Interesting articles about Richard Garriott.  The LEDs he is using and talking about are Think Pure Light™!

Richard Garriott's Home Goes Green

From: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/good_day/091609_Richard_Garriotts_Home_Goes_Green

Published : Wednesday, 16 Sep 2009, 9:37 AM CDT

Austin, TX - One of Austin's most adventurous entrepreneurs is making some major changes around his home.

FOXe Report: Garriott's Green

From: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/091509_FOXe_Report_Garriotts_Green

Published : Tuesday, 15 Sep 2009, 6:16 PM CDT

Austin, TX (myFOXaustin.com) - After a life changing trip to the international space station, one of Austin’s most adventurous entrepreneurs is making some major changes around his home. Richard Garriott has already added energy efficient appliances and new insulation to his home, but he says he’s not stopping there.

Garriott’s self proclaimed energy-abusing demon of a home, located at the highest point in the city, uses more than $1,000 of electricity per month. As a self-confessed electricity addict, Garriott has vowed to take the high-tech self-help route.

After trying out various types of light bulbs including fluorescent and compact fluorescent, Garriott remained disappointed with his options. That is until Richard came across a new ultra-efficient technology commonly used in stop lights; l.e.d bulbs.

“This one is comparable physical size actually puts out considerably more light,” says Garriott, “ it is down at below a quarter of the energy requirement, and puts out almost no heat."

L.e.d lights cost 10-times more than traditional bulbs, but last 10 times longer, and only use 10% percent of the energy.

Garriott is cutting back on gasoline too. He's taking this car, tearing it apart, and figuring out how to turn it into an all electric car that is just as powerful and luxurious as the gas powered one.

"As opposed to building the smallest diminutive little city car,” says Garriott, “ I wanted my, what I call, my 'no compromises' car."

Outside of his home, Richard is installing 100 solar panels on his garage, rooftop and hillside. ".

"I can be one of the early adopters. And help prove the technology and help also demonstrate to people that anyone can really do this."

To show them how Garriott is building an energy conservation business, using his own evolving e-lifestyle as example.

"Seeing the earth over a period of 12 days traveling past you at 17,000 miles per hour is like this fire hose of information about everything from weather and tectonic plate movements and erosion and, ultimately, about how complete the footprint of man is on the surface of the earth."

If you are interested in an interview regarding Pure Light, LEDs, or have any questions, please contact us. This section contains press releases, news, and other general info. Below are some articles about LEDs that may be useful, and please see our press releases as well. As you learn more, it will become clearer and clearer how amazing Pure Light's LEDs are and how exciting it is for everyone to save more money, have longer lasting bulbs, and have bulbs that are good for the environment (unlike incandescent, halogen, and flourescent bulbs). (click link at top of article for video)

Press Releases

News Articles about LEDs

"Green Promise Seen in Switch to LED Lighting", NY Times, 5/29/2009 - "Studies suggest that a complete conversion to the lights could decrease carbon dioxide emissions from electric power use for lighting by up to 50 percent in just over 20 years; in the United States, lighting accounts for about 6 percent of all energy use. A recent report by McKinsey & Company cited conversion to LED lighting as potentially the most cost effective of a number of simple approaches to tackling global warming using existing technology...as a result of rapid developments in the technology, it[the led] is now poised to become common on streets and in buildings, as well as in homes and offices...LEDs are more than twice as efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs, currently the standard for greener lighting. Unlike compact fluorescents, LEDs turn on quickly and are compatible with dimmer switches. And while fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which requires special disposal, LED bulbs contain no toxic elements, and last so long that disposal is not much of an issue...the United States Department of Energy calls LED “a pivotal emerging technology,”...“This is a technology on a very fast learning curve,” said Jon Creyts, an author of the McKinsey report, who predicted that the technology could be in widespread use within five years...Mr. Van Hyning said, adding: “We have six-figure energy costs a year, and these lights could represent a huge saving. Besides, they’re cool and sexy and fun.”..."

"LED Night Lights Save Energy", Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/18/2009 - "...LEDs are even more efficient than compact fluorescents. And they don't contain toxic mercury. The next holy grail of lighting is to come up with the familiar pear-shaped, screw-in household bulb in LED form...But the DoubleTree took matters into its own hands and installed automatic motion sensors in 448 guest bathrooms. When the room remained vacant for a certain period, the lights went off. An LED night-light went on. The hotel saved $8,000 in energy costs the first year, on a trajectory to recover the overall equipment cost in 2.5 years. Plus, it saved in maintenance costs by not having to replace bulbs as often. Quite a big bump, from such a little light."

"America's Affair with the Light Bulb", Wall Street Journal, 5/29/2009 - "Studies say improving the efficiency of the light bulb is among the easiest ways to start meaningfully curbing fossil-fuel consumption. Lighting accounts for some 20% of residential electricity use in the U.S. -- a lot to fritter away as wasted heat...Most industrial countries, including the U.S., are largely phasing out the incandescent over the next several years...And technology marches on. The LED is eclipsing the compact fluorescent as the cutting-edge bulb."

"LED Exposure Makes Lettuce Darker, Healthier", 5/19/09 - "Plant physiologists developed a way to make lettuce darker and healthier using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Darker lettuce, like spinach, is known to be more nutrient dense than its lighter counterparts, such as iceberg. When lettuce is exposed to the sun and ultraviolet rays, it creates UV-absorbing polyphenolic compounds in its outer layer of cells to protect themselves from UV radiation..."

Cool Green Morning offers up five must-read stories on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), 6/26/2009

"Cities Spend Stimulus Funds to Retrofit Lighting", Environmental Leader, 6-16-09 - "Several U.S. cities are planning to use federal stimulus funds to retrofit streetlights with energy-efficient technology. Seattle plans to use the federal stimulus funds to replace all 40,000 residential streetlights with energy- and cost-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) technology...The funding is expected to create 76 new clean energy jobs, help reduce energy use in buildings by 20 percent citywide, and accelerate the Seattle City Light’s five-year conservation plan and install energy efficiency products in residences and small businesses.  In the Midwest, Arlington Heights, Illinois, has similar projects. The city will spend part of its federal stimulus funds to retrofit decorative lighting in downtown Arlington Heights with LEDs, which should save the village $6,100 annually, more than half the yearly electricity bill for lights...In Boise, Idaho, the city council’s recommendations on how to spend $2.04 million from the federal economic stimulus package includes the retrofit of five city parks and conversion of about 725 historic, 150-watt high-pressure sodium streetlights to LED technology, reports the Idaho Statesman. The conversion is estimated to deliver a 50 to 60 percent savings in electricity costs."