Eco-Nightclubs Show the Power of Dance
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.20.08
Are you ready for it--the first eco-nightclub in the UK is about to hit town. While the idea of clubbing may seem alien to some, doing it environmentally might give new meaning to a night out that goes until 4 a.m. Where to start--at the door--no entry until you sign a pledge promising to work towards stopping climate change. Then free entry to those who can prove they got there by foot, bike or public transport. Once inside, organic drinks will be served in polycarbon cups and there will be recycled water in the lavatories.
Here's the very cool part: the dance floor will be capable of generating 60% of the building's electricity. The technology involves building a sprung floor and power generating blocks. The blocks are made of piezoelectric crystals which produce current when subjected to pressure. Dancers dance, blocks are squeezed and the current is fed into batteries used to electrify the nightclub. Don't laugh, it is already being done in Rotterdam, Holland. It's part of the programme for a new climate change organisation Club4Climate, set up by an enthusiastic entrepreneur who wants to open more eco-clubs in New York, Cape Town and Rio. Its motto: "All you have to do is dance to save the world". :: Evening Standard
sounds fantastic! Heard about the one in Holland, but great that it's finally hit the UK. Any idea where this club is exactly?
I LOVE to dance. But I have my doubts about this floor. I mean if it steals energy form your movement it has to effect the danceability of the floor. I'm thinking it will be somewhat like, but not as bad as, dancing in one of them bouncy castles for kids.
Hihi, In knew that some day my dancing will save the world. What a great invention to make green more sexy.
Already read about it on: http://www.clubofpioneers.com/blog/feel-the-body-electric-archinode-crowd-farm-river-gym-sustainable-dance-club/23/stories/537/ but the thing with the free entry if you come to the club by foot or bike is new to me.
someone should take the same piezoelectricity generating idea and incorporate it into everyday life for non-clubbers. like shopping malls floors, and airplane terminals...
anywhere that gets a good deal of foot traffic could potentially generate a good deal of power...
but i wonder what the cost of the crystals, and their "life expectancy" is... how long can they keep producing electricity before they have to be replaced?
Every surface that gets foot traffic should have these installed. There's a similar system going into various turnstiles in Tokyo public transportation hubs, and this should only be the beginning. Aside from allowing pedestrians to help power the places they walk to or through every day, it also would allow museums to figure out which exhibits are attracting the most foot-traffic, and it would encourage citizens to get out and walk more (to help power their communities, etc.)
Wear and tear could improve rapidly through the energy-collection and -monitoring process, since it's the most easily-accessible energy source that's A) currently completely untapped and B) costs next to nothing.
@Axel: There is some concern about that, in the no-free-lunch sense. However, energy is lost on every surface, and it is possible to build an array like this that is as rigid as a regular dance floor and still capture energy, although not as much. If properly engineered, systems like this are more about capturing energy that is already being lost but that goes nowhere.
@brian: This is an idea that they've considered for use in many places, including roads, sidewalks, and especially bridges. Also, piezo crystals are fairly long-lasting and inexpensive to make. They are what were used in early remote controls, if you've ever had the pleasure of using a single button "clicker."
Its almost as good as the idea of generating electricity by turning a dynamo with an electric motor. It comes up time and time again and is silly every single time.
Gives new meaning to the phrase "dance the night away". :-)
Does anyone know what company is creating this dance floor? I would love to use this technology in the US.
The dance floor is produced by www.sustainabledanceclub.com and is a concept of Enviu - innovators in sustainability, developed in cooperation with Doll - architects.
Cheers,
Stef