Like most engineers, I've often thought about how ecologically awesome it would be to attach generators to exercise equipment and recapture some of the wasted energy we all expend while getting in shape. It's a great idea, but unfortunately, the economics kill it every time....
So, here's my twist - how about instead of going to the gym for a workout, you exercise by completing some form of useful work for the world, like chopping and stacking wood for your elderly neighbor, helping with a volunteer construction project, "aerobically" raking the yard, etc? No matter where you live, there are thousands of projects that would undoubtedly benefit from some simple volunteer human labor, and if one is going to burn calories in any case, why not put them to good use on one of these projects? With such a program, you'd not only get a good workout, but also a warm & fuzzy feeling and a few extra bucks in your pocket (as you could ditch the expensive gym membership).
The biggest stumbling block I always have with this idea is how to make the experience semi-equivalent to that of a gym; i.e. convenient/consistent locations, ability to get a full workout within an hour, ability to go at a time of your choosing, etc. One possibility is to create a website that would serve as a "clearinghouse" of projects/activities, where people could post projects or search through the available projects to find one that suited their needs.
Anyway, that's the idea in a nutshell...Let me know your thoughts, particularly if you have the perfect solution! Thanks.
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Maybe pick oranges from peoples yards in Florida and give them to a food bank. Also you could use craigslist and say you will do yard work for free in your area and see what kind of response you get.
Humans aren't the most efficient pack animals but lack of physical activity in today's 1st world society leads to all sorts of ailments. Perhaps the energy generated from the exercise machines could power a spotlight over the user, might help them sweat off some more pounds. Remember the bicycle generator now replaced with battery powered LED's. Growing vegetables is a good workout, meditation and you get fresh food, nothing like fresh asparagus uncooked straight from the garden.
I already used this response to someone quite a while ago, but I think it's still quirky/silly but do-able, so I've pasted it again:
It is true the with enough people, real work can be done--look at the pyramids.
Maybe we could design huge turnstiles, something like a hundred feet in diameter, with 200 arms sticking out from it--People wouldn't have to join a gym to exercise, they could just go to that particular city park and join-in the turning of the turnstile. If they wanted to walk more slowly, they could get closer to the center on the arm, or faster, farther out.
You could socialize, or listen to your ipod while you helped to power the city. You could meet new people and already have something in common with them. Chanters could chorus a rhythm to push to, like rowing an ancient ship.
'Conan the Barbarian' got really buff pushing a turnstile in the 1982 movie.
I already do something like that: after I finish my jog around the local resevoir, while cooling down on my way home, I pick up small items of trash and put them in the plastic bag that came with my morning newspaper. On a typical day I can gather dozens of cigarette butts, soda straw wrappers, and plastic cup lids. And I get exercise from bending over so many times. And as a bonus, I occasionaly find a coin or a golf ball!