When I came to New york I was convinced that the best form of harvesting energy was in concentrated energy plants. Distributive energy sounded to unstructured and less efficient. However after working with Natalie I realised that there was real potential in New York to create a system that not only would not only reach New York’s energy needs but also reduce the cities carbon foot print. What I am talking about is renewable and distributive energy.
Over the brief period of time I spent here I learnt about all the potential available technology had to offer. In terms of renewable energy there were countless opportunities. Natalie showed me a project that she was working on called the elevator project. Elevators would launch up through the roof in a secured space and then the gravitational potential energy at the top of the rotation could then be harvested while the elevator was falling. In addition the change in temperature as the elevator rises and falls can be used as a form of air conditioning the number one form of power consumption in buildings. Solar Plates could also be installed on the elevator to provide even more energy.
The next project I was shown was the no park zone. The idea was to create an area around the fire hydrants that was an Estuary ecosystem. These ecosystems are the most productive in terms of biomass and photosynthesis. Biomass could then be harvested. When I first heard this I thought the idea was a little crazy. There where a number of problems with the concept you are not allowed to park near the fire hydrants and wouldn’t putting plants there mean the the fire hydrants would be cutoff in the emergency of a fire. Also how could pedestrians cross and why is it necessary. It was then explained to me that this estuary ecosystem was composed of shrubs further more fire hydrants are used so rarely that in the case of a fire the area can be destroyed and the ecosystem can be restored and producing energy long before the hydrant would be used again. To solve the pedestrian issue the use of cheap move able metal bridges could be used Bikers and pedestrians could walk over these bridges passing the no park zones with ease also it would make walking and biking more interesting.
The third project that I learnt about was the hydro electric alternative. Turbines could be installed within the pipelines in New York as water is also flowing in these systems the it can be concluded that this would be a very effective source of energy. In addition large turbines could be installed in the storm water drains so that in the wet season even more energy could be harvested.
