It's no longer unheard of to use the energy people expend dancing to power night clubs and cell phones, as we've reported on a few occasions over the last few months. So it seems only natural to see health clubs getting in on the action with ways to capture the energy of working out.
Last year we covered efforts along those lines at Hong Kong's California Fitness gym, and now a brand-new gym in Portland, Ore., is doing something similar—inspired, in fact, by the Hong Kong example. The Green Microgym, which just opened last week, is a 2,800-sq-ft neighbourhood gym that generates a significant portion of its own electricity through the sweat-producing efforts of its members. Fully equipped with name-brand cardio equipment, a full weight room and a room for yoga/stretching, movement and core training, The Green Microgym uses a combination of solar and pedal electricity for a chunk of its energy needs. Solar panels atop the site generate almost 3 kilowatts of electricity, while the gym's Team Dynamo and Spin Bikes—engineered by founder Adam Boesel to connect to wind-generator motors—can collectively generate up to 750 watts. In addition, the Green Microgym is working on ways to capture the excess energy from its elliptical trainers as well.
The Green Microgym also aims to use less resources than the average health club. Its SportsArt EcoPowr Treadmills, for example, use 30 percent less electricity than others, and the facility features EnergyStar-rated (and member-controlled) ceiling fans, compact fluorescent lights, lower-energy LCD TVs and double-flush toilets. It also avoids the need for large water heaters by not offering showers. Floors are made from recycled rubber, marmoleum, and eco-friendly cork flooring; billing is paperless; and the gym uses nontoxic soaps and cleaning supplies. Membership costs USD 100 for enrolment and USD 49 in monthly fees--USD 29 per month for the first 100 members to join.
Boesel says he hopes to generate as much as 40 percent of his gym's energy needs, with improvements as time goes on, and he now offers consulting to help other gyms set up green initiatives of their own. Fitness entrepreneurs in London, Paris, São Paulo—how about you?
Website: www.thegreenmicrogym.com
Contact: www.thegreenmicrogym.com/index.php?memberid=1
Spotted by: C. Tynan
We've written about a site that makes it easier for architects and designers to create green buildings, but a separate challenge is helping eco-minded consumers find those green apartments, homes and offices, since their sustainable nature is not always obvious from the outside. Enter GreenRenter, a new site that aims to connect owners of green buildings with tenants who might want to rent them.
Launched earlier this year, GreenRenter offers a guide to the green commercial and residential property in the Portland, Ore., area. Separate sections for residential and commercial offerings list a variety of homes, offices, restaurants and retail space—searchable both by what's out there in general and what's currently available—with integrated Google Maps to show prospective tenants where they are all located. Buildings included need not be LEED certified, but they must include at least one feature in any of seven key green areas: energy, water, building materials, operations, building surroundings, certifications and awards or other innovative green features. Ultimately, GreenRenter plans to rate buildings listed on its site, it says, as well as to expand beyond the Portland area to other US cities. It's also working on a separate site focused on sales of green buildings. Using GreenRenter is free for both owners and tenants.
It's not yet clear how GreenRenter will become sustainable itself, but the site's "business philosophy" section mentions both the triple bottom line and the prospect of future products and services. One to partner with in cities around the US and the rest of the world?
Website: www.greenrenter.com
Contact: www.greenrenter.com/contact
Spotted by: Susanna Haynie
As energy prices continue to climb, the idea of tapping the power of the sun may seem like a no-brainer. The process of getting solar panels installed, however, is quite the opposite, fraught with spreadsheets, technical details and terms like "albedo." Enter RoofRay, a brand-new California startup that aims to give consumers better information so they can make more informed solar decisions.
