The Navy will soon install soundless, energy-efficient LED bulbs in all of its submarines. - Photo from InHabitat.com.

According to a post on InHabitat.com, a single complaint filed by an office aboard a submarine has inspired the Navy to switch from fluorescent bulbs to LED lights in their entire fleet.

Why the huge switch? Well, the constant humming and buzzing of fluorescent bulbs can apparently become quite a nuisance in confined quarters like a submarine, and the Navy certainly doesn’t want to add any extra stress to their seamen. Also, the LED lights they will be installing in the subs use about 50% less energy than fluorescents, which will save the Navy some big bucks over time.

The complaint was filed through the Navy’s Tech Solutions program, which encourages officers to suggest new technologies that might help the armed forces better do their jobs. The suggestion to switch to LED lights was well-received and is expected to be fully implemented quite soon.

If you know of an interesting, surprising use for LED lights, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment! We’ll look into each and every suggestion and the best ones will featured in an upcoming installment of the series. Bring ‘em on!

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Soon LED bulbs won't be just for flashlights anymore.

In fact, the report seemed to suggest that you were required to buy CFLs when replacing incandescent bulbs. As the popular LED-related blog CreeLEDRevolution.com pointed out, that is simply not true:

“The federally-mandated phase out of inefficient incandescent light bulbs does not in any way specify that consumers must only buy mercury-laden CFLs,” the blog post says.

“The new energy efficiency standards, set to start in 2012, say we can replace our energy-wasting incandescent bulbs with any lighting technology that is roughly 30 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs.

“That means we could light our homes and businesses with CFLs, but it also means we can choose energy-efficient LED lighting. It even means we could turn to slightly more efficient incandescents that use halogen technology (although this borderline defeats the purpose of the standards, since halogens just barely make the energy-efficiency cut).”

If you’d like more information about what the incandescent phase-out could mean to you and your family, read Shedding New Light, an informative article about the new US Energy Efficiency Standards for Everyday Light Bulbs.

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Is an LED light display something you'd want in your car?

According to the ads, iGloLEDset uses Wi-Fi- controllable colored LED lights that can be controlled by any smart device, including iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, or Android. The system allows users to customize displays by setting different colors and sequences and then control the displays in real time. The LED lights are packaged as a 16.4 foot strip and run off a power supply which can be hooked up to your car via an inverter (not included).

Sound cool? Well, not everyone thinks it is such a good idea. A post on MyRideisMe.com dares to ask the question: Does a car need a full-color LED light display inside the cab? Isn’t that just a bit obnoxious? Aubrey London, the author of the post, put it another way: “Did you just throw up a little?”

London tracked down MEA Mobile Managing Director Bruce Seymour and got a little inside perspective on the product:

“In a way it’s like a custom paint job – people can use it to make something unique or awful,” Seymour said. “We developed the iGloWiFi controller as a platform for leveraging mobile devices for hardware control. Lights are just the beginning.”

Regardless of where this technology is headed, chances are many car enthusiasts will jump at the chance to install a customizable full-color LED light display inside their car. Will you?

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Blue and red LED lights encourage plant growth.

According to a report on LedInside.com, Netherlands-based PlantLab believes their work with LED technology could lead to more efficient indoor food production and allow more growing options for farmers in climates with shorter daylight hours.

Using LED lights for plant growth is nothing new. Indoor farmers have been using LEDs for years because of their tendency to increase photosynthesis in plants and their ability to remove some bacteria and viruses. They are also a lot more energy efficient than traditionally grow lights. But probably the main reason LEDs are popular with indoor plant growers is that they provide just the right frequency to encourage growth.

Plants require certain frequencies, or colors, to grow. Using LED lights allow scientists, such as the ones at PlantLab, to use just the right color of light to encourage photosynthesis. These carefully measured color combinations can produce an amazing crop yield in a shorter amount of time. The PhotoLab project overview explains:

“Plants mainly need blue and red light for photosynthesis and far-red, a colour not even visible to the human eye but visible to the plant. The relationships between the light colours determine the form of the plant .”

PlantLab also claims that using indoor, LED-based growing systems have other benefits, including minimizing soil erosion, reducing water waste as much as 95%, and eliminating pesticide use.

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According to the Cree blog, the new LED light will deliver the same soft glow as an incandescent bulb but consume under 10 watts of electricity during regular use.
From the blog post:

“We’re demonstrating that it is possible to make an LED light bulb that delivers the same bright, warm light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. We want to show the world that this is what LED lighting can and should look like. And we want to help our customers […] bring bulbs like this to market.”

