News
Stony Brook Installs Solar Powered Lighting at SAC Bus Shelter
In keeping with Stony Brook’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the first solar-powered bus shelter, located on the bus loop in front of the SAC, is now lighting up from dusk to dawn.
Solar energy makes it possible to install lighting for bus stop shelters without the cost and service disruption of connecting the unit to the campus electric grid. Instead of requiring an electric service, this bus shelter is energy independent and virtually maintenance free. The solar panels, which face south, are mounted on the shelter’s roof.
The system harnesses the sun’s energy throughout daylight hours and stores it for use during the nighttime. The sun does not need to shine everyday for the panels to work and enough energy is stored in rechargeable batteries to operate for five days. At dusk, the stored energy is used to power LED lamps located in the hi-hat openings in the ceiling providing illumination until dawn.
The system is manufactured by SOL Inc. who designed this system specifically for our needs. The technology contains no moving parts and releases no emissions. The LEDs are highly efficient and have an expected lifetime of 100,000 hours. If the system were grid connected and used incandescent lamps, similar light levels would require the use of approximately 1,700 kWh; which could contribute up to a ton of CO2 into the environment.
 Shelter with solar panels installed |
 LED fixtures |
 "High Hat" recesses |
