Downsview Park "Trail of Lights" (Toronto)

From November 28 until the end of 2008, Toronto's Downsview Park will host Canada's largest walk-through holiday light show. Stretching 2 kilometers, "Trail of Lights" is powered by LEDs - over 400,000 of them.

It runs from 5 - 10 p.m. and costs $10-12 (more on certain holidays).

Check out this cut from the brochure, or visit this daily dose of imagery picture taken by Sam Javanrouh.

Home Energy Efficiency, or What Not To Do with a CFL

Image from CNET.com


Hi folks! I have migrated - from a generally "green" job in Santa Rosa, California to energy efficiency work in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In honor of this change, I will provide you with some home energy facts and tips.

* One CFL can save you up to $30 over the course of its lifetime, according to EnergyStar.gov.

* When you break a CFL, don't vacuum it up. To avoid ingesting or inhaling the hazardous mercury inside, follow EPA guidelines: stop air from flowing, get everybody away (especially kids and pets), let it sit for 15 minutes, then "scoop and stick" - scoop as much as you can with a sheet of cardboard, then stick up the remaining pieces with the sticky side of duct tape.

* When a CFL is broken or used up, take it for proper disposal. Home Depot will accept them, as will IKEA. Your local household hazardous waste facility will happily take them in - check with your county waste department.

* The modern CFL was invented as a result of the 1970s energy crisis. Ed Hammer, a General Electric engineer, created the bulb in 1976 - it is now housed in the Smithsonian. It was shelved at the time because of the prohibitive expense to create the new manufacturing facilities required. Read more from CNET.

* CFLs probably won't reign forever. More efficient, less hazardous LED lights will likely overtake CFLs as soon as production costs decrease.

New Year's Goes Green

Green is the new black in 2008, as the Times Square New Year's Eve ball rang in the new year with energy-efficient LED lights.