Before Cree developed this technology, most people had to use a 60-watt equivalent compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) if they wanted to reduce their energy consumption. A 60-watt equivalent CFL bulb consumes about 15 watts, but the light that is produced is often muted and unattractive. As you can see in the picture below, the Cree 60-watt equivalent LED light looks almost exactly identical to an incandescent bulb.

The new Cree 60-watt equivalent LED light looks just as good as a traditional incandescent bulb.

Cree hopes that this new bulb will finally win over stubborn incandescent users who don’t want to give up the glow of a traditional bulb.

“We understand why so many people are reluctant to let their incandescent bulbs go,” they said on the blog. “Even though they waste energy, they still provide that warm light that many of us love. But Cree is continuing to prove that LED lights can do it too.”

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LED flashlights aren't the only LEDs available to RV campers.

You probably also know all about the many great LED lights available to camping enthusiasts – LED flashlights, lanterns, and many others. But what about those RV enthusiasts out there? Can LED lights be used in RVs? The answer: yes!

Since RVs are a combination of automobile and house, you can combine the LED technologies from both industries! RV manufacturers use LED lights in many parts of their vehicles. Here are just a few examples:

Tail lights – LED lights have been used in car tail lights for years, and they are now beginning to make their way into the RV sector. LEDs last a lot longer than traditional tail lights, so there is less chance that you’re going to get pulled over for having a bulb out.

Cabin lights – Why use traditional incandescent bulbs to light the inside of your RV? They are inefficient, overheat easily, and don’t last long at all. LED lights, on the other hand, last much longer and won’t such all the juice from your RV battery.

Headlights – Yes, LEDs are even being used in RV headlights these days. LED bulbs provide a brilliant focused beam of white light, allowing you to safely take your RV on night trips in comfort and style.

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LED lights for your teeth - the new glow stick?

As if taken right out of an 80s sci-fi book about raves, the latest trend in Japanese fashion accessories are glowing LED teeth. That’s right. TEETH. According to the website NDTV, these “teeth attachments” fit right inside your mouth and give your chompers a neon LED glow.

Created as an experiment by a couple of Japanese designers, the new LED light teeth fronts have been used in commercial advertising and are quickly becoming a hot number. According to the article, using the LED smiles is easy: Simply affix the contraption to your teeth, smile, and your whole mouth becomes an LED wonderland. The color of the teeth can be changed using a wireless computer interface.

The following YouTube video shows a group of Japanese girls sporting the new LED teeth technology out-and-about:

LED Light Teeth

The use for this kind of advancement in LED light technology seems pretty limited – it’s essentially an improvement on the old glowstick-in-the-mouth, popular at dance clubs and raves. But who knows? Perhaps the Japanese have a use for the teeth that is unbeknownst to us. The developers of the techonology, Motoi Ishibashi and Daito Manabe, say they are offering workshops in Japan to teach others how to make their own LED teeth. Good luck, fellas.

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A Dino Moppel LED Light is a quirky example of the many ways LEDs are being used for home lighting.

When it comes to energy efficiency, LEDs blow CFLs out of the water.
“In terms of energy efficiency, a standard LED light uses only 2-10 watts of electricity, which is 1/30 of the amount of energy used by a CFL bulb. An LED does not generate nearly as much heat while lit as a CFL would. Especially in the summertime, using CFL bulbs can cause higher temperatures in the home, thus requiring greater uses of cooling systems. Utilizing LED light bulbs, particularly in areas where there is a lot of lighting, can help to save energy and money on cooling costs.”

CFLs burn out faster than LEDs.
“Research places the typical lifespan of a CFL bulb at about 10,000 hours, while an LED light typically lasts between 50,000 and 60,000 hours. This makes using LED lights especially attractive for those hard to reach or recessed lighting areas. Additionally, LED lights are crafted to be solid and hold up better to bumps and drops than a CFL bulb would – but newer types of LED lights have clusters of LEDs making up the light so even if one LED goes out, the rest of the LEDs should not be affected.”

LEDs have their drawbacks, but…
“The biggest drawback for LED lighting is that typically LED lights provide only directional lighting, for example, in track lighting. […] However, there have been recent improvements to LED lighting, creating bulbs that include clusters of LEDs with diffuser lenses available. These next generation LED lights provide a broader shine and expand the types of locations where you can use them.
“Another drawback of the LED light is in their price point. LED lights are usually more expensive than CFL bulbs. However, when you look at cost over time, lifespan, and energy efficiency, this is where LED lighting charges ahead in comparison to CFL lights.”

