Gyms are having a torrid time of it at the moment. For many they are a necessary part of life that provides physical and mental well-being. But ‘what are gyms going to look like in the future’ is a burning question right now as for many their existence hangs in the balance.
Transformational innovation isn’t something we would ordinarily associate with them, in fact the innovation is coming from disruptors to their market in the form of on-demand training brought into your homes by companies such as Peloton.
However innovation is happening and talking to Roger Eldergill from SA Green Fitness it’s coming from a strong environmental angle. We spoke with Roger to find out more.
Roger, tell us about SA Green Fitness?
SA Green Fitness are a sustainable company working in the Health & Fitness sector in the UK, we offer a unique value proposition that has the potential to change the fitness industry into a net positive contributor for a greener planet. With rows of cardio machines, air conditioning and fluorescent lighting, traditional gyms are an energy bill’s worst nightmare. But with an innovative approach using sustainable solutions, for business or home, SA Green Fitness working alongside our partners to supply a total or partial fit out & design to create an innovative Health & Fitness solution, could change all of this.
What is different to the gym equipment we use currently?
Why waste all that home-produced energy, just imagine if all the health clubs or homes in the world had revolutionary ECO-POWR™ technology that captures human exertion and turn it into usable electricity!! Click the video below.
Cardio Product Overview
SportsArt’s new ECO-POWR™ series is a full line of cardio products with built-in micro-inverters that harness wattage from human exercise, convert it to AC power and by simply plugging it into a standard 220v power outlet, feeds power back into the local grid. In one hour, ten ECO-POWR machines can generate up to 2,000 watts of power. This line of products attracts progressive and environmentally conscious consumers looking to integrate sustainability in their everyday fitness lifestyles and provides a particular draw for tech-savvy, environment sensitive Millennials, the fastest growing population segment, seeking sustainable wellbeing for themselves and for the future generations. ECO-POWR™ puts these users in a position to simultaneously burn calories and generate energy at 74% efficiency, meaning that three quarters of the energy they generate through their effort on the machines goes back into the local grid to offset energy costs. (See below – Home Appliances Energy required).
Where are we likely to see adopters of this change?
The market segments driving the adoption of our new products & solutions are independent Clubs, indoor cycle studios, Universities, Hospitality and Corporate facilities. We have created a section on our website, called Customer Projects, dedicated to showcasing selected groups of early adopters where we highlight the positive impact green fitness is having on their business, in terms of differentiation, attraction, retention and savings; all in their own words.
To put this in perspective, a desktop computer uses 400 watts an hour and a hairdryer 1,200 watts an hour, while a circuit of 10 SportsArt machines could generate an annual saving of £1,300 of electricity in one gym.
Leading the way in eco-friendly gyms is Terra Hale with three London locations, all kitted out in recycled materials, from rubber studio floors to reclaimed wood walls – which are also covered with air-filtering plants such as ivy. Its rowing machines use water for resistance instead of electricity, and the Shepherd’s Bush studio is London’s first human-powered gym, harnessing members’ energy on indoor bikes to power the facilities (each class generates 1,500-3,300 watts and cuts about 165g of CO₂ emissions). S051 based in Romsey is also a major partner in combating climate issues.
Just 3 ECO-POWR™ units have generated 537,600 watts over a period of 11 months (see fig 3 below). Again, just like Terra Hale, alongside our solutions, recycled flooring, plants and apparel support S051’s sustainable offering.
So, you also see SA Green Fitness as a turnkey provider, bringing other environmentally focussed organisations into your solutions?
We have been on the lookout for likeminded sustainable companies (like Apexgray) who share our passion and drive to hit that net positive contributor for a greener planet.
As a business we often find ourselves in the tricky position of wanting to make our turnkey solutions more sustainable for the Health & Fitness Industry but realising we don’t possess the knowledge and resources required to successfully do so. Hence the need for our ever-growing list of sustainability partnerships that can fill the void and ensure your business or home carbon footprint is reduced as much as possible…now who doesn’t want to do that!
Thanks to Roger for sharing his insights! To find out more visit SA Green’s website at https://www.sagreenfitness.com/.
