Meet ReRev, the senior gift that turns sweat into electricity
By: Wayne House
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
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ReRev is a company based in Clearwater, Fla. that retrofits gym equipment to allow the energy created during exercise to be converted to a usable form of renewable energy. The senior gift will "ReRev" the elliptical machines in the PAC, which will allow them to be used to help power the Furman Fitness Center.
Before being voted on by the entire class, options for the senior gift were decided upon by the senior class agents who are selected by members of the Furman faculty. The agents not only accepted and generated proposals for the gift, however, but are involved in marketing and fundraising for the gift as well.
Other options for this year's gift included an investment in a lake revitalization project and an on-campus bike maintenance facility, complete with covered bike racks.
ReRev was proposed as a gift option by senior agent Cameron Tommey. However, the university has had an interest in the company since May of 2009, when President Dr. David Shi, a regular at the Fitness Center, sent Fitness Center Director Scott Murr the link to a product known as "ReCardio."
Murr began to research the idea. After calling the company, which is now known as ReRev, Murr found that their product was compatible with the equipment at Furman.
Next, Murr phoned the electricians. They reported that the wiring necessary for the ReRev system could be done at the PAC.
Murr made his report to Dr. Shi, but that was the last he heard about the project.
"It wasn't until it became a senior class gift that ReRev resurfaced," said Murr.
The ReRev system won when members of the senior class voted for their gift by e-mail in early November. Some questions remain unanswered, however - how does the ReRev system work, exactly? Will it cost more than it saves?