Streetlights Powered by Footsteps

The newest way to generate light while conserving energy may just tire you out. Why? Light is now being powered by energy generated from your footsteps.

Some street lights in Las Vegas and in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. are using the high volume of pedestrian traffic to generate kinetic energy. This energy is conducted through the custom pavement tiles and stored until nightfall when it is then routed to the lights. There are also solar panels in place to ensure that there is still energy available when foot traffic is slow.

Every time you step on one of these tiles you are contributing in producing the 2.1 watts of electricity per hour the tiles can achieve. These street lights not only produce free energy, they also contain Wi-Fi hotspots and charging stations.

There are currently more than 300 million street lights around the world. Not only do they cost over 10 billion dollars in energy, they are responsible for releasing more than 100 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.

The tiles used in this system are made from virtually 100% recycled materials and can be retrofitted to existing structures.

These new lights are also scheduled to be installed in Philadelphia, St. Louis and even Oman.

Sources used:

inhabitat.com/worlds-first-streetlights-powered-by-footsteps-installed-in-las-vegas/; luxreview.com/article/2016/11/meet-the-streetlights-that-are-powered-by-footsteps?;

newatlas.com/pavegen-tiles-kinetic-energy-harvesting/20235/;

www.dailymail.co.uk/travel_news/article-3927264/Now-s-bright-idea-Street-lights-powered-FOOTSTEPS-make-world-debut-Las-Vegas.html; www.ledjournal.com/main/blogs/new-2016-energy-code-impact-on-commercial-led-retrofits/