Solar Parking Lots and Driveways

The Solar Parking Lot (Isaiah Mouw, Parking Matters, Spr. 14, 2014)

Also discussed here: City driving to get roadway test grant (Cameron Rasmusson, Bonner Conty Dail Bee, Apr. 3, 2014)

And here: Solar Roadways

And here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvWTaqUvsfA
The Promise of Solar Roadways: Scott Brusaw at TEDxSacramento (16 min. You-Tube video)  

Today we review progress by the inventor of Solar Roadways, Scott Brusaw, toward his goal of using photoelectric cells embedded in glass pavements in highways across the USA which would replace the energy generated by fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions in half. He has now passed two phases of tests and development funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and has just finished building an outdoor parking 12 by 36 ft. lot which is described in the references noted. A key advantage for colder climates in addition to the electrical energy generated which could be used to recharge electric cars is the capability to melt snow that falls on the parking lot – and, when economically feasible, for driveways for private homes. Brusaw’s home city of Sandpoint in Utah, USA is seeking DOT funding to test a solar street in its downtown. 

 

Key Quotes: 

“In 2009, we received a contract from the Federal Highway Administration to build the first ever Solar Road Panel prototype…After successful completion of the Phase I SBIR contract, we were awarded a follow-up 2-year Phase II $750,000 SBIR contract by the Federal Highway Administration beginning in 2011. With this award, a prototype parking lot will be built and then tested under all weather and sunlight conditions.”

“One of the biggest challenges of this phase was to explore and test various glass surfaces and textures and test them for strength, traction, and durability and all test results have exceeded our expectations. In addition to the solar cells, the panels contain heaters to keep them snow and ice free and LED lights for road lines and verbiage”

“If the city secures the grant, a portion of a downtown street would be converted to Solar Roadway panels, which consist of energy-generating solar cells sandwiched between four-square-foot glass hexagon panels. These glass panels have been tested by civil engineering labs for traction, durability and strength, and the data indicates they’re suitable as a safe walking or driving surface,”

“The Solar Roadway is a series of structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven upon. The idea is to replace all current petroleum-based asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with Solar Road Panels that collect energy to be used by our homes and businesses. Our ultimate goal is to be able to store excess energy in or alongside the Solar Roadways. This renewable energy replaces the need for the current fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity. This, in turn, cuts greenhouse gases literally in half.”

Related articles

• They paved paradise and put in ... some solar panels?
• Solar Roadways Unveils Super Strong Solar Panels for Roads in Prototypical Parking Lot
• Solar roads that could power the entire U.S. are on the horizon
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Has Health Impacts fromToronto's Traffic-Related Air Pollution Become Worse?

Path to Healthier Air: Toronto Air Pollution Burden of Illness Update(15 page pdf, Dr. David McKeown, Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto Board of Health, Apr. 11, 2014)

Today we review an updated report from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health on the health impacts from air pollution in Canada’s largest city (and the 4th largest in the USA and Canada). The good news is that the number of premature deaths have decreased by 23% and hospitalizations by 41% over the last decade showing the benefits of a number of steps taken to reduce vehicle emissions including a Bike Plan, A Green Fleet Plan and the ChemTrac program to follow emissions from businesses. A major improvement also resulted from the provincial order to shut down all coal-fired utilities by 2014.

The bad news is that traffic related pollution contributes to 20% of these deaths and if one considers only pollution originating from within city boundaries, 42% of deaths. One culprit is the role of heavy, diesel-powered vehicles which make up only 1.5% of vehicles but are responsible for 80% of PM 2.5 and over half of NOx emissions. One recommendation is to develop an urban freight strategy which would shift truck delivery away from rush hours and improve efficiency. Another is to add to the present network of four surface air monitors in order to pin point sources of air pollution which also include toxic gases from businesses in the city.

   

Key Quotes:

 “In 2004, TPH reported that air pollution contributed to an estimated 1,700 premature deaths and 6,000 hospitalizations in Toronto each year.”

 “air pollution in Toronto from all sources currently gives rise to 1,300 premature deaths and 3,550 hospitalizations annually..estimates include the impact of pollution originating in other parts of Ontario and the United States and represent a decrease of 23% in premature deaths and 41% in hospitalizations as compared with 2004 estimates.”

