Ross Lovegrove's Solar Trees: The Sequel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
When I first saw Ross Lovegrove's proposal for solar trees, I thought the same as Sami : "often such concepts remain just that – concepts", particularly in light of some of Lovegrove's nuttier ideas that we have shown. However as Sami noted, they have hit the streets and passed the test.
Now Lovegrove is working on the sequel, the second generation solar tree, in which "The branches will follow the sun, responding and adapting to the architectural environment, escaping the shadows and following the sun to optimize energy income."
According to CNN, "When the sun goes down the solar trees will return to their original position to give off a full spectrum of light to the street and pedestrians below.
The new tree will also be able to respond to different weather, for example the branches will come together if the wind is too intense. Lovegrove also hopes to integrate an air purification bubble into the new trees, enabling them to clean the air around them, much like a real tree.
Christina Werner, director of the program in Vienna, said: "Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe." ::CNN via ::Groovy Green
More on Ross Lovegrove and Solar Trees
Solar Tree Hits the Streets, and Passes the Test
Solar Tree: New Street Lighting from Ross Lovegrove
Car on a Stick by Ross Lovegrove
Solar Car Prototype from Ross Lovegrove
Modern Dining Room Chair is Stackable and Eco-friendly
Solar Bud: Garden & Path Lighting from Luceplan
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I like the very idea of using it in streets. You feel it greener and if it purifies air its like more than my expectation. Maintaining a competetive cost is important for sustainance.
i remember the previous article about these. . . i'm glad they are more than just a concept. they are so pretty, and if they could move to react to their environment? so cool!
I have a solar flashlight from BoGo, and I have to say I have no idea why anyone would not want to use something like these solar trees. You take in sunlight, store as much as possible, and produce light more efficiently later (say, with LEDs). No outside power source is needed, so the municipal government saves money. And the lights last a very long time (unlike bulbs currently in use, which burn out relatively soon), saving even more money.
Any city that chooses not to move to self-powered (and energy-efficient) streelights will be at a disadvantage, because they will be wasting resources. Except, perhaps, for places near the poles, where the sun might not shine for months at a time.
These are just gorgeous, and an awesome idea. I am in general, however, wary of devices that try to automate tons of features- isn't it better for it to do one or two things, and do them really well, than to try and integrate all this business into them? I may be wrong, maybe we've come further than I think, but I'm remembering projects like the solar-responsive mushrabiya on L'Institute du Monde Arab, and how much energy and time and trouble the automated features take to maintain, and it makes me skeptical.
very attractive and futuristic. we need more real trees in cities as well.