Comments on: METROPOLIS NEXT GENERATION: Lunar Resonant Lights http://inhabitat.com/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Tue, 21 May 2013 14:17:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: R, Johnson http://inhabitat.com/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-63816 R, Johnson Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:58:26 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/08/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/#comment-63816 On thing that has not been addressed here are stray voltage issues which is always an issue in city infastructure systems. In New York City, for example, each year a number of people (and pets)are injured from stray voltage which can electrify manhole covers and street lamps. A woman was killed after she stepped on a manhole casement which had been accidentaly electrified. There are many other cases involving injuries, some serious. In Northern cities, this is compounded with the use of salt on the streets in the winter. I came upon a clever solution at a trade show to this issue is to have a real-time stray voltage warning system. Electrified Cover Safeguard technology (www.manholesafety.com) might offer a solution to this issue. On thing that has not been addressed here are stray voltage issues which is always an issue in city infastructure systems. In New York City, for example, each year a number of people (and pets)are injured from stray voltage which can electrify manhole covers and street lamps. A woman was killed after she stepped on a manhole casement which had been accidentaly electrified. There are many other cases involving injuries, some serious. In Northern cities, this is compounded with the use of salt on the streets in the winter. I came upon a clever solution at a trade show to this issue is to have a real-time stray voltage warning system. Electrified Cover Safeguard technology (www.manholesafety.com) might offer a solution to this issue.

]]> By: Lee http://inhabitat.com/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-45083 Lee Tue, 08 May 2007 19:38:38 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/08/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/#comment-45083 The problem exists at the municipal level where lighting requirements are set forth in code and zoning. This idea is fantastic although it does not account for a few things: 1. Establishing lighting levels based on fluctuations complicates the already beaurocratic red tape of installing street and parking lot lighting. 2. This would unfortunately NOT take into consideration surrounding landscaping that has a dramatic impact on lighting levels (ie: the moonlight might reach the photo sensor on top of the pole, but not underneath a tree or other structures nearby that would get light from a pole light). LED is certainly a dramatic improvement over traditional lighting as far as energy consumption and maintanence are concerned, but traditional lighting still has much more precise lighting patterns used in maximizing a lighting design. Certainly the way design and development are headed something like this isn't too far in the future, but like all things, a lot of progress in many areas is needed until something like this becomes widespread. The biggest energy efficiency that we can make in street/pole lighting is a switch to LED's, but there has to be better options and lighting patterns for this to happen. The problem exists at the municipal level where lighting requirements are set forth in code and zoning. This idea is fantastic although it does not account for a few things: 1. Establishing lighting levels based on fluctuations complicates the already beaurocratic red tape of installing street and parking lot lighting. 2. This would unfortunately NOT take into consideration surrounding landscaping that has a dramatic impact on lighting levels (ie: the moonlight might reach the photo sensor on top of the pole, but not underneath a tree or other structures nearby that would get light from a pole light).

LED is certainly a dramatic improvement over traditional lighting as far as energy consumption and maintanence are concerned, but traditional lighting still has much more precise lighting patterns used in maximizing a lighting design. Certainly the way design and development are headed something like this isn’t too far in the future, but like all things, a lot of progress in many areas is needed until something like this becomes widespread.

The biggest energy efficiency that we can make in street/pole lighting is a switch to LED’s, but there has to be better options and lighting patterns for this to happen.

]]> By: jared http://inhabitat.com/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-45067 jared Tue, 08 May 2007 17:22:33 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/08/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/#comment-45067 if it is so obviuous why have we not seen it? some of the most ingenious things are right in front of our faces, we just are not looking. if it is so obviuous why have we not seen it?
some of the most ingenious things are right in front of our faces, we just are not looking.

]]> By: royalestel http://inhabitat.com/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-45063 royalestel Tue, 08 May 2007 16:18:44 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/08/metropolis-next-generation-winner-lunar-resonant-lights/#comment-45063 So it's a giant nightlight with a built-in dimmer. I'm just not that impressed, but hey, I'm just a guy. So it’s a giant nightlight with a built-in dimmer. I’m just not that impressed, but hey, I’m just a guy.

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