Bus stops that gather energy, conserve it and send it back to the grid? San Francisco commits to changing the way we think about these simple street shelters forever
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The sleek, undulating roofs of San Francisco’s recently unveiled prototype bus stops are not just artistic flourishes. These street shelters use rooftop solar panels to power Wi-Fi routers and interactive information panels. Unused energy is pumped into the city’s grid.
By 2013 the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency plans to install 360 of the new stops around the city.
Serving the Public:
San Francisco’s high-tech bus stops will channel an estimated 43,000 kilowatt-hours per year into the city’s grid. Built-in Wi-Fi routers will help the city create a comprehensive wireless Internet network.
Paying Its Way:
Each bus stop costs about $30,000. City officials say Clear Channel Outdoor has an installation and maintenance contract with the SFMTA. The company foots the bill and gets saleable ad space.
Conserving Juice:
The new shelters’ LED lights use 74.4 watts—four and a half times more efficient than the 336 watts used by the old shelters’ fluorescent lighting.
source:popularmechanics.com