polluting industries. All well and good. But, In the seventies and eighties, we saw a good number of reclamation facilities for recycling, but in recent years–where have they gone? Overseas, mostly Central and South America, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Wages are low and policing of safety, health, and environmental issues is spotty. Most reclamation is privatized, the exception being states where batteries constitute hazardous household waste. (In those states batteries go to landfills where they are handled a bit more safely.)

Incidentally, if you go to one of these landfill sites, you can get chemicals like paint thinners, butane, varnish, and the like for next to nothing. As long as you don’t mind digging through old product.

Lead-acid batteries destined for recycling are sold to other nations for processing and the second use materials are sold off by them, as the market for such materials is too poor for companies to turn a profit from the process on American soil.

So how do we address the issue?

One method is also a money-saving strategy: recharge them. Twenty years ago, rechargeable batteries were very expensive, compared to their non-rechargeable counterparts. Chargers were expensive and bulky, and charge life was inconsistent. Sales were poor. However, as uses of different heavy metals and chemical electrolytes became more advanced, rechargeable batteries became more practical and used more widely. Now we have power tools, cameras, cell phones, even battery powered cars that come with rechargeable batteries equipped. If you take simple steps with using correct charging/draining practices, it isn’t unreasonable to believe that you’ll dispose of the appliance before the battery life expires.

Batteries, even rechargeable ones, are a breed full of variety. Let’s look at different battery types and how they are handled for disposal.

Alkaline or manganese:

“Button” Style:

Carbon Zinc:

Lithium:

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd):

Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese:

Lead Acid Vehicle batteries:

If you want to really get the most out of your battery life, you can even coordinate your appliances and use the same batteries for several appliances. A good example would be batteries from your wireless keyboard that are no longer strong enough to produce a reliable signal. Frequently, those same batteries will function just fine in a lower power device like your TV remote for several more months.

Conclusion

{By Josh Johnston
Wednesday, 28 May 2008 08:02
Source: Bits Limited}

{By Elizabeth Seward
New York, NY, USA | Fri Oct 03 06:00:00 EDT 2008
Source: PlantGreen.com}

[by Jacob Gordon From PlantDiscovery.com]

How to Green your electronics

Yes, electronic devices are becoming a bigger and bigger part of our lives, especially as they get smaller and smaller. We use them as tools and toys to communicate, work, enjoy media, and be expressive. Being green with electronics doesn’t mean living in a teepee listening to truckers squalk on the old short-wave. Greening your electronics is a matter of knowing what tech to get, how to use it best, and what to do with it when its useful life is done. Many of these best practices aren’t things you’ll read in the instruction manual, either. In this guide we’ll tell you how to stop wasted energy, what gizmos are greener than others, and what to do about e-waste and electronics recycling. We’ll also show you some of the newest green gadgets coming over the horizon.

1. Go rechargeable
   Of the 15 billion batteries produced and sold each year, most of them are disposable alkaline batteries, and only a fraction of those are recycled. Look for electronics that are rechargeable. For removable batteries, lithium-ion (Li-Ion) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) are cost-effective, green alternatives. The fastest battery chargers can juice up AAs in as little as 15 minutes, and will pay for themselves quite quickly.
2. Kill Vampire Power
   Just because your cell phone is unplugged from the charger or your TV is off, doesn’t mean these devices aren’t drawing a current and running up your electricity bill. Many AC adapters (or “wall warts”) if left plugged in will continue to pull a current from the wall socket (you may notice they are warm to the touch). Many devices that have a standby mode do the same thing. To make sure you aren’t wasting energy, pull the plug on devices when not in use or put all of your electronics and chargers on a power strip. This way you can simply flip the power strip off when your electronics are not in use. There are also a number of “smart” power strips on the market that sense when electronics are turned off, or that turn off the strip when one main unit (like your PC) is powered down. (Note that some electronics need to be turned off via the on/off switch before cutting the power. Inkjet printers, for example, need to seal the cartridge heads to avoid clogging.)
3. Buy with energy in mind
   Some types of electronics suck more than others, at least in energy terms. Doing research on different technologies and their respective energy consumption can save you a lot in the long run. For example, if you want a flat panel television, look into LCD models, which use much less energy than plasmas. The Energy Star site will help you identify energy-saving electronic devices like cordless phones, stereo systems, TVs, DVD players, battery chargers, and a whole bunch more.
4. Treat those batteries right
   While battery recycling programs are increasingly common and easy to use, the process of recycling anything still takes energy and resources and should not be overused (one of the most polluted sites on the planet is a battery recycling plant in the Dominican Republic). Knowing how to best use and maintain rechargeable batteries will boost their longevity and performance. See Getting Techie below for more on the specifics.
5. Make it a short circuit
   So, you just bought the newest, sleekest cell phone. It takes video, filters out calls from exes, and charts barometric pressure. What should you do with the old one? Whatever you do, don’t just throw it in the trash–this risks releasing chemicals into the ecosystem. There are plenty of organizations and charities that recycle and reuse old electronics. If you want a return on your old gadgets, sell them on an online auction site–people will often buy them even if they are broken. Bonus! A growing number of computer manufacturers are adopting take-back programs as well, under which they will accept and recycle their units when you’re done with them.
6. Buy used
   Don’t want to spend a fortune on technology? You can find top quality, totally functional used electronics at sites like Ebay and Craigslist, and even at yard sales and flea markets. This not only cuts down on the amount of new resources being used for the production of more stuff, it also creates a market for sellers to safely recirculate electronics they’re no longer using. Ebay’s Easytradein.com is a good resource for the electronics you are ready to part with. You might even be surprised what comes up on Freecycle.
7. Bright idea: The solar charger
   There are an increasing number of options for on-the-go solar power. From handheld to backpack power, solar chargers now come in a spectrum of types for juicing up phones, PDAs, Bluetooth headsets, iPods, and laptops. Many have an onboard battery pack that can charge while the solar cells are in the sun, and then transfer the power to your device when you need it. See the “Home Electronics: From the Archives” section for a list of solar chargers on the market.
8. Extend use
   There’s definitely a cult around replacing our electronic toys and tools every 15 minutes or so when a new model comes out. In some cases, the newest technologies are cleaner and more efficient, but often, the older ones will faithfully do their assigned task for a lot longer than the marketplace would have us believe. In some cases, the older models are even superior. Step back a few paces from the whole technophelia thing and take stock of what your real needs are. It couldn’t hurt to practice some of this in the rest of our lives, as well.
9. Look for EPEAT
   EPEAT (electronic product environmental assessment tool) is an attempt at environmental certification for computers (CPUs, monitors, and notebooks). Released in early 2006, a growing number of products have been registered with EPEAT, and this certification is continuing to pick up steam; learn more at the EPEAT homepage.
10. Buy a less toxic system
    Europe is making huge inroads on reducing the presence of toxic chemicals in electronics such as lead, cadmium, and mercury with a directive called RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances). Even if you don’t live in Europe this has a big impact, as any company looking to sell there has to follow the directive. Look for companies that are adhering to–and even going beyond–the RoHS compliance in Europe and around the globe. Learn more from the RoHS UK Homepage and Wikipedia’s RoHS page.

From Source: PlantGreen.com