Sustainability At The London Olympics

Pavegen Tiles Turn Footsteps Into Electricity

Pedestrians power round-the-clock lighting on a walkway at West Ham tube station, a key access point for London 2012 Olympic venues.

By: Kelsey Perry

7/27/2012

Pavegen, a UK paver company is turning pedestrian traffic into electricity by harvesting the energy from footsteps.

Pavegen tiles capture the kinetic energy created by footstep for immediate or future use. The pavers are currently being used at the West Ham tube station in London and this transportation hot spot is estimated to receive a million visitors during this year’s Olympic Games.You can see a live feed of the energy created from the 12 tiles here.

The tiles are set to make their largest commercial debut in September inside the Westfield Stratford City shopping center in London. The shopping center is estimated to have 30 million visitors in its first year.

The pavers contract slightly when pressure is applied from a footstep and this miniscule movement – about five millimeters – is enough to produce five to seven joules of energy, generating five to seven watts of electricity from the average step. When the paver is stepped on, .5 percent of the electricity created goes to automatically illuminating the tile’s central light and the rest is stored in the on-board battery for future use for things like lighting, sound and advertising signage.

The slabs were created by Pavegen founder Laurence Kemball-Cook in 2009. The 26-year-old engineer developed the prototype during his senior year at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, UK.

The tile’s surface is made completely of recycled rubber and the base of the paver is construction from 80 percent recycled materials. The pavers are made to withstand a large amount of footfall and are also waterproof.

A Cycle of Mutual Respect and Caring

After a long absence, we are back at it! *Crossfingers!*

Unfortunately, on June 29th, we were hard-hit by the derecho that came sweeping through Ohio, leveling our century barn, taking the top of our home as well as quite a bit of water damage in the lower level.

Hard to fathom that this barn, that once stood so tall and weathered so many storms, was reduced to such a compact pile of wood and metal.

All of these things were remedied with hammers, nails, saws, heavy equipment and so on. The worse loss imaginable was that of our beloved trees.

Four of these were 100+ year old Cedars. I'll never forget the fragrance around here on that day, or the weeks following their demise.


One in particular, was a cherished Burr Oak which was estimated to be around 400 years old. I can't help but think that this majestic tree, once in its infancy, sprouted forth from the earth and discovered life in a soil that was rich and undisturbed by man's chemical additives. And as it grew to great height, was standing and thriving as witness while the Sandusky Plains were being transformed.

It stood tall through nature's tests of wind, hail and even the fires that swept through these Plains. It was there providing shade, shelter from the wind, wood for warmth, and even sustanance from the meat of its fruit, the mighty acorn, to the Wyandot Indian tribe who roamed this part of the earth and eventually settled here in this abundant and fertile region.

I realize that a lot of you may not have this connection or appreciation of something that we see everyday and take for granted. So you can call me a "tree hugger", a "hippie", an "environmentalist activist", whatever label you'd like to pin on me, I'm good with it. All I ask is that you just take a few minutes, look outside (better yet, GO outside!) and begin your own appreciation of what we've been given.

Secondly, I would ask that you give serious consideration to what type of changes you can make in your lives everyday that will alleviate the impact on our natural resources. The earth gives back to us just as good as we give. A cycle of mutual respect and caring. Make it a goal to place a higher value on its well-being. You are the ones who will ultimately benefit.

**Side Note**

Our goal in the coming months is to repurpose the wood that we are able to salvage from the barn for use in our home. Not only will we have things that will be functional and long-lasting, but we will be contributing by skipping manufacturing processes, transport emissions, and wastes associated with the purchase of new furnishings, structural supports, art, etc. And no, our plan does not hurt any "economical structure". The laborers and artisans performing these tasks for us will be paid a fair and decent wage. That is all. Jumping down off my soapbox now! Have a great and blessed day! :)