Travis completes AMC's first human-powered gym

  • Published
  • By David Musselwhite
  • 60th Civil Engineering Squadron asset management flight chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Ten elliptical machines at the Travis Fitness Center are now connected to the base's power grid through an innovative system that converts human energy into no-cost carbon-free electricity.

The system is an ideal education tool at a base that has a strong emphasis on both physical fitness and energy conservation, according to Fitness Center director Dean Fazzio.

"You're doing something for yourself and the planet," Fazzio said. "It may even help you get a higher quality workout."

"The harder (a person) works out, the more power (that person is) putting back into the building," he said.

A 30-minute workout can power a laptop for an hour, but a sweat-dripping athletic workout can power four laptops, according to ReRev, which installed the retrofitted machines. The system takes human energy and makes a usable form of renewable energy. A device attached to each elliptical machine converts the kinetic energy from each step into a direct current and sends it to the system. It then converts the direct current into an alternating current, allowing that energy to be used to power the building.

Each elliptical machine connected to the system has an identifying sticker. The user can increase the resistance level of the machine to create a more challenging workout and generate more electricity.

Allison Greco, Travis energy manager, called the system of 10 machines AMC's first human-powered gym. A flat-screen television in front of the elliptical machines broadcasts how much power each individual machine is creating at that moment.

"You can see how the calories you are burning are turning into real energy to power the gym," she said. "When you see how much energy other exercisers are creating, it may inspire some friendly competition."

In 2010, Travis Air Force Base received first place in the AMC Energy Incentive Award, capturing the $100,000 top prize. The base's Energy Management Steering Group chose to spend part of the award money on the renewable energy elliptical machines. The team hopes the system will also inspire Travis to reduce energy consumption both at work and at home.

The human-powered gym is just one of many energy conservation initiatives underway at the Fitness Center. This year, the energy team retrofitted lighting in both basketball courts in the Fitness Center with lighting fixtures, resulting in a 42.5 percent reduction in energy consumption while improving lighting levels. The Team also reduced energy consumption in the racquetball courts by 65 percent by installing induction fixtures with occupancy sensors that shut the lights off when the courts are not in use. The estimated annual energy savings from the lighting upgrades is more than $10,000 per year.

These initiatives helped Travis to secure the first place Energy Incentive Award for a second year in a row, providing an additional $100,000 to invest in energy conservation projects this coming year.