Now you can enjoy an even greener lifestyle while you exercise with PlugOut, fitness equipment that actually generates electricity with the energy from your physical effort.  A good for the planet, good for your health workout – how cool is that?  One workout session can generate enough electricity to power your smartphone or Blackberry for a week or directly offset the consumption of an Energy Star LCD Television. And, it’s not consuming electricity the way traditional fitness equipment does, so your physical energy exerted is providing both personal and planetary health. No, it’s not going to solve our climate crisis, but it’s certainly a much greener option to standard fitness equipment which consumes energy.   Plus, it’s an added incentive for the person working out, knowing that they are actually producing energy.  

PlugOut Cross Trainer Elliptical

PlugOut’s mission is “to help create healthy people and a healthy planet.” Based out of Seattle, PlugOut was the brainchild of observing rows of people at a fitness facility working out simultaneously and thinking “wouldn’t it be cool if all this energy could be harnessed and used?” Cool indeed. A sustainable workout that doesn’t consume energy and actually gives back by generating 50 to 250 watts of power in a single exercise routine.  It’s a win-win fitness regime. 

All of the equipment options work straight out the box as long as you have access to a three prong grounded plug, it’s ready to go. There are currently two options, PlugOut Cross-Trainer, a Commercial Grade Elliptical with Touchscreen, and the PlugOut Cycle, an Indoor Cycle Bike.  The PlugOut Cross-Trainer’s Touchscreen will not only track your workout but also the power you’ve generated.  Additional products are still in development but I for one would like to see this type of equipment revolutionize the way people want to administer their fitness routine and add to their green lifestyle.

PlugOut Cross Trainer Elliptical Touchscreen

According to PlugOut’s website: “People have become increasingly aware of their impact on the environment. Almost everyone is familiar with the term “carbon footprint,” and many have become fanatics about measuring their own and finding ways to reduce it. While electricity-generating cardio equipment won’t drastically reduce the power bills of giant sports complexes with pools, saunas, and large numbers of treadmills, members are extremely motivated by the fact they are able to contribute as opposed to waste.” 

I wish I could review PlugOut from a user perspective, but unfortunately I haven’t experienced it first-hand.  The concept however, is ingenious.  A greener lifestyle by generating electricity while you sweat, and a healthier you from the physical fitness.   Kudos PlugOut, we wish you nothing but success!
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