I believe if you tally up all of the time I have spent working out in a gym, I would have probably spent a good number of my years running on a treadmill. When I heard that Portland, Oregon's new "power gym" converts burned human energy into electricity (thanks to my handy-dandy elevator news in my place of business), I knew it would be the topic of my next hub.

The Green Microgym, as it is named, is a 2,800 square foot gym that will harness its energy from its various fitness bikes and cut down on energy usage with its treadmills, and elliptical machines - both of which will use 30 percent less power than your standard fitness machines. The Spin Bikes will be able to generate up to 750 watts per hour. All of them are hooked up to a central battery that feeds into the gym's electrical system. The gym will also have energy-efficient ceiling fans, solar panels, and absolutely no showers, to save on water-heating costs (although, this reason makes no sense to me whatsoever when what all the users will do is go home and take showers there - and they will probably be showers that last twice as long).

The green gym does come with comfortable amenities, however, such as Sirius Satellite Radio, flatscreen LCD High Def televisions, and wireless Internet.

"We are creating a neighborhood gym that is as comfortable and effective as any other," owner Adam Boesel explains to the L.A. Times. "At the same time, our members are doing their part to help the Earth.

The gym will be the first of its kind in the United States, following the steps of other noteworthy green houses such as Hong Kong's California Fitness Gym and London's Club Surya, where a dance floor converts movement into energy, according to Oregon Environment News Online. The goal, according to the owner Adam Boesel, is for the gym to someday run solely on the energy it creates.

It could very well be the first to do so efficiently, as well. Although the gym in Hong Kong has been able to harness some human power, Boesel's gym is the first to actually integrate the equipment and eco-philosophy into its business model, according to the L.A. Times. Boesel mentioned that gym members will be asked to either turn off or lower lighting systems and fans when the aren't in use, and that by simply turning off treadmills when not in use gyms across the country could save on electric.

Normally I write hubs that help you spend your money wiser and help you find ways you can cut back on overall spending. The Green Microgym does not necessarily fall into the most budget-friendly categories with a $100 a month sign-up fee and $50 dollars thereafter, but I thought it was a cause that could perhaps, in the future, cost much less for all of us gym-goers. However, for those local to the Portland area, the website IS encouraging for a limited time residents to enroll online and pay only $29 per month for the life of their membership. Not too shabby of a deal.

The number one major criticism is the lack of showers. The gym fees compared to the YMCA down the street that charges only about $30 a month with full showers are rather high. The practicality of this "cut-back" doesn't make complete sense to me. One online writer explains, "I love this idea - and it's in my neighborhood... but I just can't justify [the price] when I can go to the YWCA or Lloyd AC for $20 less a month and have showers."

Despite the lack of showers, fifty people have thus far signed up via their website, and that number is expected to increase drastically in the upcoming months.

Live nowhere near Portland, Oregon? The following are five friendly ways you can save energy when going to your nearby gym:

1. BYOB: Bring your own bottle. More than 100 million disposable bottles end up in the trash every day!
2. Workout outdoors: Hiking, biking, skiing, running, kayaking, walking, rock climbing... you get the point.
3. Bring your own towel: If you go to a gym that provides you with towels, bring your own instead and save on the water that is used to clean them.
4. Turn off TVs that aren't in use.
5. Instead of driving to the gym, run to it. Live too far away? Carpool with a neighbor or other friend nearby. Teamwork is proven to actually make you more productive in the gym, anyway.

Make it a focus in the not-too-distant winter months when human energy consumption is at its highest to direct your energy in more efficient ways. You'll be doing yourself - as well as our fragile environment - a big favor.