A Times Square billboard goes green

The $3 million Ricoh Americas billboard will be fitted with 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels. The 126 x 47 ft billboard on the Great White Way, weighs 35,000 lbs, rests 55 ft off the ground, and wraps around the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and 42nd St.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff November 19, 2008

New York Times , the first eco-friendly billboard will be constructed in Times Square, entirely powered by wind and solar power. The $3 million Ricoh Americas billboard will be fitted with 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels. The 126 x 47 ft billboard on the Great White Way, weighs 35,000 lbs, rests 55 ft off the ground, and wraps around the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and 42nd St.billboard will feature a custom-printed opaque vinyl sheeting that bears the Ricoh logo. 

, the cylindrical Ricoh drum turbines have no sharp blades. Tourists, residents, and people passing by will be able to see the 26 blades spinning in the sign’s 16 turbines, piled in four 45-ft. tall vertical stacks. Operating at an average speed of 10 miles an hour, the turbines will generate22 kW.  

es would most likely generate enough power to keep the sign lighted even after four days without wind or sun. But the company is prepared for the sign to go dark” said Ron Potesky, a senior marketing vice president for Ricoh Americas Corp. Unlike stalklike propeller turbines, which require unidirectional, or “clean”, wind to function, Ricoh’s revolving drums use turbulent, multidirectional winds. The turbines provide usable power from winds as weak as 5 mph and rotate safely in winds up to 100 mph.  
Photo Courtesy: Artist’s rendering from the New York Times