Green Gym Uses Human-Powered Energy
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.
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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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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…
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
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.
Green Gym Uses Human-Powered Energy | nerdd.net…
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[...] Green Gym Uses Human-Powered Energy [...]
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. :-/
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?
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?
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.
…….ummmmm so the memberships are free, Right!?