Decentralizing energy production & building muscles

[Guaranteed]

I thought good Vice President Gore's idea about bringing Mom and Pop energy sellers into the market was brilliant. We would have to put some regulations on it, so that people wouldn't just be setting up generators and burning gasoline (if that would even be profitable), but we need people themselves to become involved in producing the energy they use, if for no other reason than to increase their awareness of that energy use.

But how about this as an idea? Energy-producing gyms. Free memberships. Gym equipment can be built to create electricity as people work out on it. The gym could then sell that energy to the "Electranet" that Gore proposed today, while at the same time people would be making themselves healthier. It would be a win-win.

Of course, I have zero technical expertise in energy production, but I do have a basic knowledge of physics. People working out in gyms waste a lot of kinetic energy burning off those calories (or Calories) and building their muscles. Why not hook them up to the power grid and get some of that energy back?

With the no-lose combination of people being healthier and creating more electricity, I think these "energy" gyms could become the hippest thing around. It would only be a matter of building the equipment correctly and creating an outlet for the energy created, and managing the finances.

[diane in sf]

1. Decentralized media is coming along pretty well with the internet

I like the idea of using the energy grid in the same way. I've always felt that the energy solution called for a lot of ifferent solutions. And anything that helps disempower the energy and other monopolists is good for all of us.

[Guaranteed]

5. Yup- look what decentralizing information did for us.

It led to a huge amount of innovation. Of course, every time something good comes along the conglomerates buy it up and ruin it- re-centralize it- but at least we're getting new ideas, which our corporations seem incapable of coming up with.

[drm604]

2. I doubt that this would produce a meaningful amount of electricity.

It might not even produce enough to cover the energy costs of the gym - lighting, heating and cooling, etc.

That said, this is exactly the type of thinking we need to be doing. Opening a gym for this purpose might not work, but for someone who's planning a gym business anyway (or already has one) this might be a way to eliminate part of their utility costs.

[Guaranteed]

3. Bingo- it could increase efficiency.

There are all kinds of ways in which we could be re-couping (sic?) energy. Ever notice all the wind of the sides of freeways? Why not set up contraptions up and down our freeways that will recoup all of that kinetic energy lost in wind resistance when we're burning gasoline?

[BadgerKid]

4. Generators in the home

Years ago on tv there was some family that had their home exercise bicycle connected to a generator that would power their tv. The rule was that to watch tv you had to pedal and not just plant yourself on the couch.