Green Gyms Are Making a Huge Impact on the Environment
It Isn’t Easy Being Green (for Gyms): What You Can Do
“Greening” up your gym isn’t as easy as it sounds, however. Overhauling a facility that is already up and running can take a lot of time and even more money. It’s easier and cheaper to start a green gym from the ground up, which means a shift toward green gyms could take a while—and depending on climate and the positioning of the building in relationship to natural light, it may eliminate some green options for certain facilities. Many gyms are also too small for exercisers to produce enough power to consistently run machines and amenities.
While running completely on the work of gym members may be impossible for most gyms, there’s no reason gyms can’t adopt a few of these practices, especially considering the added incentive of city, state and federal tax credits.
If you don’t have a green gym in your area, you can take it upon yourself to green up your workout on your own. You can forgo the gym a few days a week and go running, biking or complete your strength training in the great outdoors. Buy a reusable water bottle instead of disposable plastic ones. Skip your cardio at the gym and walk or run there instead of driving. Everything you do makes a difference, so making a few conscious choices to lessen your impact on the environment helps, this Earth Day and every day.
Do you go to a green gym? How do you like to green up your workout? —Kelly