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Varlan Allan

Teacher,

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A fitness center that generates its own power from its members.

All that energy being pushed, pulled, stomped on, curled, etc. could be used to either run the facility or generate power for others. Or possibly pay people for their power generation. This way people are encouraged to stay fit and have an easier time with their energy bills.

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Topics: Clean energy alternative energy
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    Jah Sun

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    Dec 1 2011: This feature talks about 7 ways people are using pedal power to effect change. Not just green gym ideas, but filtering drinking water, powering laptops in remote villages, and keeping the Occupy protesters all charged up.

    http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/green-energy/7-ways-pedal-power-will-change-the-world

  • Varlan Allan 10+

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    Nov 30 2011: Yes, apparently this idea has been floating around for a few years. But I think more needs to be done! I think one thing that needs to be considered is data. Tim Berners said it is the future of the internet, but I think it is the future of humanity. Such a thing as a gym becoming self-sustaining could create a chain reaction for solving other energy related issues. Data is key as it will give others something to work from a "blueprint" as to how to get things right. For the amount of time we sit wasting away on our computers I'm certain that we could spin our energy needs.
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    Erol Toksoy 10+

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    Nov 30 2011: Good.. actually great idea but needs to be practiced and developed.
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    Hillary Reynolds

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    Nov 30 2011: that would be amazing... why not take it a step further and put the gym in an airport so that people with long layovers, delays or cancelations are able to have access to fitness?
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    Adam Burk 500+

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    TED AttendeeTEDx OrganizerAssociate
    Nov 29 2011: I had this idea too a few years ago and then in the news a green micro gym appeared! http://thegreenmicrogym.com/

    The concept is still new and lots of room to experiment and play with.
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Nov 29 2011: I wonder how much good energy could be generated if people took their gym time and actually did manual labour to help their neighbours or their communities?

  • Peter Blok

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    Nov 29 2011: This nice idea triggered me thinking about the sustainable dance club in Rotterdam, called Watt

    http://sustainablerotterdam.blogspot.com/2008/09/club-watt-worlds-first-sustainable.html

  • Clay Garrett

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    Nov 26 2011: Fantastic idea!

  • Alea Schechter

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    Nov 26 2011: I just forwarded this conversation to 24 hour fitness for them to look at. Who knows what is possilble?
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    Gabo Moreno 100+

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    Nov 25 2011: This is already happening. Some of the exercise equipment use the spinning/pedalling/whatever of the user to generate electricity. SOme of such equipment is in use at the YMCA nearby. Unfortunately not all the equipment is doing this, but with time I think more equipment manufacturers will notice that they only have to do a few adjustments for the equipment to feed energy into the system rather than just suck it. Generators are not that hard to build and install ...
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    Joshuel Patterson

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    Nov 25 2011: P.S. Are big investors or manufacturers really necessary? Lets not always be thinking and limiting ourselves by our economic oriented needs. Find a group of tech/d.i.y. geeks I'm sure you can get at the very least an active prototype that is community supported. I'm having trouble believing it has not yet been done.
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    Joshuel Patterson

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    Nov 25 2011: Fabian, Jah Sun, Varlan... everyone - also do not limit yourself to the information you already have before you. In building something like this you will undoubtedly find new discoveries that none of us ever thought of. Regardless of economic feasibility building a gym like this could produce something unexpected.

    I would pay a premium price to go to a gym like this, as long as I felt like I wasn't a lab rat.
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    João Coucelo 10+

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    Nov 24 2011: This is a good idea!

    Just had a thought of how to apply it. Imagine a gym where people could measure the energy generated to the gym electrical system and give an equivalent discount each month... The more you workout the less you pay!

    At domestic level it would be just insane to have a system to wire a bike or a elliptical to produce electricity! How much is it generated? There are already self sustained machines of these kinds but is their enough energy to invest in such project?

    Hope you get a team together that can bring a pilot gym into the game! GreenGym!
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    Gijs Molsbergen

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    TED Translator
    Nov 24 2011: A great Idea! I thought of what they've done at the Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands. They've build a very big 'Wheel' where people can run in to create energy and support a charity that invests in research for cancer. Look at: http://www.wheelofenergy.org/

    It's definitely a realistic idea!
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    Tony Kuphaldt 10+

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    Nov 24 2011: A system I've seen used by off-grid families is to power their television set by a bicycle-driven generator. If the kids want to watch TV or play video games, they have to generate the power to do it!

  • Varlan Allan 10+

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    Nov 24 2011: Okay, Fabian is the BOMB! Even on such a small scale this idea is useful. The question now is: how can we put it into practice? Any electrical engineers and equipment manufacturers? Ideas are good but putting such things into motion is really what changes people perceptions of what is possible.

    And to think, Fabians calculations are only from spinning. Floor Capture, rowing machines, waste water recycling. this could be one of the very first fully self-sustaining gyms.
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      Fabian Fogelberg

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      Nov 24 2011: Thanks! :-)

      It would not be hard to build this, it is the exact same techniques as in wind turbines. You would need an electric motor that generates either AC or DC current and then transform the current to either the grid (->AC) or a battery (->DC).

      But one more thing, if the training center is located at a place that needs air conditioning, it would be much better if everyone just trained outside.

