Wanted Green Energy Applications

April 10, 2005 – Vol.10 No.3

WANTED: GREEN ENERGY APPLICATIONS.

Think about this. Every time you flip a light switch or press a button to turn something on you move something - typically a plastic lever or button.

If that piece of plastic is connected to a micro-generator the movement of that switch should be able to generate a very, very small amount of electricity, and only for a brief moment - less than a second - the period of time it took to move the switch.

Big deal, right? What do you do with a very tiny bit of electricity for a split-second of time?

Well, for one thing you could transmit a signal. And, that signal, as short and powerless as it may seem, could do a considerable amount of work, such as turning on a light fixture, even to a desired level of light output.

That’s exactly what EnOcean has created, battery-free, wireless light switches and dimmers as well as receivers to be integrated with light fixtures or other devices. Repeaters, too, are made by the company to allow a signal from one wireless, battery-less light switch to turn on a series of lights over long distances, such as down a long hallway.

Neat eh? With EnOceans (and apparently others) technology only the light fixtures need to be connected to a buildings wiring system. The switches can be installed anywhere near the light fixture with two-sided, sticky-tape.

So, other than great technology in itself, what good are these? Wiring would be a whole lot easier - less wires to run. Switches can be moved to new locations if desired. But what about enhancing energy efficiency or using the technology with renewable energies. Will EnOceans free-energy switches be green in any way? In small ways yes. Less wire. No batteries to replace. Something bigger than that? Don’t know.

Visit EnOcean at http://www.enocean.com/ .