Eco-Gym

Team: 13Participant students: Sara Hinojosa, Alba Gilabert, Karina SantamaríaTutor: Montse Payà BlanesParticipan institute: La Salle Alcoy

Final report “Eco-Gym”

Blog: http://ecogymsak.wordpress.com

ExplanationEco-Gym is a future company that will provide a new service to worldwide gyms. In this project to

we present an alternative electrical energy. An alternative that will provide benefits to gyms who hire our services. Benefits to the establishment and its users. These same generate energy that will keep the machines running, and the local electricity too. The process is summarized in the electric power generation by the movement, the kinetic energy.

Final report “Eco-Gym”

S.W.O.T.

Strengths

• We reduce pollution.

• We reduce unemployment.

• We foster exercise.

• Leveraging of an underused energy.

• The gym will be avaible to everybody, without any restrictions.

Weaknesses

• It needs lot of money to be able start the project.

• We don´t have the knowledge required to adapt machines to the generators. We´ll always be dependent on professional techincians.

• It will take a long time to obtain benefits. We risk a lot for a long-term outcome.

• People who would be contracted wouldn´t get remuneration immediately.

Opportunities

• We can use gyms already constructed, so it would only be necessary to adapt the machines.

• In every city there are gyms, so it would be possible to carry out the project in more of a city.

• We take advantage of the large amount of unemployed people to give him a job that requires a professional in a different area. Technicians, mechanics, personal coaches, PR, etc.

Threats

• Price of the new machines.

• People do not practice sports.

• People do not feel motivated because of the machines have power generators.

• We have not specialixed people to carry out adaption of machines.

• The possibility that there are more gyms.

BRAINSTORMINGSocially, encourage physical activity.

At the enviromental level, reduce pollution, usig alternative energy.

Final report “Eco-Gym”

Search for unemployed people, people who are specialized in areas of mechanics, technology and physical health.

Recourse to bankruptcy gyms to offer help.

Adapt necessary elements to the machines to generate, transform and store energy.

Sell manufactured bracelets.

Sponsors; in the case that the project will be suceed, the companies that sponsor us will be benefit. They will be recognized.

Make known the project through the Internet, for stakeholders are continuously informed.

Hire celebrities to motivate their followers to join the project.

Volunteers lend us their aid, who could be employed in the future.

Create online clubs where members will have to contribute a small amount of money each month. The purpose of these clubs is that members who live near each other meet to go to work in the same car, to reduce pollution. In the same car or walking, thus also would promote sport.

Each generator power would serve for more than one exercise bike.

BUSINESS PLAN

1. Executive summary

The aim of Eco-Gym is to create a company that devote to the installation of generators in the distinct devices of gymnasiums with the objetive of saving energy and obtain benefits.

Our offer will be focused mainly to those gymnasiums that need economic aid or are in failure because of his high quotas. We offer to reduce the costs of the maintenance going down at the same time the quotas of the users, since a lot of people does not credit or erases by the cost that supposes them.

The size of this market is very wide, because of the quantity of gymnasiums that are going to close owing to the crisis that is suffering our country, this number will increase with the step of the time and to the pair the people that wants to access to these gymnasiums and can not owing to the high prices.

Since it is a new project that still has not realized, is difficult to assign a budget to the execution of the project, since precise on the one hand a study of the existent technology and how adapt it to the gymnasium, and on the other hand will be necessary to develop new designs for the implementation of the project.

At present exist commercial electrical generators that could use, as well as systems of storage of energy based in batteries. On the other hand, the system of gears to transmit the energy of the different devices to the generator, and that at the same time fulfill the expectations of the users of the gymnasium does not exist commercially, and it will be necessary to develop it.

The main event that has to occur to make real our project is that there must be people that want to do exercise. Fortunately this event already is fulfilling, as every time we are more the people that want to take care of our body.

In this way we will achieve our aim, take advantage of the energy generated by the gymnasiums and that is wasting .

A problem that we see is that the utilization of new renewable energies is very limited and supervised by those which commission to resupply us of contaminate and limited energies. This is one of the causes by which do not appear too many options and helps to substitute the no renewable energies. The solution goes through the awareness and social pressure on the companies that have in his hands the traditional energy and look for and investigate new energies no contaminants.

