Comments on: Who thinks that we should power traffic lights with solar panels?

By: bohemian_garnet

bohemian_garnet — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:18:59 +0000

In therory I think this is a great idea. However I think it would be quiet cost prohibitive.

It would cost a GREAT deal of money to install the solar panels…can you imagine retro-fitting all the traffic lights in a city? (!)

Then you would have the added cost, fuel, water, ect for a city employee going about and cleaning all the grime and bird dropping build up on the panels.

You wouldn’t want the traffic lights to be powered by batteries at night. Batteries are very toxic, and I believe this would actually cause a lot more environemental damage, having to both make, and recycle all those batteries.

A much more cost effective messure would be for cities to use LED lights in the street lights (some already do). LED’s use very tiny amounts of electric.

It would also be much more cost effective for cities to buy the green solar, or wind power, from the larger commercial sites. The city can then still have the benifit of green solar power, without incuring enormous cost retro-fitting, and maintaining a bunch of small solar panels.

I also believe small solar panels might be a target for theives to steal. No theif is going to walk away with one of the enormous commercial ones!

Solar panels in cities also might not get enough sunlight in many areas, since tall buildings would shade them for all but a very breif time around high noon.

On a side note however, they can work wonderfully for the average homeowner. We are installing solar powered lights in our barns with no power, so it’s easier at night to check on rabbits, goats, and horses.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years.
References :
Me, Myself, and I

By: cbplante2

cbplante2 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:31:59 +0000

I think that would be a great idea. If you put the panels on top of the traffic lights it would always be powered.
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By: RT

RT — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:09:59 +0000

Traffic control speed radar in my community is powered by solar and probably by regular electric at night. Or, they may have a battery charge/exchange converter to boost 12v to 110v. I have a solar set up on a mountain where 110v electric is not available and a converter for my truck so I can watch TV or shave while I drive.
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By: lordkelvin

lordkelvin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:30:59 +0000

Bad…. to expensive…. the size of the solar panels and battery pack combo to power traffic lights through out the night and on cloudy or stormy days would be enormous…. it’s much cheaper, more convent, and more efficient to get the power off of the grid
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By: luxury100

luxury100 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:44:59 +0000

It’s an excellent idea that very likely won’t happen. This wonderful country is all about big business. Solar energy isn’t profitable for big business.
Everything should be solar or wind powered.
Can you imagine how our air would clean up if this were to happen?
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By: vladoviking

vladoviking — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:08:59 +0000

It would probably be more efficient to build a consolidated (farm) solar array and feed/supplement the existing grid
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By: Pobept K

Pobept K — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:29:59 +0000

yea, right, just what we need is a traffic light with a dead battery.
China dose it, great news, they can’t even make dog food that is not poison to our pets!!
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By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:49:59 +0000

it is good, and many states are already implementing it- typically the light is backed up by the grid. Many street lights have this technology as well, but are typically not backed up by the grid (less important).
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By: hitech.man

hitech.man — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:44:59 +0000

China already does this on all new install in many parts of the country. It is a small panel with LED lights, they work fine.
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