Innovations in renewable energy systems aren’t limited to efficiency and scalability: in recent years, a focus has also been on aesthetics. Solar panel devices are at a point of development where organic form is almost as important as output. Designs that harmonize with nature are far more popular than the harsh, rigid, geometric shapes that power installations have historically taken, and a company called Sturgeon Bay Utilities has capitalized on this movement.
The City of Sturgeon Bay Solar Flair Project unveiled a “sun flower”
Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin hosted a Solar Flair Project intended to showcase the city’s renewable energy efforts and educate the community, and judging by the interest generated in the expo’s star exhibit, it was a success.
Sturgeon Bay Utilities (SBU) was behind the installation of three magnificently creative solar panel arrays that not only fulfill their function of generating clean energy, but look like works of art too.
The panel developers selected a flower-inspired design to house their technology, and the final result is so pleasing to the eye that it could convince even the staunchest of fossil fuel holdouts, similar to this giant transparent sphere designed by an architect.
How was the “flower” aesthetic achieved?
Eight panels were arranged around a center to look like petals on a sunflower (or some say the points on a nautical star) with different colored highlights on each “bloom”—namely, green, orange, and yellow. The “stem” upon which each of these units was mounted was painted green and runs down into a “pot,” reinforcing the floral theme.
The arrays’ purpose as educational tools was achieved after placing them in a prime location outside the utility’s offices, where hundreds of people stopped to gaze at the “sculptures” and read a plaque providing more info on renewable energy.
SBU is committed to fostering the adoption of renewable power
Sturgeon Bay Utilities is aware of our environmental responsibility to the planet and is intent on promoting energy efficiency and the adoption of clean energy by households and businesses alike. SBU explained that the three arrays outside its offices can produce over 5000 kWh of electricity each year, and it’s hoped that they will still be functioning in 25 years’ time.
SBU states on its website:
“We are dedicated to improving our community’s quality of life through active environmental stewardship … We are committed to minimizing the impact our business has on the environment with technologies and processes that are socially responsible, scientifically based, and economically sound.”
SBU offered some general energy saving tips to cut down on consumption in the home
According to SBU, here are some strategies to save power at home and cut down on costs at the same time as you do your part for the environment:
- Install a programmable thermostat to lower utility bills and manage your heating and cooling systems efficiently.
- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
- Turn things off when you are not in the room, such as lights, TVs, entertainment systems, and your computer and monitor.
- Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into smart power strips; these automatically turn off the equipment if it is not in use. Did you know that TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power?
- Lower your water heater thermostat to 120°F.
- Take short showers instead of baths and use low-flow showerheads for additional energy savings.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
- Keep windows and doors closed when heating or cooling your home.
It’s clear that the evolution from the burning of fossil fuels to renewable solutions is inspiring cutting-edge technology that’s setting the human race up for much greener future generations. Another example of organically designed solar panels that look like something out of an interior design magazine are these that look like leaves.