STUDIO 26… HOW GREEN IS YOUR GYM???
Hello bloggers! Its me again, Daniel Vanhall , Gail’s associate, aka “the auxiliary hunter”.
After my bus tour to sustainability this past fall I have been keeping my eyes and ears out for more green projects and endeavors with design integrity and influence. As a part of my holistic approach to life I make an exercise regime priority, but recently I have been looking around the gym where I exercise and seeing a lot of room for improvement and its not in the mirrors…
I recently visited STUDIO 26, a new private gym, owned and operated by Jared Kaplan and Whitney Tucker. The gym was designed by Nathan Thomas Studios and it has some really interesting green directives. Upon entering the Chelsea loft space one immediately notes the light flooding in from giant sky lights illuminating a fantastic Green Wall. Layers of green board plastic and a felt planting fabric with recesses holds a variety of plants, including some pretty flowering white peace lily’s, pathos, ferns and ivy. Not only does the wall create a great backdrop for the gym, but it absorbs carbon dioxide and provides fresh oxygen while working out. How novel is all of this?
When I go to the gym I think about power… not electrical power, but now I do. If you look closely at the treadmills you will see no power cord that’s because it is operated by man power alone. The forces one exerts while moving keep the treadmill going . And let
me tell you this thing can move fast! I had to use muscles I never new I had to slow myself down.
The exercise bikes you see are plugged into the wall but they are not drawing juice they are creating it and sending the electricity back to the grid. I can’t imagine any longer walking by a gym and seeing all those people lined up on machines and not thinking that these could be power plants!
The luxurious gym also includes in the décor a good quanity of “green finishes,” such as reclaimed wood as wall treatment, high density cardboard as wall treatment, and recycled carpet tiles in employee lounges. There is also bamboo flooring, but I have to note that although this is not entirely green…formaldehyde used in the production of bamboo flooring, making it not totally green…it does come from a renewable resource.
As a leader in the green movement Jared and Whitney are constantly seeking new ways to give their gym the “green” edge.”: a grey water system set up on the roof would provide water for plants and bathrooms; gym equipment could be turned into faux coral reefs when outdated; cork and natural materials could be used in gym equipment and then not give off gassing; purchasing gym equipment and other products made in USA. All of these will potentially lower the carbon foot print of STUDIO 26.
If you’re on a mission to lower your carbon foot print too, definitely check out STUDIO 26 and other gyms with similar missions.
With that being said, I am off and running in the sustainable direction!
CIAO, CIAO ‘TIL NEXT TIME!
