Green Vibrations
You’ve probably experienced the bouncing sensation when a car passes, as you
walk in a multistoried parking structure. Or the phenomenon of the floor
vibrating beneath your feet on the upper levels of a crowded mall during the
holidays. A mini earthquake from thousands of feet traversing the walkways.
Structures are designed to accommodate this motion, which structural engineers
call “dynamic load”.
An architectural firm in London has announced plans to capture this foot energy
and convert it into electricity. They propose to build an energy harvesting
staircase with small hydraulic generators embedded in the floor of a London
subway. Each footstep is estimated to generate 3 – 5 watts of power. Multiply
that by hundreds of thousands of footsteps per day, and you could light an
entire high rise building.
Project like this and the one in New York in which two ingenious women are
harvesting the energy produced by people operated revolving doors are examples
of a growing enterprise, harnessing energy from the natural activities of
humans.
Imagine a greener future where every step you take is helping your planet.
Good Vibrations!
Tags: architectural firm, car, dynamic load, earthquake, electric, electrical, electricity, electrics, energy, engineers, estimates, floors, footstep, footsteps, generators, green, har, harnessing energy, high rise building, hundreds of thousands, ingenious women, lights, london subway, natural, nature, parking structure, phenomenon, power, revolving doors, sensation, staircase, structural engineers, vibration, walkways, watts
July 24th, 2008 at 8:56 am
News like this makes me so happy. THanks for sharing it. I get exhausted by all the negativity, and I truly believe that we are creative enough to overcome our problems — this post proves my gut instinct right.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hi Linda,
This is innovative and wonderful news!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Hi Blisschick … There are some very creative folks out there and sooner or later they are surfacing!
Hi Barbara … Something new all the time!
July 24th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Oh wow…that will be wonderful! Yes, whenever when I am at a mall, I sometimes feel the vibration. It would be really nice to convert that vibrations into electricity.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Grrr
I thought of this idea ages ago
Instead of using escalators, how about pavements. Even better the technology would be best suited for roads.
No doubt we won’t see any speedy route to market for this technology, unless the governments manage to introduce a wheel tax. Every time you drive on an energy harvesting road, you have to pay a levy for each wheel on your vehicle.
After all, perish the thought of free energy. How would the corporate fat cats manage without their trillions from exploiting the masses.
Regards
SolReka
Brighter Energy Solutions
July 24th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
This is so good Linda! There sure are some clever people out there!
July 24th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Hi Jenn … It is cool is it not?
Hi SolReka … I know, or feet! I believe that is why we as citizens cannot get our hands of some of this technology due to the expense. It drives me nuts!
Hi Leanne … Yes! there are many folks out there with incredible ideas that either cannot get a patent or someone is blocking them. But the internet is here and there is lot of exposure for them.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Amazing! People are so creative when they want to be!
July 25th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Hey Linda!
Just a quick hop into Green-land to say, “Hi!”
Haven’t forgotten you, just haven’t been on the computer much this week.
But I now have a new driveway and sidewalks, I’m painting “The Room,” and my millwork is being delivered today.
Just scanned you post and will return for a more in depth read later. Sounds interesting.
Hope all’s well with you, Friend!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Hi Brad … that is just wonderful that you have almost all of that done! Been missin ya and glad that your project is at most complete! Come back when you have more time!
July 26th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Hi Linda,
That would make us all want to walk more. How cool is that? Lose weight and “make” energy. Could that be the next diet fad?
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Free ‘n Easy Friday Finds – Blog Protection
July 26th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Hi Barbara … Why NOT! it would be different and unique!