Initial research
A renewable energy source means energy that is sustainable - something that can't run out, or is endless, like the sun. When you hear the term 'alternative energy' it's usually referring to renewable energy sources too. It means sources of energy that are alternative to the most commonly used non-sustainable sources - like coal.
Renewable energy sources
Solar energy
Sunlight is one of our planet’s most abundant and freely available energy resources. The amount of solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface in one hour is more than the planet’s total energy requirements for a whole year. Although it sounds like a perfect renewable energy source, the amount of solar energy we can use varies according to the time of day and the season of the year as well as geographical location.
Wind energy
Wind is a plentiful source of clean energy. Wind farms are an increasingly familiar sight in the UK with wind power making an ever-increasing contribution to the National Grid. To harness electricity from wind energy, turbines are used to drive generators which then feed electricity into the National Grid. Although domestic or ‘off-grid’ generation systems are available, not every property is suitable for a domestic wind turbine.
Hydro energy
As a renewable energy resource, hydro power is one of the most commercially developed. By building a dam or barrier, a large reservoir can be used to create a controlled flow of water that will drive a turbine, generating electricity. This energy source can often be more reliable than solar or wind power (especially if it's tidal rather than river) and also allows electricity to be stored for use when demand reaches a peak. Like wind energy, in certain situations hydro can be more viable as a commercial energy source (dependant on type and compared to other sources of energy) but depending very much on the type of property, it can be used for domestic, ‘off-grid’ generation.
Tidal energy
This is another form of hydro energy that uses twice-daily tidal currents to drive turbine generators. Although tidal flow unlike some other hydro energy sources isn’t constant, it is highly predictable and can therefore compensate for the periods when the tide current is low.
Geothermal energy
By harnessing the natural heat below the earth’s surface, geothermal energy can be used to heat homes directly or to generate electricity. Although it harnesses a power directly below our feet, geothermal energy is of negligible importance in the UK compared to countries such as Iceland, where geothermal heat is much more freely available.
Biomass energy
This is the conversion of solid fuel made from plant materials into electricity. Although fundamentally, biomass involves burning organic materials to produce electricity, and nowadays this is a much cleaner, more energy-efficient process. By converting agricultural, industrial and domestic waste into solid, liquid and gas fuel, biomass generates power at a much lower economic and environmental cost
Greenhouse gases
The contribution that a greenhouse gas makes to the greenhouse effect depends on how much heat it absorbs, how much it re-radiates and how much of it is in the atmosphere.
In descending order, the gases that contribute most to the Earth’s greenhouse effect are:
Not all the greenhouse gas that we emit to the atmosphere remains there indefinitely. For example, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and the amount of CO2 dissolved in surface waters of the oceans stay in equilibrium, because the air and water mix well at the sea surface. When we add more CO2 to the atmosphere, a proportion of it dissolves into the oceans.
We produce greenhouse gases in lots of different ways:
Solutions to climate change
Renewable energy sources
- Solar energy
- Wind energy
- Hydro energy
- Tidal energy
- Geothermal energy
- Biomass energy
Solar energy
Sunlight is one of our planet’s most abundant and freely available energy resources. The amount of solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface in one hour is more than the planet’s total energy requirements for a whole year. Although it sounds like a perfect renewable energy source, the amount of solar energy we can use varies according to the time of day and the season of the year as well as geographical location.
Wind energy
Wind is a plentiful source of clean energy. Wind farms are an increasingly familiar sight in the UK with wind power making an ever-increasing contribution to the National Grid. To harness electricity from wind energy, turbines are used to drive generators which then feed electricity into the National Grid. Although domestic or ‘off-grid’ generation systems are available, not every property is suitable for a domestic wind turbine.
Hydro energy
As a renewable energy resource, hydro power is one of the most commercially developed. By building a dam or barrier, a large reservoir can be used to create a controlled flow of water that will drive a turbine, generating electricity. This energy source can often be more reliable than solar or wind power (especially if it's tidal rather than river) and also allows electricity to be stored for use when demand reaches a peak. Like wind energy, in certain situations hydro can be more viable as a commercial energy source (dependant on type and compared to other sources of energy) but depending very much on the type of property, it can be used for domestic, ‘off-grid’ generation.
