Go Greener Tips

pimg height=183 src=http://l.yimg.com/a/feeds/us/grn/green_ecogeek/windelux.jpg width=468 //ppFrench company Windela has created a street lighting system that works without any connection to the grid. The a href=http://www.windela.fr/Windelux/a is powered by both a small vertical wind turbine and a solar PV panel./ppThe lamp is comprised of 84 LEDs and automatically switches on when a photosensitive cell detects that it’s dark. A built-in control system stops the wind generator if the wind speed is too high and also allows the pole to act as a Wi-Fi relay./ppInside the pole is the battery that makes all this possible. A rechargeable LiFePo battery stores the energy generated by the solar PV panel and wind generator and supplies four nights worth of light before needing to be recharged./ppStreet lighting accounts for a huge percentage of most cities energy use and costs. The Windelux seems to be an ideal solution for providing both street lighting and distributing Wi-Fi, without ever touching the grid. Currently, units have only been installed in France and Algeria, but it’d be great to see the technology make it’s way across the Atlantic./ppvia a href=http://cleantechnica.com/2009/05/13/exploiting-the-downsides-of-wind-and-solar/Cleantechnica/a/p

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