Research Log #8 (Pre-Recorded Interview) - Solutionary Project 2023

Date: March 24, 2023

Name: Kaira Kwong
Essential Question: How can safety be enhanced from a light source that does not use any electricity?

Three Points to Prove:

#1: How can human movement help with conservation of energy?

#2: Why are non-renewable energy sources, like coal, oil, and gas, valuable resources for humans?

#3: Why is artificial light necessary for pedestrian safety?

Point that this Source Proves: #1: How can human movement help with conservation of energy?

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove)

“Anything you need can be powered through the simple act of a human footstep” (Kemball-Cook, 0:16-0:21).

Laurence Kemball-Cook reported that “it wasn’t possible in urban spaces to find a tangible energy source when there’s
lots of shading from buildings and there’s not very good wind in dense urban areas” (0:56-1:05).

“What if we could use the energy of the 50,000 people an hour who passed through some of the busiest centers of our
citites […] you name it all, have huge opportunity for harvesting human energy” (Kemball-Cook, 1:05-1:21).

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Laurence Kemball-Cook is the founder of Pavegen, a company he started that creates tiles that turn human
footsteps into electricity, powering anything. It converts the force from our mass to power. The more people that walk
on the tiles, the more energy is generated for lights, Wi-Fi, and anything else that is needed. Renewable energy has
been growing increasingly popular with time, and the next step is how to make it more efficient. Kemball-Cook was
tasked with creating a renewable energy streetlight by his employer and thought of his genius idea, Pavegen. Solar and
wind would not viable options, so one thought he had was human steps. We exert energy when we walk, and this
energy can be collected and saved in batteries. In busy areas, these tiles could generate lots of power. Further
investment and interest would boost the business and make it cheaper to manufacture eventually which would entail
more sales. Just like solar, it took 80 years to get the price down to a few dollars per kilowatt hour, from thousands.
Pavegen is a growing business and a solution for our energy crisis.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

CNBC. (2017, August 16). Pavegen: How a Footstep's energy is converted to electrical power | The Edge.
YouTube. Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_o_EoBJsvA 

This is a reputable and reliable pre-recorded interview because the interview was conducted through CNBC, a
trusted news source. Research was done to where CNBC also provided additional comments and background
information cut in between the interview.
 I am caught up with all my English logs! I probably will need to make corrections on some of my

previous logs though because of some oversights I made in finding my sources. I still need to do my

Frankenstein chapters 6-10 homework assignment, and to be frank, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to get

that done on time. I am starting to source materials for my project, the piezoelectric disc tiles. I will have to

order piezoelectric disc and LED lights and light strips from Amazon and buy a few materials, like tiles,

from Home Depot. I have asked Dr. Tolentino if I could use some of her materials, like the solder and wires.

I have also found a service project to do. The best way to inspire a new generation of creatives is to show

them the wonders of the world. I will hopefully get to present and read books on conservation of energy and

have my tile as an interactive display in front of a crowd. It will be at the library, so most likely, attracting

young children who are curious about my project and the activities I’ll have planned.