A challenging proposal by Battle McCarthy, has recently been selected by the University College of London for funding under it’s EngD in Urban Sustainability & Resilence programme.
The proposal entitled “The Human Office” initiative will seek to analyse the practical and commercial opportunities for harnessing ‘human’ energy to power electrical devices within the modern office environment.
The research will be carried out by UCL with Battle McCarthy acting as it’s industrial partner.
Context:
In 1992, the UK signed the Kyoto protocol committing it and other nations to cut emission of various greenhouse gases, especially CO2. London consumes more energy than the whole of Ireland. For London to make a difference, it must not only save energy, but also produce it from renewable sources. Taking the lead from national targets, London has set its own target in the London Plan which should lead to a reduction in London’s CO2 emissions by 23% by 2016.
Though there are many renewable energy systems available to the building services engineer, many of these systems require an investment into sourcing, and/or producing biomass sourced fuels in one form or another. Solar, hydro, wind and wave derived energy being one of the few exceptions where the ‘fuel’ source is readily available for conversion into useful energy.
Notwithstanding the above, the primary focus of this research would be to carry out an in-depth review and analysis into another form of ‘un-tapped’ energy that can potentially be harnessed from the metabolic energy contained within all of us, i.e. ‘Human Energy’.
There are many examples of technologies that can harness and convert the metabolic energy produced by human beings into other forms of energy. Many of these technologies rely on the conversion of kinetic or mechanical energy into electrical energy using, transducers or dynamos. Used in combination with super-capacitors or batteries, this energy can be stored for later use.
Aims:
To reduce the reliance on grid sourced, fossil fuel dependant, energy to power to modern commercial buildings by substituting it with energy derived from ‘human’ activities within and around the building(s).
To identify and develop appropriate technologies to harness, convert, store and distribute the metabolic energy of human beings to power modern commercial buildings, e.g. piezoelectric materials, pedal driven generators, heel-strike generators, revolving doors, sliding windows and doors, etc.
To analyse the potential energy yields from the different types of systems and processes that have been identified.
Method:
The project will use a combination of quantitative and qualitative research techniques to develop an integrated building solution to harness, convert, store and distribute energy derived from ‘human’ activity.
Outcomes:
To develop ‘human powered’ energy systems that offer good efficiencies, cost effectiveness, reliability and resilience.
Through Battle McCarthy’s experience and contacts, we will jointly be able to promote this research within the industry from a local and global front, and encourage its implementation as part of overall sustainable engineering solution.
