Environment
“Vectorial Elevation” allows people to control the world’s brightest searchlights, which use 200kW of power in total. There are many environmental considerations for this work:
- While 200kW is a very substantial electrical consumption, it is also approximately only a tenth what a typical hockey game uses.
- The power is all supplied by BC Hydro, so for the most part it is all from a renewable energy source. No generator fuel is burnt for this project.
- We are working to be able to turn off non-essential architectural lighting in the area (e.g. decorative illumination) so that our net consumption can be lowered even further.
- A carbon offset plan is in place to reduce the project’s carbon footprint to zero.
- The project has been developed in consultation with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Stanley Park Ecology Society to ensure it does not affect wildlife in the area.
- The lights are tightly focused so that all the power is concentrated into narrow beams that are never pointed towards neighbouring buildings, flight paths or sensitive ecological areas (for example we will prevent lights to impact the eagle's nest on Vanier Park).
- The lights move slowly and do not flash, creating a contemplative environment.
- Our team of technicians, surveyors, park board officials and civil engineers will measure the exact position and orientation of each searchlight and build accurate 3D models of the surrounding buildings; our control system will then be programmed to prevent searchlights to be aimed towards the buildings.
- The project is completely silent, there is no sound or music.
