Comments on: Solar LED ‘Leaf’ Streetlights by Jongoh Lee

By: meghan

meghan — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:17:54 +0000

practicality aside, these are completely enchanting. and in my view the world needs re-enchantment just as much as we need energy efficient lighting solutions….

By: kchick

kchick — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:10:24 +0000

You can kill the tree if you leave the cords wrapped around too long.

By: MvTCracker

MvTCracker — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:26:52 +0000

I would like to see these in canada if they are bright enough to light up the street and sidewalk
but I would like to see one with a wireless hot spot so each one will find and share wireless signals creating a mesh of wireless

By: earthsmile

earthsmile — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:57:12 +0000

Maybe the move is to have these ‘leaf-solar collectors’ reside on, or branching out from, their own artificial ‘tree’ (pole) ? If so, these ”Solar Leaf-Collector Trees’ would replace exiting street lamps, or be installed instead of new streetlamps, because the multiple arrays of ‘leaves’ would illuminate as well as existing street lamp technology. Inside the pole (‘solar tree trunk’) could be all the batteries, heatsinks,etc. And if they are to be placed in shaded areas… maybe connecting these solar ‘trees’ to vertical posts w/branching out solar leaf arrays at the TOP of nearby trees would be the deal ? (This would allow the transmission of solar energy back to the artificial ‘Solar Trees’ via wiring ?) This product as it exits now is an excellent ‘start’… how it develops from here will be interesting to watch.

By: af

af — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:10:35 +0000

if it is to act as a street lamp effectively, it has to be located at the lower part of the tree, which means it is very much shaded from direct sunlight during the day. That way, issit efficient enough to harvest solar energy?

By: Barbara P.

Barbara P. — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:47:53 +0000

I see it as a wonderful, contemporary residential garden light that is easy to install and way better looking as these ugly lantern style solar lights which line so many pathways. Is it commercially produced already. I would be interested in pricing and distribution.

By: Mike_Nelson_802

Mike_Nelson_802 — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:42:28 +0000

The largest problem that I see is that there is no space for a battery to store the solar energy, next, the solar panel is no where big enough to power the thing, third there is no room for an LED driver, fourth the heat coming off the LED array is not heat sinked and would fry the solar panel as well as fry the LED’s. Then to top it all off, solar panels in the shade of trees won’t produce energy. I like that the idea is being thought about, and the concept is fun, but it makes me mad that such poorly planned thinking is winning International Design Excellence Awards.

By: DeadPanDan

DeadPanDan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:13:58 +0000

It’s trying to look natural, but it just looks bizarre. What’s wrong with current hanging solar lanterns?

I can see a use for solar lanterns in the trees though. No need for pouring concrete foundations, drilling holes in the ground, or wiring. Just hang them from the trees. If they get stolen, they’ll be cheap to replace. For a couple grand you can light up a small park. Enough light for public safety? Conventional lighting doesn’t help if you can’t get funding for it. I think there’s a way to make this work.

By: RichardMillington

RichardMillington — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:53:21 +0000

I agree with Fred and Designundersky, they do look brilliant but how practical are they for being in real parks? Will they last long enough, and be safe enough from vandalism to make it worthwhile?

I suspect a more robust design might work better than these beauties.

By: Erik van Lennep

Erik van Lennep — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:08:32 +0000

I love the idea, and the look of it, very Tolkien-elvish. But practically speaking, how much energy can they collect when suspended at the shaded underside of a canopy? Would that be enough to power them after dark? It’s an inspiration worth following further. Even if it turns out to be impractical for public areas, I can imagine it gracing many a home garden.

By: designundersky

designundersky — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:48:52 +0000

Aesthetically pleasing yes, but if these are to go in civic areas how will they be theft protected? Also, judging from the picture and experience with the use of solar powered lighting, they fail to produce the amount of light necessarily to accomodate public safety.

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:32:55 +0000

Indeed, a visually perfect idea for a topic park. Questions directly come to me, what’s the lifetime? How to maintain these LED ‘leaf”? Everyboy knows that the leaf branch may grow up soon, become out of order and get broken easily. I would suggest to wind it around the trunks.