Socially advanced Vs Greed

January 15, 2008

This complex in Vienna (Alt-erlaa) houses some 10,000 low-income residence, it includes a range of 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom housing, all with views over parkland areas with playgrounds, sports grounds, tennis courts, gyms, saunas, pools (both in door and out door on the roofs), ample parking, schools, medical centres, shops, restaurants, a metro station and it’s own TV station.

Alt-erlaa housing complex in Vienna
Photo: Alt-erlaa Vienna

When you look at these photos you will notice also there is no litter, no graffiti, no car wrecks, the place is obviously well looked after and I’m betting there is very little crime. So the question is, in the long run who benefits here, the few or the many… you’d think any democratic nation would embrace such a system yet so few do and curiously all of them are in Europe, sad to say Australia’s not one of them.

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Written by Beam · Filed Under Building, People

LED Lighting

January 14, 2008

LED Light
Photo: The LED Shop

It looks like the humble LED, you know that ubiquitous little red or green glow on the front of your TV, Stereo, computer or whatever, has been moved up a notch or dozen. Dr Faiz Rahman and his team of the University of Glasgow have developed what looks like a very efficient, long life and very bright white light that may soon replace the Fluro which replaced the old incandescent light globe that’s been around since Thomas Edison invented it.

The manufacturing process involves a process known as nano-imprint lithography… we’re going to hear more about the various nanos soon. Anyway, the process involves making microscopic (nano) holes in the surface of LEDs to increase the level of light they give off. I’m not sure how drilling holes in a transparent material increases the level of light but hey if it works and there’s no downside cool.

I’m currently using the ‘new’ Fluros, but contra to what I’d heard they do give off some heat (otherwise known as energy leakage) and I had to change one of the light shades because the fluro resonated with it… one of those barely audible annoying buzzes. Other than that and perhaps the price since I’ve not had the Fluros long enough to realize their relative cost effectiveness I am happy with them.

Being a male I love a new gadget and the new LED lighting looks more gadgety than the fluros. My brother, who seems to have a thing for torches, has recently researched and bought a very gadgety looking LED torch which is definitely brighter than any other torch I’ve seen.

It will be interesting this new push for more efficient and better quality lighting. The LEDs in TV Laptops, monitors, phones and Palms (I have a thing for real Palms) itself is it seems to be replaced by OLEDs, ‘O’ for organic and I can’t wait to see where that heads. A techo friend in the know says the OLEDs may eventually be fully transparent windows… but that’s for another post when they have more to show us.

Website: University of Glasgow

Written by Beam · Filed Under Building, Energy