As Davis’ brief rainy season finally seems to be descending upon us Aggies, the health-conscious among us head to the ARC en masse, seeking a warm and dry place in which to perform our cardio. However, while in the gym searching for my six-pack abs, all I found was a bit of an environmental disaster: scores of TVs blaring, the climate-controlled warehouse-sized space, the whirring of electrically-generated running platforms. Despite this, green warriors need not give up their dreams of buns of steel! If you’re trying to ensure the most eco-friendly ARC workout, there are a few things to look out for.
The ever-popular treadmill is a veritable energy suck, using up about .75 kilowatt-hours to power your 30-minute workout. Do this every day, and you’ve emitted 110lbs of carbon dioxide per year. For those of us who love the predictability of the treadmill, the ARC’s indoor track provides a similarly mind-numbing alternative without the associated energy costs. Not the running type? Sign up for a group fitness class and enjoy the health benefits while taking some time off of the machines. If you’re emotionally attached to your machine workout, there’s no shame in the occasional jaunt with the elliptical or the stationary bikes; generally, these machines use magnets to generate resistance, meaning that the energy costs are a small fraction of those associated with the treadmill.
Before I sign off, here’s one last tip: avoid looking like a total n00b, and don’t bring your tacky single-use water bottle to the gym. If you don’t have a reusable water bottle, allow me to shamelessly promote EPPC’s “Green Wheels” event Tuesday night at the CoHo from 6 to 7:30 p.m., where you can pick up a complementary REI water bottle while supplies last!