Tidal energy
This is another form of hydro energy that uses twice-daily tidal currents to drive turbine generators. Although tidal flow unlike some other hydro energy sources isn’t constant, it is highly predictable and can therefore compensate for the periods when the tide current is low.
Geothermal energy
By harnessing the natural heat below the earth’s surface, geothermal energy can be used to heat homes directly or to generate electricity. Although it harnesses a power directly below our feet, geothermal energy is of negligible importance in the UK compared to countries such as Iceland, where geothermal heat is much more freely available.
Biomass energy
This is the conversion of solid fuel made from plant materials into electricity. Although fundamentally, biomass involves burning organic materials to produce electricity, and nowadays this is a much cleaner, more energy-efficient process. By converting agricultural, industrial and domestic waste into solid, liquid and gas fuel, biomass generates power at a much lower economic and environmental cost
Greenhouse gases
The contribution that a greenhouse gas makes to the greenhouse effect depends on how much heat it absorbs, how much it re-radiates and how much of it is in the atmosphere.
In descending order, the gases that contribute most to the Earth’s greenhouse effect are:
- water vapour (H2O)
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- nitrous oxide(N2O)
- methane (CH4)
- ozone (O3)
Not all the greenhouse gas that we emit to the atmosphere remains there indefinitely. For example, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and the amount of CO2 dissolved in surface waters of the oceans stay in equilibrium, because the air and water mix well at the sea surface. When we add more CO2 to the atmosphere, a proportion of it dissolves into the oceans.
We produce greenhouse gases in lots of different ways:
- Burning fossil fuels – Fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal contain carbon dioxide that has been 'locked away' in the ground for thousands of years. When we take these out of the land and burn them, we release the stored carbon dioxide into the air.
- Deforestation – Forests remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Cutting them down means that carbon dioxide builds up quicker since there are no trees to absorb it. Not only that, trees release the carbon they stored when we burn them.
- Agriculture – Planting crops and rearing animals releases many different types of greenhouse gases into the air. For example, animals produce methane, which is 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. The nitrous oxide used for fertilisers is ten times worse and is nearly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide!
- Cement – Producing cement is another contributor to climate change, causing 2% of our entire carbon dioxide emissions.
Solutions to climate change
- Restore nature to absorb more carbon. The natural world is very good at cleaning up our emissions, but we need to look after it. Planting trees in the right places or giving land back to nature through ‘rewilding’ schemes is a good place to start. This is because photosynthesising plants draw down carbon dioxide as they grow, locking it away in soils.
- Protect forests like the Amazon. Forests are crucial in the fight against climate change, and protecting them is an important climate solution. Cutting down forests on an industrial scale destroys giant trees which could be sucking up huge amounts of carbon. Yet companies destroy forests to make way for animal farming, soya or palm oil plantations. Governments can stop them by making better laws.
- Protect the oceans. Oceans also absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to keep our climate stable. But many are overfished, used for oil and gas drilling or threatened by deep sea mining. Protecting oceans and the life in them is ultimately a way to protect ourselves from climate change.
- Reduce how much people consume. Our transport, fashion, food and other lifestyle choices all have different impacts on the climate. This is often by design – fashion and technology companies, for example, will release far more products than are realistically needed. But while reducing consumption of these products might be hard, it’s most certainly worth it. Reducing overall consumption in more wealthy countries can help put less strain on the planet.
- Reduce plastic. Plastic is made from oil, and the process of extracting, refining and turning oil into plastic (or even polyester, for clothing) is surprisingly carbon-intense. It doesn’t break down quickly in nature so a lot of plastic is burned, which contributes to emissions. Demand for plastic is rising so quickly that creating and disposing of plastics will account for 17% of the global carbon budget by 2050 (this is the emissions count we need to stay within according to the Paris agreement)
The non-profit energy cooperative Repowering London works in partnership with local authorities and community groups in some of London’s poorest areas to bring renewable energy within their reach. The organisation aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions, fight fuel poverty and generate training and employment opportunities for communities.
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion.
If we want to accelerate an object, then we must apply a force. Applying a force requires us to do work. After work has been done, energy has been transferred to the object, and the object will be moving with a new constant speed.
A way to convert this kinetic energy into electric energy is through piezoelectricity. By applying a mechanical stress to a piezoelectric crystal or material an electric current will be created and can be harvested.
