Bumping Your Way into Power Generation
It looks like a speed bump, it feels like a speed bump, well it is a speed bump but it is harnessing the kinetic energy of your car to create a power source that can supply near by buildings or traffic lights. Instead of being just a plan ol' speed bump new technology can now store energy that would have just gone to waste. When cars go over the panel the bouncing moves cogs when then turns a motor that produces energy for other uses. These panels can be raised and used as speed bumps or just built into the road where a driver would not even realize they are passing over them.
The United Kingdoms has been a leader in developing and adopting this technology. Each panel could save a transportation department or mall around $43,000 a year on an energy bill which is close to cost of initially installing the system. The technology can also be used in sidewalks or night clubs. The Netherlands have demonstrated these uses by powering concerts with energy from people dancing.
It cost one million pounds for the Hughes Research unit at the Westland Helicopter Base in Somerset to develop the technology. This investment could be made up very quickly as the sale of less then 40 panels would compensate for the cost.
This project demonstrates just one innovated idea that could be added to an energy system as we strive to build a structure that is mostly green. The adoption of green technology is centered on governmental policies and amount of investment that can be sparred to adopt these technologies. As seen by the energy speed bumps we can incorporate green technologies seamlessly into our general lives.
The center will also discuss the leading ideas that Danish have development as the Friis Arne Petersen, the Ambassador to United State will present on world climate and energy policies on October 1st from 1:30 - 2:30.
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