new ways to harness energy

@ruperto (1552)
Philippines
January 2, 2009 1:14am CST
we've heard of solar panels and turbines (wind, hydro)... it is interesting that, facing the new needs of the times, there are prototypes of new ways to harness wind, solar, sea wave and even human energy. http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/30814 shows a knee-strapped device that generates small amount of power for portable devices. other ideas found on the internet include: - vehicle braking system that generates electricity from what used to dissipate as heat - a prototype of what looks like a mirrored skark tail as a mechanical drive to harness energy from sea-bed water current. - stationary bike or treadmill with a high efficiency generator. Perhaps one day, there will be more technology within reach of empoverished people so they can cogenerate power and earn income ... any comments?
2 responses
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
2 Jan 09
There has been a lot of things we could have done for several years and some have but the big oil companies won't allow anything like that to be mass produced. Wave energy is a vast untapped source of energy that could put the oil companies out of business. Steam generation with solar energy is another. The best thing that could happen to the people is for the oil companies to run out of oil to sell.
1 person likes this
@Kofficup (150)
• Philippines
3 Jan 09
interesting point. Perhaps there were considerations that prevented early shift into alternative energy. We probably need new leaders that can effect the fastest transitions?
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
3 Jan 09
We need new leaders that are not on the take from big oil interests. For years now the same large investors have controlled both the Auto makers and big oil. They control the kind of cars that can be built to protect their oil profits. A while back I threw together a simple device that will almost double the run time on any gasoline powered 4 stroke engine. If you can run your car for 15 minutes on a gallon of gasoline then using my setup you can then run it almost 30 minutes on the same amount of gasoline. The method I used has been around since WWI and I know I'm not the first one to use it on a gasoline engine. I haven't checked but there is probably a patent already issued on it. If I can do this then there is no doubt the car makers could do a lot better if they would. Art
• United States
2 Jan 09
Most of us talk so much, it would be great if we could harvest all that hot air! Maybe it would be just enough to power our pdas and ipods, but it would help. Maybe even some of the junk that comes out of our mouths would then have some real value!