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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."
As well as no free energy.
Humans can't power much continuously. At full tilt on an efficient machine a PRO biker can light a 100 watt bulb. The average luser working out, not worth the bother.
All the equipment, moving parts, maintained, used to capture human power won't reach the point of break even on any of this stuff. (If you pay your maintenance guy at least.)
They'd be better off CLOSING the stinking gyms and making people work out outside and not DRIVE there than capturing that power.
Green is not complicated, often, it is SIMPLE.
Using humans to generate electricity is not a green source. Humans generate methane, a green house gas, from their fuel (food).
...Obviously you'd have to get up and walk around, but, as they say, it's the thought that counts."GREAT ! If it's the thought that counts why do I have to get up and walk around??..I could only imagine that I'm walking around and watch those batteries juice up....
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you and to hear the lamentations of their women.
I'm pretty sure my feet are producing harmful emissions right now...
This sounds as practical as trying to harness the 'incredible power' of our stomach acid for energy generation. I'm sure we could power a lot of lightbulbs in a lot of ways - but I think there are better options than relying on extracted energy from human movement. It's like relying on whale and pig fat as a major power source - it just doesn't scale past a small market segment.
What we want is to use something more scalable, like algae-based oils, using arid and other unfarmable land, and not using fresh water sources for production. That, plus increases in solar power efficiency are much more direct ways of gathering usable energy, which could scale far beyond our current needs in a sustainable way. That way, we raise the standard of living of people by increasing energy production, rather than make them stick battery chargers on their feet.
Ultimately, food and fresh water will be bigger concerns going forward - and I don't think we'll be able to grow sustainable crops in our shoes with any toys either.
Ryan Fenton
Most western and industrialized nations people need all the extra exercise they can get. (I said most, not all, some people actually stay in shape, most do not, go ahead, look around you) I think the artificial urban power sucking islands could use around a few million of these generators, help to walk off some of that lard and get some practical benefit from it. I already see those ridiculous belching buses that they praise as mass transit stopping every couple hundred of feet. Egads people can't even walk beyond that? Then they go sit on their asses all day long at some office. Jeebus, how wuss can you get? "OMG it feels like walking on sand! I might get the swooning vapors!"
Getting all nerded up and talking about "there is no free energy" only covers it partly, specificly the bad part.
In 'reality' though there are certain bonusses to a soft walking surface.
1. You get more traction and reduce slipping of feet (which is a problem on hard surfaces with grains of sand on it).
2. Damage from falling is reduced.
3. A soft surface is easier on the joints, which is important for everyone, though especially elderly and disabled people.
Try finding one of those new fancy playgrounds with a semi-soft rubbery-like surface and walk on it. Much more comfortable to walk on compared to concrete.
If you quote this signature there'll be 72 copies of Windows ME waiting for you in Heaven.
Take a door in a public place. There's a hydraulic mechanism to make sure it doesn't slam shut. There's a bit of a resistance when you open a door. Think of how many times doors in public places open & close on a given day. Sure, it may not be much per 1 door open/shut, but imagine a shopping mall or office with hundreds of doors.
Take the hydraulic damper and turn it into a generator. Chain together all the doors and have it provide power peak power hours(when the public will be using them). Make them compatible(ie mount-wise) with existing dampers & retrofit them everywhere.
Slap a generator on those revolving doors too. Imagine the power it could make in a busy downtown area.
Dang, I should patent this before.........