Tech | December 30, 2008 | 11 comments

LED umbrella is powered by rain

source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/rain-generated-umbrella.php

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Part of creating the ultimate sustainable planet will be our ability to find sustainable energy sources in a variety of means, such as sunlight, water flow, wind, and yes, even rain. We are of course speaking of the kinetic energy which can be harnessed from rain, which up until a few months ago, was not being considered for use in a consumer product ...

Lightdrops Umbrella: this kinetic energy is created from piezoelectric material, which is able to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Now, we aren't talking about a whole lot of energy being created here, approximately 1 microwatt to 12 milliwatts per rain droplet. While not much in the large scheme of things, this technology has been put to use in a new LED umbrella called Lightdrops, which is able to self power an internal LED light using the rain from which it is protecting its user from.

While a lighted umbrella is certainly not going to save the world by any means, it may save a few lives. The idea behind the umbrella is to provide light in front of the user as well as make the user more visible to traffic in harsh weather. But the most exciting aspect of this products unveiling, is the other possibilities that such a technology may someday provide.
  1. groups:
    Tech,   Green,   Art and Style,   Current News UK
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    Green,  Art and Style,  Tech,  Current News UK,  4 more
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