the solar powered sun bed
Sunday 8 August | 8 Comments
so a while ago I had an idea to build a sunbed that was run off of solar panels…the concept was obviously ridiculous and was a comment on energy reduction, our wasteful society and greenwash.
then at some point I decided to try to realise this idea so I started doing some research…I asked some renewable energy engineers just how many solar panels they though would be needed and they responded by laughing…to run the sun bed for 4-5 hours a day for the exhibition would use 18-22.5 kwh a day which is equivalent electricity to the average UK household…apparently I would need 60-80 big 235volt solar panels…crazily this didn’t put me off and I decided to add more useless inventions to the exhibition of public eco art out in the elements, demonstrating renewable energy sources and
combining them with contemporary sculpture which explores ideas of a zero carbon society and
challenges greenwash in product design and
advertising…
like a pedal powered running machine…
and a wind turbine powered tumble dryer…
A trip tic of three ridiculous inventions: a solar powered sun bed, a wind powered tumble dryer and a pedal powered running machine. The installation is a
comment on the lack of energy efficiency in the UK and the need to reduce our energy demands if we are ever to hope to be powered entirely by renewables. It is also intended to challenge consumer responses to greenwash, by highlighting the ludicrous nature of advertising when trying to sell “eco-friendly” products that are wasteful and unneccessary.
Unlike most exhibitions this installation is reaching out to a different audience, interacting with the general public in unusal outdoor settings and asking them to question their consumer habits. To think about what they are using and how much it is costing them in both monetary terms and in the wider, environmental sense. Eco art always attempts to use local or national exhibitions to influence attitudes to sustainability and climate change which affect people globally. With this installation I will spark public discussion on the impacts reducing energy consumption and switching to renewables, which may have a knock on effect.
The British are lucky. Wind and rain rich, surrounded by powerful ocean currents, our island holds the promise of generating all of our electricity from renewable sources. By using offshore wind farms, tidal power and micro-hydro, we could build a clean energy system that would meet our needs.
The main issue holding us back is that to build this system would mean reducing the amount of energy we use. This installation examines the necessity of appliances that we take for granted. For example, this solar powered sun bed a hundred solar panels and a sunny day. As you can see the amount of solar cells needed to power this pointless machine is phenomenal.
Often simple solutions exist to give us the outcome we desire without the use of an energy intensive products.
Removing or reducing unnecessary, energy intensive appliances like these would be a positive step towards a renewably powered and globally responsible kingdom.
