Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo is well-known for its winter illuminations. However, Japan is still feeling a shortage of electricity due to two of its nuclear power plants all but exploding last spring and many of the rest being taken offline for maintenance. The clear solution is not to take the displays offline, but to power them with solar cells instead.
Two companies – Next Energy and Resource and Moriwakit Japan, which provide green energy and holiday display lights, respectively – provided the materials necessary to provide a massive green display on the west side of the Takashimaya Times Square building as one of Shinjuku’s famous Southern Lights display.
Blue Lights Powered by Green Energy
The lights are arranged within the building windows in the shape of a giant Christmas tree made of 184’ of blue LED lamps. The display uses 126 solar panels to charge 70 storage batteries, which then go to power the lights from 5pm to 9pm daily. This year is the first that one of the many displays is powered without electricity provided by a local utility. It’s a fraction of the total cost of Tokyo’s annual display – and a great first step toward making the holidays just a little greener.
Would you install solar panels to offset holiday electric bills? I just might – let us know what you think, in the comments below.
Source | Image: Kankyo Business
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