Gym owners have faced several challenges in recent years. There was a pandemic, which led to a temporary shutdown of gyms and leisure centres. There was also the challenging aftermath, where gyms had to operate during times of high anxiety and strict respiratory hygiene measures. This was then swiftly followed by a cost-of-living and energy crisis, affecting both members and gyms. Some operators paid up to 250% more on energy bills than in previous years. However, the industry is nothing if not resilient, and it has now largely recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Operators are, however, understandably cautious, especially around innovative technology and equipment. Instability can rob operators of the confidence to look further down the line, which is crucial to delivering the future of fitness for members and clients. Innovation can set operators apart in a crowded market. It can also influence and reflect a gym's values, aligning inventory or software with niche markets or with the lifestyle choices of members and future potential members. Sustainability is one example of how gyms can align themselves with the social conscience of their members. Sustainable gyms are on the rise. We’re also seeing industry leaders like The Gym Group (the UK’s largest gym operator) on track to be carbon neutral by 2030 by installing solar panels, thermal pumps, LED lighting, etc. David Lloyd has also made several key sustainability commitments to members. In London, you’ll see eco-friendly gyms where the entire ethos is sustainability. STORM Cycle has installed electricity-generating bikes in its new Berlin studio so riders can generate clean electricity as they ride. At the same time, the gym stores it to power its lighting and sound systems. Electricity-generating bikes can capture and convert the mechanical energy generated when the rider starts to pedal. The clean energy is then stored inside a central battery system for whenever the gym needs it.It’s one way of generating electricity without committing to large-scale building modifications like solar panels or heat pumps, often at a landlord’s discretion. This technology goes straight onto the gym floor. What's so good about electricity-generating static bikes is that they take advantage of a process already happening, requiring no behaviour change on the part of the gym or rider. Members and clients still get a phenomenal workout while at the same time, the gym captures and converts the mechanical energy the riders are generating. The RE:GEN also captures electricity at higher efficiencies, so compared to similar bikes on the market, it stores more clean energy with each rider. Electricity-generating bikes can help you stand out in a crowd. Most people are more socially active than they are politically active. It means that they're more likely to spend money on causes they support (and avoid spending with those they don't) than they are to go on a protest or march against a company. Younger people are also more likely to advocate for conscientious brands, which can give more sustainable businesses the advantage of word-of-mouth marketing. Find out how the electricity-generating RE:GEN can transform your gym or studio.