Specially commissioned for Global Action Plan by AFX studios, the Energy Bike is vivid green exercise bike with a difference - it enables people to power electrical appliances with their legs. The more energy an appliance uses, the harder it is to pedal. The bike is a unique interactive educational tool that engages participants in energy efficiency. The beauty of the bike is the simplicity of the messages, presented in a fun yet educational way.

Watch out for the Energy Bike appearing in a new British Gas Advert '1000 moments' on screens now.

Energy Bike cyclists quickly realise how much energy is wasted leaving appliances on standby and the significant difference between energy efficient (CFL) and old fashioned light bulbs. The link between the bike and climate change are made by a laptop on the bike and an accompanying educator. In this way, the key messages of energy use are understood in a profound and indisputable way.
 
The Energy Bike is always delivered, facilitated and supervised by two educators who assist participants in using the bike, inviting people to generate sufficient power to watch a screen, listen to music on a Hi-Fi or MP3 player and light an energy efficient light bulb and an old-fashioned light bulb - all for as long as they can keep pedalling.

A plug socket at the back of the appliance box allows connection to any electrical device that you may wish to try and power. Some appliances are harder to power than others - it would take at least 15 Energy Bikes with proficient cyclists to produce enough power to boil a kettle once!

Attached to the handlebars of the bike is a laptop with specifically designed software that displays the changing amount of energy that the rider is producing, as well as loads of snappy statistics, visuals and tips. The laptop records the data of each rider's performance as well as the combined energy produced during the day.

Hiring the bike
You can hire the Energy Bike to engage your colleagues in issues surrounding climate change and have some fun at the same time. You may wish to hire the bike for use at a local school, workplace or community event.

• The energy bike comes with two Educators who deliver, facilitate and supervise the equipment.
• The Energy Bike software records the energy produced by participants and can be recorded in order to run competitions based on who generates the most power.
• The energy bike needs a space of 1.5m x 1.5m. Please also allow for crowds/groups of observers.
• Global Action Plan interactive tools must be sheltered from the rain. For outdoor use please supply a form of shelter e.g. a marquee or gazebo and sturdy hard flooring.
• Please supply a small table for the appliance box, as pictured.
• All Global Action Plan interactive tools come with stand alone banners that are 3m high and 1m wide.
• A power supply is useful but not essential for the laptop.
• The energy bike is only suitable for ages 7 and upwards (4’3”). It should not be used by people with joint or heart conditions or someone who has recently been seriously ill.
• The energy bike should not be used by anyone weighing over 16 stone.

The Energy Bike, Carbon Rower, Carbon Weights and Ecodriving Simulator are all property and copyright of Global Action Plan. No external branding shall be attached to the equipment, physically or digitally, and permission must be obtained from Global Action Plan before photos of the equipment are publicisd.

To book any interactive tools from Global Action Plan please contact Rebecca Haslam on:
Tel: 020 7025 3958
Email: rebecca.haslam@globalactionplan.org.uk 

Case Studies

PWC, Love the world you are in, Staff Awareness Event, February 2008

PWC used the Energy Bike as part of their Love the world you're in staff awareness campaign. This is a great example of how to motivate staff and launch an in-house campaign by hiring the Energy Bike. Please follow this link for a report: http://dofonline.co.uk/management/green-valentine-at-big-four-firm6672.html

NESTA, National Tour to promote the Big Green Challenge, 2008

To help promote NESTA's Big Green Challenge with a £1 million prize to not-for-profit environmentally friendly groups who have effectively reduced CO₂ emissions they hired the Energy Bike to bring home the message to launch event attendees. Please follow the link to find out more: http://www.biggreenchallenge.org.uk/blog/2008/01/07/learning-about-energy-efficiency-with-the-energy-bike/#comment-367

EuropaFest, Berlin 2007
Tony Blair gets the message in Berlin! In March 2007, the British Council in Berlin requested the presence of the Energy Bike at the EuropaFest 2007 celebrations. In between teaching the Germans about energy efficiency, Jenni Wiggle and Debi Cleary from our London team helped Tony Blair understand the energy saved by simply switching to energy efficient light bulbs. Shortly after this event the Government began the work towards phasing out translucent light bulbs. The energy bike makes a difference.

Photo credit to Mike Menhan.

Energy Bike at Channel 4 

"A wonderful education tool!"- the Energy Bike described by Jon Snow from Channel 4 news, pictured powering the Bike

Glastonbury 07
Some lucky Global Action Plan Staff and Educators took up the challenge of exhibiting the Carbon Gym with Oxfam at Glastonbury 2007. Proving that Global Action Plan can take the energy bike anywhere in the country! As one of the muddiest festivals they worked against the elements to educate festival goers on energy efficiency and CO2 reduction. Oxfam were collecting signatures urging Governments to act on Climate Change.