The Human Body is a Source of Energy
Posted on October 25th, 2011 in Celliant Blog, Human Energy, Symposium.
What if the energy our body gives off simply by doing everyday activities could be captured and put to use? Does that sound like an idea from the future? It’s not. Allow us to explain.
Around the world, scientists are finding innovative ways to harness human energy and apply it to other activities. We often think about the need to fuel our bodies; now, it’s time to start thinking about our bodies as the source of the fuel.
When we move, interesting things occur from an energy standpoint. Actually, even when we’re stationary, fascinating things are happening. While resting, the average human emits between 50 and 100 joules per second (1 joule/sec = 1 watt). Where does all that energy go? Mostly, it is lost. What about the kinetic energy we release when we move? It’s also usually lost. However, scientists are out to revolutionize how we view and use this energy. The energy released by the human body (whether it is kinetic, infrared, electromagnetic, etc.) can be captured and harnessed. It is already being put to use to power lights, to heat buildings, and to better power the body itself. Here’s the proof:
Photo by ctsnow
In Japan, one subway in Tokyo uses a special floor to capture riders’ human mechanical energy to power ticket gates, electronic lighting and display systems. When riders step on the piezoelectric flooring, the pressure on the floor produces a charge. This charge is captured and converted to electricity by the piezo materials, usually made of crystals or ceramics. All of these charges are sent to a power storage unit.
Photo by Daan Roosegaarde
At nightclubs in London and Rotterdam, similar technology captures revelers’ moves via its dance floor so the more you move, the more energy is created. Piezoelectric technology now converts dancers’ enthusiasm into electrical energy! Meanwhile Toulouse, France is creating power from all the people pounding the pavement by installing the technology in its sidewalks.
Energy from movement can be captured in other ways. For example, one hotel in Copenhagen actually pays its guests to exercise. When guests bike for 15 minutes at the hotel gym, they are awarded a free meal voucher because they just helped power the hotel’s generator.
Photo by Wrote
What’s more, a train station in Stockholm has figured out how to capture human energy without even requiring you to move. Body heat from passengers is used to heat another building via a system of pipes and water. Although none of the riders are getting a free lunch for their “non”-efforts, they are powering a building that is located 100 meters across the street!
At Celliant, these are the kinds of stories that inspire us. The human body is a powerful tool and we believe that harnessing your body’s energy is the future. Celliant is a revolutionary technology that captures, recycles and harnesses your body’s energy to help energize and empower your body. Minerals in Celliant fabric alter the wavelength of the energy released by the body so that your muscle tissue can absorb it. This has been clinically shown to increase circulation, to improve tissue oxygenation, and to help balance body temperature. These benefits result in faster healing and muscle recovery, improved sleep quality, enhanced athletic performance, and overall well-being.
Why not maximize the potential of the energy you release by wearing Celliant clothes while on a piezoelectric dance floor, riding a stationary bicycle connected to the power grid? Alright, that may not be convenient, but you get the point.
We would like to dedicate this blog to the exploration of the ways in which we view the body’s own energy and how it can be captured and put to new uses. The body as a source of energy will serve as the theme of a 2013 symposium that we are organizing. We are very excited about this event and are looking for other enthusiastic individuals and groups who would like to be involved. Please get in touch with us if you would like to be a part of the symposium, and we look forward to exploring this topic with you.
8 Responses to “The Human Body is a Source of Energy”
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Interesting, but what is the cost? Piezo-electric crystals don’t grow on trees. What is the cost of that floor and what is the return compared to more conventional energy sources? Harnessing the energy of the human body has very valid uses, but I’m not sure it’s worth it for a lot of the areas highlighted in the article. Right now, the energy being “lost” is heat from the chemical activity of our bodies or from the pressure generated in moving ourselves. None of this is free. It all comes from the food we eat, and it isn’t all recoverable. The Second Law of Thermodynamics says you can’t ever reach 100% efficiency (you can’t win, you can’t break even and you can’t quit). So what fraction of this energy is actually recoverable and at what costs? I’m only asking because some one is going to want to reach into my pocket and have me pay those costs. I want efficiency, and until these things pay for themselves, they are only interesting toys. BTW, human energy is what powered The Matrix.
Great points! Companies working on this kind of technology are definitely still working to improve cost-efficiency. But similar to solar, I think what really makes some of these uses cost-effective is that it’s a one-time investment for materials that provide continuing returns from “free” inputs (you’re right that it’s not free in a thermodynamic sense, but it is in the sense that these inputs like body heat and kinetic energy are already there, they’re just not being used!).
Love having knowledgeable folks like you commenting. What’s your background?
David – Celliant Social Media Team
FABULOUS! I especially like the “one hotel in Copenhagen actually pays its guests to exercise. When guests bike for 15 minutes at the hotel gym, they are awarded a free meal voucher because they just helped power the hotel’s generator” Makes me want to install a gym in our chateau in the Loire! And a disco!
Marnie, thanks for checking out our blog and being one of our first to comment. We’re excited to hear that you were inspired by the Copenhagen hotel. If you ever install a gym in your chateau, we’d love to see some pictures. Have you had the chance to try Celliant technology? Please be sure to check out some Celliant fan pics and reviews on our Facebook page! http://facebook.com/celliant
David – Celliant Social Media Team
Very interesting article. Lets hope everything doesn’t go all Matrix on us and lead the harvesting of humans and their bio electrical energy and body heat
Thnx for sharing
Doug Belleville
Thanks for reading Doug! Was there anything in particular that you found especially exciting? About the Matrix…you never know…it may already be happening… j/k
David – Celliant Social Media Team
Can this energy be stored? The clothes that you are developing can it store energy? It would be nice if we could make energy while we are working/walking/running ect…then bring that energy home and convert it into a generator we have at home that is getting energy from our floors we walk on plus solar power. Am I thinking to far ahead? This is very interesting and exciting to me!
Hi Ray,
Thanks for dropping by our page and we’re glad to hear you’re excited about the potential of Celliant. The purpose of our blog is to get people thinking about our exciting product, Celliant. We hope our blog fosters engaging discussions and generates interesting questions, such as the one you have brought to our attention. Your question is thought-provoking and is exactly the kind of science we are investigating in our labs. Once again, thank you for your interest and we invite you to return you our blog as we post new content on a regular basis.
David & the Celliant Social Media Team