Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Solar-Powered Lamps Impact Developing Countries


Miami-based businessman William Pino was most recently the president and CEO of Main Street Engineering, where he managed daily operations. A designer of municipal outdoor lighting projects in and around Miami, William Pino has more than three decades of experience in the lighting industry. William Pino takes a particular interest in solar energy and its potential benefits for developing countries such as Haiti.

Electricity, something most Americans take for granted, is essential for the safety, well-being, and economy of any nation. When streets are unlit, crime increases. When stores cannot light their interiors, they must close at sundown. When students don’t have access to electric lamps, they cannot study after nightfall. Bigger problems arise when hospitals, industries, and infrastructure are crippled due to lack of power.

Following Haiti’s disastrous earthquake of 2010, even more people were left without power in a nation that already experienced low access to electricity. As of 2013, only 20 percent of the island had power, provided mainly from diesel fuel imported from Venezuela. Many experts believed that alternative energy sources, such as solar power, would help the Haitian population and economy.

In 2015, a Netherlands-based producer of solar-powered lamps called WakaWaka began an initiative that provided small, individual, solar powered fixtures to Haitians who were still without power. The lamps, normally sold for about $30, provide up to 80 hours of continuous light. Through the company’s efforts and the generosity of those that participated in the crowd-funded drive, over 12,000 lamps were donated to the people of Haiti, positively affecting 60,000 lives.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Practice Makes Perfect When Learning a New Language

 



William Pino, an electrical engineer based in Miami, Florida, owned and operated a number of companies including Florida Lighting and Traffic, Municipal Lighting Systems, and Main Street Engineering. As a Miami businessman, William Pino conducted business in numerous countries. As a result, he has learned several languages including English, Spanish, Greek, French, Portuguese and Italian.

When learning a new language, every student needs to invest concentrated time. Whether completing lessons in a book or listening to audio lessons, dedicating daily time to one’s studies is essential. Some experts recommend learning up to 30 new words or phrases each day. As one progresses in skill, it is very helpful to practice the language by doing the following:

- Speaking the language to oneself or to native speakers.

- Watching movies or television shows, reading books, and listening to music in the chosen language.

- Finding a pen pal and communicating in the new language.

As one’s skills improve, it is important not to neglect pronunciation or grammatical details so that meaning is clearly understood. Making mistakes and learning from them is an essential ingredient to mastery of the new language.

Though there are many language programs on the market, ranging dramatically in cost, one must keep in mind that a program should be selected based on the student’s learning style.