On Wed, 19 Apr 2000, QueeneMUSE@aol.com wrote:
> jamesr@best.com writes:
>
> > The human machine
> > produces CO2 exhaust and probably has poorer conversion efficiency than
> > some of the better types of carbon burning power plants (gas turbines?).
>
> huh.... something tells me our convicts are not going to stop producing CO2
> exhaust bike or no bike... we're still burning fuel, and we're still
> breathing, whether we're sitting in a cell, or pumping iron in a jail yard or
> washing clothes or fighting.. or making license plates....
Of course, but the normal exhaust rate is a fraction of what it is when
the body is in a vigorous aerobic mode. If this was not the case, people
wouldn't ride bikes to burn excess calories. You could easily triple or
quadruple total emissions by using people for power generation rather than
letting them do their usual, less vigorous activities.
My point was mostly that one won't be reducing CO2 emissions by using
people to generate electricity rather than more conventional types of
power plants. Environmentally friendly power is not a good reason for
having people ride bikes, although this doesn't mean the idea doesn't have
merit. Perhaps you could have the bikes available to power the prisoners'
facilities e.g. no bike riding means no lights, no hot water, etc. That
might be a good way to instill a TANSTAAFL ethic.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com
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