Correct 2010

From AK at UNT:

Sustainability exercise: UNT students helping power rec center

DENTON (UNT), Texas • The University of North Texas is converting the Pohl Recreation Center into one of the largest human power plants in the country by capturing the kinetic energy produced by exercise machines and converting it into electricity. The 36 elliptical machines that are included in the project are fitted with a device from ReRev, a Florida company that developed the system, which feeds electricity produced by each machine into the recreation center’s power grid. ReRev says during a typical 30-minute workout, each machine produces 50 watt hours of clean, carbon-free electricity, enough to power a compact fluorescent light bulb for 2.5 hours or a laptop computer for an hour.

“UNT has a vast array of sustainability programs under way on campus and this project underscores our commitment to saving energy,” said Laura Klein, senior associate director of recreational sports at UNT. “It’s a great educational opportunity for our students, faculty and staff. This system provides a lesson in sustainability and energy use. As they work out, they’ll be thinking of the energy they’re producing and perhaps it will influence them to consider sustainability in their daily lives.” A monitor will be set up near the ellipticals that will indicate the amount of electricity being produced, giving users a clear picture of how much energy is being saved.

“Students are huge proponents of renewable energy projects and the ReRev system gives them a chance to participate while getting a good workout,” Klein said. “Students are very aware of sustainability and the need to find alternate, clean power sources, which bodes well for our future because they will be the ones who will be leading those efforts in a very short time.”

ReRev captures and diverts the kinetic energy produced by exercise and given off as heat. Instead, ReRev’s system converts it into alternating current that’s used in the recreation center’s power grid. That converted electricity is fed directly into the building’s electrical supply, lowering the buildings overall use by a small amount. Because each of the elliptical machines normally dissipates heat into the room, the system also means slightly lower air conditioning costs.

“We’re not going to power the building from these machines, but we are generating clean electricity and helping educate students. The real value of the system is both in showing how much work it takes to make electricity as well as the lesson in making buildings more sustainable,” Klein said.

Approximately 20 universities in the U.S. are using the ReRev system.

Good to know the Turdlog's advice is finally getting through. I wonder when tuition can be covered by manual labor.

Let Me Explain Something To You

To make fancy-pants guacamole is to suggest, hubristically, that you can do better than mashed up avocadoes and salt. And yet: the top three recipes returned by googling guacamole include onion and tomato as ingredients. Guacamole should not contain onions and should not be made in a kitchen containing a tomato.

Addition of flavorings is acceptable, especially if salt is an issue, but stick with black pepper or maybe even garlic if you really can't stand the taste of avocado. The recipes also each call for cilantro, which is another good way to ruin your guac, but I will admit this is a matter of opinion (as opposed to every other point addressed herein).

I am told that lemon or lime juice can help preserve freshness, but tangy guacamole is an abomination. Use these sparingly and keep the avocado seed in the guac to preserve freshness instead. (I am skeptical that this works. But generally, if guacamole is made correctly, it will be eaten before freshness becomes threatened.)

Poverty is the only legitimate excuse for having avocadoes make up less than 97% of your guacamole by volume.

Thank you.