Harnessing the Energy of Exercise

Have you ever been at your local fitness facility with your uncharged iPod and looked around at all the people alongside you on treadmills and bikes and got to thinking: "How strange is this? I mean, really... all the electricity required to run these machines and all this human energy gone to waste? There's got to be some room for greenprovement here, no?"

Well I have. All the time actually. And apparently the masterminds behind a new system at the Copenhagen Crowne Plaza Hotel have too. They've connected exercise bikes to a generator that harnesses approximately 10 watt-hours of electricity per 15 minute ride. Not only to the riders get some cardio and a little reduction in their carbon footprint - the hotel even offers a meal voucher in exchange for their efforts. Read more about the system here.

So how much longer until all gyms are powered by generators charged by patrons' exercise? And why stop at buildings? How about electronics? Researchers at MIT are leading the pack in this technology. Meet the Copenhagen Wheel:

Coca Cola: It's not just for cleaning toilets and fueling a childhood obesity epidemic anymore

Designer Daizi Zheng has found a new use for the carbonated sugar substance: Bio batteries. With the aid of a sugary serving or two, the battery has the potential to power the Nokia phone (pictured) for "three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium batteries and it could be fully biodegradable." Learn more here.

jatropha

The NY Times reports: Air New Zealand tested a jet fuel made from the jatropha plant on Tuesday as the airline searches for an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to crude oil.

The jatropha plant (I think there are about 150 different plants and shrubs in the genus) is of particular interest for a few reasons: It is hardy - resistant to drought and pests. It produces seeds containing up to 40% oil that can be processed and used in a standard diesel engine. The residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants.