Stirling Council of Scotland Goes Green With solar powered Aura parking machines
Source: Metricgroup.co.uk /parking.net, Sept. 11. 2007
http://www.parking-net.com/NewsItem-22577.aspx
Stirling Council is the first local authority in Scotland to install solar powered Aura parking machines. The council has demonstrated its green credentials by purchasing a total of 59 solar Auras from Metric Parking. Stirling, which has a total of 120 Metric parking machines on its streets and in its car parks, chose the solar Aura because it will have less impact on the environment.
Said roads improvement manager Brian Roberts: Green issues are important to the council and we believe that solar is a sustainable option for a power supply. The solar Aura was an opportunity to use solar power as an alternative to conventional power methods, reduce installation costs and whole live costs. The machines also fit well with our solar powered electronic signs and are already working fine considering we have not had the best of summers.
Another reason for solar, said Brian, was the ease of installation and the quick turnround from time of delivery to installation. He said he was impressed with the Auras security which was also a major consideration. The new Metric Aura is initially being installed on street, but it is the councils intention to use solar power in car parks. Nine of the machines will be installed in a new car park development in the town centre in November.
Stirlings 120 Metric machines are a mixture of Auto Slots, Accents, S3s and now Auras. Some of the Auto Slots are 18 years old. Following the order for 59 Auras, the council plan to purchase more by the end of the year.