Energy-Generating Pavement Hits The Streets In London

Inhabitat.com:

Any one point on a busy street can receive up to 50,000 steps a day, so imagine if you could take all that foot traffic and turn it into something useful -- like energy! A new product designed by Laurence Kemball-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems Ltd., can do just that.

Read the whole story: Inhabitat.com

Comments

[lightningbolt]

Every city should get these things. All busy sidewalks should be totally covered with them. The energy savings would be enormous.

[NWBrunette]

Wouldn't it be great to have a version with Cheney's face on it? Just think of the extra energy output.

[lightningbolt]

People would break it.

[clearpepsi]

geezzz very cool stuff, I hope it catchs on and can be used widely.... like the...ummm.. ummm ok there is no product that has really caught on that saves energy...

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

...and that energy is powering a talking, waving Ronald McDonald.

[LaceSky]

It would be ironic if energy generating pavement could be applied to freeways and car wheels would do the work of feet.

[Dnietz]

physics wise [someone needs to correct me] i think this pavement slightly reduces the efficiency of what travels on top of it.

it is no big deal for humans, because we all could use that extra 2% (or whatever) of excercise we get.

but with cars it would be counterproductive, since we are trying to get the most efficient cars possible.

[justins79]

The place to deploy something like this would be at toll stops. Energy efficiency isn't a problem at stops; only for sustaining speed or getting up to speed. This would be perfect for applications where the vehicles are coming to a stop.

[lordjin]

In America, if we could harness the kinetic energy of every elbow that bends to feed a pie-hole with food or beer, the applications could be limitless.

[Dnietz]

how about the energy given off in heat waves whenever a tea bagger gathering is shown a picture of a dark skinned person?

[observer007]

Or the amount of heat given of by right wingers whenever they are asked something other than "what to you want to say"?

We could also reflect on Morpheus' speech to Neo in "The Matrix" and say that in London they are taking the first step. (Pun intended)

[john9652]

This is fascinating and very cool. Humans are capable of so much ingenuity.

[Elbrando]

Bloody brilliant. We should get that in places like New York, Chicago and other major metropolitan areas. Imagine if there were whole trails of this for runners that would actually generate electricity for the gyms they use.

[coco51]

when does this come to the 95?