Whether it be an old grain silo, a historic railroad factory, or an industrial warehouse, all of our operating gyms have been repurposed from existing structures. The preservation and renovation of historic properties is an important part of a sustainable, smart growth approach. It is estimated that a new, green, energy-efficient office building that includes as much as 40 percent recycled materials would nevertheless take approximately 65 years to recover the energy lost in demolishing a comparable existing building. Furthermore, repurposing old buildings—particularly those that are vacant—reduces the need for construction of new buildings and the consumption of land, energy, materials, and financial resources that they require.

In 2014, we completed the installation of a solar power array, courtesy of Straight Up Solar, to provide electricity for our operations. In the first 8 months alone, the solar panels produced over 22,200 kW of electricity, which is the equivalent to the amount of energy it takes to power 171.11 computers for 1 year or the pollution an average passenger car emits over 6.72 years.

Recycling is one of the most basic components of environmental sustainability, and we take it seriously here at Upper Limits. With recycling bins all throughout the gym, our staff members are also dedicated promoters of this very important aspect of green operations. In addition, we as a company take care to purchase products containing post-consumer recycled content whenever possible.