PLAYgreen

Raincatch: A Jacket for Drinking Rainwater

Winter is just around the corner, and here in Berkeley, that means rain.  For intrepid walkers and runners, it's a time when you can have the trails to yourself.  For this runner, working out in the rain supplies that extra oomph.  Something about splashing along a misty trail with the rain in your face and mud splattered on your back provides just the right amount of inspiration for blasting up hills and careening around tight turns at speeds impossible on dry ground.

And now that rainy day run brings with it one more advantage: an opportunity to self-hydrate.  Two students at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design have designed Raincatch, a coat that catches, filters and stores rainwater, allowing runners and hikers to hydrate on the move. This is a healthy version of your grandfather's drink'n jacket.

Joshua Noble and Hyeona Yang, the jacket’s co-creators, believe that access to clean drinking water is “one of the most important issues for the 21^st century.”  Given only two weeks in their design class, they created a jacket that is really quite simple. It collects rainwater, which then runs down the jacket's back, passing through tubes to get purified by charcoal filters and a chemical process. They assembled the jacket using materials from clothing stores, hardware stores, and aquarium-supply stores.

Although Raincatch is still an long way from appearing at your local sports shop, we here at PLAYgreen are inspired by the effort.  And while the design is a bit unconventional, how cool would it be to run around Berkeley in something like this?  

Source and Image: Sierra Club

Green Workout Accessories

Everyone knows they need to stay hydrated while exercising. Water is essential for our bodies and should always be on hand while working out. Now that we’ve established the need for water, step away from plastic bottles! Reusable water bottles help cut down on waste. Water bottles made from aluminum can be recycled only when needed. Choose your favorite reusable water bottles from the huge collection at Sigg.

Eco-Friendly Music Gear

Many of us workout with music. Whether it’s rap, country or opera, everyone has their favorite music to get them through exercising. Try the Marware Eco-Runner Armband Case for the iPod Nano. This case is made with environmentally friendly materials like recycled plastic. If you really want to make a difference, you can try the battery-less powerplus Verio wind-up MP3 player that gets recharged by turning a hand crank.

Source: Earth 911.com
Image: Sigg 

Where To Get Green Workout Clothes and Shoes

Make your workout Gear Green! Here are six suggestions for companies that make Green fitness clothes and shoes:

• Patagonia
  
  Patagonia makes clothes for climbing, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. Their mission statement is to “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” Patagonia focuses on simplicity and utility, using E-Fibers, Gladiodor Garment Odor Control, and Performance Baselayers. Find out more at Patagonia.com
  
  
• Gaiam
  
  Meaning “Gaia” (mother Earth) and “I am”, Gaiam focuses on the consumer by providing all information to them. Gaiam prides itself in “working to become the source for individuals and businesses interested in natural health, ecological lifestyles, personal growth and sustainable commerce.” To check out their highest quality branded product and services available, visit Gaiam.com
  
  
• GoLite
  
  GoLite believes less is more. They develop “simple, beautiful, high performance gear that’s light on the planet.” GoLite only uses the bare minimum that is needed helping their customers focus on their experience rather than their gear. By using less, their products have a smaller impact on the environment. GoLite focuses on ways to minimize their environmental footprint without compromising performance. To see what GoLite has to offer, visit GoLite.com
  
  
• New Balance
  
  New Balance is the only athletic shoe manufacturer that still makes shoes in the US. New Balance is proud to say that “Twenty-five percent of New Balance shoes sold in North America are produced by our US workforce, using US and imported materials.” New Balance clearly marks their shoes where the domestic value is at least 70% and labels the shoe “Made in the USA.” To shop for New Balance shoes, go to New Balance.com
  
  
• Planet Shoes
  
  Planet Shoes is known for having hard to find shoe brands, vegan shoes, and eco-friendly shoes. They offer a 100% price guarantee where they will match another websites promotion. They also have a 100% stock guarantee, and if they don’t have the shoe you want they will send you a 20% off coupon for as many shoes as you wish to buy. If what you ordered doesn’t fit properly, Planet Shoes offers free returns and exchanges with a prepaid UPS label. Find out more at Planet Shoes.com
  
