Fitness Goes Green With Smart Equipment
Technology has turned a corner with some very interesting new fitness equipment. There is a recent trend being used to generate awareness of alternative energy sources and energy conservation. Organizations are teaching people about the need to make wise decisions in energy usage and to look for new sources of energy to power a world increasingly dependent on electricity.
This movement utilizes some unconventional means of power generation. In one prison, female inmates earn the ability to watch television by doing shifts on stationary bikes. In doing so, they charge a television that allows them to watch their favorite shows. In a compelling case about the power of this movement to engage people who would not otherwise concern themselves with environmental issues, a homeless shelter based in Detroit purchased exercise equipment that fed energy back to the building. Although the amount of energy generated was minimal – comparable to a drop in a bucket – the exercise served to interest the homeless men and women into thinking about ecological concerns and what they could do to help. The available equipment also brought exercise and fitness enthusiasts into the shelter, where they gained awareness of issues of concern to the homeless.
Another customer in the market for exercise equipment, such as stationary bikes, with the capability to feed electricity back into the grid are fitness centers. One fitness and exercise facility in Portland, Oregon has outfitted their building with a number of solar arrays as well as human-powered fitness equipment. As a result, the facility creates 36% of the power that it consumes. While it does not allow the business to cancel their utility bill, it does contribute to the bottom line of that business. It also spurs further development in the ability of these machines to harness human energy and convert it to electricity. While no one has invented what the proprietor of the fitness center called “the Prius of exercise equipment,” he is hopeful that interest in the machines that already exist will motivate manufacturers to enhance the technology that allows them to work. As long as interest trends upwards in the machines, development can be expected to continue.
How awesome is that? This could be the start of something amazing. Can you imagine powering your everyday devices with your own movement? What would you use your energy on?
source: CNN Health
Photo credit: UTC
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