Latest "Green" Power Generation — Your Feet

gbjbaanb writes "Remember those ideas that suggested hooking gym machines to the power grid? Well, the Times is reporting that something like this to harness free energy is about to become a reality — the footfall of trudging shoppers is to become the latest source of emission-free energy. 'Engineers who have modelled the effects of the technology at Victoria Underground station in central London have calculated that the 34,000 travellers passing through every hour could power 6,500 lightbulbs. ... The plans for heel-strike generation follow successful trials last year at a bridge in the Midlands where generators converted energy from trains passing above into electricity powering a flood detector.' Possibly the most important thing for the readership is at the end: 'There could also be a range of domestic uses, for example powering iPods by plugging them into batteries placed in the owners' heels, using technology which is already available.' Obviously you'd have to get up and walk around, but, as they say, it's the thought that counts."

Comments

My feet are always green energy

[LM741N]

Thats because I made a conscious choice to live in the city. I can walk to almost anywhere I need to, and on those rare occasions that I can't, there is always the bus. Plus I get the additional benefit of lowered chance of cardiovascular disease and others so I'm not going to weigh down the health system like the lazy people out in the suburbs. They drive everywhere with their gigantic SUV's, polluting the environment and turning into big lumps of fat.