College - Oregon State University Uses Exercise Machines as Energy Source

Legs churning. Hearts pounding. The background hum of hardware in motion. Oregon State University is among the first schools in the country to harness the power of its student population as a form of renewable energy.

Using a new technology developed by Clearwater, Fla.-based ReRev.com LLC, the university has retrofitted 22 elliptical exercise machines in its Dixon Recreation Center as a means of collecting the power produced by students and feeding it back into the power grid.

The effort will produce an estimated 3,500 kilowatthours of electricity per year, according to OSU sustainability coordinator Brandon Trelstad (pictured). "Our ultimate goal is to maximize both the real power output of the system and the learning opportunities gained by having it at OSU, where our students clearly care about renewable energy," he says.

The ReRev technology features a patent-pending system called ReCardio that captures and converts the otherwise counter-productive heat energy from exercise machines. A real-time display screen on each elliptical shows the students’ momentary power production, production peaks and production to date.

The OSU installation, unveiled in February during Campus Wellness Week, is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world, and a 40-unit expansion is already being discussed. The center’s workout volume "could eventually produce the same amount of electricity as a small solar photovoltaic system," says Matthew Pennington, chief of staff for the Associated Students of Oregon State University, "placing students directly in the renewable energy production chain."

Comments:

Another school has signed on with ReRev, bringing the total to five universities...the Associated Press reported yesterday that the University of Kansas next month will connect 15 elliptical machines in its student center to the devices, with the $15,000 cost paid by the Student Environmental Board. ReRev estimates that the machines will generate 10 kilowatts of energy per day.

Andrew Cohen Editor 7/7/2009 12:36:16 PM

Not to belittle the cost/benefit analysis questions below, as I am a strong proponent of life-cycle analysis and a careful review of one's return on investment, but in this case there is also a substantial educational opportunity in using this type of co-curricular, or experiential learning. There are opportunities throughout our facilities to create a living laboratory and getting users to think about “What is a kWh? And how much does a light bulb, computer, AC unit, etc. typically use?”. All while exercising, eating, or other normal daily activity. If accompanied by educational materials, and maybe some training of the athletic facility staff to answer basic questions, than the installation would have far greater value for stimulating thought, than as a power producer. Our cooperative extension has a stationary bike connected to a board that has LED, CFL, and incandescent lights, as well as a small hair dryer. The rider can switch on various individual items or a combination, and can feel the resistance from the generator change with the power demands of the different lights. This creates a very tangible physical reminder of the difference between low and high efficiency products. Other examples could be water use, our waste stream, etc.

Dean Koyanagi sustainability coordinator, Cornell University 3/12/2009 7:49:09 AM

We installed the ReCardio system back in August... yeah, we were the first. Hey, the developer of ReCardio is a Gator. It is relatively inexpensive to install. The system will only get better as improvements are made. The energy is either used in a positive manner with ReCardio or it go to resisters and is expelled in the room as heat. Less heat = less AC = more pleasant environment. We need to continue to work with ReRev so the system's efficiency can improve through new technology. We will be adding a considerable number of ellipticals to the system when we open an expansion in 2010.

David Bowles Director of Recreational Sports, University of Florida 3/11/2009 1:24:21 PM

I am all for alternative energies, so I am not a 'hater'...but I have real $/cents questions-- how much does this cost to install? Ho much power is 3500 kw? If this can reduce costs, great. If it costs more money than it saves, then it's a PR stunt. If the equipment to make the conversion takes more energy (wires/etc.) than the energy produced, then it's a bust. Total energy--without government subsidies. Of course, government can make current energy so expensive that these alternative sources are affordable (cap and trade/etc.) but those are false. Again, I realize that early prototypes cost more than mass-production items which will come. I hope this is a great product. I would love a device that made my x-box powered only when I was on my exercise bike...childhood obesity would be eliminated.

Apollo law student & Athletic Trainer 3/11/2009 12:24:24 PM

"The effort will produce an estimated 3,500 kilowatthours of electricity per year..." equals about $300 of electricity per year generated. What was the cost of completing and maintaining the retrofit equipment? With that cost/benefit information we'll begin to understand the value.

Gary Westlund President Charities Challenge 3/11/2009 10:59:12 AM

Give us some information on the cost per KWH compared with the cost for the Universities conventional source of electricity. Also the cost of installation. Is it practical to set up to harness this renewable energy other than for demonstration purposes?

Loren Knutson Hollis Center Director, Stetson University 3/11/2009 9:52:46 AM

Oregon State University Uses Exercise Machines as Energy Source

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