Alternative energy sources, wind power, water power, solar power. These methods are lauded by some and condemned by others. One in particular, wind power, has potential for wide spread use—just about everywhere has wind—but because of space demands and mechanical inefficacy many places will never see a day of wind powered products; until now at least.

The Windbelt, a new generation of wind harvesters, can bring an easy, dependable, and durable way to harness wind power. The Windbelt is a small mechanism composed of a frame with a tight membrane stretching from end to end. At each end of the frame has metal coils on the inside top and bottom. Affixed to the membrane between these coils is a small magnet that moves up and down as the wind blows. This design allows for maximum wind power with little energy lost to friction and resistance.

The Windbelt is the brain child of Shawn Frayne, a 28 year old MIT grad, who saw a need while volunteering in Haiti. Inventions like Shawn’s are a godsend to the average $2 a day worker in Haiti. Shawn’s success is not surprising seeing his education. At MIT, Shawn studied under another inventive scientist, Amy Smith. Smith is a professor at MIT who does her part in rural Brazil, Haiti, and India with inventions such as sugar cane charcoal and electricity-free incubators. Its great to see that science and innovation does not need to come with a million dollar price tag.

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