As a fitness guru and founder of an environmental business that focuses mainly on educating people on sustainability, how to go green, and zero-waste alternatives, it really saddens me whenever I go to the gym and see how much power and water are being wasted. It is a frustrating experience when I see the water taps inside the locker rooms are running to no use. Also, the energy required for lighting, air conditioners, etc., is endless. At the gym, you need power, and you need water for everything to run smoothly. I kind of visualize some solutions for it, for the energy demand. Gyms that have access to roofs can implement solar panels to cover their energy requirements, or at least a portion of them. Also, I'm sure there are a lot of ways we can save water inside the gym, either by installing devices that track and minimize water intake or any water leakages. Regarding equipment and the materials that are being used, they definitely can be toxic, like rubber and plastics; there have to be some guidelines for these materials or the companies that made them. They have to earn certain sustainability certifications in order to ensure the safety of people and the planet as well. All in all, I believe in sustainability inside gyms, and it would add value and ethics when gyms market themselves as sustainable; they can be more appealing and attractive to people who actually care about caring for the earth.
Pools and gyms are starting to get judged on what you breathe, not just what you lift. I think low-VOC finishes plus better ventilation, with CO2 monitoring and smart HVAC control, becomes the baseline because it protects members and cuts running costs. On the equipment side, I expect more facilities to buy for lifespan, repairability, and refurbishment, because tossing machines every few years is expensive and wasteful. The best designs will feel lighter and cleaner, with materials and systems chosen for long-term maintenance, not showroom shine.
I believe we will be witnessing a true transformation in the thinking of facilities in regards to energy consumption, and not in the sense of replacing the light-bulbs. Equipment in itself is going to become the bigger change. There are already bikes and other cardio machines that are able to harness the energy that people produce when they work out and power it back into the building power grid. That is, of course, still new, but in five to ten years, I believe, it will be a minimum requirement, not a marketing feature. At the facility level, I believe that modular and adaptive design will become a flight. In lieu of constructing these giant areas with locked-in layout, gyms will begin to design in a flexible way so that they can rearrange them without tearing it all out and piling it in a landfill after every few years. That in itself reduces a massive quantity of waste. Amongst the practices that would have to be adopted as industry standard, I would choose sustainable material sourcing of equipment. Recycled tire rubber flooring is already widespread, but I believe that attitude will eventually be transferred to the machines. Shoppers and gymnasium propriors are beginning to question the origin of this stuff, and what becomes of it when it gets worn out. Those manufacturers who are not able to answer those questions are bound to be left behind.
The sustainable practice I see becoming standard in fitness facilities is the complete elimination of toxic cleaning chemicals in favor of plant-based, non-toxic alternatives. As someone who cleans commercial gyms and fitness studios in Marin County, I've watched this shift accelerate—members are increasingly aware that the harsh disinfectants traditionally used on equipment and surfaces release volatile organic compounds that they're breathing in during intense cardio sessions. That's counterproductive to the health goals people come to a gym to achieve. We've transitioned all our fitness facility clients to EPA-registered, plant-derived disinfectants that meet commercial sanitization standards without the chemical off-gassing. Beyond cleaning products, I expect to see more facilities adopting energy-recovering equipment like regenerative braking on spin bikes, natural ventilation systems that reduce HVAC dependency, and water-efficient shower systems. The facilities leading this charge are finding that sustainability isn't just good ethics—it's a competitive differentiator that attracts health-conscious members willing to pay premium memberships.
Environmental sustainability will push fitness equipment and facility design toward regional sourcing and supply chain resilience. Shorter supply loops and multi-sourcing reduce lead-time risk and cut hidden costs from long transport and last-minute rush orders. In my work I focus on building hyperlocal capacity by partnering with local suppliers and maintaining closer buffer stock to ensure reliable delivery. The specific practice I expect to become standard is sourcing steel and key components locally and structuring procurement around those local partnerships, which keeps costs predictable and improves access for operators.
In my renovation business I have already seen investors shift to projects that improve building performance by fixing moisture issues and upgrading services. Environmental sustainability will drive fitness facilities to prioritise those durable service upgrades over cosmetic changes. I expect upgrading building services—particularly plumbing and moisture control systems that improve water and energy performance—to become an industry standard. Facilities that focus on those upgrades will be easier to operate and maintain for years.
Executive Director and Clinical Assistant Professor at Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
Answered 2 months ago
Environmental sustainability is going to shape fitness design in very practical ways. We'll see a shift from cosmetic "green" gestures to equipment and facilities that simply use less energy and last longer. The biggest change will be energy-aware machines - self-powered cardio, ultra-low-standby equipment, and systems that talk to the building to reduce load. That's where the economics and the emissions both point. If one practice becomes standard, it's closed-loop equipment lifecycles: manufacturers taking back, refurbishing, and re-deploying machines instead of sending them to landfill. It cuts carbon, lowers costs for gyms, and aligns with where the broader clean-tech market is already heading.
