Gyms for energy/power production???

Question

Has anyone ever used all the energy generated by people using equipment in a gym or fitness room to provide power for a building? If not, could this be a practical possibility?

Answer 1

Scientific American had an article last year I think (maybe the year before) that discussed the possibility of powering your television with a stationary bike. The idea, of course, was to force people to exercise in order to watch TV. The results were not good, however. In the end, it requires far more effort than one would think to do it. Something like 2 hours of pedaling gives 5 minutes of television. Thus, it would seem nearly impossible for the people in the gym to power even the gym itself. But, it might be fun to try :)

Answer 2

I've used an exercise bicycle fitted with a dynamo to produce electricity to power a toy train around a track.
Quite amusing but not really a practical way of, say, heating or lighting a building.

Answer 3

It is possible, but the owners do not hook up the equipment to anything that makes electricity. and exercising does not produce power they way we can use it. But bicycles are different. You can put a magnet on the top of the wheels for it to go through and coils of wires around the wheel. So when the coils go through the magnet electricity is created. You can hook it up to something to use that energy created.

Answer 4

I think some appropriate technology uses childrens play equipment, eg see-saw, to pump water.

At alternative fairs you often see pedal powered bands. enough can be generated for amplifiers, but you are unlikely to boil a kettle that way.

But it does seem a waste all that pointless exercise not being harnessed. Why can't they go & plant trees, or walk their kids to school ...?

Answer 5

Drink a beer!! I heard very good issues about in simple terms having a pair sips of beer. hour or so later women individuals say their complete of milk. that's worth a shot. I plan on breast feeding my third newborn and if my milk is going low i'm attempting the beer!!

Answer 6

Ha ha! I think that is a fantastic idea! I can't believe that nobody thought of it before!

Answer 7

smelly sweaty energy? .. phew