GPA ROLLS OUT NEW MY ENERGY STATEMENT

This past week, the Guam Power Authority (GPA) rolled out its new My Energy Statement as an effort to improve the sharing of vital energy information with its customers.  For our small business, this new product is not just another social media campaign we helped roll out with GPA on Monday via the agency's Facebook page. As a home based business, the new GPA statement has features that really jump out at us. It is a product that all 50,000 GPA customers should take notice of. 

At first glance of the GPA My Energy Statement, the Read Date shown on the statement is key to knowing when GPA was in your neighborhood and monitored your meter for proper billing.  I think this issue puts to bed many concerns that questioned whether GPA actually did their job at our respective homes and home-based businesses each and every month.  Also, the outlining of the monthly customer charge is prominently displayed-even if you opted out of this by turning away the use of the Smart Meter. Effectively highlighted are the assortment of Energy Charges-well it better be prominent as Guam Public Law 21-142 mandates the GPA complete this important task for all  its rate-payers.  Not too far below this particular nugget of information is the infamous Fuel Recovery Charge. The Charge reference is the most well publicized of costs on this Statement and is followed closely by many on fixed incomes from Yigo to Merizo. While this blogger is not so crazy about the Emergency Water-Well and Wastewater Charge being shown on this product-the GWA Bill would be a better place for this-I am happy about the Average Daily Amount of Power Used Section. This bit of data is helpful for decision making for our homes and home-offices. This is the type of information that can drive the local sales of energy efficiency products like smart controls, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, solar thermal and even solar photovoltaic systems.

The GPA My Energy Statement is a great tool for all GPA customers. If you have yet to see it, we encourage you (yes-as a social media advisor to GPA) to visit myenergyguam.com to take that first step towards managing your household power use.

For more information on how GET, LLC can assist you with your social media and energy efficient product needs, please call us at 671-483-0789 or check out our website at www.get-guam.com. 

Inside the Watt Controlled LED Driver

Assistant Marketing Manager for Deco Lighting Amanda Keen wrote a great post on her company's Blog recently on how our Commerce, California-based partners have come up with a watt-controlled driver for their lighting products that is outperforming the competition in this ever changing marketplace. 

Keen wrote that most LED Drivers are only capable of operating in mild environments, rated for operation up to 75° or 80° Celsius (167°F or 176°F) and remarked that temperatures inside a lighting fixture are often higher than this.

"Small fixture compartments and poor air circulation can generate extreme heat, often coming close to temperatures that boil water," wrote Keen.  "The heat results in damage to the driver’s battery-like electrolytic capacitors. The electrolyte, which is typically a gel, evaporates over the life of the capacitor’s components. Higher operating temperatures speed up this evaporation, shortening the life of the capacitor and leading to premature driver failure."

It appears that Deco Lighting has solved the dilemma of premature power supply failure by utilizing watt-controlled drivers designed to stand up to extreme heat. Unlike other LED drivers, Deco LED watt-controlled drivers are rated for operation up to 90° Celsius (194 °F).

"Our process focuses on making the driver operate cooler and longer than the competition," wrote Keen.

Deco Lighting's  driver components are positioned on the circuit board in a manner that prevents the build-up of heat. Also, their circuit boards are arranged in a way that allows Deco Lighting driver components to touch the metal housing so the driver components can be used as a heat sink. Also, Deco insulates key heat-sensitive components inside the driver.

Interesting to note, Deco Lighting ensures quality in every component that comprises their LED lighting fixtures, from high-quality Nichia LEDs to finely-engineered heat transfer castings to state-of-the-art drivers. GET,LLC has these on Guam and would be happy to arrange a presentation.

It is for these reasons why we are so bullish about Deco Lighting. Yes. Deco Lighting offers a ten-year, one hundred thousand hour warranty, which includes labor. Deco’s warranty backs up the confidence they have in their products-we stand ready here and across Micronesia to support them.

For more information about Deco's LED drivers or other products please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us at 671-483-0789 to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs-All Made in America!!!

Cisco Turns 30-Consider a Firewall to Celebrate the Business Milestone

GET,LLC is proud to be a Cisco Registered Partner. Even more importantly, we are as proud to say Happy Birthday to Cisco who is celebrating their 30th Anniversary in business.  

The technology of Cisco has certainly changed the way the world works lives and plays. They credit the people who built Cisco over the past three-decades. We tip our hats to them as well. What a great team to work with.   Also, they pioneered much across the networking business.  Their Advanced Gateway Services Router was Cisco's first product back in 1986.  The AGS was networking until IP came along. Cisco stayed with their routers when others jumped into their marketplace.  Cisco bet on IP-today it dominates.  Cisco also noted that the internet would change our lives-the mid 1990's they saw the future that is today.  Collaboration dominates.  

So to Cisco-Happy Birthday! 

What about the next 30 years? 

One day at a time-starting with Cisco’s next-generation firewall (NGFW) that offers the industry’s first adaptive, threat-focused firewall solution, Cisco® ASA with FirePOWER™ Services. It delivers superior, multilayered protection, improves visibility, and reduces security costs. Achieve integrated threat defense across the entire attack continuum with the proven Cisco ASA firewall combined with the industry’s most effective next-generation IPS and advanced malware protection.