  
• Brooks Running
  
  Brooks® Sports, Inc. designs and markets high-performance men's and women's running shoes, apparel and accessories. They are proud of their “hard-earned reputation for engineering footwear that provides the perfect ride for every stride, and the perfect fit for every foot type.” To find out more about their many breakthrough advancements like Brooks DNA, BioMoGo (the world’s first biodegradable running shoe midsole) and their award winning apparel line, visit Brooks Running.com

Source: TreeHugger.com

Image: PlanetGreen.com

Gaiam prides itself in “working to become the source for individuals and businesses interested in natural health, ecological lifestyles, personal growth and sustainable commerce.”

Electricity Generating Gyms

Adam Boesel, the founder of The Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon has found a way to create electricity through exercise. In 2010 the Green Microgym generated 36% of their own electricity, and saved 37,000 kilowatt hours. This equals to 81,400 miles not being driven, and 15 acres of trees being planted. Boesel says, “our machines create electricity and then ‘plugout’ back into the building to help power the appliances and electrical systems in the building.”

In addition to providing an effective workout space, The Green Microgym has lower electricity costs, water bills, carbon emissions and an overall cleaner conscience than most gyms in the world. The Green Microgym achieves their goal of sustainability and reduces their emissions by implementing the following:

• ellipticals and stationary bikes that produce energy
• treadmills that use 30% less electricity than regular models
• equipment that has previously been used
• lights, televisions, and fans that are only turned on when necessary
• encouragement of refillable steel water bottles by not selling bottled water
• all natural cleaning products, and all recycled paper products
• eco-friendly building construction materials 
• solar panels, energy efficient ceiling fans and compact fluorescent lighting

To learn more vist The Green Microgym website.

Source and Image: The Green Microgym

How To Turn Your Workout Green

 

Interested in having a more environmentally friendly work out plan?  Here are 5 easy steps to Greener Fitness!

1 - Stay at home green. There’s no need to give your car a workout, just to get your own. Try routines at home like weight training, yoga, or Pilates. You can easily put together a consistent cardio and strength training combination that requires nothing more than some space and a mat. Here are ten ways you can exercise at home without any equipment!

2 - Go outside where it’s green. What better way to get some fresh air and sunshine, than to burn calories while doing it? Anything from biking to a quick walk on your lunch break can benefit your body’s energy level without wasting energy from our environment. Check out these great outdoor exercise ideas!

3 - Get energized green. Spring for the organic energy bar that doesn’t include anything artificial. Remember to fuel yourself with a snack that’s high in carbs and low in fat before you work out, and a snack that has a combination of carbs and protein when you’re finished. Don’t forget your green water bottle. Don’t have one yet? Read what Time magazine considers to be the top-5 eco-friendly water bottles.

4 -  Gear up green. Before you shop for new workout items, look for deals on used bikes, weights, and other equipment. You can look online, at local thrift stores or in your best friend’s closet. If you’re going to buy a yoga mat, make sure you buy one that’s eco-friendly. Here are a few suggestions for different places to buy eco-friendly yoga mats.

5 - Dress Green. There are ways to turn your workout gear green besides using colored dye. Sneakers can be made with recycled rubber soles, tops and pants can come from soy and organic cotton blends, and coconut shells can transform into breathable fabrics. Learn more about Eco-friendly work out gear.


