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DC works to expand solar power initiatives to the poor
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The nation's capital is one of the more aggressive areas in the country pursuing a clean energy plan, and it plans to achieve those goals by working in poor and wealthy neighborhoods alike. - photo by Sara Weber
The nation's capital is one of the more aggressive areas in the country pursuing a clean energy plan, and it plans to reach those goals by working in poor and wealthy neighborhoods alike.

The District of Columbia, which has said half its power will come from renewable sources by 2032, is requiring at least one-third of the money spent on installing solar power throughout the city go in low-income areas, The Atlantic reports.

Using solar power can reduce a home's electric bill by 10 to 30 percent, according to The Atlantic, and it can result in tax credits in many states. But despite reports that solar installation costs have gone down 70 percent in the last decade, homeowners still have to be ready to spend around $10,000 to achieve those savings.

That high cost can prevent families from installing or ordering solar panels, so the District City Council went door to door to explain the project. And since the council approved the measure, almost 90 people in low-income areas have had panels installed. The council told The Atlantic it plans to work with more affordable housing units that generally aim to keep costs low on installing solar panels.

"Affordable housing is unique," Jared Lang of the National Housing Trust told The Atlantic. "If the expenses go up if you make certain investments you can't raise the rent. You have to become more efficient."

That should be easier with solar panels on his 223-unit building. Lang estimated he will save $20,000 a year.

The District's efforts come after the Obama administration made it one of its goals to increase the prevalance of solar power across the nation, both in installation and in job availability. According to a July 19 White House announcement, low-income households can spend between 15 to 20 percent of their income on energy bills. The new Energy Savings for All Americans Initiative aims to bring one gigawatt of solar power to middle- and low-income households, 10 times as much as the president promised in his 2013 Climate Action Plan. The White House has also promised to use solar power as a means of job growth, saying it plans to make 75,000 jobs in the solar industry available by 2020.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.