Kobe City: Demonstration test of a hot bench will be conducted! ~ Flower Clock

Press Release (February 15, 2024)
Technical Management Division, Construction Bureau
The Kobe City Construction Bureau has been conducting research on cool benches together with Kobe City College of Technology (hereafter, Kobe National College of Technology) as part of measures against heat in outdoor public spaces such as roads and parks during the summer. Last summer, a demonstration test was conducted using a combination of roadside solar power generation and cool benches.
Last summer, we conducted a demonstration test of a cool bench combined with roadside solar power generation.

Test period

Friday, February 16, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to mid-March, about 4 weeks (tentative)
* After the completion of the test, the photovoltaic system will be moved to Isogami Park and installed together with the new cool bench that is currently under construction.

Installation location

6-1 Kano-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe In front of Flower Clock and Children’s Library (on the south side of Higashi Yuenchi)

Technical Information

The Cool Bench cools the seat surface by utilizing the property of a Peltier element (thermoelectric element), a type of semiconductor, to transfer heat from one side of the element to the other when a direct current is applied. So far, demonstration tests have been conducted at Higashi Yuenchi Park, Oji Zoo, and in front of Sannomiya Station.
The hot bench uses the same mechanism to heat the seat surface by changing the direction of the electric current. Since it is more difficult to control the temperature than the cool bench, Kobe National College of Technology and Hayami Electric Industry have cooperated in research and improvement to ensure safe use.
For inquiries regarding technical information, please contact:
●Kobe City National College of Technology (078-795-3311)
●Hayamizu Electric Industry Co.