A U.K. startup called Pavegen has invented a way to generate renewable energy from people’s footsteps. 

Stepping onto a Pavegen tile just one time releases 5 watts of electric charge, which is enough to power a light bulb for 20 seconds. 

These tiles use something called the piezoelectric effect, which is when certain materials release an electric charge when they are compressed. Copper coils and magnets then help to create a charge through induction. 

It’s one example of how kinetic energy can be harnessed to produce cleaner, cheaper electricity, on top of other renewable sources like hydro, wind, solar and nuclear. 

The company says that Pavegen tiles could be a more practical solution for generating energy than wind or solar power, because there is tons of space available in cities to lay the tiles and millions of people to walk on them. 

Pavegen tiles can be placed wherever there is floor space, be that indoors or on a city street. 

The floor tiles are also not weather- or daylight-dependent, and they can guarantee a consistent source of foot traffic in busy urban areas, like airports, bus stops, schools, clothing stores, or venues.

The company has fused its groundbreaking tech with data collection, which it uses to help incentivize and reward the walkers who have generated electricity. 

Keep reading on thecooldown.com

• 
•