Solar Powered Bus Stops Provide Energy, and WiFi

Adam Eisman - Contributing Writer
Posted on Sunday 7th June 2009
The city of San Francisco has been innovating on behalf of the environment for a lot longer than the rest of the nation, and their ingenuity is shining through again as they are set to release the first of 1,100 planned solar bus stops around the city. The tops of these bus stops will be covered with a wave shaped panel that is made of 40% post-industrial recycled polycarbonate material, and the energy created will be used to power an intercom, LED lighting, and wireless routers to be positioned at each solar stop. Any excess energy created will be sent directly into the city’s power grid. Not only will this create a cleaner, self-powered bus stop, but will greatly expand internet access across the entire city. Public transportation will become much more appealing to those travelers who get a jones for the internet on a cross city bus ride. While this report is simply for the first bus stop with a solar roof, perhaps this idea will take the nation’s public transportation by storm, creating a cleaner, more desirable public transportation system.

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