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It’s New Years, and like a bunch of Canadians I have fitness on my mind. I used to hit the gym a lot, and I really liked the step aerobics and other group workouts, as well as the elliptical trainers and some of the weight machines. But over the summer I decided I should spend as much time as possible outdoors, so I put my gym membership on hold. Now that the thermometer’s hit -15, that nice warm gym is looking pretty good.

Recently I’ve enjoyed thinking about how waste energy could be used to power, heat or cool other things. Some heat water with the waste energy from other utilities, for example. I’ve read about a dance club floor that powers lighting from dancers’ movement. I think gyms are the ultimate untapped resource. Here you have dozens, sometimes hundreds of people in one facility, paying to expend their energy. What if those everybody on those treadmills, in spin classes and on step machines were helping to heat the shower water, run the heating and cooling system, even power the music in the aerobics classes?

Well, gyms aren’t that green yet. The greener ones offer a lot of water refilling stations rather than selling bottled water, have timers and low-flow showerheads in the change rooms, have energy efficient (not to mention cooler) lighting, and keep surfaces clean without harsh chemicals.

I try to keep my gym experience greener by bringing my own towel, showering quickly (or at home) and of course bringing my own water bottle. If you’re worried about water quality on the go, get a bottle with a built-in filter, such as those available from President’s Choice, or if you’re looking for an insulated bottle perfect for stocking with ice, try these ones from Pure Hydration.

What’s your favourite low (eco) impact way to work out?