An electrical accident at a Bossier Parish park in Louisiana killed one worker and injured two others last week.
Brandon Beaver, 34, was killed on the grounds of Cypress Black Bayou Park while working on a ground-level transformer.
There had been some electrical issues reported at the park, and three contractors were working on the equipment when the accident happened.
Park Rangers reported that two electricians had been gripped by the current flowing from a live power line through their bodies. Beaver reportedly shoulder-checked the men from the power line, but was fatally injured in the process.
OSHA is now investigating the incident. OSHA's public affairs office says investigators will interview witnesses and employees, and look for any violations at the area where the accident happened.
An electrician's eyes were damaged, leaving star-shaped cataracts after he received a tremendous shock from a work-related incident in California. The 42-year-old electrician's left shoulder contacted 14,000 volts of electricity, according to a report. The current passed through his entire body, including the optical nerve.
It’s what you’d expect when your favorite cartoon character gets electrocuted, but not a real man: jumping in the air, body convulsions, drooling, and stars in their eyes.
But in a case reported by the New England Journal of Medicine, a 42-year old electrician in California developed star-shaped cataracts in his eyes after being shocked by 14,000 volts of electricity while on the job. The case was featured because of the images of the eye damage.
The man's left shoulder came into contact with 14,000 volts of electricity, and an electric current passed through his entire body, including the optic nerve — the nerve that connects the back of the eye to the brain. A retinal detachment eventually developed.
"The optic nerve is similar to any wire that conducts electricity," said Dr. Bobby Korn, an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, who treated the patient. "In this case, the extreme current and voltage that passed through this important natural wire caused damage to the optic nerve itself."
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye. People who have cataracts usually view the world as if they’re looking through a severely fogged up window. Though it normally develops slowly, eventually it impacts people’s eyesight.
Symptoms of cataracts include clouded vision, sensitivity to light, seeing halos around lights, and double vision in a single eye. Most cataracts develop either as part of the aging process, or as a result of an injury like the one reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove the cataracts from the eye and implant a new lens.
The electrician underwent cataract extraction and implantation of an interocular lens, which was followed by improvement in visual acuity to 20/400, but he could only count fingers. Although legally blind, he is now able to independently commute on public transportation.
As heavy, wet snow blanketed New York City then quickly turned to slush, the sidewalks in front of some luxury apartment buildings remained pristine. As if by magic, snowflakes melted as they touched the ground in front of these upscale addresses thanks to what is turning out to be the ultimate amenity this winter: heated sidewalks.
Common in ski resorts out west, heated sidewalks are a rarity in New York City. But during this winter season, the feature is drawing new attention. Suppliers say interest and inquiries have picked up recently from homeowners sick of shoveling.
Developers looking for a new way to stand out from an already amenity-laden crowd have taken note, as the immaculate condition of entryways with heated sidewalks has emerged as a clear distinguisher amid the harshest winter in years.
“It’s a big plus for us,” said a well-groomed doorman in a double-breasted overcoat at 535 West End Avenue, where the heated sidewalk is going on its third winter.
“It cuts the work down.” Meanwhile, across the street, at 530 West End Avenue, the sidewalk was equally clean, but the doorman and superintendent were nursing sore backs from shoveling.
High-heeled residents aren’t the only ones who enjoy the warm walkways. Dogs love it too, as there is no need for salt, which can be irritating to tender paws.
Ubiquitous in luxury ski resorts out west; heated sidewalks are a rarity in New York City. That may be partly because the wintry mix the city typically receives is more manageable than the relentless battering of snow, ice and sleet experienced this year.
With a heated sidewalk, not only is the doorway clear, but people aren’t dragging as much snow into the lobby, reducing the probability of slips and falls, he added. Plus, it frees up building staff to focus on other duties. Instead of chopping up ice on the sidewalk, for example, they can make sure that basement pipes are not freezing.
Heated sidewalks can also cut down on winter wear and tear.
Snow melt systems come in two basic varieties. Electric systems, which rely on electric coils under the pavement, can be easy to install but costly to run -- at anywhere from $9,000 to $14,500 a year for 1,000 square feet of sidewalk.
Hydronic systems, which rely on plastic tubing looped beneath the sidewalk and contain a mixture of antifreeze and water that is heated by a boiler, have a higher upfront cost but can be less expensive to operate, averaging between $2,000 and $3,000 per 1,000 square feet a year.
Advanced snow melt systems can be programmed to automatically turn on when sensors in the sidewalk detect precipitation combined with temperatures below freezing and have different zones and sensors capable of responding to runoff and other factors.
