The Bite:
Get a great workout in the fresh air or at home. Your treadmill takes electricity, and gyms across the country overload on air conditioning and laundry usage. Throw on those shoes and take your workout outside!
Tired of heading to sweaty, stuffy gyms in order to stay in shape?
07.29.2005
Submitted by idealbite on Fri, 07/29/2005 - 5:00pm.
The Benefits:
- A 40 minute cardio workout at the gym can easily be supplemented by a 40 minute workout outside with even better fitness benefits.
- 10 treadmills in your average gym use an average of 13,500 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. To put that in perspective: that energy would power your water heater for 19 days or let you run your hair dryer nonstop for more than a year.
- Collectively, Americans spend a million dollars on energy every minute. By making small reductions in our energy use - such as exercising outside of the gym - we can significantly reduce our energy consumption levels.
Personally Speaking:
Honestly, exercising outside of the gym is probably one of the easiest ways to save on energy consumption. We like to keep in shape but it seems a little silly to be using a treadmill that uses 3,000 kWH of electricity when a typical heating system for your home may only use 300. Besides it's a lot more fun to bring along your dog or a friend to run in the park, so we put our gym memberships on hold during the summers.
Wanna Try:
- Find all sorts of ideas for at home workout routines at about.com/health.
- Visit yogabasics.com to learn about yoga practices that are easy to do at home and can give you a great workout, sans wattage.
Cocktail Fact
If you don't do physical training, you lose one half pound of muscle each year after you turn 20.
Bang For The Bite
Taking your workout outside can save a lot of electricity (and a lot of money). Most gym memberships can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 a month that you could save by moving your workout routine outside when the weather permits.
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