Source and Image:  TreeHugger

Green Wardrobe Updates

With summer time just around to corner, some of you might be thinking about updating your wardrobe. Whether it’s a new pair of running shoes, a workout top, a cool pair of jeans or maybe even a snazzy little dress that you have your eyes on, it’s important to buy green. TreeHugger offers some excellent tips on what green brands you should buy when you’re thinking about a new look:

• For your workout gear and jackets go for Patagonia. This company has been making organic goods for over a decade and constantly works to minimize the negative impact their clothing production has on the environment by using solar power. Patagonia even donates 1 percent of all their sales to environmentalist groups.
• For more casual, everyday clothing try PeopleTree. People Tree is an international brand that is recognizes for producing Fair Trade organic clothing.
• If you’re not afraid to sift through lots of clothing to find that new workout top you’ve needed check out Buffalo Exchange. This thrift store chain always has something new and even will donate 5 cents to a charity of your choice if you bring your own bag! Plus, thrift stores are a great place to pick up some cheap workout T-shirts and shorts that you’re only going to get dirty anyways.
• For athletic shoes, go for Nike. This major brand has made some great progress in its recent green efforts. They have been using a lot of sustainable fabrics in their recent products, such as recyclable PET used in the World Cup jerseys and shoes made from manufacturing waste.

Image from: http://wrightathome.wordpress.com

Straight from the Tap

Everyone knows how important it is to stay hydrated while working out, and as more and more of us are switching from bottled water back to tap water, it's important to make sure the tap water in your area is healthy.  We're lucky here in Berkeley to have access to some of the best water in the country -- clean water directly from the Sierra snow melt, but for those living elsewhere, here are some sites that can help.

Sites like the Environmental Working Group’s “What’s in Your Water?” and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Websitecan help you search by postal code.

If you decide that you need a filter, select the type of filter that works best on the contaminates you have in your area. National Geographic recommends purchasing filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation. The NSF even has an extensive database of all the filters available on the market.

Tip: the RSF has two Hydration Stations where you can fill up your water bottle with delicious, chilled, filtered tap water.

Story: National Geographic Buying Guide

Image: Sherwoodinstitute.org

Barefoot Running?

 

The debate between barefoot running and running with footwear has been going back and forth for years. But, could the theory behind running barefoot actually have some merit? For decades, major shoe companies like Nike and Adidas have profited tremendously off their stylish footwear. However, recently, more people have changed to barefoot running for health and safety reasons.

Christopher McDougall’s bestseller, Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen tracks the legacy of the legendary Tarahumara, an indigenous Mexican tribe whose people are known for running long distances wearing little to no footwear. McDougall, a long-distance runner himself, has claimed in his book and in several interviews that, prior to running barefoot, he was more prone to injuries and heel pain. This seems counterintuitive, but “Barefoot Ken Saxon,” founder of RunningBarefoot.org, claims that feet are sensitive enough to let you know if you’re doing something stupid, and that wearing shoes actually could make your feet more prone to long-term damage.

Source: Sierra Club

The Key to Happiness is…Recreation!

 
Did you know there’s a link between recreation and happiness? The former Los Angeles Times reporter and author of a book called Don't Miss Your Life, Joe Robinson, recently launched the "Live a Little" campaign. The campaign encourages people to forget the material things this holiday season and instead, to give the gift of fun.

Robinson explains, "We can dramatically increase positive mood and self-worth when we get out of our heads and jump into quality recreational experiences," Indeed, people are happiest when they are involved in such activities, at least according to a Princeton study that examined how 4,000 Americans spent their time. 

Robinson's campaign tries to encourage kayaking outfitters, dance teachers, yoga instructors, and other recreation providers to offer free introductory lessons. These gifts of recreational experience can be more meaningful and valuable than anything shiny and new.

Source: Sierra Club

Still Using a Yoga Mat?

 

The New York Times style section recently reported that a small group of people who practice authentic Hatha yoga are opting to do yoga on the bare floor rather than on their sticky yoga mat. What was the reason? The small group argued that yoga mats are bad for the environment and less hygienic.

With yoga mats available almost everywhere, from the supermarkets to the beauty supply store, they’re very accessible to almost everyone. However, yoga mats are now over commercialized and many of the sticky yoga mats are riddled with toxic PVC. If practicing your sun salutation yoga pose on the bare floor doesn’t sound too appealing to you, there are still some yoga mats out there that are green and eco-friendly.

Whether you decide to use a yoga mat or not, keep on practicing yoga to maintain a healthy lifestyle!

Source: Tree Hugger