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Earthkeeper | Elizabeth Redmond

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Designtrepreneur Turns the Alternative Energy Paradigm on its Head!

I am Elizabeth, your 23 year old designtrepreneur! I work hard to design sustainable solutions, and educate and inspire sustainable decisions. My main inspiration is human energy transfer, my project is POWERleap- a flooring system destined for high foot-traffic urban areas that generates electricity via human footfall!

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Elizabeth Redmond Prototype packing failures

Sep 2, 2008 11:52 pm

Last Saturday I packed up a POWERleap tile and sent it out to the west coast for presentation to a new potential client and investor. In the past, I've not had the greatest luck packing up the prototype tile. For example, (evidence pictured below) last February I shipped t... Read More

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cmain
September 5, 2008 - 3:24am
I would reccomend double boxing. Pack the first box like before and then put it inside another box with about 1.5 to 2 inchs of additional packing. It stinks because it will increase shipping costs but if it prevents breakage it will be worth it.
cmain
September 5, 2008 - 3:38am
Actually I just saw your album and while plastic bags are great for taking up space they will do little to absorb the impacts of shipping also peanuts are more for taking up space they shift leaving the tile to absorb impacts so all that was really protecting your tiles was the thin layer of bubble wrap. If possible try dense foam and more layers of bubble wrap preferably with larger bubbles then use bags and peanuts to take up excess space.
john Pontillo
September 5, 2008 - 9:18pm
Elizabeth, After looking at the pictures of the box that the tile was shipped in I have a few suggestions. I would recommened using a thicker wall box. The corrugated box looks a little on the light side. You might want to use corner reinforcers inside the box. The corners are very durable. You can make your own by cutting up another box and bending them in 90 degree angles. Double them up if you have to. The packing peanuts are good but be sure that the box is big enough so you can put enough in to do the job A company you can check out on the net is {www.uline.com}. Take a look at their catalog to get some ideas. Because of the cost of the tile I wouldn't skimp on the packaging. You have a great idea
Abhi Lath
October 9, 2008 - 8:51am
Hi Elizabeth, Not sure how I got to this site! But it is wonderful to see that you are taking things to the next step (pun intended). I am assuming that your prototype tiles are still the Sensitile Terrazzo Lumina modules we fabricated last year. - If so, I would really recommend that you make a wooden "A" frame crate with Plywood and 2 x 4's. Line it with 1" thick insulation foam and you have an ideal crate. This is also quite sustainable since you can mandate your clients to send it back to you in the original packaging. We had no idea that the tiles would see this many miles otherwise I would have suggested this at the onset. Also, you might want to look into applying more sealer on them. I would also create a "loan" document that every borrower must sign (no matter how "important" they seem) - this would acknowledge that this is your property in their possession and also list its replacement value. I hope this helps. We have recently moved shop to Ypsilanti and you are welcome to stop by on your next trip to AA. All the best, Abhi
Pedro.G
October 28, 2008 - 10:41am
hey whats up elizabeth
earthday78
December 15, 2008 - 6:53pm
two words....Welcome Mats! For the home or business, charge all day from traffic and light all night...acrylic inlays for artistic design with customizable to the business or homeowner....so investors would not be needed, a ebay sellers account set to donate to your cause and a few people will to team up with you....ME, please contact me, want to know your take on things
Vanesa
March 13, 2009 - 9:34am
Hi Elizabeth, i have written an e-mail to you and i have not received an answer from you, for that reason i´m writing here! I visited your project web site about PowerLeap and I am writing for further information. Firstly, I need to know whether the project is finished or in case it is not, what era of the project you are going through, what it was meant for and the installation cost of said project. I would also like to know whether you have an official representative in Argentina, because I intend to install the project in a high foot-traffic area of the Municipality of Malvinas Argentinas, located in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I´ll be waiting for your answer! thank you! Vanesa.
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Fast Facts

  • Energy Generator
  • Chicago, IL United States
  • Posted: May 28, 2008
  • Last Updated: Jun 30, 2009
  • Focus Area: Environment
  • Website: elizabethredmond.net

Elizabeth's organization

  • POWERleap
  • http://www.powerleap.net
  • POWERleap is an urban flooring system that utilizes human energy to generate public electricity.

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Ezra
October 27, 2008 - 9:02am
I'm curious as to who else has put serious development effort into this. It's hardly a new idea. I came up with it myself in high school after read some Issac Asimov story (probably a Foundation novel). I don't remember now if I read this exact idea or just something that lead me to this line of thinking. But I'm no engineer so it never went beyond "wouldn't it be cool if..." for me. I really hope this becomes a reality. My other idea which may or may not have been developed is putting this tech inside sneakers. Feel free to "run" with that idea if you can.
WilliamC
September 25, 2008 - 11:51am
Why just human foot traffic? Could it be adapted to livestock, to allow cattle, goats, llamas, etc. to generate electriicity in rural areas of underdeveloped parts of the world? Possible use of microfinance loans to allow ordinary investors to help individual farmers, e.g. through www.Kiva.org.
don
September 18, 2008 - 6:59pm
No offense to Elizabeth, but there have been poeple investigating this well before her. Although it is great to see a young person step up and attempt a solution. I hope she makes it to market and is successful.
Danny Demello
August 14, 2008 - 3:08am
Dear Elizabeth, I think that people like you are great and this method of generating electricity is a novel way to do so. I am from India and I would lke to know if your product is already bieng used. In India it could mean a lot. Way to Go...
Kevyn Miller
July 26, 2008 - 3:58am
Can the POWERleap be made robust enough to survive under railway sleepers or rails, capturing some of the enrgy that is currently wasted by urban transit vehicles. Woukd it be viable to use POWERleap tiles to extend the life of freeway pavements and generate vast amounts of electricity in the very urban areas where demand is highest?
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