Chances are good that either your office has a gym, or there’s one nearby. For me, it’s the nearby Washington Sports Club. Generally, I love going to the gym, but I’ve found that the environmental practices are a bit lacking (both at WSC and every other gym I’ve been to recently). I did however run across a cool idea for human-powered river gyms - pretty cool!
So what are some of the simpler things your office gym can do better (without becoming a floating river gym)?
- Recycling bins – everyone drinks tons of bottled water…but there are no recycling bins
- Cleaning products – while I appreciate the need to keep things sanitary, there are some serious VOCs coming from the cleaning products
- Showers (and other water-use elements) – low flow fixtures and timers would be great. And also some signage about conserving water (although the skimpy shower curtains certainly do encourage me to take quick showers)
- Towels – the gym provides free use of towels to members…but there really could be some sort of educational signage to remind people to take only as many as they really need
- Equipment – let’s face it, some equipment can be a big energy hog. What about equipment that uses no energy, or even creates its own (rowing machine, Nordic track, stationary bike)? Or actively seeking out other equipment that uses less energy than standard. And of course, free weights, bands, and kettleballs also use no energy.
- Clothing – provide recycling programs for old exercise clothes and sneakers.
- Educational programs – teach people how to be more environmentally friendly – i.e., selecting the best clothing, using reusable water bottles, etc.
- Material Selection – there are lots of materials in the gym that could be more friendly. What about bamboo floors or yoga mats made of recycled material?
All this aside, of course the most sustainable option is to skip the gym and take yourself for a walk or run powered only by your own two feet!
2 comments:
I think the idea of using equipment that can generate some electricity from use is one which should play heavily into the future of gyms. I do not know what the cost -to- generation ratio is, but if gyms are needing to replace old equipment anyway, why not look that way?? I'd even pay a few extra dollars a month for a gym which green practices!
GREAT ideas about greening the healthclub - I always get peeved when they spray toxic cleaning chemicals around me while I am trying to gulp in oxygen.
As for exercies equipment as a renewable energy source -
HONG KONG is doing it already!!! I saw a blurb in last weekend's New York Times Magazine and tracked this down on Endgadget (http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/09/fat-burning-members-power-hong-kong-fitness-club/).
"So we've heard of dance clubs powered by fresh moves, but now California Fitness, a Hong Kong-based health club wants to jump on the sustainable people-power wagon too. As a group effort between inventor Lucien Gambarota, Wharton grad and entrepreneur Doug Woodring, and California Fitness, "Powered by YOU" will offer exercisers the chance to use their own energy to power lighting fixtures, with excess energy to be stored in batteries. The 13 step, cycling, and cross-training machines will be soon be rigged to encourage members to reduce CO2 emissions as well as their waistlines. According to California Fitness president Steve Clinefelter, someone running an hour each day on a machine can generate 18.2 kilowatts of electricity and prevent 4,380 liters of CO2 from being released each year. It's hard enough battling the bulge on your own, so we're glad to see that these explorations in alternative energy can provide some extra motivation for living a healthy lifestyle. We, on the other hand, will continue to remain seated for the rest of our lives."
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