If we want to accelerate an object, then we must apply a force. Applying a force requires us to do work. After work has been done, energy has been transferred to the object, and the object will be moving with a new constant speed.
A way to convert this kinetic energy into electric energy is through piezoelectricity. By applying a mechanical stress to a piezoelectric crystal or material an electric current will be created and can be harvested.
How much energy can be produced from bikes
Generate and Store up to 100Wh per hour of cycling. One workout is enough to charge 2.6 MacBook Pros, 4 iPad Pros, or 14 iPhones.
The average home requires around 12,000 kilowatt hours (Kwh) of heat per year. Therefore, in order to achieve this, a heat pump with a CoP of three would use 4,000 kWh of electricity annually.
https://www.viessmann.co.uk/
A 100W light bulb uses 0.1kW an hour, this means that ten 100W light bulbs on at the same time would require 1kW.
Ten 18W LED light bulbs costs: 18W is 0.018kW x 10 = 0.18kW an hour.
The average household - 2 hours of use per day, average of 45 bulbs per house. Data from OVO Energy and CBS News.
The average home requires around 12,000 kilowatt hours (Kwh) of heat per year. Therefore, in order to achieve this, a heat pump with a CoP of three would use 4,000 kWh of electricity annually.
https://www.viessmann.co.uk/
A 100W light bulb uses 0.1kW an hour, this means that ten 100W light bulbs on at the same time would require 1kW.
Ten 18W LED light bulbs costs: 18W is 0.018kW x 10 = 0.18kW an hour.
The average household - 2 hours of use per day, average of 45 bulbs per house. Data from OVO Energy and CBS News.
Composting
The average house size in the UK is relatively small at 76 m2
One kilowatt of heat will be required for heating every 10 square metres of your home.
7.6 kw to heat the average house.
3-5 days to get to 60-70 degrees celsius.
One kilowatt of heat will be required for heating every 10 square metres of your home.
7.6 kw to heat the average house.
3-5 days to get to 60-70 degrees celsius.
Ideas
Charity to fund commuity energy - solar panels on council houses, small wind farm built outside of a small village...
A non-profit company that provides solar panels to flat/ apartment blocks.
Campaign to create more awareness of renewable energy.
Campaign that shows you how you can make your own compost bins to heat your house.
Company that sells compost bins to make your own energy- comes with seed packets that you can plant and use the compost you make to fertilise them.
Company that sells compost bins and collects them every month and takes it to a plant within the town to generate energy for the people of the town.
Company that sells batteries that can be connected to an ordinary bike and it collects the energy made when pedaling to generate energy to houses.
A gym that has batteries connected to all their equipment- you subscribe to the gym and get free energy in return.
A non-profit company that provides solar panels to flat/ apartment blocks.
Campaign to create more awareness of renewable energy.
Campaign that shows you how you can make your own compost bins to heat your house.
Company that sells compost bins to make your own energy- comes with seed packets that you can plant and use the compost you make to fertilise them.
Company that sells compost bins and collects them every month and takes it to a plant within the town to generate energy for the people of the town.
Company that sells batteries that can be connected to an ordinary bike and it collects the energy made when pedaling to generate energy to houses.
A gym that has batteries connected to all their equipment- you subscribe to the gym and get free energy in return.
Excersise benefits
The more people exercise, the less people that stay/ become obese. This means that less people are using the NHS for illnesses caused by being over-weight and this frees up space for people with potentially serious illnesses.
Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety. It also plays a role in preventing the development of mental health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health problems.
Physical activity has been shown to have a positive impact on our mood. A study asked people to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity (e.g. going for a walk or doing housework), and periods of inactivity (e.g. reading a book or watching television).
Researchers found that the participants felt more content, more awake and calmer after being physically active compared to after periods of inactivity. They also found that the effect of physical activity on mood was greatest when the mood was initially low. Many studies look at the physical activity at different intensity levels and its impact on people’s mood. Overall, research has found that low-intensity aerobic exercise – for 30–35 minutes, 3–5 days a week, for 10–12 weeks – was best at increasing positive moods (e.g. enthusiasm, alertness).
Physical exercise can be very effective in relieving stress. Research on employed adults has found that highly active individuals tend to have lower stress rates than less active individuals.
