So you've been thinking of joining a local gym but prefer not to shell out the bucks. Or you find treadmills and ellipticals such a dread. For a limited time, you can join Helga's Free Rooftop Gym and help the environment at the same time. Here's what you get for this amazing price:
Free use of roof rakes to work the biceps, triceps, pecs, deltoids, and trapezius muscles all while removing snow from solar panels.
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| Helga working out at Helga's Free Rooftop Gym |
Don't know if you're strong enough to handle this--the roof rake has extensions-- a 5 foot extension for beginners and up to 20 feet for those training for triathlons.
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| This chick is getting buff at Helga's Free Rooftop Gym |
Free ladders to climb up to the roof to work your quadriceps, gluteal muscles(gluteal maximus, gluteal minimus, and gluteal medius), gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
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Ladders at Helga's Free Rooftop Gym are fun to climb. The snow is here to catch you if you fall.
What about daycare? There is a snow arena for wee ones to build snowmen (and women), snow forts, snow angels and snow devils. Pets welcome. |
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| A puppy enjoying the snow arena at Helga's Free Rooftop Gym. |
But hold on. Your kid prefers to climb trees. The snow is so high that any child 3 feet or taller can reach the lowest branches of the 50 ft. Norway Maple trees in the arena.
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At Helga's Free Rooftop Gym, kids can climb the Norway maple tree over yonder while members build muscle and clear photovoltaic solar panels.
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There is more. For the first 100 families to sign, there are free snow cones containing snow flakes (and a few stray particulates from the air.)
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At Helga's Free Rooftop Gym, Helga stops to make a Free Rooftop Snow Cone--plain or feather flavored.
That's one talented chick. |
Transportation is an issue? For an additional workout and no additional fee, consider cross country skiing, snow snowing, sledding or tobagganing here.
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| Helga's cousin Midnight decides to go back to get her snow shoes for her trek to Helga's Free Rooftop Gym. |
Bring a friend and get a free snowball! Guaranteed not to melt if the temperature stays below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius. No kidding.
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| At Helga Free Rooftop Gym, quality control is a serious business. Helga's other cousin Helen determines that the temperature is indeed freezing and that your free snowballs will not melt. |
Why remove the snow?
- Photovoltaic solar panels produce considerable energy even the the winter. The snow will eventually melt but Helga's Free Rooftop Gym speeds the process along.
- This 42 panel system has averaged a little over 1 megawatt (1000 kilowatts) monthly with a range of 326-1561 kilowatts monthly over the past 4 years since it was installed. Our total carbon offset has been 33.1 tons or the equivalent of 3 acres of trees.
- In addition, removing excessive snow from roofs can prevent ice damming and the subsequent damage it may cause.
- See information below from University of Minnesota extension
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
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http://www.extension.umn.edu/environment/housing-technology/moisture-management/ice-dams/
