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Can the US break China's stranglehold on rare earth metals? Fast Company Share    
From Aug. 17, 2011: As it stands, the Western hemisphere is almost entirely beholden to China for its supply of rare earths. And China is willing to play hardball with its mineral deposits, putting the U.S. in a dangerous position where a key part of the economy and society is controlled by another country. But that may be about to change. More
China consolidates grip on rare earths The New York Times Share
From Sept. 21, 2011: In the name of fighting pollution, China has sent the price of compact fluorescent light bulbs soaring in the United States. By closing or nationalizing dozens of the producers of rare earth metals, China is temporarily shutting down most of the industry and crimping the global supply of the vital resources. More Lamp prices gone wild Electrical Marketing's LiveWire Share
From July 13, 2011: Facility Solution Group recently commented about the volatility in lamp prices due to to the shortage in rare earth phosphors used in the manufacturing processes for many lamps. "Every major lamp manufacturer has announced scheduled price increases [that] will likely continue at monthly intervals for the foreseeable future through 2012," FSG said. More Goodbye T12, hello opportunity National Lighting Bureau Share
From Sept. 7, 2011: Imagine you bought a brand-new Chevy in 1938, the technological marvel of its era, and you are still driving that car today for your daily commute. Far-fetched? Not if you substitute T12 fluorescent lighting — first marketed in 1938 — for the car. We've seen an astonishing array of new lighting and automotive technology since 1938. While no one drives a 73-year-old car for daily commuting, 500 million T12 fluorescent tubes are still being illuminated in U.S. buildings every day. However, that will change July 1 when T12s will no longer be manufactured in or imported to the United States. Don't think of the change as a nuisance. It's an opportunity. More  The new light bulbs lose a little shine The Wall Street Journal Share
From Jan. 26, 2011: California's utilities are spending $548 million over seven years to subsidize consumer purchases of compact fluorescent lamps. But the benefits are turning out to be less than expected. One reason is that bulbs have gotten so cheap that Californians buy more than they need and sock them away for future use. Another reason is that the bulbs are burning out faster than expected. More House Republicans move to thwart lighting efficiency rules Los Angeles Times Share
From July 20, 2011: The House Republican majority moved to keep old-style incandescent light bulbs around a bit longer, voting to block enforcement of new lighting efficiency rules and setting up a high-wattage fight with the Democratic-controlled Senate. After failing earlier to repeal the new standards, the House passed a bill that would bar the Energy Department from spending money in 2012 to enforce them. More Let there be LEDs: Building a better light bulb FoxNews.com Share
From April 27, 2011: If you thought mousetraps were tough, try building a better light bulb. A team of American inventors have created a bizarre looking new bulb that turns illumination on its ear, using LEDs clustered within a conventionally shaped bulb for illumination rather than filaments or fluorescent tubes. It may be the light of the future, hopes Brett Sharenow, Switch Lighting chief financial officer. More China halts rare earth production at 3 mines Reuters Share
From Sept. 7, 2011: China will halt production of rare earths at three major mines, state media reported, a move which could tighten supply in China, the top exporter of the valuable minerals. According to the report, three of eight major rare earth producing counties would stop production by year-end, and it is unknown when production will resume. More LED efficiency at half the cost Technology Review Share
From Jan. 12, 2011: A startup is selling a new kind of energy efficient light bulb that costs half as much as an LED and, unlike compact fluorescent light bulbs, contains no mercury. The light bulb works like a cathode ray tube television: it emits electrons that light up a coating of phosphors on the inside of the bulb causing them to glow. The company says that the bulbs are more efficient than either CFLs or LEDs. To keep up with the alphabet soup theme for lighting technology, the new bulbs are called ESLs (electron stimulated luminescence). More US Department of Energy bans older fluorescent lamps from market Main Line Media News Share
From Sept. 28, 2011: As part of its ongoing quest to improve energy efficiency in the United States, the Department of Energy's rulemaking of 2009 will eliminate most of the remaining commonly used types of T12 linear fluorescent lamps by July 14, 2012. The reason is those lamps' relative inefficiency compared to their more energy-efficient alternatives. Recognize that the magnetic ballasts that are required to operate those T12 lamps were already phased out in October 2010. This major change will directly affect many commercial, retail and institutional businesses; it will even affect some residences. More |
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