Power for the People, Power by the People

What if you could produce the electricity for your television by playing Dance Dance Revolution? Or what if all it took to power city lights was the energy collected from the vibrations of the cars that drove down the street?

Scientists have been working on harvesting the energy we release in everyday activities (like walking or dancing) and converting the harvested energy into electricity through a phenomena called piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is created when certain minerals, like quartz or salt, are compressed and give off an electric charge.

The concept of piezoelectricity has been around a long time. It was first used for sonars during WWI, and has since been used in phonographs, lighters, quartz watches, and electric drum sets. Most recently, though, scientists have been trying to find ways to use the energy that people give off in everyday movements, like walking or dancing, and using piezoelectric equipment to harvest that energy to be converted into electricity.

The US Army developed a device to put in the soles of soldiers’ shoes so they could power their portable equipment as they walked, but its use was discontinued after numerous complaints that the device made walking difficult and uncomfortable. Many have speculated about the use of a piezoelectric floor that could offset energy costs in places with heavy foot traffic.

The concept has become a reality this year. Two clubs—Surya in London and Watt in Rotterdam—have installed piezoelectric dance floors to offset their electricity costs and to showcase the new technology. So when people are bouncing around on the floor, their energy is being converted into electricity to power the club. The technology is not yet efficient—the cost of installing the floor won’t ever be recouped in energy savings—but it is still experimental.

Other ideas for places that have the potential to benefit from the technology include fitness centers and crowded public spaces, like subway stations. Most experts doubt that the technology will become efficient enough to be a complete power source, but it may be effective when used in tandem with other green energy alternatives, such as wind and solar power.