There's an interesting article by Junkscience.com founder and publisher Steven J. Milloy about how breaking a compact fluerescent bulb cost a Maine woman more than $2,000 for the mercury cleanup. It's an interesting read and as ususal, Milloy (also a columnist for the hitman network, Fox News) takes an anti-environment and regulation stance. The underlying message is don't use CFLs even though it's recommended by the unlikely stable mates of environmental groups and power companies. Granted, the clean-up for the woman was a nightmare and the message is handle CFLs with as much care you would a precious glass bowl. I have switched to CFLs and will not go back no matter how specious Milloy's scare tactics. And when the bulbs wear out in 5-7 years, I will take them to the proper recycler as should everyone else. Milloy is trying to scare everyone that these bulbs and their mercury will fin their way into landfills. Indeed, some will, but the penalty for that should be stiff and recycling should become easier over time as they become more popular - an in some states, the law.
Almost every automaker has had to 'pick a side' when it comes to alternative fuel options and ways to divest from a reliance on gasoline. Fiat is looking to back compressed natural gas or liquid propane as an interim solution.
Plastic may not be the most beloved of materials to the more environmentally minded, but Plasti 2012 aimed to mold a different opinion of the material in people's minds.
The rare earth element market has become steadily more rational, and new sources coming online will continue to reduce costs. Still, it is unlikely that prices will drop to their former lows.
Against a backdrop of mounting product complexity and a need to keep a lid on development costs, companies are recognizing a need to make simulation a more integral part of the design process. In response, vendors in the CAD world are building out CAE functionality as part of their CAD suites while simulation vendors are building tighter integrations to leading CAD tools. Keith Meintjes, Ph.D., Practice Manager, Simulation and Analysis at CIMdata, Inc., joins Design News CAD Editor Beth Stackpole in this radio program to explore the new face of integrated CAD and CAE, how companies are benefitting from this tighter partnership between platforms, and how integrating CAE earlier in the development cycle pays off in optimized product designs.
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