Physical activity has been identified as a protective factor in studies that examined risk factors for dementia. For people who have already developed the disease, physical activity can help to delay further decline in functioning. Studies show that there is approximately a 20% to 30% lower risk of depression and dementia for adults participating in daily physical activity. Physical activity also seems to reduce the likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline in people who do not have dementia.
Physical activity can be an alternative treatment for depression. It can be used as a standalone or combined with medication and/ or psychological therapy. It has few side effects and does not have the stigma that some people perceive to be attached to taking antidepressants or attending psychotherapy and counselling. Physical activity can reduce anxiety levels in people with mild symptoms and may also help treat clinical anxiety. Physical activity is available to all, has few costs attached, and is an empowering approach that can support self-management.
Mental health foundation.
Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety. It also plays a role in preventing the development of mental health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health problems.
Physical activity has been shown to have a positive impact on our mood. A study asked people to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity (e.g. going for a walk or doing housework), and periods of inactivity (e.g. reading a book or watching television).
Researchers found that the participants felt more content, more awake and calmer after being physically active compared to after periods of inactivity. They also found that the effect of physical activity on mood was greatest when the mood was initially low. Many studies look at the physical activity at different intensity levels and its impact on people’s mood. Overall, research has found that low-intensity aerobic exercise – for 30–35 minutes, 3–5 days a week, for 10–12 weeks – was best at increasing positive moods (e.g. enthusiasm, alertness).
Physical exercise can be very effective in relieving stress. Research on employed adults has found that highly active individuals tend to have lower stress rates than less active individuals.
Physical activity has been identified as a protective factor in studies that examined risk factors for dementia. For people who have already developed the disease, physical activity can help to delay further decline in functioning. Studies show that there is approximately a 20% to 30% lower risk of depression and dementia for adults participating in daily physical activity. Physical activity also seems to reduce the likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline in people who do not have dementia.
Physical activity can be an alternative treatment for depression. It can be used as a standalone or combined with medication and/ or psychological therapy. It has few side effects and does not have the stigma that some people perceive to be attached to taking antidepressants or attending psychotherapy and counselling. Physical activity can reduce anxiety levels in people with mild symptoms and may also help treat clinical anxiety. Physical activity is available to all, has few costs attached, and is an empowering approach that can support self-management.
Mental health foundation.
Are people excersising enough?
We know all too well that many people in the UK do not meet the current physical activity guidelines.
With an average of only 65.5% of men and 54% of women meeting the recommended physical activity levels in 2015, more people must be given the knowledge and support they need to make physical activity a healthy yet enjoyable part of life.
The Department of Health recommends that adults should aim to be active daily and complete 2.5 hours of moderate intensity activity over a week –
the equivalent of 30 minutes five times a week. It may sound like a lot, but it isn’t as daunting as it first appears, and we have many suggestions to help
you get started.
Social support is a great motivator, and sharing your experiences, goals, and achievements will help you to keep focus and enthusiasm. Spin classes can be a good way to generate power together and socialise, make new friends, which in turn helps improve peoples mental health whilst creating a sense of community.
Mental health foundation
With an average of only 65.5% of men and 54% of women meeting the recommended physical activity levels in 2015, more people must be given the knowledge and support they need to make physical activity a healthy yet enjoyable part of life.
The Department of Health recommends that adults should aim to be active daily and complete 2.5 hours of moderate intensity activity over a week –
the equivalent of 30 minutes five times a week. It may sound like a lot, but it isn’t as daunting as it first appears, and we have many suggestions to help
you get started.
Social support is a great motivator, and sharing your experiences, goals, and achievements will help you to keep focus and enthusiasm. Spin classes can be a good way to generate power together and socialise, make new friends, which in turn helps improve peoples mental health whilst creating a sense of community.
Mental health foundation
Young adults (18-34 years old) are the largest age group who frequent the gym at 60.60%.
https://financesonline.com/
Apparently the bigger your salary the more likely you are to go to the gym. The study of 1,600 participants by healthcare charity Nuffield Health found that people on less than £20,000 a year use the gym for an average of an hour a week, whilst those earning towards the higher end of the scale would use the gym for three hours per week on average.
https://financesonline.com/
Apparently the bigger your salary the more likely you are to go to the gym. The study of 1,600 participants by healthcare charity Nuffield Health found that people on less than £20,000 a year use the gym for an average of an hour a week, whilst those earning towards the higher end of the scale would use the gym for three hours per week on average.
