Powerhouse Gym ‘goes green’

Powerhouse Gym ‘goes green’


Tom Bishop, general manager of Powerhouse Gym, throws a plastic water bottle into the recycling bin.


By Richie Ann Ashcraft
Thursday, January 28, 2010

Powerhouse Gym has a made a commitment to members and the Grand Junction community to do its part to reduce the gym’s carbon footprint on the world.

Tom Bishop, general manager of the 24-hour facility, said he saw a significant need to practice greener ways within the gym.

For example, gym members consume between 5 to 8 cases of protein and electrolyte drinks per day. Most of those plastic bottles were ending up in the trash until Bishop added recycling bins for plastics.

“With 900 members the impact we make on the environment is pretty significant,” Bishop said.

Staff has changed from harsh chemicals to green cleaning products, which they now use to disinfect the workout machines throughout the day.

“I started to take a look at how cost effective it would be to switch cleaning products and it turned out to be the same, and sometimes cheaper, to switch,” Bishop said.

Next Bishop tackled the energy problem that running multiple television sets and exercise equipment such as treadmills created. Just last week, the gym had a 20,000 kilowatt solar system installed on the roof by Atlasta Solar to solve that problem.

“We had it all designed so that it would take care of most of our daily energy needs,” Bishop said, “It should be powering virtually everything in here all day.”

Much of the cost of the new system was covered by government and local rebates. “We got at least $115,000 in rebates,” Bishop said.

Bishop switched all the light bulbs to Energy Star fluorescent bulbs with motion sensors so that lights would not be running in the middle of the night if nobody was in the gym working out.

Bishop even drives a SmartCar when he has errands to run for the gym. The tiny car also serves as mobile advertising.

“We are trying to be as environmentally friendly as we can,” Bishop said of all the changes the gym has made to “go green.”

In honor of its environmental stewardship, Powerhouse Gym is offering the “Get Lean-Go Green” special this month. New memberships are available for only $19 a month and no sign-up fee is required. The gym is located at 2460 F Road, Unit 5. For information, call 242-9099.