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A flowering cactus does well indoors under an LED light.

Using LED lights to grow indoor flowers and vegetables isn’t all that new, but it certainly isn’t something many people think of doing when planning for house plants and gardens. The benefits of using LEDs for house plants are many: control, timing, quality of light, energy reduction, and more. The following are just a few reasons you should use LED bulbs when growing indoor plants.

Timing
Anyone that has tried to grow flowers or vegetables outdoors knows that timing is crucial. Specific types of plants need specific amounts of water, heat, and light, and if you don’t time the delivery of these necessities just right you run the risk of killing the plant. LED lights allow you to deliver just the right amount of light at just the right time, encouraging healthy growth. And since LED lights burn cool, you don’t have to worry about burning your plants.

Quality Control
Not all plants need the same type or amount of light. With LEDs, you can control the quality of the light your plants will receive, whether that’s filtered or direct. You can also control when your plants will receive that light.

Energy Efficiency
Of course, the most energy-efficient way to grow a plant is outdoors. But if you live in an area that doesn’t allow for yearlong gardening, LED bulbs are the next best thing. LED bulbs use less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer, saving you money.

Remember to check with a local nursery or gardener for more information on growing indoor plants using LED lights.

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Vowing to use more energy-efficient LED lights in your home is a great New Year's Resolution.

1. Conserve energy.
Using LED lights is a sure fire way to conserve energy use and reduce your monthly energy bill. LEDs use significantly energy than their incandescent counterparts, and because almost none of the energy being used is wasted as heat, the bulb can burn much brighter for much longer.

2. Use an eco-friendly product.
Incandescent bulbs are not only less efficient than LED bulbs, but they also are worse for the environment. Many types of traditional lights, including fluorescent bulbs, contain mercury, a very toxic substance. When these types of bulbs end up in a landfill, the mercury toxins can leach into the ground, polluting nearby soil and water.

3. Spend wisely.
It’s true; high-quality, energy efficient LED flashlights and light bulbs usually carry a higher price tag than cheap incandescent. But when you look at the lifespan of the bulbs and the energy they consume, it’s easy to see how LED lights are a much more cost-effective choice.

From all of us here at Discount Lights and Knives, we wish you and yours a very happy new year! Have a great 2011 everyone!

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The whimsical Dino Moppel LED light makes a great stocking stuffer.

1. V8 Standard Torch
   Why mess with a classic? This 2.2 inch flashlight packs a whopping 10 lumen output and lasts for three hours on only 3 AG13 batteries. The keychain clip and metal casing seals the deal.
2. Dino Moppel
   This cute little critter is perfect for late-night studying or the craftsman in your house. Ten inches tall, the Dino Moppel features magnetic feet and a powerful LED light useful in the home or at work.
3. LL7853/7854 Car Charger
   Does the LED light enthusiast in your family use rechargeable batteries? Then you must get them this handy car charger. Perfect for road trips and camping excursions, this charger comes in at just under ten dollars.
4. Micro Flex Light
   This powerful LED light is perfect for the garage or a camping trip. With a six lumen output, a 1.3 hour runtime and a high-intensity beam, the Micro Flex Light makes for a perfect stocking stuffer.
5. Personal Emergency Area Light
   Perfect for any camping, hiking, or outdoor enthusiast, this adorable little safety lantern is only 5.75 inches high, produces an amazing 17 lumen output, and lasts for 30 hours on only 4 AA batteries. Nice!

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Holiday LED lights come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.com

Wreaths
Placing small LED lights in a wreath makes for a very merry holiday decoration. Place your lit wreath on the front door, front gate, or above the mantle, and bask in the sweet smell and festive glow of one of the world’s favorite holiday decorations.

Walkways
LED lanterns make great walkway or garden path lights in any season, but they look especially festive during the holidays. The soft, bright light of LEDs is the perfect accent to any yard and gives your home a warm, approachable look.

Tree
LED string lights are the most energy-efficient way of lighting your holiday tree. They use less electricity and are very cool to the touch, meaning you don’t have to worry about your tree catching on fire if you forget to turn them off.

By using LED lights in your holiday decorations this year, you are saving energy, supporting eco-friendly technology, and creating a memorable holiday display. Good for you!

