A toilet at the University of the West of England is proving urine can generate electricity. Photograph: UWE Bristol

A prototype toilet has been launched on a UK university campus to prove that urine can generate electricity, and show its potential for helping to light cubicles in international refugee camps.

Students and staff at the Bristol-based University of the West of England are being asked to use the working urinal to feed microbial fuel cell (MFC) stacks that generate electricity to power indoor lighting.

The project is the result of a partnership between researchers at the university and Oxfam, who hope the technology can be developed by aid agencies on a larger scale to bring light to refugee camp toilets in disaster zones.

We have already proved that this way of generating electricity works, said research lead Professor Ioannis Ieropoulos, director of the Bristol BioEnergy Centre, which in 2013 demonstrated MCF stacks generating enough electricity to power a phone. The project with Oxfam could have a huge impact in refugee camps.

The technology uses microbes which feed on urine for their own growth and maintenance. The MFC is in effect a system which taps a portion of that biochemical energy used for microbial growth, and converts that directly into electricity - what we are calling urine-tricity or pee power. This technology is about as green as it gets, as we do not need to utilise fossil fuels and we are effectively using a waste product that will be in plentiful supply, said Ieropoulos.

Related: Pee power could fuel hydrogen cars

The urinal - conveniently located near the Student Union bar - resembles toilets used in refugee camps to make the trial as realistic as possible. The equipment that converts the urine into power sits underneath the urinal and can be viewed through a clear screen.

Andy Bastable, Head of Water and Sanitation at Oxfam, commented: Oxfam is an expert at providing sanitation in disaster zones, and it is always a challenge to light inaccessible areas far from a power supply. This technology is a huge step forward. Living in a refugee camp is hard enough without the added threat of being assaulted in dark places at night. The potential of this invention is huge.

An estimated 6.4tn litres of urine is produced by humans across the globe every year, so researchers believe it has great potential as a cheap and readily available source of energy. Ieropoulos said the unit installed at the university would cost around 600 to set up.

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University installs prototype 'pee power' toilet

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Students and staff will use the urinal to fuel microbial fuel cell (MFC) stacks that generate electricity to power indoor lighting.

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A university and Oxfam are showing the world the benefit of pee power, which could be used to light up the world's refugee camps through urine. The university involved previously demonstrated how urine could be used to power a mobile phone.

A toilet, conveniently situated near the student union bar at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is proving pee can generate electricity.

The prototype urinal is the result of a partnership between researchers at UWE Bristol and Oxfam. It is hoped the pee power technology can be used to light cubicles in refugee camps, which are often dark and dangerous places, particularly for women.

Students and staff will use the urinal to fuel microbial fuel cell (MFC) stacks that generate electricity to power indoor lighting. The research team is led by professor Ioannis Ieropoulos, director of the Bristol BioEnergy Centre, located in the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at UWE Bristol.

Ieropoulos said: We have already proved that this way of generating electricity works. Work by the Bristol BioEnergy Centre hit the headlines in 2013 when the team demonstrated that electricity generated by microbial fuel cell stacks could power a mobile phone. This exciting project with Oxfam could have a huge impact in refugee camps.

The microbial fuel cells work by employing live microbes which feed on urine (the fuel) for their own growth and maintenance. The MFC is in effect a system which taps a portion of that biochemical energy used for microbial growth, and converts that directly into electricity - what the researchers are calling urine-tricity or pee power.

Ieropoulos said: This technology is about as green as it gets, as we do not need to utilise fossil fuels and we are effectively using a waste product that will be in plentiful supply.

The urinal on the university campus resembles a toilet used in refugee camps by Oxfam to make the trial as realistic as possible. The technology that converts the urine into power sits underneath the urinal and can be viewed through a clear screen.

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Oxfam and UWE show how pee power can be used to light up refugee camps

Lutz, Florida (PRWEB) March 06, 2015

VOLT Lighting, a leading online provider of indoor and outdoor lighting products, announced today a new line of LED landscape lighting kits. The name of this line, the VOLT Brass Lifetime series, describes the durable cast brass construction of the kit lighting fixtures and the lifetime warranties they carry.

Jesse Harper from the VOLT product development team describes why the kits were developed, Through customer feedback we learned that both homeowners and professionals have a need for all-inclusive landscape lighting kits. Such kits do exist, but they all have low quality components. Retailers would rather market a kit with a low price point than try to sell high quality to the mass market. Our factory direct model makes it possible to produce true lifetime kits at affordable prices. They feature cast brass fixtures, waterproof connectors, and robust power supplies with simple control units. These kits are perfect for anyone who wants an easy-to-install pro quality landscape lighting system.

VOLT Lighting now produces 5 kits designed by in-house lighting experts. They vary in size and composition. Three of the kits are optimized for small, medium, and large landscape lighting projects and contain a combination of spotlights and path/area lights. The remaining two kits include one with only path lights, and the other with only spotlights. This simplified approach to kit design is meant to make kit selection simple and easy.

The VOLT lights all feature energy-efficient LED light sources. These sources consume about 85% less energy than older halogen-type lights. This represents significant cost savings for the homeowner. The cost savings are realized year after year since the fixtures carry a lifetime warranty and never need replacement.

Harper continues, These kits are welcomed by both do-it-yourselfers and those in the lighting profession. Both groups appreciate the cost savings compared to buying individual components. They also enjoy the time savings of letting VOLT put the components together, and they value the easy-to-follow instructions. If questions do arise, our technical and sales support staff is on hand 7 days a week.

