Repelight, from Compact Impact of Japan, is a 26-watt compact fluorescent “bug light” that glows gold but acts green.
With tropical mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever on the rise, it makes sense to bolster your backyard bug banishers before the pesky varmints put the bite on you and your family. Now you can do just that while at the same time save bucks – and the environment – with the Repelight CFL (compact fluorescent light) energy efficient bulb.
Imagine walking into the room of tomorrow… no need to reach for a light switch; the walls are already gently glowing with scenes of an undersea paradise. Hit the remote and one wall transforms into a floor-to-ceiling TV screen or the backdrop to the newest video game.
Sound like a dream? Engineers at Japan’s Toshiba corporation are well on the way to making it reality.
The crux of the biscuit is the wallpaper. Not just ANY wallpaper, of course, this is a specially developed material that utilizes flexible OLED (organic electroluminescence) screen technology to emit light in a controlled manner.
Anything from a featureless glow that serves as room lighting to action-packed movies, TV programs and computer games is possible. Those impressed by the newest flat screen TV wall mounts are sure to do a neck-snapping double take.
Although OLEDs are not new, their low efficiency has been a roadblock to more widespread applications. Toshiba’s answer is nanotechnology.
According to Toshiba spokesman Kaori Hiraki, “The wallpaper uses light that has been redirected by an ultra-fine grating that is fabricated by self-assembled nano particles.” It would seem that the effect might be similar to that of a Fresnel lens like those used in traffic lights, amplifying the intensity without requiring additional energy.
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr
The application of Dye Solar Cells (DSC’s) in many technologies and new
products is at least a year away, according to Dyesol, the leading company in
the fast-growing DSC sector. DSC technology still has a way to go to
catch up with nature. You see, DSC technology is based on the process
whereby plants convert light into energy and store it. Plants that use photosynthesis
operate 24/7, even when the sun is not shining.
Essentially, it’s working those long hours that will prove DSC energy more efficient than silicon-based
solar cells. The bio-inspired DSC is more powerful in a wider range of light and
temperature conditions and its material flexibility makes it easy to be
incorporated into many commonly used materials from steel in the building
industry to fabric in the textile industry. DSC will also be far less
expensive than silicon-based solar cells and will not leave the carbon
footprint that current solar plants are making. In short, the application of DSC technology to existing and new materials is going to be revolutionary, changing the way we interact with many of our environments.
Photo: Dyesol
Dyesol, an Australian company, with an international board of directors
and customer base, is creating the DSC’s which will generate heat when
incorporated into glass, steel, paint, nano fabrics and many other
textures. DSC’s are extremely flexible. Layers of dye are formed
and then laid on layers of material from steel to fabric. The dyes can be
colored or transparent.
Dyesol is now working with the Welsh Assembly Government
on a project designed to see if roofing steel can generate electricity.
Additionally, the University of Rome,
the Italian companies ERG Renew and Permasteelisa, and the Australian
Department of Defense have contracts with Dyesol for various applications of
DSC technology.
DSC’s, inspired by photosynthesis, will soon be coming to a roof or window
or winter shirt near you. Probably not soon enough.
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