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LED Street Lighting Bulb

The program, called Niagara Luminaire, aims to make the transition to energy-efficient LED-based street lighting early next year. According to an article on ledsmagazine.com, Niagara Falls hopes to save as much as 50% in energy costs from the transition. An outside consultant has estimated that the city’s current street lights create about 1,273 metric tons of carbon emissions each year. This adds up to about $7 million in health issues for Niagara residents, including asthma and heart conditions. The city hopes to curb some of those health costs by reducing emissions and creating a green manufacturing base in the area.

One interesting aspect of this story is that much of Niagara Falls’ electricity is generated by the falls themselves, which does not produce carbon. Many experts agree that the inclusion of LED lights into the street lighting grid will greatly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, which begs the question: Could Niagara Falls become America’s first Green City? Only time will tell for sure.

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1. P7 Focusable Flashlight

This LED flashlight is small but powerful. Featuring a 200 lumen output and a whopping 64 hour battery life, the P7 is a handy tool for any outdoor enthusiast to have around. The P7 weighs in at a barely-noticeable 7 ounces, is 5.5 inches long, and comes with both a Nylon sheath and a lifetime guarantee. Throw in an advanced, one-handed focus system and you’ve got one holiday gift no one could pass up.

2. Damascus Bowie Knife

Perfect for the hunting enthusiast in your life, this Bowie knife features a Damascus stainless steel hunting blade, a stag bone handle with brass and steel accents, a leather sheath, and an intimidating 11 inch overall length. If you’re looking for a tougher, more reliable hunting knife, good luck.

3. Dino Moppel

The quirky Dino Moppel makes for a perfect stocking stuffer.

Maybe you’re trying to find a gift for the person who has everything. Well, chances are the Dino Moppel is that gift. This quirky light apparatus features an LED head, four flexible appendages, and magnetic suction cup feet that stick to pretty much anything. Perfect for dorm rooms, offices, or anywhere you need a little extra light, the Dino Moppel will bring a smile to even the most hard-to-please face.

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The Smart Street Lighting conference will feature many prominent figures in the LED technologies field speaking on a number of fascinating topics, such as:

The reduction of energy consumption and maintenance costs of street lights;

The adoption of energy efficient lighting technologies and practices, such as the use of LED lights;

The stabilization of energy efficient city lighting systems;

The operational efficiency and cost savings of LED lighting systems.

The Smart Street Lighting conference is sponsored by two of the biggest names in LEDs – Autev and Cree Europe – and is The conference will feature speakers from all over the globe: Los Angeles, Norway, Helsinki, London, and others.

Using LED lights in street lighting programs has already proven successful in many parts of the world (see Canadian Smart Streetlights Program a Success), with Canada and Mexico being the most promising examples of such programs. LED lights are estimated to cut street light energy consumption of major municipalities by up to 60%, and the improvement in the quality of light is thought to increase driver and pedestrian safety. The Smart Street Lighting conference aims to increase the world’s awareness of the benefits of LED street lighting programs.

For more information on the conference, visit marcusevans.com.

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One installation, the Hope Tree, combined 670 self-supporting watercolor panels punched with leaf cutouts and low-wattage LED lights to produce an interactive, almost magical environment meant to spark conversation and reflection among its visitors.

The Hope Tree used LED lights to create a romantic, low-watt atmosphere.

Designed by 24° Studio, the entire structure was created inside a 20-foot shipping container. The cutouts are all self-supporting and are backed with translucent tracing paper, diffusing the LED lights and creating a soft atmosphere. The leaf-like shapes cut out from the paper constantly bent inwards and outwards, warping with the change in humidity and condensation.

The Hope Tree took Tokyo Designers Week 2010 by storm and was one of the winners of the Environmental Container Design & Art Competition sponsored by the Design Association NOP and Dezeen.

24° Studio talked with inhabitat.com about the conception and installation of the Hope Tree:

“The Hope Tree installation was envisioned as a spatial condition that attended to question our surroundings as we know it and hoping to generate a discussion and understanding amongst the visitors about the place of our everyday life, our environment. Lately, we are bombarded with products that try to deal with the consequences of environmental damages throughout the world, but occasionally we overlook the roots of these occurring problems by not fully understanding our environment,” 24° Studio designers said.

The use of LED lights helped created the installation’s ambiance and was applauded for as an environmentally friendly, low-watt alternative to traditional bulbs.

