Journal 4, June 7

Could roads be the new power plants?

A constant concern in people's minds is pollution and ways we, the public, can potentially avoid further pollution. This has led us to thinking "green" in everything we do. From bags you get at the grocery store to the close on your back, more and more companies are trying to shift their gears to being more "green" and eco-friendly.

The topic of carpooling is big in some people's lives. Some find it ridiculous that everyone thinks they have to drive places by themselves and don't think twice about carpooling. People in Israel have taken their approach to a whole other level. Scientists there are developing a road that would enable drivers to generate electricity by simply driving their cars down the street. There would be thousands of tiny crystal like objects in the asphalt called piezoelectric crystals. These crystals would produce up to or more than 640 kilowatts. Some say it could provide energy to power the cars driving above them or be put back into the city grid. In fact, some nightclubs in London already have dance floors that produce energy for the club by using peoples' movements and steps on the floor to generate power. Gyms in foreign countries are also using the same technique but with their treadmills and ellipticals to supply power to the gym itself.

I personally think these are all great ideas. The fact that we have developed something that allows people to continue on in their daily lives without changing their habits and, at the same time, produce enough energy to allow those same people to have the electricity to engage in those activities is amazing. Innovations like these are extremely efficient and beneficial for everybody. This is because not all people are as "green" as they should be, if at all, and by producing the capabilities to generate power while going through your everyday routine the possibilities of what is next to come are endless.

Article Used:
http://ccnmag.com/article/road_generating_electricity_from_moving_cars

Additional Reference:
http://www.greendaily.com/2009/01/05/roads-generate-electricity-from-passing-cars/