[paimei01]

Take some heavy stuff, lift it up with a system of pulleys, then when it descends it generates electricity.
One massive object for each neighborhood or block of flats. With many people lifting it up I think it will be easy to lift. People could have a system in their own homes - when they exercise the heavy object goes up
That should make enough electricity for light and communication.
Let's say it would be a 10 ton object at 30 meters , I say 100 people could bring it up to 30 meters in one day. 100 kg for a person to lift at 30 meters in one day it's not much. Anybody knows how to calculate how much energy it would produce ?

[Niagara]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('paimei01', 'A')nybody knows how to calculate how much energy it would produce ?

[paimei01]

If 1 person lifts 100kg at 30 meters in 10 minutes, it means 600 kg at 30 meters in 1 hour.
600 kg=180000 Nm = 180000 Joules for 1 person for 1 hour

1 barrel of oil = 6117863200 Joules
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_of_oil_equivalent

33988 persons for 1 hour ? Is this correct ?

How did you calculate that 30000 watt second will illuminate a 100 watt light bulb for 5 minutes ? What if we use 18watt efficient lights ?

[Opies]

organic carbon + oxygen + human -> chemical energy
chemical energy -> human mechanical energy -> non-human mechanical energy -> electricity

doesn't seem very efficient to me >< either way, the bicycle idea works and works quite well and easily. also... small scale wind power isn't hard either.

[frankthetank]

Turn off light=no electricity!

Hey...its where we are headed!