http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/

]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
I think the idea is a bunch of generators wokring together in the long run. Solar panels, wind/water turbines, grass with sweaters on, etc. it's the future!]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/That's actually an amazing idea! I was thinking about it as one house at a time and not getting that much energy about of it, but if you think of it as an entire hotel, where each room itself doesn't use that much energy...

Or, how about we take it a step further? Install one of those with each toilet that has an auto sensor to flush... make the turbine power the next flush!


Oh, and how much you wanna bet the guy that came up with this did so while taking a shit!]]>Mar 6th 2008 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/ I think if used in conjunction with other electricity saving technologies, it would be worth while to both households & businesses!
Thanks, T. ]]>Mar 10th 2008 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
These guys are chumps. How about a water wheel that you piss on? Now that's innovation!]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
Rest stops on the highway could have a high score list, with flashing lights and brightly-colored readouts, encouraging you to generate the most electricity, all for the good of the country.]]>Mar 6th 2008 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
I'll pass on this one.]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
The total energy "gained" is less than or equal to: (mass of water) x (height change of water)

Which means it's like lifting a bucket of water a foot. A device like this likely requires way more energy to manufacture than it will ever help produce. ]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/the turbines used will be limited to only about 30% efficiency.
]]>Mar 6th 2008 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
Are you talking about converting teh potential energy stored in the water into electrical. If so that is a huge waste of time. Ep=mgh

AFAIK my cistern holds 7 litres of water so mass = 7kg.
my cistern is just under a metre high above the ground so height = 1m(for simplicity)
and the gravitational field strength is just under 10 and ill round it to 10 for ease.

so working out the potential energy of that water is 70 joules. And then the generator is not going to be 100% efficient, lets call it 50% so 35joules of energy. That, is utterly useless.

S**t idea. :P]]>Mar 6th 2008 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
i am amazed. and thats saying something.]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
http://www.1iphone1toilet.com/]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
Also, fuck yeah, Top Gear!]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
Would you build multiple hydro-electric dams on every tiny creek and stream that eventually combines into a larger body of water?]]>Mar 6th 2008 12:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 7th 2008 8:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
One of the huge conumdrums of all these devices is that we use up a lot of energy and produce a lot of CO2 to create these things.

But I think it is solvable.]]>Mar 6th 2008 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
So it's not just every flush, but also every shower, diswasher, clothes washer, lawn sprinkler, etc., would generate a few watts.

So maybe it will take a long time for it to pay for it self in a single family house, but in a hotel, or apartment complex, or office building it could pay for itself in days.

What if the lights in the lobby of your building were powered by this device? Why didn't I think of this idea sooner?]]>Mar 6th 2008 12:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
If you put a generator in the inbound plumbing, you're using the energy provided by the pumping station that creates your water pressure. You then lose water pressure, and the pumping station has to pump harder to compensate. In the end you have no energy gain (in fact you would have a loss due to inefficiency).

What you're missing is that the proposal in this story takes advantage of gravity, which is free. It only makes sense to harness energy that is already there, and not being utilized. That's what hydro does.]]>Mar 6th 2008 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
Come on, this is up there with that stupid MSI chipset cooler! Think bigger guys this isn't going to make a difference...


]]>Mar 6th 2008 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
(This applies to most stuff I see on Engadget).]]>Mar 6th 2008 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/Mar 6th 2008 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/
(for the record I am an undergraduate mechanical engineer)]]>Mar 6th 2008 6:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/turbine-could-generate-electricity-each-time-you-flush/"I am of the opinion that this particular invention could have at least one good use and that is all that is really needed isn't it?]]>Mar 6th 2008 6:56PM