Helena Yang
Throughout the years there has been an increase in the number of people that possess a
cellphone, iPod, or some other technological gadget. The number of iPhone users in particular has
increased from 17.5 million users in 2010 to 63.5 million in 2014 in the United States alone.1 Due to
Wi-Fi usage, apps being open, and other iPhone settings, people are constantly in need of recharging
their phones throughout the day however do not always have their charger on hand. As a result,
many iPhone users charge their phones overnight leaving them in the outlet for more than enough
time to fully charger their phones and do not unplug the charger itself from the outlet even when the
device is removed.
Contrary to what many people believe however, leaving one’s phone in the charger after it
has been fully charged does not actually destroy the battery. Apple iPhones and most modern
cellphones use lithium batteries that allow the phones to reach 80% charge and switches to a slower
trickle charge after until it reaches a full charge. The phone then uses the charger’s electricity so that
the battery does not get drained. 2 On average, cellphones use 3.68 watts of power from the outlet
when charging and 2.24 watts once it is charged. 3 If the charger was left in for an extra 6 hours
overnight when the user is sleeping for example, 2.24 watts x 6 hours, then adding on the original
3.68 watts to charge the phone the total would be 0.138 kwh. Multiplying that by the average cost of
electricity in New York, which is $0.19 cents/kwh4 would come to a total of $0.026 a day. In a year
this would result in $11.84 spent to charge a phone every day for a year. If a charger is left in an
outlet during the day without a device being charged, only an average of 1 watt will be used. This
costs users an additional about $0.69 a year. So what is the big deal?
1
"Forecast: IPhone Smartphone Users in the U.S. 2010-2014 | Forecast."Statista. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"Apple - Batteries - Why Lithium-ion?" Apple - Batteries - Why Lithium-ion?N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
3
"We Are What We Do." Action #122 Don't Charge Your Phone Overnight. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
4
"U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." EIA. N.p., n.d. Web. 12
Nov. 2014.
2
Although the price to charge phones may not seem like an extravagant amount, it adds up
when looking from a national perspective. In US alone the total would be ($11.84 x 63.2 million)
about $748 million spent on charging iPhones and 10.79 million kwh used. If a convenient way to
minimize the amount of energy used in total to charge cellphones was possible, a significant amount
of money and energy could be saved nationally.
Another major issue seen today is the amount of clothing and shoes that are carelessly
discarded. In North America there is about 12 million tons of textile waste, filling up 5% landfills.
Many textiles can be recycled but are not reaching proper textile recycling companies or not getting
sorted at a domestic or local level. There is a great demand for used textiles yet recycling industries
cannot get a hold of enough to supply those demands. 5
In the past there have been certain attempts to solve the issue of making renewable energy
accessible to users. For instance, designer Pauline Van Dongen created a wearable solar line. She
made a dress with 72 flexible solar cells. Under the sun each cell can generate enough power to
charge a dead phone to 50%. Fabrics used to make the line include leather and wool. 6 A similar
concept was done for the Zegna Sport’s Ecotech Solar Jacket made with recycled plastic. The solar
panels, which need to be in the sun for around 5 hours to charge a phone, and battery are detachable
so devices can be charged separately if needed. Adapters for different types of phones are also
included. 7 Accessories such as bags and backpacks have been created using photovoltaic cells. The
$800 Ralph Lauren RLX Solar Panel Backpack can produce up to 3.45 watts of energy. There are
cords and a battery pack also attached to the backpack. 8Although the bag is expensive, the design is
sleek and the straps are comfortable.
5
"Eartheasy." Eartheasy Blog Lets Keep Clothing out of Our Landfills Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"Pauline Van Dongen / Wearable Technology." Pauline Van Dongen. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
7
"NEW! Zegna Sport’s Ecotech Solar Jacket.” Ecouterre NEW Zegna Sports Ecotech Solar Jacket Made From
Recycled Plastic Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
8 "Ralph Lauren RLX Solar Panel Backpack." Uncrate. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
6
Puma has already created a line of accessories, clothing, and shoes called “InCycle” that is
made from recycled materials and biodegradable materials. The sneaker for the line is made out of
organic cotton, linen, and apinat (a biodegradable plastic). Puma has also started a “Bring Me Back”
strategy where old shoes and clothes are collected from consumers and upcycled. Sneakers that are
returned are shredded and the materials can then be composted. 9
My solution to address the issues of charging phones, saving energy, and textile waste is to
create an improved sneaker. By using solar cells that can be attached and detached from the sneaker,
the renewable energy source will be convenient for users to access and not have to worry about
forgetting their phone chargers at home or remembering to charge their phone at night. There would
be a USB slot on the side of the shoe with different adapters, which can be purchased separately, that
can be inserted into the USB so that cellphones can be inserted directly into the shoe and charged
with the power stored in the solar cells. By using metal snap on buttons to attach the solar cells to the
sides, back heel, and toe box of the sneaker, they can be easily removed from the sneaker if the
sneaker needs to be washed or if the user wants the option to remove the cells on a rainy day, for a
sport, or at night. The different solar patches will be connected with thin wire so that all the charge
can reach the USB outlet.