Market research: Gym logos
Green seems to be a common colour, which would be good to stay away from, however, it does link with renewable energy.
Mainly typography based logos.
Some use a friendly, inviting approach and others a more masculine, blatantly aggressive approach. It would be better for this project to go with a more friendly approach, as we are trying to be environmentally friendly.
These logos are very simple and plain.
Mainly sans-serif or all-caps.
Mainly typography based logos.
Some use a friendly, inviting approach and others a more masculine, blatantly aggressive approach. It would be better for this project to go with a more friendly approach, as we are trying to be environmentally friendly.
These logos are very simple and plain.
Mainly sans-serif or all-caps.
Brand design process
Brand name
|
Synonyms for renewable
Continual Viable Endless Limitless Infinite Bountiful- liberal in bestowing gifts, favors, or bounties; munificent; generous. Synonyms for energy Intensity Power Activity/ active Force Juice Might Muscle Punch Pep Steam Zest |
Synonyms for home
Central Family Native Local Abode Hut Synonyms for kinetic Animated Lively Aggressive Forceful Spirited Synonyms for gym Act Ring Centre Field Square |
Ideas
|
Zest
Infinity Spirited power The active act Juiced Bounty Bountiful earth |
Bountiful power
Bountiful people Bountiful home Bountiful change Generate Regenerate Revive Energize |
Chosen brand name: Revive
I have chosen the name Revive for my kinetic gym brand because it means to restore to life.
This company's primary aim is to aid the restoration of the planet using renewable energy.
It's secondary aim is to help the people of the community through their bills and their physical and mental health, reviving the people of the community's sense of self and security.
Vive is also french for long life.
This company's primary aim is to aid the restoration of the planet using renewable energy.
It's secondary aim is to help the people of the community through their bills and their physical and mental health, reviving the people of the community's sense of self and security.
Vive is also french for long life.
Colour theory
Red can increase a viewer’s heart rate and blood pressure. This primary colour is associated with passion and energy. Companies sometimes use the colour red to express a sense of urgency. Red is energizing and exciting, motivating us to act. It can also give confidence to those who are shy or lacking in willpower. It is generally associated with our most physical needs.
Dark blue represents power, strength, and dependability.
Green is associated with the environment and nature, as well as money and good luck, green has a similar calming effect to blue hues.
Orange is the hue of encouragement, optimism, and self-confidence, marking the extrovert. Orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. Orange can inspire courage, enthusiasm, rejuvenation, and vitality.
Yellow is creative the tone of new ideas and new ways of doing things. However, too much yellow can cause anxiety, nervousness, apprehension, agitation, and confrontation.
https://londonimageinstitute.com/
Dark blue represents power, strength, and dependability.
Green is associated with the environment and nature, as well as money and good luck, green has a similar calming effect to blue hues.
Orange is the hue of encouragement, optimism, and self-confidence, marking the extrovert. Orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. Orange can inspire courage, enthusiasm, rejuvenation, and vitality.
Yellow is creative the tone of new ideas and new ways of doing things. However, too much yellow can cause anxiety, nervousness, apprehension, agitation, and confrontation.
https://londonimageinstitute.com/
Colour palettes
Brand values
Community- create a sense of belonging/ family whilst helping people.
Growth- promoting the use of renewable energy to better the planet.
Proactiveness- make use of renewable energy before the damage to the planet is irreversible.
Sustainability- minimise the use of greenhouse gases as much as possible within our company.
Teamwork- community working with themselves and the company to minimise greenhouse gases.
Wellness- Reducing greenhouse gases and their own bills, more people will be motivated to excercise.
Growth- promoting the use of renewable energy to better the planet.
Proactiveness- make use of renewable energy before the damage to the planet is irreversible.
Sustainability- minimise the use of greenhouse gases as much as possible within our company.
Teamwork- community working with themselves and the company to minimise greenhouse gases.
Wellness- Reducing greenhouse gases and their own bills, more people will be motivated to excercise.
Logo design
Ideas
Development
Further developement + colour palettes
Final logo
Membership cards
Ideas
Development
Final membership cards
App
Mockups
Instagram ad
Final instagram ad
Bus stop ad
Final bus stop ads
Presentation boards
