Gravity Fitness

A conceptual presentation of a human powered building which captures the collective
energy of the occupants.
Water is pumped to roof located storage tanks thru water pumping exercise equipment, then released on demand, and forced by gravity through water turbine generators.
When electric power production is greater than needed, this small-scale hydro building shares clean
sustainable power with the neighborhood. Micro hydro sytems are emissions free, and very low impact on the environment.
Created using FormZ RadioZity (3D Modeling), Final Cut Sudio (editing), and Photoshop
3 Min 56 Sec

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• sustainable
• fitness
• center
• interior
• architecture
• green
• building

[Ratboy2004]

I think I get it, seems to be more like a music video than informative. I get it though, one exercises, generating power and pumping water to drop from top of building running turbine, creating more energy...right?

[mattbakerdesign]

Correct. Also, Decentralized energy production is more efficient, clean, and fun!

[Ratboy2004]

What amount of energy do you expect to create any given day?

[mattbakerdesign]

Human legs on can produce about 100 watts continuous,... arms, 50 watts. The more people the more power. To offset coal or other non-reneawable source is possible.

[huihui099]

哈哈，周星弛

[mattbakerdesign]

Commpressed air is fine. I don't know of any air turbines or storage systems avaialable off-the-shelf with the safety or effiecency of water turbines. Also, everytime you change from one energy form to another, your system becomes more inefficient. If your exercise machine is already set up to produce electicity, then yes, tie it to a battery for storage of power you don't need at the moment.

[agungk]

why not use compressed air instead? or flywheels?

drive compressors from electricity already generated by many stationary exercise machines.

[mattbakerdesign]

The objective first, is to capture energy usually wasted during exercise with typical machines. Also, it is to be as environmentally compatible (green) as possible. Compared to batteries and photovoltaic material, tubing and turbines are inert. Water is the energy storage medium, and people just move it around. The video is only a montage of an emotional quality I was experimenting with. Actual dimensions and hardware could be bolted on, and not as extreme as the video expresses.

Thanks

[agungk]

the question is: what is the objective? is it energy conservation/saving? pipe, pumps and reservoirs seem to require major investment and take large amount of space.

retrofitting the building for hybrid lighting (solar+electric) would give several times the saving for much lower cost and non-obstructive installment.