The objectives of this initiative span four categories: energy production, energy education, community building and promoting fitness.

First, the bike room will provide an alternative source of energy, people-power, for Middlebury. The electricity produced in the spinning room will offset demand from the grid, both reducing the College’s carbon footprint and bringing it closer to its goal to be carbon neutral by 2016. It will also reduce Middlebury’s energy bill.

Second, the bike room will provide a hands-on energy producing experience. It is more difficult to convince ourselves to really monitor our energy consumption when energy is an abstract, intangible resource. The bike room will allow riders to feel how difficult 200 watts of energy is to produce, and make us think twice about leaving our lights on or taking a second hot shower in a day. Burning and sweating our way to the production of electricity will be a memorable and important experience for riders.

Additionally, the bike room will create a community at the intersection of sustainability and fitness. Spin classes and competitions will highlight and promote alternative energy production as well as reducing the energy we consume while encouraging group fitness.

Finally, the bike room will provide an alternative work out space for students and faculty on campus who are inconvenienced by the location or limited capacity of the fitness center. Varsity teams can also use the space for cross-training on request.

YouPower Midd seeks to provide a fun, social environment that brings students, faculty, and staff together with a shared interest in fitness and environmental issues. The bike room will be run by a student organization, which will be responsible for hosting events in the space. These events may include:
-“Watt-a-thons,” during which teams will sign up to produce as much energy as they can on one bike over 12 hours
-Tour de France screenings
-Bring-a-professor-to-spinning night
-Team cross-training and competitions
-Movie nights
-Community outreach and educational events
-Spinning classes (for PE credit or for leisure)
-Live performances (student bands, a cappella groups, etc.)
-Open mic/bike nights

$40,000 is the overall project cost, including installation, equipment (bikes, inverter, monitor), operation and maintenance. We are receiving funds for installation and operation from both the Student Government Association (SGA) and an Environmental Council (EC) Grant.

MiddStart funding will help us reach our goal of 12 bikes. We also encourage donors to consider purchasing an entire bike for YouPower Midd ($1700 per bike). If you are interested, please contact Liz Robinson at the Project on Creativity and Innovation: elizabet@middlebury.edu.