IHRSA Highlights Green Fitness Initiatives

The results of The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association's (IHRSA) first Green/Sustainability Survey have revealed that fitness club operators have a positive attitude towards integrating environmental-friendliness into their daily business practises and see 'going green' as a way to have a positive impact on club performance.

The purpose of the survey was to gain an insight into the opinions and practices of health, racquet and sports club operators around environmental sustainability and its associated business implications.

The results of the survey indicate that overall, health club operators have a positive perspective on integrating environmental-friendliness into their daily business practices and see 'going green' as a way to have a positive impact on club performance:

• Over two-thirds (70.7%) of participants indicated senior management having a strongly positive perspective on implementing green practices.
• Over half (54.7%) of participating clubs indicated that green practices have a moderate priority within their organization. One-third (33.1%) indicated it had a high priority.
• Over six out of 10 (65%) surveyed club operators believe implementing green practices at their clubs would differentiate them from the competition.
• Over one-third (35%) indicated that senior management believes green practices would increase membership growth.
• Nearly four out of 10 respondents (38.8%) responded that senior management believes green practices would increase membership retention.
• Nearly half of participating clubs (48.9%) responded that senior management believes that green practices would increase club profits.

Bruce Buckbee, Managing Partner of Leisure Green, who collaborated with IHRSA on the survey, explained "going green can have a positive impact on a club's image, establish them as leaders in their communities, positively impact on its recruitment and retention of both members and employees, and improve its bottom line."

Green business practices include improvements ranging from recycling and cleaning with non-toxic products, to larger construction projects using building materials with low Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs), using recycled materials such as rubber flooring, and installing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems.

Full survey results with extended analysis will be officially released at the 2010 IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show in the panel presentation 'Green Practices and the Fitness Business - A Natural Partnership'. The session will be held from 9am to 10.30 am on Saturday 13th March 2010.

'Green Gyms' were featured in the September/October 2009 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

For more information go to www.ihrsa.org/convention

Image shows Sport Art Fitness' Green System.

4th November 2008 - IHRSA REPORTS ON EUROPEAN FITNESS MARKET