These boots were made for walking, but were these boots made for creating kinetic energy? You see, our feet create energy just about every time we take a step. The sad part is, however, this energy gets released into the ether never to be heard from again. Human beings don’t like to hang out in hamster wheels, after all. If only there was a way to harness the power of our footsteps and use it to power normal, every day things. That’d be something. That’d be something indeed.
A company called Pavegen Systems has been working on something to do just that. Developed by Laurence Kemball-Cook, the Pavegen system converts kinetic energy from footsteps into usable electrical energy. It doesn’t require any direct action from anyone. It only requires their passive footprints, which they’d be giving any way. It’s this kind of “don’t have to do anything different” portion of the idea that makes it so unique and potentially groundbreaking.
The company envisions the system as a way to power everything from street lights, to advertising signage. For now, however, they have yet to see their dream realized. The Pavegen system is just a working concept for now and, as such, is not lining the sidewalks of any major cities. All in due time, however. It’s an idea whose time has long come. What else are we doing with those footsteps of ours? We may as well use them for energy. I call dibs on the foot-powered hot tub!
