In this exclusive CS interview, we interviewed Jennifer Siddall, the owner of ENERGIA, on environmentally-friendly ways to run health clubs. Jennifer uses The Green Revolution Company’s technology to harness her members’ energy and place it back into the club!
Q: Why was implementing “green” aspects into your club important to you as a club owner?
A: I feel so many of our clients are concerned about our environment and having a positive impact on it, and I felt this was a great way for our clients to be ‘producers’ of something in our consumer-based society. I also feel every little bit makes a difference, and that’s why we have bamboo floors, ceiling tiles made from recycled materials, and a space with lots of natural light for less reliance on electricity.
Q: Looking back, was your decision to use The Green Revolution Company a good one (how has it affected ENERGIA)?
A: It was a great one because it not only allows clients to make an impact on their carbon footprint while in the studio, but it also leads to a shift in their mindset and gets them thinking about their energy consumption outside our doors — “Wow, I worked really hard in Spin class today — maybe I won’t leave that light on in my house all day and cancel out all my efforts.”
Q: What do your members like about the energy-harnessing technology?
A: They love that they are making a difference in the environment, but what I find has just as much impact on them is having a new set of metrics with which to gauge their fitness improvements. The read out that tells them how many watts they’ve generated is a clear indicator of how hard they worked: “I was at 67 in a 45-minute class last week, and today I was at 78!”
Q: Do you think being proactive in helping the environment can help clubs retain members?
A: I think showing our members that we are willing to make a substantial investment in something that has impact outside our studio or gym, can only be seen in a positive light by our members, and we will be respected for these efforts.
Interview by Rachel Zabonick
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
