How do green gyms relate to sustainability? 

We will explain to you with the model of sustainability (see the picture below). 

This model shows how sustainability can be built with several key constituents in the society.

Ecosystem

Ecosystems are the foundation of the model of sustainability. Every other element in this model is based on it. The more stable ecosystems are, the easier it is to establish the persistent sustainability. The carrying capacity inside the ecosystem means that there is a limit of resources to be extracted by human beings. From this aspect, green gyms are trying to produce their own energy instead of consuming from normal power plants, which helps to reduce CO2 emissions from the typical energy resources like fossil fuels or etc. 

Cultural Values

Cultural values determine what type of resource consumption is consumed by a society. Normally it’s hard to change but it is still important to gradually moderate it. For example, nowadays people are becoming more and more concerned about their personal health and body types, therefore going to a gym is always an option for modern people. What we need to put efforts on is to make more and more people consider green gyms as a preferred option when they want to work out and exercise.

Social Wellbeing & Economic Well Being

These two elements look like they are standing on two sides of the seesaw in the model, which implies that to some extent they have to reach a balanced point under the same cultural value. In our case, social wellbeing represents how the society can be benefited from green gyms. It is obvious that green gyms reduce the energy consumption and are great for the environment. 

However, when it comes to economic well-being —  which is relevant to the owners of the gyms and people going to the gym as well, cost becoming the top obstacle that need us to overcome. For example, if a bicycle generator is way too expensive for the owners of gyms, they wouldn’t want to invest in. And even if they do, the reflective gym membership price would also be too expensive for people to join in this green career. Therefore, this is why it makes our next element of the model so important — Technology.

Technology

Technology appears like a roof of the house in this model. It covers us from the disturbances we might encounter when pursuing sustainability. Technology for energy-generating cardio machines and work-out machines, solar panels, and energy-efficient buildings with reasonable costs are a critical point for the development of green gyms in the future.

Participation

Sustainability needs not only a small group of people but also people “as many as possible” to participate in. If more people are willing to go to green gyms, there will be more opportunity that health clubs start to consider sustainability as part of their business.