Solar-Powered Public Restroom concept
I do a fair amount of blogging about solar and other alternative energy sources in my homestate of Oregon. So, imagine my interest when I read about the solar-powered pubic restrooms that will be installed in downtown Portland, Oregon! These unique potties, dubbed the “Portland Loo“ will be installed starting in December 2008 in the Rose City.
Taxpayers may cringe at the cost, however cool they find the solar-powered public restrooms to be. Each unit costs $140,000! That is one expensive solar gadget. I tried to find out just how many solar-powered public restrooms the City plans to install. Considering the fact that there are about 10 public restrooms downtown Portland, the total cost for Portland Loo would be about $1.4 million down the flusher….
On the bright side, however, the developer of the Portland Loo is a City Commissioner, Randy Leonard. He expects that if solar-powered public restrooms in Portland are a success, the design can be patented and actually make the City some money. Leonard eventually wants to sell solar-powered public restrooms to other cities at the cost of about $50,000 each.
So, what is the thinking behind a solar-powered public restroom?
Randy Leonard - Creator of the Portland Loo
For starters, the solar-powered public restrooms will be less private, lowering security concerns. People inside the restroom will be visible from the ankles down. Solar panels on the top will provide 100% of the electricity required by each toilet enclosure, allowing them to be off-grid. Electricity generated by solar panels will heat water and sewer pipes overnight to prevent water from freezing during the winter. As described in a recent news release:
“The reduction in privacy reduces any desire to spend excessive time there to engage in illegal activities like drugs or prostitution. The compartments of the restrooms are designed in a fashion which allows damaged compartments to be replaced easily. The hand washing station is on the outside to discourage bathing and wasting water in the process. The restrooms will completely be off-grid and will have a hard connection to water and sewer with solar panels providing all the electricity needed by the restroom.”
Portland’s solar-powered public restrooms will be open 24 hours a day. They will be cleaned twice daily. The hope is that more people will use the Portland Loo rather than relieve themselves on the street.
I have to say that I am not 100% sold on the idea of the solar-powered public restrooms. Of course, public restrooms kind of creep me out regardless. What do you think? A good investment by the City of Portland or a foolish “waste” of money?
Tags: city of portland, portland loo, solar-powered public restrooms
Stephanie,
True, public restrooms “creep out” a lot of people. But Portland’s Old Town Chinatown is a 24/7 neighborhood which welcomes visitors of all income levels. That’s why so much thought and planning are going into the design of the Portland Loo.
The simple yet sophisticated toilet has been applauded by users. Watched over by the public, it remains clean and graffiti-free. Remember this is the prototype. As additional units are produced for Portland and cities throughout the US, the price will come down.
Carol
[...] heard about it all! There are now solar-powered bus stations, to add to the solar-powered public toilets and solar-powered park benches. I think they are all great ideas, but this one may top the [...]
Portland now has its second of ten loos installed.
This is a good thing for Portland. Having loos will most definitely welcome more tourists to Portland and the surrounding areas. $140,000 per loo sure is hard to understand though.
We should educate the communities to ask for their support on the things it’s going to need from the public for this to succeed. Things such as:
• Privacy for others and yourself
• safety
• cleanliness, proper edicts’
• time of usage
So Portland wants tourists that will not be shopping or dining here. Only those that need to use the Loo and move on to another city to spend their money.