geekslop.com
Paris Marathon installs kinetic energy “rubber tiles” that generate electricity from runners’ footsteps
Brilliant Paris Marathon race organizers laid out 82-feet worth of rubber tiles along the route. These cushiony tiles weren't meant to ease the pain on runners but rather are a special electricity-generating tile made by Pavegen Systems that convert kinetic energy from the runners’ footfalls into electricity. The manufacturer claims the tiles generate up to 8 watts per footstep and with 40,000 runners in the event, enough electricity was generated to power screens and signs located throughout the race course.