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Organic LEDs, or OLEDs for short, are LED bulbs with an emissive electroluminescent layer (the part of the bulb that produces the light) made of organic compounds. This organic layer is placed between two electrodes and emits light when exposed to an electrical current.

Sound far-fetched? Hardly. Scientists, such as Nadav Amdursky and Prof. Gil Rosenman of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Electrical Engineering, are constantly perfecting new nano-materials that use organic matter to create light. According to an article on ScienceDaily.com, the light emitted by OLEDs is not noticeably different from inorganic LED lights. The organic matter used in the light is made from carbon, making the material inexpensive and easy to grow and harvest.

The benefits of OLEDs are numerous and varied. OLEDs are generally said to have a much lower manufacturing cost and a better power efficiency than traditional lights, meaning they have the potential to save their users a lot of money in the long run.

OLEd technology has helped TV manufacturers make incredibly thin devices, such as this 3mm Ultra Thin OLED 1 from Sony. - Image from itechnews.net

OLEDs are currently used most in LCD electronics such as TVs and computer monitors, but researchers agree that their uses could reach much further than every-day electronics. Amdursky and Rosenman say that OLEDs could be used for residential and commercial lighting, as well as in medical equipment such as subcutaneous ultrasound devices.

Organic LED lights may be the future, but they are still a long way from mass production and commercial or residential use. With any luck, though, we’ll each be growing our own light in no time.

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Walkways

Cleverly hidden, a simple LED lantern can make a perfect outdoor walkway light.

Let’s face it – winter is literally a very dark time of year in the United States. Using LED lanterns or bulbs to light a walkway or garden path is a great way to keep your home approachable and inviting, no matter what how dark it gets.

Mantles
Candles are a beautiful accent to any mantle, but they carry inherent risks – namely, burning your house down. LED bulbs, artfully arranged, can achieve the same effect as candles but without the danger of lighting anything on fire. Also, you don’t have to worry about changing them as often.

Centerpieces
LED lights are a great way of adding ambience and atmosphere to a Thanksgiving dinner. Many LED lights are battery powered, meaning there is no need for obnoxious power cords. Add a few bulbs to a traditional centerpiece for a new festive holiday tradition.

Tune in next month when we’ll explore the many different ways to use LED lights in your December holiday decorating scheme.

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According to a press release, the Cree XLamp XM-L LEDs are designed for very high-lumen applications, such as roadway lighting. The new bulbs boast an outstanding 1000 lumen output and run at 100 lumens per watt, making them one of the brightest, most efficient LED lights available.

Cree produces high-quality LED bulbs that are often found in everyday products like LED flashlights.

“The XLamp XM-L LED can fundamentally change the way Cree customers look at LED light,” said John Edmond, Cree director of advanced optoelectronics, in the press release. “An LED with this level of light output and this level of efficacy can accelerate the development of high-output commercial lighting products and could enable applications we haven’t even thought of yet. This sets a new standard for LED performance.”

Another amazing thing about these bulbs? Cree developed them entirely, from concept to commercial availability, in under eight months. This just goes to show how tuned-in Cree is to the development and advancement of LED technology. In fact, part of Cree’s mission statement is the claim to be “setting the stage to obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting.” Pretty bold statements, and so far, entirely accurate.

For more information on the new XLamp XM-L LEDs, visit cree.com or find a distributor.

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LEDs make perfect safety lights for your kids as they trick-or-treat. LEDs are small, powerful and versatile enough to work into any costume idea without seeming out of place. Here are the best ways to incorporate LED safety lights into your child’s costume to keep them safe and looking good.

A clip-on LED light means your child doesn't have to carry around a giant flashlight like this one.

Candy Bucket
A candy bucket, bag or pillowcase is a great place to put a LED safety light. Clip-on LEDs make great safety lights because they are powerful, meaning drivers will be able to see your child very easily in the dark. They are also very long-lasting, so you don’t have to worry about the bulb or battery going out before the night is over. If the bucket or bag is translucent, try clipping the light to the inside for a spooky glowing effect.

Shoes
Securely attaching an LED safety light to your child’s shoes is a great idea for a number of reasons. The light is visible to drivers and such without distracting from the child’s costume. Having it on the shoe means your child doesn’t have to bother holding it or hanging it from his or her costume. Think your kid won’t want a LED light attached to his or her shoe? Remember LA Lights? Yeah, those were COOL.

