When you think about ways to become more eco-friendly, things like picking up trash on the street or using cloth grocery bags in favor of the plastic ones probably come to mind. Something you probably don’t think about? Your treadmill.

Yep, logging your miles just got greener with the SportsArt Verde Treadmill—the newest addition to the brand’s already existing Eco-Powr line (which includes other machines like ellipticals and indoor bikes).

The basic premise of this manual, human-powered treadmill is that it generates electricity as you work out. All you have to do is plug it the treadmill into an outlet and start running, according to Ruben Mejia, SportsArt’s chief technology officer.

Instead of a motor, “it has a microinverter that cleans electricity into a form that’s usable through power cord,” he told Runner’s World. Walk, run, or use the treadmill’s sled push mode to harness power to generate electricity, similar to how solar panels or wind turbines do. Anything plugged into the gym’s grid can use the harnessed electricity.



And while everyone’s workouts are different, the max amount of electricity you can generate on the treadmill is 200 watts per hour—or the equivalent wattage of the average refrigerator, Mejia said.

To put it in perspective even more, if you use your treadmill an hour a day for 15 days out of the month, you can save in some major ways: 28,800 watts generated per year, 29 kilowatt hours per year, 0.02 metric tons of CO2 per year, or two gallons of gas.

And these human-powered treadmills aren’t just good for the environment and your bank account—manual treadmills can have a major impact in your performance, too, according to running coach Pauline Juhle, M.P.T., C.S.C.S.

“On a manual treadmill, you expend about 30 percent more energy and activate your muscles about 30 percent more compared to running on a motorized treadmill at the same effort level,” she said. This is because it’s harder to get a manual treadmill started and keep it going—you’re using your own muscle power as opposed to an automatic treadmill that stays at whichever speed you set it to.

What’s more, it’s easier to do sprint intervals on a manual treadmill versus a motorized one, she said.

“If you don’t have access to a track, you can get a similar benefit because you can obtain top speed quicker [on a manual treadmill] and nail your paces, since there’s no limit to how fast you can go.”

Another bonus? Manual treadmills give you mental fortitude, which comes in handy when you have to dig deep during a race, Juhle said, since you’re really working hard.

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And while SportsArt is the first company to create this type of treadmill that harnesses energy through human power, the running community is beginning to look toward more sustainable options, like limiting plastic cups and bottles at races or making eco-friendly running gear.

“One thing that is always overlooked in being eco-friendly is the gym,” Mejia said. “You’ve got all these treadmills that suck electricity, so why not have something that can contribute to the environment?”



As of right now, you can only find the SportsArt Verde in commercial buildings like gyms and resorts. Gym and hotel owners can get more information and request a quote here.



Danielle Zickl Associate Health & Fitness Editor Danielle specializes in interpreting and reporting the latest health research and also writes and edits in-depth service pieces about fitness, training, and nutrition.

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