I've often wondered: what is the advantage of having a revolving door? Aside from the architectural prestige, they mostly just slow you down and make for an awkward moment with a stranger every now and then. Ever tried to carry large boxes through one? Or wheel something in on a dolly? Come to find out, revolving doors can actually be pretty useful. They help heaters and AC systems work more efficiently, preventing outside air from gusting in, but they have other energy-saving potentials as well.An architectural duo working under the name 'Fluxxlab' has designed a revolving door that captures the kinetic energy that is created as people enter or exit a building. The Revolution Door, as the technology is called, can be implemented on nearly any existing revolving door. By simply replacing the door's central core and adding an output system, the door can begin harvesting electricity with every rotation. Granted, it's not going to take the building off the grid, but it is a really cool concept.
Fluxxlab is a partnership between two intrepid architects -- Jennifer Broutin and Carmen Trudell -- each with a masters degree from Columbia University. They've got a few other cool projects in the works that use the same principle of harvesting energy from our everyday motions. Check out their website.
[via Inhabitat]
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