Fuel Waste at Intersections

By Randy Caudill and Tony Holton

BackgroundEnergy is higher demand than ever. With the

recent scientific studies performed on climate change and global warming, we need to find energy saving solutions to curtail the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels. There is huge amounts of energy wasted everyday. In our homes, on our streets, and in our manufacturing processes to name a few. Without tackling this issue the demand for energy will only increase daily.

ProblemTraffic lights and stop signs everywhere are

currently stopping vehicles when there is no one else at the intersection

Stopping needlessly not only wastes time, as some people may think, it also waste 387,000 barrels of oil each day

ProjectTimed traffic light in rural town of

Millersburg, KY causes undue waste in energy and time

The population was 842 at the 2000 census. This community has one timed traffic light on US 68,  a busy route between Northern Kentucky and Lexington with a daily average of ~7000 vehicles

Proposed solutionsLights that sense approaching traffic via

weight or proximity sensorTime lights during rush hour, flashing yellow

and red during non-peak hours

Selection of Best Solution

Due to the limited funds of Millersburg. The best solution is to hold a town meeting and present the data collected. Ask the town council to try out doing away with the light altogether and installing flashing caution lights for major thoroughfares and flashing red lights for minor thoroughfares at intersection. Next option is to install weight sensors at intersection to control light. This option will be more expensive.

ImpactUse the Millersburg example on a nationwide

effort to reduce the waste of energy at intersections with timed traffic lights