BPI Electric Fitness: Project Update

This semester, BPI has organized a group independent study project to design and build energy-generating weight-training equipment. The project, which consists of 15 Brown students and a mechanical engineer from Toronto, is another step in the larger effort to harness the mechanical energy that gym-goers produce into electrical output, all while maintaining the same functionality or even improving it for the user. We are working with our advisor, Professor of Engineering Chris Bull, to get acquainted with currently available technology and what might suit our system best.

Having decided on the type of system we will pursue for the energy translation, we are currently in the design phase and are awaiting funding and materials to begin building thereafter. For more about our project, check out bpi.betterxdesign.org, our page in the Better x Design organization's projects section.

The Green Microgym

Here is an article from the BBC featuring pioneers of the green fitness movement. The article discusses the Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon, and its founder Adam Boesel, and the inventor of the Human Dynamo system, Mike Taggett. I have been in touch with both men regarding our project for the upcoming semester. The article sheds some more insight on what success in this arena looks like. See the article and accompanying videos here: BBC News - The Green Microgym

"We waste so much energy and by starting this gym and really being focused on energy conservation, there are so many things that I've found that are very easy for people to do to save energy."

The goal is to have the gym run solely on the energy it generates.

"Especially in these times, the ability to at least make some small impact on improving the future of not only this country or the community, but really the world…is a really motivating factor for people right now."

"I think in 20 years it's going to be standard for all gyms,' adds Mr Boesel.

Power-Generating Revolving Door!

So this has been a topic of discussion for BPI all semester. We thought this would be a great idea, but the project hit some snags while still in the idea phase. Looks like the Dutch were able to get it working. Thanks to Zindzi McCormick for pointing us to Inhabitat.com:

Harvesting the kinetic energy generated by crowds of people is one of our favorite approaches to renewable energy. Recently Netherlands-based Natuurcafé La Port installed an energy generator in a rotating door, so every time someone walks in for a cup of coffee, they give just a little bit of their energy back to the coffee shop. We keep saying that solving the problem of global warming will require that we open up new doors in the field of renewable energy, but we must admit that we never expected to mean it literally!

The door was part of the refurbishment of the Driebergen-Zeist railway station designed out by architecture firm RAU and built by Boon Edam. The door is expected to generate around 4600 kwh of energy each year, which may not sound like much - but every little bit helps. To enhance the design, the team decided to include a transparent ceiling to show how the system works, and LEDs display the amount of energy that it is generated each time someone walks in the door.

Paper Water Bottle

Thanks to GWB3 for the link:

Extremely innovative new packaging from Brandimage, who was responsible for everything including concept development, branding, prototyping, engineering, and product design. The 360 Paper Bottle is the first of its kind in the world, and a true environmentally-friendly solution to the problem of plastic water bottles:

CHALLENGE
Each day, Americans throw out 60 million plastic bottles. Only 14% actually get recycled—
meaning 86% become garbage or litter. We looked at this as a radical problem requiring an
equally radical solution. Could we design a container that would leverage sustainability, be
easy to transport, and enhance the consumer’s drinking experience?

SOLUTION
The 360 Paper Bottle is a sustainable vision of the future. It is the first totally recyclable
paper container made from 100% renewable resources. Versatile in its range of consumer
applications and made from food-safe and fully recyclable materials, it decreases energy
consumed throughout the product life cycle without sacrificing functionality. It is paper
packaging that stands up to all liquid categories.

The Ecological Effects of Wind Energy on Bats

As you likely already know, some (two) of us went down to lovely Kingston, RI on Wednesday to attend a talk at URI. The talk was put on by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, and was given by Professor Thomas Kunz of Boston University.

A foremost expert in bat ecology and biology, Dr. Kunz took us through the ecological effects that the preponderance of wind energy is having on bat habitats throughout the continent. Here's some of what we learned from Dr. Kunz:

1. The diameter of a standard 1.5 megawatt (MW) wind turbine is 70 meters, approximately the length of a Boeing 747 airliner. This large area increases the incidence of animal casualties.
2. Wind infrastructure is projected to supply 20% of U.S. power demand by 2030, so there will only be more proliferation of the turbines causing ecological problems - even in offshore wind farms.
3. 4 to 6 acres is cleared per new turbine built in forest areas, and the clearing produces large tracks of new forest-edge habitat used by migratory tree bat populations.
4. Bats are not just cut down in flight by the blades, but are actually attracted by the sight, heat, and noise of the blades.
5. Bats do not die exclusively from direct contact with turbine blades; rather, they experience fatal respiratory trauma from the decompression of air that occurs in the space near the spinning blades (i.e. their lungs simply explode without any contact).
6. Most bat fatalities that result from wind energy occur in the late summer or early fall, and when wind velocity is below 6 meters/second.

So should we be looking to implement wind energy? YES. The key is finding better solutions that are sensitive to ecology, and to the conditions that exist in Providence. Rhode Island Governer Donald Carcieri has made a serious commitment to wind energy, and we can and should still be a part of his pledge.

The answer could rest in a different type of turbine. Smaller and cheaper, these "Windspire" turbines by Mariah Industries provide a less unsightly and new packaging for wind technology. It is a different design, deemed less dangerous for wildlife. Minimal clearing, far less noise pollution, and aesthetic appeal means that this is something to consider. Read about the Windspire here.

Because This Needs to be Seen...

Some of you may know the infamous Youtube classic simply known as "The Grape Lady." For my money, it's the funniest thing in the world. If you haven't seen it, you certainly should and definitely before you watch the following. Regardless of how awful Family Guy has gotten the past few years, this is hilarious. Not exactly "Blogress", but we have a blog and this must be seen:

See more funny videos and Funny Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Non-motorized Treadmill

This is an area we had almost given up on: there wasn't believed to be any energy-generating potential for treadmills because they operate using a motor. However, using just gravity and one's body weight, a treadmill now goes without a motor! The product is called the Speedboard from Speedfit, check out the introductory video here.

The following video is a bit ridiculous, but it shows a possible application of the man-made energy created by using the Speedboard, called the Treadmobil. Think of it more as food for thought for capturing the energy: Treadmobil.

Thanks to Bergamus for the tip.