Portland gym generates electricity


At the Green Microgym in Portland, exercisers generate electricity by working out on machines fitted with compact generators.

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At the Green Microgym in Portland, exercisers generate electricity by working out on machines fitted with compact generators.

The 3,000-square-foot gym aims for a neighborhood trade. It features solar panels, recycled toilet paper, renewable-source flooring and lots of reminders on the wall about turning off lights, fans and TVs.

Theoretically, in states like Oregon with “net metering” rules, such machines could power the gym itself and feed excess energy into the grid, perhaps generating a utility bill credit. But that level of output would likely be rare, especially in big gyms heavy on lights, heating, cooling and other energy draws. Most often, electricity-generating machines would supplant some of a gym’s draw from the grid, a smaller savings.

Read more from the AP.

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