Commissioned for Global Action Plan, the Energy Bike is a 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 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.

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 the screen, listen to music on a MP3 player and light an energy efficient and an old-fashioned light bulb - all for as long as they can keep pedalling. The significant difference in energy needed to power the two lightbulbs is always surprising.

An extra 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!

Attached to the handlebars of the bike is a laptop displaying 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 Energy Bike
The Energy Bike is perfect for enhancing events. 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.

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. Follow this link for the 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. 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
The British Council in Berlin requested the presence of the Energy Bike at the EuropaFest celebrations. Educators helped Tony Blair understand the energy saved by switching to energy efficient light bulbs. Shortly after this event the Government began work towards phasing out translucent light bulbs. The energy bike really does makes a difference. Photo credit to Mike Menhan.

Energy Bike at Channel 4 

"A wonderful education tool!" as described by Jon Snow, Channel 4 news pictured on the Energy Bike.

Development funded by the Rufford Maurice Laing foundation

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 publicised.