The problem of the production of electricity, or specifically of the supply of electricity, has become evident with the expensive bills seen at the end of 2022. Between sanctions and the desire to aim for eco-sustainable solutions, the question is becoming more and more stinging. However, there are those who, in their small way, are looking for very interesting alternatives.
This is the case of a restaurant in Glasgow who, to reduce costs, decided to install a system for generate thermal energy by collecting the heat of dancing people. The dance floor is called BodyHeat and can be easily installed in clubs, theaters where concerts are held, or perhaps outdoor areas used for festivals. But how does it work?
In the specific case of this Scottish venue, the thermal heating and cooling system captures the heat emitted by the dancers, transporting it via underground pipes to the venue’s heat pumps, until it reaches the twelve wells located 200 meters underground. When energy is required to power the building, it returns to the heat pumps at a temperature suitable for the spaces to be heated: in this specific case we are talking about a former factory capable of accommodating 1,250 people, all covered by the BodyHeat floor. The design is so resistant that the duration is estimated at at least ten years.
Andrew Fleming-Brown, managing director of SWG3 (the name of the Glasgow venue) said: “What’s great about BodyHeat is that our audience participates in activating the entire system. Only by coming to an event, a concert or in the club to dance you are part of that low carbon solution. I think that really struck a chord with our audience.”. According to the club owner’s estimates, dancing at an average pace a single person can generate at least 250W; with the right DJ, perhaps 500-600W of thermal energy can be reached, then converted for heating and electricity.
Even some world-famous bands have begun to experiment with similar technologies: this is the case of Coldplay which, in an attempt to make their concerts more sustainable, include tracks such as BodyHeat and exercise bikes useful for generating electricity in stadiums. All of this, of course, it is also very good for people’s health; in short, it is a win-win condition.
