POWER IT YOURSELF

Kimberly Ferguson Nick Lee

Bryan Park Adrian Toscano

Executive Summary

As the gym closes its services for students and the last worker leaves, the lights remain

on throughout the night. They remain on until the first worker comes in for the morning shift, but

as the sun rises and light shines through the glass panel, the lights remain on. As a university,

which has pledged to accomplish its Triple Zero Commitment (consuming zero net energy, and

producing zero waste and zero net greenhouse gas emissions) by 2020, the problem of having the

lights on, the air conditioner running, or other unsustainable actions becomes an obstacle for the

university to accomplish this pledge. Thus, the production and establishment of a green gym is

needed to help the university accomplish its Triple Zero Commitment and maintain the idea of a

sustainable and green campus.

The overall goal is to slowly develop the current Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and

Wellness Center into a sustainable and environmentally friendly “green” gym over the course of

the next decade. In doing so, the Green Gym initiative hopes to also incorporate

Project Overview

The Green Gym Initiative is a plan to transform UC Merced’s gym into a self-sustaining

building and reducing the amount of energy it uses. In order to achieve this, we will be

transforming the gym into an energy efficient building. Part of the Green Gym initiative includes

installing kinetic energy producing machines

This initiative tackles the problem of overusing and misappropriating energy. The gym is

notorious for leaving the lights on all day. This is a practice that requires unnecessary amounts of

energy. To counteract this, the Green Gym Initiative will implement workout equipment that

produces energy with every use.

The reason behind this initiative is that there are technologies that could make the gym

sustainable and limit the impact it has on our electric bill. Some of these technologies include

treadmills and cycling machines that use kinetic technology to create energy that the gym can

use.

Less energy required to power the gym means that UC Merced leaves less of an

ecological impact and achieves its Triple Zero goals. UC Merced currently has pledged to

produce zero waste and consume zero net energy and zero net greenhouse gas emissions by the

year 2020. (UC Merced 2015) By implanting the Green Gym initiative, UC Merced could reach

zero net energy sooner than 2020.

We all benefit from having a self-sustaining gym. Besides saving energy, the Green Gym

initiative gives people the incentive to work out more. It is rewarding to know that the calories

you burn will also help the gym save energy.

Objectives

We are in a time where we are consuming more resources than ever. The world is starting

to realize that new technologies and methods must be created in order to conserve earth’s

valuable resources and live in a sustainable environment. As a society, we are becoming more

consciously aware of the effects we are having on our planet. Each day, we are thinking of ways

to live a more sustainable life that will benefit our planet and ourselves. The answer to this

solution is the Green Gym initiative at UC Merced. The objectives of the Green Gym initiative

are as follows:

Achieve the Triple Zero Commitment (consumption of zero net energy, production of

zero waste, and zero net greenhouse gas emissions)

Promote conservation and sustainability as a green campus

Cut costs on energy and water consumption

Promote a healthy student population

Save money on long-term energy usage

Optimize reusable materials such as non-green exercise machines.

Technical Descriptions and Processes

Self-Powered Stationary Bikes:

Once you begin using the bike, its power will switch on from the energy you are

producing spinning the wheel. Once you are producing energy the excess will go in to a holding

cell, which is a power cell used for storing electricity. All bikes will be connected to a power

cell via wire. From here it will go back into the buildings power supply. From the power supply

it will be used as needed throughout the regular gym hours. The leftover electricity after gym

hours will be used for gym utilities such as security systems and fire alarms. The created power

will also be used to power the inside lights once it becomes too dark for the skylight. These

bikes are 100% self-powered, so they will not be contributing to any part of the gyms electric

bill.

Green Micro Gym (2011) “Up Cycle Eco Charger”

Skylights:

Skylights will be installed on the roof of the main gym. The skylight allows the gym to

keep all lights off during the day, since the inside will be receiving sunlight through the

skylight. Once the light from the sun becomes too insufficient to keep the area well lit the power

produced from the equipment will be used to light the gym into the night.

