The Covid-19 pandemic showed us that sometimes, you may be unable to go about your normal activities. The need for fitness doesn't care about your movement plans, however, so we need to be better prepared. You can have a sustainable home gym at home, so you won't have to rely on external factors to keep fit. Creating a sustainable home gym is a lot easier than you think, and won't cost much either. To that end, here are a few steps to helping you set up a sustainable gym at home:
Lower Energy Use
Energy usage is one of the biggest reasons why a lot of people don't have gyms in their homes. Treadmills and elliptical machines require a lot of power and can make you spend a lot more than you normally would on power. You will want to go for manual machines and equipment like dumbells and barbells. They may not be the fanciest equipment, but they are sure to help keep you fit. If you are looking for more engaging exercise, you can always go for a run or a hike, with no power consumption. Most importantly, none of these exercises require you to plug into any outlets or power of any sort. Whether there is a blackout or you can’t leave the house, you will at the very least, have a place to keep fit.
No Hazardous Chemicals
Gyms tend to wipe down each equipment after use, to prepare it for the next user. Seeing as people sweat in the gym, it is logical to wipe down each piece of equipment to prevent the spread of bacteria and germs. Most gyms fail to realize that the chemicals used in cleaning equipment are harmful and can pose health problems, especially in the long term. In a home gym however, you won't have to worry about other users, and don't have to use toxic cleaning products on your equipment. Safer alternatives like spirits and alcohol will be enough and prove less toxic. You get a safer gym and reduce risk of respiratory problems and infections without having to spend extra money.
No Negative Organic Compounds
Most people don't realise that air quality is as important as anything else in a gym. Volatile organic compounds are commonly used for finishing in most gyms. While it may not seem like much, low volatile organic compounds pollute and if your skin is directly exposed, can cause irritation. The best thing when setting up a sustainable home gym, is to avoid VOCs. You can opt for rubber lock tiles and low VOC mats for your gym space. Best of all, they fit over your existing structure and don't require you to make any major changes. You get a healthier workspace and don't have to worry about the air quality either.
Less Water Waste
After each gym session, you will likely take showers especially when you work up a sweat. You will probably have a shower in your sustainable gym, and you will need to reduce your water usage here. Some of the water we use when showering or washing clothes is usually wasted thanks to high water pressure. You can lower the water you waste in your gym by switching to low flow shower heads and taps. It may not seem like a major change, but it is sure to be helpful to both the environment and your house in general. In the same vein, you can also lower the water pressure coming into your home, or just the gym. You get to worry less about wasted water and more on staying fit.
Recycle
A no plastic rule will come in handy in a sustainable home gym, but alternatively, you can recycle. You are sure to drink a lot of water while you are at the gym, so you will need a water bottle. You can get a reusable non-plastic water bottle and fill it before each session. If you prefer to buy water in bottles, then be sure to recycle the bottles as opposed to disposing or burning them.
Conclusion
Sustainable home gyms are rising in popularity across the world due in no small, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Creating one in your home is easy and just a few steps away.