As a Cisco partner, GET, LLC will deliver a total package to help you maximize your return on investment as you move to the NGFW. We offer:

●          Migration and technical support services

●          Trade-in promotions and Cisco financing

●          Security Ignite and other specialized promotions

With what is happening all around the world, even with some of the most noted corporations, it is better to be safer than sorry and stop network intrusion with this innovative product.

GET, LLC is a proud Cisco Registered Partner providing the latest Cisco products and services direct to businesses and organizations. For more about our role as a Cisco Registered Partner and the benefits it brings to you and your business contact us at 671-483-0789 or at www.get-guam.com.

  

Mobile Harbor Crane Product Launched by Terex

GET, LLC is amazed each day by the capability of our partner Terex Inc.  The technology that they are coming up with to support the lift needs of the world's construction and services industry was kicked up a notch recently with the introduction of the Quaymate M50.

Adapting the design and technology from the Gottwald Model 2 harbor crane, the 50 tonne diesel-electric Quaymate M50 has a 36 meter (118 Feet) maximum radius with 50 meter a minute hoisting speeds. Designed as an entry model for small maritime and river ports the new crane will be manufactured at Terex Port Solution’s plant in Xiamen, China using components both from Asia and Europe.

“When we launched the mobile harbour crane around 60 years ago, we were responding to changing requirements in many terminals," said Vice President of Terex Port Solutions Mathias Dobner, "Throughout the world new terminals are appearing and existing terminals are continuing to develop. This means that many operators are looking for their first harbor cranes or harbor cranes to replace non-port equipment, while others would like to add to their existing fleet.”

 

Terex says the M50 provides operators of smaller ports with an economical as well as user and environmentally friendly machine designed for light to medium-duty applications. Additional features include a cable reel and electric hook rotator for operation with automatic spreaders for container handling and motor grabs for bulk and scrap handling. 

“In many regions of the world, we are dealing with economies that are at the start of a growth period. These markets demand functional solutions with cost-effective and rugged machines which firstly work reliably and secondly allow the terminal in question to grow." said Dobner.  

We are convinced, along with Terex, that the Quaymate M50 crane can help many operators to modernize their cargo handling including those here in Micronesia and the North Pacific.  It is perfectly clear that together we can build small entry-level products as well as large, heavy-duty cranes for developed ports in this region and beyond.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789-your authorized Terex/Genie Representative for Guam and Micronesia.

Does Dim Lighting Help People Make Better Decisions?

The London, England-based The Independent is reporting that exposure to dim lighting can have a positive impact on people's emotions-making people more rational and able to negotiate better.

Time to make a decision to use dim lights?

A University of Toronto Scarborough and Northwestern University study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology examined the link between lighting and human emotion.  Participants in the study were asked to rate under different lighting settings the spiciness of chicken-wing sauce, how aggressive a fictional character was being, how attractive someone was and the taste of two juices.

Assistant Professor of Management at University of Toronto Scarborough Alison Jing Xu noted that  all of their reactions were intensified in bright light, a phenomena which Xu attributes to the body perceiving light as heat, which can trigger emotions.

"Bright light intensifies the initial emotional reaction we have to different kinds of stimulus including products and people," Xu said.

The researchers found that that bright light intensifies feelings so dramatically that people prone to depression “actually become more depressed” on sunny days.

The majority of everyday decisions are also made under bright light.

So turning down the light may help you make more rational decisions or even settle negotiations more easily.

"Marketers may also adjust the lightening levels in the retail environment, according to the nature of the products on sale," said Xu. "If you are selling emotional expressive products such as flowers or engagement rings it would make sense to make the store as bright as possible."

Need a light-or even dimmers? Check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give GET, LLC a call at 671-797-0789.  We are a provider of Independence LED Lighting and Deco Lighting Inc. products-the latter featuring a line of Copper Circuitry thermal-managed LED lights that burns brighter and much cooler, resulting in significantly longer life than their competitors’ LEDs-All Made in America!!!

DOE Releases Pedestrian-Centric Outdoor Lighting and Glare Report

The US Department of Energy (DOE) through its Gateway Demonstration Program has once again struck a chord with lighting designers and manufacturers related to the development of pedestrian-friendly outdoor lighting.  I have witnessed first hand that nighttime outdoor lighting has been designed locally for the vehicle driver, rather than the pedestrian.  This was reaffirmed by DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in a report issued late last year.  

The Pedestrian Friendly Outdoor Light Report noted that metrics such as pavement illuminance or luminance, illuminance uniformity ratios, vertical illuminance on objects or faces, and glare metrics such as Veiling Luminance Ratio or Glare Ratings from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Luminaire Classification System (BUG) guide decision making among municipal and state governments and agencies.

