Green Options » billboards

New York City Goes Green with an Eco-Friendly Billboard this Holiday Season

Reenita Malhotra — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:58:45 +0000

New York City goes green by launching a 100% wind and solar powered billboard this Holiday Season.

As alternative energy continues to be the hot topic in our flailing economy, New York City sets an environmental example by launching Times Square’s first 100 percent eco-powered billboard.

The billboard powered entirely by wind and sun, is the first such sign in New York City. It will be erected by Ricoh Company, Ltd., a Japanese company that strives to be outstanding in all areas of the environment, society, and the economy. Their first eco-signage project dates back to April 2003 in Osaka, Japan.

Powered By Wind Turbines and Solar Panels

The electricity for the billboard will be produced entirely by solar and wind power and stored in 16 batteries. No electricity will be purchased from local power companies.

Sixteen wind turbines and 65 solar panels will produce an average of 98 kwh of electricity per day (93 kwh from wind power and 5kwh from solar). To put the savings into perspective: the same amount of electricity required by an ordinary sign would result in as much as 18 tons of carbon dioxide per year. The batteries can hold four days worth of supply. However if there is insufficient wind or solar power, the sign may not light up, an eventuality that Ricoh readily accepts.

What Does Pennsylvania Know About Clean Coal That No One Else Does?

Timothy B. Hurst — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:11:51 +0000

This photo is one of two such billboards I saw driving through central Pennsylvania recently. The other had a similar message but said: “Clean Coal: Now Clean and Green with New Technologies.” The billboard is sponsored by an organization called Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy (FORCE). I know I’m curious how FORCE defines “Clean and Green.” Anyone else?

Image credit: Tim Hurst

6 Intriguing South American Eco-Stories from August

Levi Novey — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:53:58 +0000

Below you will find summaries and links to several of the more interesting ecologically-related stories to come out of South American countries in the past month. The list is not meant to be comprehensive or definitive, but hopefully you will find something that teases your interest. Enjoy.