We've tried wind power, water power, light power, flower power etc... But why not try...?

Question

People power?

Think about it. A job. You could like... Run around a huge hamster wheel or run on a treadmill-type-thing or something... I'm sure that would generate a lot of energy plus it would open more job opportunities... Right? Or is this just stupid?

Answer 1

Great idea !..............if you don't have to feed people doing the job. Don't you have?

The energy going into a system (human body) can not be bigger than the energy going out of the system.
In order the idea works you have to organize all the people wanting to lose weigh(spare accumulated energy) so that they work until they get their right weigh and in that moment they have to be replace for others and this power source will last until everybody is fit.

Answer 2

This is actually an interesting problem in the history of technology.

The problem is that we are, as creatures, not very strong and are easily distracted. The invention of the modern horse collar horse collar around the end of the Roman Empire pretty much eliminated human power as a practical proposition except in special cases, e.g., warships where rowers could double as fighters.

Human power was certainly used for punishment purposes, and power from the treadmills of state penitentiaries in the US and elsewhere was sold to industrial firms until perhaps 1900.

But horses are way better than people: they're incredibly strong, need only minimal supervision, and don't get into fights with each other or their overseers. Mules are better than horses, and steam engines are better than mules, because they don't get sick and don't need to be fed and elaborately sheltered when not in use.

Answer 3

Humans cannot generate as much power as burning fossil fuels. The reason why we made machines in the first place is so that we didn't have to lift heavy stuff ourselves (think of why you drive to work instead of simply riding your bicycle -- the chemical energy from the burning gasoline produces more power than you little feet and legs can).

Most electrical energy is consumed by industrial machines that were made to replace human labor. If you want to go back to human labor and muscle power, then why have machines?

Still, you could probably power some computers, or lights, by hooking up a gym's exercise equipment to electrical generators. People are going to exercise anyway, so might as well use the excess power for something.

Answer 4

It think people power is already being done. Some gyms have their treadmills and stationery bicycles hooked up. Also, in developing countries some communities use one of those playground rides as a pump for water, where kids get on and make it spin around, causing a pump to activate and bring water to the surface.

I wonder how much electricity could be generated by all the gyms all over the world hooking up all of their treadmills, bikes, etc....??? And nobody has to be paid!!!

Answer 5

Actually, there is a program in place to install "play pumps" throughout rural sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these villages are served by a stream that is often a 5 mile hike from the village, requiring villagers to transport a day's worth of water over those 5 miles, often carrying them by themselves (no carts or animals to assist).

The "play pumps" are like a playground merry-go-round. The kids play on them and have a ball, and the motion of the merry-go-round pumps water to a public cistern. The ground water is usually much cleaner than the river water, so many problems are solved at once.

Of course, the "play pumps" can also be run by adults when the kids are bored.

Answer 6

that is actually a wonderful idea and if i was u i wood definately get on to government officials to do try the idea.

However if you are from japan too bad you left it so late as there is already one in some gymnasium but if you are out of japan my intention would be to go for it like i mean you have nothing to lose except all these other eco unfriendly fuel burning power stations

Answer 7

Well it use to be a punishment to run around in a human/mouse wheel but now it could be the ultimate gym experience; and for those that don't have a good sense of balance you could connect dynamos to exercise bikes like they did on Red Dwarf.

Answer 8

I think that it would probably conflict with workers rights and would be rather inefficiant. Sorry, it's been thought of before and it does work, but there are other forms or green power that produce alot more electricity.

Answer 9

you could also do it with f**t power, all that wind, save a lot more energy for the person.

As for leg power, why pay people, people already do leg work in the gym, connect all the walking/running machines to a generator.

Answer 10

I have thought of that too...I am glad to see that it is being done some places. I like the idea of companies having workout equipment that captures energy from the person working out and turns it into energy to help power the building.