If you’re going to be in Times Square for New Year’s Eve this winter, be on the lookout for a brand-new eco-friendly billboard that will be powered entirely by sun and wind. It’s the first of its kind in an area known for dazzling, power-guzzling light displays. Construction on the 35,000-pound sign will begin this month across the avenue from the building where the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
From MSNBC:
Powered by 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels, the sign is expected to save $12,000 to $15,000 per month in electricity costs. Ricoh, an office equipment and document storage supplier, estimates the sign will also keep 18 tons of carbon out of the environment.
The billboard will be lighted by floodlights rather than light-emitting diodes. It won’t have a backup generator, so it could go dark during a long period with little wind or sun.
“The point is that there are ways of being environmentally friendly to the planet, even on a billboard,” Potesky said.
A lighting ceremony for the 126-foot wide, 47-foot tall sign is scheduled for Dec. 4.
NYC has really been picking up the pace with green initiatives and programs lately! Last week we learned that they’ve been dimming the city’s legendary energy-sucking lighting at night, and over the summer they successfully closed off streets to traffic so pedestrians could enjoy smog-free strolling. Nice leadership – can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
Link [MSNBC]
Photo credit: Times Square NYC
