Charging off-grid street lamps with solar power is a positive step towards reducing energy consumption. But what if our sun-baked public walkways also glowed in the dark?
A UK-based company has patented a spray-on substance that gives plain old pavement an after-hours glimmer. Pro-Teq developed the product, Starpath, as a way to reduce energy costs for the Cambridge city council — and the company is currently testing the stuff at a second location in the university town.
The treatment process is actually pretty quick; after the polyurethane base is applied — apparently tarmac and concrete are ideal surfaces — a layer of quick-drying topcoat will seal the whole deal. A 128m long stretch can be done and dusted in a matter of hours.
The only thing that’s missing — and what presumably separates this tech from the street lamps — is the ability to switch it off. While a pitch-black park or back alley isn’t particularly appealing, it’s easy to imagine the perennial light pollution that would result if this Starpath became more common.
Putting our futuristic, neon-fuelled fantasies aside for a second, it might be a tough sell on a grand scale — but judicious usage could add just enough nighttime illumination to make perfect sense. [PSFK]