The flower, by Art Energy Design, is a renewable energy display with solar cells attached to leaves while the flower petals act as a rotor to turn a 6V generator. Both charge a battery in the base that stores enough energy to keep the display lit by LEDs at night.
The Pittsburgh Power Flowers Project says it combines sustainable energy devices with a variety of artistic designs. “Power Flower public art sculptures are one example of our mission-specific design series,” says Dave Edwards, artist and spokesman for the organization. The flower is intended to demonstrate thought-provoking ways wind, solar, and recycling ideas can be built into urban landscapes.
“Understand that we are artists, not engineers,” adds Edwards. “The real power of our Power Flower is the conversation it starts about sustainable energy. We have created an educational tool that uses the universal appeal of art to meet the public at all levels of understanding.” He adds that people generally understand that if future power is generated close to where it is used, then these devices might have to blend esthetically into the urban landscape.
Filed Under: Uncategorized
