Energy Harvesting: Changing Your Life in Ways You Wouldn’t Imagine

Energy harvesting is taking on a whole new meaning. Set to charge everyday electronic devices —including our mobile phones, tablets, lights, and other reliable gadgets — alternative power sources are no longer just about using technologies such as solar or thermal energy harvesting. Instead, think sweat, dance floors, and just about any kind of motion. To get a glimpse of some of the most intriguing ways to harvest energy on the go, check out the list below. 

Power-walking backpack

Power-walking takes on an energizing new meaning with the development of the power-walking backpack. The bag, which looks like a frame-style backpack, converts the kinetic energy generated by the up-and-down movement of the wearer's body when walking. This handy device is perfect for exploring the great outdoors, as it generates a bit more than 7 watts, just enough power to simultaneously power an MP3 player, a handheld GPS, and even night-vision goggles.

An artist's drawing of an energy-harvesting backpack. Image via usatoday.com.

Power-generating knee brace

For those whose lives depend on portable power, the development of the electricity-generating knee brace can be the perfect on-the-go device. Capable of powering small electronic devices, this knee brace can create enough power to charge up to 10 mobile phones at once. All you have to do is strap the small generator to your knee and treat yourself to an enjoyable walk wherever you please. Just one minute of walking generates enough energy to power a mobile phone for half an hour. Even more impressive, this device also converts enough energy to power electronic prosthetic limbs.

The electricity generating knee brace can create enough power to charge up to 10 mobile phones at once. Image via greenerideal.com.

Solar-panel-equipped smartphones

While smartphones pretty much evolved into miniaturized, handheld computers, which is really quite amazing, most of us find that they don't last too long, even after a full charge (and that can take hours!). But the future looks promising: Some day soon, we may not need to carry our phone chargers on us or face being cut off by technology, since it looks like smartphones of the future will be equipped with tiny solar panels. A thin, transparent photovoltaic film can be placed over the phone's screen to draw energy from natural and artificial light, so getting through the day without worrying about your phone's dying battery will be a thing of the past.

In the future, our mobile phones may be powered by natural and artificial light. Image via fastcompany.com.

Workout-powered gym

The Green Microgym in Portland, OR, captures the energy produced from gym-goers to generate electricity for the entire building. No matter if you're cycling on a stationary bike or running on the treadmill, the energy that's harvested on the specially made exercise machines is pumped straight into the gym's electricity supply, cutting the gym owner's energy bills by 60%. This brilliant idea is beneficial for both people and the environment, and it wouldn't be surprising to see this healthy kind of energy harvesting become more common in the future.

The Green Microgym captures the energy of gym-goers to power the entire building. Image via greenupgrader.com.

People-powered dance floors

Dance floors across Europe, such as Club Watt in Rotterdam are using forms of kinetic energy called the piezoelectric effect to generate electricity. Since energy is created when people walk, jump and hop, scientists discovered a way to power electronic equipment through movement, and so came the invention of dance floors powered by frolicking feet. The floors are made of springs and power generating blocks, which create electricity when they're stepped on. The energy is saved into nearby batteries and is used to power up the entire nightclub.  

Rotterdam's Club Watt uses the energy of their dancing customers to power their nightclub. Image via sustainabledanceclub.com.

What are your opinions on these types of energy harvesting? Have any ideas? Let us know — leave a comment in the comments section below!

By Nicole DiGiose