Solar Tree Hits the Streets, and Passes the Test
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 12.27.07
It wasn’t the first time we’d seen solar street lights (other examples can be seen here, here and here), but it was probably the most beautiful. When we first saw the solar tree concept by Welsh designer Ross Lovegrove we really were pretty taken aback. It is a gorgeous example of a marriage between form and function. However, often such concepts remain just that – concepts – so we were delighted to hear, via Renewable Energy Access, that the design has now undergone real-world testing on the streets of Vienna, with positive results:
"The solar cells on the tree were able to store enough electricity in spite of receiving no direct solar light for days at a time because of the clouds. They showed that solar trees really are a practical form of street lighting," Christina Werner from Cultural Project Management (Kulturelles Projektmanagement, Vienna) told enewableEnergyAccess.com. She said that the City of Vienna was now in the process of deciding whether to install more solar trees. "We hope that not only the city of Vienna but other cities will see the merits of using renewable energy for street lighting to cut emissions," Christina Werner said. "Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe."
::Ross Lovegrove::via Renewable Energy Access::
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I love Vienna more and more. What an awesome way to progress!
These look great. Creative industrial design is truly leading the way in making our cities and lives greener - and is a huge reason why the trend towards green consumption keeps growing.
I would formely like to invite Ross Lovegrove to enter one of his Solar trees to Seattle International Solar Scupture Challenge in Seattle Washington. The rules are simple a stucture using solar energy ( including wind that produce electricity) assembled anywhere in the Seattle city limits by the Summer Solstice 2008.
I thinkk you entry might be a winner Ross!!!
That is really, really ugly. Solar streetlights, yes, great. Solar streetlight trees, no, ugly.
I really like the idea and encourage that, but I don't particularly see these as very good for streetlights outside of maybe an artsy downtown riverwalk area of some kind. They'd look good there, but for the main roads I'd prefer to see a more functional and utilitarian design I think.....
I would love to try some in Houston.
Maybe we would also have fewer nonworking lights!
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I think they're a lot more attractive than the average street lamps used in most cities. I wish my city was progressive enough to use something like this.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Peace
I think they're a lot more attractive than the average street lamps used in most cities. I wish my city was progressive enough to use something like this.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Peace