Cost-wise, it’s expensive, with installation costs in the six-figure range for a large sidewalk. The application process can be onerous, requiring a public hearing and substantial fees for the use of space underneath sidewalks. Not to mention the risk of damage if, say, the city needs to dig up the sidewalk for any reason.
Indeed, heated sidewalks are a luxury; but during this winter season, the feature is drawing new attention. Suppliers say interest and inquiries have picked up recently from homeowners sick of shoveling.
Everybody is looking to differentiate their new developments or conversion from one another. So many things have been done —playrooms, gyms, sky lounges, media rooms. But now developers are looking at the experience of entering the property.
But first, property owners must apply for “revocable consent” from the Department of Transportation for the right to construct and maintain a snow melt system under the sidewalk, as it is city property.
As the name implies, the department retains the right to revoke consent at any time.
On top of this, an annual fee is associated with the use of the sidewalk that is based on factors ranging from the volume of the installation to property values.
The costs for residential developments have annual fees anywhere from $6,000 to $20,000. And that doesn’t count how much it costs to operate.
Ultimately, a huge amount of energy is required to accomplish what one person can do with shovel in 20 minutes. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned.
The City Council has passed landmark legislation which requires all new garages and parking lots in New York City to be built EV-Ready. The charger bill, which was signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg in December, requires provisions for the installation of electric vehicle wiring for 20% of available spaces. That means each space must be embedded with at least 1-inch conduit that can support hooking up electric vehicle supply equipment to a panel with 3.1 kilowatts of capacity. Local Law 1176, is expected to create a potential for 10,000 electric vehicle stations in Manhattan.
Once you build a parking lot, retrofitting it for electric vehicle charging is incredibly expensive. One reason most chargers in store parking lots are near the entrance, aside from convenience, is that the trenching bill is far less expensive. It pays, then, to think ahead before the concrete is poured.
That’s the impetus behind a new law recently passed by the New York City Council —it requires that a minimum of 20 percent of any parking spaces in new-construction lots (or older lots being upgraded) be readied for EV charging.
That means each of these spaces must be embedded with at least 1-inch conduit that can support hooking an EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) to a panel with 3.1 kilowatts of capacity or more. The space will also have to meet the requirement to place 3.1 kW cabinet/charging stations in these dedicated spaces. Click Here to read the new legislation.
Local Law 1176 sets out the following rules:
Every new parking lot or garage in NYC has to install conduit and provide the electrical capacity for future EVSEs for 20% of parking spaces
Within two years, up to 2,000 parking spot are expected to be charger-ready
Within five years, up to 5,000 parking spots in NYC will be charger-ready
The end goal calls for 10,000 spots to be charger-ready by 2021
The building code requires the conduit to be installed so that wire can be easily threaded at a later date
The new law will likely spur electric vehicle deployment in New York, which has been dragging in terms of making its streets EV-friendly.
In the past five years, 15,000 parking spaces were permitted, so the impact can be fairly large.
Similar legislation has passed in other states which mandate that 20 percent of new parking be equipped with actual charging stations, not just the prospect of it.
Although the city sets a great example with a fleet of almost 6,000 electric and hybrid cars (including 103 Chevy Volts and 37 Nissan LEAFs, served by 151 Charge Point stations), there are still only 210 registered electric vehicles in Manhattan -- compared to 591 in Westchester, and 972 in Suffolk County.
The city’s density and the premium placed on curbside real estate, makes easy-access charging difficult.
Less than 22 percent of Manhattan residents own cars, according to city data, and of them 50 percent park in assigned parking garage spaces. If you want personal driveways or garages, you have to go to Queens, Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx. Some high-end Manhattan apartment buildings, including the Solaire in Batter Park City, offer EV charging as a major asset.
Luckily, parking garages are also covered in the City Council package. When garages are built or updated, they’ll also have to prepare 20 percent of their spaces for 3.1-kilowatts or more.
According to City Council, the new law would add only $4,000 to the cost of a new parking garage, and that running conduit at the time of construction costs just five percent of the same work, as a retrofit.
The council also passed a provision creating a task force that will study how best to implement curbside charging in traffic-dense Manhattan.
Some ideas include converting the city’s thousands of outdated pay-phone booths into EV charging stations. A electric-powered food cart in Union Square Park is already running on grid power -- instead of a generator -- from a similar hook-up, and in a one-year pilot some 3,300 pounds of carbon dioxide was avoided.
Thomas Edison might roll over in his
grave, but the experts say the rest of us should rejoice! The reason?
The incandescent light bulb is on its way out.
As with 100-watt and 75-watt lamps (which were phased out last year), it is now illegal to manufacture 60-watt incandescent bulbs - or to import them into the United States. While some people have little or no strong feelings
either way, there are those who are wholeheartedly in favor of the new
law, and others who are adamantly opposed.
