EnGoPLANET, a company which produces street lights powered by kinetic energy of pedestrian footsteps and solar energy, will install the fist solar street lights in Las Vegas, one of the world’s most energy consuming cities.
There are more that 300 million street lights around the world, many of them powered by electricity from high carbon sources such as coal, thus releasing CO2 into the air. Energy is wasted through light pollution. Efficient solar powered lighting can provide a solution to many problems. EnGoPLANET’s Street Light is an off-grid LED lighting solution, powered by combining energy harvested from pedestrian’s footsteps and the sun.
When a pedestrian steps on a kinetic tile situated near the base of the light, energy is created that then charges a battery. Collected energy is also stored in these batteries. The product does more than just provide light. “If you look at traditional street light poles, you will see that they are useless. They simply hold the lighting,” said Petar Moronic, CEO of EnGoPlanet. “With our solution, we’ve changed that by incorporating useful features into the pole and transforming it into a free service spot where people can rest, charge their portable devices, or connect to wi-fi. It can also be equipped with sensors collecting real-time data on traffic, weather and other environmental conditions that can be communicated back to a central base.
EnGoPLANET Street Lights use the latest LED technology. The color of the lights can be switched from of a distance. It has a number of sensors, light on demand sensor, air quality sensor, temperature and humidity sensors as well. It carries wi-fi spots to provide free wi-fi service. Every unit has its own USB connectors to provide energy to charge phones and other devices. It also has a small bench for those who need to sit while the device is charging. Solar lighting isn’t just green – it can save money. EngoPlanet cites the example of Odessa College in Odessa, Texas, which installed solar lights and saved around 20 percent of the cost of a conventional system due to the avoidance of wiring and trenching works. The College is now saving more than USD $8,000 per year.
EnGoPLANET is a New York City-based clean tech start-up, and the company aims to become a leader in the off-ht-grid street lighting industry. The company plans to partner with cities, universities, and large corporations in introducing the solution to street lights. “The city of Las Vegas is a leader in sustainability, from our commitment to renewable enrgy to recycling, our alternative-fuel vehicles and street lights,” said Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman and added: “We are always interested in exploring new technologies that can help us to preserve our city for future generations.