DISQUS

VentureBeat: Energy-generating pavement: An untapped renewable?

  • Brian · 3 weeks ago
    You say that the pavement produces "2.1 watt of electricity per hour". That doesn't make much sense a watt is already a rate (joule/second). So what is the actual output? Is it 2.1 watt-hours or what? Thanks!
  • Camille Ricketts · 3 weeks ago
    You're right. This was misstated in the post. 2.1 watt-hours is the correct notation.
  • Ben Kuo · 3 weeks ago
    This is great--except in the U.S., no one walks anywhere. (with exception to high density cities like New York and Boston).
  • AH · 3 weeks ago
    2.1 Watts is not very much for anything practical. But it is plenty for lighting up bright LEDs. Maybe they could have an entire section of the pavement set up as tiny individual colored LED lights. Everywhere a person stepped, an LED immediately below their foot would brighten up. As more pedestrians walked by, you would see a cacaphony of lights. Much like fireflies in the summer, except in color, on the ground. Could make that spot very popular to walk on. Neighboring businesses might enjoy the increased foot traffic.
  • pee wee · 3 weeks ago
    what about turbines in urinals- you pee into a turbine which generates electricity that activates the blow drier after you was your hand
  • jdanner · 3 weeks ago
    this seems dumb, but roads that collect solar energy would be interesting
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