 “traffic has the greatest impact on health, contributing to about 280 premature deaths and 1,090 hospitalizations each year, or about 20% of all premature deaths and 30% of all hospitalizations due to air pollution…[within city boundaries] premature deaths and hospitalizations attributable to traffic are 42% and 55%, respectively.”

 “air pollution in Toronto from traffic sources may contribute to 800 episodes of acute bronchitis among children, 42,900 asthma symptom days (also mostly among children), 43,500 days where respiratory symptoms such as chest discomfort, wheeze, or sore throat would be reported, and 128,000 days when people would stay in bed or otherwise cut back on normal activities as a result of air pollution”

“In 2009, heavy vehicles made up just 1.5% of Canada's vehicle fleet, but according to data from Environment Canada, they were responsible for almost 80% of PM2.5 emissions and over half of NOx emissions from vehicles in Ontario.”

 “an urban freight strategy could improve the efficiency of deliveries in the city. Such a strategy could consider ideas such as off-peak deliveries, better on-street parking for truck loading, and use of advanced technologies that combine on-road data with mapping systems to improve delivery efficiency.”

Related articles

• Walk away from kerb to avoid fumes in London, adviser urges
• Toronto can do more to reduce premature deaths from air pollution: Editorial
• IPCC: Auto pollution easier to control than expected
• Clearing the air: How commuting in Toronto is putting us at risk
• How does TRAP (Traffic-Related Air Pollution) Affect Asthma for Children?
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Is It Time to Get Serious about Reducing the Impact Of Cars on Society?

Is it time for a real war on cars? (David Suzuki Foundation, Apr. 17, 2014)

Also discussed here: It's time for a bigger recall of a seriously defective product: The Car (Lloyd Alter, Treehugger, Apr. 3, 2014)

And here: The Growth of Car Culture (Urban Times, Nov. 2012)

Today we review a provocative article calling for a substantive effort to reduce the number of cars on the road and by doing that reduce the impact that cars have on our health and quality of life. Included in a number of suggestions are the collection of the costs to maintain infrastructure needed for cars and the full costs for health costs caused by cars and the costs for building walkable cities and alternative modes of transportation Revenue for these improvements would come from gas taxes and tolls on roads, bridges and freeways. . Signficant advances in GPS technology and computer communications make the collection of these funds much more feasible, effective and more convenient than ever before, reducing the overhead from over 50% to less than 5%. Time to get serious.  

Key Quotes:

“Cars directly kill and hurt more people every year than most diseases, resulting in 1.5 million deaths and 78 million injuries needing medical care, according to the World Bank. Road injury is the eighth leading cause of death worldwide. Pollution from cars also causes acute and chronic health problems that often result in premature death — from heart disease and stroke to respiratory illness and lung cancer.”

“Environmental impacts of cars are also well-known and wide-ranging, including climate change, smog and oily run-off from roads, not to mention the green space sacrificed for infrastructure to sell, drive, fuel and park them.”

"Since we can't recall every car all at once and redesign the entire country, there are at least things we can do to make it less bad. Significantly reduce speed limits. Make drivers pay the full cost of infrastructure construction and maintenance through the gas tax. Build the cost of medical care for those millions of injured by cars into the price of gas. Invest in walkable cities and alternative forms of transport."

“We take our cars for granted, but really, they haven’t been a part of our human culture for that long, and they needn’t be an essential part forever. – David Suzuki”

"Reinstate the progressive motor vehicle excise tax, hike the gas tax, and toll every freeway, bridge, and neighborhood street until the true cost of driving lies as heavy and noxious as our smog-laden air."

“Presently, more than 500 million cars are being consumed world-wide and this figure is expected to double by 2015“

Related articles

• Real war on cars
• Is it time for a real war on cars?
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• Should Michigan consider toll roads? House bill, federal proposal prompt road funding debate
• Climate Change Catastrophes Ahead? Here's How We Can Prepare
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• Paris driving ban leads to air pollution?!
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The Road to Free Public Transit and Fewer Cars

English: Paris, France : station Velib (bike hire service) Place de la Bastille Français : Station Vélib (Système de prêt de vélo) Place de la Bastille, Paris France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editorial: No FPT without SCR (Systematic Car Reductions) (Eric Britton, World Streets, Mar. 20, 2014) 

Today we review a short editorial by Eric Britton’s blog from Paris. He reminds us that the transition from a car addicted sprawled city to one with free public transit and much fewer cars has to be approached in a strategic way through enforcement of regulations and plans that allow or encourage speeding and by planning an urban form that encourages cycling and walking and public transit. At least 5 of the 13 specific measures suggested are needed before proceeding to free public transit along with a clear and public declaration of these steps. Cities such as Paris with its Velib bike sharing program, and Stockholm with its sophisticated congestion charging system, demonstrate how change is possible. Bottom line is for voters to support candidates for City Council who support these measures.

