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How Much Energy Does An Average Gym Use?

Many people frequent the gym without considering the energy that’s being consumed in the process. One weekly spin class, for example, can use far more energy than you’d expect.

In this article, we’re going to explore the ins and outs of gym energy consumption, what factors are at play, and why it’s crucial to be aware of your energy usage.

Let’s have a look at the average gym’s energy consumption and where you might be able to cut down. Even a few small changes can be beneficial.

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How To Save Energy In Gyms?

Here are a few ways gyms can reduce how much electricity and energy they use:

  • Upgrade gym equipment: Older equipment requires more electricity to run. This includes machinery and other electrical appliances like TVs, hairdryers, sound systems, and air conditioning units.
  • Install motion sensors: Wherever possible install motion sensors that control lights automatically. It won’t work everywhere, but for areas like changing rooms and bathrooms, it does improve energy efficiency.
  • Switch off equipment: If the gym is quiet or closed for periods during the day, switch off all the equipment at the wall to reduce standby electricity consumption. This simple action can save more energy than most expect – and save money.
  • Limit the operating hours: Monitor your peak hours to see if there are any specific times when members don’t generally come to the gym.  Closing your fitness centre during off-peak hours can save a lot of energy. Also, look at the time of year: the end of the year means most are staying at home or on holiday, so consider limiting the opening hours.
  • Start gym classes: Scheduling gym classes during peak times can take some of the load off the energy-consuming equipment. This is a brilliant option during the winter when members look for indoor activities.

Factors That Affect Energy Consumption In Gyms

There are a few things that might affect energy usage in a gym:

  • The number of gym users: The number of gym members will vary throughout the year. New Year’s Resolutions will see the numbers increase dramatically in January. You can also expect a change during colder and quieter periods.
  • Time of day: Early morning and evening slots typically invite more gym members.
  • Age and efficiency of equipment: If you’ve got modern equipment, it should be running on much more advanced technology and using less energy. The efficiency of equipment can also limit how long each gym member remains on the machine.
  • Seasonal changes: In winter the sun goes down earlier, meaning lights stay on and the cost of heating goes up. It should be better in summer, unless you rely heavily on air conditioning to keep the gym cool.
Business Energy comparison

It is becoming increasingly popular for fitness centres to stay open 24/7.

With that, come some seriously high business gas, water, and energy bills. All gym owners must understand where they’re consuming energy and what they’re paying for. A business utilities comparison can be helpful in this case.

As energy prices have increased so dramatically in the past few years, it’s more important than ever that all businesses know how their operations are being affected.

Bigger companies should consider a large business energy comparison to get what they need from their current electricity provider.

More importantly, businesses can learn how an effective energy management strategy can make an impact on climate change.

Design Elements

Energy Management Strategy For Gyms

Before we look at why you should implement an energy management strategy, let’s see the usage of some popular energy-generating equipment.

Generally, larger machines like ellipticals and treadmills have higher energy usage than smaller equipment, like a stationary bike or weight machine.

Here are some basic guidelines for energy usage of gym equipment:

  • Stationary bikes: 150-250 watts per hour
  • Elliptical machines: 500-700 watts per hour
  • Stair climbers: 500-600 watts per hour
  • Treadmills: 600-700 watts per hour

If a gym has other facilities, such as a swimming pool or sauna, energy utilisation can go up dramatically. A few examples of estimates include:

  • Hot tub: 1,500-6,000 watts per hour
  • Tanning bed: 1,000-1,500 watts per hour
  • Sauna: 5,000-6,000 watts per hour
  • Olympic size swimming pool: 15,000-25,000 watts per hour

Please note: these are estimates and usage will depend on the equipment’s age and size. 

Taking the bottom end of the consumption values and adding them together illustrates how fast energy consumption can go from reasonable to excessive.

For example, let’s say a gym has ten of each machine above:

  • Stationary bikes: 1,500 watts per hour
  • Elliptical machines: 5,000 watts per hour
  • Stair climbers: 5,000 watts per hour
  • Treadmills: 6,000 watts per hour

That would give us a total of 17,500 watts per hour, for just the energy consumption of equipment. If we take a standard 34p per kWh for a medium-sized business, running those machines alone will cost £59.50 per hour.

This gives us a clear picture of why energy management strategies are a must for gyms. Small or medium fitness centres should also consider a business energy comparison.

Exercise machines won’t run all day every day, of course, but peak hours always attract crowds of fitness enthusiasts.

These estimates are based solely on gym equipment – without taking into account lighting, hairdryers, or anything else that needs to generate electricity.

How Can Gyms And Fitness Centres Save On Their Energy Bills?

Firstly, you should look if your current supplier is providing you with the best service and price. This may be a little daunting, but that’s where Business Energy Comparison is useful.

While we can’t give the exact numbers, it’s very important to do a business electricity comparison to ensure you’re getting the most out of your energy supplier.

We also recommend a business gas comparison. Come wintertime, the gas needed to keep gym members comfortable may be more than anticipated. Pre-empting the issue by comparing and/or switching suppliers is the best option.

If your gym has a pool it would be wise to speak to our Business Energy Comparison consultants to look into your water consumption needs.

Tips For Making Your Gym More Green

Here are some tips to make your gym more eco-conscious:

Go paperless

Instead of having paper contracts, think of switching to an e-contact. It not only saves the energy needed for printing, but also reduces paper usage.

Encourage energy consciousness

Having signs in the bathroom and around the gym to remind members to use less water and maybe skip using the hairdryer can always help in the long run.

Use fans instead of air-con

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Final Thoughts

It may come as a surprise that your gym consumes a substantial amount of energy. However, now that you’re aware, you’ll be pleased to know that there is a solution to help optimize your energy consumption.

At Business Energy Comparison, our business energy brokers and consultants take pride in delivering exceptional service to our customers. We believe that you should concentrate on managing your business instead of dealing with utility providers.

Allow us to handle the intricacies through our established partnerships with leading suppliers in the UK. We strive to provide outstanding service to businesses of any size.

Start your journey and compare business gas and electricity rates with Business Energy Comparison today. Use our price comparison tool and in less time than it takes to make a brew, we’ll compile your best prices from the UK’ s best suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of reducing energy consumption in gyms?

Reducing consumption means lower energy bills. It’s also much better for the environment and might attract more members if they know the gym is environmentally conscious.

How much energy can a gym produce?

Interestingly, UK gymgoers generate around 41 GWH of human power energy per year. One gigawatt is enough electricity to power about 750,000 homes. In theory, gym goers in the UK could potentially generate power for over thirty million homes.