Special Report: Going Green

Living a sustainable lifestyle has become more important to Americans these days. And many of them are looking to do business with companies that operate sustainably. That’s why incorporating green practices at your fitness facility could give you a competitive edge.

To help you in your journey towards sustainability, we’ve compiled this section of articles about going green in the fitness industry. The articles focus on sustainable trends and tips. It also shares green advice from manufacturers and suppliers who advertised in our February 2010 issue. We hope you find the following features, news items and supplier advice beneficial.

Green Advice Your Club’s Green Cleaning Efforts Can Be Good for Marketing One of the most effective marketing tools available is the “greenness” of your fitness facility, especially when it comes to cleaning. ... Seeing Green in Your Fitness Facility's HVAC System You can improve your health club's HVAC system to make it more comfortable for members while being more "green."... Green Design Can Be One Source Of Savings and Found Revenue Fitness facilities use lots of energy, as your utility bill can attest. Running one inefficient light bulb for a year equals $100 wasted. If you have... Affording Green Design: Rebates and Incentives What is our responsibility as a health-based industry to the green movement, and what are the incentives? While we are all for the environment, we are, after all, in business to make money... Lighting Can Be Part of Your Environmentally Friendly Gym Design Green gym design includes lighting and how a few simple steps can help reduce your electricity bill and help the environment.... Can Green Design Boost Your Health Club Profits? The cost of going green has to properly relate to your health club's profits—directly or indirectly—but should be able to be measured to some degree.... Environmentally Friendly Gym Design: Green Flooring The concept of sustainability seems like a logical fit for the fitness industry but has only recently begun to gain attention.... More Green Articles More From Our Advertisers Reduce, Releash, Recycle Since its inception in 2005, Fitness Anywhere has been dedicated to empowering people to cultivate health, wellness and functional fitness with its TRX® Suspension TrainerTM... From Clean to Green: How Cleanliness Can Boost Your Membership Strategy As health and fitness clubs continue to face economic challenges in 2010, keeping current members and attracting new members becomes more important than ever... Jacobs Ladder: Choosing to Be Earth Friendly "Going green" is a concept that we have all heard repeatedly in the past few years and seems to be losing its meaning... Rapidly Renewable Means Greener Sports Floors It's not that traditional hardwood sports floors aren't "green," they certainly are. Most flooring manufacturers bought their wood from forests where regular replanting practices replaced trees that were felled... Sustaining Comfort in Workout Facilities Fitness facilities get hot and stuffy—it’s a given. As usage increases throughout the day, air conditioning systems tend to get overwhelmed, leaving the atmosphere within your facility less than desirable. ... Going Green with Envy Green is good. From major renovation investments to basic lighting changes, club owners are finding ways to become more green. In this economic climate, going green is not only the right thing to do, but it also puts green back in your pocket. ...

Green News Massachusetts Y Installs Green Energy System SportsArt Adds to Its Green Equipment Lines Club Operators Are Positive about Being Green Retrofitness Opens First LEED-Certified Location First Hospital Wellness Center Receives LEED Gold WOU Breaks Ground on Wellness Center University of Tennessee-Martin Rec Center to Open Next Spring YMCA Looks to Federal Stimulus Funds for Cogeneration System University of Kansas Students Generate Energy for Green Movement University of Oregon Taps Student Power for Electricity University of Arizona Will Use Solar Power to Heat Pools UCCS Rec Center Earns Gold LEED Certification University Fitness Centers Receive Green Design Awards Chelsea Piers Joins the List of Health Clubs Going Green Clubs Go Green with Clean, On-Site Utilities Robotic Cleaners Offer Several Types of Savings