Vancouver, BC, Canada – (October 21, 2004) – Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX VE: CMH; Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: QCX), is pleased to
announce that the Truckee Tahoe Airport in California is
currently installing 560 units (US$122,000) of Carmanah’s Model
601 solar-powered LED lights. These units were purchased in
December 2003 for permanent taxiway edge lighting, and it is
estimated that the installation will realize over $272,000 in
cost savings for the airport.
“Truckee Tahoe joins a rapidly growing list of airports
discovering the safety, reliability and cost advantages of solar
LED lighting,” states Carmanah’s CEO, Art Aylesworth. “We spent
a significant portion of 2003 educating the market about our
technology and proving its viability. We are confident that
2004 will be a year when the technology is embraced, as we saw
with LED marine markers and traffic signals a few years ago.”
In 2003, the Truckee Tahoe Airport District looked to taxiway
edge lighting to meet its goal of increased airport safety.
Taxiway edge lights provide better guidance to pilots and reduce
the hazard of runway incursions. An extensive economic analysis
found that Carmanah’s solar-powered LED (light-emitting diode)
lights, which are completely self-contained and require no
external wiring, would save more than US$272,000 over an
eight-year period, when compared with a traditional hard-wired
system. With zero operational inputs required, Carmanah lights
will save Truckee Tahoe up to $18,000 per year in maintenance
and electricity costs alone. “The savings can be put toward
upgrading other infrastructure at the airport”, states
Aylesworth.
In addition, the Truckee Tahoe installation will be used as an
example by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to assist
in developing new lighting guidelines for general aviation
airports across the United States. In the United States, there
are approximately 5,000 general aviation (non-commercial)
airports similar to Truckee Tahoe and an additional 9,000
private airports. Only about half of these airports currently
have lighting, therefore this market represents a significant
opportunity for Carmanah.
Cost-cutting LEDs, which use significantly less electricity and
last up to 100 times longer than traditional tungsten halogen
airport lights, are just beginning to enter the aviation market
in large numbers. Carmanah officially launched its aviation
products less than a year ago, and already has over 5,000 lights
installed at airports in 30 countries, including at U.S.
military bases in the Middle East, Asia and North America, as
well as many international airports such as Chicago O’Hare,
Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, Auckland and Milan.
Carmanah’s solar-powered LED lights are immune to electrical
grid blackouts. They turn on and off automatically and operate
year round under all environmental conditions at nearly and
location in the world. The key is Carmanah’s MICROSOURCE TM
integration technology, a combination of sophisticated, patented
micro-electronics and software originally developed for
demanding requirements and exacting standards of the marine
lighting industry.
Rudolph Schoch, Marketing Manager at Switzerland’s RUAG
Aerospace Systems, states: “The quality of Carmanah
solar-powered LED lights seems to be outstanding. The experience
coming from maritime applications is very much appreciated.
Saltwater, dust and similar factors does not harm or threaten
the lights’ durability. I am very impressed with the
durability, quality and applications of Carmanah’s solar-powered
LED aviation lights.”
Carmanah’s line of aviation lights are ideal for temporary and
permanent runway, taxiway, apron edge and heli-pad lighting, as
well as obstruction, barricade and construction applications.
For more information, please visit: www.solarairportlights.com.
About Carmanah
Carmanah is an award winning alternative energy manufacturer specializing in patented solar-powered LED lighting solutions for the marine, aviation, transit, roadway, railway and industrial worksite markets. The Company has more than 70,000 units installed in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation (parent company) are publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “CMH” and on the Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol “QCX”. For more information, please visit www.carmanah.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Carmanah Technologies Corporation
Praveen Varshney, Director
For further information, please contact.
Carmanah Contact:
c/o Investor Relations
Mr. Praveen Varshney, Director
Telephone: (604) 629-0264
Toll-Free: 1-866-629-0264
E-mail: investors@carmanah.com
AVVA: (a Carmanah company):
Mr. Mark Komonoski
Carmanah Technologies Corporation
Tel: (403) 861-8384
Toll-Free: 1-800-665-3749
Email: markk@avva.com
Media Contact:
Mr. David Davies
Harbourwerks Communications
Telephone: (250) 382-4332
E-mail: ddavies@harbourwerks.com
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described under the caption “Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements” and “Key Information – Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. These risks and uncertainties are also described under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Information Form dated December 31, 2002, as filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. We do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.