Costume
Another way of keeping your kid safely lit is to work the LED lights into the costume itself. With a little creativity and some DIY skills, you can work small LED safety lights into most costumes. Is your little girl going as a fairy princess? Add a light to the tip of her wand. Have any kids going as robots? Make a blinking, flashing control panel. This way your child will have the safety he or she needs and not even realize it.

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LED-Embedded Showerheads

You read that correctly, folks. Fedilo is currently developing a line of shower heads that feature multi-color LED bulbs embedded directly into the heads. The showerheads come in a variety of shapes, including square, circle, rectangle, and oval, and feature a number of different colored LED bulbs – blue, pink, white, yellow, and green.

The way the water is released is another innovative aspect to these showerheads. Placed directly above the shower, the heads release water in either a cascading, waterfall-type effect or a drenching tropical rain-type effect. All the user needs to do is stand under the head, turn on the water, and be swept away into a colorful, relaxing experience. According to one review of the product, the combination of LED lights and alternative water features is meant to “calm you down to your core”.

This isn’t the first unexpected LED use to be developed recently. LED bulbs have been used to light car license plates, compact purse mirrors, and even Amazon kindle covers. Fedilo’s showerhead designs are another step in the current trend of installing LED bulbs in unusual household appliances or features.

The LED showerhead technology is still in the concept design stage for now, but many LED technology enthusiasts think that it won’t be too long before the showerheads are picked up by a major LED-product manufacturing company. Until then, LED enthusiasts will have to wait.

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A modern example of how far LED light technology has come.

“Back in 1960 Electronics Weekly was born into a ferment of III-V semiconductor research that within two years would produce the first practical LED.

In 1960 Dr Nick Holonyak of General Electric was developing an unusual material, GaAsP, as a route to wide bandgap tunnel diodes.

When an infra-red GaAs semiconductor laser was demonstrated in 1962, Holonyak with his wider bandwidth GaAsP was in the perfect position to have a go at making a visible version.”

The article makes no mention of British experimenter H.J. Round, who first discovered electroluminescence and paved the way for all LED development. The Electronics Weekly article does, however, discuss the Russian scientist Oleg Vladimirovich, who reportedly developed the first LED in 1927 but could find no practical use for the technology.

The article traces LED bulbs from Vladimirovich to the development of multi-colored LEDS in the late 1980s and early 1990s to the current trend of replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with LED varieties. The author admits to the article being “necessarily a condensed history”, but all in all it covers a lot of information in a straight-forward, engaging way.

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LED Lenser Flashlight

It’s no surprise that an LED manufacturing company is one of the leading employers for the Raleigh area. LED bulbs are being used in everything from home light bulbs, flashlights, lanterns, car lights, computers, televisions, and even the new iPhone 4. Cree has taken advantage of this boom in LED use and created over 600 new jobs since 2009, which already surpasses the 2012 hiring goals the company set for itself last year. The new LED wafer production facility is expected to hire an additional 250 employees by 2013.

But what is an LED wafer, exactly? Well, it’s all quite technical, but a wafer is essentially a component of an LED bulb that holds the necessary electrical structures to complete the bulb’s circuit. The 150mm LED wafer developed by Cree is nearly twice the size of current ones, meaning more LEDs can be used on a single wafer. This technique makes LED bulbs even more energy efficient, as the amount of materials going into each bulb is lessened.
Cree CEO and Chairman Chuck Swoboda is all aflutter about the LED wafers, as he expressed in a press release earlier this month.

“150mm LED wafers are an important step in enabling the next phase of LED lighting,” Swoboda said. “These new larger wafers are the result of Cree’s relentless focus on innovation, demonstrating our commitment to leading the LED Lighting Revolution.”

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According to a press release, ODFW staff and volunteers will be available to help children who want to learn how to fish. The department will also provide rods, reels and bait to kids that don’t have the right equipment.

Folding Fishing Tool

The press release continues:

“This is a great opportunity for kids to get out and enjoy a day at one of the Willamette Valley’s premier trout fishing sites,” said Todd Alsbury, fish biologist for ODFW’s North Willamette Watershed District.

St. Louis Ponds is a 54-acre complex of seven ponds owned and managed by ODFW. The complex was designed specifically as a recreational fishing venue. The department will stock the ponds with more than 1,500 rainbow trout, including 500 larger fish in the half- to one-pound range.

“These larger fish should provide plenty of excitement for any youngster lucky enough to catch one,” said Alsbury.

In addition to stocked trout, the ponds contain several species of warmwater fish, including largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie and sunfish.

