It’s the eve of the twenty-second century: a world where the dearly departed send postcards back from Heaven and evangelicals make scientific breakthroughs by speaking in tongues; where genetically engineered vampires solve problems intractable to baseline humans and soldiers come with zombie switches that shut off self-awareness during combat. And it’s all under surveillance by an alien presence that refuses to show itself.
Daniel Bruks is trapped on a ship bound for the center of the solar system. To his left is a grief-stricken soldier, obsessed by whispered messages from a dead son. To his right is a pilot who hasn’t yet found the man she’s sworn to kill on sight. A vampire and its entourage of zombie bodyguards lurk in the shadows behind. And dead ahead, a handful of rapture-stricken monks takes them all to a meeting with something they will only call “The Angels of the Asteroids.”
Their pilgrimage brings Dan Bruks, the fossil man, face-to-face with the biggest evolutionary breakpoint since the origin of thought itself. Find out more at http://us.macmillan.com/author/peterwatts. Scifi
Based on data provided by the California Solar Initiative (CSI), sales of new production homes with rooftop solar power systems nearly doubled from 2011 to 2012, signaling increasing home buyer demand to control monthly electricity costs using clean, renewable solar power.
An estimated 4,000 new production solar homes were built in California last year, ten times the number built just seven years ago during the housing construction boom. SunPower estimates that strong growth in the sector will continue, with more than 20 percent of new production homes being solar powered this year.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62039-sunpower-solar-systems-power-new-production-homes-partners-with-kb-home
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has sold its 200,000th electric vehicle and has a leading 58% market share for zero-emission cars.
To capture what the first 200,000 consumers love about their electric vehicles, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is launching a series of videos featuring EV owners on three continents. “I Made the Switch” tells why people bought their electric vehicles and how switching to a zero-emission vehicle has changed their lives. The first video features Chris Beers, a software engineer from Holliston, Massachusetts, USA, one of many Americans who powers his Nissan LEAF with clean solar energy. To see the video, click here: www.multivu.com/players/English/7381531-renault-nissan-electric-vehicle-sales/
The winners of the Natural Light - International Design Competition have now been chosen from the 172 impressive Natural Light Lamp designs submitted from 65 countries around the world. The winners are two very talented Argentinian Industrial Design students, Ms. Mariana Arando and Mr. Luca Fondello, both from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The production phase of the winning design for the Natural Light Lamp will begin shortly, followed next year by shipment of the lamps to three African countries without access to electricity.
Last year, the VELUX Group and Little Sun joined forces to launch the Natural Light – International Design Competition, which challenged design students around the world to create a design for a solar lamp which would help to bring clean, reliable, affordable light to some of the 1.2 billion people worldwide living without electricity. Now the jury has voted and decided on the winning solar lamp design by two Industrial Design students from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7533451-velux-winner-announcement-natural-light/
Today leading window manufacturer The VELUX Group and the social business Little Sun announce a partnership with the NGO Plan International to distribute a new solar lamp – the Natural Light solar lamp – in three African countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia and Senegal. The partnership with Plan International will deliver sustainable solar-powered light to people living off-grid in areas without electricity, through a program that involves and empowers local communities.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7519251-velux-plan-partners-solar-africa/
The winners of the Natural Light - International Design Competition have now been chosen from the 172 impressive Natural Light Lamp designs submitted from 65 countries around the world. The winners are two very talented Argentinian Industrial Design students, Ms. Mariana Arando and Mr. Luca Fondello, both from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The production phase of the winning design for the Natural Light Lamp will begin shortly, followed next year by shipment of the lamps to three African countries without access to electricity.
Last year, the VELUX Group and Little Sun joined forces to launch the Natural Light – International Design Competition, which challenged design students around the world to create a design for a solar lamp which would help to bring clean, reliable, affordable light to some of the 1.2 billion people worldwide living without electricity. Now the jury has voted and decided on the winning solar lamp design by two Industrial Design students from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7533451-velux-winner-announcement-natural-light/
Approximately one year after leading roof window manufacturer VELUX Group joined forces with social business Little Sun and NGO Plan International, launching a design competition to bring clean, sustainable light to Africa, the first solar lamps have now arrived on African soil.
The VELUX Natural Light International Design Competition received 172 proposals from 65 countries. A high-level jury of experts in the fields of architecture, art and design subsequently selected the winning design, by Mariana Arando and Luca Fondello of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their solar lamp design was inspired by the way light can bring people together.
