Category: Industry News

LED Complete: A New Standard for Lighted Aids

As Coast Guard Aids to Navigation units work toward completing the transition from incandescent lanterns to the newer LED lights, USCGC FIR offers some observations from the past years of its own transition. FIR recently completed the transition to LED lanterns on all of its lighted aids in the Pacific Northwest.

Ecuador Eliminating Fossil Fuel Use in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands rank right up there with the Amazon and the Serengeti as one of the richest and best known, yet fragile and threatened, ecosystems in the world. Now, the Ecuadoran government is looking to a range of alternative energy resources to make sure it stays that way. Recognized by the UN as a World Heritage Site for its rare and unique marine and terrestrial fauna and flora, booming eco-tourism in the Galapagos, ironically, has added to the challenges and problems faced by those looking to restore and protect the island's native species and ecological balance. The Ecuadoran government has turned to wind and solar power as a means of realizing its goals.

Going for green without the red ink

Clean-tech companies need a solid business case

Power Up with Solar

In our increasingly connected world, we depend on specialized monitoring and communications technology to help manage industrial assets, facilitate efficient transportation systems and maintain contact across vast distances. Every day, advanced flow and condition sensors monitor thousands of miles of oil and gas pipelines, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) guide traffic through busy roadways, and microwave relays and repeaters extend the range and effectiveness of vital communications networks throughout remote regions and challenging environments.

Solar panels installed at Oak Bay High to offset power for two physics labs

Students at Oak Bay High have turned textbook learning into reality. Emerging from a Grade 9 science project on alternative energy forms, a group of students launched a campaign one year ago to fundraise money for solar panels at the school. They have since reached their $16,000 target and this week 10 solar panels are being mounted across the east building roof. "There were lots of setbacks along the way so it's really nice to come through it all and know you've accomplished something," said Grade 11 student and project co-ordinator Sonora Godfrey.

Bay Street: Patience needed to harvest gold from green

OTTAWA, March 15 (Reuters) - It will take more than government incentive plans and bargain prices for stocks in Canada's green energy sector to flourish, and investors will need patience if they are to hit pay dirt. While the long-term outlook for companies working with solar, wind and water power is promising, the business now is being buffeted by the recession, a credit crunch and tumbling fuel prices. What's more, critics say a federal stimulus plan is too stingy and fails to renew a wildly popular program to spark clean energy production. For a sector heavy with cash-hungry junior and mid-tier companies, crumbling stock valuations serve a further blow, cutting off a source of project funding. "All these beaten-up renewable, publicly traded companies are amazing value right now.

Carmanah posts $1.3-million profit; Solar lighting producer has shed assets and cut staff

Calling itself a lean company with plenty of cash, no debt and a "bright light" going forward, Carmanah Technologies Corp. has reported a $1.3- million profit on revenues of $60.6 million for 2008. The solar marine and aviation light producer shed non-core business units, trimmed staff and outsourced its manufacturing and is now on a profitable footing, chief executive Ted Lattimore said yesterday. "We know where we're going and have the technology and lean infrastructure to get us there, Lattimore said in a statement. "Even during a recession, security and safety remain paramount ...

Weighing stocks? Consider the saints and sinners

As you watched the value of your portfolio plummet and cast around desperately for something - anything - that will provide a decent return, you might be forgiven for setting aside notions of purely ethical equity investing. After all, someone's going to profit from other people's frailties - why shouldn't it be you? If, on the other hand, you're still determined to tread lightly on planet Earth while building your nest egg, there are plenty of opportunities, even in the relatively small Canadian market.

Carmanah sells road sign unit

Carmanah Technologies has sold its illuminated road sign business to Alabama-based Temple Inc., saying it wants to continue to focus on solar-powered LED lighting. The sale comes hard on the heels of Carmanah's massive restructuring last summer, which involved cutting its workforce by 40 per cent, closing its Saanich manufacturing plant and realigning its sales and distribution networks. According to CEO Ted Lattimore, that restructuring plan was designed to allow the company to focus on solar-powered systems, and the recent sale simply takes it a step further. In an interview, Lattimore said the company is determined to make innovation and performance in solar-powered LED lighting its "core and reason for being." "When you do that, you look at the non-solar parts of our business and ask does that make sense long-term?" he said, noting the road-sign division was a profitable enterprise.

Carmanah to Host Internal Event for Worldwide Partners and Distributors

Carmanah partners and distributors are coming to Vancouver this month for the company's internal Worldwide Partner and Distributor Conference. Under the banner "Together We Put Solar to Work" Carmanah will welcome 150 attendees from around the world for a three-day program of workshops, networking, company updates and hands-on technical training.