Environmental sustainability will drive fitness equipment manufacturers and facility designers to cut material waste and prioritize smarter shipping and fulfillment, starting with packaging. At The Monterey Company we learned that switching to right-sized, recyclable packaging and offering limited-run printed boxes for special drops improved customer response and brand perception. That same focus on packaging that fits the product and reduces filler cuts damage in transit and lowers the need for re-shipments, which matters for gyms receiving heavy equipment. I expect right-sized, recyclable packaging to become a clear industry standard because it reduces waste, lowers damage-related returns, and improves the customer unboxing experience.
Energy-harvesting cardio equipment that generates electricity from user activity will become the industry standard within the next decade. Treadmills, bikes, and rowing machines that feed power back into the building's electrical grid solve two problems simultaneously by reducing operating costs and giving members a tangible sense of contributing to sustainability. Some gyms in Europe and Australia are already implementing this technology and reporting significant reductions in energy bills. Beyond equipment, sustainable facility design will shift toward natural lighting, green roof installations for insulation, and greywater recycling systems for showers. Consumers particularly the under-35 demographic increasingly factor environmental credentials into their gym choice and facilities that cannot demonstrate genuine sustainability practices will face a competitive disadvantage.
Environmental sustainability will shape fitness facilities by pushing design toward energy-aware operations, especially as connected equipment and digital experiences add steady computing and networking loads. I expect facilities to pay closer attention to when and how energy is consumed, not just how much, and to align high-demand systems with cleaner power when it is available. The sustainable practice I see becoming industry standard is scheduling energy-intensive digital workloads to run during periods of peak renewable generation, using forecasting to time those loads responsibly. I have applied this approach in AI operations by shifting high-power tasks to times of strong solar or wind availability, and the same principle can be adopted for the back-end systems that modern fitness spaces increasingly depend on.
Sustainability and the Future of Fitness Spaces Sustainable environments will likely shape how gyms create and implement their equipment and facility designs. As a result, many gym facilities are looking for ways to decrease their energy usage to provide consumers with green products, such as energy-efficient lighting, improved air circulation systems, and green building materials; thus decreasing their negative environmental impact while increasing their savings over time from lower operating expenses. Equipment manufacturers are now creating more durable materials, equipment made from recycled materials, and energy-efficient equipment that will last longer and require less maintenance. One possible way that the health club industry may adopt sustainability practices is by using energy-generating cardio equipment, which uses the consumer's energy to generate power (for example, the exercise bike) to power the gym. Although it has been around for years, it may be more widely adopted as gyms seek cost-effective means to produce some of their own energy.
One way I believe environmental sustainability will shape the future of fitness equipment and facility design is through energy conscious infrastructure. Gyms operate for long hours and rely on large amounts of electricity for lighting, climate control, and machines, so even small efficiency improvements can have a significant impact over time. A practice I expect to become an industry standard is the use of energy generating cardio equipment. Some newer treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals are already designed to convert human movement into electricity that can be fed back into the facility's power system. While the energy output from a single machine is modest, a full gym of active equipment can meaningfully offset power consumption during peak hours. Beyond the environmental benefit, it also creates a visible connection between member activity and sustainability, which many people find motivating. Facility design will likely evolve alongside this shift. I expect to see more gyms integrating natural lighting, improved ventilation systems, and energy efficient climate control. Materials will also become a bigger consideration, with flooring, wall panels, and equipment components increasingly sourced from recycled or low impact materials. Another trend will be smarter resource management. Sensors that adjust lighting and air systems based on occupancy can reduce wasted energy without affecting the workout experience. Over time, sustainability will move from being a marketing feature to a practical operating standard. Facilities that lower energy costs while reducing their environmental footprint will have both an economic and brand advantage in a fitness industry that is becoming more environmentally aware.
Environmental sustainability will push fitness facilities to treat equipment and finishes as long-term investments rather than short-term fixes, with an emphasis on reducing lifecycle waste. From my experience seeing landscaping evolve into durable outdoor kitchens, irrigation, lighting, and resilient plant choices, I expect the same market pressure in facilities. The specific practice likely to become standard is choosing professional-grade, long-lasting materials and components that extend service life and reduce replacements. This approach lowers resource use over time and aligns operational priorities with environmental goals.
In the coming years, gyms should incorporate energy-generating fitness equipment. This idea reminds me of the PlayPump, a playground merry-go-round that also served as a water pump. As kids played on it, clean water was flowing to schools and communities in Africa. Similarly, the movement and energy people already generate while using machines such as stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines can be converted into electricity that powers the gym. It can show up as lights, fans, or charging stations. I see this definitely happening because people already exercise and already create the energy needed- we just need to find a way to convert it into energy. That energy could really add up if dozens of people are exercising at the same time, especially for long periods.
Sustainability will push fitness equipment and facilities to be designed for longevity and practical maintainability rather than one-off replacements. From my experience leading Atta Systems, balancing long-term vision with practical execution means products should be built to evolve and remain useful over time. I expect one specific practice to become standard: modular, upgradable equipment that is easy to repair and retrofit. That same modular mindset will guide facility layouts so systems can be incrementally improved without major rebuilds, making sustainable upgrades practical for operators.