Another Energy Recycling Opportunity

Lately, it's been rather cold here in Minnesota...and with the cost of heat always rising, it makes you think of other ways that we could capture energy.

Notice I didn't say generate energy...because the first law of thermodynamics says that energy can be neither created nor destroyed- only transformed.

Ok, so, enough of the science stuff.  Now for the inventions of the future!

1. Gyms.  Like, work-out gyms.  Why aren't we harvesting some of the heat energy that is burned by the users of the equipment?  Like having some sort of little hand-held device that allows you to charge up batteries while endlessly climbing stairs...or a giant turbine at the top of the building?  I know that I build up a static electricity charge every time I walk on the treadmill because when I reach for the controls, there's a large blue arc that discharges when I touch the controls (promptly followed by my hair suddenly falling down- guess it's a bit Einstein-y when I walk).

2. Treadmill desks and elliptical desks.   Honestly, I couldn't picture the elliptical desks, because the elliptical machine involves the whole body and how can you type when your hands are on the handlebars?  Well, here's a picture of the incorrectly named elliptical desk.  It's basically just an ergonomic bicycle desk.

Anyway, all of that energy that is created by manually pumping those peddles...why aren't we recharging our cell phones or powering our iPads?

3. The last one is rather disgusting, but you have to wonder...particularly in Hollywood....what happens to all the fat from liposuctions?  People ATE those calories.  That's stored energy.  What happens to it?  Is it burned for energy?  (Now, I know from working with doctors that some of that is actually used for fat transplants for burn victims and the extremely malnourished- not kidding- but there are an awful lot of skinny people in southern California...).

Stay tuned for more energy capturing ideas...