The science world is constantly looking for energy efficient ways to be innovative. The newest idea? Solar sidewalks. Solar Roadways are a privately funded idea that harnesses solar energy into the surface of a sidewalk. Beginning with a humble couple looking to change their community, Solar Roadways has become an organization that is funded by 165 countries and counting.

It works by using rather large, hexagonal shaped piece of “glass” that has solar cells underneath of it. These solar cells collect the energy from the sun and store it for use. One use is within parking lots. The solar roadway has LED lights lying under the glass that can be altered according to the area. For example, a parking lot constructed of the solar roadway panels would have parking spaces lit up and defined by the LED lights. If the owner of the lot or township wished to change the placement of a handicapped spot, or remove a regular spot for an expecting mother one, the lights under the roadway would simply have to be configured to these plans. There is no paint over job or construction, just a change that can be fixed on the computer.

Another feature that Solar Roadway has is the ability to heat sidewalks. Because the solar energy is stored, when the roadway reaches a low enough temperature it releases the energy into heat that heats the roadways. This means no more salting trucks and plow trucks; instead; the roadway will be capable of heating and cleaning itself.

The first roadway apart from a prototype exists within the Netherland’s as a bike path. They chose to be the guinea pigs in an experiment that tests the Solar Roadway’s effectiveness. Under the careful eye of scientists, the roadway is being checked for stability, solar energy truly harnessed and used, and its safety. In the Netherland’s the roadway is simply a bike path, but it is a step in the right direction for eco-efficient engineering.