Ricoh 'eco-board' powered by solar AND wind technology

Summary: I used to think it was cool that the Ricoh billboard in New York's Times Square was lit up with solar power. Now the company has gone and one-upped itself across the pond in London, where it has installed its first "eco-board" -- a billboard that is completely powered by solar and wind technologies.

By Heather Clancy for GreenTech Pastures | June 30, 2011 -- 04:16 GMT (21:16 PDT)

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I used to think it was cool that the Ricoh billboard in New York's Times Square was lit up with solar power. Now the company has gone and one-upped itself across the pond in London, where it has installed its first "eco-board" -- a billboard that is completely powered by solar and wind technologies.

The technology greets drivers on the M4 motorway, which runs from London out to the Heathrow airport. ITs power source includes 96 solar panels and five wind turbines. Obviously, it is a marketing plug that shows that Ricoh is walking the walk when it comes to corporate sustainability. It definitely makes a statement.

However, this IS an imaging company, so one might imagine that MAYBE Ricoh could help other companies interested in similar messaging approaches. But I'm just extrapolating.

Topics: United Kingdom, Software

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Why does it take 96 solar panels and 5 wind turbines to power a billboard?

Is green energy completely hopeless? 5 wind turbines and 96 solar panels to light one billboard? One can imagine (or the "smart" folks can't I guess !!!) what our landscape would look like if we converted to all our power needs to green energy. Of course we would have to go into 100 of millions of "times GNP" type debt to pave the planet with black glass and propellers..... What if the pie in the sky folks could really get their way?

cassensj

30 June, 2011 09:57

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RE: Ricoh 'eco-board' powered by solar AND wind technology

I would hope that the billboard is powering the building behind it also with all that hardware!

Tanstaafl56

30 June, 2011 11:14

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RE: Ricoh 'eco-board' powered by solar AND wind technology

Great marketing PR and makes an almost insignificant dent in their CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment). One has to believe that a better play both economically and environmentally would be to invest in ultra-high performance LEDs with concentrated housings/reflectors. The net reduction in energy intensity required to illuminate the sign would negate the need for all the bolt-on renewable energy systems and the associated environmental nightmare battery plant.

jpouchet

30 June, 2011 11:19

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