Solar Trees in Cambodia light Public Spaces

Angkor Wat, Cambodia recently received new solar powered street lights in their public spaces. The “solar trees” are a low-energy design that will increase night-time safety while also encouraging businesses to stay open later. Nothing Design Group conceived of the tree-like design, and developed the lights in partnership with Asiana Airlines and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). So far, sixteen solar streetlights have been installed, and the team plans to install 5 to 10 more a year until 2015.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Angkor Wat attracts many tourists, but before the lights were installed, many did not venture out at night. Now, the added lighting encourages both tourists and residents to be out at night, which creates benefits for both: tourists can integrate more with the local community and locals can generate more income by keeping markets and other businesses open later.

Source: World Changing