Green Gym Uses Human-Powered Energy

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Ariel Schwartz

The opening of Portland’s The Green Microgym this week seems like a perfect complement to the announcement of M2E’s kinetic charger, which can generate energy from motion. Adam Boesel, The Green Microgym’s owner, doctored up spin bikes with weed whacker motors and truck alternators so that patrons can create energy to help power the 2,800 foot space.

According to DailyTech, the Team Dynamo and Spin Bikes at the gym can each generate up to 75 watts. Next on Boesel’s list is generating power from elliptical trainers.

At first, patrons will probably generate about 25 percent of the gym’s power. But Boesel hopes that eventually they will be to generate all of it.

The Green Microgym follows in the footsteps of Hong Kong’s California Fitness gym, which uses gym-goers’ energy to power light fixtures.

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Ariel Schwartz (374 Posts)

Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.

Matt

Let me preface by saying I think this is a great idea, but we have not yet developed adequate technology to make this a viable solution. The amount of energy consumed by the gym in total will still be magnitudes of order greater than energy produced by humans on the machines. Maybe if all the machines were constantly in use and creating the max amount of energy they could we would be closer. Also, from a business point of view, the memberships could not be free, because it is ultimately a venture established to create a profit, memberships are the primary source of capital for the gym. Having said that, the goverment could subsidize gyms like this to make start up costs and the increased initial investment of engineering and manufacturing these energy creating aerobic machines. Don’t get me wrong I think this is a great idea and I’ve had thoughts of doing the same, but upon investigating further myself I’ve found many flaws. Bottomline, we need better energy creation technology for the generators, more efficient power transmission cables, long life storage batteries, and Americans need to quit being such lazy fatassses and work our bodies like they were designed, I think the government needs to become involved with this a little bit to make it more financially possibe for foreward thinking inventive people like the owner of this gym. Best of luck to the gym though!
Matt

Let me preface by saying I think this is a great idea, but we have not yet developed adequate technology to make this a viable solution. The amount of energy consumed by the gym in total will still be magnitudes of order greater than energy produced by humans on the machines. Maybe if all the machines were constantly in use and creating the max amount of energy they could we would be closer. Also, from a business point of view, the memberships could not be free, because it is ultimately a venture established to create a profit, memberships are the primary source of capital for the gym. Having said that, the goverment could subsidize gyms like this to make start up costs and the increased initial investment of engineering and manufacturing these energy creating aerobic machines. Don’t get me wrong I think this is a great idea and I’ve had thoughts of doing the same, but upon investigating further myself I’ve found many flaws. Bottomline, we need better energy creation technology for the generators, more efficient power transmission cables, long life storage batteries, and Americans need to quit being such lazy fatassses and work our bodies like they were designed, I think the government needs to become involved with this a little bit to make it more financially possibe for foreward thinking inventive people like the owner of this gym. Best of luck to the gym though!
http://environmentindia.blogspot.com/ arun

I love this blog
http://environmentindia.blogspot.com/ arun

I love this blog
nomineemc

Very cool! The aspect of giving discounts on memberships equivalent to the amount of power generated would not only interest the frugal participant, but encourage all to excercize more.
nomineemc

Very cool! The aspect of giving discounts on memberships equivalent to the amount of power generated would not only interest the frugal participant, but encourage all to excercize more.
Kimberly

I think everyone should take the example and go green. It’s what’s needed!!!!!!!!!!
Kimberly

I think everyone should take the example and go green. It’s what’s needed!!!!!!!!!!
Michael

A local radio station and a gym did a promo thing where the station was completely powered by people and stationary bikes.
Michael

A local radio station and a gym did a promo thing where the station was completely powered by people and stationary bikes.
http://is.gd/Fo2/947076015 web

This is how they’ll REALLY power the Matrix.
http://is.gd/Fo2/947076015 web

This is how they’ll REALLY power the Matrix.
http://birdsight.com DonnaB

I want someone to teach me how to do this with my bike that is sitting idle in my shed out back. Please. I am not techno savvy but I know it can be modified somehow to generate power. If you can help, let me know at my site please.
http://birdsight.com DonnaB

