This is in fact a waste product of our metabolism.

Every square foot of the human bodygives off heatequivalent to about 19 matches per hour.

Unfortunately, much of this heat simply escapes into the atmosphere.

How wasted heat from our bodies could generate green energy

Wouldnt it be great if we could harness it to produce energy?

My research has shown this would indeed be possible.

My colleagues and I arediscovering waysof capturing and storing body heat for energy generation, using eco-friendly materials.

The Conversation

It isnt just our bodies that produce waste heat.

Typically, this heat is also released into the atmosphere, representing a significant missed opportunity for energy recovery.

The emerging concept of waste heat recovery seeks to address this inefficiency.

Thethermoelectric effectis a phenomenon that can help turn heat into electricity.

Conventionalthermoelectric materials, however, are often made from cadmium, lead, or mercury.

These come with environmental and health risks that limit their practical applications.

Wood has been integral to human civilisations for centuries, serving as a source of building materials and fuel.

The temperature difference across the lignin membrane causes ions (charged atoms) in the salt solution to move.

Positive ions drift toward the cooler side, while negative ions move toward the warmer side.

This new technology has the potential to make a big difference in many areas.

This would help them save energy and lessen their impact on the environment.

Its eco-friendly nature also makes it a promising solution for sustainable energy generation in buildings and infrastructure.

This makes them essential for applications requiring quick power delivery.

This innovation in energy storage technology could power everything from consumer electronics, wearable technology to electric vehicles.

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