New York City’s First Eco-Friendly Billboard

New York City’s Times Square is getting its first eco-friendly billboard powered entirely by wind and sun.

Construction on the 35,000 Lbs. billboard, that will be advertising the Ricoh Americas Corporation, (an office equipment and document storage supplier) will begin this month.

It will have 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels and produce enough power to light six homes. It will be lit by floodlights, rather than light-emitting diodes, and won’t have a backup generator, so it could go dark during long periods of little wind or sun.

However, company spokesman Ron Potesky said the sign’s turbines will be able to keep the billboard lit even after four days without breezes or bright sun. It has also been estimated that the sign will keep 18 tons of carbon out of the environment.

A lighting ceremony for the 126-foot wide, 47-foot tall sign is scheduled for Dec. 4. Although the sign may not be as glitzy as some of its neighbors on Broadway, it will definitely make quite a statement.

This year’s New Year’s Eve, revelers will be able to get a close-up view of the first eco-friendly billboard. What a great way to bring in the New Year.