In CPT on the N1, we have a solar and wind powered billboard. This not only povides the billboard with light during the night it also provides electricty for some of the housing around it.

The new solar- and wind-powered Nedbank billboard on the N2 near the cooling towers, which provides power to the Cape Mission School just behind it. It powers two big security flood lights for their yard, their hot water cylinder and a plug point in the school’s kitchen.

The billboard is based on the solar-powered billboard erected in Jo’burg that won a Grand Prix Award at the Cannes festival earlier this year.

There are already some in Cape Town... let's get them all on major traffic intersections, then we wouldn't have the dangerous problem of no traffic lights when the power goes out.

We live on a continent with abundant sun, we should be using this natural resource more.

Surely the long term savings would far outweigh the negative cost impact in the beginning?

I'd also have a warm fuzzy feeling to any brand that publicised its services in this way, using a billboard with solar power to power schools, poorer communities, shopping centres, other businesses etc, than one that uses up electricity and gives nothing back to the community.

Switch off from midnight to dawn ...... or put in solar panels
Jo-Anne

I dont see what right Prime media etc have AT ALL to invade my residential living space with the huge ugly billboards. Johannesburg suburbs are beautifull forested areas in the most part, and the uglyness contributed by ANY billboard should be outright banned, as in most halfway decent cities its not allowed. These cancerous billbourds are not nessesary and I personally boycott any product advertized on them. I didnt vote for this scarring of my city.(erm or for power cuts)

How about we give credit to companies that volunteer to switch the boards off as a sign of their willingness to support the local economy or at least show solidarity to affected areas?
Leaving the boards on when everyone in the area is going through an outage is a negative reflection on their public image - hardly the effect that they are paying for!

Chill out "calmdowndude", i'm sure you use more elec in a day than a billboard lit up for a few hours, and as for not buying into the brands that advertise, i would love to see what make of car you drive or computer your using!!!

Start with yourself...cause billboards are here to stay...

Why dont we simply place solar panels into them and they work during the day while a back-up battery charges from the solar panles to work during the evening???

The only way is to switch them off since the owners of these billboards do not know Eskom's load- shedding times. It is actually safe to switch them off because when the electricity comes back, anything can happen, maybe in the form of an explosion!

Why not use solar panels, at the cost of erecting these media types what's a few extra thousands to incorperate solar panels

Photo Voltaic Cells (Solar Power) should work to power up the batteries for billboards.

Clients who want that option - to be lit up at night - can then finance the outlay for this

Remember one thing, if the area does not have elec then the billboard does not have elec. If you switch your geyser off you have to switch it on again at some time and then it will use more elec than a billboard to heat the water again.

Yes, but my kettle does not stay on 24/7. And at this stage of the game every drop helps. If we all have the attitude of "oh it’s ONLY another kettle/globe etc) then we will get NOWHERE with saving electricity. Even one million rand start with one cent...
I say, cut ALL the unnecessary electricity suckers. This is about survival, not luxury any more.

No billboard is on 24/7. Maybe you should not be serving the net using elec

I agree, I work for an outdoor advertising/billboard company and we use day night switches to control the board’s on and off time, we never had problems using these and the lights are not on for more then 11 hours per day, to add that what we pay per month for the electricity on a billboard is far less then what you pay for your homes appliances, believe me on this one.

Don’t comment on things when you are not sure about your facts.

Some billboards have the time and temperature on their columns, which I do find interesting to see as I drive past. But is this information a necessity?

No its not a necessity. If somebody wants the time, get a watch! And if sombody wants the temperature watch the news for the weather! Instead of wasting electricity by using billboards to display information to which there is a more logical and easier alternative, why not save electricity and use it for more important things such as our homes.

Why does every single bank need a TV in it, the sound is off, and we really do not need to watch TV because we are in a queue. Every branch of every bank has a TV going, do you realise how much power that is across the country? Switch them off.

why bother with billboards when u have the empty SAR's building in Alberton with lites on 24/7 and a suburb out side Swartkops Pta with no houses as yet only street lites, on at 11H00 during the day go figure.
Ever heard of the five P's ask around. Eskom sure has not
The power's which be could not plan a pissup in a brewery

Hope like hell that your image is facing when the power goes off so you can get the exposure benefit.

Use solar energy to power them.

They're cute and they like to run. Done.

Do they still have those lights on at night lighting up the mountain? Hope not. Apparently the parliment buildings in Pretoria and Cape Town are still also brightly lit up every night while the popolation has to suffer with candles.

Serve no purpose - visual pollution.

I agree with the solar powered approach and backup batteries for night time. This gives power back to households.

Nedbank have already started using Solar AND Wind Powered Billboards!! in fact they were the first.

The Billboards are also strategically placed in underdeveloped areas and are not only completely self-sustainable (electrically) - but they also provide power to the School & Youth Centre around them.

We need more companies to invest in better CSI's (Corporate Social Investment) like Nedbank have... if we are to stand a chance at overcoming the electrical crisis we have been plunged into.

Billboards are a disgusting invasion of space and totally contrary to the constitutional right to freedom of expression (which includes the right NOT to have the idea sof others forced on you)- no civilised city allows them to run rampant the way they do injhb suburbs. New York style billboards are groovy, but those in jhb reflect our bankrupt culture just like the fabulous architecture that dumps on a once beautiful and dignified city TURN THEM OFF!