Men’s Health shares a number of calorie-toasting exercises that, aside from keeping you fit, benefit the environment as well
Running: 1 hour at a 9-min.-mile pace
Calories burned on a treadmill: 902
Calories burned running outdoors with hill sections: 943
Energy saved
Running for 30 minutes a day on a 2-horsepower treadmill uses about 2,000 watts a year and costs $50.
Go the extra mile
Add stairs to burn an extra 308 calories in just 15 minutes of running steps.
Trimming trees and hedges: 1 hour
Calories burned using an electric trimmer: 287
Calories burned by hand trimming: 369
Go the extra mile
Use a watering can to soak your trees instead of setting the sprinkler, and burn an extra 123 calories in an hour. Much of a sprinkler’s spray can be lost to runoff or evaporation. Watering cans ensure direct, efficient watering; early-morning watering reduces evaporation.
Commuting: 1 hour
Calories burned driving: 164
Calories burned cycling to work: 656
Carbon saved
Each average U.S. automobile commute (30 miles round-trip) releases 21.3 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Go the extra mile
Skip the elevator. Just 10 minutes of climbing stairs, even at a slow, sweat-free pace, burns 112 calories.
Mowing: 1 hour
Calories burned on a riding mower: 205
Calories burned with a push mower: 492
Carbon saved
148 pounds of CO2 annually – enough to offset your home’s natural gas use for 5 days.
Go the extra mile
Rake your lawn by hand to burn another 353 calories an hour.
Gaming: 1 hour
Calories burned playing Madden NFL 08: 123
Calories burned playing touch football: 656
Energy saved
Your Xbox 360 will eat up about 200 kilowatt-hours a year, or $33 of your power bill.
Source: Men’s health
