  Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1306 Registered: 11-2003 |
The article below notes how Baghdad overcame a problem along the lines that the city of Detroit has, which are streetlights that don't work consistently. They went ahead and installed solar-powered streetlights. I see a multitude of benefits, and with a mayor that has a green initiative they should seriously consider this, even if it may cost a bit more money because the fact they'll be more reliable, and http://baghdadbureau.blogs.nyt imes.com/2008/09/08/solar-powe r-lights-baghdads-streets/ Here are the benefits (and I know there are drawbacks, like replacement batteries, but if you buy in bulk those costs can come down). 1) No more wires for scrappers to scrap, unless they get a cherry picker (not that I don't put it past them). 2) No more electricity bill. I don't know if it offsets the initial cost, but helps (some public works geek on here might know that number). 3) Even more importantly, less maintenance cost. Standardize everything, so it's all parts that are interchangeable. If it's a standalone system, if it's broke, you know it's a problem with that pole. 4) Ability to work even in disaster. Even if the grid goes down, unless the pole itself is directly damaged, the streetlights are still going to work, as they're off the grid. I don't necessarily think they should tear out existing lights, but as lights need replacement (and a lot in the city do), do the new solar deal. Even better, retrofit the current poles to keep costs down. (thanks Mortgageking for jogging my memory that the City generates it's own power). (Message edited by digitalvision on September 23, 2008) | ||
Mortgageking Member Username: Mortgageking Post Number: 231 Registered: 12-2006 |
I believe that Detroit streetlights are powered by Detroit Power and Lighting, not DTE, so that's probably pretty cheap power. I do like the reliability idea; its a lot harder to scrap the top of a pole than the bottom. | ||
Wazootyman Member Username: Wazootyman Post Number: 391 Registered: 02-2006 |
I'm skeptical that a solar panel would be able to maintain enough stored energy in a battery to provide meaningful street light - especially after a span of several cloudy days with long winter nights. I was going to run some calculations, but Peter Hochstein of Relume Technologies (of Oxford, MI - the company that did Ann Arbor's LED retrofit) states: quote: (from http://www.ecogeek.org/content /view/414/) Solar panels just don't produce a lot of power even under direct sunlight. The up-front cost is enormous. Long-term maintenance remains an issue (broken panel repair, battery replacement). I'd love to see the street lights replaced with LED lamps, similar to how Ann Arbor did recently. That seems to have panned out well. It could also solve the copper problem - as the LED lights require significantly less current over thinner wires, providing much smaller incentive for copper scrap. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1906 Registered: 04-2006 |
I have several solar lights at my house. Some do a great job. others don't. I suggest staying away from the amber tinted leds. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1836 Registered: 03-2008 |
Isn't this already happening over in Corktown? Wait, they did both, I think... anyone happen to have a quick link on their desktop to that article? (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on September 23, 2008) | ||
English Member Username: English Post Number: 824 Registered: 10-2003 |
"The article below notes how BAGHDAD overcame a problem along the lines that the city of DETROIT has..." I got that far into the thread and winced. Not about the topic, DV, but the fact that the article compares the problems in an American city to those in a combat zone. And the combat zone found a solution first. Ouch. Just *ouch*. | ||
Mayor_sekou Member Username: Mayor_sekou Post Number: 2636 Registered: 09-2006 |
Well the combat zone it getting all of those tax payer dollars to rebuild from the ground up while we aren't. I like the LED idea though, it sounds like something someone in the know should look into for the future. | ||
Bearinabox Member Username: Bearinabox Post Number: 872 Registered: 04-2006 |
The federal government cares about its combat zones. Its cities, not so much. I'm sure this makes sense to some people. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1839 Registered: 03-2008 |
English, no. Just no. When you are looking for ideas, you look everywhere. You never know when something great is going to come, it just does. It's how our minds work. DV probably read that, and thought; "how could we use this". Who cares where it came from? Why even say that? Take it as the all to often irony, or take it as a message to get moving to move us out of that comparison. Anyone ever wonder what would have happened if one of histories war tyrants invented the car, or light bulb? Would we still use their ideas? I'm just thinking, how much has been lost because someone burned all the books to keep their precious ego in tact. |