In the antiquity took advantage of the energy generated by the animal strength and has been substituted progressively by other types of energy more comfortable and effective, but also more

Final report “Eco-Gym”

contaminants and destructive.In this chaotic world where the fights to be able to are in the command of the energy, is well

investigate and go back to restart sources of energy nearer and ecological. At present they exist devices for gymnasiums that take advantage of the energy generated by the user. An example of them are the static bicycles. As it declared Adam Boesel, owner of a gymnasium in 2008, “the energy produced by the bicycles is more than enough to keep lit the illumination of the place”.

We want to go further more, adapting all type of devices of the current gymnasiums, by a system of gears that will transmit the energy produced by the users to an electrical generator, converting it in electric energy that will be stored in batteries for his back use according to the demand.

Through a correct system of gear and transmission will be able to adapt machines such like static bicycles, strips to run, machines of musculation, etc.

2. Description of the product and distinctive value

Eco-Gym pretends to adapt the conventional gymnasiums to an ecological model where the kinetic energy, created by the devices of a gymnasium, will be transformed in electrical energy, that will be stored in batteries to resupply the needs of the gymnasium, and even sell it to the electrical networks if there is spare energy.

We will adapt small sensors to each machine that will commission to measure the quantity of energy that has produced each user. This information will save in the computer system, and will allow us to apply a discount in the quota of credited proportional to the money that save the user to the installation.

The users that have a smart-phone will be able to install an application with which will have a follow-up of his sessions of exercise, calories consumed, energy generated, contribution to the environment…Technologically we distinguish three categories to develop:• Electrical: system of generation and storage of energy.• Mechanical: system of gears and the mechanical transmission.• Computing: control and follow-up of the installation in general and of all and each one of the

users of the gymnasium.The project occurred us when we gave account of the quantity of energy that the gymnasiums

are throwing and that can be used by means of the update of the gymnasium with our project.A direct profit that will contribute to the users is the economical. with more exercise they do,

more energy will be generated and more discount they will have for using the installations. The most faithful users will have better quality of life for realizing more sport and the satisfaction to contribute to some healthier surroundings and sustainable.

With the adaptation of the current gymnasiums to Eco-Gym will contribute to the sustainability of the planet, and at the same time will boost the sport and the healthy life of the users, doing his experience of the sportive habit much more gratifying.

3. Potential market and competition

The market which we direct to is very wide because of the crisis in our country. Even in the years 2011 and 2012 diminished the number of gymnasiums in Spain by the cost that supposed to keep in good conditions the installations without having a high level of income. The main which will make that our project triumph is that there are people who want to do exercise, and without them the generation of energy will not be possible.

The economic profits that will contribute the implementation of our project will facilitate the survival of current gymnasiums. When contributing the project to the sustainability of the planet and to make aware to each user of his contribution in real time expect an increase of users in the gymnasiums in which the project is implement. At present exist some gymnasiums that have individual generators in static bicycles. These devices generate energy, but suppose an increase of cost to the user because of the high cost of the generators and his long time of depreciation. Our project, which is based in an only generator will reduce the costs of implementation and will allow a lower time of depreciation.

4. Strategy of marketing, sales and obtaining of customers

Given the important environmental impact of the implementation of the project in the gymnasiums, we think that it is vital to use the social awareness for the catchment of our customers, which are the gymnasiums. Thus, in the plan of marketing will design advertising campaigns whose

Final report “Eco-Gym”

message was allocated to the final user of the gymnasium, doing him feel the need to use an ecological gymnasium. The final message of the campaign will go headed to our customers will be simple: “your customers will look for you if you convert into a gymnasium Eco-Gym”. To start we will use local supports, such as small radios, local newspapers, etc, until the wingspan of the company allow us a campaign to a greater scale.

5. Income generation and financial forecast

Income lines

• Gyms. Amounts of money being paid for the installation and maintenance of alternators / generators and storage systems.• Gyms. Amounts of money being paid for the installation and maintenance of vending machines

and ticket card.Financial Plan (hypothesis)

Company Eco-Gym

Juridical form S.L.

VAT 21%

Numbers of members 3

Social Capital 3.000 €

Investments MaterialManpower

Real expeditures ManpowerElectric Power Generator, 1000W inverter TaigüerEnergy Storage System, possible solutions:rechargable Battery Lion 6500mAh long-life 12V charger.

