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"The Global Innovation Series is supported by BMW i, a new concept dedicated to providing mobility solutions for the urban environment. It delivers more than purpose-built electric vehicles \u2014 it delivers smart mobility services. Visit bmw-i.com or follow @BMWi on Twitter.\nFinding sources of renewable energy is a growing challenge for the modern world. As we strive for energy efficiency and sustainable resources, avenues are opening up for different and exciting ways to power our lifestyles. Companies across the globe are harnessing the potential of renewable energies, including solar and geothermal  methods. \nBut, there are more novel sources on the horizon that can provide power for many things, from metropolitan buildings to your high-tech lifestyle. Always available, naturally renewing and running at an energy-packed 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the human body seems a useful green energy option for the future. Nanotechnology, the frontier of cutting-edge science, is also rapidly becoming a viable way to power our world. Even thermodynamics provides a novel way to get things going, using a carefully balanced system to preserve energy, keeping items hotter for longer periods of time.\nHere are some technologies that are changing the way we look at energy generation. Do you think these sources can become a power player like solar energy? Or should they be reserved for sci-fi books and space movies? Let us know in the comments below.\n1. Body Heat\n\n\n\n\nOne of the busiest train stations in Stockholm has become an unlikely energy source for a building across the street. Jernhusen, a transportation real estate company in Sweden, found a way to create usable energy from the body heat of the quarter million commuters who pass through Stockholm Central Station each day.\nHere's how it works, according to a BBC article: Heat exchangers in the Central Station's ventilation system convert the excess body heat into hot water. That is then pumped to the heating system in the nearby building to keep it warm. In practice, the system lowers the energy costs of the building by 25%. \nA report last February said Jernhusen will expand its environmental projects to include industrial buildings, in addition to offices and homes. But the company's \"industrial hall concept\" will use solar panels for energy, not converted body heat.\nRest assured, you don't always need thousands of people to produce enough energy to power technology \u2014 one's clothing and accessories can be turned into a personal powerhouse. It may not be the most fashionable item, but researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory created a body heat energy-harnessing jacket using silicon nanowire technology. The \"personal power-jacket\" would use body heat to charge cellphones and other electronic devices on your person.\nBeyond your own phone and tablet, body heat could be used to power a number of energy- and fuel-guzzling objects, even airplanes. Last year, Charles Champion, executive vice president for engineering at Airbus, envisioned a plane for the year 2051 that uses body heat to power lights and transparent viewscreens. \n2. Nanotechnology\n\n\nIllustration: Arokia Nathan\n\nPowering objects using nanotechnology has long been a dream of scientists and engineers, and it's inching toward reality. Late in 2011, scientists combined zinc oxide nanoparticles with aluminum and heated the materials in a microwave. They discovered that the zinc oxide conducts electricity, while the aluminum makes it difficult for the molecules to transfer heat \u2014 sparking electrons and electrical current. But, how we can use this technology to power consumer products is an ongoing learning experience. \nThere also are prototypes in place that have major potential for sustainable technology, thanks to nanotechnology that enables energy transfer. A researcher at the London Centre for Nanotechnology developed a cellphone power source that uses solar cells and light from OLED to produce an overall longer battery life. The power would derive from the \"wasted light\" in an OLED screen, which would be reabsorbed using photovoltaic cells built into the screen itself. It's still a long way from producing sustainable returns, but the concept could change the way we power our technology in the near future.  \n3. Pedal Power\n\n\n\n\nPedal power is a way to harness energy by connecting a stationary bike to a generator, and numerous YouTube users have posted videos of their \"pedal power\" devices. These machines can power many home appliances, including washing machines, cellphones and light bulbs. \nWhile the sustainability of constant human effort is less promising than other energy-producing resources, the grassroots movement surrounding pedal power is one that cannot be ignored. Its inherent DIY attitude helps citizens focus on novel ways to power everyday electronics, which helps to raise awareness for innovative energy sources.\n4. Small-Scale Thermodynamics\n\n\n\n\nDo you reheat your coffee in the microwave or dump old coffee to brew a fresh, hot pot? An easy way to be more \"green\" in that department and utilize some cool new technology is by dropping a few Coffee Joulies into your morning cup of Joe, and then rely on heat transfer to do the rest. These thermodynamic stones capture excess heat and then slowly disseminate heat back into the coffee, ensuring a hot (but not too hot) cup for a longer period time. Made from all food-grade materials, the stones are made from stainless steel, with a shell made of temperature-absorbing material. The only downside is it takes one stone per 5 ounces of liquid.\nFrom global issues that impact society in a major way to keeping your morning coffee hotter for just a bit longer, novel methods are available to power our lives in new and interesting ways while remaining sustainable.\nSeries Supported by BMW i\n\n\u00A0\nThe Global Innovation Series is supported by BMW i, a new concept dedicated to providing mobility solutions for the urban environment. It delivers more than purpose-built electric vehicles; it delivers smart mobility services within and beyond the car. Visit bmw-i.com or follow @BMWi on Twitter.Are you an innovative entrepreneur? Submit your pitch to BMW i Ventures, a mobility and tech venture capital company.\n\nImage courtesy of iStockphoto,  vovan13"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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