Ecological gym: 30-60-90 day guide (France)

Why aim for an ecological sports hall now

Clear customer expectations

Members want an efficient and responsible place. An ecological gym attracts audiences sensitive to health, well-being and environmental impact. By displaying concrete actions (water, energy, waste), you reinforce brand preference and local recommendation.

A measurable ROI

• LED lighting and detectors: up to −50% on stage lighting.
• Efficient foamers + showers: −30% water in the changing rooms.
• Optimized temperature: −7% heating/air conditioning per adjusted degree.
• Fountains + reusable bottles: −80% single-use plastic purchases.

Savings finance your future investments (insulation, solar panels, self-powered equipment) and improve the experience.

A favorable French framework

• Aid and bonuses: CEE, ADEME, communities (audit, LED, HVAC regulation, solar, water recovery).
• Useful labels: HQE, BREEAM In-Use, Tertiary Eco-Energy (savings trajectory), and local charters.

Tip: centralize your administrative and operational processes to save time. Find out how to simplify your recurring tasks with automation: automatize your sports coach business. And to make everyday life more fluid (scheduling, payments, messages), test EKKLO: info.ekklo.com.

Do a quick diagnosis (week 0)

Before investing, measure. An eco-friendly gym starts with a basic audit, which can be done in a week.

Energy: consumption and regulation

• Record 12 months of bills (kWh, kVA, peak/off-peak hours).
• Map: lighting, cardio/strength, ventilation, heating/air conditioning, office automation.
• Record hours occupancy gaps to program switching off/lowering.

Starting KPI: kWh/m²/year and kWh/member.

Water: stations and leaks

• Meters and sub-meters if possible (locker rooms, showers, toilets, cleaning).
• Test night/weekend: if things go wrong, look for leaks.
• Estimate the average use per shower and per passage.

Starting KPI: L/member/visit.

Waste and purchases: where to reduce quickly

• Visual assessment: plastic (bottles, packaging), paper, cardboard, bio-waste, textiles.
• Avoidance points: bar/cafe, water area, reception, cleaning.
• List the products to be replaced with eco-certified references.

Starting KPI: kg of waste/week and % sorting/recycling.

30-60-90 day action plan

0-30 days: quick wins without work

• Lighting: LED ≥120 lm/W, detectors/cells in bathrooms, corridors, offices.
• Instructions: winter temperature 19-20 °C, summer 25-26 °C; closed doors; screen extinction.
• Water: aerators 5-6 L/min, showers 6-8 L/min, time delays 30-45 s.
• Waste: visible sorting (paper/cardboard, plastics, metal), simple pictograms, weekly routing.
• Plastic: fountains + sale of reusable water bottles at a price cost.
• Cleaning: eco-labeled products, controlled dilution, washable microfibers.

Typical impact: −10 to −20% energy, −15 to −25% water, −50% plastic.

30-60 days: small investments, big effects

• Thermostats and fine programming by zone.
• CO₂ sensors to control ventilation according to occupancy.
• Self-generating cardio equipment (bikes, rowers) at the most used stations.
• HVAC adjustment: flow balancing, filter maintenance, visible insulation.
• Bar/cafe: bulk, returnable reusable cups, water bottle deposit.

Routine return: 12-24 months depending on size and use.

60-90 days: structuring projects

• Solar: self-consumption for opening hours (roof, parking shades).
• Rainwater: WC and watering; anti-return control, storage maintenance.
• Targeted insulation: automatic doors, seals, air curtains, additional insulation in strategic areas.
• Systems: lightweight GTB or connected solution for time management and alerts.

Funding: CEE, regional aid/ADEME, green loans. Create a file with your initial KPIs and estimated gains.

In the middle of this plan, also think about your tools. To equip your team without breaking the bank, consult our advice on clever tools when you don't yet have the budget of an established coach. And to centralize everything (offers, reservations, tracking, payments), head to EKKLO.

Sustainable materials, equipment and fittings

Eco-designed cardio and strength

• Cardio: favor machines without power supply or self-generating, with quick sleep modes.
• Strength: simple mechanical machines, easy maintenance, replaceable parts.
• Treadmills: low friction models, automatic shutdown, scheduled preventive maintenance.

Floors, paints and furniture

• Floors: recycled rubber, shock-absorbing tiles modular.
• Paints: low VOC, light shades to optimize light reflection.
• Furniture: FSC/PEFC certified wood, repairable modules, vegetation (depolluting plants).

Cloakrooms and wet areas

• Timed showers, aerators, thermostatic mixers anti-burn.
• Low consumption hand dryers or washable microfiber towels.
• Anti-waste: display of shower times, fun timers.

Involve team and members

Train and empower

• Appoint an “eco referent” per team and per time slot.
• Reflex sheets: opening/closing, energy/water rounds, leak reporting.
• 10-minute weekly brief: an improvement, a key figure, a challenge.

Gamifying ecology

• Monthly challenges: “1,000 showers < 4 minutes”, “Zero bottle week”.
• Rankings by course/coach; useful rewards (free month, mobility pack).
• Integrate tracking into your messages and reservations via your app: EKKLO.

Events and partnerships

• Ride & Recycle: collective session on self-generating bikes + collection local.
• Workshops: bicycle maintenance, anti-waste nutrition, home-room mobility.
• Partners: bulk stores, repairers, environmental associations.

Measure, communicate, promote

KPIs to monitor and display

• Energy: kWh/member/month, pik kW avoided at peak hours.
• Water: L/shower, leaks avoided (m³).
• Waste: kg sorted, % plastic avoided.
• Mobility: % members coming on foot/bike/carpool.

Display a simple dashboard reception and on your digital channels.

Multi-channel communication

• On site: “before/after” panels, pictograms, short explanations.
• Networks: encrypted stories, behind the scenes of the installations, member testimonials.
• Email/SMS: an action, a result, a gesture proposed to the community.

To go further in terms of content and visibility, take inspiration from these strategies for developing as a sports coach.

Labels and evidence

• Map your actions in a charter public environment.
• Request an energy/water visit by a third party to validate your winnings.
• Apply for local schemes (trophies, eco-responsible directories).

To remember

• Start by measuring: kWh/m², L/shower, kg of waste; set 3 quarterly objectives.
• Aim for quick wins before major work: LEDs, foamers, temperatures, sorting.
• Team and members are the key: simple instructions, gamification, rewards.
• Communicate supporting figures; transform your results into a competitive advantage.
• Centralize operations and customer relations to save time: EKKLO.

Conclusion and next steps

An ecological gym is not just a gesture for the planet. It is a lever for differentiation, savings and loyalty. In 90 days, you can reduce your costs, improve the experience and mobilize your community around a motivating project.

Take action today:

1. Week 0: make your diagnosis and define 3 KPIs.
2. 0-30 days: deploy the quick wins (LED, water, sorting, deposits).
3. 30-90 days: equip, finance, measure and communicate.

To drive your offers, bookings, payments, messages and progress tracking without friction, try EKKLO: info.ekklo.com. Need a marketing boost at the same time? Read our practical ideas for develop and gain visibility as a sports coach.

Want a simple roadmap, time-saving tools and a community who moves forward with you? Join EKKLO: info.ekklo.com.