(Pavegen, Fig. 1, 2012)
1.0 Abstract
1.1 Summary of Energy Harvesting Floor Systems
Technology has advanced vastly within recent years and it is difficult for the human to keep up to date with the many new innovative products on the market. As an Architectural Technologist I believe it is vital to have familiarity with all renewable energy sources to reduce the carbon footprint for future generations. On first thought, kinetic energy flooring would seem a great way to harvest free energy, whilst allowing the user to physically connect with the technology itself.
1.2 Personal Interest in the Subject
Within my previous company a pitch was put forward to bring existing unused London underlines to life again. The design involved refurbishing these specific lines into underground cyclist routes and footpaths, including shops and other amenities. The flooring was proposed to have Pavegen floor tiles to allow the public to create free energy when travelling, which would help power the lighting and electricity needed underground. The design proposal won an award presented by Boris Johnson. The project team then also pitched the design to the rest of the office which is where I became familiar with Pavegen as a company, which lead me to take a large interest in the technology and piezoelectric energy. (Marrero, 2015).
1.3 History of Energy Harvesting Floor Systems
Kinetic energy floor tiles have been around for some time, although yet to be vastly used as the technology hasn’t been feasible enough for clients to use. On first thought, this would seem to be due to the products payback periods exceeding their lifetimes. Pavegen was founded in 2009 by Laurence Kemball-Cook who at the time, was researching kinetic, off-grid energy solutions at Loughborough University. Since then Pavegen have made it their target to become the market leader in the footfall energy harvesting sector (Pavegen, http://pavegen.com/about, 2015). Other competitors are on the market although are yet to produce a product as efficient as Pavegen.
1.4 Achievements
Through researching energy harvesting flooring I intend to achieve findings on whether the technology can contribute to a reduction in energy costs as well as creating awareness of renewable energy to the public.
2.0 Review of Source Literature
2.1 Pre-Proposal Secondary Research
To begin my research I needed to locate sources of literature to help me understand the technology in more depth.
I found interesting news articles from both the BBC and CNN, which illustrated clearly what the technology has potential for and about Pavegens background as a company:
BBC: Energy harvesting: Lighting the office – by walking (Gregory, 2013).
CCN: Green sidewalk makes electricity — one footstep at a time (Webster, 2011).
Once I had read through articles posted by the BBC and CNN, I wanted to see how Pavegen as a company advertise themselves. I then went directly to their official website. This allowed me to understand the product further and gain an insight to how the product functions. As well as this I also managed to gain access to their portfolio which lists some projects I took interest into. (Portfolio, 2015). In the process of this I also contacted Pavegen requesting the company to send me technical data and drawings which would allow me to dig further into the products materials and components. (Pavegen, Installation Manual), (Pavegen, Installation Manual – Raised Floor).
After going through Pavegens website and documents, it was important for me to research elsewhere and to find unbiased materials to help create a discussion within my research project. “Modelling piezoelectric energy harvesting potential in an educational building” (Xiaofeng Li, 2014), was a useful article for me to understand previous research on piezoelectric energy.
2.2 Post-Proposal Secondary Research
I also intend to read the following documents and journals to help produce my research project:
British Petroleum:
It is important to research through the UK’s current energy usage to give a background of how vital renewable energy introduction is, (Petroleum, 2014). I intend to read through this data carefully in the hope that it will allow me to work out potential reductions of energy consumption via the use of energy harvesting floor systems.
EU Mayors:
Similarly to the document mentioned above, “The Emission Factors” (Mayors, 2015) will also aid me in producing data in energy consumption for my research.
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI):
A part of Pavegens unique make up is that the surface of the tiles are produced from 100% recycled vehicle tyres. This document is a great way for me to utilise this information to see how much Pavegen as a company are not only reducing the carbon footprint by producing renewable energy, but also by recycling materials, (ISRI, 2007).
The Engineer:
I would also like to research further into the man behind the beginning of Pavegen to find more history about the company and the product, as well as the floor energy harvesting sector in general. I hope to find some of this information in an interview with Laurence Kemball-Cook, (Harris, 2011).
CNET:
An article that I would like to read into further on why the author and potentially a number of its readers would think of the technology being a disadvantage, (Glaskowsky, 2007).
