Surry Hills Boxing: The Eco Gym

Surry Hills Boxing Gym  bills itself as Australia’s first eco gym.  GreenHealthClubs.org caught up with 31-year-old owner Danny Morgan to learn more about his fitness club’s green initiatives.

GHC:  Please tell us about your background.

DM:  I’m a former Australian rated professional boxer.  I’ve worked in the fitness industry since 2001 as a PT and group fitness instructor.  I’ve been owner and operator of Surry Hills Boxing since January 2007.  The boxing studio was retrofitted to become green friendly in January 2008.

GHC:  Do you have a green mission statement or philosophy for your gym?

DM:  The obesity epidemic and climate change are the issues we want to address.   First, we eat too much food and move less due to technology and we become obese.  Second, we use too much fossil fuel to power all the stuff we don’t really need and so we have negative climate change.

I want Surrey Hills Boxing Gym to help people rethink the way we live in this inter connected world because we are an embodiment of the living breathing earth we inhabit.

GHC: Please explain how your gym generates electricity from exercise:

DM:  The five spin bikes in my studio have been modified to generate electricity when pedaled.  A small generator attached to the front of the bike sends electricity directly back into the power grid through an inverter. The setup does not affect the performance of the bike.

A person of average fitness can maintain between 50-100 watts when exercising at a moderate pace.  The system is OHS (occupational health and safety) and energy Australia approved.

GHC:  What other green initiatives do you employ?

DM: We use energy efficient lighting and recycled and natural products. I do speaking engagements and currently in the process of setting up a consultancy that will show gyms and businesses how to become environmentally friendly.

GHC: How have you used your green initiatives in your sales or marketing efforts?  Have they helped?

DM: I’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from the public.  Being environmentally friendly has given my studio a unique selling point that I have pushed in my marketing campaign.  The gym has also been featured on the national news and in the Sydney Morning Herald.

GHC: Was implementing your green initiatives expensive?

DM:  Building the system for my bikes was expensive due to the research and development involved, building prototypes etc.   I am in the process of commercializing the equipment.

Link: Surrey Hills Boxing Gym

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