Wouldn't it be great?

[IHateMyJob2004]

Once in a while, like today, I get into work VERY early so the roads are lit up by lights. I'd guess that each light is drawing well over 300 watts.

Now wouldn't it make a great policy if the government were to mandate that 50% of all new lighting on interstate highways be powered by alternative energy sources. Ideally, solar panels. Highways are already cleared areas and the poles are high in the air already. The perfect location for solar panels!

1) This would promote alternative energy, maybe even making it fashionable as it's seen daily by millions. If anything, itr's a big promotion of the concept.
2) It would spur research and create jobs to some extent.
3) It's environmentally friendly
4) If excess power is created that can't be stored in a battery, it could be potentially used to power the power grid.

Using LED lighting tech to reduce power consumption, a battery array and solar panels, this seems like it's a very logical idea. We have to start somewhere! Baby steps man, baby steps!

As the tech gets developed, ramp this up to 100%.

-- power sources
windmills. Also, alot of highways have spaces between the northbound and southbound lanes for example. Why not toss up windmills? especially in low population areas. The highway infrastrucutre would be a great spot to run new power lines after all.

Just some random thoughts in the AM.

 

[Whitecloak]

good idea.

 

[TuxDave]

I think some places already do that....

Someone's product....

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
I think some places already do that....

Someone's product....

NICE!

Now the governemnt just has to mandate the use of this tech. Without it, it's a pollitical nightmmare. To many people would think we are "wasting money" on unneeded stuff. Had to deal with this in the past. A town n mayor said we had to justify the $800 lamps over the $780 lamps somehow or else some people will gripe and moan.

 

[Kibbo]

I think that this could be very viable technology for newly-built highways.

It might save money on running cabeling through the highway.

 

[Gravity]

Perhaps if we used IR it wouldn't take as much energy, then equip cars with HUDs that can see the IR, less power, better visibility.

Should we move this thread to Highly tech?

 

[Dubb]

I worked on a university solar project over the summer. Really the amount of new technology that's currently being worked on is something amazing.

most interesting I think was what's coming out of schek labs and ovonics. SL is working on solar electrolosis to get hydrogen from water, ovonics is perfecting easy & safe hydrogen storage. put the two together and you've got something pretty darn cool!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Dubb
I worked on a university solar project over the summer. Really the amount of new technology that's currently being worked on is something amazing.

most interesting I think was what's coming out of schek labs and ovonics. SL is working on solar electrolosis to get hydrogen from water, ovonics is perfecting easy & safe hydrogen storage. put the two together and you've got something pretty darn cool!

" SL is working on solar electrolosis to get hydrogen from water "

Shhhhh, the Neocons may hear you and come in here to dispute you that is not possible. They don't want to piss off their sand thug friends and hurt their Oil profits.

 

[lordtyranus]

No, Dave, its just a highly impractical and inefficient way of obtaining energy.

 

[Garuda]

Solar power has very low yield. The amount of solar panels needed (and not to mention the size of the battery to store all that power for nighttime) for expressway lights would be huge.

That, and it is extremely costly.

 

[LongAce]

Just DO IT!!!!

 

[3chordcharlie]

in other news, sales of solar-powered flashlights have skyrocketed.

 

[Garuda]

For solar powered lights, you obviously need batteries. The creation, storage, use, and disposal of these batteries involves massive amounts of pollution. There is dubious environmental benefit towards lighting American expressways with solar lights.

 

[ReiAyanami]

Originally posted by: Garuda
Solar power has very low yield. The amount of solar panels needed (and not to mention the size of the battery to store all that power for nighttime) for expressway lights would be huge.

That, and it is extremely costly.

it has increased tremendously in the past few years. some companies (notably Siemens of Germany) are working on solar cells made of different materials such as plastics that can reduce the cost of solar cells by 10x to 20x (or a 95% discount) which would make them cheaper than fossil fuel.

is it possible? well plants are solar powered. guess we'll find out in a few more years, or we'll be seeing $100/barrel oil

if you put as much money into alternative energy as we did into oil, we'd have a cheap alternative energy by now. none of the $50 and $60/barrel oil nonsense.

$400+ billion for post cold war military, imagine if just 10% of that went to alternative energy, we'd have a solution by now and that solution is much more important for natl security than wars for oil