Parkhomenko E. F., Balanenko I. G., Rusakova A. V.

Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University

ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF USING ENERGY

Most of the rich countries use for energy fuel resources (coal, oil, gas), but the technologies of energy production in this way a very serious impact on the environment. Many renewable energy sources are not empty, it can be panel on solar energy and the use of wind generators, planting of fast growing tree species and more, there are also created by the human hand energetic translators. For example: the solution to the problem of ecologically clean energy production can become the next innovation. It was designed by the Studio Fluxxlab and called Fluxxlab’s Revolution Door. The concept of such doors is quite simple. It all depends on the transfer of mechanical energy into electrical energy. We conceived the Revolution Door as a modified revolving door comprised of three parts – a redesigned central core replacing that of any existing or new revolving door, a mechanical/electrical system that harnessed human energy and redistributed electricity to an output, and an output device that mapped the harnessed energy. We also realized how powerful, both literally and figuratively it is for people to interact with their environment in a participatory way so that they are aware of their impact on their surroundings. Collective action, through the use of the door, was an important factor toward the success of the system – the more people use the door, the more energy can be harnessed. Towards this end, we believe that the systems should be transparent and easily seen to promote understanding of the process. The Revolution Door project began in 2006, the same year Al Gore’s movie «An Inconvenient Truth» thrust the topic of sustainability into common household banter. This idea was validated by public interest in energy, and was made feasible by the invention of low energy actuators such as LEDs and microprocessors. The project found an audience because it embodied the general change in the way designers and end-users were thinking about energy production and storage. The timing was perfect. And when it wasn’t perfect, they adapted the narrative and the investigation to make it work. So, we can say about the concept and it’s fate in the future. Fluxxlab has been working on energy harvesting for three years now. The result of that body of work is a collection of prototypes, exhibitions, renderings, serveral web and print publications, and our web page. We still feel that the work should be practically deployed in the world; we still think it’s a good idea, although we are admittedly fatigued and at times discouraged. There are logistical hurdles to face when making the leap from the gallery to the user, such as whether to incorporate or not, what are the tax and insurance ramifications, how much time can we reasonably dedicate, and when is fabrication beyond our limitations.

Our interest in the Revolution Door project has gone through iterations. We realize that we are not and do not wish to be a door manufacturing company that puts this product into production. But, we see the potential in this idea becoming a standard within the building industry, and dream about the potential of such an endeavor. Imagine for a moment that for every office lobby in midtown, a revolution door both contributed to a decentralized power grid where buildings are responsible for energy production while simultaneously encouraging greater energy literacy on the part of consumers by turning them into micro-producers.

The Revolution Door is a simple idea that can have a great impact on how we as a society consume and produce energy. There are many good ideas out there, of which the Revolution Door is only one. How can we organize as a community of designers and inventors to bring our ideas forward, sharing resources, ideas and feedback in order to bring these ideas to life?

The list of references:

1. Electronic resource. – Mode of access: http://www.urbanomnibus.net/2009/04/fluxxlab-making-ideas-happen

2. Electronic resource. – Mode of access: http://www.filebox.ru/news/mobile/news63738