The Santa Rita do Sapucai prison in Brazil, is harnessing green energy from their inmates to power their city streets.
Two exercise bikes hooked to batteries have been placed in the penitentiary courtyard, where kinetic energy created by the cyclists is converted into electricity which charges a battery. There is a device on the handlebars which tells the rider when the battery is charged.
These fully charged batteries are taken into the city and used to power street lamps. One day’s cycling can provide enough alternative energy to power 6 bulbs.
As an incentive, the prisoners are given a day off of their sentence for every 16 hours of cycling they complete.
The project has been so successful, that they plan to install another 8 bikes at the facility.
This program offers an opportunity for detainees to stay fit, keep occupied and out of trouble, and provide their community with sustainable energy. Sounds like a winning plan to us!
photo: Glasshouse Images
Tags: alternative energy source, battery powered street lamps, Brazil, cycling, cycling to create power, exercise bikes, green energy, inmates, kinetic energy, Prison, reduced sentence, Santa Rita do Sapucai Prison, street lamps, sustainable energy
Indigo jones 
July 19, 2012 at 11:02 am |
Reblogged this on msamba.
July 19, 2012 at 11:21 am |
So awesome. I can’t wait to see this applied to gyms across the globe.