New Solar Power Systems at Point Loma Nazarene University

Two new solar systems will be dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held today at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). The new 620kW DC photovoltaic (PV) system and 54 kW solar thermal hot water system on PLNU's campus will provide a combined savings of up to $1.6 million over the next 20 years. The projects build on PLNU's first solar PV system developed by SPG Solar in 2008. PLNU continues to show their commitment to sustainability with one of the highest ratios of solar power to students in the U.S.

SPG Solar - a leading national solar energy company - designed, engineered and constructed the 620kW system that spans two rooftops and five solar carports, using Kyocera KD 235-watt solar panels. Perpetual Energy Systems financed the system through a Power Purchase Agreement under which PLNU will purchase the electricity produced at a predetermined rate over 20 years.

Concurrent to the PV system’s construction was the installation of a 54 kW solar water heating system by Adroit Solar, an integrator of solar thermal systems.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, The system will provide an estimated 940 gallons of hot water a day to the student dorms and save the university $5,000 annually on utility bills. The project was financed by the Student Green Fund, a $5 semester fee initiated by students to prIt's hard to beat the versatility of polished tiles on a production line.ovide funding for sustainability efforts on campus.Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar Air purifier systems,

The two projects, which include more than 2,600 Kyocera solar panels, are expected to produce over 917,000 kilowatt-hours annually and provide a savings of up to $1.6 million over the next two decades.

What the partners are saying about these innovative solar projects:

“PLNU strives to be forward thinking and take a leadership role in sustainability efforts and environmental stewardship,” said Dr. Bob Brower, president of PLNU. “The stewardship of resources is one of our core values. It was through the strong partnership with Kyocera, SPG Solar, Perpetual Energy Systems, and Adroit Solar that we were able to expand our solar portfolio.”

“SPG Solar values its great partnership with Point Loma Nazarene University, to date installing nearly 1 megawatt (MW) of solar power on the campus,” said SPG Solar CEO & President Chris Robine. “Through the dedicated support from the students, faculty and staff, PLNU is a leader and preparing for the future – securing predictable energy rates and enriching the educational experience for the students with this cross campus solar power system.”

“PLNU is one of the most innovative universities, filled with students and faculty who are driven by energy, water and resource conservation. We applaud their decision to install a solar thermal system, which further showcases their sustainability efforts and provides consistent financial savings for years to come,” said Jim Backman, President of Adroit Solar.

“Recognized for its leadership in the area of sustainability, PLNU has joined a growing number of environmentally conscience academic institutions whose investment in clean solar generated-electricity will benefit future generations,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc.

“PES is proud to count PLNU among the ranks of universities that clearly understand the benefits of hosting solar energy through power purchase agreements,” said Michael Streams,Why does moulds grow in homes or buildings， Senior Vice President of Perpetual Energy Systems.ceramic magic cube for the medical,

Greece got us the deal, now let's slash waste

Three out of four people believe the improved terms of Ireland's EU-IMF bailout deal came about as a result of the crisis in Greece rather than the negotiating skills of the Government, according to a Sunday Independent/Quantum Research poll.

Analysis pages 2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 32 POLL CHARTS PAGE 23

The finding that 75 per cent credit the Greek crisis for a better deal will take some of the gloss off the impression the Government has sought to create.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan had hoped that the outcome of the EU leaders' summit last Thursday would generate sufficient political capital to implement another austere Budget.

The Government will make preparations for the Budget, to involve a 3.6bn package of taxes and cuts, when politicians return from an eight- week holiday in September.

Last week further evidence emerged that the Cabinet intends to focus on social welfare cuts rather than a reduction in the massive public-sector wage bill, which seems set to remain protected under the Croke Park Agreement.

The Sunday Independent has seen a report, sent by the Government to the EU/ECB/IMF troika, which outlines in detail the huge spend on social welfare.

The report discloses how the 20.8bn social welfare budget is spent on more than 80 different schemes, primarily on headline big-spend areas.the oil paintings for sale by special invited artist for 2011,

A breakdown of the household benefits and free travel scheme, however, may raise some eyebrows after a controversial claim by the Social Protection Minister Joan Burton that social welfare had become a "lifestyle choice" for some people.

For example, last year the department spent: free travel, 74m; free television licence, 57m; telephone allowance, 118m; house appliances, 5.5m; furniture,Initially the banks didn't want our high risk merchant account . 2.Our Ventilation system was down for about an hour and a half,5m; bedding ,1.4m; adult clothing, 7m; pram, buggy, cots purchase ,2m .

The Government's approach to tackling the huge cost of public-sector pay is not supported by the public, however. An Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll last week revealed that the public want further pay cuts for public servants rather than redundancies to reduce the 18bn budget deficit.

Asked which option they favoured to reduce the public sector pay bill, 58 per cent said to reduce pay and 27 per cent opted for redundancies.

Yesterday, European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton sought to dispute the overwhelming public view that the Government got a lucky break in Brussels last week.

She claimed there was an "emerging view" at the EU summit last Thursday that a bailout interest rate cut should only apply to Greece and not to Ireland and Portugal.