Solar Panels:

Solar panels are panels mounted on a roof, or into the ground that generate electricity from

sunlight. It allows particles of light to remove electrons from atoms thus creating

electricity. Solar panels are made up of several photovoltaic cells, formed using silicon. Since

there will be skylights mounted on to the roof it is likely that the solar panels will be put into the

ground due to the limited amount of roof space.

Low-Flow Water Fixtures:

Low flow aerators will be installed on all faucets and shower heads in the gym. Aerators

mix air flow into the stream of water, so the water will have a consistent flow but will cool down

the closer it gets the shower floor. Low flow faucets and showers will produce less than 2.75 and

2.50 gallons of water per minute respectively.

Treadmill A-Volt Attachment:

The Treadmill-a-volt is a device that converts human kinetic energy into electric potential

energy. The energy exerted to turn a belt on the treadmill is transferred via a generator into a

simple circuit that charges a small battery. The battery can then be used to charge small electrical

devices.

Lonny Graffman, (2015) “Treadmill A-Volt Power Charging”

Equipment Cost

Treadmill-A-Volt $151.19

Low-Flow Showerhead $7.95

Bicycle Generator $1,700

Skylights $60 per sq. foot

Project Management and Budget

Data on the Joseph Gallo Recreation Center’s electrical consumption was difficult to

find. The solution to this problem was to find the overall results of how much energy would be

saved through the implemented equipment rather than on pure numbers. Thus, data was instead

pulled from another building on campus similar in size, the residence hall Cathedral. Figure 1

shows the electrical consumption of Cathedral in 2014.

Figure 1. Cathedral’s Electrical Consumption 2014. Source: UC Merced Campus Energy

Management, This figure shows the electrical consumption of Cathedral at UC Merced.

In Figure 1, consumption began to rise between January and March only to slowly

decrease in April and May. Although Cathedral is a residence hall and most students move out

by June and July, which results

in lower electrical consumption,

this same pattern is shown

throughout the buildings at UC

Merced—electrical consumption

rises as the semester begins and

dips when it ends. The strategy

was to use Cathedral’s electrical

consumption as a starting point for

future electrical consumption

comparisons. For example, in

Figure 2 there is a comparison between the 2014 electrical consumption to a projected 2015

electrical consumption.

Figure 2. 2014 Electrical Consumption vs. 2015 Projected

Electrical Consumption. Source: UC Merced Campus Energy

Management, This figure represents the potential 2015 electrical

consumption projection compared to its previous year.

The goal of the Green Gym Initiative is to not only implement green equipment into the

Gallo Recreation Center, but to also decrease electrical consumption by 10% each month. Figure

2 is the projection of the potential electrical consumption in 2015. The pattern shifts downwards,

and when compared to 2015, the Gallo Recreation Center would use less electricity than in 2014.

Figure 3 is another examination of the possible electrical consumption in 2016.

As seen in Figure 3, electrical consumption in 2016 is significantly less than 2014’s

electrical consumption. Although

the consumption will never fully

reach zero, electrical consumption

is projected to decrease by 10%

due to human-powered equipment

and solar panels. While electrical

consumption is projected to

decrease by 10%, the Green Gym

Initiative still requires specific

amounts of gym-machine equipment. Figure 4 outlines the total equipment, estimated to be

implemented into the Gallo Recreation Center.

Figure 4 shows the estimated equipment quantity the Green Gym will strive to implement

into the Gallo Recreation Center. The estimations are based on personal observations rather than

raw data. 8% of the equipment will be for bicycles, 25% will be Treadmills, 33% will be Solar

Panels, and 34% will be Low-Flow fixtures. The bicycle energy generator will be assembled by a

company and shipped to the Gallo Recreation Center, while the Solar Panels will be installed by

a professional. The treadmills and low-flow fixtures will be the only equipment not pre-

assembled nor installed by a professional. Table 1 outlines the cost of each equipment and the

total cost needed to begin the green gym initiative, with labor, installation, and shipping costs

included.

The prices are based on Amazon, green-gym equipment websites such as ReRev, and

home department stores. The grand total cost comes out to be about $16,241.85. Although the

amount seems relatively costly, Figure 5 shows the actual budget the Gallo Recreation Center is

set to receive and is receiving from 2010 to 2020.

