Cardio Power!
And I mean that literally…The Gainesville Health & Fitness Center is testing ReCardio, a technological “fix” which converts the kinetic energy of the elliptical machines into electrical energy. Right now, 15 machines are hooked up to the system, and the power generated during cardio workouts is plugged back into the utility grid for use by the gym.
Each elliptical machine has the ability to produce one kilowatt of electricity every 10 hours, which is enough to charge the battery for a 2004 Toyota Prius once or a cell phone up to 397 times. In the last couple of months, since the Gainesville Health & Fitness Center has been testing the ReCardio system, about 150 kilowatts of electricity has been produced.
Apparently the recreational director at the University of Florida is thinking of adapting the technology to the Southwest Recreational Center.
Harr visited Bowles almost three weeks ago and conducted a demonstration where he hooked up an elliptical machine on the ReCardio system to a series of lights and was able to power them through exercise. Proposals to use ReCardio at UF are now under way.
Personally, I think it’s pretty nifty - it’s basically a way to recycle some of the energy you’re expending. Sure, it’s not going to solve the energy crisis, but every little bit helps…and I imagine it would make cardio at the gym a little more tolerable - knowing that you’re producing a bit more than just a sweat.
(h/t That’s Fit)
Eric Lee on 26 Jun 2008 at 6:01 am #
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.
Elissa on 26 Jun 2008 at 2:47 pm #
Thanks Eric!
Brian Russell on 26 Jun 2008 at 2:50 pm #
Thank you for helping spread the word about this test project here at our gym in Gainesville, FL. We hope as more people hear of Hudson’s technology, it will catch on. It really is incredible.
Rob on 26 Jun 2008 at 6:26 pm #
I have had a similar thought about tapping into the power generated from the millions of revolutions and steps “wasted” at my gym too.
Going one step farther, imagine if a person could park and plug in so they can actually put some electrons back into their own electric vehicle from the machine they are exercising on even allowing others to contribute power to the same vehicle generated from their machines as they exercise.
It may create even more incentive to stay fit while reducing energy costs and emmisions.
Liz on 26 Jun 2008 at 6:46 pm #
I’ve often thought all that energy I’m expending on the running machine ought to be doing something useful and it’s a great way of producing green energy.
Now that they’re using old cooking oil in diesel engines, can’t the geeks find a way of extracting the fat from us chubby people and using it as fuel? Then we could all eat in a carbon neutal way. As this would solve the world’s energy problems and the world’s obesity problem it would be worth a Nobel prize or two!
A silly idea but it has a certain allure.
Rob on 27 Jun 2008 at 11:57 pm #
“Now that they’re using old cooking oil in diesel engines, can’t the geeks find a way of extracting the fat from us chubby people and using it as fuel?”
1 lb of adipose fat =3.50Kals
.860 Kcals = 1kw of energy. So a pound of fat is worth approx 4KW of energy. Liz You may have something there. Now what would you do with all the extra skin?