She intimated that Finland and the Netherlands were "more circumspect" than France and Germany about the improved terms. "We resisted that successfully. Negotiation skills were important," she told the Sunday Independent. But Ms Creighton also admitted that the crisis in Greece had contributed to a successful outcome for Ireland.

"I would say it was a combination of both. An opportunity arose to achieve a better deal and we took that opportunity.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling zentai suits , It was not straight forward,I have never solved a Rubik's magic cube ." she said.

Economist Colm McCarthy said that the revised deal was "good" from Ireland's perspective, but he also said it would be "unwise to exaggerate".

While the revised deal is expected to save Ireland between 800m and 1.2bn a year in interest payments, the Government has let it be known that it has no intention of easing up on austerity measures.

A massive 79 per cent believe the Government should use the savings to reverse cuts in health and education spending, according to the Sunday Independent/ Quantum Research poll.

HOI Fair judges look for the best floriculture

The cut stalks of foliage and flowers sprouting from water-filled glass bottles in the floriculture building at the Heart of Illinois Fair look very artistic.

The bottles are lined up on scuffed plywood shelves and cubby holes built into the walls of the barn. Along one wall stands the daylilies, glowing deep orange and lemon yellow. From a distance they all look pretty, but the floriculture judges aren't keeping their distance.

"This one has a dent in it," says Ada Lynn Shrewsbury, a nationally accredited master flower show judge from Springfield as she examines the petals of a lily from only inches away.

Dents, holes and dirt are only a few details that can lower a lily's score. In fact, each of the blooms, leaves, branches, plants and flower arrangements judged July 8 at the HOI Fair had a specific set of standards that judges looked at, said David Robson, a University of Illinois horticulturist who has been judging plant shows since 1983.An oil painting supplies of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby.

"Everything has a value," said Robson. Judges look at form, color and peak of perfection. Some flaws are more damaging to a score than others. "A little hole in the leaf is not as bad as a dull color or a misshapen leaf," he said.

The judges rely on their years of experience to help them determine what the proper form for a particular variety of plant is. During the giant variegated hosta category they were in complete agreement. "Look at that ram-rod straight stem," Shrewsbury said with admiration. The entry was quickly awarded first place.

With hostas, judges generally look for bilateral symmetry, or that the right side of the leaf is the same as the left, Robson said. However, with varieties that are textured or have cupped leaves, symmetry is less important, he said.

While many factors that make for a winning entry are controlled by nature, some are not, and are therefore worth more points.Prior to Aion Kinah I leaned toward the former, "Cleanliness really is next to Godliness," said Shrewsbury. Pick off damaged leaves or spent blooms and make sure to remove any dust or dirt that has collected in creases or between petals. "Bringing in something dirty is an inexcusable flaw," Shrewsbury said.

"The point is, that if you are going to enter and be serious about it, a beautiful leaf like that deserves your attention," said Shrewsbury about a hosta in the medium-size variegated category. The leaf was a bit dusty but the judges overlooked it to give it a first place.

Be careful not to overclean blue hostas,The additions focus on key tag and dstti combinations, however. The blue cast is actually a haze that can be washed off, Robson said. The judges suggested cleaning that type of leaf with a fine mist of water and a gentle pat, or to use a Q-tip just in the creases. Shrewsbury suggests putting mulch beneath the hosta to keep the plant cleaner to begin with. Mulch prevents soil from splashing up on the foliage when it rains.

The truth is there are tricks for preparing each variety of plant for show. Some ferns benefit from being immersed in a tub of water overnight to keep them from wilting, Robson said. On certain flowers the stamen should be carefully wrapped with toilet paper to keep the pollen from staining the bloom during transport.Unlike traditional cube puzzle , And some people even condition their entries with gin and vodka, Robson said, though he's not sure if it works. He's never tried it.

Working hard to make an entry into a winner has more benefit than just bragging rights. At the HOI fair a first-place win in most horticulture categories is worth $4. In the design categories, which include arrangements of both fresh and dried flowers, a first place award can yield as much as $30. Having multiple wins adds up.

"The most I ever won was $780," said Robson, an avid gardener who has been competing in the state fair since his days in 4-H.

"We got some $100 checks," said Esther Stear, 90, who has competed in every HOI fair since it began 62 years ago.The additions focus on key tag and plastic card combinations, Stear submitted 11 entries from her Hanna City garden in the floriculture judging this year.

"When my husband was living, we showed 122 entries," said Stear. The family entered all the contests, including floriculture, food, hobbies and livestock.

"We showed Brown Swiss Cattle with my folks," said Stear. At that time, Stear and her family lived in Mapleton near her parent's farm.

Stear said the fair was more vibrant when she attended with her young family.

At one time the county and state fair were big events in the community. People had less competition for their time and an evening spent socializing at the fair was a pleasant summer activity. Since most everyone grew their own food, it was natural to compete over who could grow the biggest tomato or the prettiest gladiolus.

"It's the competitive instinct," said Shrewsbury. "It gets in your blood."

"I've been showing for 62 years," said Stear. "I'm gonna show as long as I can. If I gotta come in a wheel chair, I'm gonna show."