The USB will be attached to the battery that controls the solar power. This battery can be slid
out of its position and removed from the shoe, leaving a hollowed out section in the midsole of the
sneaker. This hole and the USB will always be concealed by a flap, which can be un-snapped, so the
user can reach the USB and battery only when needed. The sneaker will be made out of recycled
cotton and biodegradable plastic. By asking customers and local residents to donate their old clothing
and shoes to the company that would coordinate with a textile recycling company, it would help
generate enough recycled textiles and reduce landfill waste.
9
"Puma InCycle Collection." Ecouterre Puma InCycle Collection Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Materials that will be needed to create this shoe will consist of the solar powered cells,
electric wire, metal snap buttons, recycled cotton, recycled cotton mesh, biodegradable plastic, a
battery, and adapters. The photovoltaic cells are made up of monocrystalline silicon and consist of
two semi-conductor layers, one with positive charges and the other with negative charges. When
light hits the cell, photons are reflected and the sunlight is absorbed into the negative layer of the cell.
The electrons are attracted to the positive layer and a voltage is produced. Once the two layers are
connected to a circuit, electricity is made. 10 By using c-Si films in particular, the solar cells will be
more flexible. This would allow for the solar cells to mold to the shape of the sneaker better. The
edges of the film are laminated between thin protective foils to protect the cell. 11
Since there are four different solar cell patches on the sneaker, they will be linked together
with short electric wire at certain corners of the patch where there are fasteners. The cells will then
all be linked to the battery/USB slot so the solar energy has a place to be contained. To elaborate on
how the solar cells will be attached to the shoe, the fastener side with teeth needs to be punctured
through the plastic film and metal end. It is then secured to the other end of the fastener to close the
cell. 12 On the body of the shoe there will be the female fastener end so the male cells can be snapped
on. The different cellphone adapters can be plugged directly into the USB opening and will not stick
out because the battery/USB will be imbedded deeper into the sole of the shoe.
By using recycled cotton to make sneaker, the labor, chemicals, and water usage that go into
making regular cotton no longer add to the negative externalities of making shoes. When textile
products are recycled, they are separated by color and type then put through stripping machines that
break down the fabric. Fibers are extracted and cleaned before made into new yarn. It then goes
10
"How Photovoltaic Cells Work - Solar Energy." Solar Energy How Photovoltaic Cells Work Comments. N.p., n.d.
Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
11
"Download PDFs." Flexible Solar Cells for Clothing. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
12
"How to Connect Solar Cells to Fabric." Instructables.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
through a process of open end spinning. Because the recycled fabrics are already colored, they do not
need to be dyed. 13 Overall this will help address textile waste.
This sneaker is more sustainable than others because it allows users to produce renewable
energy and have the convenience of being able to charge cellphones and iPod on the go. All the raw
materials needed to make the sneaker will be extracted from the same state, Texas, and be
transported together to one manufacturing company also in Texas using hybrid trucks. The sneakers
will be lightweight, which helps during the transportation process by not using as much energy. The
sneakers will also be packaged in biodegradable packaging boxes. By working with a local textile
recycling company, more jobs can be allotted to those who help with the sorting process of the
textiles. Hiring workers who live nearby would also reduce travel time. Having a partnership with
local recycling sites in Texas will also be more efficient in getting the recycled plastic for the sneaker
to the manufacturing sites promptly.
This new sneaker design may not be sustainable however due to the price of producing solar
powered cells. Consumers may not be willing to pay more money for the solar powered sneaker if
they would rather stick to the look of an ordinary sneaker instead. It also requires different raw
materials such as metal, to be extracted to make the solar cells themselves which entails using
heaving machinery that emit C02 in order to get the necessary materials from a processing plant. The
sorting process of recycled clothing is labor-intensive and often hard financially. 13 After taking into
account the process to manufacture the shoe alone, it may cost more than simply charging a phone
overnight and leaving a charger in the outlet everyday.
