Climate Cycle

For more information about Climate Cycle and the May 9, 2009, ride, go to www.climatecycle.org

Racing toward a better body and a better world. Using their legs to power the city ... Climate Cycle participants are changing Chicago.

"You're actually creating electricity from the roof. And you're able to feed it back into Com ed's system."

They may be just standing around now ... but the students at Perspective's IIT Math and Science Academy are watching power build.

"We're taking it and putting it into the grid right now."

The meter reflects the energy from these panels on the rooftop, which harness the sun's power to light up their school.

"We're pulling a little over 500 watts, even on a cloudy day."

The bright idea to make Chicago schools solar came from Joey Feinstein ... riding cross country enjoying every state, every mile.

Joey Feinstein, Climate Cycle Founder: "The seeds of Climate Cycle were planted when I met a farmer from North Dakota who expressed deep concerns about the changes he was seeing in weather."

Turns out he wasn't the only one who was worried. Young people across the country are scared of the future and want to learn how to make a better world.

Robert Simpson, Perspectives Freshman: "Helping us reduce the use of burning fossil fuels and burning coal and everything, giving us like a new source of energy that we could use, help us save money and do better with our environment."

"It will be our future. So if we don't do something about it now, then later on it'll really affect us in a bad way."

"It's certainly an idea whose time has come."

The idea is to have cyclists ride the lakefront for money. They raise cash which goes to fund the installation of solar panels on schools that have made a commitment to change ... not just their rooftop but the curriculum. Perspectives has a new course next year focusing on alternative energy sources.

Mary Cummane, Principal of Perspective's IIT Math and Science Academy: "Renewable energy is such a tremendously growing field that touches everybody, and we also want our students to be aware of these new technologies that are being able to impact them.

So from the farms of North Dakota to planting the seeds of knowledge for students, those involved with Climate Cycle say they want to keep moving forward.

"We want to continue to see these installations grow over time."

The ride challenges kids and adults with distances ranging from 4 miles to a 22 mile trek. A healthy ride for a healthier future.