A Virgin Life Care blood pressure measurement being taken.
HealthMiles’members have collectively taken more than 200 billion steps on the programme since it started in 2006.
Virgin Life Care members track their progress at 104 pharmacies and 90 HealthZones nationwide.
Virgin Active Swimming pool Italy.
Virgin Active Italy:
Solar thermal collectors in Venice generated 100,000 kWht
(from April 2008 - October 2009)
and Brescia Freccia Rossa generated 80,000 kWht
(from May 2008 - September 2009).
Virgin Active South Africa
is trialling solar panels in one of its clubs where it has installed 361 kW of solar panels.
Solar thermal panels on the Virgin Active club in Venice Italy.
Virgin Active, which operates in Australia, Europe and South Africa also contributes significantly to healthier and therefore happier lifestyles . In fact its mission is to bring positive change to people’s lives, because, as it says, “life’s more fun when you move”. One of the many benefits of exercising is that it causes the body to release endorphins, a combination of chemicals that reduce stress and produce a feeling of wellbeing. Therefore, Virgin Active is trying hard to move away from the image of gyms as places for lycra-wearing fitness fanatics and is instead focusing on encouraging everyone to alter their lifestyles to improve physical wellbeing. The clubs’ diverse timetables reflect this, by offering everything from yoga, kettle bells and dance lessons to kick boxing and spinning.
The Virgin Active websites offer members a wide variety of information promoting healthy and happy lifestyles. There are daily tips on fitness, a variety of wellness programmes (from “Body Building” to “Doctor’s Orders”), healthy lifestyles advice, nutritious eating guidelines and online health checks. Active encourages its members to exercise regularly because once exercise becomes a habit or part of a routine, it can be integrated to form part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
Energy
Virgin Active’s contribution to a happier lifestyle is clear but health clubs are energy intensive operations and so energy efficiency is a priority for all the clubs :
• energy meters measure electricity and gas consumption so that continual improvements can be made
• skylights and the use of natural light enhance intelligent lighting systems thereby reducing overall electrical consumption in the clubs
• numerous energy efficiency measures are utilised including well-insulated walls and roofs and energy saving lighting
• extensive shading systems keep the building cool during the hottest months in some of the clubs
• heat recovery systems on chiller units (air conditioning units) help reclaim waste heat from the air conditioning process and recycle it as hot water used in the showers, taps and swimming pools
• in sunnier parts of the world, thermal solar panels are used to increase temperatures in both hot water and swimming pools systems, adding to the already reclaimed heat from the chiller units
• Virgin Active South Africa is helping customers understand their environmental impacts through an online carbon calculator. It then gives tips on how to change their behaviour to reduce their impact and offset emissions
www.virginactive.co.za/carbon_calculator
• Virgin Active Italy makes use of highly efficient air handling units with heat pumps in its health clubs
• all new Virgin Active clubs in Spain and Portugal (two, soon to be four) make extensive use of variable speed drives to control motor electrical power
• Virgin Active UK is pioneering the use of voltage optimisation units and third generation LED lighting systems to reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint.
Number of clubs:
90 in South Africa
72 in the UK 19 in Italy 7 in Spain 2 in Australia 2 in Portugal
For example in South Africa the clubs have already cut energy consumption by 10% since January 2008 and now have another 15% reduction target to achieve by December 2010.
Virgin Active South Africa has been trialling an energy and water smart monitor which in the future will be displayed in the clubs so members can see in real time the energy and water consumption. It aims to roll these meters out in all its clubs over the next three to five years.
Virgin Active South Africa: Over 8,700 people used the Carbon Calculator in its first year (from February 2009 - January 2010).
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“life’s more fun when you move”
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