 The U.S. Department of Energy GATEWAY Demonstration Program featured pedestrian-focused projects at Stanford  University in California and the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The results from these projects revealed that pedestrians  have different criteria and priorities than drivers, especially in areas where cars are subordinate to bicycles and users on foot. Both of the demonstration areas tested multiple light fixtures based on LED and legacy sources in an attempt to identify luminaires that were both safe and pleasant for the residents with minimal glare. The results of the demonstrations showed that of the current commercial technologies, LED luminaires can serve the communities' needs with warmer correlated color temperatures (CCT) and glare reduction techniques, and also may change the thinking of lighting professionals on appropriate light levels.

Also in both cases, it  became clear that users

• Cared about the daytime appearance of the luminaire

• Found luminaire glare to be a significant factor in luminaire acceptability

• Preferred luminaires that produced a soft-edged pattern of light on the ground

• Preferred a warm color of light (2700K to 3000K) given the character of their neighborhood and the  fact that they were used to either incandescent sources or high-pressure sodium as a baseline

The work verified that glare is a significant factor in pedestrian ratings of lighting. Indeed, the LED products that proved most preferred were augmented with diffusers to further soften the appearance of the lights. The test subjects also preferred a soft-edge pattern of light on the ground, whereas streetlight projects often seek sharp boundaries on beam patterns.

The research also revealed that area lighting in pedestrian-centric areas could essentially offer better nighttime visibility at the low end of IES guidelines on luminance and illuminance. Elimination of glare, enabled in part by lower lighting levels, allows the human visual system to better perceive objects and possible danger in areas of lower light away from the nearest light source.

Every outdoor lighting project is different.

The needs vary according to the project client, the users, and their activities, and therefore the best lighting solution will also vary from project to project. There

are invariably trade offs that must be weighed among visual comfort, color, visibility, efficacy, and other factors. There is no glare metric that works reliably for pedestrian lighting, so full-scale mock ups or pilot projects are an important step for gathering feedback from users.

DOE said "The report is meant to stimulate discussion among specifiers,users, energy specialists, and industry in hopes that new approaches, metrics, and standards can be  developed to support pedestrian-focused communities, while reducing energy use."

To learn more about outdoor lighting, check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give GET, LLC a call at 671-797-0789.  We are a provider of Independence LED Lighting and Deco Lighting Inc. products including the Deco D8624-LED Strada I Cobra Head-ideal for highway, parking lots, public entrances, off-street areas or other commercial applications-Made in America!!!

CONEXPO 2014 and Terex-"If It's New, It's Here"

In March, Nevada is playing host to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers CONEXPO 2014.  Las Vegas will showcase all the newest equipment, technology and product breakthroughs in construction. 2,400 exhibitors, including our friends at Terex will be showcasing new products and technologies for every major construction industry including asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earth moving, lifting, mining, utilities and more.  GET, LLC is encouraging you all to consider joining the over 125,000 attendees at this five day event, set to begin on March 4, 2014. 

Why?

Terex will showcase a comprehensive range of products and services at the outdoor Gold Lot, booth number 1047. The Terex exhibit will introduce the company's latest products and reinforce its commitment to delivering customer-driven equipment and service solutions for the construction, infrastructure, quarrying, mining, shipping, transportation, refining, energy, utility and manufacturing industries.

The Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP), Construction, Cranes, and Materials Processing business segments will showcase new equipment, innovative safety features and unique service solutions. All of these offerings are designed to keep our collective customers' equipment up and running efficiently while lowering the cost of ownership to enhance their bottom line.

GET, LLC is excited about the roll-out of the Genie® branded products, manufactured by Terex AWP.  The coolest of the equipment displays include the innovative Genie SX-180 telescopic boom, the Genie GS™-4069 bi-energy hybrid scissor lift, the Genie GTH™-1544 telehandler and more. This blogger previously noted that the Genie SX-180 boom is a marvel of engineering.  With a platform height of 180 feet, it can be driven at full height. The stowed length shrinks it down to a mere 47 feet and the retracted width to 98 inches making it transportable without special over-width permits. The lift capacity is an impressive 750 lbs. The boom is suited for applications in the oil and gas industries, commercial construction, industrial construction and maintenance, wind farm applications, power stations and utilities that require work at height.

This Genie product and the others just mentioned are new, and they will all be at CONEXPO 2014.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789-your authorized Terex/Genie Representative for Guam and Micronesia.

ANNOUNCEMENT-GET, LLC is a Cisco Business Partner

Managing Partner Tricia J.S. Gumataotao is proud to announce that GET, LLC is officially a registered Cisco Business Partner.

As a Cisco Business Partner, we can now provide the latest Cisco products and services direct to businesses and organizations.

Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in Internet networking with its Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions providing the foundation of the Internet and most corporate, education and government networks around the world.

Additionally, as a Cisco Business Partner we enjoy access to a wide variety of Cisco partner tools and its world-class products and service packages.

We are also eligible to apply for Cisco certifications and specializations including its online training and technical support passing these advantages onto you and your respective business in the form of high-quality services.

For more about our role as a Cisco Business Partner and the benefits it brings to you and your business contact us on 671-797-0789 or at tricia.gumataotao@get-guam.com.