The Santa Rita do Sapucaí prison has created an unprecedented way to produce renewable energy and keep inmates fit and busy -- through pedal-powered prison sentences, in which inmates help the prison create green energy in exchange for shorter sentences.
The institution has placed two exercise bikes, connected to batteries, in the prison's courtyard. Here, inmates can cycle to create kinetic energy, which is converted into electricity to charge the batteries, and these charged batteries are then used to power the city's street lamps. According to Springwise, a day's worth of cycling can create enough power to run six light bulbs. In exchange for pedaling away, the inmates get reduced prison sentences -- every 16 hours they spend cycling means one day is taken off of their sentence.
Pedal-Powered Prison Sentences
Santa Rita do Sapucaí Penitentiary Has Inmates Create Energy
Trend Themes
1. Pedal-powered Energy Generation - Creating renewable energy through pedal-powered systems for various applications.
2. Incentivized Physical Activity - Using incentives to encourage physical fitness and reduce prisoner sentences.
3. Renewable Energy Integration - Incorporating renewable energy sources into existing infrastructure through innovative methods.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - Exploring ways to efficiently generate renewable energy for various needs.
2. Prison Systems - Implementing incentives and innovative methods to improve the prison system and promote prisoner rehabilitation.
3. Urban Infrastructure - Finding ways to integrate renewable energy into urban infrastructure for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.