The most innovative alternative energy production methods might not be solar panels or windmills, but technology that takes advantage of processes already in motion – a practice that’s been in place for generations, but is currently experiencing a surge of interest and innovation.
A recent article on WTOP discusses how the Georgetown Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., is using power-generating speed bumps on its drive. Arriving guests drive over the small “rumble strips” that capture and convert their motion to electricity the hotel can use.
The system at the hotel is just a prototype, though several businesses are eager to see if they too can harness energy from such a source.
Another experimental program is underway in the San Francisco bay area, where restaurants are recycling food waste and leftovers, which generates methane gas as it decomposes — methane that is then captured and used to generate electricity. More information is posted on ENR’s website.