“The diversity of species available at St. Louis Ponds is part of what makes it such a fun place to fish,” said Alsbury, who noted that in the past several huge catfish have been pulled from its waters.

While St. Louis Ponds is open to anglers of all ages, ODFW asks that adults leave the fishing to the kids for a few days leading up to and including this event.

Under Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, anglers ages 13 and under can fish for free while those 14-17 will need to have a juvenile angling license, which are available for $9 at ODFW field offices and license outlets.

The ponds are located 13 miles north of Salem and west of Interstate 5. To get to there from I-5, take the Woodburn exit. Then go east to Hwy. 99E. At Hwy. 99E, head south to Gervais Road. Go west on Gervais Road through the town of Gervais. The road eventually changes to St Louis Road. Continue west on St Louis Road as it crosses over I-5 to Tesch Road, at the railroad crossing. Go left on Tesch Road and follow the signs to the ponds.

This isn’t the first time the ODFW has hosted a free kids fishing day, and it most likely won’t be the last. If you miss the event this Saturday, check in with LED Flashlights and Knife Reviews periodically to find out when the next event will take place.

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The latest in LED technology is being used to light up the oceans in various underwater lighting devices. Created mainly for divers and underwater film crews, the single- and multi-canister LED lights are powerful, compact and reach greater depths than other types of bulbs.

Single-canister underwater LED bulbs usually feature about a 100 watt LED that produces an amazing 9,000 lumen output. The lithium-polymer battery is rechargeable and lasts for about two hours. The depth of single-canister LED bulbs is an astounding 500 feet. At a mere 4.5 inches by 14.5 inches, the single-canister LED is a small but powerful light.

Underwater LED Lighting Device

Double-head canister lights are slightly bulkier but pack twice the power of their single-canister cousins. Used mainly by underwater videographers, double-head canisters feature two light heads and produce an amazing 18,000 lumen output. The double-head canister light does lack a bit on battery life. Its rechargeable lithium-polymer battery takes about four hours to charge but lasts only one hour. Most casual ocean divers don’t need such a powerful light, but if you have a video project that requires underwater shooting, this light will definitely not disappoint.

Another great feature about the underwater LED lights is their wet light head and canister connections. These amazing LED technology advancements allow users to change bulbs and even battery canisters underwater. Packing a number of extra battery canisters on your person will give you more use out of your light and extend the dive time.

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1. M7R LED Flashlight
With daylight hours waning by the day, everyone needs a sturdy, reliable hand-held flashlight during fall. The M7R is about as sturdy and reliable as they come. Producing up to 220 lumens of focusable light and running on a rechargeable battery, the M7R can be used as a spotlight or a soft. Whether you’re getting some last minute camping in or simply taking the garbage out, the M7R is the flashlight for you.

2. Emergency LED Area Light
Power outages are more likely to occur during fall and winter storms, so be prepared this season by having an emergency LED area light on hand. These powerful items feature a 60 lumen output, four light settings, and runs for over 50 hours. They’re tough, energy efficient and perfect for a temporary blackout. Have a big house? Consider getting one for every room or floor.

Decorative LED Light Tower

3. LED Light Tower
Fall and winter can turn people into real grouches. One of the best ways of getting rid of the fall and winter blues is to have a fun light feature in your house. An LED light tower is the perfect way to brighten up any room. Standing at around two feet tall, LED light towers feature 3 powerful LED light chips that are used to create seven different colors of light. Buy a couple and have a whole wall display. Because, well, why not?

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For more information, visit www.inciweb.org/incident/2065

The Hopper Fire was started by a lightning strike on August 5, and has since burned through over 385 acres, mostly down the east and west flanks of Mount Hopper. A nine-person fuels crew has monitored the fire since August 18, but are expected to leave soon. The park fire officials will continue to watch it until it burns itself out.

The White Fire, a small fire located in the Douglas fir forest about two miles north of the Enchanted Valley Chalet, has continued to burn since it was discovered on August 17. The fire has only consumed about 1/8 of an acre and overflights report that there is very little smoke and no spreading. Still, fire officials will keep an eye on it until they know it has been extinguished.

What can you, the outdoor enthusiast, do to help prevent forest fires such as these? Well, one way is to use non-flammable LED lanterns instead of propane lanterns. Using cool-burning LED flashlights can also reduce the risk of a bulb overheating and catching a flammable object on fire. Campfires should be kept under control and completely extinguished before leaving or going to sleep, and if you’re going to smoke, dispose of burning butts in proper containers.