Total 1.649,98 €

As the business grows, material will be bought in bulk, which to some extent, will be more profitable for the company. The company will put in motion the services in a only one gym, hence it will be needed the less amount of materials, and of workforce too. Alternators transform the mechanic energy in electrical energy, the machines, as the elliptical or static bicycle are mechanisms moved by the human strenght. Therefeore, when a person will be practising physical exercise he or she will be activating the machine's mechanism, that in turn it will be transforming this mechanic energy in electrical. We have thought that as the alternator is compost by a rotor, this one could be activated at hte same time as the training session begins. As alternative, it could be bought an alternato Tifon 1200W triphase with permanent magnets, 539,60€.

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3

Outlays 1.649,98 € 137 € 48 €

Deposits 900€ + 5% of gym's profit.

250€ + 5% of gym's profit.250€ + 5% of gym's profit.

Third month´s balance sheet

Current asset Current liabilites

Monthly deposit 250 € TaxsComission by saved energy (5% of gym's profit )

Example 127€ Outlays

Final report “Eco-Gym”

Total

Fixed assets Fixed liabilities

Cash 1.350,02 €

Total assets 3.077,04 € Total liabilities

First year. Forecast of the chas flow working with a gym after the breakheaven.

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Outlays

1.649, 98€

137 € 48 € 37 € 39,54 €35,49 €47,91 €45,08 €46,77 €32,75 €43,11 €36,17 €

Deposits

900 € 250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.250€ +5% of gym's profit.

Second year. Forecast of the cash flow working with two gyms after the breakheaven, after a year.

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Outlays

1.699,51 €

5 2 , 7 4 €

43,81 €3 7 , 8 6 €

4 6 , 5 5 €

4 1 , 6 3 €

3 5 , 1 1 €

3 6 , 4 3 €

3 3 , 1 5 €

3 0 , 4 2 €

34 € 331 €

Deposits

1 1 5 0 €+5% of g y m ´ s profit.

500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.500€ + 5% of gym´s profit.

Keeping in mind the outlays and the deposits, the company will be benefit long-term. For the deposits rise we'd have to work with more than two gyms. Over time we'll optimize the material to get better results.

6. Executive team and organization

The executive team will be a limited liability company, compost by three members. The resources will be shared in identical, accumulating and indivisible participations. The responsability of each partner will be defines by the invested recources. The idea had evolved with the personal contribution of each partner.

Name Education Experience and habilities

Executive team´s motivation

Sara Hinojosa First of Bachiler Marketing habilities and investigation.

Through research, observation of the social economic and scientific, situation achieve innovations in a l l t h e s e a r e a s . Fighting for the project succeed in the future. G e t t i n g g y m s sustained with this innovative method of saving energy and money.

Alba Gilabert

First of Bachiler

Calculation of cash f l o w , c o n t r o l a n d research accounts

Through research, observation of the social economic and scientific, situation achieve innovations in a l l t h e s e a r e a s . Fighting for the project succeed in the future. G e t t i n g g y m s sustained with this innovative method of saving energy and money.

Karina Santamaría

First of Bachiler

R e s e a r h a n d experimentation on th i s a l ternat ive of e l e c t r i c a l e n e r g y production.

Through research, observation of the social economic and scientific, situation achieve innovations in a l l t h e s e a r e a s . Fighting for the project succeed in the future. G e t t i n g g y m s sustained with this innovative method of saving energy and money.

Final report “Eco-Gym”

Capacities that we prescind of:• Deep knowledge of Electrical and Physical Engineering.• Labor experience, knowledge in the business world.

7. Developmental status and implementation plan

Regarding the energy storage system, there is one more optimal than a convetional battery. Is the Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System (SMES). This is characterized by it effectiveness, as it loses only 2-3% of stored energy.The energy is condenced in low cryogenic temperatures. Which optimizes the conservation. This system is under development, for now there is no product on the market able to storage energy by this method.

Implantation plan (during a year)

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Repair

parts and maintenance

NecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessaryNecessary

New gyms

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Innovation in

functioning of the

product.

Testing

with the

condense

rs.

Experimental test with SMES

.

Testing of SMES

in the

gym.

Experimentation

with new stora

ge systems

Yes Yes Yes

Advertising

and marketing campaig

n

ConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstantConstant

Final report “Eco-Gym”

8. Strategic Alliances

• Research institutions interested in our project, in the scientific-technical thereof.

