SDSU leads green tech charge New electric vehicle stations provide an eco-friendly solution
TUESDAY February 21, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 77 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
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SDSU’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT N E W S PA P E R SINCE 1913
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Anthony Mendiola staff writer Sustainability efforts on the campus of San Diego State are taking a decidedly electrical leap forward as new charging stations for electric cars are being installed in strategic locations throughout campus. Specially marked parking spaces outfitted with Blink charging units allow students who drive hybrids or electric vehicles to charge up for free while in class. A small group consisting of auto industry representatives, SDSU facility personnel, car-fleet employees and faculty from the Center for Regional Sustainability gathered on the top level of Parking Structure 4 on Feb. 9 to mark the occasion as new charging stations came on line. Faculty and staff were given a demonstration and explanation of how the newer, more advanced electric vehicles will use the plug-in recharging devices. These preferred parking spaces at the bottom of PS4 on the faculty level are just another incentive to persuade consumers to switch to hybrid or electric vehicles. Other incentives include federal and state rebates, as well as special home options to offset electricity bills offered to electric vehicle owners by SDG&E. Energy Manager at SDSU Bill Lekas explained how the 14 charging stations are spread out around the campus as part of a demonstration project to promote electric car use. As part of a planning committee, with industry officials “given the task of finding appropriate sites for placing charging outlets such as apartment complexes, schools and office buildings,” Lekas found rather than plac-
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“... we felt it very important to show up here at this unvieling to highlight that SDSU will have the infrastructure in place to charge these cars.” Shad Balch, General Motors communications director ing car charging stations at various locales such as grocery stores, where people tend to make short stops, it makes much more sense to put charging stations at places where vehicles will be idle for longer periods of time, such as home, workplaces and colleges. This way, while people are at work or at school, their vehicles can fully charge. It takes three and a half hours of charging in
order to make a 50-mile, purely electric-powered trip. General Motors Western Region Environment & Energy Policy and Communications Director Shad Balch was on hand with several brand-new Chevy Volts to showcase the new line of electric vehicles GM is producing. “SDSU installed 14 stations throughout campus and we build
electric cars, so we felt it very important to show up here at this unveiling to highlight that SDSU will have the infrastructure in place to charge these cars,” Balch said. The new Blink charging stations are located throughout campus, including in front of the SDSU Children’s Center and on parking structures 4, 5, 6 and 8. Lekas said the charging stations near the Children’s Center have the added eco-friendly feature of being solar powered. Free electric charging could be a big incentive, along with other carbon emissions reduction incentives, that governments are offering drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. Potential savings could be significant. “If you can get 50 miles free on electricity, you could save say $20 worth of gasoline, then every time you need to take a 50-mile trip, you could be saving that,” Balch said.
SDSU went toe-to-toe with national power UCLA on Sunday.
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H E A LT H & F I T N E S S Too much artificial sweetness does not do the body good.
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Exhibit showcases magic lanterns Tara Millspaugh staff writer The Sources of Wonder: Homer and Betty Peabody Magic Lantern Collection made its debut on Valentine’s Day at San Diego State’s Love Library. Consisting of 42 lanterns and 5,000 slides, the collection dates back from the 19th century until the early 20th century. The Peabodys collected magic lanterns from 1971 to 2005 when Mr. Peabody passed away. This hobby began when Mrs. Peabody found a toy magic lantern and six slides inside of her husband’s closet and accidentally broke a slide. Feeling guilty, she started scavenging antique shops to find replacements for the magic lantern slide she broke. From then on, they traveled the world as their collection grew. “It was the only type of shopping he enjoyed, and whenever he spent too much on a lantern, he would buy me a cookbook,” Mrs. Peabody said.
According to Robert Ray, head of special collections and university archives at SDSU, Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, created the first magic lantern in 1658. Early illuminants used were the sun, candles and oil lamps. The lantern gathers light and projects it through a slide onto a screen. Magic lanterns were first used in religious institutions and for educational purposes. Traveling lanternists would perform for only the wealthy. Shortly after, showmen would perform for the public using light to entertain, deceive and trick the audience. However, during the mid-20th century, the projector was invented and the lanterns lost their fame. To expose people to this lost art, The American Magic-Lantern Theater performed at SDSU last Tuesday. Terry Borton, the producer and performer of the show, captivated the audience with narratives of love. James E. Potter Junior High School students visiting campus that day sat fascinated in the audience.
Magic lanterns were first used in religious institutions and for educational purposes. Traveling lanternists would perform for only the wealthy. They chimed in with “hip-hip hoorays” and sang along to the lyrics on screen. Borton’s performance with Nancy Stewart’s singing was charismatic and inviting; even the two-year-old sitting in the front row clapped and laughed along. What Borton enjoys most about performing with the magic lanterns is entertaining the audience. “They love the beautiful pictures, they love the beautiful music, they love my dramatic voice,” Borton said.
After the show, a junior high student asked if magic lanterns were invented before “Avatar.” Mrs. Peabody found this remark amusing, but knew that her and her husband’s collection found the right home. According to Mrs. Peabody, above all, her husband wanted their collection to educate the public. Clearing out the collection from the Peabodys’ home took two men, three days and 21 hours. The Sources of Wonder exhibit illuminates SDSU’s Love Library donor hall until June 29.
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The Experimental Theatre hosts the school of theater’s latest production about world peace and cooperation in a community of lovely birds. E N T E R TA I N M E N T
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W E AT H E R : SUNNY HIGH: 72 LOW: 46 SUNSET: 5:39PM