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Sept. 11: Annual Fishing Day for Children with Disabilities
The Tillamook Anglers put on this great outdoor event for young anglers with disabilities. Fishing and other outdoor activities are great ways to encourage exercise and boost confidence in your young ones.
When: 10 AM to 3 PM
Where: Whiskey Creek Volunteer Fish Hatchery, 7660 Whiskey Creek Rd., Tillamook
Cost: Free
For more information: Call Jerry Dove at 503-842-6519, or email at jdovetillanglers@embarqmail.com

Sept. 11: Ducks Unlimited Annual Banquet
The Sauvie Island chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting the its annual banquet at Island Oaks Farm. This year will feature food, an auction and a raffle. Don’t miss it!
When: 11 AM to 4 PM
Where: Island Oaks Farm, 20610 NW Sauvie Island Road, Sauvie Island
Cost: $55/singles, $75/couples
For more information: Call Rob Prince at 503-621-3140, or email at robprince28@hotmail.com

Sept. 18 – 19: Gun and Knife Show
This event is aimed at gun and knife enthusiasts, but it should be fun for the whole family! Brought to you by Collector’s West Productions, the Gun and Knife Show will be held at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds in Washington.
When: 9/18, 9 AM to 5 PM, 9/19, 9 AM to 3 PM
Where: Cowlitz County Fairgrounds, 1900 Seventh Ave, Longview
Cost: $6
For more information: Visit www.collectorswest.com

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According to a press release from Streetlight Intelligence, Inc., 14 field trials for LED streetlights in various areas in Canada have received very favorable reviews from city officials and residents.

The field trial areas are a part of the National Demonstration Program for Adaptive Street Lighting, an attempt to convert Canada’s over 6.5 million streetlights to more energy efficient LED bulbs.

“Turnkey demonstration kits have been assembled and shipped to 28 municipalities across Canada to date,” Streetlight Intelligence CEO Vince Krynski said. “Each municipality has committed to a 2-3 month field trial to familiarize themselves with our Lumen IQ™ technology and experiment with its energy saving, performance monitoring and reporting capabilities.”

LED lights have been proven to be more energy efficient and cost-effective than their incandescent counterparts. LED bulbs use less energy, require less maintenance, and produce fewer greenhouse gases. Incandescent bulbs, on the other hand, have a much shorter lifespan and emit only 5% of the energy they require as light. The other 95% of required energy is emitted as heat.

Kelly Hewson, Technical Advisor for FortisBC, Inc., agreed that the LED streetlight trials were a success.

“A key finding of the field study was that dimming was virtually undetectable by both FortisBC and city staff while 30% energy savings were being achieved,” Hewson said. “Additionally, no negative public reaction resulted from the test site. In our opinion, the products can be recommended for full deployment.”

Energy-Efficient LED Flood Bulb

Many other countries are making the move to energy efficient LED bulbs, too. Mexico City has begun a massive LED streetlight project on their new superhighway, and many municipalities in the United States have also adopted LED technology.

The National Demonstration Program has been extended until December 31, 2010, with other Canadian municipalities expected to get on board.

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Starting next month, the EU ban on incandescent bulbs will be 2/3 complete. The ban on 100-watt bulbs took place in September 2009, and the more popular 60 watt variety will be phased out next year. The ban comes from growing concern over the inefficiency of incandescent bulbs. Filament bulbs use only 5% of their energy as light, with the rest of their energy being emitted as heat. They also burn out much faster than fluorescent CFL or LED bulbs. The longevity of CFL and LED bulbs is another reason the EU moved to require their use. Although filament bulbs are much cheaper up front, the money that can be saved from using the more environmentally friendly fluorescent CFL or LED bulbs is considerable.

LED Flood Bulb

Europeans are buying up the filament bulbs not only because they are cheaper, but because many people don’t like the quality of light produced by CFLs or LEDs. CFL lamps usually take longer to warm up – sometimes up to ten minutes to reach full brightness – though this is a problem CFL insiders say is being fixed. Fluorescent and LED bulbs are also less effective in cold weather, which is a big concern for countries like Finland and Sweden.

While faster-starting LED bulbs and lamps are being developed, the binge buying of filament bulbs suggests that many Europeans still oppose the ban. The U.S. has a similar ban in place that will require all bulbs to be 25% to 35% more efficient by 2014.

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