San Francisco Shows Off Next-Gen Solar-Powered Wi-Fi Bus Stop


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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 proto?type 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 citServing 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 nePaying Its Way: 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 Conserving Juice:uice:

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.

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a cool concept but the 30000 bill is quite large & energy saving seems to be low although. but then its better to do something than not to do anything. :)

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Going green is a nice concept but it's still too expensive at the moment to be feasible.

Frustrating, because it's true.

The trouble is, if nobody does anything, the technology won't move at all. Winds up never becoming affordable. This project helps to bring the technology it uses just a little bit closer to commercial feasibility.

What's the answer?

EDIT: Bear in mind that these shelters are providing a benefit in the form of public wi-fi, as well. Even if the solar cells only power the wi-fi network and the shelters' LED lighting, they're removing a little load from the grid.

I think this is great, actually, though I'd worry about how vandal-resistant this would be...

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Nice bus stops, I think they are feasible, they will pay for themselves eventually wouldn't they?

Yes & no, because they will also be ad supported.

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