Another project funded by the 

What is RECycling Your Power?

 

We are a team of Western Washington University Students who received a Sustainable Action Fund large grant to implement power-producing bicycles in the Wade King Recreation Center. These bikes will help offset energy that would normally be used to run the machines and instead harness that energy to power the machine’s functions.

 

By introducing the possibilities to alternative renewable energy sources, our lasting impact will be

• Teaching students to think outside the box

• Power their own "healthy lifestyles" for the greater good.

• Demonstrating to students that different sources of energy are viable options

• Provide students with a first-hand knowledge of just how much energy is needed to run their daily lives

 

 

How are these bikes different from standard bikes?

 

Our bikes will be powered by the users’ kinetic energy The bikes  will pull a small amount of energy from the grid to start up the parts, then it will close the loop and run off the kinetic energy.  They are plugged in to close the loop using nod technology.

 

Where can I find the RECycling Your Power bikes?

 

On the second floor of Wade King Recreation Gym on Western Washington University’s Campus.  

 

What is kinetic energy and how is it produced?

 

Kinetic energy is the energy you create while in motion. An object that has motion has kinetic energy. The kind of kinetic energy our bikes are using is rotational (energy due to rotational movement) (physicsclassroom.com).

 

 

How do I get more technology like this into the gym?

 

Either, you and your friends can talk to the Wade King Recreation Center director encouraging him to purchase more equipment; or you can look into creating another SAF grant to purchase more power-producing equipment.

 

 

How does using this equipment benefit me?

 

By using our equipment you will

• Be healthier because you’re exercising

• Help Western Washington University reduce their carbon footprint

• Reduce your own ecological footprint

 

How is RECycling Your Power funded?

 

RECycling Your Power is funded by the Sustainable Action Fund. The Sustainable Action Fund (SAF) is a student-funded program at Western Washington University that provides grant funding to students to reduce the campus' environmental impact and engage the campus community in environmental awareness

 

How do I become involved?

 

You can become involved with Sustainable Action Fund by going to an idea lab, or contact Nate White about on going projects. Also participate in events hosted by SAF to help contribute towards the success of someone else’s project. You can find more about idea labs if you visit http://www.wwu.edu/sustain/

 

How is the power produced by the bikes used?

 

The power produced by the bikes will help offset energy in the Wade King Recreation Center that would normally be used to run the machines. Instead the bikes will harness the energy produced by users to sustain the machines’ functions throughout the workout.