The VOLT LED landscape lighting kits represent a new product category for the company. This follows the recent addition of other new categories that include commercial, industrial, and security lighting. While the company maintains a strong focus in the landscape lighting sector, it continues to develop the resources to further expand its lighting lines.

About VOLT Lighting VOLT Lighting, a factory-direct lighting manufacturer, receives high ratings and glowing reviews for its products and services. With a focus on superior execution, aggressive product development, and best-in-class customer service, the company dominates the e-commerce lighting space. More information at http://www.voltlighting.com.

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 04, 2015

Representatives with Alcon Lighting announced today that the company has added new LED high and low Bay lighting for office lighting applications.

Alcon Lighting's Indoor High and Low Bay Lighting luminaries are designed for applications with ceilings of 20 feet or higher, said Steve Hakimi, Director of Sales for Alcon Lighting. Alcon Lighting's LED High Bay lighting fixtures provide specific light patterns for many applications, including maintenance lighting, warehouse lighting, recreation center lighting, hangar lighting, storage lighting and office lighting.

Alcon Lighting, an e-commerce LED lighting distributor geared toward trade processionals like lighting designers, architects, electricians, interior designers and contractors, specializes in high-end energy efficient architectural LED lighting products.

Alcon Lighting's fixtures, according to Hakimi, provide industrial and commercial lighting to help improve safety and energy efficiency while enhancing productivity.

The new Office Lighting fixtures can be viewed at: http://www.alconlighting.com/alc-d910.html and http://www.alconlighting.com/alc-round-led.html.

So what's the difference between high and low bay lighting?

When choosing between a low bay light and a high bay light, the most important factor to consider is the height of the ceiling where the light will be mounted, Hakimi stressed, before adding, Typically, a low bay light is used where the ceiling height is between 15 and 25 feet. High bay lights are used with ceiling heights of 20 to 40 feet. The illumination of light will differ between high bays and low bays and it is always important to choose the right one.

For more information, please visit: http://www.alconlighting.com/blog/

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Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. IAQ can be affected by gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions. Source control, filtration and the use of ventilation to dilute contaminants are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. Residential units can further improve indoor air quality by routine cleaning of carpets and area rugs. EPA has guidelines for frequency of cleaning based on traffic, number of household members, pets, children and smokers. Carpets and rugs act like an air filter and must be cleaned.

Determination of IAQ involves the collection of air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collection of samples on building surfaces, and computer modelling of air flow inside buildings.

IAQ is part of indoor environmental quality (IEQ), which includes IAQ as well as other physical and psychological aspects of life indoors (e.g., lighting, visual quality, acoustics, and thermal comfort).[1]

Indoor air pollution in developing nations is by far the most deadly risk globally. A major source of indoor air pollution in developing countries is the burning of biomass (e.g. wood, charcoal, dung, or crop residue) for heating and cooking.[2] The resulting exposure to high levels of particulate matter resulted in between 1.5 million and 2 million deaths in 2000.[3]

Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke which affects other people other than the 'active' smoker. Second-hand tobacco smoke includes both a gaseous and a particulate phase, with particular hazards arising from levels of carbon monoxide (as indicated below) and very small particulates (at PM2.5 size) which get past the lung's natural defenses. The only certain method to improve indoor air quality as regards second-hand smoke is the implementation of comprehensive smoke-free laws.

Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves. Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United States and Europe, probably responsible for tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year.[4] There are relatively simple tests for radon gas, but these tests are not commonly made available, even in areas of known systematic hazards. Radon is a heavy gas and thus will tend to accumulate at the floor level. Building materials can actually be a significant source of radon, but little testing is carried out for stone, rock or tile products brought into building sites; radon accumulation is greatest for well insulated homes.[5] The half life for radon is 3.8 days, indicating that once the source is removed, the hazard will be greatly reduced within a few weeks. Radon mitigation methods include sealing concrete slab floors, basement foundations, water drainage systems, or by increasing ventilation.[6] They are usually cost effective and can greatly reduce or even eliminate the contamination and the associated health risks.

Main articles: Mold health issues, Mold growth, assessment, and remediation

These biological chemicals can arise from a host of means, but there are two common classes: (a) moisture induced growth of mold colonies and (b) natural substances released into the air such as animal dander and plant pollen. Moisture buildup inside buildings may arise from water penetrating compromised areas of the building envelope or skin, from plumbing leaks, from condensation due to improper ventilation, or from ground moisture penetrating a building part. In areas where cellulosic materials (paper and wood, including drywall) become moist and fail to dry within 48 hours, mold mildew can propagate and release allergenic spores into the air.

In many cases, if materials have failed to dry out several days after the suspected water event, mold growth is suspected within wall cavities even if it is not immediately visible. Through a mold investigation, which may include destructive inspection, one should be able to determine the presence or absence of mold. In a situation where there is visible mold and the indoor air quality may have been compromised, mold remediation may be needed. Mold testing and inspections should be carried out by an independent investigator to avoid any conflict of interest and to insure accurate results; free mold testing offered by remediation companies is not recommended.

There are some varieties of mold that contain toxic compounds (mycotoxins). However, exposure to hazardous levels of mycotoxin via inhalation is not possible in most cases, as toxins are produced by the fungal body and are not at significant levels in the released spores. The primary hazard of mold growth, as it relates to indoor air quality, comes from the allergenic properties of the spore cell wall. More serious than most allergenic properties is the ability of mold to trigger episodes in persons that already have asthma, a serious respiratory disease.

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