Currently in beta, RoofRay is a solar array modelling service and community designed to help consumers evaluate solar for their homes or businesses. Using the site's modelling tools, consumers can estimate how much solar energy a home could capture and how that would affect their monthly bills based on past weather conditions, current power bills, the slope of their house, and how much panelling their roof can hold. One tool uses Google Maps to let users calculate the square footage of their roof and build virtual panels; RoofRay then estimates the output potential of the roof as well as financial considerations like costs of installation and upkeep and ROI. Another section shows existing installations that have already been completed by other people, including specifics of the roof used and total peak power. Ultimately, RoofRay hopes to create "RoofRaytings" for buildings and provide them to real-estate search engines as an indicator of the solar potential of homes or businesses for sale. It also plans to create an online marketplace where solar installers and integrators can bid for consumers' business.
As RoofRay points out, homes' solar potential could become increasingly important as a factor in real-estate buying decisions. Making it easier for consumers to access that and other solar information will surely be a key step on the way to more widespread adoption of the technology and—the ultimate goal—less reliance on fossil fuels. (Related: Maps for new-energy entrepreneurs.)
Website: www.roofray.com
Contact: info@roofray.com
Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen
When we wrote about San Francisco-based My Farm earlier this summer, we noted that Oregon-based Your Backyard Farmer had reportedly been doing something similar for a few years already. Sure enough, turns out the two-woman company began installing organic gardens throughout the Portland, Milwaukie and Lake Oswego areas of Oregon back in 2006.
Your Backyard Farmer requires just a plot of land big enough to feed the mouths involved—10 by 10 square feet is about the minimum for an individual or a family of two—along with six hours of direct sunlight a day and an outdoor water source. In exchange, the farming team will provide clients with an organic vegetable farm right outside their door, customized to their family's size and dining choices. Customers get to choose the produce they want grown from a seasonal list of summer and fall crops. Your Backyard Farmer both installs and visits the garden once a week to weed, harvest and do any additional plantings necessary. Each time they leave, a basket of freshly harvested vegetables is left behind that's cleaned and ready to be cooked or eaten. Weekly costs for a garden big enough to feed a family of four are roughly USD 40. For those who want to learn to do it themselves, Your Backyard Farmer also offers a consulting program that runs from March through November, including about 2 hours a month of on-site consultation on topics including soils, pest, disease, garden planning, crop rotation, succession planting, trellising, weeds, transplants verses seeding, cover cropping and more.
All of which is further evidence that consumers really do want more control over their food. Help them become urban farmers, and help yourself to a rewarding new business!
Website: www.yourbackyardfarmer.com
Contact: farmers@yourbackyardfarmer.com
Spotted by: Michael Turri
Pedal-powered taxis and free love have both been around for years, but it wasn't until just recently that one of our spotters saw them combined. Specifically, Dublin-based Ecocabs now offers free eco-taxi rides throughout the streets of the city.
Ecocabs are pedal-powered (but battery-assisted, when necessary) tricycles that can accommodate three people for emissions-free transit through congested urban areas. Launched in April, they offer short-distance travel within the Dublin city centre from 10 am to 7 pm, seven days a week. Rides on the vehicles are free, of course, through the power of sponsorship. Vehicles are wrapped with brand-specific colours and imagery, and drivers can also hand out leaflets, wear branded clothing or target particular areas of the city. (Ecocabs are also available to act as a dedicated or on-demand shuttle service for customers, clients and employees, as well as at product launches, photo-shoots, trade-fairs, public sporting events, etc.) Current sponsors of the vehicles include 7Up, Yoplait and KPMG.
Ecocabs have also been seen offering free rides on the streets of Toronto, and full-fare versions exist in numerous other cities. In Ireland, meanwhile, Ecocab is seeking franchise operators in Cork and Belfast. Time to start serving up some pedal-powered free love of your own....? (Related: Whispering billboards, talkative cab drivers and Cargo bikes for greener business deliveries in congested cities.)
Website: www.ecocabs.ie
Contact: comments@ecocabs.ie
Spotted by: Keetsa via RK
Last year, we wrote about a Dutch collective of wind turbine owners, mostly farmers, who operate turbines as an extra source of income and sell the energy they produce directly to consumers.
