Washington, May 25 (ANI): This summer shoppers at one of the largest malls in Europe, the Westfield Stratford City shopping center in east London, will be generating more than just revenue for the stores.
Visitors will also be creating power by walking over specially designed floor tiles.
A London-based company, called Pavegen Systems, has developed a green energy technology, which harnesses the power of the pedestrian.
The technology consists of a rubber tile, 17.7-by-23.6-inches (45 x 60 centimeters) in size. When stepped on, the tile bends slightly, around 5 millimeters (only one fifth of an inch), harvesting the kinetic energy generated by the footstep and converting it into usable electricity at a rate of about 7 watts per footstep.
At that rate, it takes only five tiles to power a small storefront, or light up the streetlamps on a relatively busy street, according to the Laurence Kemball-Cook, the company's CEO.
According to Kemball-Cook the tiles are "200 times more efficient than any other form of other energy harvesting technology."
In addition, they're non-invasive, that is if desired, they can be made to blend in completely with the surrounding street.
Because it comes from people as opposed to fossil fuels, the energy is eco-friendly, leaving behind little to no negative effect on the planet. Even the tiles themselves are recycled, coming primarily from old truck tires which have been refitted for the purpose.
"We're taking tires off the road and putting them back on the road," Kemball-Cook told ABC News. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