Key Quotes: 

Some steps toward a car freer city: 

• “Strategic parking policy/control/reductions 

• Speed reductions throughout the city and on incoming roads (15/30/50 kph) 

• Systematic reallocation of street space presently available to cars, 

• Road user charges for cars entering built-up areas 

• And never never never build new or expand existing infrastructure to permit greater throughput or higher speeds for private cars.” 

“Any FPT project also needs to be reinforced by a carefully thought out program of incentives and improvements for non-motorized transport in all its many forms. Positive incentives such as Park+Ride, carsharing of course, ridesharing, and the full range of affordable new mobility services.”  

Related articles

• Universities lead the way on public transport
• Rethinking Mobility in Penang
• Amsterdam to increase badly needed bike parking
• What about public transit? Advocates say Michigan road funding push leaves riders on curb
• Policies for Shareable Cities 2: Transportation
• Reports of Vélib's Demise Greatly Exaggerated
• Bike Share's Promise and Peril
• Five Years of Velib: How Cycling Became Chic in Paris
• The Bicycle Revolution in Paris, Five Years Later
• A New Moment for Carsharing in the Netherlands

What does the Latest IPCC Report Say about Health Impacts from Climate Change?

Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (44 page pdf, IPCC WGII AR5 Summary for Policymakers, Mar. 31, 2014)

Also discussed here: Climate Change: Health Impacts and Opportunities - A Summary and Discussion of the IPCC Working Group 2 Report (19 page pdf, The Global Climate and Health Alliance, Apr. 3, 2014)

And here: Climate change: yes, it’s getting worse fast and it matters (Dianne Saxe, Environmental Law and Litigation, Mar. 31, 2014)

And here: Global warming dials up our risks, UN report says (CBC news, Mar. 31, 2014)

 Today we review the recently released report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its Working Group that deals with impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. With high confidence, the report notes that climate change for the next few decades will cause existing health impacts to get worse until by the end of the century for some times of the year and some parts of the world “projected to compromise normal human activities, including growing food or working outdoors”. There are similar assessments of the risks facing other sectors of society and in various regions in other ways but clearly the
  time for action was yesterday.

   

Key Quotes:

“Until mid-century, projected climate change will impact human health mainly by exacerbating health problems that already exist (very high confidence).”

“Examples include greater likelihood of injury, disease, and death due to more intense heat waves and fires (very high confidence); increased likelihood of under-nutrition resulting from diminished food production in poor regions (high confidence); risks from lost work capacity and reduced labor productivity in vulnerable populations; and increased risks from food- and water-borne diseases (very high confidence)…”

“The most effective vulnerability reduction measures for health in the near-term are programs that implement and improve basic public health measures such as provision of clean water and sanitation, secure essential health care including vaccination and child health services, increase capacity for disaster preparedness and response, and alleviate poverty (very high confidence).”

 “By 2100 for the high-emission scenario RCP8.5, the combination of high temperature and humidity in some areas for parts of the year is projected to compromise normal human activities, including growing food or working outdoors (high confidence).”

“in Australia,one study estimated that the number of “dangerously hot” and outdoor activity is hazardous, is projected to rise from the current 4-6 days per year to 33-45 days per year by 2070”

“Climate Altering Pollutants (other than CO2) do not just contribute to climate change, but also contribute to due to inhalation of these air pollutants….there is strong evidence that climate change will generally increase ozone in the US and Europe, although its impact on the largest health-relevant air pollutant, particulate matter, is highly uncertain.”

“many of the drivers of climate change (e.g. fossil fuel burning, overconsumption of meat, poorly designed cities and overdependence on motorised transport) also contribute to many health problems (e.g. obesity, diabetes, respiratory and heart disease and road deaths).”

'Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change,'  

Related articles

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