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Green treadmill a little less eco-friendly than a run in the park
At $8,500, the Woodway EcoMill running machine is, perhaps, the answer to every rich green gym bunny's prayers. Although it may look like a lawnmower in a half nelson, you generate the energy needed to keep the treadmill running and power the battery that makes the display light up. A more straightforward fitness accessory than perhaps this option, it does, nevertheless, beg one question:
Why don't you just run outdoors? If you think how much energy a gym must use — as well as the hideous strip lights that flicker above you as you splutter your way through a workout, there are the fitness machines to be plugged in, the water cooler, the aircon (if you're lucky) and the showers. Running means you get to commune with the wildlife in the park, your face doesn't go red, and your exercise is free from that hideous stink that seems to lurk in gyms the world over. Ugh — just writing about it makes my nose wrinkle.
By Mr. Gumsandals at 10:00 AM ON 06/04/09
Very strange indeed.
By canuck at 10:34 AM ON 06/04/09
In Canada we have this thing called winter, whereby if you want to run outdoors, you would have to be out of your tree. Summertime outdoor running is amazing, but if you really want to get your job on and it's -40 outside, a treadmill is the only way to go.
By Ed at 11:02 AM ON 06/04/09
canuck is right. Here in Texas, it gets up to 115 degrees outside and way too hot. Winter running at 40 degrees is nice. But durring the summer, a treadmill and aircon is pretty necessary.
By Adam at 11:41 AM ON 06/04/09
I own The Green Microgym in Portland, and we have been working on creating electricity with our machines as well as saving energy everywhere we can. We are a small gym, with 3 treadmills, and they use an average of 500 watts each. They account for over 50% of our energy usage. Having quality treadmills that use no electricity is a great thing, and I applaud Woodway for their efforts in this area. We would purchase one if we could afford the initial cost of $8500.
By Xanapus at 11:42 AM ON 06/04/09
Walmart sells treadmills for $100 that don't use any electricity at all. You just get on it and start running. I'm sure it uses the same generator system to power the display if it even has one, probably not but when you are running outdoors you don't have a display so there is no loss, I guess if you have a step counter that would work, just attach it to your belt buckle.
I can't see spending $8,500 on one of these if you can get the same thing for $100.
By anthracite at 1:44 PM ON 06/04/09
I wonder how much energy it costs and waste it produces to manufacture and ship this thing.
By Kate at 7:55 AM ON 06/05/09
I have to agree with some of the folks on here. I am ALL about running outdoors but in Florida in the summer time...you are likely to die of heatstroke, no joke. Or when it rains for a week and there are massive amounts of lightning strikes to the ground...
I have to say I am not a fan of treadmills...I prefer running outside, definitely. But, it is definitely nice that they are around and if there can be ecofriendly options that eventually are more affordable. Even better.
By Maj at 2:38 PM ON 06/05/09
> Why don't you just run outdoors?
* There's no smog inside a gym.
* Running on a padded treadmill doesn't impact your knees as much as running on concrete or asphalt.
* Why go outside and run when there are already all the other machines you need for the workout inside the building?
* It's not 109 degrees F inside a gym.
* You're less likely to get run over by a car.
Why don't YOU just run outdoors?
By Spring at 7:06 PM ON 09/28/09
I have worked out on some non-electric cardio equipment by HOGGAN and their treadmill is wonderful!! I looked up the price and it is pretty reasonable.
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Spring:
I have worked out on some non-electric cardio equipment by HOGGAN and their treadmill is wonderful!! I looked up...More »