Viewour exclusive Guide to Energy Efficient Lamps, which outlines all the costs factors to consider before you make a purchase.
The Law: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
Light bulbs from 40 watts through 100 watts must be 25% more efficient, by the following dates:
- January 1, 2012 for 100 watt bulbs
- January 1, 2013 for 75 watt bulbs - January 1, 2014 for 60 watt bulbs - February 28, 2014 for 40 watt bulbs
Since most current incandescent lamps do not meet this standard, this effectively bans them as of the above dates.
CFL's - Compact Fluorescent Lamps
At about $4.00 a pop, compact fluorescent lamps are about four times more expensive than standard lamps. Those cute little curly shaped CFLs do last longer and will save you a lot of money...
But, if the bulb is broken, they can create a hazardous waste nightmare in your home. And while they do come with a disposal warning label - few people read a warning label on a light bulb. Furthermore, many of the CFL’s made in China can start a fire when the ballast burns out.
Recent studies have linked CFL lamps to a number of health problems including fatigue, eye strain and migraine headaches, and if broken, compact fluorescent are hazardous to your health. Some manufacturers have started to label their boxes with warnings on how to deal with a broken bulb. In fact, some states will now require that you recycle these bulbs at special facilities because of the large amount of mercury contained in each bulb.
The problem is the toxic mercury inside and which poses a big problem for landfills and if the bulb breaks, for homeowners.
LED's -not CFL's -are the Future of Lighting
Replacing just one incandescent bulb with an LED lamp from Lighting Sciencecan save more than $430 over the lifetime of the bulb.
LED lamps are brighter, don't flicker, don't require special handling, and last up to fifty times longer than incandescents!
What's more, they use even less energy than hazardous compact fluorescent bulbs.
A LED 60-watt equivalent lamp puts out as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, but uses only one-tenth the power. Plus, it can burn for 11 years.
Sure, LED's will cost more than a standard bulb. But because they last so much longer and save so much more in electricity costs, they more than make up for it in less than a year's usage.
Viewour exclusive Guide to Energy Efficient Lamps, which outlines all the costs factors to consider before you make a purchase.
Find about Con Edison Rebate Programsavailable in the New York City area for lighting upgrades..
60 Watt Incandescent Light Bulbs Are Still Available... For Now
Many have already embraced the new light bulbs, while others will use the old fashioned bulbs as long as they possibly can. Americans are stockpiling 60-watt incandescent lamps for their own use. As the deadline has passed, it's only logical that the price of these lamps will increase as the available supply decreases.
If you are among those who might wish to have a light bulb choice in the future, that choice will need to be in your closet, as eventually, it will not be on the shelves of your local supply house.
As of January 1, 2014, these bulbs can no longer be made in, or imported into, the United States.
In just 30 days, it will be the end of the light bulb as we know it. With new, stricter efficiency standards almost upon us, it's time to think differently about your lights. In 2007, the US Congress under President George Bush passed the Energy Independence and Security Act. Key among its provisions was a series of regulations mandating the phase-out of the manufacturing, importation, and sale of inefficient lighting. We've already said goodbye to 75- and 100-watt incandescent bulbs, and on January 1, 2014, we'll be bidding adieu to 40- and 60-watt bulbs as well.
Thomas Edison first tested his version of the incandescent bulb in October 1879. Ever since, the screw-in bulb that’s cheap has been the most popular way of lighting homes.
The humble Edison light bulb has enjoyed a long lifespan, seeing only modest changes while technologies like television and radio have been drastically revised over time.
But the familiar bulb's long, uninterrupted reign could finally be under threat as LEDs appear poised to become the new standard.
Thanks, Mr. Edison. Incidentally, you’re fired.
The reason is simple: Traditional incandescent light bulbs lack the efficiency that one would expect of nearly any other piece of modern technology. In fact, about 90% of the energy they use is wasted as heat, with only the remaining 10% actually producing light.
Back in 2007, Congress passed a law setting higher energy efficiency standards. That has led to the phasing out of the production of traditional incandescent bulbs.
Already there are restrictions on the production of 100-watt and 75-watt bulbs. And in 30 days, traditional 60-watt bulbs will be the next to go, followed by 40-watt bulbs on February 28, 2014.
Some have already converted a percentage of the lighting fixtures in their homes to either compact fluorescent or LED lamps. In the long term, the consumer is going to win. But the change could be a tough sell. One retail chain recently cleared out their stock of traditional 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs by selling a four-pack for $0.88, or 22 cents a bulb.