The VELUX Group has so far produced and donated 14,500 of the solar-powered lamps, and 150 local sales agents are now being trained in how to sell the lamps in off-grid communities in Senegal, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The training combines workshops, roleplay, demonstrations, and group work.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7724551-velux-natural-light-solar-lamps-in-africa/
At the end of February 2015, a lantern donation and lighting ceremony was held in the village of Sone, in Indonesia's West Timor, as part of a related project. The “Cut Out the Darkness” project, a part of Panasonic Corporation's “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project”, delivers solar lanterns with lantern shades designed by people from around the world, in the hope of learning about the challenges of living in areas that have no electricity.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7526251-panasonic-lantern-zoo/
Gleich zweimal fallen erstmals Kindersitze der Traditionsmarke Römer beim aktuellen Test des ADAC und der Stiftung Warentest mit „mangelhaft“ durch. Ein Sitz versagt beim Frontaufprall, der andere hat viel zu hohe Schadstoffwerte. Insgesamt erhalten vier von 15 getesteten Sitzen das ADAC Urteil „mangelhaft“. Bei einem Sitz von Axkid reißt sogar die Isofixverankerung, bei einem Sitz von Nania wird das Kind beim Seitenaufprall ungeschützt an die Autotür gedrückt. Generell gibt es dieses Mal auffallend viele schlechte Modelle. Als bestes Produkt im Test erweist sich der Cybex Juno 2-Fix mit einer sehr guten Beurteilung. Dieser wird mit Fangkörper in der Klasse I für Kinder von etwa 1 bis 4 Jahren angeboten, er ist damit besonders empfehlenswert. Da allerdings nicht jedes Kind einen Fangkörper akzeptiert, sollten Eltern dies vor dem Kauf unbedingt ausprobieren. Folgende Sitze erhalten ein „gut“ und sind empfehlenswert: Der Casualplay Q-Retraktor Fix und der Casualplay Q-Retraktor Fix & Support Leg (mit Stützfuß) für die Klasse I (von etwa 1 bis 4 Jahren) sowie der Römer Kidfix XP SICT, der Recaro Monza Nova 2, der Storchenmühle Solar und der Recaro Monza Nova 2 Seatfix, alle für die Klasse II/III (von etwa 4 bis 12 Jahren). Beim Römer Xtensafix (Klasse I/II/III von etwa 1 bis 12 Jahren) rutscht der Gurt beim Crashtest aus der Führung und schneidet in den Hals des Kindes ein, was ein hohes Verletzungsrisiko darstellen kann – der Club bewertet deshalb das Produkt als „mangelhaft“. Auch der rückwärts gerichtete Römer Max-Fix (Klasse 0+/I, bis etwa 4 Jahre), ein sogenannter Reboarder, erhält aufgrund seiner hohen Schadstoffbelastung das ADAC Urteil „mangelhaft“. Durchgefallen sind auch die Babyschale Nania Baby Ride (bis etwa 1,5 Jahre) und der Axkid Kidzofix (Klasse I/II von etwa 1 bis 7 Jahren). Während die Babyschale beim Seitenaufprall versagt und das Kind bei einem Unfall ungeschützt an die Fahrzeugtüre geprallt wäre, reißt beim Axkid die Isofixverankerung im Frontcrash und der Sitz fliegt durch das Fahrzeug. Darüber hinaus ist dieser Sitz hoch belastet mit Schadstoffen. Die vollständigen ADAC Kindersitztestergebnisse sind unter www.adac.de/kindersitztest zu finden. Getestet wurden die Kindersitze aus allen Gewichtsklassen in den Kriterien Sicherheit, Bedienung & Ergonomie, Schadstoffgehalt, Reinigung und Verarbeitung. Wichtig für die Eltern: Die Kleinsten müssen bei jeder Fahrt im Sitz richtig gesichert sein. Vor dem Kauf sollte man sich unbedingt Bedienung und Einbau erklären lassen. Um Fehler beim Einbau zu vermeiden, muss die Bedienungsanleitung genau befolgt werden. Außerdem empfiehlt der ADAC, den Sitz vor dem Kauf im eigenen Fahrzeug auszuprobieren: Nicht jedes Produkt passt optimal in jedes Auto. Der Kindersitz muss sich stabil befestigen lassen und besonders auf den richtigen Gurtverlauf ist zu achten.
Today, SunPower introduces the SunPower Equinox™ system, now available to U.S. homeowners. It is the first residential solar solution in the nation in which every major component has been designed and engineered by one company to work seamlessly together, delivering unbeatable power, long-term performance and curb appeal. With a typical SunPower Equinox installation, only the solar panels and a Smart Energy management device are visible, reflecting SunPower’s minimalist architectural approach at the system level.
The SunPower Equinox platform was engineered based on the company’s The Power of One™ philosophy, which drives innovation of preconfigured solutions that simplify solar for consumers. In 2010, SunPower introduced its Oasis® Power Plant, the world’s first fully integrated utility solar platform, which enables rapid, cost-effective construction of large-scale power plants, now with over 1.8 gigawatts deployed. In 2015, SunPower introduced the industry’s first fully integrated solar solution for commercial customers, the SunPower® Helix™ system, which can be installed on commercial rooftops more than 2.5 times faster than any commercial solar solution on the market. Now, the SunPower Equinox™ system brings The Power of One™ to homeowners.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7706152-sunpower-reinvents-home-solar-equinox/
Moët Hennessy, Official Partner, reaffirms its support for Solar Impulse and its pursuit of the first round-the-world flight powered only by solar energy.
"Celebrating Sustainability"
Its support of Solar Impulse as an Official Partner shows Moët Hennessy's taste for pushing the envelope and conquering new territories, as well as recognizing the role of excellence and innovation as two key drivers of progress worldwide.
Growth in the Moët Hennessy group and its 22 prestigious brands has been powered by their pioneering spirit and the conquest of new territories. The first consignment of champagne was dispatched to Russia in 1780 by Veuve Clicquot. Hennessy began exporting cognac to the United States in 1787, two years before the French Revolution, followed by China in 1859. Today, Moët Hennessy exports 95% of its production and is the world's leading producer and exporter of luxury wines and spirits.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7813551-moet-hennessy-solar-impulse/
Using an entrepreneurial distribution model, the Natural Light project will now donate a second instalment of 20,000 solar lamps. These will be sold by new sales agents in off-grid communities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and, for the first time, in Malawi.
The aim of this project, besides bringing a sustainable light source to off-grid communities, was to create a business model for local sales agents to make a living. This has been a great success. Today more than 50 sales agents in three African nations – Zimbabwe, Zambia and Sierra Leone – have their own businesses selling Natural Light solar lamps.
The Natural Light project, in collaboration with social business Little Sun, and NGO Plan International, was created to celebrate the VELUX Group’s 75th anniversary. Following an international design competition last year, which received 172 submissions from all over the world, the winning design was chosen and 14,500 units of the solar lamp were distributed in Africa – one for each employee of the VELUX Group and its sister companies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8006751-velux-more-natural-light-shine-in-africa/
