Create an "energy playground" for kids
The City of Vancouver could create an energy playground where playground equipment such as swings, see-saws and merry-go-rounds could be modified to generate energy. The more the kids play, the more energy they create. The energy produced could be used to light the playground at night, making it a fully Carbon Neutral playground. All of this equipment exists and is being used in poor villages in Asia and Africa to generating lighting for schools.
Big Dave
shared this idea
Idea shared with Parks Board
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Big Dave
commented
Thanks Christopher! Rick, I appreciate your comments about the viability of this idea in low income countries. There are many energy playgrounds at schools that have been highly successful in providing vitally needed lighting in classrooms but there have been some failures. I doubt that this will be an issue in vancouver where there are established city budgets for maintaining city playgrounds.
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Christopher Zimmermann
commented
Great idea.
That would be awesome. I'd go there with my kids. -
rick
commented
I recently saw a documentary about this. Merry go rounds powered by kids to pump water in africa. What the doc showed was that the systems broke down within a few months and were not serviced, so left unused. The company installing the systems profits putting them in then disappears. Another feel good scam.