• Chains gyms, if our bid proves interesting to more than a chain of gyms would get more revenues. Not only to work with more than one chain of gyms but also because it would create a kind of competition between these by offering more money for our services. This would result in the exclusivity being users of our service. A chain of gyms would be more exclusively have machines with processors and batteries. That would attract more clients, more revenues for the gym and for the company.

• Product Factories in which we are interested. Companies producing power transformers and storing it would participate in a sustainable and innovative project. Improve their corporate image.

9. Main risks

• A clear example would be the subscribers. If our business needs 100 subscribers approximately to make work the project and pay the workers, the water, the paper which we use, etc. But, if we only get 70 subscribers approximately and we don't arrive at 100 subscribers and all we want to get would be affected. To this, would be necessary to offer reasonable rates, to make advertising campaigns, where the gym shows something interesting and attractive to the public. To offer free products such as gift voucher for a month, but only if the subscriber has gone to the gym every day during four weeks.

• Due to that fact the change which the technology experiments, the centers or companies which would help us to the machinery construction to carry out our project, they would be affected because of the competition. The competition would be able to launch onto the market better and more trained products. This situation would be able to collapse the different business which provides all gymnastic, such as static bicycles or elliptical bicycles, to us. A solution would be able to make advertising campaigns, to get more subscribers and not to collapse.

• Some of the gyms costs would be the electricity, the water, etc. Due to the fact our country is in economical crisis, the electricity has risen in all Spain places. Some of the risks which we would face would be that all these people who came to our gym, would generate individually, a big quantity of energy and this energy would be able to reduce their monthly installment, or a minimum percentage of people wouldn't come to our gym. This would cause that the center wouldn't have enough money to keep the gym working. Added to the light, there are cleaning products and others, like the workers who help to keep the center working. The client’s lack, would cause that we wouldn't generate enough energy too. To solve this, we would have to find a measure to collect money. Taking into account that not all the subscribers spend time generating energy, and they spend the time in the swimming pool, we would be able to use the water mobility to produce energy through generators. Another important point would be to create a thermal sensation, that is to say, to cover the air with dampness to get an inferior water temperature, and as a result it would be cheaper. Moreover, the water which has been already used, it would be able to reuse to watering plants or paddle courts, etc. But this water has been treated before.• The main risk which we would face would be the competence. A possibility would be to open

a new gym which better facilities than our gym, into he same city. As a result, the subscribers would prefer to choose another gym. Moreover, the economical crisis of Spain would be a risk, principally in the people who prefer to go to the swimming pool or the Jacuzzi. So, they aren't interested in run or ride a bicycle. All this people would have to pay an elevated membership fee, in comparison to the others subscribers. Therefore, the gym wouldn't deduct a great quantity of money. Our gyms would have the risk to lose this kind of people who would prefer to go to others gyms. To solve that, we would use the water current which is moved by the swimmer who would generate more energy and he would reduce his fee. All this depends of energy that the subscriber can do in a session. Another solution would be to create a special bonus for the people who don't use the machines, that is to say, they would pay an especial a cheaper fee. We would create advertising campaigns and to offer a free item such as free bonus.• The competition at one of the most important risks that would affect the gym. The birth of a

new gym which has got better facilities and more economical prices would remain people that, in

Final report “Eco-Gym”

an occasion, they chose our gym. One of the solutions we can apply would be the solution that we said before.• We feel that one of the aspects which can't fit in the subscribers would be the ways to pay the

fees. At first months to sign up for the gym, people can’t generate a lot of energy like people who stay in the gym during a year. Another situation would be old people who haven't got the capacity to generate the same energy as young people. The way to pay it only would benefit only the people who are in the gym and use the machines. The people who only stay in the gym to use the swimming pool or to do weight so their fee wouldn’t reduce. To solve it the people who have signed up to the gym, we would reduce the fee and they would pay less for less energy, during three months. The people who are older than 55 years old, we would applicate the same method but permanently.

10. Legal aspectsIt is necessary:

• Only people who are subscribers can use the gym. People, who are in a check period, can use the gym.

• People, who are in a check period, only can use the gym during a week. Later, they must decide if they sign up to the gym or not.

