New siren preserves energy and lives
This emergency warning siren, located off of Eola Road, is solar powered.
Editor's note: Fermilab will sound the severe weather sirens today as part of the regular monthly test, which takes place on the first Tuesday of each month between spring and fall.
One of the sirens that can help to save your life during severe weather can also help to save the planet.
Fermilab recently installed a new solar-powered severe weather siren to replace a siren hit by lightning earlier this year.
"Having this new device permits us to use minimal resources to get the maximum benefit that comes along with having a siren," said Fermilab ecologist Rod Walton.
The siren is constructed of four 55-watt solar panels that will absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. The siren will use that energy to operate. Even if there is minimal sunlight, the siren will work because the panels are backed by batteries that have a four-to-five year life expectancy and are able to sound at 70 decibels for 30 minutes.
"The ES&H Department decided to go with solar-powered siren because of its functionality and state of the art technology," said Bill James of ES&H.
The new siren, which is located at Site 55, will cover a range of 6,200 feet, compared to the old siren's 4,800 foot range. The siren covers such a large area to warn of national emergencies or severe weather, such as tornadoes. Fermilab is following the examples of cities such as Chicago, St. Charles, Aurora and Naperville that have also implemented the use of these devices.
The ES&H Department hopes this improvement leads to eventually converting Fermilab's other five sirens to solar power.
The new installation allows Fermilab to fulfill its goal of energy conservation by saving money and decreasing its dependence on other, less renewable resources.
"We are definitely on the right path for energy conservation," said Fermilab's recycling coordinator Eric Mieland. "We have an option that has a renewable energy source that is economical and a viable solution."
-- Tonisha Taylor