I want someone to teach me how to do this with my bike that is sitting idle in my shed out back. Please. I am not techno savvy but I know it can be modified somehow to generate power. If you can help, let me know at my site please.
http://get-free-coupons.com/ ady

A very very good idea!
http://get-free-coupons.com/ ady

A very very good idea!
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E

…….ummmmm so the memberships are free, Right!?
Patrick

Boesel should purchase some indoor rowing machines (ergometers) to help make his gym 100% human-powered. A single stroke by almost any rower can generate hundreds of watts. For example, on a 2000 meter piece (which usually lasts 6.5 – 9 minutes), a strong rower can average 300 watts for each stroke they take. I am on a rowing (crew) team, and whenever the team has an indoor practice on the ergometers, I think of how much energy the combined work of 30+ guys is generating and how it could be put to use. Concept2 is the largest producer of ergometers (www.concept2.com), and only ten ergs could definitely help Boesel towards his goal.
Patrick

Boesel should purchase some indoor rowing machines (ergometers) to help make his gym 100% human-powered. A single stroke by almost any rower can generate hundreds of watts. For example, on a 2000 meter piece (which usually lasts 6.5 – 9 minutes), a strong rower can average 300 watts for each stroke they take. I am on a rowing (crew) team, and whenever the team has an indoor practice on the ergometers, I think of how much energy the combined work of 30+ guys is generating and how it could be put to use. Concept2 is the largest producer of ergometers (www.concept2.com), and only ten ergs could definitely help Boesel towards his goal.
jaris dreaming

i’ve been wanting to do this for years. i need to find out technical details to hook up some bikes at home to generate electricity. anyone know of a website explaining how to do this?
jaris dreaming

i’ve been wanting to do this for years. i need to find out technical details to hook up some bikes at home to generate electricity. anyone know of a website explaining how to do this?
Alex

I think this is a great idea, but: Do those generating the power and energy cost savings get some kind of reduction in their gym bill, or an outright cash reward? If not, why?
Alex

I think this is a great idea, but: Do those generating the power and energy cost savings get some kind of reduction in their gym bill, or an outright cash reward? If not, why?
Ricky

I also had this idea years ago…along with handwritten blueprints for the personal computer, chopsticks and the Nintendo Wii.

I guess I shoulda acted on them. :-/
Ricky

I also had this idea years ago…along with handwritten blueprints for the personal computer, chopsticks and the Nintendo Wii.

I guess I shoulda acted on them. :-/
E

…….ummmmm so the memberships are free, Right!?
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stevenjay

Ariel: You should remove the phrase “per hour” after the words “75 watts”. Watts are a unit of power, not energy. And although the 25 percent estimate for the total energy savings is interesting, it would also be good to know what the total power consumption per month is for such a business.
stevenjay

Ariel: You should remove the phrase “per hour” after the words “75 watts”. Watts are a unit of power, not energy. And although the 25 percent estimate for the total energy savings is interesting, it would also be good to know what the total power consumption per month is for such a business.
http://thealternativeenergyinvestor.blogspot.com Ray The Money Man

I had visions of this as a child. I saw a gym on one side of the wall and the power plant on the other and they didn’t know they were producing energy!

http://thealternativeenergyinvestor.blogspot.com
http://thealternativeenergyinvestor.blogspot.com Ray The Money Man

I had visions of this as a child. I saw a gym on one side of the wall and the power plant on the other and they didn’t know they were producing energy!

http://thealternativeenergyinvestor.blogspot.com
http://gas2.org Clayton B. Cornell

Damn. I thought of this in college but didn’t jump on it. License this out to 24 hour fitness… there’s enough working out going on there to power a city block…
http://gas2.org Clayton B. Cornell

Damn. I thought of this in college but didn’t jump on it. License this out to 24 hour fitness… there’s enough working out going on there to power a city block…