      Let's calculate again:
      The efficiency of the human body to mechanical work is around 20%, if you could generate 200 [W] of mechanical energy you would at the same time generate 200[W]/0.2=1000 [W]=1 [kW] of heat. Which means that a person training for an hour generates 1 [kWh] of heat that must be transported away by the air conditioner. So my conclusion is that if you live in a warm country, train outside and otherwise, train at home and save energy on heating your home. :-)

    • Julia Gafner

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      Nov 24 2011: A friend of mine had a stationary bike hooked up to a generator and managed to make enough electricity to run some appliances and charge his batteries. His setup was really basic with the chain turning the generator instead of a wheel..

      If you want to make this a reality, all you need to do is draw up a good business plan and get some investors.
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      Jah Sun

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      Nov 25 2011: Electrical generators are rather simple. They amount to nothing more than a simple turbine. Really just magnets and copper wire spinning.

      it would be really simple and DIY to get prototypes of your concept going. After all, hippies and hillbillies have been doing it for quite some time. Hehehehehe

      I like João's idea of "the more you work out the less you pay." if only as a publicity gimmick, I think people might respond to the idea that as they work off their fat, they are also working off their bill.

      While you could go the route of coming up with a business plan and getting capital to invest, you could also develop a working prototype with a couple engineering friends, and then try to get some viral buzz.

      I hope you actually try to do it, and that the idea spreads.
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    Vivek Trivedi 10+

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    TED Translator
    Nov 24 2011: Its a very nice thought, although it will also be intermittent source of energy and will require effective storage mechanism. Developing this thought into a practical viable solution shall not be a big challegne if the equipment manufactures give it a serious look. Thanks for sharing.
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    Sheralyn Barnish-king

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    Nov 24 2011: This would be so awesome, it would encourage people to grow within themselves, and stop the downfall of a unhealthy diet, while helping save costs. This could be used in so many different ways, it's like a continuation of energy.

  • Albert Hong

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    Nov 24 2011: simple and practical.

    What is not to like about this idea?
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    John Locke

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    Nov 24 2011: It is truely a great idea, however, before we can go to something of that scale, we could have machines that are powered by ourselves like a tredmill or an eliptical. If we could master the technology to use human power, we could power anything we want by simply walking around! Cell phones, ipods, buildings, watches, etc.

    Our body also gives off heat. I am not sure if we give off enough for any real value but, I'm sure we could power a watch or a cell phone by our body heat!
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    Thomas Mrak

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    Nov 24 2011: This is a cool idea!
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    Anne Dagen 10+

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    Nov 23 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGIQtaINzCY

    There was also a video showing a film projected on a building, controlled by the energy of people cycling. Can't find the link at the moment.
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    Jeronique Bartley

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    Nov 23 2011: Great idea!
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    Fabian Fogelberg

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    Nov 23 2011: Interesting thought, the most obvious and easiest electrical power generating training would be a spinning class. Instead of having a mechanical break that just generates heat, we could have an electric generator instead and connect all the bicycles to a single grid tie inverter. Let's make a quick calculation to see how much electric energy that could be generated.

    Let's assume following:
    P=200 [W/person] Number from Wikipedia arcticle "Human powered transport"
    N=20 [person] Number of persons that takes the spinning class
    ng=0.9 [efficiency] Efficiency of the electric generator
    nt=0.9 [efficiency] Efficiency of the electric transformer to the grid
    t=1 [h/spinning class] Hours of training per spinning class

    Then we would get an output of:
    P_person=P*ng=200[W/person]*0.9[efficiency, gen]=180[W/person]
    P_tot=P_person*N=180[W/person]*20[person]=3600[W]=3.6 [kW]
    During one spinning class we would get: 3.6[kW]*1[h]=3.6 [kWh]

    A local gym where I live has around 100 spinning classes per week, this would get an yearly output of:
    100[spinning classes/week]*3.6[kWh/spinning class]*52[weeks/year]=18720 [kWh/year]. So around 18.7 [MWh/year] which is around the amount of electricity needed for an old house in Sweden per year.

    I think it's a great idea! :-)
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      Jah Sun

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      Nov 24 2011: Thanks for doing the calculations.

      The spinning classes alone would make the idea worthwhile... but why stop there?

      Pressure capturing plates under the dance floor. Nautilus machines, treadmills, elliptical bikes all hooked into the battery charging system. How about those pulley and wire machines spinning a dynamo directly? You could even make hydro electric power with the runoff waste water in the showers and pool overflow.

      If you add all the different methods of capturing energy together, including all the minor and incidental sources... it could approach complete self sufficiency perhaps. Maybe add solar panels to the roof as well.

      You could even design all-new work out equipment with the collection of human energy most efficiently built into the design.
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      John Locke

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      Nov 25 2011: I love your idea, however I have a few concerns. To build this technology may not be extremely difficult but it would be more expensive then a normal exercise machine. Human energy is a great source, espically with 7 billion people on the planet, it is time we start to make our own power, but is it commerically possible? Does electricity cost that much so that building new machines will actually save money?

      Right now these are just ideas, but for this to become practical, the cost of maknig this machine would have to decrease signficantly for this to be profitable. And, if you had extra energy, what would you do with it? Would you sell it?

      Again, I just want to say that I believe this is an excellent idea and I would love for this to become a reality. Afterall, who doesn't want to get in shape and make electricty?
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    Balachandar Kaliappan 500+

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    TED TranslatorTEDx OrganizerAssociate
    Nov 23 2011: I hope this is already there, people have used dance floor to generate energy. So I hope this is a good solution for alternate energy. This will also minimize the cost of fitness center.
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    Shobhit Agarwal

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    Nov 23 2011: ur body; it generates power of urs and is itself a member
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