It is quite ironic that I found this little posting via Inhabitat when our own Underground system is currently completely un-operational due to strikes, but hey ho. With the energy crisis growing each day, it is wastefullness that many think should be tackled as a priority. If it is a crime to carbon pollute then surely it is more of a crime to waste a by-product of that very carbon useage? Shouldn't we be demanding the very best value for our (carbon) pound?
And for those of you who have ever travelled on the Underground in London, there is a shocking amount of waste energy floating about the air around all us. Some is generated by the trains, some by our very own bods as we sardine squeeze ourself into the cans on rails.
Heat.
Yep - have you ever thought as you sweat and puff around the tube how that heat could be used? Well, me neither, but fortunately, some clever bods in Paris have.
It was been calculated that every person entering the Metro emits around 100 watts of energy in body heat, which, when added to the heat generated by the trains themselves adds up to a lot of warmth.
So, this heat is to be harnessed to heat 17 apartments in a block above ground which is currently undergoing an eco transformation - directly above the Metro.
Brilliant. A huge ground source heat pump. sort of. But still brilliant.
So true - we have to strip off (not literally!) whenever we enter any city, airport or anywhere with a large mass of people in confined spaces. And I always collect some virus along the way!
ReplyDeleteSee you at Malvern, maybe?
Comment no 2 - so good to see you today. I've linked to your website in my Malvern Autumn blog, and I;ll send you details of Mark Coreth and the Ice Bear project (mind-blowing) though you could google him of course.
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