Works Cited
13
"Textile Exchange." Recycled Cotton. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Apple - Batteries - Why Lithium-ion?" Apple - Batteries - Why Lithium-ion?N.p., n.d. Web. 13
Nov. 2014.
"Download PDFs." Flexible Solar Cells for Clothing. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"Eartheasy." Eartheasy Blog Lets Keep Clothing out of Our Landfills Comments. N.p., n.d. Web.
13 Nov. 2014.
"Forecast: IPhone Smartphone Users in the U.S. 2010-2014 | Forecast."Statista. N.p., n.d. Web.
10 Nov. 2014.
"How Photovoltaic Cells Work - Solar Energy." Solar Energy How Photovoltaic Cells Work
Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"How to Connect Solar Cells to Fabric." Instructables.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"NEW! Zegna Sport’s Ecotech Solar Jacket.” Ecouterre NEW Zegna Sports Ecotech Solar Jacket
Made From Recycled Plastic Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"Pauline Van Dongen / Wearable Technology." Pauline Van Dongen. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov.
2014.
"Puma InCycle Collection." Ecouterre Puma InCycle Collection Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13
Nov. 2014.
"Ralph Lauren RLX Solar Panel Backpack." Uncrate. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"Textile Exchange." Recycled Cotton. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." EIA.
N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"We Are What We Do." Action #122 Don't Charge Your Phone Overnight. N.p., n.d. Web. 13
Nov. 2014.
From a customer point of view, an ipv system should be easy to use, comfortable and reliable,
offer a universal socket for the countless different charging adapters and devices, and, of course,
deliver plenty of energy at an affordable price. If parts of the system need to be visible, they
should be attractive and integrate well with the particular design of the garments. Connecting
wires, charge controllers, and batteries ought to be invisible, lightweight, and maintenance free.
Quality of life improved, saving time by having a way to charge your iPhone or iPod on
hand. The shoe is made of materials that are recycled and biodegradable.
http://news.wjct.org/post/ask-deemable-tech-leaving-my-phone-plugged-all-night-bad-battery
http://blog.opower.com/2012/09/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-iphone-5-a-thoughtprovokingly-modest-0-41year/
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/ photovoltaic
http://solarenergy.net/solar-power-resources/how-photovoltaic-cells-work/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702106715425 how solar cells made!!!
http://www.ecouterre.com/diffus-chic-solar-power-bag-flaunts-its-photovoltaic-panels-instead-of-hidingthem/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solarize-your-backpack-and-power-all-your-gizmos/#step1
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Running-Shoe.html
Can be somewhat costly http://www.flexsolarcells.com/PowerFilm-Solar-OEMComponents.php
http://www.statista.com/statistics/232790/forecast-of-apple-users-in-the-us/
https://www.apple.com/batteries/why-lithium-ion/
http://www.actiontracker.org.uk/actions/view/122/
http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_6_a
http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/05/lets-keep-clothing-out-of-our-landfills/
http://paulinevandongen.nl/
http://www.ecouterre.com/new-zegna-sports-ecotech-solar-jacket-made-from-recycled-plastic/
http://uncrate.com/stuff/ralph-lauren-rlx-solar-panel-backpack/
http://www.ecouterre.com/puma-unveils-incycle-line-of-cradle-to-cradle-certified-apparel-footwear/pumaincycle-cradle-to-cradle-1/
http://solarenergy.net/solar-power-resources/how-photovoltaic-cells-work/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702106715425
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-connect-solar-cells-to-fabric/
14 http://textileexchange.org/node/958
What type of energy you use, will you pay for it, wind energy, wood, solar…
Will you do energy conservation measures
Will you purchase energy efficient equipment?
Will you change your work cycle to use NIGHT electricity (non peak load)
Will you choose “clean coal” or natural gas? = TYPE OF ENERGY YOU USE/branding make it
entirely from wind energy
How will you outcompete your competitor on minimizing negative externalities
Insolate the wires, so if wet won’t get messed up
Indicator LED lights when solar cells are charged
Battery is removable
http://www.ahla.com/Green.aspx?id=36228
http://www.textiles4textiles.eu/?p=what-is-t4t