Green Gyms Powered by Members' Workouts

Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon, uses technology similar to California Fitness' to generate extra power. The gym's cycling machines produce 300 to 600 watts of energy an hour, which is enough to power a stereo, a 37-inch LCD television and a laptop computer. The company says this technology is just one component of a more holistic, environmentally friendly approach. Adam Boesel, the gym's founder, plans to install solar panels that will help power the rest of the facility. Most of the gym's members are within walking distance, which helps further reduce the gym's overall carbon footprint. Individual members pay an enrollment fee of $100 and a monthly fee of $39, while couples pay a one-time fee of $100 and a monthly fee of $58.

The River Gym, a work in progress in New York City for more than four years, promises to be a truly innovative take on eco-friendly technology -- eventually. Architect Mitchell Joachim envisions a series of floating, enclosed gyms, which will navigate circuitous routes along the East and Hudson Rivers in Manhattan. The kinetic energy expended by the exercisers aboard the gyms will be converted into electricity, which will power the gyms' engines. Navigational computers will steer the gyms along predetermined routes, so members can enjoy panoramic views of the city as they sweat. Meanwhile, water purification devices installed on the bottom of each gym will help reduce pollution in the rivers. The gyms will vary in size: Smaller ones will require the kinetic energy of only a few people to power their engines, while larger floating gyms will require more power and will be reserved for peak hours. doMembership fees have not been announced.

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