GWguy
*
Ok, this is so simple it's ridiculous.
How many fitness gyms are there in any given town? How many treadmills and cycles are there in these gyms?
You exert energy to make these things move. ALL of that energy is lost due to friction. The more intense the workout you require, the higher in you dial the friction plates. Replace the friction devices with generators and alternators. The faster and longer you go, the more energy you create. All that power is either fed into a storage facility (batteries) for later re-use, or sent back into the grid for lower electric bills. Offer the gym patron a "bonus" in the form of rebates against their membership; the more power they create, the better the rebate. Some of the energy could be used solely to power electric SmartCars. You run on the treadmill while your car is recharging from your own efforts.
With all the gyms participating, that is a heck of a lot of energy.....
(disclaimer: the thoughts contained herein are the ramblings of someone who has no engineering degrees, done absolutely no research into the feasibility, and wouldn't have any idea what a treadmill actually looks like up close.)
How many fitness gyms are there in any given town? How many treadmills and cycles are there in these gyms?
You exert energy to make these things move. ALL of that energy is lost due to friction. The more intense the workout you require, the higher in you dial the friction plates. Replace the friction devices with generators and alternators. The faster and longer you go, the more energy you create. All that power is either fed into a storage facility (batteries) for later re-use, or sent back into the grid for lower electric bills. Offer the gym patron a "bonus" in the form of rebates against their membership; the more power they create, the better the rebate. Some of the energy could be used solely to power electric SmartCars. You run on the treadmill while your car is recharging from your own efforts.
With all the gyms participating, that is a heck of a lot of energy.....
(disclaimer: the thoughts contained herein are the ramblings of someone who has no engineering degrees, done absolutely no research into the feasibility, and wouldn't have any idea what a treadmill actually looks like up close.)
