The newest gym to open in Portland, Oregon will be just as green as its lush surroundings. The Green Microgym is one of the only gyms that will take its power from a constant and considerable amount of expended energy -- the gym's patrons.
Owner Adam Boesel rigged stationary bikes with truck alternators and weed whacker motors to capture the kinetic energy from a rider's exercise--an amount that should convert into about 750 watts of power per hour.
The Green Microgym building itself offers some eco-friendly design modifications to further streamline the gym's energy use. Solar panels will generate about 3 kilowatts per hour of renewable energy. The floors are comprised of recycled rubber, marmoleum and renewable cork. Ceiling fans are EnergyStar rated, and both the fans and lights are member-controlled so that they're only on when necessary.
Double-flush toilets, non-toxic soaps and cleaning supplies, and paper towels and seat covers made from recycled content round out the eco-friendly bathroom amenities at the Green Microgym.
On the gym floor, SportsArt EcoPowr treadmills use 30% less electricity than other popular treadmill models. The team is exploring ways to capture kinetic energy from not just the stationary bikes but also the elliptical machines. And the user-controlled LCD TV's use less electricity than plasma televisions.
There are other minor details that the Green Microgym employs to set the standard for green gyms. Personal trainers often take their clients outdoors for a truly energy-free workout. Artwork from local artists is featured throughout the gym, and automated payment and billing systems reduce paper clutter for both the gym and its members.
Gyms Powered by Exercising Patrons
The Green Microgym
Trend Themes
1. Green Gyms - The trend towards gyms that utilize eco-friendly design and technology, as exemplified by the Green Microgym, presents opportunities for disruptive innovations in energy capture, equipment design, and materials selection.
2. Kinetic Energy Capture - By incorporating technology that captures kinetic energy generated by gym patrons, there are opportunities to disrupt traditional power sources and develop new products to make this technology accessible for use in other industries.
3. User-controlled Energy Use - The trend towards user-controlled energy use in green gyms, as seen in the Green Microgym's member-controlled fans and lights, presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in energy conservation products and technologies for other industries and settings.
Industry Implications
1. Fitness Industry - The fitness industry has the potential to be a leader in sustainable development and to further integrate eco-friendly design and innovative technologies to help its patrons achieve their health and environmental goals.
2. Renewable Energy Industry - The development and implementation of kinetic energy capture technologies such as those used in the Green Microgym present opportunities for innovation in the renewable energy industry.
3. Building and Construction Industry - The Green Microgym's eco-friendly design modifications, such as its renewable and recycled materials, ceiling fans, and member-controlled lighting, demonstrate the potential for development and application of sustainable building materials and technologies in the construction industry.