Treadmills Suck. (Kilowatts)
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 01.22.08
So the holidays are over and it's back to the gym and on to the treadmill. But it isn't one of those that we have discussed at TreeHugger that generates power from its machinery, it is a standard electric powered gym machine. Catherine Porter of the Star did a little research and "It turns out that the average treadmill uses around 1500 watts -- the equivalent of 15 of those old-fashioned light bulbs we've all chucked this week. So, over 30 minutes, you use .75 kilowatt-hours (logic= 1.5 kw x 0.5 hours) -- the same amount you'd use to light up your Christmas tree for six hours." And in the States, pumps out about two pounds of CO2, not including what you are exhaling. So pick a machine without a plug. ::The Green Life
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Seems to me they should replace the brake in them with a generator and let them make electricity rather than use it.
I do a lot of walking. The holidays didn't really add any pounds
This is a local company in VT.
http://www.windstreampower.com/
I've also heard engineers at Concept 2 (world leader in rowing machines) talk about human power generation but so far they haven't found a cost effective way to create power and smooth motion in their machines.
Somewhere on we web I read about human power bikes that use particle board fly wheels to maintain a steady pace for you and the motor.
Yes, and driving to the gym uses energy as do the lighting and the hvac systems of the gym. And, there is much research on how home based exercise programs are just as effective as going to the gym. Walking in ones own neighborhood also encourages less active neighbors to begin to exercise. It also builds community. We need to encourage physical fitness in the U.S. Consider that we spend 16.2% of our GDP on health care. In terms of time on the job that is two months out of the year that we are required to work just to pay for health care. More than half of this is preventable through exercise and diet and other sensible practices like wearing a seat belt or wearing a helmet if riding a cycle. By the way, other countries, like France, pay only about 10% of GDP on health care. No wonder they get more time off from work. Perhaps the time off from work makes them more healthy.
Yes, and driving to the gym uses energy as do the lighting and the hvac systems of the gym. And, there is much research on how home based exercise programs are just as effective as going to the gym. Walking in ones own neighborhood also encourages less active neighbors to begin to exercise. It also builds community. We need to encourage physical fitness in the U.S. Consider that we spend 16.2% of our GDP on health care. In terms of time on the job that is two months out of the year that we are required to work just to pay for health care. More than half of this is preventable through exercise and diet and other sensible practices like wearing a seat belt or wearing a helmet if riding a cycle. By the way, other countries, like France, pay only about 10% of GDP on health care. No wonder they get more time off from work. Perhaps the time off from work makes them more healthy.
Why hasn't anyone come up with the smart idea of turning all the power created by gym rats running on tread mills, to power streetlights or feed back into the grid?
I always found it almost funny how people drive to the gym, the the elevator up a flight or two and then spend an hour on the t(d)readmill and stair climber.
I rather run outside, regardless of weather.
the reason that most people like treadmills is that they force you to keep a pace so hooking them up to a generator would kind of defeat the purpose.
@ Mike D, the generator in the treadmill could be made like tha laternator in your car with a feedback to control the field coil. In the car alternator the field coil voltage is varied by the regulator in the engine controller to maintain a steady votage output, You could do the same with the treadmill by varying the voltage to the field coil to vary the load on the generator making it harder or easier to turn and vary as needed to keeo the speed going constant.
Tired of wasting energy when you exercise. Here's a great new piece of exercise equipment, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdvcsX9YIzo
It's called the Streetstrider. You do the same motion as the elliptical trainer in the gym but you get to experience the outdoors.
So no more need to calculate how many light bulbs your exercise equipment use is equivalent to.
Get outside and stride. Streetstrider.
Remind me not to breathe so I don't exhale any Co2 next time I'm on the treadmill. ;)
Or you could just run on... trails and roads?
:-/
Electric exercise equipment MUST be one of the most ass-backwards ideas we've come up with. I mean really ... c'mon.
I'd like to see a treadmill that generates electricity. Get one for my dog too. How about a gym that pays you back for the electricity they sell to the grid? That'd get people slim!
yep, treadmills that makes electricity would be a good idea.
Treadmills were designed to create energy for the farming industries. A sheep or other controllable animal would walk on the device, which would power the mill, hence "treadmill".
Wouldn't it be ironic if we could use the same concept, and the initial purpose of the treadmill as a power source, to ease the burden on our community grids, especially during the winter months or inclement weather, and create energy?
WOODWAY treadmills use half the electricity, anout 400 watts per hour versus 800 or more. They also have non motorized versions.
These treadmills are very different.