Make Sweat-Energy at a Green Gym
For some of us, treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes are a necessary energy consuming evil. In San Francisco, damp frigid fog and raging winds make an after-work run outside daunting. The only way to make myself put in the time and run a few miles is to go to the gym, where I'm safe from the elements.
Of course, then I spend 45 minutes indulging in green guilt, mentally calculating the carbon output of the electricity that powers the treadmill and AC/heating systems. Not to mention biting my tongue so I don't berate all the people drinking water out of plastic bottles instead of BPA-free, reusable bottles. It's exhausting, and it doesn't even burn any extra calories!
I recently saw a story in the Smart 2 be Green newsletter that might hold the key to my workout serenity: the Green Gym!
Coming soon (hopefully) to a city near me, there will be gyms that have machines we can power with our own sweat equity. And perhaps even make a little extra energy to give back to the grid. Now that's motivation to do an extra lap or two around the virtual track!
Smart 2 be Green mentioned two companies that are helping gyms make the switch. ReRev is a company that retrofits existing gym equipment to make alternative, renewable energy. The Green Revolution provides machines and consulting to facilities to help them leverage the green energy power of gym rats.
Up in Portland Oregon, the Green Microgym has retrofitted cardio machines that generate enough energy to power the TVs and give back to the grid. They've managed to reduce their carbon output by 60%! Now I'm on a quest to find a people-powered workout spot in San Francisco. We're a city that banned plastic bags -- there must be at least one alternative-energy producing green gym here!
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