"If you looked down at [the grid] it wouldn't look that different from seaweed," said Weiland. According to Christopher Lynch, a smart materials researcher from the University of California, Los Angeles, this is the first freshwater hydroelectric power project of its kind. Usually freshwater energy comes from damming a river and flooding large areas behind it, said Lynch. That creates enough pressure to turn a turbine which then generates electricity. It's an effective way to capture the river's energy, but it also has severe ecological consequences. Weiland's method likely wouldn't generate as much energy as a hydroelectric dam but would keep the river intact and healthy. "The whole idea is very interesting," said Lynch. "Harvesting energy from rivers, ocean waves and currents are going to be an important segment of our overall energy generation in the future." Weiland's smart materials project is only one small part of the larger effort to turn Vandergrift from steel town to green town. A farmer's market, solar panels, and education programs on energy conservation have been or will be put in place to further help reduce the town's energy consumption. If all of those efforts are successful Weiland estimates a PVDF-based smart materials grid could generate as much as 40 percent of the town's power. But the cooperation and motivation of the town are essential to reach that mark, said Weiland. "Smart technologies can take us an important part of the way [towards sustainability]," said Weiland. "But they can't do all of it." Related Links: Discovery News blog: Interior Design |
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