One of our spotters pointed out another venture that has consumers directly involved with farmers and sustainable energy. This time, however, the farmers aren't producing energy to sell to others, but to power their own business. BoerENbuur (FarmerANDneighbour) is a network promoting alliances between farmers and their non-farming neighbours. One of the projects they've recently launched is buurZOEKTbuurvoorZONNEPANELEN—farmer seeks neighbour for solar panels. Since not every farmer can afford to buy a wind turbine, and some believe they would disfigure their part of the Dutch landscape, the project is asking individuals to buy shares of EUR 250 that will help participating farmers install solar panels on their roofs. In return, per share they'll receive EUR 50 worth of produce from the farm, every year for six years. Plus the feelgood dividends of helping a farm become climate-neutral. Fifteen farmers have signed up for the first run, and the solar panels will be installed by the end of 2009.
While it obviously isn't a get-rich-quick scheme for anyone involved, grassroots initiatives like this make for a welcome antidote to corporate greenwashing. One to copy to other agricultural regions? (Related: Neighbourhood approach to renewable energy.)
Website: www.boerenbuur.nl
Contact: anne.stijkel@inclusivescience.org
Spotted by: Bart van der Aa
Last year we wrote about Urban Gentry's specialist tours of London, which included guided expeditions through the city focusing on art, fashion, interiors or shopping. Now recently launched Insider London has added a new niche to the mix with a tour focusing on London's green side.
Insider London's "Cutting-Edge Green Tour" uses walking and public transport to show participants the most exciting and innovative sustainable retail concepts, buildings and designs that London has to offer. From eco-minded shops to futuristic architecture to inspiring communities, the tour aims to highlight the many innovative ways that sustainability can be brought to life. Lasting three hours, the tour costs GBP 12.50, and is "also an excellent opportunity to meet and network with other keen greens," the company notes. Led by green marketing strategist Cate Trotter, the Cutting-Edge Green Tour recently won the Love London Travel Award. Insider London's other tour topics include interior design, architecture, shopping, gay London and the city's quirky side.
With the growing legions of eco-minded consumers out there, focusing a city tour on that niche makes perfect sense. Who will show off other cities' own eco initiatives...? Perhaps more important, what eco company will be first to sponsor one?
Website: www.insider-london.co.uk
Contact: office@insider-london.co.uk
We've seen (and written about) both green taxis and motorcycle taxis before, but never a combination of the two. Sure enough, though, one of our spotters recently came across an all-electric motorcycle service in France.
Citybird's Electri-City operates a fleet of 15 Suzuki Burgman 650cc Executive scooters from its Paris-based headquarters, as well as a number of luxurious Honda Goldwings for use by members of its Citybird Club. All its Suzuki scooters are 100 percent electric, and emit just 125g CO2 per km—significantly less than most motorcycles and 50 to 70 percent less than traditional taxis, according to Climate Mundi. Taking it even further, though, Citybird works with Climate Mundi to offset those remaining emissions, along with those from its own administration. So, it also effectively negates the emissions from manufacturing all the motorcycles and gas it uses, as well as from making the supplies, furniture and computers used in its offices and its waste, energy facilities and movement of personnel.
Electri-City, which has made more than 54,000 trips since 2003, now has 160 companies under contract for its services. It also has partnerships with British Airways and TGV for airport transportation. Fares begin at EUR 25 within Paris, with subscriptions available offering discounts of up to 20 percent. Microphone-equipped helmets are included, as is protective gear in foul weather.
Motorcycle taxis already have an advantage in congested urban areas, but those benefits are multiplied many times over when the service is emissions-free. This one seems like a no-brainer—to be replicated in cities throughout the world!
Website: www.city-bird.com/_electricity
Contact: infos@city-bird.com
Spotted by: Matthew Cua
