Going Green?

Its pretty obvious he was implying that CP should plant more trees, in the interest of offsetting their greenhouse gas emission.

This summer the Cleveland Indians installed a 86 foot long pavillion with a canopy made up of solar panels at Jacobs Field. This provides enough energy to power the 400 TV's in the ballpark.

Cedar Point can do something similar. The panels can double as sunscreens over the queues instead of the mesh sunscreens they have now. I don't know how much power they would generate, but judging from the one at Jacobs Field I would quess one similar size canopy could power the lights on a flat ride, a concession stand, restroom or a bunch of pop machines.

I do wonder if their power bill would be reduced enough to offset the cost of the panels. The Indians spent over $100,000. Granted we are speading the cost over many years of service.

The most efficient commercially available solar cells convert energy at 22% efficiency. Solar radiation has a power density of 1000W/m^2 at equinox. So, installing panels over one of those shades (which I'm guessing are 10mx10m, for simplicity's sake) would generate nearly 22,000 Watts.

Oooooh, another idea! Light the park with candles made from excess wax from the candle shop on the frontier trail!

You're talking about a company that to date doesn't even see the value in a decent POS system.

Universal has switched to fluorescents throughout the bulk of the resort.

According to a good majority of the strange guests that come to the park in the operating season, cedar point has gone PINK! :(

In addition to findng alternative energy sources, I'd really like to see recyvling bins. Just look at how much of the trash is recylable. All the plastic bottles that people fork over $3 for is the first thing that comes to mind. Granted, we all have seen that not everybody that comes to CP has much common sense. Or any sense, so they may not sort their trash, but every little bit helps.

I know I'd certainly walk a few extra steps to recycle, and I imagine there would be plenty of others, as well. You'd just have to place the bins conveniently enough so as to avoid making it a hassle, yet out of the way enough to avoid people mistaking them for (or simply using them as) trash cans.

I don't see the average Joe worrying about recycling. If they can't be bothered about throwing trash into a bin why do we think they can be bothered with throwing it into the correct bin?

With regards to the Hershey reference, if I read it correctly the wind turbine will put out 10 kWs. That equates to roughly 10 hair dryers. Not much power there.

Hershey's system is producing roughly 30,000 kwHs per year. An average household uses 400 kwHs per month.

So, Hershey's one wind turbine and small solar "farm" could power roughly six homes per MONTH.

I'd say that's a lot.

You would think that cp could easily hide the solar panels too. Put them on the tops of shops and food stands, the dj booths in the ques, the roof of breakers. There are a whole lot of places they could put them and they would be nowhere in sight. I think it would be a great idea.

I think the average Joe is increasingly concerned with environmental issues -- or at least the simple things he can do that make a difference, like buying compact fluorescents and recycling. And, at least inside the park, I think most people do a good job of making sure their trash gets to a bin.

The parking lot, that's a different story.

400 kwh is average? Yikes! :) Just myself I use about 1000kwh per month. I wonder where they came up with that number.

The question is....do solar panels work well with sea gull...uh....droppings all over them? If not. There are few places with open space where they will escape the wrath of the gulls.

Actually, I should rephrase. The average "small home" can be powered with 400 kwHs a month. I was using that number because it's the standard I work towards when designing new homes.

On average, the US household currently uses between 8,900 and 10,656 kwHs per year. So, that's about 815 kwHs per month. (Ben, you could use an energy savings plan at your home!)

Even still, Hershey's tiny generation plant can supply power to three homes (using today's consumption averages).

I didn't really sense Hershey as having that much wind either. So, it would come to reason that CP could generate far more power using wind alone.

I also think on average people are more aware of environmental issues. With energy costs skyrocketing, they're more concerned just for cost savings, but they're still concerned. I know the demand for green housing is currently very high. People are willing to spend a little more to construct a LEED home now because they know their energy bills will be very low.

I mentioned this in another thread, but putting a BAS Hybrid into all of their vehicles (including the car rides) would certainly be a step in the right direction. With the amount of time those vehicles spend at idle a 25% decrease in emissions would be plausible.

This is opposed to a nickel battery hybrid, a more expensive dual mode hybrid or top of the line serial hybrid system. Its cheap and effective.

Remember though, increased air pollution is only increasing global dimming, which in turn is slowing global warming. So perhaps Cedar Point is just trying to do its part in slowing global warming... :)

Yes, you did read that right.

*** Edited 11/28/2007 6:53:50 PM UTC by DBCP***

Yeah, we read it right. Its just too bad whoever originally wrote it was a quack. :)

Talk to NOVA. :)

Yeah, I know of the phenomenon. The problem I see is that the 'solution' to global dimming is to create pollution. If we reduce it, it gets warmer. But, if we also reduce greenhouse gases, it negates the warming trend.

So, the best solution is to reduce both, simultaneously. :)