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Thumbnail for Eurekas 2026 submission: Alannah G - Step to Power

Eurekas 2026 submission: Alannah G - Step to Power

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Video summary

The video explores the innovative concept of generating electricity from everyday movements within a home using kinetic floor tiles known as PISO. These specialized tiles are designed to convert the force exerted by footsteps into usable electrical power, with each step capable of producing approximately 7 watts of energy. The underlying mechanism involves the deformation of the tile's material when stepped upon, which separates electrical charges and generates an electric current that is subsequently stored in a battery for use by low-power devices such as lights, sensors, and charging equipment. To illustrate the potential impact of this technology, the transcript calculates the total daily energy generation based on average household activity. Assuming an average person takes about 11,800 steps per day, and each step yields 7 joules of energy (derived from the power output over a one-second interval), a single home could theoretically generate around 82,600 joules daily. This accumulated energy is sufficient to power essential household electronics and contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing reliance on external power sources for small-scale devices. While the energy savings achieved by installing these tiles in an individual residence may appear modest at first glance, the video emphasizes that the true value lies in widespread adoption. If millions of households were to utilize PISO electric tiles across their floors, the collective kinetic energy from billions of daily steps could result in a significant reduction in overall energy consumption. This scalability transforms what seems like a minor technological advancement into a powerful tool for environmental sustainability, demonstrating how converting simple human motion into electricity can make a substantial difference on a global scale.
Read the full video transcript
What if every step in your home could generate electricity? I used a data logger to measure my footsteps in Newtons. According to the National Energy Foundation, kinetic tiles can convert this force into 7 W of power per step. The movement causes kinetic energy. This is converted into electricity through the piso electric tiles on the floor. Stepping on the piso electric tile deforms its material, separating electrical charges and producing an electrical current. And that is how the energy is converted into electricity. This electricity is stored in a battery and is used for low power devices. The energy in one step equals power * time. And if power equals 7 W and time equals 1 second, that means the energy per step equals 7 JW. On average, there are 11,800 steps per household per day. And if we multiply that by 7 jewles per step, then we will get 82,600 jewels. This energy can power lights, sensors, and charging devices. Step step energy. It's kinetic. What can we convert it to? Electricity stored in a battery. Individually, the energy saving from using piso electric tiles is small, but if used in millions of homes, this could make a real difference for sustainability.