But the problem with a typical incandescent light is that most of the energy needed to light the bulb is lost through heat. Both CFLs and LEDs are much more expensive to buy, with some CFLs selling for about $4 and LEDs anywhere from $10 to $20.
“It’s so easy for a customer to look at just the sticker,” one supplier concedes. "Over the lifetime of the bulbs it’s a different story, financially, because the bulbs are much more energy efficient. The savings to the nation are really substantial,” he said.
LEDs are the energy-saving solution that compact florescent bulbs weren't
ClickLighting Science LED lamps
The most obvious change since 2007 is the wide arrival of high-efficiency LED bulbs that only use a fraction of an incandescent bulb's wattage, and promise to last up to 20 years or more.
Take note, LEDs don't suddenly "burn out" the way that traditional incandescent do. Instead, their brightness fades slowly over a long time period.
Manufacturers can calculate how long it will take the light to fade to 70 percent of its original brightness, and this point, known as L70, is the current definition of an LED that's reached the end of its life.
The LED lamp is not a new invention. But an inexpensive LED is quite new.
Using a seven-watt LED instead of a 60-watt incandescent lamp over the life of the LED can save approximately $130 in energy costs.
LED bulbs last even longer than CFLs, and are more than twice as efficient. Plus, LEDs come in shapes like traditional bulbs, unlike the squiggly, spiral look of CFLs.
Those are the good things about compact fluorescent; now for the bad.
Clear the room
Some people don’t care for the light the CFLs produce, finding that the traditional incandescent bulbs are brighter.
Worse, there is a tiny amount of mercury vapor in CFLs. It is the size of the period ending this sentence. But it’s nothing to take lightly: Mercury is a toxic element.
So if you drop a CFL and it shatters, you have a problem.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends having people leave the room of the shattered bulb, especially pets and children, who are more likely to be injured by mercury vapor than adults.
The EPA said air out the room for 5 to 10 minutes, shut off the central heating or cooling system, and use damp paper towels and stick tape to put the mess into a plastic bag or a glass jar with a metal lid. Do not vacuum the material. It could spread the mercury vapor, and you will have to throw out the vacuum.
Mercury can also be produced by burning coal to produce energy, so the use of more energy efficient bulbs could reduce that. Ironically, the CFL bulb may contain about the same amount of mercury as the coal that was saved by switching light bulbs. If disposed of correctly, then almost none of that mercury will ever escape to the environment.
LEDs don’t have mercury. And, unlike CFLs, they stay cool and can be used outdoors and in cold temperatures.
Indoors, the light from an LED is directional, which is great if you want to light one area of a room. But that means LEDs don’t spread light around a room like an old-fashioned incandescent bulb.
If that’s a problem for you, you may want to consider, believe or not, an incandescent light bulb -- but an energy efficient one.
The law doesn’t ban incandescent bulbs - just energy wasters. It will not be illegal to have the bulbs; however, they no longer will be produced.
There are some incandescents available that are halogen-based. These bulbs cost more than traditional bulbs, but give off the same warm light as the older bulbs.
That’s one choice. But it may not be right for you.
The math is clear
In the long run, consumers are going to save money choosing LEDs.
Portable light sources have been one of the most evolving inventions in history -- from the primitive torches and oil lamps of yesteryear, to today's battery-powered flashlights and headlamps. But through it all, most of these illuminating tools have required an outside energy source that would deplete when needed the most. But now, thanks to one particularly enlightened 15-year-old girl from Canada, your next flashlight just might be powered by the heat from your hand.
At the tender age of 15, Canadian high school student Ann Makosinski has designed and built a flashlight powered by body heat.
Her Hollow Flashlight secured her a finalist slot in the 15-16 age group of the Google Science Fair ahead of thousands of entries from more than 100 countries.
The LED flashlight relies on the thermoelectric effect, with tiles that generate electricity from the differences in temperature to generate electricity.
The tiles are fixed to the outside of a hollow tube so that when held, one side of the tile is heated by the warmth of the hand, while air flowing through the hollow tube helps keep the other side cool. The electricity generated by the temperature differential between either side of the tile powers the LED light.
Makosinski built two different flashlights. The first was made using a tube of aluminum, which is a good heat sink material thanks to its high thermal conductivity, while the second was built using a PVC tube.
Both models work better when the difference between the ambient temperature and body temperature is greater. So while the flashlights worked with an air temperature of 75°F, they emitted more light with the air temperature at 60°F. Both flashlights were able to maintain a steady beam of light for 20 minutes, even in the warmer temperature.
The final cost of each flashlight came to only $25, but if mass-produced, the cost would be substantially lower.
