What’s one thing that would instantly improve your city?
Sydney has embraced solar energy. Rooftop panels are now a familiar part of the suburban landscape, and I would love to see that continue. But perhaps the next stage is not simply adding more panels. Perhaps it is learning to see the whole city differently.
Cities are full of surfaces doing only one job. A bike path moves cyclists from one place to another. But the airspace above it could also generate electricity. Solar canopies over cycleways can produce renewable energy while providing shade and some weather protection.
The same principle could apply elsewhere. Car parks could have solar canopies that shade cars and power EV chargers. Bus shelters and benches could generate electricity for lighting or phone charging. Building facades, windows and roofing materials could increasingly incorporate solar technology. Even public art could contribute.
There is something appealing about renewable energy being woven into ordinary life. We could encounter it while cycling to work, waiting for a bus, sitting in a park or walking through a public square.
And good infrastructure could do more than generate power. A solar canopy provides shade. A solar bench provides somewhere to rest. A well-lit cycleway encourages people to travel differently. The best environmental infrastructure does not simply tell people to live more sustainably. It makes sustainable choices easier and more attractive.
The Afterword 
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