POWER TO THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE

Pounding along on the treadmill at gym the other day, bored witless, my thoughts turned to Eskom rolling blackouts.  Specifically, to just how much equipment at the gym would be useless without electricity.

It seems rather bizarre that instead of taking advantage of our fabulous weather and environment, we choose to exercise indoors, but there you have it. 

So why waste all the energy produced by rows of sweating gym bunnies? Lets use it to charge a battery, which in turn powers the bike / treadmill / elliptical machine.

And how about using this technology at home?  As a parent, I’d much rather sentence my naughty child  to an hour of spinning, powering my laptop,  than banishment to his room.  That’s a far more productive use of his time.

Don’t stop with children either.  The family pet could be roped in to generate electricity, thus relieving the bulging municipal bills.

The hamster should be able to recharge the wireless mouse batteries.

How apt.   Finally a reason to keep a rodent!

Exercising the Jack Russell has never been easier, a specially constructed run, with a kinetic ball, will keep him busy for ages.  And run the pool pump.

A PHD student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has calculated that a robust workout on an elliptical trainer or treadmill, connected to a device converting output into electricity, might deliver 10 calories a minute.  That’s 700 watts, equivalent to 7 light bulbs.  Enough to keep the lights on while you work out.

Believe it or not, energy harvesting shoes have been invented.  They work on a technique called Electrowetting.  Really cool idea which sorts out the iPod battery charging issues while you run!

Indeed, this is a novel concept.  Instead of counting calories and declaring them an input enemy, embrace them as a power source.

Ironically, pretty much back to where the calorie started!

Would we find it easier to enjoy calorie counting if we tracked their output rather than deprived ourselves of their input?

Imagine the new “diet” shakes, with increased calorie value, specifically for   those household energy needs.

 

Gyms would sell their services based on generating electricity and power, and getting clients as fit as possible to maximize their workout output.  How novel to see a gym advert with an impressively muscled woman, reminiscent of a Russian weight lifter, as the desirable physique du jour!

Finally, power and size trumps malnourished coat hangers.  

What’s not to love in that concept?

(Written for Live Lightly Times, published August 2012)