An energy-return shoe system includes a shoe portion for containing a user’s foot, an upper sole with an upper toe sole area and an upper heel sole area, the upper sole affixed to a bottom surface of the shoe portion and the upper sole capable of bending at a point between the upper toe sole area and the upper heel sole area. A sensor distinguishes an origin of a control action applied to the control element. The acoustic information is analyzed for a trigger event. In addition, an integrated power plant is disclosed that provides a source of renewable energy in the form of a cross-flow wind turbine that includes solar cells mounted on south facing surfaces of the stators.