2008 Nov 13 Green Beijing: Pedal Power and Energy Efficient Houses
First Fengtai, next the world! The answer to the looming energy crisis that threatens the planet has been revealed in a residential community in Beijing’s Fengtai District. In an effort to harness the surfeit energy of retirees, the local residence committee has installed six brightly colored exercise bikes that also function as electric generators. 
The bikes are capable of providing enough energy to power lights and simple household appliances. According to The Beijing Daily, the power generated by the purple and green bikes will be used to help needy households in the neighborhood.
It’ll be interesting to see how the initiative goes, - just imagine how much energy China could produce by hooking up every local exercise area in the country. However, the pilot program could run into some unforeseen problems with the mis-use of equipment - we doubt that Zhang Yeye stretching his leg on the side of the bike is going to do much to charge the generator.
Green House
In mid-October Beijing held an International Energy-saving and Environmental Protection Exhibition at the Beijing Exhibition Center. One of the most popular attractions at the show was a “Beijing Energy-saving House”, which made up part of the capital's Sichuan earthquake relief effort (in a passing note - yesterday marked the 6-month anniversary of the disaster). The house can be assembled quickly (it took only 1 week to erect 86 of these energy-efficient houses) and solid enough to sustain a magnitude 9 earthquake. Although they may appear to be temporary, the buildings can actually be used for more than 30 years. The walls are made of a special light thermal insulation material with good bearing capacity, which helps save large quantities of cement and steel. This kind of fireproof and anti-rot sheet materials also makes for quick and easy assembly. Each 20 sqm house costs about RMB 50,000 to produce.
Links and Sources
The Beijing Daily: 东高地街道万源东里“脚踏发电车”节能又健身
Sina: 图文：一位老人单腿夹在铁管上锻炼身体
CRI: 2008 Beijing International Energy-saving and Environmental Protection Exhibition
2008 Beijing International Energy-saving and Environmental Protection Exhibition Official Site (Chinese Only)
Xinhua: Image of Beijing Energy-saving House
Peswiki: Human-Powered
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Re: Green Beijing: Pedal Power and Energy Efficient Houses
These bikes should be something we all get installed in our own apartments. Maybe evolve the market into elliptical trainers, rowing machines, stair-climbers and treadmills that all function as electric generators.
Perhaps instead of running around trying to make a $$$ we can all stop for a few more minutes at home and just try to save a $$$. It would sure make it easier to work off all of that McDs.