2.3. Primary Research
For my primary research I intend to visit the following case studies below, to gather a first-hand insight into the technology, documenting with my own personal photographs.
– Harrods (Portfolio, 2015).
– Kent Grammar School (Portfolio, 2015)Stratford, Olympic Park (Portfolio, 2015).
– Stratford, Westfield’s (Portfolio, 2015).
3.0 Research Project
3.1 Question and Aim
Question – Can the integration of Kinetic flooring contribute to a reduction in energy costs whilst raising awareness of renewable energy?
Aim – To investigate and compare different energy harvesting floor systems to determine whether the technology can meet the targets stated by the suppliers and whether the technology communicates highly enough with the public.
3.2 Objectives
To investigate and compare different products costs, including maintenance and installation fees.
To research into the products marketing to see if the public are being familiarised with the technologies capabilities.
To collect data on average footfall internally and externally on my site to produce a working survey showing payback periods.
3.3 Research Methods and Activities
Research Manufactures websites and contact if needed to find average prices of products. Delivery, installation and maintenance costs will also be added to this. I will then produce a chart to differentiate the products and state their comparisons.
Research manufactures marketing techniques and advertisements, as well as investigating previous projects and how they communicate with the public. I will then show evidence of this within my document explaining clearly how well advertised each product is, and how well it utilises its information to communicate with the public. I will then also look into new methods in which the floor energy harvesting sector could market and advertise their products to create further awareness around the globe.
To generate average foot fall traffic data internally and externally within my site via the use of collating existing data and working out averages, or via the use of a Autodesk Revit plug-in. I will then collect this data and produce a table clearly showing how much average footfall the kinetic floor tiles will receive a day, how much energy will be produced, and how long the payback period will be for the products.
4.0 Conclusion
To conclude my research proposal I believe that it will give myself and the readers a vast insight into how the technology works and how beneficial it can or can’t be to a client. As well as this I hope to conclude how well the technology is interpreted by the public eye, and how well-known it could potentially be within the future.
5.0 Bibliography
Glaskowsky, P. (2007). Human energy harvesting–a very silly idea. Human energy harvesting–a very silly idea, 0-2. Retrieved 11 03, 2015
Gregory, M. (2013, 07 16). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23281950. Retrieved 10 29, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk.
Harris, S. (2011, 11 14). http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/interviews/pavegen-founder-laurence-kemballcook/1010877.article. Retrieved 11 03, 2015, from theengineer.co.uk.
ISRI. (2007). Carbon Footprint OF USE Rubber Tire Recycling. Carbon Footprint OF USE Rubber Tire Recycling, 0-13. Retrieved 11 02, 2015
Marrero, L. (2015). Gensler Vision for Disused London Metro Lines Wins London Planning Award. Concept would offer London the first network of subterranean pedestrian and bike paths, powered by energy-generating Pavegen tiles., 0-1. Retrieved 03 22, 2015
Mayors, E. (2015). The Emission Factors. Technical annex to the SEAP template, 0-4. Retrieved 11 02, 2015
Pavegen. (2012, 10 03). Fig. 1. Pavegen powers Olympics transport hub from footsteps. Retrieved 11 02, 2015
Pavegen. (2015). http://pavegen.com/about. Retrieved 10 28, 2015, from http://pavegen.com.
Pavegen. (n.d.). Installation Manual. Product Specification Pavegen Mark 1.8, 0-22. Retrieved 10 30, 2015
Pavegen. (n.d.). Installation Manual – Raised Floor. Permanent Raised-Floor Installation. Retrieved 10 30, 2015
Petroleum, B. (2014). BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2014. 0-48. Retrieved 11 01, 2015
Portfolio, P. (2015). http://pavegen.com/projects. Retrieved 10 30, 2015, from http://www.pavegen.com.
Webster, G. (2011, October 13). http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/13/tech/innovation/pavegen-kinetic-pavements/. Retrieved 10 29, 2015, from editioncnn.com.
Xiaofeng Li, V. S. (2014). Modelling piezoelectric energy harvesting potential in an educational building. Energy Conversion and Management, 0-8. Retrieved 10 31, 2015
Tom Cannon 