The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #97048   Message #2235413
Posted By: Stilly River Sage
13-Jan-08 - 12:17 PM
Thread Name: Should we install Solar Power?
Subject: RE: Should we install Solar Power?
I don't think so, Mr. Happy. A streetlight doesn't have any where near the power or density of the light to tickle those panels in a meaningful way. But I noticed an interesting event a few weeks ago that could have an impact, if you were lucky (or not) in your neighbors. There is a glass-sided building on the west side of town that can be seen from a rise closer to downtown. When you drive south toward this outer building at just the right time of day you're blinded by the sunlight reflected from all of that glass. That gave me the idea that you might be able to set up a mirror low enough that it wouldn't block your panels but that it could boost the amount of light hitting it. Or you could even go with a convex or concave mirror for some interesting effects. (Pity the neighbors of that reflective building--that light is enough to peel paint or kill plants with its brightness).

I don't know if there is any research into this, but I'm probably not the first to make this observation.

SRS