TheUKcompanyProTeqSurfacinghascomeupwithanovelmethodforlightingparkpathwaysand otherpublicsurfaces.TheirnewStarpathtechnologycanbesprayedontoconcrete,woodandother solidsurfacestomakethemlightupatnight.ThecompanyenvisionsStarpathasawayfor municipalitiestolowertheirelectricalbillsbyallowingthemtoturnoffstreetlights. Starpathworksbyabsorbingandstoringenergyfromambientdaytimelight,energywhichisthen releasedintheformofabluishglowinglight.It'sbasicallythesamethingthathappenswhenyoutakea glowinthedarkkeychainandholdituptoalightbulb;turnthelightsoffandyou'llfindyounowhavea brightlyglowingkeychain.That'sbecauseshiningalightonaglowinthedarkkeychainexcitesits phosphors,photoluminescentchemicalslikezincsulphideorstrontiumaluminate.Theincoming photonsarestoredinthekeychain,andwhenthey'rereleased,theobjectglows. Starpathismadeupofthreelayers:apolyurethanebase,alayeroflightabsorbingchemicals(likethose describedabove)andawaterproofcoattofinishitoff.Thematerialisalsoantislip,andofcourse Starpathusesnoelectricity.

"Thisproductadjuststothenaturallight,soifitispitchblackoutsidetheluminousnaturalearth enhances,andiftheskyislighter,itwon'treleaseasmuchluminosityitadjustsaccordingly,itsalmost likeithasamindofitsown,"saidProTeqownerHamishScottinapressrelease.Scottcalledit"pure naturedoingitswork." StarpathiscurrentlybeingtrialledinChrist'sPieces,aparkinCambridge,England.AstheIndependent notes,Starpathisn'tbrightenoughtoreplacestreetlightsentirely,butthesystemissuitableforlow foottrafficareaswheremunicipalitiesmaytrytocutelectricalcostsbyturningofflightsaltogether. AccordingtotheSmithsonian,Starpathcosts$10.50persquarefoot. WatchthevideobelowtoseehowStarpathisinstalled,andwhatthefinishedproductlookslike.It'sall prettycool,butisitascoolasthis?

UKcompanyProTeqhasdevelopedanewwaterresistant,sprayoncoatingthatabsorbsUVlight duringthedayandreleasesitatnight,adaptingtothelightingconditionsinitssurroundings.The technologyisbeinggivenatestrunattheChrist'sPiecesparkinCambridge,andcouldproveacost effectivealternativetoconventionalstreetlighting. We'reusedtoseeingsolarharvestingtechnologybeinginstalledprimarilyonrooftops,butother sufficientlyirradiatedsurfaces,includingsidewalks,arealsobeingexploredfortheirenergyharvesting potential. Starpathdoesn'tproduceelectricity,butitdoesofferapossiblealternativetostreetlighting,withvery lowinstallationandmaintenancecosts,asitcanbejustsprayedontoanexistingsurfaceandthen furthercoatedtomakeitwaterproof.Accordingtothecompany,thecoatingabsorbsandstoresUV lightduringthedayandreleasesitatnight,whenitsparticlesareabletoadjusttotheavailablenatural light,andglowwiththeappropriatelevelofintensity. ThecoatingiscurrentlybeingtrialledinChristsPieces,aparkinthecenterofCambridge,UK,whereit hasbeensprayedonatotalareaof150sqm(1,600sqft).ProTeqsaysthecoatingtookonly30 minutestoapply,withthesurfacebeingreadyforuseafteronlyfourhours. "Oursurfaceworksbestovertarmacorconcrete,predominantlytarmac,whichisthemainbulkofthe UKpathnetwork,"explainsProTeqsalesdirectorNeilBlackmore."Whenit'scomingtotheendofits usefullife,wecanrejuvenateitwithoursystem,creatingnotonlyapractical,butadecorativefinish." Starpathhasantislipproperties,andcanhelpusersavoidcollisionsatnight,withoutresortingto artificiallypaintedlinestodividethepath.Thecoatingisalsononreflective,andthecompanywebsite listsachoiceof11differentcolors.Ontheflipside,problemsmightbeencounteredduringthewinter months,withlesslightavailableduringthedayandthepossibilityofsnowblockingoutlightfromthe path. Thevideobelowdetailshowtheresurfacingtechnologyworksandexplainshowquicklythecoatingcan belaidoutontoapath.