The UC Regents approved of a budget to allow the

Gallo Recreation Center to receive about

$17,100,000 in the course of a decade (10 years) as

shown in Figure 5. Most of the funding comes

from external financing, while the rest comes from

gifts. The figure nor the budget shows any student

fees being factored into the budget.

Problems and Challenges

Even though the Green Gym initiative is a positive idea, it has its share of problems. One

of these problems is that the technology being implemented is fairly new and has not been

widely used. Most of the technology for these gyms has been in development since 2007. There

are a few gyms that are considered to be self-sustaining. They are located in Portland, New York,

and Hong Kong. This is a problem because we do not know how successful in producing a Green

Gym is. According to Adam Boesel, owner of the Green Microgym in Portland, the gym saves

40,000 kilowatts per year. (Gibson 2011) This proves that there is some benefit to having a green

gym, even though the technology is new.

Another problem is that the returns won’t be seen as soon as we implement the Green

Gym initiative. Even though it is going to cost UC Merced $16,241.85 to install the workout

equipment, solar panels, and low fixture faucets, the gym is still going to have to use up energy.

This is because there the reserves for the workout equipment will have no energy in them. At the

rate the gym uses electricity, the initial uses of the equipment will barely power the gym for a

day. However, Steve Clinefelter, the President of Hong Kong’s California Fitness, stated that one

person can produce 50 watts of electricity per hour when exercising at a moderate pace.

(Levesque 2007) With the amount of people the gym gets of people exercising, the gym will

become self-sufficient in less than a year. This will allow for the gym to stop paying for energy.

Projected Benefits

Green Gym is a very rewarding idea that will not only be profitable in the long run, but

will also offer a service that will benefit our society and the environment. We plan to see several

projected benefits from this proposal. One of the greatest benefits of having a self-sustaining

gym is decreasing the impact on the environment. Through the use of low flow water fixtures,

solar panels, skylights, and self-powered gym equipment, each person who steps into Green Gym

will be able to feel as if they are making a difference and reduce their carbon footprint.

Although the profits won’t be seen immediately, Green Gym is expected to drastically

reduce the amount spent on energy costs. It is quite expensive to power an entire gym, but with a

self-sustaining gym, thousands of dollars can be saved and put to better use.

Users of Green Gym will have the greatest motivation to exercise. Not only will people

who go to Green Gym be benefiting themselves by staying healthy, but they will also be

motivated to continue exercising when they see that they are making a difference.

UC Merced is known as the “green campus.” Therefore, we must maintain our reputation

and strive to be the campus that is green and sustainable. The field of sustainability is becoming

more and more popular among society. Our Green Gym initiative is something that many people

are going to be interested in as a way to make a difference.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Green Gym is good for everyone. It give people the opportunity to

stay fit while helping the environment. This initiative falls also helps UC Merced achieve its zero

net energy goal. Besides being eco-friendly, we would also be trailblazing technologically. There

isn’t a UC that uses kinetic energy to power one of its facilities. UC Merced could be the first

UC have a building that promotes both a healthy lifestyle and energy conservation. Some costs

are high, but the benefits outweigh them. It is true that the gym will be dependent on energy after

installing the equipment but this will only be temporarily. After more people see the benefit of

the Green Gym, more people will use the equipment. This will lead to the gym running solely on

the energy produced by people’s workouts. Remember, Green Gym, the best way for UC Merced

to be green and lean.

Works Cited

Gibson, T. (2011, June 21). In These Exercise Machines Turn Your Sweat into Electricity.

Retrieved from http://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/conservation/these-exercise-machines-turn-your-sweat- into-electricity

Levesque, T. (2007, March 8). In Human-powered gyms in Hong Kong.

Lonny Graffman, (2015) “Treadmill A-Volt Power Charging” “Lower Bills with Low-Flow Faucets.” (2015). HGTV.

Regents, University of California. (2009). “2010-20 Capital Finance.” University of California,

Regents. “Single Speed Bike Power Generator.” (2010). The Green Micro Gym.

UC Merced. (2014). “Cathedral.” Campus Energy Management.