• People must bring towel to use the machines. It's a protection.• People must speak in a correct tone and mustn't interrupt the other subscribers.Subscriber must

know the instructions of the machines, if they don’t know it, is necessary ask it to the personal.• Machines have to stay in a determinate distance between the others. Therefore, the subscriber

can walk between the machines.

Be prohibited:• People mustn’t enter in the machines zone with flip flops or wet, because it is only allowed in

the swimming pool zone.• Not to eliminate the dirt, pieces of paper or another type of obstacles to the subscribers.• To put the electrical cables of the machines without protection or loose. So they can be

uncomfortable to the subscribers.

11. Environmental impact sustainability

• Gyms use a big quantity of water to the swimming pool, jacuzzis, showers, etc. Moreover, the water is used to keep clean the centre. Some litres of water are wasted. To reduce it, the gym would put sensors in the showers and they have to stop the water when there isn’t any person in it. With it, the gym can save a big quantity of water. This solution would be in the sinks and the water tap only would work when they detects hands. Another way would be to pull the chain only one time every one or two minutes and we would put a chain which would get rid of the necessary water.• In our gym we would use targets of recycled paper so we haven’t got to use paper constantly. In this targets would stock up the quantity of energy that every subscriber generates in a day. At the end of the journey, the subscriber would put the target in a special machine which records the quantity of energy generated and, at the same time, to calculate the quantity of money that is necessary to deduct. Finally, with this target, later to put it in the machine, it will hand over to the personal of the center and they will deduct the money. On the other hand, the target would be flat and it would be free to use it again. Furthermore, the rubbish that the gym generated would be recycled. An example would be the recycled sheet which the gym makes the inscriptions and the bills to every subscriber. With respect to energy consumption, we would put energy-efficient light bulb. In order to reduce water consumption, we would put solar thermal planes. On the other hand, we can reduce the waste of electrical energy, we would put sensors in the halls and they would make light only when there were people near. Moreover, we would put it in the showers and

Final report “Eco-Gym”

the water would fall when would be a person in the shower.• To manage waste properly, we would apply the recycling. All of the waste generated by the gym, both in paper and cleaning products should be recycled and put it in its respective containers. Also, recycled paper could be used to contribute to helping the environment.• Order to optimize energy consumption, we would use what was said above. An example is the use of detectors in areas with little traffic, as corridors. Sensors turn off the lights when there is no one and, through motion sensors, will light up. In this way, a large amount of electrical energy could be saved. Moreover, we could put thermal panels on the roof of the gym.

GANTT DIAGRAMActivity 1 To borrow from the bank, which will be

supported by the seat in Alcoy of European Business and Innovation.

Activity 2 Preparation of the advertising campaign (banners, ads ...)

Activity 3 Advertising campaign launched by media (Internet, TV, radio, press)

Activity 4 Development / application update (Eco-Gym)

Activity 5 To capture the attention of gimnaios for hiring our services. Advertising campaigns exclusively

for gyms. Annual plans with real data.Activity 6 Beginning of adaptation of generators and

condensers to gyms.

Activity 7 Launching of the application for Android, iOS, Blackberry.

Activity 8 Updating the application.

Activity 9 Research. Improving our service through new types of energy conversion and energy storage

systems.

Final report “Eco-Gym”

CONCLUSIONSThanks to the participation in this contest we could learn more about the business world and the

world of technology and engineering. In conducting our project born the desire to bring this project to reality in the very near future. The main reason is the sustainability of this project. Sustainability has been one of the main objectives and we believe we have done a good job letting our imagination flow and relying on the technique and theory that have assimilated in the different areas, such as business, scientific, technical and even artistic.

ANNEXES

BUSINESS PLAN AMENDMENTSRevenue line. In this section we look modified. We have found that the use of the cards and the

dispensers of the same could be replaced by an application. We decided it would be more effective to create an application for smartphones. Thus, we achieve the minimum amount of waste paper. The application consists of a data logger. Calories, meters, power generated and finally a ranking among gym users.

The financial plan and have modified the budget to spend no money on the cards or dispensing. We will create the application on our own.

We added a skill to a group member, it would be the ability to create and design the application.

In relation to the legal aspects, we have modified some rules because we have realized that our project is dedicated to funding gyms that are in bankruptcy or need to be improved. So we removed some rules because we're not the gym but the company funding it.

Final report “Eco-Gym”