Wind Tunnel Bridge Makes Electricity, Looks Wicked

I would express the opinion that the "designer" of this bridge is an artist and not an engineer. I suggest that he / she has done very little research into Aerodynamics or Energy.

The public are in a very difficult position as they may well want to help with energy issues and therefore support a piece of art like this. However, taxpayers money would be better spent in supporting projects which will actually output more energy than they consume during construction.

It is deceitful for the artist to imply that this product is, in any way, going to assist in the battle towards a more sustainable energy supply or against public ignorance on energy issues.

Hugh Mattos

Chartered Engineer

I like that! They should have tried to use the motion of London's famous 'wobbly' foot bridge to generate power. That would have been cool, fun and power!

Ahh, If we can only harness the energy of children jumping on the beds and couches.

Brilliant! lets start a company............

Indeed, harnessing the energy of children to do work (while making it fun) can provide substantial benefits; although, they genrally only work during daylight hours. The Carosel pump (on which children are encouraged to ride in order to pump water) is a big hit in 3rd world villages with the children and adult women. It saves them from pumping the water and gives the kids something healthful to do while pumps water.

Maybe more energy efficiency projects like that should be considered.

Form does follow function in the case of the wind mill. This is the first functional architectural sculpture that I have seen since my visit to Paulo Solari's Arcosanti in 1966. www.arcosanti.org/project/background/soleri/main.html

I'm not going to comment on the practicality of the project, I just really like the concept. Who knows what will come of the idea?

Wind and or Water ?

put a river in that channel, and you could have a river boat which, when not moving, could jack itself up and generate electricity...for the slot machine wheels and stepper motors.