Greening your architecture with solar parking lots and solar trees
Considering how ugly parking lots are and the negative impact that they have on our environment, the idea of sprucing them up with solar coverings and so-called "solar trees" seems to have merit. Robert Noble is taking the idea and running with it in a parking lot in San Diego for Kyocera.
The solar tree concept has a single "trunk" and, like a tree, has a canopy of solar cells on top. Two electric cars can park next to and plug into a single solar tree. In addition, canopies covered by solar cells can provide shade to the cars parked below in addition to giving off electricity for the building or the cars below. Truly sounding like a win-win scenario for the consumer parked below and the owner of the building, parking lots featuring solar power could increase in number if and when plug-in hybrids and pure electrics become widely available. At least, we hope so!
[Source: ZDNet blogs, thanks Domenick]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Derek 7:05PM (10/11/2007)
I've always wondered why no one just covers their parking lots with a giant roof covered in solar cells. You'd kill 3 birds with one stone:
1.) Obviously, harvest a ton of solar energy
2.) Cars under the roof would stay cool so that people don't have to blast the AC when they start up.
3.) The roof would keep snow from falling on the lot so no plowing is necessary.
Reply
Domenick 7:38PM (10/11/2007)
Derek: I've been pondering this same thing recently. Especially after reading about companies looking at buying gazillions of desert acreage for solar "plants".
Canopies over parking lots could harvest solar energy and precipitation providing energy and gray water for the businesses they belong to while cutting down on excessive car heat and decreasing polluting water run off.
Reply
spdracerut 5:45AM (10/12/2007)
Might as well cover the roof of buildings too while they're at it ;)
But the reason for it having not been done is because of initial cost. A lot of bean counters get scared when they see the upfront cost.
Reply