Inspired by traditional waterwheels, an engineering student at Leicester de Montfort University has invented a device that uses the energy from waste water in high rise buildings to generate electricity.
The student, Tom Broadbent, explained: “The inspiration for HighDro Power was literally a ‘Eureka!’ moment that came when I emptied a bath in a hotel and found that it cleared very quickly and with a large amount of force. It seemed logical that this energy should be harnessed in some way to create green electricity and help governments meet targets and it filled an obvious gap in the market.
“HighDro Power works by using the water discharged from appliances such as showers, toilets and sinks in high-rise apartments. The water goes down the pipe and hits four turbine blades that drive one generator.
“The whole thing was influenced by traditional waterwheels to ensure that any solids passing through had limited effects on whether they could function.”
It is estimated that a typical seven storey building could save £926 a year on electricity, though clearly hotels will have the potential to save more than offices because of the higher use of baths and showers.
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