Algae are traditionally grown in shallow outdoor ponds using sunlight and fresh or salt water. These open ponds have large surface areas allowing sunlight to easily reach the algae in the shallow water. Open ponds are considered desirable because they are less expensive to operate than indoors bioreactors. These open pond algae farms have had significant problems however. Local low lipid algae strains invade the ponds and dominate the weaker high-lipid algae causing lipid production to suffer. Inconsistent weather conditions can also reduce algae yields. An enclosed system, or bioreactor, solves these problems but at a much higher cost. A bioreactor is a device used to grow the algae indoors. Clear cylinders are filled with water and algae, then exposed to a light source. Expensive lighting drives up the costs of growing the algae in this way.

Algae Farm has recently switched from growing algae under fluorescent lights,  to energy efficient LED lighting from LumiGrow. LumiGrow LED grow lights offer adjustable red, blue and white color blends to meet the precise spectral requirements of different algae strains. This boosts algae crop yield while reducing energy bills. Algae Farm expects to save $400 thousand in electricity costs the first year, and will continue seeing savings in electricity and maintenance costs for the 10-year lifespan of the lights. The reduced costs will help Algae Farms grow the algae at a cost much closer to that of outdoor ponds.

Powering The Future

Algae Farm hopes to produce enough algae biomass and oil, at a low enough cost, to make it commercially viable to be used in nutritional supplements, cosmetics and more importantly, biodiesel, gasoline, ethanol and jet fuel. Biofuels from algae have been shown to be one of Americas best hopes for becoming energy independent. Many companies already have the technology to produce transportation grade biodiesel, ethanol and jet fuel from algae oil. A California based company, Sapphire Energy, has developed the technology to produce gasoline  from algae oil and Exxon Mobil Corp. has invested $600 million to develop the technology.

LED lighting is quickly proving itself to be the fastest way to energy independence.  According to the report, ‘Energy Savings Estimates of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications’, from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, “Indoor general illumination applications have the greatest potential … to save substantial amounts of energy. If these four general illumination applications switched entirely to LEDs, a potential of 133 TWh per year of electricity could be saved, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over ten million typical U.S. households.” “If outdoor white light applications switched entirely to LEDs, a potential of 131 TWh per year of electricity could be saved, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 10 million typical U.S. households.”. Switching to biofuels derived from algae  could save this country even more.  Using LED lighting to grow the algae indoors in a controlled environment has the potential to keep yields high and costs low. If given the proper funding and government support, biofuels from algae could begin to greatly reduce America’s dependency on foreign oil within the next few years.
Underwater LED Boat Lights from Shadow-Caster will help you conserve energy in the one place you need it the most. On your boat. Light up your boating life with underwater LED lights.

When Maple Leaf Life, the news blog for Seattle’s Maple Leaf Neighborhood, asked local residents to give there first hand opinion about new LED streetlights being installed throughout the neighborhood, they got it! At the present time, there have been 20 comments left about the new LED’s. While there are a few minor complaints, the overall reaction to the LED streetlights is positive. Here is a brief recap of the comments left showing what residents like and dislike about Seattle’s new LED streetlights.
Likes
Brighter, cleaner light. (‘Looks like the moon’) 9
Lights the road better 6
No light pollution (Glare in windows) 2
Uses less energy 7
Low maintenance 3
Safer (See objects/people better) 5

Dislikes
Light to cold and bright 7
Hard to tell headlights from streetlights 3

You can get the same energy savings, low maintenance and added security for your boat or dock with underwater LED lights from Shadow-Caster.

The new LED lighting in the Sam Levits showrooms will not only save the furniture retailer $162,000 yearly in lighting costs, the cool burning LED lights have made it possible for each showroom to raise it’s air conditioning thermostat by four degrees, saving the retailer an additional $80,000 in cooling costs. The long lasting LED lights will save the furniture company even more in maintenance costs. A Sam Levitz showroom typically runs its lights for 12 hours a day. They were replacing the old 90-watt halogen lights every four months. The new LED lights are expected to last 12 years. Additionally, the MSI iPAR lights used in the Sam Levits showrooms did not require the replacement of light fixtures or any additional equipment. The iPAR lights were a one for one replacement, simply screwing into the same light fixtures used for the halogen bulbs.

Boating enthusiasts can improve the WOW factor of there boats and save there battery with LED lights. Shadow-Caster underwater LED boat lights will get you noticed by illuminating the water around your boat in any of five great colors without depleting your battery.

You can learn more at Superyacht Times.