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Take the Stairs, New York
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 21, 2008
Modified May 21, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published May 21, 2008
Modified May 21, 2008
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The city has a new message to spread: "Take the Stairs!" As part of an effort to get people to "Burn Calories, Not Electricity" the city's health officials are putting the posters up everywhere, hoping to get you to think twice before hopping on the elevator.
The efforts will benefit both the environment, by reducing energy consumption, and your health, by burning calories -- but will a simple sign work? Officials stated that studies show "visual prompts can boost stair use by more than 50 percent." More statistically enticing is that a mere two minutes of stair climbing a day will "burn enough calories to eliminate the one pound an average adult gains each year."
CityRoom reports that in addition to the green and white signs, "the city’s Department of Design and Construction is working with architects to emphasize stairs." Fancy stairs or not, some might find the video of Nicholas White trapped in a Manhattan elevator for 41 hours enough to get them to walk it.
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Burn Calories Not Energy
elevator
environment
health
health officials
signs
stairs
take the stairs
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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