New “green” exercise equipment at the Southeast Recreational Facility allows the user to produce energy that is run back into the building’s power grid, according to a news release.
In the fitness area, two elliptical machines and four stationary bikes are connected to an inverter that captures the energy in generator boxes at the front of the machines.
According to the release, up to 72 percent of the energy produced during a workout can be converted into usable electricity.
The equipment also includes an application called EcoFit that tracks a user’s energy output and fitness data during the session. Workout results can then be shared on social media and displayed on TVs near the machines.
The equipment supports the university’s waste eliminator initiative, which started in the early 2000s.
“Installing this equipment is a great next step toward upgrading equipment and facilities and in our mission to promote personal fitness and encourage sustainable practices,” University of Wisconsin-Madison fitness and wellness director Lori Devine said in the release.
